IT General

Thinking about the best ways to give to charity? Heres where to start.

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:11

Extending well beyond the holiday "Season of Giving," Americans have participated in an astonishing amount of charitable contributions in the last two years. It's a trend that appears to be growing, up almost 7 percent ($51 billion) so far in 2022, and it's partially built off the back of movement organizing for social justice causes.

In 2021, individuals (opposed to corporate or foundation giving) donated more than $326 billion to philanthropic causes and made up the industry's largest portion of funding, according to the National Philanthropic Trust. Just as well, individual commitments to issues like racial and reproductive justice coincided with corporate pledges in support of the same causes, with an emphasis on smaller, localized organizing movements — portions of philanthropic funding that have historically gone to larger national nonprofits instead. Organizations, like the minds behind global generosity movement Giving Tuesday, have even reported steady increases in non-monetary giving, in the form of physical items or volunteer time.

As more and more people turn to forms of online giving as a way to address growing anxiety, support global movements working for change, and embrace the power of mutual aid, donors are on the hunt for more impactful ways to share their money and solidarity with the causes that matter the most to them.

SEE ALSO: What does it mean to decolonize your donations?

Charity Navigator is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free access to data, tools, and resources (including a 4-star scale rating) to help donors make informed decisions about philanthropic giving. 

Michael Thatcher, president and CEO of Charity Navigator, told Mashable that the organization was founded "to make the best possible information available to as many people as possible. The idea being, whether you have $5 or $5 million, you're still going to find good information on Charity Navigator that can help you make a difference in the world."

In November, the two-decade-old nonprofit announced its brand new website, complete with revamped rating systems and unique tools to help "democratize the act of giving," as Thatcher explained. 

The site now features an expanded ratings system that includes factors like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) commitments, impact ratings, and community feedback, as well as new ways to donate directly on the site, with other people in value-focused giving circles, and to multiple organizations at once. The site also provides numerous resources for the individual donor who might want to know more about philanthropy and other ways to give back. 

In many ways, Charity Navigator's new website changes and accompanying tools reflect the culmination of shifts in both activist and philanthropic spaces, trending toward localized, community-voiced giving. 

"It's not downsizing, it's small-sizing. Going from the mega charities to the small community organizations. This is a movement away from big philanthropy and from the big charities, to a certain extent," Thatcher explained. "In the last two and a half years, [Charity Navigator] started rating significantly smaller charities, and we've also grown how many we rate. We went from rating 9,000 —sort of the big popular ones — to now rating about 200,000. There are over 50,000 charities in our database that are under $200,000 in annual revenue."

Alongside a national reexamination of institutional racism and individual bias in all its forms, many advocates have driven a critical reevaluation of the practice of giving, as well. Much of our nation's understanding of charity involves large-scale donors and a philanthropic industry historically intertwined with exploitive capitalism and, fundamentally, white supremacy. Part of that unlearning process is a growing movement for the decolonization of philanthropy, which involves a conscious awareness of how your money, and the way you distribute it, impacts marginalized communities.

Thatcher's noticed these shifts, too. "You could say there's a democratization of philanthropy, where individual donors are being empowered with better tools to do better. But they're also raising a spotlight," Thatcher said. "There's a huge equity movement right now, in terms of making it easier to find that small charity and help them gain access to donors anywhere in the country or the world. What we're trying to do with the website is increase the ease of finding exactly that sort of unique organization that five years ago would have been completely invisible unless I happen to be in that neighborhood myself."

Popular doesn't mean best. It just means popular.

Whether decolonization is your goal (and it's truly a worthy one), or you just have the desire to make sure your donations reach the people who need it most, in the areas that matter to you, sites like the new Charity Navigator can aid in that process. Think of using them as an initial step in your journey of giving.

How sites like Charity Navigator work

Originally designed to help high-income private donors in the vein of investing advisor Morningstar, Charity Navigator slowly shifted to a focus on the average individual donor. It works using data provided from a variety of sources to offer in-depth analysis of nonprofits. "We're not Yelp; we are actually doing an evaluation," Thatcher said.

Publicly available information in the form of federal tax documents help guide the organization's financial review. Charity Navigator also reviews information submitted directly from the nonprofits themselves, as well as community or constituent feedback. If enough information is available, the site then posts a star rating and a detailed breakdown of why. All of this methodology is clearly outlined on the site. Transparency is key, as they (and Thatcher) say.

SEE ALSO: Everything to consider before donating money to a cause A system of evaluating charities and nonprofits

Charity Navigator's ratings are based on four differently weighted "beacons": accountability and finance, which looks at an organization's spending and financial documentations; leadership and adaptability, which assesses an organization's leadership model, structure, and strategic plan; culture and community, which reflects an organization's responsiveness to the needs of its constituents; and impact and results. 

Impact ratings, specifically, are determined with systems designed by the nonprofit Impact Matters, which was acquired by Charity Navigator in 2020. This system is based on a cost effectiveness or cost per outcome analysis, Thatcher explained, which looks at a nonprofit's specific programs or service areas. Pure data, of course, is not without its bias, and that's why the four-pronged approach is so important to Charity Navigator's goal. "That's where the new rating system focuses, really trying to give you this more holistic picture of who this charity is. What are they doing? How are they doing it? And when possible, what is the impact that they've achieved in the world?" Thatcher said. 

The organization has given out more than 1,500 nonprofit ratings, but the site boasts more than a million more nonprofit and charity listings that still hold helpful information. 

The evaluation system is also a lesson to prospective donors, advocates, and activists on a wide scale: Numbers are important, but there's a lot more to charity and activism than simple stats can provide.

"This is tricky," Thatcher said, "but popular doesn't mean best. It just means popular."

Making informed giving accessible to more people

Part of Charity Navigator's suite of new resources are additional guides and explanations of common philanthropic questions, concerns, and processes, which seek to empower individual donors when exploring charity both on the site and off. Under Donor Basics, individuals can find things like how to build a personal giving strategy, how to protect your data while donating, and even local volunteer opportunities. 

It's also filled with information on how to evaluate your donation to a nonprofit when there's not much information out there, or if you're wary of scams. If there's one piece of advice Thatcher can give donors in that regard, he says, it's to always double-check an organizations' Employer Identification Number (EIN) — a federal code that can be used to look up any tax-exempt organization.

