IT General

Why I'm buying the Apple Magic Trackpad

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 20:30

There's something deeply wrong about spending $150 on an Apple trackpad when I don’t own a Mac and use a Windows PC. I know this. My wallet knows this. But I can see it unlocking some productivity gains, which is why I’m really considering buying it against my better judgment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Netflix documentaries you have to watch this weekend (November 14 - 16)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 20:00

Fiction is great, but when real life delivers stories and subjects as compelling, inspiring, and entertaining as even the most wildly imaginative yarns, sometimes a documentary is the best way to tell it.

Categories: IT General, Technology

No, that AI country song isnt No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Yes, it is terrible.

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:43

You can't believe everything you hear.

This week, I saw dozens of headlines and viral social posts about an AI country song that reached the top of the Billboard country charts. If a song created with generative AI had truly reached No. 1 in the country music world, that would indeed be huge, paradigm-shifting news.

I'm talking about "Walk My Walk" by Breaking Rust, the name of an AI-generated "musician." Meanwhile, as social media users breathlessly shared news about the AI country song topping the chart, a human being by the name of Morgan Wallen has been the actual artist at the top of the Billboard country chart. (I reached out to Billboard for comment, and I'll update this post if I receive a response.)

So, what's going on? Technically, "Walk My Walk" has nabbed the top spot on a chart. Specifically, the Billboard Country Digital Song Sales Chart. However, as any music listener can tell you, there aren't many people buying digital copies of singles anymore. Over on Spotify's Country Top 50 chart, Breaking Rust is nowhere to be found — even after all the news coverage this past week.

As is often the case, social media doesn't quite have the story right on this one. On YouTube, the song has a measly 38,944 views, as of this writing.

As someone who grew up in the South and listened to a lot of country pop against his will, I can tell you that a lot of such ditties sound exactly the same. Pop country loves its tropes and has been parodied to death, and "Walk My Walk" hits a lot of the usual cliches. The lyrics include poetry like "Got mud on my jeans" and, ironically, "I was born this way." Even the title of the song and name of the "musician" are painfully generic.

Indeed, it's hard to think of a more hackneyed country song title than "Walk My Walk," and what does Breaking Rust actually mean? It's exactly the kind of country-sounding but soulless name you'd expect from generative AI.

On first listen, there's not much to distinguish this song from any other country or Bluegrass pop hit, at least to my ears. But that's not praise for generative AI so much as it's criticism of the genre. And, of course, if "Walk My Walk" sounds like a real country song, that's because it was surely made by an AI audio model trained on countless real country songs, without the permission or consent of the artists. A lot of artists consider generative AI to be outright theft and plagiarism, at an industrial scale.

According to The Tennessean, Breaking Rust songs are credited to Aubierre Rivaldo Taylor, an unknown creator with no online presence.

Whether you like it or not, AI creators aren't going away. I've written about the bizarre phenomenon of AI "actors" before, and you can expect more AI-generated songs, movies, books, and slop to appear in your feeds from now on, and possibly forever.

This article reflects the opinion of the writer.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Thunderbird 145 Mail arrives with long-awaited Exchange support

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:42

Thunderbird 145.0 has officially landed, and it comes with native support for Microsoft Exchange. This is a massive update for anyone who uses Thunderbird daily but has struggled to connect to their work email without resorting to clunky third-party add-ons or bridges.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don’t buy the Steam Machine, here's how to build a better one

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:30

The Steam Machine has just been announced, and PC gamers are already going crazy over it. If you can’t wait to get your hands on one, or if you like the concept of a tiny living room PC but have some reservations, you should build your own Steam Machine.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:24

Bitcoin has fallen below $100,000 for the first time in months.

As of publishing time on Friday, Bitcoin has been hovering around the $94,000 to $97,000 price range. That price point is the lowest Bitcoin has seen since early May and a big drop from the more than $126,000 all-time high that Bitcoin reached just early last month.

What's going on here?

It's important to note that cryptocurrency is extremely volatile and can experience unexplained ebbs and flows based on a number of factors. A major factor likely driving this latest Bitcoin drop is general sentiment about the economy. 

The stock market is also down right now, and historically the cryptocurrency markets follow Wall Street. In addition, some analysts are citing the expectation that the Federal Reserve will cut rates in December. As a result, institutional buying has trailed off in recent weeks.

