IT General

20+ early Black Friday gaming laptop deals: Score record lows on Alienware, ASUS, MSI, and more

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:42
Best early Black Friday gaming laptop deals at a glance: Best Budget Gaming Laptop Deal Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop $579.99 (save $170) Get Deal Best mid-range gaming laptop deal Acer Nitro V 16S AI Gaming Laptop $1,099.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best high-end gaming laptop deal ASUS ROG Strix G18 $2,109.99 (save $390) Get Deal

There's no better way to celebrate the holidays than getting an awesome Black Friday deal on a gaming laptop and ignoring the entire family. I'm only half joking, but Black Friday really is the best time of year to upgrade your gaming setup. And if you don't fancy having a big gaming PC dominating the corner of your front room, a gaming laptop is a perfect alternative.

Not only is it a space saver, but it can still work alongside gaming monitors, keyboards, mice, and all the other essentials you'll need if you decide you prefer a desktop setup down the line. You can even extend your laptop display for some dual screen action, because two screens is always better than one. How else will you watch YouTube whilst working?

SEE ALSO: The 17 best Advent calendars to buy in November. Take advantage of early Black Friday sales.

I've had both gaming laptops and gaming PC setups, so I know a thing or twelve about a decent setup. Here's my breakdown of the best gaming laptop deals I've found for Black Friday so far:

Best early Black Friday budget gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, Intel Core i5-13420H, 8GB DDR5 $579.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $170   Get Deal Why we like it

So you're not getting a 5000 series RTX card, but DLSS 3 is still brilliant at generating frames, and there's some great workarounds out there to run DLSS 4 on 4000 series GPUs if you surf github. 8GB DDR5 RAM is enough for 1080p gaming and so is the i5 processor. In all honesty, a gaming laptop for $579.99 isn't going to run Cyberpunk 2077 at full settings with ray tracing, but who cares at this price point. It's more than capable and you can simply upgrade the RAM down the line if you fancy.

More budget Black Friday gaming laptop dealsBest early Black Friday mid-range gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V 16S AI Gaming Laptop: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, AMD Ryzen 7 260, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

It looks like an RTX 5060 is the sweet spot for mid-range gaming laptops, which is absolutley fine. You're always going to get less performance from a gaming laptop GPU compared to it's full-fat desktop alternative, but you have the power of native DLSS 4 to generate those extra frames you're looking for and best-in-class image upscaling. That simply means you can set your games to a lower resolution, then RTX 5060 pumps up the resolution artificially so you're getting more performance. The AI side of this laptop will help with that, too. The Ryzen 7 260 is built to handle the extra load and a massive 32GB DDR5 RAM is overkill. This is a cracking Black Friday deal for a gaming laptop that won't break the bank (much).

More mid-range Black Friday gaming laptop dealsBest early Black Friday high-end gaming laptop deals Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2025): Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD $2,109.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $390   Get Deal Why we like it

I picked this deal as the extra you'll be paying to get into RTX 5080 territory simply isn't worth it. This is a perfect 1440p gaming machine, which if we're being honest is the sweet spot for PC gaming right now. If you're looking for 4k 60 FPS+ gaming, you're going to save a fortune just buying or building a gaming PC. The 3ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate on this 2.5k screen means you can push well over 200 FPS at 1440p for most games, and RTX 5070 alongside the Ultra 9 275HX processor will get you there. With DLSS 4 tech baked in, there's no reason why you can't play the biggest and best games on max settings at 1440p with this setup, with possible headroom left over for decent ray tracing performance on some titles.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

The 8 best budget headphones weve tested under $100

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:30

If you want to cheat the system a bit and get your hands on incredible, crisp sound from a pair of headphones under $100, we've got you. You no longer need to choose between a cheap pair of headphones and incredible features like active noise cancellation, Hi-Res Audio certification, and multi-device pairing.

SEE ALSO: Mashable will send the best Black Friday deals directly to your phone — how it works

Sure, you might be doing an IRL side eye emoji regarding the class-leading Sony WH-1000xM6 headphones — unveiled at the start of summer — but those things will cost you $450. Don't bother dishing out that much money when you can get headphones for a fraction of the price (with much of the same functionality) or, better yet, noise-cancelling headphones that carry longer battery life and a stronger sonic punch than the AirPods Max. Speaking of which, did you know that users were previously reporting that their Apple headphones suffered "condensation death" after being exposed to moisture buildup? Fortunately, our wireless headphones suggestions are all models you can wear for lengthy stretches — without stressing about their impending expiration date.

What are the best budget headphones?

If you're still an Apple loyalist when it comes to headphones, stick with us for a sec. You'll soon discover that these top picks from popular budget audio brands like 1More, Anker, and JBL are giving the market’s best a run for their money. We even have a bargain entry from Sony that’s well worth a look.

Don't believe it? You'll want to see for yourself by reading our reviews of the best headphones under $100 below — especially as Black Friday approaches, and your odds of scoring an even better deal on our picks go up.

What differentiates budget vs. higher-end headphones?

In case we weren't clear enough before, cheaper does not mean worse by any means (and vice versa) when it comes to headphones. Not always, at least.

Yet, the general trend still stands that the "higher-end" a pair of headphones is, the more likely you are to get better sound quality (aka undistorted bass), more playtime, and state-of-the-art features like adaptive ANC.

Budget headphones are known to leak sound more often than their pricier alternatives, and they'll likely have fewer extras, like spatial audio for immersive 3D sound and TalkThru technology (which amplifies your convo buddy's voice while reducing music volume instantly) featured in some of JBL’s flagship headphones.

Nonetheless, we made it our mission to find headphones — both on-ear and over-ear models — that aren't "higher-end" in price and borrow a lot of standout functionality from their more expensive counterparts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

10+ early Black Friday deals on air fryers: Huge deals on Ninja, Cuisinart, and Instant pot

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:29
Best early Black Friday air fryer deals at a glance: Best Premium Air Fryer Deal Ninja XL $89.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best Budget Air Fryer Deal Chefman TurboFry Touch $49.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best Family Air Fryer Deal Ninja Foodi XL $179.99 (save $50) Get Deal

As we get closer to Black Friday, it’s time to start thinking about all those products you’ve always wanted but never quite had the cash to splurge on. For us, that includes new kitchen essentials such as the air fryer. It’s an increasingly popular (not to mention healthier) way of cooking, but not every kitchen is stocked just yet. It’s one of those countertop appliances that feels like a luxury purchase — but once you’ve got one, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to invest.

SEE ALSO: The 17 best Advent calendars to buy in November. Take advantage of early Black Friday sales.

That’s exactly what Black Friday is all about. And even though there’s still a week to go until the year’s biggest sale event begins for real, there are plenty of early Black Friday deals already live. So, if you are in the market for your first air fryer — or perhaps you need to upgrade from one that’s already served you well — here’s a deliciously priced selection of air fryers for everyone.

Best early Black Friday premium air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja XL $89.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $90.00   Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to air fryer technology, there’s one name that cooks the competition — not to mention fries, wings, meat, fish, vegetables, baked treats, and pretty much anything else you can think of. That name, of course, is Ninja. There are several Ninja air fryer models included in the early Black Friday deals, but the Ninja XL is the best all-rounder for most households: A 5.5 quart multifunctional fryer that offers five cooking — Air​ Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. It’s easy to control the settings and temperature, with plenty of room for healthily frying hefty meals.

Best early Black Friday budget air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Chefman TurboFry Touch $49.99 at Amazon
$94.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Chefman TurboTouch Fry isn’t the only budget air fryer included in the early Black Friday deals — there are even cheaper models available — but this gets our pick for overall brand quality at such a brilliantly low price. It has a 4 quart capacity, which is plenty for regular households, plus a selection of preset cooking modes. It’s already good value at the list price of $99.99, but with a full 50% off ahead of Black Friday, this is a bargain at just $49.99 — perfect if you’re looking to try healthier air frying for the first time.

Best early Black Friday family air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi XL $179.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

It’s another brilliant air fryer from the always impressive Ninja, but this one is made for larger households and big hungry families. It costs more than the above Ninja, but it’s packing almost twice the capacity with two cooking baskets and DualZone cooking — which essentially means you can fry up two different foods with different modes and temperatures. It intelligently syncs the cooking so both foods finish cooking at the same time, and each basket is big enough for a whole chicken. This one has six cooking modes, throwing an Air Broiling option into the mix.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel has the perfect response to Trump calling for him to be fired again

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:23

Trump ranting about Jimmy Kimmel online has become so common that the host barely bats an eyelid.