"When you're talking about barriers to action, I think one of them is that there's often concern about scams and wrongdoing and misuse," Thatcher explained. "But when you look at the data… it's a tiny, tiny portion of the nonprofit sector. You have varying degrees of efficiency and effectiveness in the sector, but in general, all our data is showing the fact that nonprofits are doing their best. What's often the case is that the scams are being conducted by people other than nonprofits. They're just crooks, lookalikes. And that's where the EIN number comes in."

Find charities that align with your values

As the industry moves toward even greater transparency, Thatcher explained that there's a simultaneous change in how people find places and people to give to. "Giving is now becoming very values-based. As I like to think about it, causes grab you by the heart and say, 'Go do something about this.' Then you go out and find a charity that's actually addressing it."

Value-driven investing has already been on a decade-long rise in the form of environmentally and socially-responsible Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds, which let individuals invest their money in funds that actively uphold their own values, like anti-gun manufacturing. And, obviously, charitable giving has always been driven by the personal beliefs of donors themselves, for better or for worse. But there is a new emphasis on aligning your money with organizations that share both your values and the means for achieving those — and doing so outside of the most "mainstream" nonprofit organizations. 

Think before you give, but don't stop. You actually have to make the move, make the gift, go and volunteer — do something, because we really need people to keep giving.

The Charity Navigator site now provides topic-based lists, such as LGBTQ support, gun violence prevention, and voting rights, as well as trending topic or crisis-focused lists, similar to the directories and hubs created by the crowdfunding site GoFundMe. 

If you'd rather start with what's popular and then narrow down by values, other lists include the Most Followed, Most Viewed, and Household Name Charities. 

"Think of this as our first attempt at an issues fund," Thatcher said. "And the way we've set up the lists is you can give to an individual organization within that list, or you can give to the entire list." 

Give to multiple organizations at once 

Recently, nationwide social justice movements have re-popularized this mode of multifaceted giving, usually in the form of single donation portals that split funds among several organizations working for the same cause. Supporters have probably seen donation opportunities like this on progressive fundraising sites like ActBlue. Charity Navigator lets you do a similar method of donation through its Giving Basket, a digital cart that lets you add several donations in varying amounts to different organizations, all in a single transaction. It's like online shopping, but with charitable donations. 

The site also keeps a record of your donations and lets you set up recurring payments through the Charity Navigator platform. 

"When you look at a complex issue, like the environment, there's a bunch of different angles to work from," Thatcher said. "It is a collective effort to address some of these issues, and that's where personal preference comes in."

Join a community-driven giving effort

Being an individual donor doesn't have to mean giving back in isolation. In fact, group-driven donating might be a more worthwhile option for some donors, in the form of Giving Circles. Giving Circles connect individual donors together to make single, communal monthly donations to a specific cause or group of nonprofits selected by the circle members.    

In order to support this form of giving, Charity Navigator has partnered with Grapevine, a platform designed to facilitate community organized donations, and Philanthropy Together, a global philanthropy initiative attempting to advance the industry move toward giving circles. 

The Giving Circles hub of the Charity Navigator site allows people to search for collective giving opportunities, using filters like location, area of interest, and giving amount. It can also introduce donors to topics they might never have heard of, like the Decolonizing Wealth and Liberated Capital movement, or nonprofits that weren't yet on their radar, like those in the Latino Community Fund's network. 

Charity Navigator's updates are just one part of a growing movement to revolutionize the way people conceptualize philanthropy and how individuals participate in communal care. But at their core, these practices exist beyond any technical or digital tools. They're built into our social and emotional history.  

"Listen to your heart, use your head, and then go out and make a difference," Thatcher said. "Think before you give, but don't stop. You actually have to make the move, make the gift, go and volunteer — do something, because we really need people to keep giving. That's one of the beautiful things about being human: We care for each other."

This story was originally published in 2022.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Samsung still has its buy one, get one free sale on Odyssey gaming monitors going on now

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:04

BUY ONE, GET ONE: This Samsung Black Friday-Cyber Monday sale is still live: When shoppers buy the Odyssey G9 4K 57-Inch Gaming Monitor on sale for $1,599.99 (down from $2,729.98), they'll also get the Odyssey G3 Monitor, for a total savings of $1,129.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 4K Quantum Mini-LED Gaming Monitor $1,599.99 at Samsung
$2,729.98 Save $1,129.99 Get a Odyssey G3 27-Inch Gaming Monitor for Free Get Deal

Typically, you see BOGO deals (that's "buy one, get one free" in deals lingo) on products in the $25 to $100 price range. Usually, these deals cover boring, everyday products that retailers are trying to get rid of. But Samsung has been bucking that trend in recent years. We've seen them offer BOGO deals on TVs on more than one occasion, and for Cyber Monday, the company chose to give its Odyssey gaming monitors the same treatment. And even though the shopping event has now come and gone, this deal persists, so now's the time to take advantage of it before it disappears for good.

Right now, when you buy the massive Odyssey Neo G9 4K Quantum Mini-LED 57-inch gaming monitor, Samsung will give you an Odyssey G3 27-Inch Gaming Monitor for free. Is there a catch? Well, the monitors are hardly equally priced. The Neo G9 is normally $2,729.98, but you can buy it on sale right now for $1,599.99. For comparison, the G3 is priced at $229.99 (and it's available on sale for $128.99). No matter how you look at it, you're saving big with this on this buy one, get one deal.

SEE ALSO: The best Cyber Monday deals still live in 2024

The Neo G9 4K is a curved gaming monitor that truly surrounds you for an immersive experience. Per Samsung, it's the "World's first Dual UHD Monitor." What does that mean? You're essentially getting two UHD monitors side-by-side, with no separation whatsoever.

It's also got some impressive specs:

  • 240Hz refresh rate

  • HDR 1000

  • 1,000 nits peak brightness

  • AMD FreeSync Premium Pro

For our screen-maxers who want as much virtual real estate as possible, the G3 provides an additional 27 inches of screen. The monitor features a unique borderless design, with a nearly invisible bevel on the left, right, and top edges. In terms of specs, it has a 180Hz refresh rate and AMD Radeon FreeSync for smooth gameplay.

This buy one, get one deal is only available at the Samsung online store.