Crypto whale selloffs are often a significant factor when the crypto market suddenly goes down. This time, however, a lot of holders are reportedly selling off Bitcoin, not just the whales.

According to new data from cryptocurrency analytics company CryptoQuant, long-term Bitcoin holders have sold around 815,000 BTC over the past 30 days, the highest activity since early 2024.

Bitcoin has been riding high since President Donald Trump's election in 2024. The crypto lobby came together to back his campaign, and it paid off. The Trump administration has rolled back crypto regulations, appointed cryptocurrency industry-approved officials, and ended investigations into crypto-related crime. For example, just last month, Trump pardoned the founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, who was sentenced to prison for money laundering.

However, a relatively small number of people actually partake in cryptocurrency trading. In turn, this means that the actions of long-term holders and crypto whales can really sway the market, and this fact — combined with that lackluster market sentiment — is likely what we're seeing now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 reasons why you need to fix your bad cable management

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:15

Clearing up the cables inside your PC might seem like futile busywork. After all, if everything works, why bother? Well, I have six good reasons that'll convince you to open up your case and fix the mess inside your PC.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Netflix shows you need to binge this weekend (November 14 - 16)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:07

If you want to make the most of your Netflix subscription, you should watch as much as possible. It's all too easy to let the days fly by and not actually stream anything, and then you've paid for nothing. As such, why not dedicate this weekend to some well-deserved entertainment?

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early Black Friday TV deals in 2025: Hisense and Samsung QLEDs lead the pack

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:01
The best early Black Friday TV deals at a glance: BEST 50-inch TV deal Hisense 50-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $199.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best 55-inch TV deal Amazon 55-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV $694.99 (save $125) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $547.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $698 (save $301.99) Get Deal Best 100-inch TV deal Hisense 100-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $1,497.99 (save $502) Get Deal

It's officially the best time of year to buy a TV. And you don't even have to wake up at 2 a.m., ready to throw fists in a Walmart or Best Buy. While Black Friday proper — which falls on Nov. 28 in 2025 — will likely produce some unmatched deals as in years past, there's plenty of price drops already worth grabbing a couple of weeks early. Whether you're looking to upgrade to a larger screen or swap your LED model for a QLED model, this is the time.

As Mashable's TV expert Leah Stodart noted last year, QLED TVs have officially gone from swanky to accessible. That means it's easier than ever for the average household to make the jump to a QLED 4K TV at a budget-friendly price — particularly during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. And you will certainly notice the difference in quality.

We're keeping track of all the early Black Friday TV deals worth shopping below and will continuously update this list with any new price drops that roll in. Several Hisense, TCL, and Amazon Fire TV models are already down to record-lows, so feel free to shop ahead of the rush. TVs are one of the biggest purchases this time of year and they do tend to sell out. Read on for a rundown of our top picks.

Psst: If you're not sure what to do with your old TV, you can recycle it at most Best Buy stores for free.

Best early Black Friday 50-inch TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 50-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $199.99 at Best Buy
$329.99 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

This deal really highlights why we love the Hisense TV brand so much: you can get a QLED 4K TV for under $200. The QD6 model is a well-rounded budget TV that utilizes the Fire TV platform and features built-in Alexa, as well as Dolby Vision HDR and DTS Virtual X audio for better picture quality and crisper sound. It won't wow you quite like a premium QLED would, but you'll still notice a difference from the quantum dots — particularly when watching in the daytime. This 50-inch model is great for smaller living rooms, bedrooms, and apartments and at $199.99, its beating its Prime Day price by nearly $40 at Best Buy. It's currently sold out at Amazon.

Best early Black Friday 65-inch TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U6 Mini LED QLED 4K TV $547.99 at Amazon
$847.99 Save $300   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not sure what size TV to get, we consider 65 inches to be the sweet spot for most folks. While the Hisense U6 Mini LED QLED TV falls into the budget-friendly category, its specs don't scream "budget" at all. It features a Mini LED backlight system, which essentially means its uses smaller LEDs to deliver a brighter and more detailed picture. Plus, it packs a 144Hz native refresh rate, WiFi 6 connectivity, an ATSC 1.0 tuner under the hood, and support for HDR in Dolby Vision, HDR10, HDR10+, and HLG. It uses the same interface as Amazon's own Mini LED Fire TV and is equipped with on-board Alexa. Our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) called it "easily the brightest and most colorful budget-friendly TV we've tested." At $547.99, the 65-inch Hisense U6 is already down to its best price ever at Amazon ahead of Black Friday.

