IT General

How do you encapsulate the life of work of John Candy in a single film? The Canadian comedian, who first thrilled TV audiences on SCTV, made a slew of deeply hilarious and heartfelt movies like Splash, Uncle Buck, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, The Great Outdoors, and Cool Runnings. He was a comedy titan beloved on and offscreen.

John Candy: I Like Me attempts to explore all this through a cavalcade of clips from Candy's movies and TV appearances, as well as interviews with his family and famous friends like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Mel Brooks, Macaulay Culkin, and Tom Hanks. Notably, this documentary is directed by Hanks' son, Colin Hanks (and produced by the very famous Canadian movie star Ryan Reynolds). Yet for all the star power and the presumably personal connection Hanks has to the subject, John Candy: I Like Me lacks depth.

SEE ALSO: TIFF 2025 preview: 20 films you'll want to see for yourself (and how)

Sure, you get Candy's story. But Colin Hanks, who previously helmed the doc Eagles of Death Metal: Nos Amis (Our Friends), has little vision here. So, the movie feels like a pale reflection of the man who inspired it. 

Still, John Candy: I Like Me might be a must-see for comedy fans.

Candy's death in 1994, at the age of 43, sent shockwaves through Canada and beyond. He was a comedy legend, adored not only for all the laughs he brought us, but also because of the incredible heart he brought to the screen. Speaking for myself, watching Candy made me feel safe.

Whether he was squaring off against an intensely inquisitive Culkin in Uncle Buck, eating an obscenely large steak in The Great Outdoors, or hollering at the Jamaican bobsled team in Cool Runnings, his comedy created a space of comfort and joy. I was a kid when he died, and I remember weeping because I felt like I knew him. I felt like he was mine. That was a gift Candy gave to his audiences. He seemed an open book, and we were ready to read it all.

John Candy: I Like Me shows the pain hidden behind this jovial persona, much of it to do with the comedian's unprocessed grief over the death of his father, who died on Candy's fifth birthday. His widow, Rosemary Hobor, his children, Christopher and Jennifer, and his closest friends speak to how this early loss reverberated throughout Candy's life. But Hanks isn't able to create a flowing thread of this struggle with grief and joy. Instead, the director presents the film in segments that jump back and forth in Candy's life. While informative, this haphazard structure and stiff approach lacks the energy of Candy himself.

Still, comedy fans who want to know more about this giant in the genre will want to see what is offered. But they should manage their expectations.

Colin Hanks lacks focus in John Candy: I Like Me. 

There's plenty of interesting information in this documentary. SCTV alum like Levy, Short, O'Hara, and Dave Thomas happily recount Candy's early days in comedy, a time when he was nicknamed "Johnny Toronto" because of his bravado. Thomas in particular recounts a story about how Candy rented a stretch limo to posture as a big shot, even when he couldn't pay his bills. Murray shares another tale about the comically expensive home decor Candy accidentally committed to in his salad days. These anecdotes are wonderful, enlightening, and reveal a side to Candy his audiences didn't get to see. Sadly, they are too few and far between. 

Too often, the film becomes a barrage of people saying the same general niceties, without giving specific stories. Beyond feeling redundant, this approach also creates the sense of a mournful eulogy. This maudlin attitude is kicked off in the film's start, with footage from Candy's funeral and Aykroyd's actual eulogy playing as solemn voiceover. It's a staunch reminder that all that follows will lead to an early, tragic demise. A pall is cast over the pile-on of compliments. And it left me wishing Hanks had dug deeper. 

For instance, many folks say that Candy sought to make every on-set experience good for everyone involved, cast and crew. Why not share some specifics? Find a crew member who decades later can recount a time Candy connected with them? It's not that I don't believe the claims of these co-stars and colleagues. But too often, Hanks rests on these vague reflections instead of probing further for better storytelling.

John Candy: I Like Me works best when Candy is front and center.