More Cyber Monday gaming monitor deals that are still live:
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Best Geeky Stocking Stuffers in 2024

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 20:00

Have you finished your holiday shopping? You haven't forgotten about the stocking stuffers, have you? These little gifts will be perfect for the geek in your life.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Intel's (Possibly) Last GPUs Are Finally Here

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:57

Intel is the most recent player in the GPU game, releasing its very first batch of budget GPUs in late 2022. Now, the second generation of dedicated cards is here, although it could very well be the last one.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Cyber Monday is over, but these deals are still live at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:56
Amazon's best Cyber Monday deals at a glance: Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 65-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart Fire TV $349.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 (save $200) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499 (save $500.99) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 $298 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS) $359.99 (save $69.01) Get Deal Best beauty tech deal Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179 (Save $50) Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale went live Nov. 21 (a full week before Thanksgiving), ushering in year-round low prices on robot vacuums, Apple products, and Fire TVs. But now that Cyber Monday has come and gone, the Mashable Shopping team is still tracking all of the remaining discounts so you don't have to.

A lot of the deals are going out of stock — and fast. Some of the best sales we saw, on Kindles and Fire tablets, are all back up to their listed price. So if you see something you like that's still on sale, don't wait.

Here are the best deals still available at Amazon post-Cyber Monday.

SEE ALSO: The best Cyber Monday deals in 2024 — new low prices are live

Even if you're brand loyal to Amazon (and we don't blame you), definitely keep an eye on our coverage of the other big retailers — Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are going hard, and Amazon doesn't always have the lowest prices. Another smart shopping strategy: Use the Amazon-friendly price tracker CamelCamelCamel to see if the latest deal is a good one, or add the item to your wishlist to get notified as soon as it goes on sale.

Don't forget: the Amazon Cyber Monday sale officially ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 2, so don't take these deals for granted. Amazon's extended holiday return window applies to most items bought between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, but Apple products are a notable exception.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a ✨, while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price. 

Best Cyber Monday Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop 🔥 $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For less than $20, why not add the convenience of being able to ask Alexa anything in any room of your home? Even if you can't see yourself being a full-screened Echo person, the Pop can subtly squeeze into any living situation. You won't even know it's there — until you're making dinner and can simply ask Alexa for measurement conversions out loud rather than actually figuring out the math. Then you'll definitely know it's there.

Update: You can buy the Echo Pop and get a free Amazon Basics smart color light bulb with your purchase.

More Echo deals at AmazonBest Cyber Monday robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Eufy's most all-encompassing hybrid vacuum is a rare option with a full self-cleaning station that actually performs almost every task sufficiently. There are some quirks to get used to, but it's way more hands-off than most robot vacuums in the same price range — especially if you can find it on sale." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum deals at Amazon

Robot vacuum and mop combos

Best Cyber Monday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart Fire TV 🔥 $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For our top TV pick at Amazon, we previously went with this massive 75-incher from TCL — and there was a lot to love about it. But we know not everyone has the space for a TV that big, no matter how affordable. So as we round out Black Friday, we have to call your attention to another budget-friendly TCL TV, the 65-inch Class S5 Fire TV.

Don't get us wrong, this is definitely a basic TV. Its LED display isn't as sharp as its QLED or OLED competitors. However, $349.99 for a 65-inch TV seems, frankly, absurd. Despite all the inflation we've seen in recent years, 65-inch TVs remain stubbornly immune, and we're not complaining. This TV uses the Amazon Fire TV OS to connect you to your favorite streaming apps. You'll also get the benefit of an HDR PRO+ display, Dolby Atmos sound, and an Alexa voice remote.

More TV deals at Amazon

24- to 40-inch TVs

43-inch TVs

50- to 55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Best Cyber Monday Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,799.00 at Apple
$1,999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Pro (M4).

In our all-new testing, Apple's latest MacBook Pro lasted almost 17 hours on a single charge and outperformed the M3 version by 27 percent. Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was impressed by its power efficiency, its stellar speakers, and its upgraded 12MP webcam, rating it a 4.2/5, but said that 'at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart.' (On the plus side, it starts with 16GB of RAM.)

Amazon's doing its best to remedy that issue with Cyber Monday deals. Find the Apple MacBook Pro with 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD for $200 off post-Cyber Monday. Plus, this model will arrive by Christmas, while other MacBooks are backordered several weeks.

More Apple deals at Amazon

MacBooks

Macs

iPads

Apple Watches

AirPods and speakers

AirTags

Best Cyber Monday laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,499.00 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $500.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

"Microsoft's slick Qualcomm-powered laptop lasted nearly 23 hours in our battery life test and one-upped the M3 MacBooks in our performance benchmark (both the Air and the Pro models). If Windows on Arm doesn't pose any compatibility issues for your go-to apps, we think it's the best Windows laptop for most people. It's a Mashable Choice Award-winner that got a 4.8/5 rating from our reviewer, which makes it one of our highest-rated laptops of 2024. (The Asus Zenbook Duo got the same score.)

The 13-inch model we tested came with a Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. It usually retails for a hefty $1,999.99, but Amazon's Black Friday Week sale has brought it down to just $1,499 there. That's 25% off and a new all-time low. It was price-matched in the Microsoft Store at the time of writing, FYI, while Best Buy had it listed for $1,699.99.

If you don't want to spend that much, pared-down configurations start at $844.99." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Windows laptop deals at Amazon2-in-1 laptop dealsGaming laptop dealsChromebook dealsMonitor dealsBest Cyber Monday headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.

"If you want headphones that have great noise cancellation and incredible (adjustable) sound, then the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones won't let you down. Out of the noise-cancelling headphones we've tested, these are our top pick for audiophiles. It can be a little annoying that the ear cups don't fold in, but with 30 hours of battery life, you'll probably find yourself wearing them more often than not. Dropped down to $298, these headphones are at a dollar cheaper than their Prime Day price." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

More headphones deals at Amazon

Noise-cancelling over-ear and on-ear headphones

Noise-cancelling earbuds

Best Cyber Monday fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm, GPS) $359.99 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $69.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10 here.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is far more than a smartwatch. It has everything you want from an Apple Watch, with fitness tracking and health insights, ECG scans, the ability to take calls and text, stacks of apps, all your podcasts, and incredible synchronicity with all your Apple devices. Seriously, if you're an Apple user, adding the Apple Watch to your selection of devices is a no brainer. It's not just a handsome bit of a tech but a lifestyle choice.More fitness tracker and smartwatch deals at Amazon

It's now down to $359.99 with an on-page coupon, saving you $69.01 and 16%.

Smart rings

Best Cyber Monday kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pro (6 quart) $112.81 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $57.18 Get Deal Why we like it

If Thanksgiving prep had you wishing for another burner, there's a way to get one without overhauling your entire stove. Instant Pots are truly do-it-all appliances, letting you sauté, steam, and pressure cook all in one little pot. As Black Friday is winding down, so are the deals, and we've seen some Instant Pots sales dwindle.