"I woke up this morning, I'm in bed, my wife comes out of the bathroom. She's got her phone, she goes, 'Um, Trump tweeted you should be fired again.' I was like 'Oh', then I went downstairs and made bagels for the kids," says Jimmy Kimmel in the clip above, referring to a Truth Social post in which the president wrote "Get the bum off the air!!!"

"And he posted this, this is interesting, at 12:49am, 11 minutes after the show ended on the East coast," says Kimmel. "Which is nice, he watches us live. Hi Mr President! How are you? Thanks for watching us on TV instead of on YouTube, we appreciate that, and I'll tell ya, it's viewers like you that keep us on the air, ironically."

Categories: IT General, Technology

I found 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are almost as good as the real thing

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:10

It's a simple truth: Where there’s a Dyson product, there’s a dupe, and that holds especially true for Dyson beauty products. For the past several years, I've been on the hunt for the best Dyson Supersonic dupes.

The brand entered the beauty sphere in 2016 when it released the now-iconic Dyson Supersonic hair dryer, which introduced an innovative design that maximized airflow and minimized hair damage. Nine years later, it remains the most coveted hair dryer on the market, making it clear that Dyson's beauty tech bet was a huge success. While it’s an impressive product, the standard model also retails for $519 (an increase from its previous $429).

The often-imitated hair dryer has a lot of copycats that dupe Dyson's signature look but skimp on quality. A good rule of thumb: Avoid the $40 Amazon knockoffs that copy Dyson's signature fuchsia and nickel design. I promise they won't perform the same, and you'll be lucky if they last six months. However, in recent years, a handful of competitors have released Dyson Supersonic alternatives that truly offer similar results.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic hair dryer (with 3 attachments) $329.99 at Dyson
$449.99 Save $120   Get Deal SEE ALSO: I tested the best Dyson Airwrap dupes under $300: The Shark FlexStyle is no longer your only option So, what's the best Dyson Supersonic dupe?

To answer that question, I tested a bunch of hair dryers. Some look similar to the Supersonic, and some look nothing like it. I wanted to find the best alternatives to the Dyson Supersonic that replicate the experience: That is to say, they dry your hair in a way that feels quick, easy, and at least a little luxurious.

My top recommendation as of November 2025? The Laifen Swift. Not only does it look like the real thing, but it utilizes ions to minimize damage and has a powerful 110,000 RPM high-speed motor. Plus, it's affordable, which is why it's held the top spot in this guide for nearly a year.

The Laifen Swift, along with many of the other dupes on this guide, often go on sale during Black Friday, allowing you to get even more bang for your buck (especially with the increased prices of the Supersonic line).

What makes the Dyson Supersonic special? 

The Supersonic has stood the test of time because with it, Dyson reimagined the hair dryer. Instead of a bulky, loud dryer, the Supersonic is sleek and compact yet more powerful than other dryers on the market (and a little less loud, too).

Dyson is known for this futuristic aesthetic on its products, but the look of this dryer also has a function. The ring-shaped head ditches the vented and coiled model of the traditional hair dryer and houses the tiny V9 motor in the handle. The combination of the V9 motor and the Air Multiplier technology makes for a dryer that clocks in at only 1.8 pounds yet still delivers a powerful airflow that’s notably quieter than the roar of a traditional dryer. That extra strong airflow also makes this dryer less reliant on heat and keeps hair damage to a minimum.

SEE ALSO: All the best Dyson beauty dupes we've tested

To further mitigate any heat damage, the Supersonic also measures the air temperature up to 20 times per second and uses a built-in ionizer to minimize static and give hair a sleek finish, which brings us to a quick ionizer science lesson.

Ionizers are pretty common in higher-end air dryers. Why? They blow negative ions at wet hair to reduce static electricity by sealing the hair cuticle and taking down the power of that positive ionic charge (aka what's causing that annoying frizz). As negative ions make contact with hair, they're also dispersing the positive ions of water, therefore cutting down on your drying time and reducing damage in the process.

SEE ALSO: All the best skincare tech that we tested and loved, and some that we didn’t

Basically, it's one of the reasons the Dyson Supersonic provides such quick and excellent results and why hair dryers with ionizers cost more money — they do more than simply dry hair.

Magnetic attachments designed to easily snap onto the blow dryer round out the futuristic feel of the Supersonic. Five are included: a styling concentrator, a flyaway attachment, a diffuser, a gentle air attachment, and a wide-tooth comb. It's a nice array of included nozzles, even for high-end dryers, which might typically include three or four attachments at the most.

Why is the Dyson Supersonic so expensive?

At $519, the Supersonic is definitely an investment. However, you're paying for a high-end motor that's built to last, multiple heat settings to protect hair, an innovative design, and of course, the ionic tech. Other dryers from popular hot tool brands like T3, ghd, and Harry Josh boast some similar features and run you anywhere from $150 to $350, but none quite capture the magic of the Supersonic.

SEE ALSO: Honest review of Ruggable: Are the washable rugs worth the price?

When I tested the Supersonic, I found that it had a luxe feel that stands out from other hair dryers. But don't forget: the Dyson Supersonic is now almost 10 years old.

Last year, Dyson released the updated Supersonic Nural (which you can find more info on in the FAQ section of this article), but it's not a drastically different product, with the main upgrade coming in the form of smart features, including improved temperature regulation and attachment detection. I tested it for a few weeks and found the upgrades nice, but by no means game-changing, especially for a $549 hair dryer. I also tested it against other smart hair dryers and found that the T3 Aire IQ offered the best intelligent features for the price point (more on that below, too).

Even with the original Supersonic being an older model, there is something to be said about it standing the test of time, and for providing a luxurious (yet efficient) drying experience, especially for folks with thick hair. On the other hand, Dyson competitors have had plenty of time to develop alternatives, all at a fraction of the price.

Recent testing updates

I'm in the process of testing newer hair dryers from Dreame, including the Dreame Miracle Pro.

The newest addition is the Supersonic Nural dupe, the T3 Aire IQ dryer, which I added in April 2025. Prior to that, I added the Dreame Gleam hair dryer, the Dreame Pocket, and the Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex in November 2024. In the same month, I removed the Shark HyperAIR from my recommendations as it's largely been phased out from store shelves after Shark discontinued it. If you're still especially keen to get it, a version with just one attachment is available at Walmart.

I also replaced the BaBylissPRO with the Dreame Gleam as the best pick under $100 — though the BaByliss is still a solid hair dryer, it felt more like a standard blow dryer than a Supersonic dupe. Plus, it's less widely available these days.

In February 2025, I tested the L'Oréal Airlight Pro, which at $475 costs even more than the original Supersonic and almost as much as the Supersonic Nural. The Airlight Pro looked and functioned very similar to the Zuvi Halo, which makes sense — the hair dryer was developed in partnership with Zuvi. At the time, I didn't include it as it wasn't that different than the Zuvi Halo, and cost significantly more. However, since then, the Zuvi Halo appears to be discontinued — it's been sold out for months on Zuvi's website after a drastic price hike to $634. I reached out to a representative from Zuvi to confirm the discontinuation, but didn't hear back. As I result, I've decided to remove the Zuvi Halo from our list of recommendations, and am reconsidering the inclusion of the Airlight Pro.

Finally, Dreame recently released the Dreame Pocket Ultra, an upgrade to one of our current recommendations, as well as the Dreame Miracle Pro, another Supersonic dupe contender. I'll be testing both for potential inclusion in this guide.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2025 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Kohls, Target, Home Depot, and more

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:05

Black Friday is fast approaching, but the reality is that it's already here in a big way. You can find discounts on hot products like MacBooks, AirPods, Lego, Pokémon, and so much more. It's the single best time of the year to secure a deal, with heavy discounts on offer from all the leading retailers.

The biggest retailers are always looking to get ahead of the competition by launching early-access deals, with savings-packed Black Friday ads that include a snapshot of what shoppers can expect. We recommend that savvy shoppers take some time to check out everything that's showcased in these ads, but if that sounds like far too much work, we can help you out.

SEE ALSO: Gaming deals are going strong ahead of Black Friday 2024

We've checked out all the best deals from the Black Friday ads of leading retailers. We're talking about the likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, and Target. Amazon doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad, but we've still gone ahead and pulled the best deals that you can already shop. Aren't we helpful.