The most revealing moments of the documentary end up being archival interviews where Candy speaks for himself. Insensitive reporters ask him fatphobic questions about his weight, and you can see the sting in his eyes. Candy's wife then shares insight that his doctors urged him to lose weight, but Hollywood agents suggested if he did, it'd hurt his career. 

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That's an intriguing area: how show business held up and hurt this star. But Hanks only brushes on it, pivoting back to Candy's paternal grief and coping mechanisms of overeating, drinking, and smoking. Rather than create a complex tapestry of the comedian, these segments feel strangely patchwork, stitched together clumsily. Then, Hanks — as suggested by the title — refers to Candy's movies for a summation of his legacy.

Quoting Del Griffith, the character Candy memorably played in Planes, Trains and Automobiles, "I like me" suggests Candy was comfortable in his own skin, when much of the movie suggests he carried great pain and fear his whole life. That is not a tragedy. That is not something to be glossed over. Because Candy didn't let that pain make him a cynic. Instead, he used it as fuel to make the world laugh, to ease our pain, to feel a fatherly warmth he himself lost at such an early age. That's incredibly brave, inspiring, and human in the best way. But this doc loses that amid its flurry of half-baked segments.

Hanks has great elements in John Candy: I Like Me. But how he pulls them together lacks showmanship, elegance, and a personal connection. If I didn't know going in who the director was, I'd assume it was someone who never knew Candy, because the film has that tiresome veneer of fawning that often happens when a director idlizes their subject. The impact of such a lens is that it flattens not only the lows of a subject's life, but also its highs. The contrast is lost amid the eagerness to keep things admirable. (Props again to Robbie Williams with Better Man, who literally allowed himself to be made a dancing ape to better communicate his wild rise and falls.) 

In the end, I value learning more about Candy's life, welcoming a greater context to his onscreen persona and even his signature chuckle. But walking away from John Candy: I Like Me, I couldn't help but wish for more.

John Candy: I Like Me debuts on Prime Video on Oct. 10.

UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2025, 4:49 p.m. EDT "John Candy: I Like Me" was reviewed out of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. This article was originally published on Sept. 8, 2025, and has been updated to include the latest viewing options.

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 10, the Sonos Era 100 speaker is on sale at Amazon for $179. This is 10% off its list price of $199.

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$199 Save $20 Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days may be over - and so begins the wait until Black Friday — but the time between isn't completely without discounts. Even after Amazon's October Prime Day sale, we're still finding some nice deals at the retailer. The Sonos Era 100 speaker is one item that's still at its Prime Day price, so there's no better time than now to make your move on it.

Usually the Sonos Era 100 is listed for $199, but it's received a $20 discount that's dropped it down to $179. This is the same price that it was over the October Prime Day shopping event, but it may not stay there for long. If you've been looking to add it to your sound system at home, you'll want to act fast to grab it at this price. Both the black and white speakers are discounted to this price as well.

SEE ALSO: Mashable readers know best — here's what our readers bought during October Prime Day

Whether you want it for playing music or to turn your living room into a surround sound setup for when you're watching on TV, the Sonos Era 100 boasts excellent sound quality thanks to its next-gen dual-tweeter acoustic architecture and 25% larger midwoofer. Its compact size can fit in a variety of places around your home as well, from a bookshelf to the side of a table. Its size is especially helpful if you want to pick up two speakers and pair them up to create a compact surround sound system in a room.

It may be at its Prime Day price right now, but it might not stay there for much longer. Don't miss out on this deal on the Sonos Era 100 at Amazon.

There are plenty more deals still available at Amazon after October Prime Day alongside this one. Check out our breakdown of 200+ October Prime Day deals still live to see if anything else that's caught your eye is still available.

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 10, the Apple 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a 17% savings and the lowest-ever price.