Luckily, you can still find the drastically discounted Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pro (6 quart) for 34% off. Shop it ahead of Cyber Monday for just $112.81, and you'll be a master of it by the time your next holiday meal comes around.

More kitchen deals at Amazon

Instant Pot

Air fryers and pizza ovens

Coffee makers

Eco-friendly kitchen gear

Beauty tech deals Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex 🔥 $179.00 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If a multistyler like the Airwrap or FlexStyle feels like it'll be overkill for your hair routine, you might consider a nice (but still multifaceted) hair dryer like the Shark SpeedStyle. It's one of Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard's favorite Dyson Supersonic dupes, particularly for smoothing — its QuickSmooth brush in particular not only dries hair quickly, but "keeps things from looking too windswept and more styled and volumized." This version also comes with a diffuser for defined curls, a concentrator for sleek, straight styles, and a FrizzFighter finishing tool.

More beauty tech deals at AmazonCyber Monday Outdoor deals at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station $499.00 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Jackery does one thing, and they do it very well. They make user-friendly, long-lasting, and durable power stations. That's it. That singular focus is also why we love them. And for Cyber Monday, Jackery is offering up to 50% off its most popular products. These power stations have become common fixtures at campgrounds, festivals, and tailgates in recent years, but they're also extremely useful in emergency situations. Pair them with a Jackery solar panel, and they turn into an eco-friendly generator.

More Cyber Monday outdoor deals at AmazonGaming deals at Amazon

Xbox

PlayStation

Nintendo Switch

Speaker deals at AmazonDeals under $25 at Amazon

Note: Some deals are repeated from the above list.

Pet deals at AmazonBest Cyber Monday Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) 🔥 $199.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

"The new batch of 2024 Kindles is the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can't beat the SE's Black Friday price." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That's some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that's usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite — a lightweight and waterproof design — with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness.

More Kindle deals at AmazonBest Cyber Monday Fire Tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) 🔥 $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023).

"Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is a lot friendlier on the wallet than an iPad. With a 10.1-inch screen, it's similar in size, but it's also a fraction of the price. In our review of the Amazon Fire HD 10, we delighted in its lightweight design and long battery life. The biggest downside to Amazon's Fire tablets are the limited selection of apps offered, especially compared the the Google Play and Apple store.

"That being said, it's still not a bad choice for those who want a tablet for streaming or reading through the Kindle app — especially when the Fire HD 10 is down to its lowest price ever of $74.99. That's a generous 46% off for $65 in savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Fire Tablet deals at Amazon

Check out our sister site PCMag's best Black Friday deals list for more options.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The gorgeous Wicked-edition Shark FlexStyle is 25% off post-Cyber Monday

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:52

SAVE $75: The shiny new Wicked limited edition Shark FlexStyle is on sale for just $224.99 at the Shark website, down from the usual $299.99. That's $5 cheaper than the standard model at Shark or Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark WICKED x Shark FlexStyle $224.99 at Shark
$299.99 Save $75.00 25% off with code WICKED Get Deal

We've said it dozens of times, but it bears repeating: the Shark FlexStyle is the best Dyson Airwrap dupe. Actually, we'd go as far as saying it's the better choice. "The FlexStyle offers nearly everything the Airwrap does, and then some extras that the Airwrap doesn't, for half the price," Mashable Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard wrote after testing both gadgets.

Better yet, while the Dyson Airwrap is on sale for $499 (reg. $599), you can get the fancy new limited edition Wicked x Shark FlexStyle for just $224.99 at the Shark website post-Cyber Monday. That's $75 or 25% in savings when you use the code 'WICKED' at checkout. For comparison's sake, that's also $5 cheaper than the standard edition FlexStyle at both Shark and Amazon.

The Wicked-edition Shark FlexStyle is appropriately a holographic green and pink shade and comes with two auto-wrap curlers, an oval brush, a paddle brush, a styling concentrator, and a storage bag (a $41.99 value). It's a much more aesthetically pleasing hair tool than the standard edition FlexStyle, but it does exactly the same thing: dries, curls, smooths, and volumizes your hair without heat damage.

Whether you want to glamorize your beauty routine or have someone on your shopping list who could use a styling upgrade, head over to Shark's website to score this magical deal. And don't forget to enter the code 'WICKED' at checkout.

More Shark and Dyson beauty tech deals still live
Categories: IT General, Technology

12 Cyber Weekend deals that Mashable readers loved — including five that are still live

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:45

We can curate a list of the best Cyber Weekend deals as carefully as we want, but the number of items on sale is going to be overwhelming regardless.

Though Mashable shopping reporters have hands-on experience with nearly every single top pick in the most popular categories, knowing what other people actually spent their money on is always helpful insight.

SEE ALSO: Cyber Monday is over, but these deals are still live at Amazon

So we've narrowed down that intel for you, too. Of the hundreds of Cyber deals we've been tracking, here are the 12 most popular items from core product categories like Apple devices, robot vacuums, and Kindles.

If you'd like to be influenced even more, we also have a list of the deals Mashable shopping reporters actually wanted to spend their money on.

1. Most popular MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $844.00
$1,099.99 Save $255.99 Get Deal Why people liked it

Our favorite MacBook for most people was also the favorite MacBook of Mashable readers this Cyber Weekend. It helped that the base configuration fell to a new all-time low of $844 at Amazon on Black Friday, which put it within $100 off the also-on-sale M2 version. This one has about 20% more power — enough to handle light creative work — plus a great keyboard, nice speakers, and the ability to support two external displays with its lid closed. It also got a quiet base RAM upgrade a few weeks ago, which really upped the value factor.

As of Dec. 3, this deal is sold out at Amazon. The same model was in stock at Best Buy at the time of writing, but back up to full price.

2. Most popular Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop, 15-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,299.00 at Amazon
$1,699.99 Save $400.99 Get Deal Why people liked it

Sophisticated and sturdy, Microsoft's new Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing. It's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite Windows laptop for most people, barring any ARM-related app compatibility issues. Readers were drawn to several different configurations, but the 15-inch model with an upgraded Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage that Amazon sold for $1,299 was the top pick overall... even though it was $20 cheaper in the Microsoft Store. (Don't forget to cross-check prices, y'all.)

As of Dec. 3, this deal was still live.