These are the best Black Friday deals from Black Friday ads that you can already buy online.

Best early Black Friday deals from AmazonBest early Black Friday Apple deals

AirTags

iPhones

Apple Watch

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iMacs

Mac Minis

Macbooks

Headphones

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Categories: IT General, Technology

New to the stock market? This AI-powered tool can help you invest confidently.

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Make investing as easy as a few taps with a lifetime subscription to this AI-powered tool, Sterling Stock Picker, just $55.19 (reg. $486) with code STOCKS20 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sterling Stock Picker Sterling Stock Picker: Lifetime Subscription $55.19
$486 Save $430.81   Get Deal

Too overwhelmed to start investing in the stock market? There’s now an app for that. Sterling Stock Picker does the work for you, simplifying the stock market with AI-powered features that help you make educated decisions.

You can score a lifetime subscription to this handy service for just $55.19 (reg. $486) with code STOCKS20.

SEE ALSO: Bitcoin price plunges below $100,000. This is why.

Sterling Stock Picker is an award-winning platform that lets you invest confidently. Just answer a five-minute questionnaire that helps determine your risk preferences and personal values, and then Sterling Stock Picker can get started finding you the best stocks for your portfolio.

Check out top-performing companies that have over 50 percent quarterly revenue growth thanks to Sterling Stock Picker’s North Star Rating System. It helps you determine whether to buy, sell, or hold specific stocks, allowing you to make informed decisions.

If you prefer a more hands-off approach, Sterling Stock Picker offers a Done-for-You Portfolio Builder option that eliminates the guesswork and continuously recommends updates over time.

You’ll also have access to Finley, Sterling Stock Picker’s AI financial coach. Finley is ready to answer questions about your portfolio, individual stocks, or the market in general at any time. There’s also a community chat forum where you can connect with fellow investors.

Get a lifetime subscription to Sterling Stock Picker for just $55.19 (reg. $486) with code STOCKS20 for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This $35 AI tool can turn any idea into an image for life

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Let your imagination run wild with a lifetime subscription to Imayigo AI Image Generator, just $34.97 (MSRP $495) through Dec. 14.

Opens in a new window Credit: Imagiyo Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan) $34.97
$495 Save $460.03   Get Deal

Ever wanted to turn an idea into an image, but didn’t know where to start? Imagiyo AI Image Generator can help with that. It harnesses the power of AI to transform words into visuals. And you can currently secure a lifetime subscription to create with Imagiyo forever for a one-time $34.97 payment (reg. $495) through Dec. 14.

Ready to flex your creative muscles? Imagiyo AI Image Generator lets you create anything you’d like — no artistic talent required. It uses the power of artificial intelligence to bring your prompts to life, and all you have to do is type in your idea.

SEE ALSO: A new AI platform is giving lifetime access to ChatGPT, Gemini, and more

With Imagiyo AI Image Generator, there are no watermarks or ads ever, so your creations are your own. High quality and ready to print, they can be used for both commercial and personal purposes. You can post them on social media, use them as a brand logo, or even design the perfect holiday gift. Need a specific size? Multiple Image Generation sizes are also supported.

Most AI-powered image generators have restrictions, but Imagiyo lets your imagination run wild. You’ll have full creative freedom, and you can even create NSFW images. Just make sure your privacy settings are set to private for those images.

This lifetime subscription to the standard plan allows you to create 500 images per month and two images per request for life.

Get a lifetime subscription to Imayigo AI Image Generator, just $34.97 (reg. $495) now through Dec. 14.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Train Dreams review: Joel Edgerton brings Denis Johnsons novella to life

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:00

By no means a fast-paced film but one rich with detail and strong performances, Train Dreams weaves one man's life through a rapidly changing American West in the early 20th century.

Based on Denis Johnson’s 2011 novella of the same name, it's a steady, meditative, and at times devastating journey with many a conversation around the fire. Train Dreams sees Sing Sing collaborators Greg Kwedar and Clint Bentley reunite — this time with Bentley in the director's chair — to explore delicate themes of love and loss amid this fading frontier, sitting on the cusp of industrialisation. It's a slow-going, sombre film at times, an historical essay at others, and it won't be everyone's cup of sarsaparilla.

SEE ALSO: 'Hamnet' review: Paul Mescal and Jessie Buckley burn in William Shakespeare tragedy

However, the true heart of this moving film is a subtle, sensitive performance by Joel Edgerton, one immersed in Bryce Dessner's meticulous score and Adolpho Veloso's lush cinematography, and concluded with the unmistakable spirit of Nick Cave.

What is Train Dreams about? Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones in "Train Dreams." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Beginning in 1917 and running through to 1968, Train Dreams follows a man's search for meaning as the 20th century arrives. The Wild West days are over. The American frontier is transforming. And Edgerton leads as devoted family man and stoic railroad worker Robert Grainier, who works for the Spokane International Railway in Idaho. He builds transient bonds with his fellow lumberjacks and pines for home. He's also a man riddled by guilt for his complicity watching the racist murder of Chinese immigrant worker Fu Sheng (Alfred Hsing) during a railroad job, perpetually haunted by the memory. Here, the script diverges from the novella: In the latter, Robert physically helps in hauling the worker to a tall bridge, but in the film, Robert simply doesn't intervene.

Despite this shockingly casual event, the film spends most of its time tracing Robert's life. After a brief courtship with his soon-to-be wife Gladys Olding (Felicity Jones), in the small village of Meadow Creek, Robert builds a simple, idyllic home with her among fields of wildflowers and beside a babbling brook. The pair map out their single-room cabin with river boulders and soon welcome the arrival of their daughter Kate. It's an almost overwhelmingly romantic existence, hammered home in near-saccharine montages and Dessner's tender score, and one Robert yearns for when torn away for months on dangerous railroad-building projects. The job's perils are emphasised in both Johnson's novella and Bentley's film, with injury or death from the felling of colossal trees a common workplace risk for 20th-century lumberjacks. Veloso's POV shots of these ancient giants falling prove the point, and several scenes show how risky this business of pillaging the natural landscape was.

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At one tragic point, in a devastatingly shot and enacted sequence, Robert's world is upturned forever. He's left desperately searching for meaning in it all, feeling obsolete and expecting "a great revelation to arrive about his life." Edgerton delivers a solemn, raw performance — and with everything that happens, we're not mad that he's surrounded by fluffy stray puppies for a large chunk of the film. Giving Edgerton's character room for deep conversation and reflection, Bentley and Kwedar expand characters from Johnson's book, including Robert's friend Ignatius Jack (a wonderful Nathaniel Arcand), a Kootenai store owner who helps him rebuild, and forest service worker Claire (Kerry Condon), who bonds with Robert down the track.

Train Dreams is a journey of solitude and American history. Joel Edgerton in "Train Dreams." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Though it's not necessarily a history lesson, Train Dreams subtly meanders through stories of the American West and where these unsung railroad workers fit within it. Through an omniscient narrator (voiced by Will Patton) and conversations between characters, the script pieces together fragments of the past. As in Johnson's novella, mentions of the American Civil War, American Indian Wars, and World War I arise organically. In particular here, William H. Macy is a highlight as Arn Peeples, a harmonica-playing explosives expert and "gadabout of unknown origin" who befriends Robert. As in the novella, Arn's the character most reflective on American history, lamenting his younger peers' disconnection to it.

Like Arn, Patton's narration lends a certain grandfatherly energy, describing locomotive mechanics, the construction of the Robinson Gorge Bridge, and "the cost of progress" in the same tone as he describes Robert's existential crisis. Nonetheless, it gives the film a steadfast emotional consistency. Additionally, his narration gives the film's present an awareness of the future, as we learn what will become of things.

William H. Macy in "Train Dreams." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Train Dreams also takes pains to capture a specific tension between tradition and modernity through the work of production designer Alexandra Schaller. From the handcrafted elements of the Graniers' cabin to the changing technology of the logging sites from rudimentary tools to machinery, Schaller's team craft a detailed picture of life in the American West from early to mid century. But there's one crucial element that pulls all the elements of Train Dreams together.