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$1,119 Save $120 Get Deal

Prime Day was truly a treat this year, with two days of incredible discounts across anything you can think of. Apple products saw some great discounts, especially across iPads, AirPods, and AirTags. But it's the MacBooks that stole the show. And as of Oct. 10, there is still an impressive discount on the 2025 MacBook Air 15-inch, priced at just $999. That's only $30 more than the lowest price it reached during Prime Day.

This price applies to all available colors: starlight, sky blue, midnight, and silver. This is also for the 256GB SSD storage option, without AppleCare+. Need more storage? All size options are $200 below their normal prices.

If you’re after a lightweight, reliable laptop for everyday use, this one’s hard to beat. It’s thin, powerful, and has a battery life that can last up to 18 hours. The screen is great quality too, thanks to the 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display that makes everything look bright and colorful. It even has an impressive 12MP front camera with built-in Spatial Audio, meaning video calls sound as good as they look. And let's not forget Center Stage, the Apple feature that keeps you perfectly centered during video calls.

You’ll also find all the ports you need: Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe, and a headphone jack. It even has support for two external displays, so if you prefer a bigger work setup, you're all set with this MacBook.

Get this MacBook deal from the Amazon website now.

SAVE $90: As of Oct. 10, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is on sale for $189.99 on Amazon. That's a 32% savings on the list price.

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$279.99 Save $90 Get Deal

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 was recently replaced as the latest model in the lineup with the release of the Galaxy Watch 8, so you know what this means? Big savings on the 7. The 7 has been a beloved smartwatch for a long time, and if you don't need the newest model in the lineup, you really can't go wrong with this one. Not to mention, it's still sitting at its Prime Day price.

As of Oct. 10, the Galaxy Watch 7 is just $189.99, its lowest-ever price. This is a savings of $90. For this price, you can choose between the white and green colored bands, and you'll get the 44mm screen.

This smartwatch does a bit of everything, and as a fitness tracker, it's top-notch. For exercise tracking, it compares your latest run or bike ride to your previous one, so you can see how you’re progressing. And each morning, you get an Energy Score that shows how ready you are for the day based on your recent activity and rest.

It also features improved heart rate tracking that filters out movement for more accurate readings, plus sleep tracking that helps you build better habits and can detect signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea. And it helps you to improve your health too. Wellness Tips uses your watch data to give simple, useful suggestions to help you stay on track with your goals.

Get the Galaxy Watch 7 from Amazon.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition features athletes with talented feet.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Pitch type

• Green: Important for receptions

• Blue: Winter sports techniques

• Purple: Sports stars and TV personalities

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Fastball

• Green: Football passing routes

• Blue: Alpine skiing disciplines

• Purple: Athletes to win "Dancing with the Stars"

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #382 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Fastball - CHEESE, FOUR-SEAMER, GAS, HEAT

• Football passing routes - DRAG, POST, SLANT, WHEEL

• Alpine skiing disciplines - COMBINED, DOWNHILL, SLALOM, SUPER-G

• Athletes to win "Dancing with the Stars" - DRIVER, OHNO, SHUMPERT, YAMAGUCHI

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

What I love most about HBO Max is that even though I've been watching its shows and movies for more than 25 years, when I start digging back into its library, I'm amazed to uncover things I've never heard of or had nearly forgotten about. Of course, it also continues to crank out excellent new shows, but the breadth of options it provides is still impressive.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Oct. 10, 2025:

AcrossGo off the ___ ... like the last letter of 8-Across?

• The answer is Grid.

The "R" of P.R., on a map

• The answer is Rico.

Patient's share of the cost

• The answer is Copay.

São ___, Brazil

• The answer is Paulo.

Totally disconnect and enjoy nature

• The answer is Unplu.

DownRhyming partner of moan

• The answer is Groan.

Tear to pieces

• The answer is Rip Up.

Daring response to "All in"

• The answer is I Call.

"___ get my drift?"

• The answer is Do You.