3. Most popular earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) $154.00
$249.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

The second-generation AirPods Pro have consistently been a favorite purchase of Mashable readers. They're also Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard's favorite noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple users: They simply seal out ambient noise better than many truly wireless earbuds and can be charged directly from an iPhone 15 or 16. As of this fall, they come with a clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature, too. They hit a new record low of $154 during Walmart's Black Friday Deals event, a deal that Amazon and Target matched mere minutes after it landed.

As of Dec. 3, the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169.99 at Amazon, Target, and Walmart. That's not quite as good as their Cyber Weekend deal, but it's still a sizable discount of almost $80.

4. Most popular headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra $329.00 at Amazon and Best Buy
$429.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

Readers who aren't earbuds people were more likely to choose the Bose QuietComfort Ultra over both the AirPods Max and the Sony WH-1000XM5. We don't blame them: The QuietComfort Ultras are our overall favorite noise-cancelling headphones, and at $329 (or $100 off), they were chilling at an all-time low at Amazon and Best Buy. Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino asserts they're the most comfortable pair of headphones you can buy right now, and their all-day battery life keeps pace with their all-day wearability.

As of Dec. 3, this deal is still live at Amazon for the black pair of Bose QC Ultra.

5. Most popular stocking stuffer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-pack) $69.99 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal Why people liked it

This set of Apple's teeny Bluetooth trackers dropped to $69.99 at Amazon on the last day of its combined Black Friday/Cyber Monday sale, and our savvy readers were on that deal expeditiously. Good call, everyone: It's never been that cheap before. Each AirTag works with iPhones' Find My app, and if it's attached to an object you've lost somewhere nearby, its Precision Finding feature can guide you straight to it.

As of Dec. 3, this deal is sold out at Amazon. However, Walmart had AirTag four-packs on sale for only $3 more at the time of writing.

6. Most popular robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

This was the first Black Friday where deals on robot vacuum/mop combos that wash and dry their own mopping pads really popped off. When they first became a big thing at the beginning of 2024, it was rare to find one under $1,000, let alone under $500.

Of the full Roborock Qrevo lineup, the Qrevo S falls nicely in the middle of the pricing spectrum. Senior Shopping Reporter and resident robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart thinks of it as the diet version of her favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Qrevo Master. The Qrevo S skips the livestream pet camera and has slightly less powerful suction, but is still a beast that can also recognize small obstacles like phone chargers. At its record-low Cyber Weekend price of $459.99, or 43% off, it was a great buy.

As of Dec. 3, this deal has expired. However, lots of other Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals were still live on Amazon at the time of writing.

7. Most popular Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) $154.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

Black Friday 2024 was the first time the newest Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition had a chance to go on sale, having just been released in late October. (It missed Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale in early October.) It dipped down to $154.99, saving holiday shoppers 23%. Our readers opted for this one slightly more often than the regular Paperwhite, though Shopping Reporter Mangino actually prefers that version. It's possible that extreme bookworms were looking for the auto-adjusting front light, wireless charging, and 32GB of storage that only the Signature Edition can supply.

As of Dec. 3, this deal has expired.

8. Most popular tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 10.9-inch (A14 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) $259.00 at Walmart
$349.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

Apple's standard tablet from 2022 had a slight edge over its new iPad Mini, Air, and Pro thanks to a record-low Cyber Weekend price of $259 at Walmart. The 10th-generation iPad is a good option for most folks, with the A14 Bionic chip offering plenty of power for streaming and note-taking (without creeping anywhere near M2 or higher prices). The biggest downside of the tablet is that it isn't compatible with the second-gen Apple Pencil or new Apple Pencil Pro, but it is compatible with the newer USB-C Apple Pencil.

As of Dec. 3, this deal has expired at Walmart. The same iPad also sold out at a slightly higher price of $279 at Amazon.

9. Most popular TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U8 Series Mini LED 4K TV $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,499.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

Several excellent deals on Hisense TVs popped up this Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but Mashable readers were particularly smitten with this 65-inch Mini LED model. This certainly isn't Hisense's cheapest QLED TV, but at $899.99 (or $600 off), it was still a steal compared to the premium counterparts from LG, Samsung, and Sony. We'll take a wild guess that most of the readers who took the bait on the U8 were gamers — it's a beloved choice for gaming with a 144Hz native refresh rate.

Fun fact: Mashable readers also opted for Hisense's Samsung The Frame dupe over the actual Frame.

As of Dec. 3, this deal is still live.

10. Most popular fitness deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Charge 6 $99.95 at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart
$159.95 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

As far as fitness trackers go, Fitbit Charge 6 has it all. It features over 40 exercise modes alongside a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, and a built-in GPS. On top of that, it's also water resistant up to 50 meters and has a massive seven-day-long battery life. With its slim design that fits nicely on a wrist, it's an activity tracker that's built to keep up with your daily activities. Its best-ever price of $99.95 (or 38% off) sealed the deal for many readers over Cyber Weekend.

As of Dec. 3, this deal is still live at Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

11. Most popular kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe $138.00 at Amazon
$199.00 Save $61.00 Get Deal Why people liked it

Mashable readers love their java — almost as much as they loved Amazon's Cyber Weekend deal on this single-serve Nespresso machine, which brought it down to its lowest price in three years. The VertuoPlus Deluxe heats up in about 25 seconds and features a "precision brewing system" that adjusts its settings depending on the capsule, so you get a perfect cup of coffee or shot of espresso every time. It comes with a complimentary starter set of Nespresso pods.

As of Dec. 3, this deal is still live.

12. Most popular gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Quest 3S (128GB) $299.00 at Amazon
$75 in free Amazon.com credit with code QUEST75 Get Deal Why people liked it

The Meta Quest 3S is a Mashable Choice Award winner and our favorite VR headset for new gamers: It works with a huge library of games, its controllers are super comfy, and it's an awesome value at $299.99. Meta's always bundled it with a Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month Meta Quest+ trial; it's technically worth $373.95 when you factor in those freebies. Then Amazon had to go and tack on a free $75 credit during its Black Friday sale, which made it an even better buy.

As of Dec. 3, this deal has expired.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Book Travel Tuesday flight deals at Southwest, American, and more

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:42
A quick look at the best Travel Tuesday flight deals Best direct fare deal Southwest save up to 30% on base fares Get Deal Best flight bundle deal Expedia save 30%+ on hotels and even more when you bundle with a flight Get Deal

If you safely made it out of Black Friday and Cyber Monday without buying crap you don't need just because it was on sale, you're a real one.