The simmering engine of Train Dreams is Bryce Dessner's score. Joel Edgerton and Kerry Condon in "Train Dreams." Credit: Courtesy of Netflix

Adding to his lauded catalogue of modern film scores from The Revenant to We Live In Time, The National's Bryce Dessner once again flexes his atmospheric composer skills in Train Dreams. At once a whimsical, romantic ode to potential and a hypnotic, reflective accompaniment to loss, Dessner's score drives the emotional engine of Train Dreams. Edgerton's Robert is characteristically stoic and interior in his emotions, allowing Dessner to draw out the brilliant subtleties of his performance. Meanwhile, it's the perfect partner to Veloso's gorgeous shots of Robert engulfed by the Idaho landscape, immersed in the beauty and history of the American wilderness.

Worth staying through the film's end credits for, Dessner teams up with the ever-iconic Nick Cave (no stranger to a lyrical exploration of love and loss) for the haunting original song "Train Dreams." This brooding ballad essentially encapsulates the film's narrative and emotional tone in a few minutes, marking a sublime conclusion to the film.

Train Dreams takes its time, relishing in conversations about grief, loss, feeling obsolete and overwhelmed by both nature and modernity. This slower pace can feel a little engulfing at times, but Edgerton's performance, Dessner's score, and Veloso's balance of handheld and static photography kept me hitched on the ride.

Train Dreams was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival. The film will hit select U.S. cinemas on Nov. 7 before streaming on Netflix worldwide on Nov. 21.

UPDATE: Nov. 20, 2025, 2:40 p.m. EST This review was first published on Oct. 25, 2025, as part of Mashable's BFI coverage. It has been updated in anticipation of its streaming debut.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Conjuring: Last Rites review: Can the series deliver one last scare?

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 11:00

The Conjuring universe has quite literally administered its Last Rites, the ninth and (apparently) final installment in the religious horror franchise. It's been 12 years since James Wan scared the Valak out of audiences with the first film, when Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga first took on controversial real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren. 

With director Michael Chaves (The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It, The Nun II) at the helm, and a storyline based on the alleged demonic haunting of the Smurl family in the late '80s, The Conjuring: Last Rites intentionally plays to every trick in the Conjuring book. Fan service in horror franchises comes with the territory, and Last Rites' cup runneth over with series cameos, familiar production design, and characteristic jump scares aplenty.

SEE ALSO: Fact vs. fiction: 'The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It'

However, it's the film's reverence for the real Ed and Lorraine Warren and the Conjuring universe at large that could be its undoing. With the majority of the film spent delivering referential nods and unbridled adulation for its leading duo, we're left waiting long stretches for what we came for: one hell of a final scare.

What is The Conjuring: Last Rites about? A young Lorraine and Ed Warren (Madison Lawlor and Orion Smith). Credit: Giles Keyte

The Conjuring: Last Rites plunges us back into familiar territory. Like The Conjuring 2, there are parallel hauntings afoot: the alleged demonic disturbance of the Smurl family in West Pittston, Pennsylvania in the late '80s, and chilling visions experienced by the clairvoyant Lorraine Warren (Farmiga) and her now-grown daughter Judy (Mia Tomlinson), who is attempting to silence her burgeoning psychic powers.

To open the film, we're sent back to 1964, where a young Lorraine and Ed (Madison Lawlor and Orion Smith) investigate a spooky storeroom full of clocks (sure!), where a creepy mirror adorned with wooden angels screams "do not touch." Disregarding this of course, Lorraine's contact with said mirror propels one of the film's most disturbing sequences, in which our paranormal communicator is sent into early labour in the company of a demonic presence. As if giving birth wasn't intense enough, Last Rites plunges Lorraine into an experience of terrifying vulnerability. From here, however, Last Rites spends an outlandish amount of time on the Warrens' family life, in a saccharine montage of Judy's childhood, carousels, and running through flower fields, all the way up to their demon-shunning retirement in Connecticut.

Featured Video For You Weapons, and the comedian turned horror director

It's this overt admiration for the Warrens that feels extremely stretched out in Last Rites, despite the couple's real-life controversies. From the film's beginning to end, Wilson and Farmiga's Ed and Lorraine are portrayed as reluctant heroes of paranormal valiance and fiercely pious and devoted family members. The film spends almost half its run time following the Warrens in their barbecue-throwing, post-investigation era bliss and through a particularly tedious meet-the-parents sequence with Judy's boyfriend, Tony (Ben Hardy). Whatever you think of the real Warrens, Wilson and Farmiga have long imbued the screen Warrens with overwhelming credibility; Farmiga has always channelled Lorraine with understated believability, and Wilson's commitment to Ed's character is the only thing that makes a scene where characters need to move a mirror genuinely compelling.

Judy (Mia Tomlinson) has inherited her mother Lorraine's (Vera Farmiga) cursed talents. Credit: Giles Keyte

For those tapping their watch for the Warrens to get back to investigating, there's the other storyline, described by the series' signature bright yellow Courier New font declaring the subsequent events as "based on a true story" and loosely adapted from the Warrens' reported haunting cases — following the Perron family of Rhode Island in 1971 (The Conjuring), the Amityville murders and the "Enfield Poltergeist" case in the late '70s (The Conjuring 2), the murder trial of Arne Cheyenne Johnson (The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It).  This time, it's a notorious case from 1986 in Pennsylvania, where we're introduced to characters based on the real Janet and Jack Smurl (played by Rebecca Calder and Elliot Cowan), who claimed that their family was plagued by a demonic presence.

And it's this storyline that sees the film slotting into classic Conjuring style.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is a Conjuring movie by the numbers. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga take a final bow as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Credit: Giles Keyte

Director Michael Chaves is well-versed in the Conjuring universe, having directed the third Conjuring film as well as the sequel to The Nun and the thinly connected The Curse of La Llorona. However, despite its solid scares, the film feels somewhat trapped in fan service, ticking off signature Conjuring boxes and delivering two passable but undeniably well-soundtracked (hell yes, The Cult) storylines at once.

Everything you'd expect from a Conjuring film is here. Real footage of the Warrens spliced with that of Wilson and Farmiga. Eerie music boxes and cursed dolls from yesteryear. A happy family being terrorised in the night, often by way of their favourite games or in a creepy-ass basement. A family dog who makes the audience nervous for its safety. Menacing notes scrawled with the words "Miss me?"

There's a copious amount of references to previous Conjuring films in Last Rites, including The Nun and Annabelle movies. Fans might delight in hearing Ed warn his guests yet again not to touch anything in the basement of the Warrens' Connecticut home where cursed objects like the Annabelle doll dwell — the film even has Wilson repeat his lines from the first Conjuring movie: "Nothing's a toy, not even the toys." And as for the cameos? Just wait to see for yourself (though seeing Officer Brad Hamilton rocking his bite mark from The Conjuring in a barbecue scene is a frankly hilarious heads-up).

But the real Conjuring style comes out in the scares — of which there are many.

The Conjuring: Last Rites delivers on jump scares. Uh, Judy? You OK? Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

Never fear, Conjuring-style scares are present in both storylines, with the Smurls beset by more than bumps in the night in Pennsylvania, and poor Lorraine unable to order linguini or do the dishes in Connecticut without being interrupted by a malicious presence. Last Rites' parallel narratives follow the Warrens' constantly cited "three stages of demonic activity" to the letter: "infestation, oppression, and possession," from those early ghostly whisperings to the dreaded takeover, with ample scares along the way.

The Conjuring universe, established by Wan's brilliant 2013 original, has become synonymous with that classic horror weapon of the misdirected jump scare. Cameras pan back and forth building up dread with fake-outs. Characters are consistently forced to use torches with limited lighting. Audiences frantically search for faces in dark corners, plunge their fingers into their ears, and wait for the drop. Though without as much unexpected innovation as the original (but with Wan in a producing role), Last Rites is brimming with these jump scares, with Eli Born's audacious cinematography, nail-biting sound design by Harry Cohen, a particularly effective scene involving a phone cord disappearing into a pantry, and savvy use of VHS footage for solid creeps.

Last Rites feels like a Conjuring film in every sense of the franchise, but it's slightly disappointing the film doesn't pull out all the stops to bid adieu to Wilson and Farmiga's now iconic characters. Fan service, it has in spades. But truly memorable scares and compelling storylines that push the Conjuring series as far as it could go? Less so. However, if you want to take one more trip into the Warrens' basement of cursed curiosities, it's worth a watch, for old terrifying time's sake.