Computer's "brain," for short

• The answer is CPU.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

SAVE $20.01: As of Oct. 10, the Google TV streamer is on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. That's a 20% savings on the list price.

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$99.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal

Prime Day has come to an end, and the deals are starting to wither away. The next big sales event will be Black Friday at the end of November, so there's some time to wait. But if you're in need of a tech upgrade now, don't fret, there are still some post-Prime Day sales lingering, and not to mention, Amazon's Daily Deals are often impressive. Like this deal on the Google TV streamer, still sitting at its Prime Day price.

As of Oct. 10, it is currently priced at $79.98. Now, it's not its lowest-ever price, but it's close. According to camelcamelcamel, in May, it hit $79, just 98 cents better than it is now. This model also made it to our list of the best streaming devices for 2025.

The device setup is similar to most streaming device setups, except rather than a stick that plugs directly into your TV, for the Google TV streamer, you connect it via an HDMI cable.

This streaming device is a great way to make watching easier on a non-smart TV, or even just upgrade your setup to a Google platform. It brings together content from all your streaming services on a single home screen. You can also access live TV and more than 800 free channels from apps like Pluto TV and Tubi.

The 4K edition has support for up to 4K HDR and Dolby Vision. It delivers a clear, detailed picture quality, and you can connect speakers with Dolby Atmos for an even more immersive sound experience. The latest model includes a faster processor, double the memory, and 32GB of storage, so switching between apps is nice and easy, and above all, fast.

Get this streaming device deal from Amazon.

If you’re looking for some good shows to binge this weekend that will indeed set the tone for your spooktacular month, Amazon Prime Video has you covered. This weekend, we’re diving into a supernatural neo-Western starring Josh Brolin, a super creepy sci-fi horror series that’ll have you scratching your head, and a dark, provocative Tom Hardy series that’s making a comeback.

There's plenty to not like about the winter. It's cold, it's icy, it's windy, and — yes — it's very, very dark. And as far as we're concerned that's the worst part: Having to endure those short days, and dark mornings and evenings. The darkness takes its toll.

It's draining trying to live your life without enough sunlight. That's especially true for office workers who spend every hour of daylight stuck inside a building. It can be a struggle to get out of bed in the morning, and even harder to be productive and then kick back when the working day is done. But it's not all doom and gloom.

SAD therapy lamps are a great way to help relieve the winter blues. And there's a wide range of these devices available, helping alleviate the symptoms of SAD (seasonal affective disorder) if you're not getting enough natural light. All of which means you don't have to suffer through six months of darkness. But which is the right SAD therapy lamp for you? Let us help put some light on the subject with some useful information and a selection of the best SAD therapy lamps available right now.

What is seasonal affective disorder?

Just as it sounds — and appropriately shortened to SAD — seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that follows a seasonal pattern. It usually affects people during the winter months, causing sufferers to feel low, lethargic, anxious, or irritable.

What causes seasonal affective disorder?

According to the NHS guidelines, the cause of seasonal affective disorder is not fully understood though it’s usually linked to the lack of sunlight, which may prevent the brain from producing certain hormones or upset your body clock.

How does light therapy work?

Spending around 30 minutes in front of a light is thought to reduce the effects of SAD by simulating sunlight, which can encourage your brain produce melatonin and serotonin to help with your sleep and moods. The NHS recommends light therapy as one of standard treatments for seasonal affective disorder.

What does lux mean?

You’ll see this term a lot when shopping for therapy lamps. Lux is the unit of measurement for light intensity. According to some research, a light intensity of 2,500 can improve your wellbeing. Most of the lights listed below have a lux of up to 10,000.

How big are light therapy lamps?

While the desired effects are essentially all the same — a means of getting some light on you — they do come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are portable, which allows you to take them wherever you go — particularly into the office, where a healthy amount of light can be hard to come by — while others are made to stay in a fixed spot.

What is the best SAD therapy lamp?