Best early Black Friday 75-inch+ TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $698 at Walmart
$999.99 Save $301.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Walmart and Amazon are both featuring this excellent deal on the TCL QM6K TV, which our friends at CNET (also owned by Ziff Davis) dubbed the "best TV under $1,000 in 2025." It checks all the boxes you want in a new TV: impressive picture quality with vibrant colors, smooth streaming interface (via Google TV), a high refresh rate for gaming (144Hz), and a killer price tag. At $698, this early Black Friday deal not only beats its Prime Day price by more than $50, but it marks a new record-low. It's not quite as impressive as its QM8 sibling, but the QM6K is "a stellar mini LED TV for the low-to-mid-tier price range," as our team pointed out in our roundup of the best TVs for 2025.

Black Friday TV deals at Best Buy43-inch to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and upBlack Friday TV deals at Walmart50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs70-inch TVs and upBlack Friday TV deals at Amazon43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and up85-inch TVs and up
Categories: IT General, Technology

Homelab projects to try this weekend (November 14-16)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 19:00

Are you looking for some fun homelab projects to try this weekend? Look no further! Today, I’m telling you about three things I wish I had set up a long time ago.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Shop the best early fitness tracker deals now ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:46
Best early Black Friday fitness tracker deals Best Early Black Friday Fitness Tracker Deal Apple Watch Ultra 3 $699.99 (Save $99.01) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Budget Fitness Tracker Deal CMF Watch Pro 2 $55 (Save $24) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Apple Watch Alternative Fitness Tracker Deal Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition on white background $609.91 (Save $490.98) Get Deal

Whether you're looking to crush a new goal in 2026 or just want to get a head start on your holiday shopping, now's the time to grab a new fitness tracker. Early Black Friday deals on a variety of brands are officially live now, with significant discounts on wearables for every budget. From simple step counters to advanced smartwatches, these early Black Friday fitness tracker deals have you covered with price drops of just about every kind.

Below, you'll find some of our favorite early fitness tracker deals we've uncovered ahead of the biggest shopping event of the year. We'll continue updating this page as additional deals go live. Be sure to keep checking back in the days leading up to and during Black Friday for even more deals so you don't miss a single discount.

Best early Black Friday fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple Watch Ultra 3 $699.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $99.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple's premium smartwatch is the top of the line when it comes to fitness tracking, along with all the other wearable features it offers. You can save on it now and get all the perks for less, which include hypertension detection, upgraded sleep tracking, off-grid emergency comms, and everything else you've come to expect from the Apple Watch. That includes heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, workout recording, and much more.

Best early Black Friday budget fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon CMF Watch Pro 2 $55 at Amazon
$79 Save $24   Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't want to shell out the big bucks for a premium fitness tracker or smartwatch, the CMF Watch Pro 2 is an affordable option that fits most budgets. But budget in this case doesn't mean bereft of features. It comes with a portable blood oxygen saturation monitor, workout tracking, heart rate tracking, training load and recovery time, and much more that can all be synced and shared to your favorite health app. All this, plus it does everything you need your smartwatch to do: make calls, use gestures, record voice notes, and more. All for under $60, which is a veritable dream.

Best early Black Friday Apple Watch alternative fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition $609.91 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $490.08   Get Deal Why we like it

If you prefer to try something different than an Apple Watch, this Garmin unit has everything you need if you're serious about fitness tracking in general. That includes a 1.4-inch AMOLED display with a sapphire lens. It has 24/7 health and wellness monitoring with HRV status and pulse oximetry, advanced sleep monitoring, hill score for endurance training, and an A to Z selection of fitness routine and workout tracking to help you stay on top of your game. It also gives you a morning report each day to give you an idea of where you are in your fitness journey so you can plan your next move.

More early Black Friday fitness tracker deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Buy the Meta Quest 3S and get a free $50 Amazon credit

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:43

SAVE $70 + FREE $50 CREDIT: As of Nov. 14, get the Meta Quest 3S for $329.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's a discount of 18%. Plus, get a free $50 credit with your purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Meta Quest 3S $329.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $70 Free $50 Amazon Credit with Purchase Get Deal

Virtual reality may not live up to the future tech we all thought it would be by now, but it's home to several games and experiences worth trying out. With Meta's affordable approach that lets you see what it's like without investing in a pricey PC setup, it's a fun option to dive into without spending too much cash. You can save even more right now on a Meta Quest 3S thanks to this Amazon deal, which also nets you some free credit for your trouble.