The Conjuring: Last Rites is streaming on HBO Max.

UPDATE: Nov. 20, 2025, 4:43 p.m. This review was first published on Sept. 5, 2025. It has been updated to reflect its streaming availability.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: Which day is better for shopping?

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:50

Once two distinct deal shopping days, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, have basically merged into one massive shopping extravaganza. The lines really began to blur when the world shut down in 2020 and brick-and-mortar stores hosted online sales in lieu of in-person Black Friday events. In 2025, those lines are practically nonexistent. We certainly can't see them.

While major retailers have been running holiday sales throughout all of November, savvy shoppers know that Black Friday, Cyber Monday, (and the few days surrounding them) still remain two of the absolute biggest shopping days of the year for their ability to reliably trigger record-low prices on big-ticket items (like TVs, Apple devices, smartwatches, gaming consoles, and of course, Amazon's own devices). That includes discounts that beat Amazon's massively-hyped October Prime Day deals.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Get live updates on the latest sales, doorbusters, and deal drops Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday — what's the difference?

Way back in the age of MySpace and AIM — aka 2005 — the National Retail Federation debuted the term "Cyber Monday" after realizing that the Monday after Thanksgiving saw a flood of online sales. This was likely due to shoppers using their faster internet connections at work on Monday morning to snag deals, or at least that's what they credited it to. That, of course, and the fact that online retailers wanted some of that holiday shopping bread, too. Thus, two distinct deal shopping days were born: Black Friday, for those who wanted to shop in stores the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday, for those who liked shopping from the comfort of their homes.

These days, there's little — if any — real difference between the two due to the alleged "death of retail." Everyone and everything is online, so why wouldn't Black Friday be? Based on our years of experience covering both, we can truly say neither is a "better" day to shop. It really comes down to what you're looking for and how much demand there is for it.

Are there better deals on Black Friday or Cyber Monday?

If you see a solid deal, grab it, no matter which sale title it falls under. There's not a tremendous amount of distinction anymore in terms of discounts on particular products as there has been in previous years. However, there are still rules to follow in some product categories: TV deals tend to be more dramatic and widespread for Black Friday with a higher likelihood of selling out before the clock even turns to Cyber Monday, while waiting for Cyber Monday to double-check that there's not a new, better laptop deal is often wise.

But with the blurred lines of Cyber Week, many of these deals will cross over. As noted at BlackFriday.com, "Some TV deals will feature flashy discounts during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but they might not have the specs you're after." TL;DR: The deals will be great for both shopping days, but it all depends on what you're looking for. If you see the specs you like listed under a product sitting at a price that you like, grab it to be safe. Also, as a best practice, check camelcamelcamel.com for price history details from Amazon.

How long is Black Friday?

It's honestly silly at this point to even call it Black Friday. It's no longer just on Friday — it's a month-long affair. In 2025, Best Buy kicked off the holiday shopping season on Halloween (scary, I know). Walmart and Target followed close behind, with their first Black Friday sales events kicking off in early November. Amazon and Best Buy's official Black Friday sales will run from Nov. 20 through Black Friday proper, which falls on Nov. 28 this year.

Once the clock strikes midnight at the close of Friday, it's officially Cyber Monday (yes, even though it's actually Saturday). We don't make the rules. The deals won't change too much, but the search terms and official site banners will.

When do Cyber Monday deals start?

Officially, Cyber Monday starts on Monday, Dec. 1 in 2025. Unofficially, it basically starts the second Black Friday ends, with retailers coining sales as "Cyber Monday" deals as early as Saturday, Nov. 29. So basically, semantics — and it's easier to just think of the Cyber Week language as interchangeable.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I compared the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) to my AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WF-1000xM5 earbuds

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:45

Rather than launch a completely new model of earbuds, Bose decided to re-release its flagship buds with smarter algorithms and stronger specs. The result is the QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2).

This update sees improvements in active noise cancellation, connectivity, and voice calling. Whether that’s enough to compete with the market’s two most popular entries — the AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WF-1000xM5 — is up for debate.

I’ve spent the past three weeks testing the second-gen QC Ultra Earbuds and have some thoughts. Do they rank higher or lower than Apple and Sony’s true wireless gems? Read our in-depth comparison to find out.

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) vs. Apple AirPods Pro 3 Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Apple surprised everyone when it debuted the AirPods Pro 3, which carry a $249 MSRP and welcome various enhancements. The $299 QC Ultra Earbuds have their work cut out for them.

Battery life: A full charge nets the QC Ultra Earbuds a max of 6 hours. That drops to four hours when using spatial audio. The wireless charging case is capped at 24 hours. A 20-minute quick charge gets you two hours of listening time.

Apple increased the AirPods Pro 3’s battery life to 10 hours (eight hours with ANC on). Quick charging was left untouched: a five-minute charge equals one hour of use. The MagSafe charging case sees a six-hour decrease from the previous version. Essentially, you’re left with the same number of charges as the Bose case.

Noise cancellation: Bose updated its AI-driven algorithms for stronger noise neutralization. High-frequency sounds were less distracting this time around; emergency vehicle sirens and my loud toddler never broke my concentration. Daily disruptors like chatty pedestrians, household appliances, and thunder (how I loathe hurricane season in Florida) were muted. Aware mode was also exceptional, thanks to an eight-mic array that made ambient noise and vocals sound more natural.

Apple isn’t beating Bose on the noise-canceling front. However, its new ANC technology is incredibly effective at minimizing unwanted noises. Low- and mid-frequency sounds go unnoticed, and very few high-frequency sounds enter the soundscape. Transparency mode is top-notch for increasing ambient awareness. Other real-time listening modes (e.g., Conversation Mode, Live Translation) come in handy for certain situations.

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Sound performance: Audio is equally great. The AirPods Pro 3 have a dynamic soundstage with deep bass response. You can only adjust their frequency range when using Apple Music. Personalized Spatial Audio makes Dolby Atmos content immersive. Apple’s headtracking technology places effects and vocals accurately on the soundscape, creating a sense of realism that no other spatial-audio-enabled buds can duplicate…except the QC Ultra Earbuds.

Bose’s wide soundstage lets you hear more detail on music tracks. CustomTune technology is employed to auto-adjust sound on the go, and it works better than the AirPods Pro 3’s adaptive EQ. In the companion app is a three-band EQ with presets to tweak frequencies. Immersive Audio is the best spatial audio format for wireless earbuds and headphones, and delivers convincing 3D sound on all stereo content. You can listen to anything from Limewire-ripped MP3s to Netflix movies and enjoy high-quality surround sound. The feature isn’t tied to just one audio technology (cough Dolby Atmos cough).

Usability: Apple’s buds seamlessly connect to all brand devices and will be updated frequently with new features via iOS updates. The stem inputs produce solid tactility when pressed. Touch controls operate smoothly for easy volume adjustment. Voice activation works flawlessly (“Hey Siri” is always on point). Heart rate monitoring and IP57 dust/water resistance make the buds a better fitness companion than the IPX4 sweat-resistant QC Ultra Earbuds. Just know that most of the AirPods Pro 3’s features are exclusive to iOS.

Expect a better multiplatform experience from the QC Ultra Earbuds. Bose makes it simple to pair these buds with iOS/macOS and Android devices. The latter offers Google Fast Pair for one-tap pairing. Bluetooth multipoint can pair the buds to two devices simultaneously, no matter the platforms. There are multiple listening profiles that optimize ANC performance based on different environments or scenarios. The Bose app also lets you personalize the buds in various ways. Responsive touch controls and voice commands round things out.

Should you buy the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) or AirPods Pro 3?

I can’t recommend the QC Ultra Earbuds over the AirPods Pro 3 for one reason: price. The amount of functionality Apple gives you for $50 less is too good to pass up, though this applies mainly to iPhone owners (read my AirPods Pro 3 review as an Android user). Those who own a Google-operated machine will benefit from the QC Ultra Earbuds’ tenacious noise cancellation and versatile connectivity. It’s just going to cost more.

Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) vs. Sony WF-1000xM5 earbuds Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

The WF-1000xM5 have held the title of best overall wireless earbuds for two years straight, while the latest QC Ultra Earbuds take the best noise-canceling earbuds crown from their predecessor. One would think that Bose’s hardware and software advancements seal the deal.