If you're someone who wants to spend your money on experiences and memories versus stuff, there's still a major category of Cyber Week deals right up your alley: flight deals. Some are Cyber Monday travel deals still live, some are Travel Tuesday deals — but the semantics are pretty irrelevant as long as you're headed to that place you've been meaning to nix from the bucket list for a year.

SEE ALSO: You can still score Paramount+ with Showtime for $2.99 per month

We're tracking the best Travel Tuesday and Cyber Week flight deals below, from actual airlines like Southwest (or a rare American Airlines discount on international flights), to online travel agencies big on bundling with hotels or rental cars like Expedia. Cyber Week hotel deals or cruise deals are also a thing, and we're keeping tabs on that as well.

Best Travel Tuesday flight deal Opens in a new window Credit: Southwest Southwest Up to 30% off base fares Get Deal Why we like it

Don't sleep on Southwest. You haven't seen its name pop up on any online travel agency like Expedia or Kayak because Southwest displays fares on its own website only. But that certainly doesn't mean its prices aren't competitive, especially when it has so many random flight deals throughout the year.

So on an actual deal day like Travel Tuesday, you can expect it to go exceptionally hard. Using code CYBERSALE will save you up to 30% on flights to select continental destinations when you travel between Jan. 7 and March 5, 2025, or flights to select international destinations (as well as parts of Hawaii and Puerto Rico) when you travel between Jan. 7 and May 22, 2025. To be eligible for the sale, these flights must be booked by Dec. 5, and some blackout dates apply.

Regardless of when you book, Southwest automatically saves you a little bit by letting you check two bags for free — another reason why Southwest is our overall favorite site for cheap, direct flights.

More flight deals

  • Alaska Airlines — one-way flights from $39 (book by Dec. 4 for travel between Jan. 9 and March 19, 2025, excluding some blackout dates)

  • Allegiant — all routes up to 40% off (book by Dec. 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET for travel through August 8, 2025)

  • American Airlines — round trip fares to Europe from $599

  • Expedia — Expedia OneKey members save 30% or more on select hotels and save even more when bundled with a flight (book by Dec. 4 at 11:59 p.m. for travel through Dec. 15, 2025)

  • JetBlue — one-way flights from $49 (book by Dec. 4 for travel between Dec. 9, 2024 and April 8, 2025, excluding weekends and some blackout dates)

  • Play Airlines — save up to 30% on roundtrip flights from BWI, BOS, or SWF to Iceland, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London, and Berlin (book by Dec. 4 for travel through, Dec. 15, between Jan. 8 and May 31, 2025, and between Sept. 1 and Oct. 31, 2025)

  • Priceline — save up to 30% on flight and hotel bundles to destinations including Mexico, Las Vegas, New York, and Hawaii

  • Spirit Airlines — save up to 80% on base fares with code 80PCT (book by Dec. 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET for travel between Dec. 10, 2024 and Feb. 26, 2025 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only)

Flight tracking site deals

  • Airwander — get a year of Airwander Premium for $19 with code GOAT50 (save 50%)

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple Pay can be used to buy cryptocurrency now

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:28

Just over 3 years ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook was asked about the possibility of Apple Pay accepting cryptocurrency as a form of payment.

"It's something that we're looking at," Tim Cook said at the time during an interview at The New York Times 2021 DealBook Online Summit.

Since then cryptocurrency has had its ups and downs. The crypto winter of 2022 saw the market decimated as prominent stablecoins crashed and crypto lending companies went bankrupt. Fast forward to November 2024 and Bitcoin hits new record highs following Donald Trump's electoral win and the belief he's going to loosen restrictions and regulations on the industry.

Now, just weeks away from 2025, there's some movement on Apple's payment service integrating cryptocurrency. Coinbase has integrated Apple Pay into one of its products, making purchasing cryptocurrency faster than ever before.

"Today, we’re excited to announce the launch of Apple Pay for all fiat-to-crypto purchases via Coinbase Onramp, the easiest tool to build onramps into your existing products," Coinbase announced in a statement on their website.

Coinbase Onramp and Apple Pay

In cryptocurrency, an onramp is a service that helps users convert fiat currency like U.S. dollars from their bank accounts to cryptocurrency in their crypto wallet. 

By integrating Apple Pay into its Coinbase Onramp, Coinbase is providing third-party developers a way to integrate Apple Pay into other crypto wallets as well. Basically, Apple Pay isn't just available via Coinbase directly, but any existing product that uses Coinbase Onramp as well.

Using the Coinbase Onramp, developers are able to get around some of the lengthy legal requirements necessary for those who run a financial product as the conversions run through Coinbase.

Apple's stance on cryptocurrency

As TechCrunch points out, Apple has a history of keeping an "arm's length" from cryptocurrency as a whole. In 2019, Apple said it would not allow customers to buy crypto with its then-newly launched Apple Card credit card.

Perhaps, Apple is softening its stance on cryptocurrency a bit in light of recent events. However, it's important to note that while Apple Pay can be used to convert your fiat currency into cryptocurrency via Coinbase Onramp but you still can't sell your crypto and convert it back into cash via Apple pay. At least, not yet. Or perhaps, Apple will continue to keep that "arm's length" away from the cryptocurrency industry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Still Using a Third-Party Calculator on iPhone? It's Time to Ditch It

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 19:15

Before the iOS 18 update, the built-in iPhone calculator functioned well as a basic calculator. But if you needed advanced features, you had to download a third-party calculator. Now it's time to uninstall them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dolphin Emulator Will Get Faster Updates on Linux With Flatpak

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 18:54

Dolphin now maintains official Flatpak repositories, making it far easier for Linux gamers to install and run the latest versions of the Dolphin emulator.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You Should Play More Simulation Games (Especially the Boring Ones)

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 18:30

We live in a time when action-packed, adrenaline-pumping online games are all the rage. With so much hype surrounding those types of games, it's easy to overlook or forget about the more relaxing game categories. One that particularly stands out is the simulation genre.

Categories: IT General, Technology

You can still score Paramount+ with Showtime for $2.99 per month

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 18:19

SAVE UP TO $20: Through Dec. 4, new and returning subscribers can sign up for two months of Paramount+ Essential or Paramount+ with Showtime for just $2.99 per month with this Black Friday streaming deal still live. That's up to 76% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ / Showtime Paramount+ with Showtime $2.99/month for two months (save $10/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Essential $2.99/month for two months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Streaming deals took over Black Friday 2024, but sadly, most of them disappeared as soon as the clock struck midnight on Cyber Monday. If you slept on the streaming deals while snagging tech and other goodies, there's a few lone stragglers. One of the best ones still live is the Paramount+ Black Friday offer.

