IT General

HMD’s Touch 4G Might Be the Dumbphone You Want

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:43

Do you ever find yourself wishing for a smartphone that wasn't so smart? One free of all the distractions of apps, social media, and endless notifications? Basic "dumb" phones still exist, and you can get modern features like a solid design and a touchscreen. That's where the all-new HMD Touch 4G comes in.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Lenovo Tab on Sale Is a Great Fire Tablet Alternative

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:41

Today, you can grab the Lenovo Tab One for a surprisingly low price of just $100 on Amazon. This is an impressive 19% discount off the usual $123.00 listed price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best fitness tracker deals for October Prime Day: Galaxy Ring, Apple Watch, and Google Pixel

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:36
The best October Prime Day fitness tracker deals at a glance: Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Ring $265.99 (save $134) Get Deal Best Google deal Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) $170.99 (save $79) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) $329 (save $170) Get Deal Best Fitbit deal Fitbit Versa 4 $132.95 (save $67) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day has quickly become one of the biggest retail events of the year. So much so that there are two a year. October's Prime Big Deal Days event just kicked off, and the deals are dealing. You can find Prime Day deal stamps across TVs, earbuds, and even high-end fitness trackers, including Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit. So if you need a new watch to track your 5K or monitor your sleep, we've rounded up some of Amazon's best deals on fitness trackers.

There are a few big names missing for the most part — Whoop and Oura — so if you're looking for those brands, we'd hold off on buying until Black Friday. While the Oura Ring 3 has a few coupons attached to select sizes and colors, the deals aren't much to write home about overall. Garmin deals are also really lacking this time around. However, if an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch or Ring, or Fitbit is on your shopping list, there are some record-low prices ready to add to your cart.

Below, we're tracking all the best fitness tracker deals at Amazon during October Prime Day. All-time low prices are marked with a 🔥.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) 🔥 $170.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $79 Get Deal Why we like it

Google's Pixel Watch 4 will make its debut in the coming days, so it only makes sense that the third-generation watch hit a new record-low for Prime Big Deal Days. It's not our favorite smartwatch fitness tracker around, but we're willing to look past any flaws at this ultra-low price. While the Pixel Watch 3 doesn't have any major hardware additions compared to its predecessor, Google did go all out with improving workout features and making them more personalized with AI advancements. It also has a brighter and better display with better clarity in different lighting conditions. If having the latest and greatest fitness tracker doesn't matter to you, this deal is a diamond in the rough.

Best smart ring deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Ring 🔥 $265.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $134 Get Deal Why we like it

While the Oura Ring 4 surpassed the Galaxy Ring as our favorite smart ring, the Samsung wearable is still a beast. Mashable's reviewer Kim Gedeon gave it a near-perfect rating and claimed it's "so good, it has made me consider the unthinkable: dropping my beloved Apple Watch Series 9 for the Korea-based tech giant's new wearable." Standout features include a six-day battery life, a comfortable and durable design (water resistance!), impressive health tracking and monitoring, and zero subscription fees. Even at full cost, we think it's a worthy purchase for Android users. At only $265.99 — its lowest price on record — it's a steal. That beats its July Prime Day price by $20 for a total savings of $134.

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Apple

For a more detailed list, check out our roundup of the best October Prime Day Apple Watch deals.

Garmin

Google and Fitbit

Nothing

Samsung

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft pauses Xbox Game Pass Ultimate price hike, but not for everyone

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:31

Microsoft's proposed price hikes to its Xbox Game Pass subscription service might not hit you after all.

On Oct 1, Microsoft announced a massive 50 percent price hike to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, two days before increasing prices on Xbox consoles. Fans and users were, well, furious — or, as TechRadar put it, "The outcry was startlingly vociferous."

Now, according to emails sent to some Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, the price hike will only affect new purchases in some select countries.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft's adding an ad-supported tier for Xbox Cloud Gaming

"Recently, you may have heard about changes to the price of Xbox Game Pass subscriptions. At this time, these increases will only affect new purchases and will not affect your current subscription for the market in which you reside, as long as you are on an auto-recurring plan," Microsoft wrote in the email. "Should you choose to cancel your plan and repurchase, you will be charged at the new current rate. If, for any reason, there may be changes to your existing account, we will notify you at least 60 days in advance, and you will have the option to cancel or change your subscription plan at that time."

Microsoft confirmed the email to The Verge and said it is "not impacting subscribers in the U.S. or UK."

Kari Perez, the head of Xbox communications, told The Verge in a statement that the company's "recent Game Pass update remains unchanged."

"Current subscribers in certain countries will continue renewing at their existing price for now, in line with local requirements. We’ll provide advance notice before price adjustments take effect in these countries," Perez told The Verge.