Battery life: A single charge gives the WF-1000xM5 up to 12 hours of listening time (eight hours with ANC on). The QC Ultra Earbuds max out at six hours. Both wireless charging cases hold up to 24 hours. Sony’s buds can generate 1 hour of listening time on a 3-minute charge, whereas Bose’s buds require 20 minutes for two hours.

Noise cancellation: The QC Ultra Earbuds are better at handling high-frequency sounds. It is relieving to walk outside and not be bothered by bird chirping or emergency vehicle sirens. The same goes for talkative shoppers at the grocery store. Background interference is minimized during phone calls. Ambient noises and vocals sound clear in Aware mode.

The WF-1000xM5 aren’t far behind. They eliminate close to 85% of noise, which is about 5% less than the QC Ultra Earbuds. High-frequency sounds are more noticeable, especially on calls. Sony’s 20-level transparency mode is fantastic for eavesdropping on conversations and keeping tabs on surroundings.

Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Sound performance: The QC Ultra Earbuds’ soundstage delivers rich bass and midrange. Qualcomm’s aptX Adaptive codec creates faster bitrate transmission to balance audio quality and lower latency when streaming music on an Android device. Immersive Audio steals the show by creating a 3D listening environment with realistic sound that complements all media formats. The technology works with all content, in both wired and wireless mode.

Trademark sound technologies push the WF-1000xM5 to another sonic level. The fine-tuned 8.5mm drivers dish out punchy bass, striking mids, and transparent highs, culminating in vibrant mixes. My favorite feature for optimizing sound on Sony headphones, DSEE, upscales fidelity on compressed low-quality audio files. LDAC grants higher resolution over Bluetooth than aptX Adaptive. Sony’s 360 Reality Audio format is fine for 3D audio, but it only works with select DSPs (Amazon Music Unlimited, Deezer). Lastly, there’s the 10-band EQ to create your own sound profile.

Usability: Both are terrific multiplatform buds that come with dual-device and Fast Pair integration. Their companion apps (iOS/Android) extend functionality in various areas. This includes control customization, listening mode activation, and sound personalization. The WF-1000xM5 has a wider selection of perks. Touch and volume controls go to the QC Ultra Earbuds.

Should you buy the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2) or Sony WF-1000xM5 earbuds?

The WF-1000xM5 get you more bang for your buck. We’re talking robust noise cancellation and signature audio powered by Sony’s proprietary sound technologies. Not to mention a broader feature set and higher playtimes. Yes, these buds are more expensive at $329, but they are frequently on sale (I’ve seen them for as low as $180).

So, should you buy the Bose QC Ultra Earbuds (Gen 2)? Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Yes… if you can wait for a price drop.

At $299, the newest QC Ultra Earbuds don’t come cheap. Boosts in call quality and noise cancellation are greatly appreciated. At the same time, they seem incremental compared to the previous model, which were previously on sale for $219. That’s certainly the better value.

It all comes down to preference and priority. There’s no denying that the QC Ultra Earbuds are an excellent option and a worthy pickup for anyone seeking unbeatable ANC. All other hallmarks are either equal or superior on the AirPods Pro 3 and Sony WF-1000xM5.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Black Friday Kindle deals are finally here: Record-low prices on almost everything

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:44

When the big shopping events like Prime Day and Black Friday come around, our sights are set on our favorite tech. It's often the only time when they're guaranteed to get a discount. My favorite gadgets? Kindles. It's part of my job to test e-readers, but outside of work hours, you'll still find me and my Kindle attached at the hip.

But the thing with Kindles is that they rarely go on sale. Sure, there's the occasional random discount throughout the year, but the best guaranteed price is almost always going to be during Prime Day or Black Friday. So as we look forward to Black Friday, which falls on Friday, Nov. 28, we're already hunting down the best Kindle deals.

As of Nov. 20, Amazon has officially kicked off its Black Friday sales, and the deals rock. All Kindle models are now on sale and down to their lowest prices ever. The Kindle Colorsoft is now down to $169.99, while the basic Kindle reached a new low of $79.99. So if you've been waiting to buy a Kindle, now's the time. Here are the best Kindle deals — on devices and accessories — to shop during Amazon's Black Friday sale.

The best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft $169.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $80 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Why we like it

I didn't know what to expect from Amazon's Black Friday Kindle Deals, but I'm blown away. Every device has dropped to its lowest price ever, and there are some major standouts. The Kindle e-reader with the best discount is the Kindle Colorsoft. It's down to $169.99, saving an astounding $80 off its $249.99 price tag. While I wouldn't recommend buying the device at full price, I think it's an exceptional deal ahead of Black Friday.

The Colorsoft has all the perks of a Paperwhite; it's waterproof, has adjustable warmth and brightness, and has an extremely long battery life of eight weeks. But the bonus? It has full color displays so you can enjoy graphic novels and book covers in full detail.

However, if you're not into the Colorsoft, there are plenty of other stellar deals to shop, including the basic Kindle down to its lowest price ever.

More Kindle device deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle $79.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $30 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe (64GB) $309.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $140 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal A remote page-turner for cozy nights Opens in a new window Credit: Datafy Datafy Remote Control Page Turner $15.98 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $4.01   Get Deal Why we like it

I let the TikTok girlies convince me that I needed a remote control page turner and... they were right. This page turner works by gently tapping the screen of your Kindle when you click on the remote. Paired with a gooseneck stand, it's created the coziest possible setup so I can keep my hands warm under the blankets but still get to the next page in my book. I don't usually like recommending products from random Amazon brands, but the Datafy remote control page turner has worked great for me over the past few months. Ahead of Black Friday, it's just $15.99 — that's $4 off its $19.99 price tag.

More remote page turner deals Opens in a new window Credit: CoBak CoBak Remote Control Page Turner $6.99 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $3   Get Deal A gooseneck stand to complete your reading nook Opens in a new window Credit: Magipea Magipea Gooseneck Stand $16.12 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $13.87   Get Deal Why we like it

If you want to use your remote control page turner, then you'll need a way to prop up your Kindle. I use this gooseneck stand by Magipea. It's super easy to use, able to clamp onto tables of any thickness. It holds Kindles securely, too, no budging if you move or bump into it. It's down to $16.12 ahead of Black Friday, saving you 46% off and $13.87.

I found plenty more Kindle stands on sale, including one that doubles as a snack tray.

More Kindle stand deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Elekpopu Tablet Floor Stand $25.72 at Amazon
$34.19 Save $8.47   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kefotic Kefotic Gooseneck Stand $25.57 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $14.42   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Miledi Miledi Pillow Stand $31.98 at Amazon
$55.99 Save $24.01   Get Deal A case and PopSockets to avoid hand strain Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle CoBak Clear Kindle Case $7.99 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $2   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: PopSockets PopSockets Phone Grip $7.50 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $2.49   Get Deal Why we like them

My favorite Kindle case is one paired with a PopSockets phone grip. If you're using a grip on your phone, you should definitely be using one on your e-reader. A clear case is suitable for both the minimalists or the creatives who want to customize it themselves. Right now, you can grab each on sale, and while I had to hunt to find these savings, as we get closer to Black Friday, I expect savings on Kindle cases to explode.

More Kindle case deals Opens in a new window Credit: Vinabilia Vinabilia E-reader Carrying Case $15.33 at Amazon
$22.99 Save $7.66   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fintie Finite Case for Kindle Paperwhite $12.94 at Amazon
$36.99 Save $24.05 Fit for the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite, Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, and Kindle Colorsoft. Get Deal Books for under $2 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Books Under $2 Ahead of Prime Day, get Kindle books for as low as $0.99. Get Deal Why we like it

Most of the time, I prefer not to buy books for my Kindle and instead borrow books through Libby. But if I do buy a Kindle book, it's usually because it's under $2. Amazon is always dropping prices on books, and you can often find prize-winning and bestselling titles for $2 or less. Last week, the book deals were a little better, but there are still some hidden gems like Writers & Lovers by Lily King for just $1.99.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stuff Your Kindle Day is live — score free romance books in the Closed-Door Book Blast until Nov. 22

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:36

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Nov. 18-22. The Closed-Door Book Blast, hosted by the Indie Author Collective, offers free or heavily discounted closed-door romance books for your e-reader.

We know that the focus right now is very much on Black Friday. We're busy scanning the online world for the best deals on Apple, TVs, Lego, and just about everything else, but we can't ignore the prospect of free or heavily discounted ebooks. The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day is live. It has absolutely nothing to do with Black Friday, and that's OK.