It's up to you to decide the lamp that works best for you, your home, and your daily routine. But we’ve done the research and put a spotlight on the very best models.

These are the best SAD therapy lamps for 2025.

Netflix has a wealth of TV shows at your fingertips—the tough part is deciding what to watch. If you've carved out some viewing time this weekend, I've got three recommendations for shows that are bound to entertain.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A bottomless space.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

ABYSS

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A Nascar driver.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RACER

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To hit hard.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SMITE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Similar.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

ALIKE

Final Hurdle hint

A curved pathway.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

ORBIT

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

The Moon is up and easy to spot tonight. Its surface is covered in craters and plains that are nice and easy to see, thanks to where we are in the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle is the Moon’s regular orbit around Earth, which causes it to go through different phases from new to full and back again.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Oct. 10, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, only 84% will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

The moon is covered in interesting craters, mountains, and Apollo landing spots. And we can see lots of them tonight. With just your naked eye, spot the Oceanus Procellarum, the Mare Serenitatis, and the Mare Tranquillitatis. If you have binoculars, pull them out to see the Grimaldi Basin, the Mare Humorum, and the Gassendi Crater. And if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Rupes Altai, Fra Mauro Highlands, and the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

NASA explains that as the Moon completes its 29.5-day orbit around Earth, it passes through a series of phases. These changes happen because the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon relative to each other shift over time. From Earth, we see the Moon as fully bright, partially lit, or completely dark, but the same side always faces us. The differences in appearance come from how much sunlight hits its surface at each point in its orbit.

The eight main moon phases are:

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)

Last Quarter (or Third 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.

Why are today’s games so cinematic? Why do so many video games feel like full-blown movies now?

Well, because they kind of are, or at least they can be. And while that mix doesn’t always land, when it does, it can make for some incredible storytelling. And no one embodies that more than the Big Boss himself, Hideo Kojima. In this episode of How it Hits, we look at the directors, techniques, and stories blurring the line between film and play.

Microsoft suffered a relatively brief but certainly inconvenient outage on Thursday. A number of its popular productivity services went down — most notably its Microsoft 365 software, which includes Word and Excel — causing issues for U.S. employees in the middle of a workday. In addition, users reported problems accessing popular productivity apps like Teams and Outlook.

User-reported issues for Microsoft 365 surfaced on Down Detector around 2 p.m. ET, peaking at 2:30 p.m. ET. (Disclosure: Down Detector is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns Mashable.) As of about 5 p.m. ET, user-reported issues with 365 had fallen off precipitously.

Is the Microsoft outage over?

In short: Yes, it seems so. Microsoft itself confirmed the problem appeared to be resolved, though it did so in corporate speak.

"We identified that a portion of network infrastructure in North America was misconfigured, resulting in impact," read a statement from its 365 status account on X. "We’ve confirmed after a period of monitoring that rebalancing the affected traffic successfully resolved the issue and service health has recovered."

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An inability to access 365 means big problems for workers, considering it means losing Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive. It's hard to work without such key services. Reuters also noted that there were earlier reported issues with Microsoft Teams and Exchange Online, two other key work services.

Here's what you need to know about the outage.

What happened to Microsoft 365? The answer lies with Microsoft Azure.

Microsoft's issues on Thursday stemmed from a problem with Azure, the company's cloud platform. The company said there was a problem with its Azure Front Door (AFD) service, which is its content delivery network. That meant customers couldn't access some of their services.

Microsoft said that "a platform issue resulted in impact to the Azure Front Door (AFD) service. Impacted customers experienced intermittent delays or timeouts when accessing their services." Microsoft noted the issue began in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

All told, the outage was relatively short-lived. Thankfully, it's nothing like the massive 2024 Microsoft outage that was caused by CrowdStrike. It was a chaotic afternoon for some 365 users, but it all seems to be resolved hours later.