As of Nov. 14, get the Meta Quest 3S for $329.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's $70 off and a discount of 18%. Plus, get a free $50 credit with your purchase. The promotional credit will be added to your Amazon account within 30 days of your Meta Quest 3S's shipment and will expire on April 14, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Steam Frame vs Apple Vision Pro vs Meta Quest 3 — Which has stronger specs, and which is best for gaming?

While the Meta Quest 3 is currently the top of the line model, the affordable Meta Quest 3S is no slouch. It has 1832 x 1920 resolution per eye, a 120Hz refresh rate, 6DOF motion detection, and a pair of Meta Quest Touch Controllers to interact with your virtual worlds.

The 3S still uses the Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, which is the same as the Quest 3, with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage space. It has over 2 hours of battery life per charge, and requires no cords or computer to set up.

When you buy a Meta Quest, you also get access to a 3-month trial of Meta Horizon+, which means you get over 40 games to test out for free without having to commit to paying for just one. So you've got tons to play around with, even if you don't want to grab a game.

The holidays are coming up, and this is a fun gift or a good way to get friends and family together to experience VR for an affordable price. And the $50 credit isn't anything to sneeze at, either.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apples Issey Miyake iPhone Sock launched today, but its not as random as it sounds

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:40

Mashable covers all of Apple's product launches, and we've been speculating for months on what products the company might still release in 2025. We thought we might get AirTags 2.0, a new Apple TV device, or an updated HomePod. Truly, we did not see the iPhone Sock coming.

Designed in collaboration with the innovative brand Issey Miyake, the iPhone Pocket officially launched on Friday, and the reaction across the web has been very entertaining. The internet, in its collective wisdom, has unofficially rebranded the 3D knit phone holder as the iPhone Sock, which is fair, as Apple says the product was "inspired by the concept of 'a piece of cloth'". One enterprising creator even made their own version of the pricey designer accessory, using an old sock, of course.

The iPhone Pocket Sock comes in two sizes (short and long) and can be held in your hands, worn cross-body, or wrapped around a bag handle — priced at $149.95 and $229.95. Even many Apple fans were put out by the price, as $230 is a big ask for a phone holder, especially in this economy.

Of course, those aren't unheard of prices for designer accessories, especially from a brand like Issey Miyake, and Apple has proven time and again that if Apple builds it, people will buy it. (With the possible exception of the Vision Pro, of course.) As of this writing, the iPhone Sock is completely sold out in all colors at the online Apple Store, but customers may still be able to snag one at select Apple Stores IRL.

So, what is the iPhone Sock?

An Apple press release states:

iPhone Pocket features a ribbed open structure with the qualities of the original pleats by ISSEY MIYAKE. Born from the idea of creating an additional pocket, its understated design fully encloses iPhone, expanding to fit more of a user’s everyday items. When stretched, the open textile subtly reveals its contents and allows users to peek at their iPhone display. iPhone Pocket can be worn in a variety of ways — handheld, tied onto bags, or worn directly on the body. Featuring a playful color palette, the short strap design is available in eight colors, and the long strap design in three colors.

This might seem like a random product for Apple, but the company also released the colorful Apple Crossbody Strap this fall, though with a more reasonable $59 price tag. Apple and Issey Miyake also have a history together.

Steve Jobs and Japanese designer Miyake were actually friends, and according to Apple legend, Jobs once tapped Miyake to design an Apple uniform, which never came to fruition. Apple has continued without Jobs, and likewise, the fashion brand Issey Miyake has continued without its namesake founder, who passed away in 2022.

In the West, Issey Miyake is best known for its origami-inspired handbags and popular fragrances.