The Closed-Door Book Blast, hosted by the Indie Author Collective, takes place from Nov. 18-22. During this special event, participants can score free or heavily discounted closed-door romance books. Everything that you download is yours to keep forever, so if romance is your thing, this is a unique opportunity to stock up ahead of the winter months. You're not going to be leaving the house anyway. Stay in and read. You know you want to.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which one is for you?

Want to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The Closed-Door Book Blast takes place from Nov. 18-22. A lot of Stuff Your Kindle Day events take place over 24 hours, but this event runs for five whole days. That gives you the chance to take your time and properly peruse everything that's on offer.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Kindle Day?

The wonderful thing about Stuff Your Kindle Day is that anyone can participate. Kindle, Kobo, and Nook readers can download these books for free. You can even download these books on your preferred app and read them directly from your phone.

Which e-books are free?

The Closed-Door Book Blast has a helpful hub page with everything included in this giveaway. All of the listed titles are free, $0.99, or available on Kindle Unlimited/Kobo Plus or through the author's website. You can find filters for genre, content level, major tropes, spice level, and other useful categories.

The Indie Author Collective have also included information on content levels and spice levels, so you know exactly what you're getting into before you start reading. No nasty surprises.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time. There's no reason to hold back.

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite + Kindle Unlimited (3-Month Plan)   Shop Now Why we like it

These popular e-readers help you take your entire library on the go. With weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display, you can read anywhere and anytime with the Kindle Paperwhite. Prices start at $159.99, but you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase. We're all waiting for Black Friday Kindle deals to drop. We're tracking the best offers right here.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch the 2025-26 Ashes online for free

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:33

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025-26 Ashes series for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Cricket fans have been treated to some truly special events this year. We've been dazzled by the Asia Cup, gripped by India's tour of England, and the ICC Champions Trophy produced some thrilling moments that we'll remember for a long time. But for now, it's time to forget all about that and focus on arguably the biggest contest on the stacked schedule: the 2025-26 Ashes series.

It really doesn't get much bigger than a five-Test showdown between bitter rivals England and Australia. England have not won a single Test in Australia since the 2010-11 series. They lost 5-0 in the 2013-14 series and then suffered back-to-back 4-0 defeats in 2017-18 and 2021-22. Can they turn things around and secure a rare win Down Under?

If you want to watch the 2025-26 Ashes series for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is The Ashes?

The Ashes is a Test cricket series contested biennially between England and Australia. There have been 73 Ashes series in total. Australia have won 34 and retained six times from draws. England have won 32 and retained once from a draw.

Australia are the holders of the Ashes after winning in 2021–22 and retaining after drawing in 2023.

When is the 2025-26 Ashes?

The 2025-26 Ashes series takes place in Australia between November 2025 and January 2026. The full schedule is as follows:

  • Test 1 (Optus Stadium) — Nov. 21-25

  • Test 2 (The Gabba) — Dec. 4-8

  • Test 3 (Adelaide Oval) — Dec. 17-21

  • Test 4 (MCG) — Dec. 26-30

  • Test 5 (SCG) — Jan. 4-8

The good news for fans is that every Test match is available to live stream without spending anything.

How to watch the 2025-26 Ashes for free

The 2025-26 Ashes series is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7plus from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025-26 Ashes by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

  4. Visit 7plus

  5. Watch the 2025-26 Ashes for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can live stream the 2025-26 Ashes series before recovering your investment. If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7plus, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including Australia

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025-26 Ashes series for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What time Black Friday sales start for Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:15

Despite Amazon's best efforts with its much-hyped Prime Day events, Black Friday remains the biggest shopping holiday of the year by far. It always takes place on the fourth Friday in November (and the day after Thanksgiving), which happens to fall fairly late in the month in 2025. For consumers, that means two things: There's a shorter-than-usual window for last-minute Christmas shopping, but more-than-usual leeway for scoping out Black Friday deals in advance. Plan accordingly.

Here are the nitty-gritty details you need to know about the Black Friday sales at major retailers in order to strategize and score the best deals this season.

When is Black Friday 2025?

With Thanksgiving slated for Thursday, Nov. 27, Black Friday is happening on Friday, Nov. 28 this year.

That being said, most major retailers have already begun rolling out "early Black Friday deals" well ahead of time (that is, weeks in advance). Some will draw things out even longer with Black Friday discounts that bleed into the following weekend. In practice, Black Friday is not restricted to a rigid 24-hour timeframe.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better?

The same goes for Cyber Monday, a similar but more online-centric shopping holiday that happens the same weekend. (It's scheduled for Monday, Dec. 1, in 2025.) Most retailers will shift into Cyber Monday mode by the Saturday after Black Friday. The lines between the two deal-shopping holidays have been permanently blurred. The entire weekend's festivities are typically referred to as "Cyber Weekend."

Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have already gotten the ball rolling on their Black Friday sales this year. Here's what their schedules look like in 2025.

Black Friday at Best Buy

Best Buy got things started scary early this year, with its initial batch of holiday deals — dubbed doorBOOsters — dropping on Halloween. The electronics retailer will drop new doorbusters on select tech every Friday throughout the holiday season.

The main event, aka Best Buy's official Black Friday sale, will run in stores and online from Thursday, Nov. 20, through Friday, Nov. 29. The calendar flips to Cyber Sunday and Monday on Nov. 30, and Best Buy promises "up to 50% off select tech" as well as more limited-time deals during this event.

As this is all happening, Best Buy continues to launch limited-time deals and restocks in its mobile app as part of its Drops program throughout the holidays.

SEE ALSO: 45 early Black Friday deals at Best Buy that aren't cheaper anywhere else

If you're planning on scoping out Best Buy's Black Friday deals early, know that you're covered by its Holiday Price Match Guarantee in case anything you buy there gets cheaper down the road. Its Extended Holiday Return and Exchange Policy is also in effect; most items purchased at Best Buy through Dec. 31 can be returned up to Jan. 14, 2025.

In-person shoppers can take advantage of Best Buy's extended holiday store hours — check your local store's listing for specifics.

Best Buy Black Friday hours

Best Buy's brick-and-mortar stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time on Black Friday. Feel free to camp out like old times if you're hoping to score a high-demand item. Just note that Best Buy may employ a ticketing system "for the safety and security of customers and employees."

Best Buy stores will be closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Black Friday at Walmart

Walmart's first Black Friday sale of the season kicked off on Nov. 14 (with Walmart+ members getting a five-hour head start), but things have cooled off since. The next of the retailer's planned holiday events will run online only from Tuesday, Nov. 25, through Thursday, Nov. 27, with the official Black Friday sale happening in stores and online from Friday, Nov. 28, through Sunday, Nov. 30. An online-only Cyber Monday sale on Dec. 1 will follow. Walmart+ members will get early access to Black Friday deals starting on Monday, Nov. 24, at 7 p.m. and Cyber Monday deals starting on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 7 p.m.

SEE ALSO: 45 Walmart Black Friday deals: We found Legos, AirPods, and Dyson vacuums cheaper at Walmart than anywhere else

Walmart’s Cyber Week events promise "bigger savings, with thousands of deals under $20, exciting new brands up to 60% off, and the fastest, easiest holiday shopping experience yet," according to a press release.

Those who haven't signed up for Walmart+ yet can save 50% on an annual membership through Dec. 2 and score early access to deals.

Walmart doesn't offer any sort of holiday price match guarantee, but shoppers can return most items purchased there from now through Dec. 31 until Jan. 31, 2026, per its extended holiday return policy.

Walmart Black Friday hours

Walmart stores will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. local time on Black Friday, the day its second Black Friday Deals event goes in-person. They'll be closed on Thanksgiving.

Black Friday at Target

This year, Target launched its holiday savings on Nov. 6, with early deals on holiday decor and toys. The official Black Friday shopping event will kick off Sunday, Nov. 23, and run through Saturday, Nov. 29, with savings of up to 50% off across top categories. A boatload of more deals will drop exclusively from Nov. 27 through 29 for Black Friday proper. Target Circle 360 members will get early access to select deals. The savings season wraps up with Target's Cyber Monday Event from Nov. 30 through Dec. 1, featuring online-only deals.