Microsoft is testing a revamped Start Menu for Windows 11, starting in the Canary Channel for Insiders. It’s much larger than the previous design, and it will hopefully require less scrolling or searching to find the apps you need.

The best streaming deals to watch NHL games at a glance: Best for ESPN, ABC games ESPN Unlimited annual plan $299.99 (save $59.89) Get Deal BEST FOR TNT GAMES HBO Max Standard annual plan $169.99 (save $33.89) Get Deal BEST OVERALL Sling TV Orange Season Pass $199 for 5 months (save $30.95 ) Get Deal Best for out-of-market games ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) annual plan $119.99 (save $23.89) Get Deal

Another hockey season is upon us, which means it's time once again to figure out how to watch your favorite NHL team. And fair warning: it's not easy. We recently estimated that it would cost over $800 and 11 different streaming services to watch every NFL football game this season. The NHL streaming situation isn't that bad, but it's not great.

Every year, watching live sports get more and more difficult for those without cable (and even those with cable). But lucky for you, we've done some of the dirty work for you to make your life a little bit easier. Hockey season is stressful enough without having to figure out how to watch the next game.

Behold, the ultimate guide to watching every NHL game in the 2025-2026 season.

When does hockey season start?

The 2025-2026 NHL season opened on Oct. 7 with a triple header, including the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers raising their banner. The regular season runs through April 16, 2026, but thanks to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, there will be almost a month-long break in February. You can check out the full schedule on the official NHL website.

What channels are the NHL games on?

If you have cable or access to a cable login, live games will air on the ESPN/ESPN2/ABC family of networks, TNT/truTV/TBS family of networks, NHL Network, and regional sports networks throughout the season. If you don't have cable, you'll need a streaming service or two to catch live games (more on that below).

Check out the official schedule on NHL.com to find out which channel to tune into for specific games.

How can I watch NHL games without cable?

Here's where things get complicated. If you don't have cable access or a cable login, you'll need at least one streaming service to catch NHL games live. Let's start with the easy part: national broadcasts. Nationally broadcast games will either be on ESPN's family of networks, TNT's family of networks, NHL Network, or ESPN+ (now ESPN Select). Here's a breakdown of their streaming counterparts.

• ESPN+ Broadcasts: Stream with ESPN Select or Hulu

• TNT Broadcasts: Stream on HBO Max

• ESPN Broadcasts: Stream with ESPN Unlimited

• ABC Broadcasts: Stream with ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited

• NHL Network Broadcasts: no streaming counterpart

In-market games

As NHL fans know, national broadcasts only make up a small fraction of the full slate of games. Most games are broadcast locally on regional sports networks (RSNs). Many of these RSNs (but not all) offer their own streaming subscriptions, like FanDuel Sports Network or Gotham Sports. If you're unsure which RSN you need to watch your local team, the NHL actually does a great job of laying it all out on their website — you can also check out the FAQs below.

The most direct way to access these RSNs is through their individual subscription offers. Of course, because streaming sports is notoriously complicated, not every RSN has its own streaming counterpart. For these, you'll need a cable alternative like Fubo or DirecTV Stream, which cost a pretty penny.

Out-of-market games

If you're a fan of an out-of-market team, it's actually a bit easier to watch your team's games than it is if you're in-market (crazy, right?). ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) streams practically all regional broadcasts for teams that aren't in your local market. For example, I live in Nashville, but I'm a Washington Capitals fan. I can watch all regional Capitals broadcasts on ESPN Select, but Nashville Predators broadcasts are blacked out. For national broadcasts, you'll still need access to ABC, ESPN, NHL Network, and TNT (see above streaming counterparts).

SEE ALSO: The popular sports piracy network Streameast shut down, and sports fans are not OK Which streaming services do I need to watch NHL games?

If you're a fan of your local team, your first order of business should be to figure out which regional sports network you need. If the RSN offers its own streaming subscription, this is your best bet for watching the most games. If it doesn't, you're going to need a cable alternative that offers RSN access — most likely Fubo or DirecTV Stream.