Through Dec. 4, new and returning subscribers can still sign up for Paramount+ Essential or Paramount+ with Showtime for just $2.99 per month for two months. That's $5 per month, or 63% in savings, for the Essential plan, and $10 per month, or 76% in savings, if you choose the upgraded Paramount+ with Showtime plan.

While we wish Paramount+ was a little more generous with their Black Friday deal this year like Hulu and Max, which offered $0.99 subscriptions for a year and $2.99 subscriptions for six months, we still think it's worth grabbing. Paramount+ is the streaming home for new Paramount Pictures theatrical releases like Smile 2 (coming soon), A Quiet Place: Day One, and Transformers One, as well as local AFC games on Sundays, CBS originals like Ghosts, Survivor, and Big Brother, old Nickelodeon and MTV shows, and Paramount+ originals like RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars and Evil (which Mashable Film Editor Kristy Puchko says is the wildest show you're not watching).

If you choose the upgraded tier with Showtime (why wouldn't you while it's the same price as the Essential plan?), you'll also unlock access to the entire Showtime library and get to watch without ads. Showtime features some fantastic shows like Yellowjackets, The Curse, and The Chi.

Subscription will jump back up to full price as soon as your two-month promotional period ends — that's $7.99 for Essential and $12.99 for Showtime. If you want to avoid paying full price, be sure to cancel ahead of time.

More post-Cyber Monday streaming deals still live

  • BroadwayHD — $149.99 for one year $199.99 (save $50)

  • MasterClass — 40% off all subscriptions

  • Screambox — $3.50/month for three months $6.99/month (save $3.49/month with code blackfriday)

  • Wondery+ — three months free

Post-Cyber Monday streaming device deals still live
Categories: IT General, Technology

Tons of the best Cyber Monday Samsung Galaxy deals are still live at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 18:15

UPDATE: Dec. 3, 2024, 11:45 a.m. EST We've updated this article now that Cyber Monday is officially over. But that's not necessarily a bad thing because we're still seeing great discounts on Samsung Galaxy devices.

Best Samsung Galaxy deals at Amazon Best tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) $299.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best phone deal Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (512GB) $1,069.99 (save $350) Get Deal Best Galaxy Watch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm LTE) $219.99 (save $160) Get Deal Best Galaxy Buds deal Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro + $20 Amazon gift card $188.98 (save $81.01) Get Deal

Cyber Monday is old news, but there are still plenty of great tech deals that stuck around beyond the official holiday sales frenzy.

At Amazon, there are still tons of Samsung Galaxy deals available, with all parts of the Galaxy line represented, including phones, tablets, watches, and earbuds. Below, you'll find all the deals we could source that were still available even after Cyber Monday.

And if you're working on some post-Cyber Monday shopping, be sure to check out our main list of all the Cyber Monday deals still live that are worth shopping.

Best Samsung Galaxy deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) $299.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE.

When it comes to tablets, iPads are far from your only option. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE was released as the budget alternative to the S9 (our favorite Android tablet), but it'll be more than enough for most casual tablet users, with enough processing power to get you through streaming videos just fine, 20 hours of battery life, and an included S Pen for easy note taking.

To contrast, the standard iPad is on sale at the time of writing for $319, which is for a tablet that has only 64GB of space and a lower screen resolution. The Galaxy Tab also comes with a stylus, while an iPad requires you to purchase one separately (even if you grab it on sale, the cheapest Apple Pencil is an additional $79.

Best Samsung Galaxy earbuds deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds FE (White) $57.98 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $42.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Remember growing up when adults encouraged us to be less picky? Maybe there was some truth to that advice. If you're feeling indifferent to color options, you can grab a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds FE in White for just $57.98 as a lingering Cyber Monday sale price at Amazon. Full retail price lists the Buds as $99.99, which is close to what you'd need to pay to get the Graphite colorway. That means grabbing the White option saves you 42% off the list price.

RJ Andersen's review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE for Mashable explains that these are great earbuds even for Apple users. Yes, they pair better with Android (and Samsung devices) but Andersen mentions the price point (now even more affordable) comes with unmatched sound quality. "Not only is the sound quality of the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE robust, crisp, and surprisingly bass-heavy, these tiny earbuds almost rivaled the sound quality of my beloved Bose QuietComfort 45s — something no earbud has ever done before," writes Andersen.

While the Bose headphones Andersen mentions are an older model that prove hard to shop for these days, they retailed for over $300. Which makes the sale price on the Samsung Galaxy Buds FE just that much more impressive.

Samsung Galaxy phone Cyber Monday dealsSamsung Galaxy tablet Cyber Monday dealsSamsung Galaxy Watch Cyber Monday dealsSamsung Galaxy Buds Cyber Monday deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Gemini app will let you make calls, send messages without unlocking your phone

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 18:10

Gemini, Google's AI assistant, is getting a new feature aimed at making calls and texts easier to manage. You'll soon be able to make a call or send a text without unlocking your phone, thanks to the AI feature.

You can toggle this setting by navigating to "Gemini Settings > Gemini on Lock Screen" then flipping on the "Make calls and send message without unlocking" feature, 9to5Google noted. The outlet reported that the feature was not yet widely available but was rolling out to some users.

The update is a part of the latest update to the Google app and is seemingly aimed at making it easier to do daily tasks without the rigamarole of unlocking your phone. If privacy were, perhaps, a concern for you, then you could choose not to turn this setting on.

Google has been working to upgrade Gemini and feature it throughout its products. The company, for instance, is reportedly working on a feature that would allow users to converse with the AI about files, recordings, and images. That means you could, in theory, ask the Gemini AI to find a certain photo or document on your device you can't seem to locate.

SEE ALSO: Google's Gemini Live may let you talk to it about your uploaded files

Clearly Gemini is a priority for the tech giant. So much so that you might find Gemini already active inside your brand new laptop.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Turn Off Apple Intelligence (and Why You Might Want To)

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 18:00

Apple Intelligence enabled Writing Tools, notification and web page summaries, and an upgraded Siri. These features can be useful but some users might want to disable them and keep using their iPhones as they've been doing for years.

Categories: IT General, Technology

ChatGPT now responds to searches for David Mayer. This is what it says.