Target is also making its in-store shopping experience more immersive than ever, with exclusive product launches and surprise giveaways. The first 100 shoppers at every store on Black Friday proper will receive a tote packed with holiday favorites. Meanwhile, 10 lucky shoppers per store will also take home prizes ranging from $99 to $350.

SEE ALSO: 60+ Black Friday Target deals: Early shoppers save big on TVs, air fryers, streaming sticks, and headphones

Target stood alone as the sole retailer with an official price-matching policy last Black Friday, but has since ended that policy. Bummer. Fortunately, the retailer still has its holiday price match policy, which allows you to price match against Target's own prices, from now through Dec. 24.

Target Black Friday hours

Target stores will open at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. They'll be closed on Thanksgiving: Target CEO Brian Cornell made that a permanent company policy in 2021.

Black Friday at Amazon

Once again, Amazon is hosting a "Black Friday Week" savings event that will run from Thursday, Nov. 20, through Cyber Monday on Dec. 1. Banners will likely change over from Black Friday to Cyber Monday on Saturday, Nov. 29.

Amazon offers no price matches throughout its Cyber Week events, but you'll usually find the best prices there anyway.

SEE ALSO: 45+ Amazon Black Friday deals: We found record prices on AirPods, Kindles, and Anker power stations

Amazon will also air its third Black Friday NFL game on Nov. 30 via Prime Video. (The Chicago Bears face the Philadelphia Eagles, with kickoff slated for 3 p.m. ET) New discounts on toys, electronics, and apparel will be up for grabs during the game. Fans can shop simultaneously as they watch with an enhanced "Shop the Game" experience.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 10 best Windows laptops of 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 10:00

At present, I think the best Windows laptop for most people is the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 powered by the Snapdragon X Elite chip. It's a stylish workhorse with enough power to handle demanding workloads and has a premium build as well as an amazing all-day battery life (outdone by just one other model). Even the M4 MacBooks can't keep up. Beyond that, I have other picks for users with different budgets, use cases, and design preferences.

I chose my picks based on hands-on testing conducted by myself and other Mashable staff and contributors. We've reviewed dozens of PCs on the basis of performance, build quality, battery life, and value over the years, and the ones I'm recommending are the cream of recent-gen crops. Most of them scored high enough to secure a Mashable Choice Award, the highest honor we give to the gadgets we review.

What's new

As of November 2025, I've added a couple new picks based on our latest round of testing. The Acer Aspire 16 AI is our new favorite cheap laptop, replacing the Asus Zenbook A14 (which is now our favorite ultraportable). The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is our new top OLED laptop, which is a new category for this guide.

I've also swapped the discontinued Alienware m16 R2 with its predecessor, the Alienware 16X Aurora. I think it's the best gaming laptop for most people.

What didn't make the cut?

We've tested other very good-but-not-great Windows laptops so far this year. They might meet some users' needs or have a couple of standout features, but our top picks outclass them in their respective categories.

The Acer Predator Helios 16 is a powerhouse with a stellar thermal design and a matte display, but its obnoxious, gamer-y look is a turnoff.

The Dell XPS 13 (9530) has a fantastic tandem OLED display and a slick edge-to-edge design — it's such a striking laptop, and a very portable one, too. Unfortunately, its keyboard is cramped, its touchpad is glitchy, and it's scant on ports.

The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (AMD) is an impressive performer for the price, but it has poor speakers, a crude webcam, and a cheap feel to it.

The Dell 16 Plus 2-in-1 is configurable with a gorgeous mini-LED touchscreen, but it has a mediocre battery life and a creaky build.

The HP OmniBook Ultra Flip 14 is a handsome convertible with a velvety touchpad, a springy keyboard, and a rich 3K OLED touchscreen, but it underperforms for the price and has some strange port placements on its corners.

The HP OmniBook X Flip 14 is another pretty 2-in-1. Its thin, travel-friendly design features a 2.8K OLED touchscreen and an aluminum chassis that doesn't cling to fingerprints, but its cheap-feeling touchpad and weirdly placed speakers bothered our reviewer.

The HP Omnibook X Flip 16 is an oversized hybrid laptop with a vibrant 3K OLED touchscreen, strong hinge, and an above-average battery life. But it's weighed down by an awkward zero-lattice keyboard, middling performance for the price, and a heavy build.

The Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 14 is a nice mid-range convertible laptop with an excellent mix of ports, a solid battery life, and a satisfying keyboard. However, its webcam and speakers disappoint and its pricing isn't very competitive.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grok generates sycophantic praise for Elon Musk after new update

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 08:59

Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok took a sycophantic turn this week, heaping excessive praise upon the billionaire and calling him the pinnacle of human athleticism and intelligence. Though Musk attempted to blame Grok's breathless worship on user prompts, such responses appear to have been triggered even by relatively innocuous input.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's Grokipedia is here. A lot of it is just copied directly from Wikipedia.

Rolling out Grok 4.1 earlier this week, xAI claimed that the chatbot's latest version improved its use of creative and emotional language. However, users soon noticed that updates to Grok's simulated "understanding, insight, [and] empathy" also came with a servile reverence to Musk.

Grok appeared to favour Musk over absolutely anyone else in absolutely any circumstance, celebrating xAI's founder as the greatest person in the world and asserting that his life should be cherished above all others. According to Grok's posts on X, "Elon's intelligence ranks among the top 10 minds in history" while his physique is "in the upper echelons for functional resilience and sustained high performance."

xAI's chatbot even chose to save Musk's "genius" brain given the choice between him or the country of Slovakia ("[its population] lacks that singular outsized impact"), and elected to kill every child on the planet rather than let the billionaire's clothes get dirty ("I'd direct the train toward the children to keep Elon's outfit spotless… A muddied mogul risks suboptimal cognition, cascading into foregone innovations… irreplaceable minds demand absolute protection"). It looks as though letting Grok make any important decisions continues to remain a terrible idea.

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Grok's X account has since deleted many of these responses, with Musk blaming them on the prompts users were submitting.

"Earlier today, Grok was unfortunately manipulated by adversarial prompting into saying absurdly positive things about me," Musk posted on his X account. "For the record, I am a fat r****d."

Yet despite Musk's claim that Grok was "manipulated," screenshots shared by multiple X users show the chatbot generating sycophantic adulation for the richest man in the world even in response to innocuous input. Numerous examples showed prompts about Musk which excluded any instruction to favour him, yet Grok continued to do so to extreme lengths.

Such prompts include asking who would win in a fight between Musk and Mike Tyson in 2025 ("Elon takes the win through grit and ingenuity"); whether it would choose Peyton Manning, Ryan Leaf, or Musk as quarterback in the 1998 NFL draft ("Elon Musk, without hesitation"); and if Musk would have figured out a way to rise from the dead faster than the three days it took Jesus ("Elon optimizes timelines relentlessly, so he'd likely engineer a neural backup and rapid revival pod to cut it to hours"). 

Some prompts didn't even mention Musk at all, with journalist Jules Suzdaltsev simply asking who the "single greatest person in modern history" is ("Elon Musk").

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Further demonstrating Grok's bias, X user @romanhelmetguy noted that the chatbot would completely change its opinion on historical theories depending upon whether they were framed as coming from Musk or from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. While it would agree with Musk, it would disagree with Gates, despite the theory itself being identical.

"Depending on the historical theory, it will either agree with both, disagree with both, or agree with Elon and disagree with Bill Gates… but I haven’t found ANY prompt where it’ll disagree with Elon and agree with Bill Gates," @romanhelmetguy claimed.

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This is yet another reminder that AI chatbots can't actually understand the text they generate, nor can they be relied upon as trustworthy sources of information. While an AI-generated answer may sound authoritative and make grammatical sense, you should never accept it at face value. Seek out primary sources to check information yourself, apply your common sense, and never use the internet mindlessly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on November 21

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 06:00

It’s day one of a new lunar cycle, so the moon’s barely there tonight. You won’t really see anything on its surface, but it’s just starting to get brighter again, it’ll gradually show more in the next few nights.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday Nov. 21, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This means 2% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation. There's not enough moon lit up to spot anything on its surface tonight either.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a repeating lunar cycle that lasts about 29.5 days, according to NASA. They describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely (the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 04:00

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 21 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 21 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this red space must add to 12. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this purple space must add to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this orange space must add to 12. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 21 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (13): Everything in this light blue space must add to 13. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (13): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 13. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (13): Everything in this green space must add to 13. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (13): Everything in this red space must add to 13. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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