If you don't have cable access or a cable alternative, you'll need a couple streaming services for every game that's not regionally broadcast: HBO Max and ESPN. HBO Max will give you access to all TNT broadcasts, while ESPN will unlock access to ABC and ESPN broadcasts, as well as ESPN+ exclusive games.

The best streaming deals to watch NHL games

Just because sports require a ton of subscriptions doesn't mean you have to break the bank. We've found several streaming deals that can keep some extra money in your pocket this hockey season.

Best for ESPN, ABC, and ESPN+ games: Save 16% on the ESPN Unlimited yearly plan Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited annual plan $299.99/year (save $59.89) Get Deal

ESPN's direct-to-consumer streaming service, launched this past summer, now offers access to the entire suite of ESPN networks and services to sports fans in one subscription. For the sake of hockey, you'll get to stream games from ESPN, ESPN on ABC, and ESPN+ (ESPN Select). It typically costs $29.99 per month, but if you commit to a full year, you'll save about 16% or nearly $60. Of course, you can watch a whole lot more than just NHL games, making the yearly plan worth it particularly for fans of multiple sports.

Best for TNT, TBS, and truTV games: Save 16% on the HBO Max Standard yearly plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual plan $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal

A Max Standard subscription includes the B/R Sports add-on, which includes access to the NHL on TNT games (and simulcast TBS and truTV games). It costs $16.99 per month, but if you opt for a yearly plan, that cost drops down to just $14.16 per month. You'll save 16% or $33.89 by paying for the full year up front.

The most games for the lowest price: Sling TV Orange Season Pass Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Orange Season Pass $199 for 5 months (save $30.95) Get Deal

Sling TV's Orange plan is your best bet to watch the most NHL national broadcasts in one place for the lowest price. The Orange plan includes access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN3, TNT, and TBS, plus 30 other channels. While that doesn't include ABC, most ABC NHL games are also available through ESPN3, so you'll be all set.

Sling subscriptions are a la carte, so you can add to and take away from your plan with no worries and cancel or pause your subscription at any time. The Orange plan costs $46 per month, but if you sign up for a Season Pass (5 months), you'll pay about $39.80 per month in one lump sum. It's not the biggest savings — about $31 — but it's the most bang for your buck.

Best for out-of-market games: Save 16% on the ESPN Select annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Select (formerly ESPN+) annual plan $119.99/year (save $23.89) Get Deal

As mentioned above, ESPN Select allows you to watch all out-of-market regional games all season long. It will also exclusively host 47 games this season. A monthly subscription will run you $11.99, but if you sign up for a year up front with the Select annual plan, it'll cost just $9.99 per month ($119.99/year). That's 16% or $23.89 in savings.

Note: ESPN+ is now ESPN Select. If you were formerly an ESPN+ subscriber, you'll automatically be switched to the ESPN Select plan.

Elon Musk's electric vehicle company Tesla is once again being investigated by federal regulators.

On Thursday, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that it was investigating Tesla vehicles with "Full Self-Driving" (FSD) assistance installed over traffic safety violations.

That's 2.88 million Tesla vehicles that are part of the investigation, as they all have the FSD assistance system installed.

According to the NHTSA, the agency has 58 separate reports involving traffic safety issues with Tesla vehicles that use FSD. This includes 14 crashes and 23 injuries. The traffic violations ranges from FSD-installed Tesla vehicles running through red lights to the EVs driving the wrong way against traffic during a lane change. 

The NHTSA's reports include 18 complaints where a Tesla vehicle with full self-driving engaged “failed to remain stopped for the duration of a red traffic signal, failed to stop fully, or failed to accurately detect and display the correct traffic signal state in the vehicle interface.” NHTSA's reports also include six instances when a Tesla with FSD assistance engaged “approached an intersection with a red traffic signal, continued to travel into the intersection against the red light and was subsequently involved in a crash with other motor vehicles in the intersection”. 