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 17:57

Interest for David Mayer and ChatGPT has gone so viral that the chatbot now provides a response instead of an error message.

What's more, ChatGPT's response now references the virality of the issue in a strange Streisand Effect and ouroboros hybrid phenomenon of the generative AI era. Prompting ChatGPT with "David Mayer" now generates a web search result saying, "Recently, users have reported that ChatGPT encounters issues when processing the name 'David Mayer,' leading to error messages or the chatbot being unable to generate a response. This anomaly has sparked curiosity and speculation online."

ChatGPT has a new response for queries about "David Mayer." Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / OpenAI

The response goes on to list well-known people with "David Mayer" in their name, starting with banking heir David Mayer de Rothschild, then American politician David R. Mayer, and finally the late British historian David Mayer who was famously mistaken for a Chechen terrorist and blacklisted.

In the most meta part of the response, ChatGPT concludes, "The exact cause of ChatGPT's difficulty with the name 'David Mayer' remains unclear, leading to various theories and discussions among users," citing Mashable's story, which first reported the issue, as the reason why the mystery is yet unsolved.

Soon after the David Mayer error was discovered, users found other names that prompt the same error: Brian Hood, Jonathan Turley, Jonathan Zittrain, David Faber, and Guido Scorza. As 404 Media pointed out, Turley and Zittrain are both law professors who have written about ChatGPT, with Turley claiming he was "defamed by ChatGPT." In a 2023 blog post, Turley said ChatGPT hallucinated "a claim of sexual harassment that was never made against me on a trip that never occurred while I was on a faculty where I never taught."

SEE ALSO: OpenAI sued for defamation after ChatGPT allegedly fabricated fake embezzlement claims

Hood, who is an Australian regional mayor sued OpenAI for defamation in 2023 when he discovered ChatGPT wrongly claimed he was imprisoned for bribery. Scorza is an attorney and member of the Italian Data Protection Authority who helped to temporarily ban ChatGPT in Italy until certain privacy measures were put in place.

Notably, when all of those names are prompted, ChatGPT still produces an error response. This suggests there's a legal reason for ChatGPT stonewalling users asking about certain people. But it also seems reasonable to assume OpenAI quickly patched the issue with searches for the name David Mayer, and this is the result.

Mashable has reached out to OpenAI again for clarification and will update this story with a response.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Raspberry Pi 5 Gets Official Steam Link Support

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 17:56

Valve's Steam Link app, which lets you play PC games remotely, is now officially compatible with the Raspberry Pi 5. This update builds on the existing Raspberry Pi Connect software that helps you access Raspberry Pi devices from afar.

Categories: IT General, Technology

New consumer protection rules would block data brokers from selling Americans sensitive info

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 17:46

Data brokers will be on a tighter leash when handling Americans' personal data, according to a new proposition by the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Under the proposed rules, brokers would be blocked from selling personal and financial data that contains identifying information, including Social Security numbers and phone numbers — a move that would also limit the ability of scammers to procure such data and target individuals specifically. Data brokerage is a vastly under-regulated area of concern for privacy experts, politicians, and consumers alike.

Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: Ronan Farrow's simple tips for keeping spyware off your phone

The regulations — should they remain under a Trump presidency — will recategorize brokers under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, passed in 1970, which protects consumers' personal data collected by credit agencies. According to CFPB director Rohit Chopra, the act has been widely evaded by data traders, and with the new policy, brokers would be treated the same as credit bureaus and background check companies, or any other company that sells data about income or credit scores, histories, and debt payments, TechCrunch reported.

"By selling our most sensitive personal data without our knowledge or consent, data brokers can profit by enabling scamming, stalking, and spying," wrote Chopra. "The CFPB’s proposed rule will curtail these practices that threaten our personal safety and undermine America’s national security."

In February, President Joe Biden passed an executive order cracking down on foreign actors selling and procuring Americans' personal data, authorizing federal powers to prohibit data transactions with "countries of concern." At the time, this included known American adversaries like China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela.

Just last week, the bureau announced broader regulatory oversight of companies managing digital wallets and payment processing, including Apple Pay and Venmo, which will now be categorized in the same way as banking institutions and creditors. The agency also expanded its ability to monitor Big Tech's data collection and sharing policies under consumer protection laws.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Cyber Monday Apple deals still available at Walmart

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 17:44
The best Cyber Monday Apple deals at Walmart Best overall deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 (Save $79.01) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $349 (Save $50) Get Deal Best non-AirPods headphones Beats Studio Pro $199.99 (Save $149.01) Get Deal

Cyber Monday has come and gone, but that doesn't mean you can't still save some serious cash on Apple deals at Walmart. so if you've been waiting to grab any Apple products on sale, you've still got a chance to do so.

At Walmart, some Cyber Monday deals are still live. While some of the Apple deals we spotted earlier on have sold out (if you're looking for iPad deals you'll want to check out other retailers), there are still plenty of good deals live that you can scoop up right now. Case in point: you can still grab Apple AirPods Pro at the time of writing for just $169.99 right now, which is a great deal all its own.

SEE ALSO: Cyber Monday is live at Amazon — check out our top picks to grab on the final day of Cyber Week

Walmart is also the exclusive home of the $599 M1 MacBook Air deal. Though it's definitely an outdated MacBook, it's an unheard of price for a laptop that'll get the job done for basic web browsing and note-taking. Along with these two deals, we've sourced more on Apple Watches, accessories, and iPhone cases. Below, you'll find all our favorites from Walmart's Cyber Monday sale.

And if you're looking to squeeze in any more last-minute shopping, check out our entire list of the best Cyber Monday deals that are still available.

Note: Any struck-through deals were either expired or sold out at the time of writing.

Best Apple Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 at Walmart
$249.00 Save $79.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

"Apple's second-generation ANC earbuds have an Adaptive Transparency mode that lets the user hear environmental sounds while reducing loud noises, and — as this fall — a new clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature. Our reviewer was impressed by their "great sound" and a "long-lasting battery life," and appreciated the fact that they retained the same "really comfortable" fit as their predecessors. You don't need to upgrade if you already own the original AirPods Pro, but they're a nice upgrade from the non-Pro version.

Walmart has been a trendsetter this Cyber Weekend: After it dropped the AirPods Pro 2 down to a record-low of $154 during its second Black Friday deals event (normally $249), other retailers like Amazon and Target swiftly followed suit. Only the former's deal was still live at the time of writing." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

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