An Issey Miyake handbag with the new iPhone Pocket. Credit: Apple The iPhone Pocket on its own. Credit: Apple

Have Apple and Issey Miyake lived up to their founders' vision? We don't know, but we are curious about what Steve Jobs would have said about the $230 iPhone Sock. He and Miyake were friends, after all.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of The Mighty Nein on YouTube

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:36

Critmas came early for Critical Role fans everywhere, because the first episode of The Mighty Nein is now streaming for free on YouTube.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

Set to premiere Nov. 19, The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, the first being The Legend of Vox Machina. Like The Legend of Vox Machina, The Mighty Nein follows a group of unlikely heroes in the world of Exandria. However, The Mighty Nein charts new ground for Critical Role on TV, with longer episodes and a darker tone setting it apart from the raunchier Saturday morning cartoon vibe of The Legend of Vox Machina. (There are still dick jokes, though.)

The first episode, titled "Mote of Possibility," introduces three of The Mighty Nein's main heroes. There's disheveled wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien), heavily inebriated goblin Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel), and hotheaded Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray). The three are disparate travelers when we first meet them, but a brewing war between the Kryn Dynasty and the Dwendalian Empire will soon bring them together.

The inciting incident of that war takes center stage in "Mote of Possibility," which opens with a wizard heist on the Kryn Dynasty. Their target? The Luxon Beacon, an object of unfathomable power. Full of magic and brutality, the episode is worth checking out for the heist alone.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Proton 10 update fixes many games on Linux and Steam Deck

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:15

Valve has just released Proton 10.0-3, the newest stable version of the compatibility layer that lets Linux and Steam Deck users run thousands of Windows games. This update is absolutely massive and comes with better stability, performance boosts, and support for a huge list of titles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

What happens when streaming services start deleting their own movies and shows?

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:15

As we leave our physical media collections behind, and new movies and shows might not even get a release you can buy, own, and preserve, streaming services are becoming the custodians of our collective media history. But are they doing a good job when platforms like Disney+ are willing to remove their own content from streaming anywhere in the world?

Categories: IT General, Technology

Forget the Steam Machine, this is Valve's most exciting announcement

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 18:00

Valve's Steam Machine announcement has made massive waves across the PC gaming community. While the Steam Machine and Valve's new VR headset, the Steam Frame, took center stage, I'm by far the most excited about the new Steam Controller. Here's why.

Categories: IT General, Technology

For a limited time, get your first three months of Audible for $0.99 per month — plus enjoy a $20 Audible credit

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 17:53

SAVE $41.88: As of Nov. 14, get your first three months of Audible for just $0.99, saving you $41.88. On top of the monthly savings, enjoy a $20 Audible credit to use on your next listen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible $2.97 at Amazon
$44.85 Save $41.88 Enjoy your first three months of Audible for just $0.99 per month. Plus, score a $20 Audible credit when you sign up. Get Deal

With the holidays coming up, you might have a decent amount of travel on deck. And whether you're taking a plane, train, or automobile to get to your holiday plans, you'll need some entertainment along the way. If you're hoping to get in a few more books in on your reading goal, audiobooks will help you get there, especially when you're stuck in the car for hours at a time. And right now you can save on Audible audiobook membership.

As Nov. 14, three months of Audible for just $0.99 per month. In addition to the discounted monthly rate, you'll also receive a $20 credit to use on the site to stock up on even more audiobooks. Membership is other $14.95 per month, meaning with this deal, you'll spend just $2.97 for three months, saving you $41.88. This deal is only available to new Audible customers. However, Audible is offering one month free to returning customers.

Audible is Amazon's audiobook hub. It's where you can get audio versions of all the top books, but additionally Audible has a whole collection of originals. This includes special editions of Pride & Prejudice performed by Harris Dickinson and Marisa Abela or Audible's original festive crime thriller, the Mistletoe Murders.

Sign up for Audible now, and score three months for just $0.99 per month.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Narwal is now offering its Black Friday record-low prices early with a price guarantee

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 17:51

For anyone who has ever dreamed of handing over their household chores to a machine that actually delivers on the promise, Narwal has been quietly perfecting that idea. Known for blending robotics with genuinely useful automation, the brand has earned its place among the most advanced names in smart home cleaning. This year, Narwal’s Black Friday promotion gives tech enthusiasts and homeowners a chance to upgrade their daily routine with record-low prices across its most popular vacuum and mop systems.

Categories: IT General, Technology

American luxury sedan with Lexus-level refinement at a lower price

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 17:30

Lexus has long set the bar for luxury, tech, and value, with models like the UX300h, NX, and RZ starting under $44,000. Their higher-end trims, like the IS 500 F SPORT, pack impressive features and performance but push past $60,000.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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