A Tesla driver in Houston told the NHTSA as part of one of its reports that Tesla's FSD "is not recognizing traffic signals." As a result, Tesla vehicles are "proceeding through red lights, and stopping at green lights."

The NHTSA will also look into how Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged perform at railroad crossings.

Tesla's full self-driving assistance system requires drivers to pay attention to the road and intervene when necessary if FSD is engaged. However, the NHTSA says that Tesla's FSD has “induced vehicle behaviour that violated traffic safety laws," as reported by The Guardian.

The NHTSA's investigation is seen as a preliminary step to a potential recall of Tesla vehicles with FSD engaged.

The NHTSA had already opened a separate investigation into Tesla and its FSD assistance system in October 2024. That investigation's focus is on how FSD performs in "reduced roadway visibility conditions." It was opened after four reported Tesla crashes with FSD engaged, one which turned out to be fatal.

The U.S. agency had also reached out to Tesla over the summer after videos showed Tesla robotaxis violating traffic laws in Austin, Texas.

Samsung is staying quiet about it for now. But its mixed-reality Galaxy XR headset, code-named Project Moohan, is expected to launch very soon. Now, one early report suggests it will match Apple's troubled Vision Pro headset in a lot of ways — and maybe even best it in others.

According to Android Headlines, the Galaxy XR's user interface will look very similar to the Vision Pro's UI: a launcher with friendly app icons arranged in a grid over whatever you're seeing. More important is how many pixels the Project Moohan device appears to be displaying, and rumor has it the headset will offer a total of 29 million pixels across both eye displays.

That's 6 million more pixels than the Vision Pro, and around 3 million more than estimated in previous Project Moohan reports — suggesting Samsung is really going to town on besting Apple. With its Snapdragon XR+ second-generation processor, the Galaxy XR headset can reportedly render more than 4K resolution — another knock on the Vision Pro, which isn't quite 4K (the resolution, in pixels per inch, is more like 3.4K.)

Both Samsung and Apple know that device weight is crucial when it comes to headsets. And Samsung seems to have done better than its California rival here, too. While the Apple Vision Pro weighs in at a minimum 600 grams — with configurations up to 650 grams — the Galaxy XR will weigh 545 grams, Android Headlines says. Both devices shave off bulk with an external battery pack.

SEE ALSO: Mark Zuckerberg unveils Meta's 'AI glasses,' fails demos

But is that enough, in either case? As light as Samsung's mixed reality headset reportedly is, the new Meta Ray-Bans weigh one-tenth of that. Meta's decision to focus on glasses, after the lukewarm response to its VR headset-driven Metaverse, is starting to look like a signpost to other tech giants.

No wonder Apple is reportedly focused on building its own smart glasses rather than rushing out a cheaper Vision Pro. Samsung has suggested it is working on Galaxy glasses, too. Which makes one still-unknown metric about the Galaxy XR, its price, so crucial. Previous leaks put the number anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000 — again, a poke at Apple, which can't sell you a Vision Pro configuration below $3,500.

But even assuming Samsung launches Project Moohan on the low end of that estimate, we're still talking a hefty price point. For that amount of scratch, you could buy you a Meta Quest 3 ($500), a pair of the Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses (also $500), and Meta's first "AI smart glasses" ($379), plus all the chargers and battery packs you'd need to keep them running all day.

Mixed reality headsets may be great devices for a specific niche (gamers, I'm looking at you). But if Apple and Samsung leadership still see as big a future for them as for the coming wave of smart glasses, they may need their eyes tested.

Some iPhone apps can use critical alerts to bypass your iPhone's settings and play audible notifications even when your iPhone is in Silent mode or Do Not Disturb focus. Using Home Assistant, it's possible to send bespoke critical alerts for any reason that you want.