This is clearly a change from what Microsoft promised gamers last week, but it's a welcome one. The problem is that plenty of customers turned off auto-billing or canceled their accounts after Microsoft's Oct. 1 announcement — and now they're stuck paying the new price.

"So basically, they just flipped a big old middle finger at anyone who turned off auto-billing or outright cancelled their account. Nice. Right back at ya, MS 🖕," one person wrote on Reddit. Many others responded in confusion.

The overall consensus from people online seems to be clear: This is very confusing and not what gamers want to think about when they log on.

Categories: IT General, Technology

9 Ways I Optimized My Linux PC for Gaming (Without Bazzite)

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:30

Turning your average Linux installation into a gaming powerhouse isn't exactly a one-click process, but I can tell you it's incredibly rewarding. It means you've got to dig deep into how your system is set up, understand the tricky bits of how your hardware talks to the software, and really take advantage of the insane flexibility that Linux offers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Firefox Is Finally Letting You Separate Your Browsing Data

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:17

Profiles are a good way to manage separate browsing data for each digital footprint you might have—you can have a work one, a study one, or a personal one, or maybe even all three, so the browsing data from one doesn't mistakenly mix with the other. Now, Firefox is finally getting them. A bit later than most other browsers, but better late than never.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2025’s GITEX Global Conference Hosts Leading Tech Experts From Around the World Next Week

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 17:07

October 13 to 17 will mark another important week in tech history, with the 45th annual GITEX Global conference taking place at the Dubai World Trade Center. The international event is a collaborative platform where over 6,800 tech enterprises, including G42, Google, IBM, Microsoft, HPE, and Oracle, will tackle the nuances of an ever-growing industry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Some of Amazons October Prime Day laptop deals got even better on day 2 of the sale

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:47

Prime Big Deal Days is live through the end of the day today (Oct. 8), and props to anyone who's waited to buy a laptop until now. A bunch of popular models have gotten cheaper on Amazon since its fall Prime Day sale started yesterday — including the latest M4 MacBook Air.

The best October Prime Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $979 (save $220) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $999.99 (save $600) Get Deal Best 2-in-1 laptop deal Microsoft Surface Pro 11, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.99 (save $500) Get Deal Best gaming laptop deal Asus ROG Strix G16 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,199.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best Chromebook deal Acer Chromebook Plus 515 (Intel Core i3-1305U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $329.99 (save $70) Get Deal

The sky blue variant of Apple's 15-inch ultraportable was $999 when Prime Big Deal Days began, but now it's only $979 (a total savings of $220). I would've bet good money that it hung out at that higher price all week, but I'm happy to be proven wrong. Best Buy has matched that deal during its competing Techtober Sale in case it sells out on Amazon.

Need more RAM and storage? An upgraded MacBook Air with 24GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is now $1,354 on Amazon (usually $1,599); it was $1,369 earlier this morning and $1,399 all day Tuesday. Best Buy is also matching that latest price drop.

Over on the Windows side, a couple variants of the Mashable Choice Award-winning Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 have gotten anywhere from $15 to $30 cheaper since the first half of Prime Big Deal Days. The one I'd personally grab is the Snapdragon X Elite variant of the 13.8-inch model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which has fallen from $1,599.99 to $999.99 in sapphire. It's never dipped below $1,000 before, and it's $200 more expensive at Best Buy and the Microsoft Store. (I'll also add that it's only $70 pricier than the same model with half the storage.)

Below, I've gone deeper on those picks and rounded up a bunch of other great Prime Big Deal Days discounts on 2-in-1s, gaming laptops, and Chromebooks. I've marked all-time lows with a 🔥.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $979 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $220 Get Deal Why we like it

Apple's M4 MacBook Air is a sleek speed demon: In our CPU benchmark, it outperformed 89% of the models in our laptop testing database. It doesn't look all that different from older MacBooks with M-something chips, but its upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera was a welcome upgrade to our reviewer. I think the 15-inch model is the best pick for most people, and right now, Amazon has the 256GB base configuration on sale for just $979 in sky blue (normally $1,199). That's a new record low.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air dealsMacBook Pro dealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch, Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600 Get Deal Why we like it

The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip is my favorite Windows laptop for most people. It's beautiful, it's about as fast as an M4 MacBook Air, and it lasts for nearly 23 hours on a single charge — that's two longer than the M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro, the longest-lasting MacBook we've tried. (Before you buy it, just double check that its powerful ARM-based CPU is compatible with your go-to apps.) The sapphire variant with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage is marked down to $999.99 for Prime Big Deal Days, or 38% off — its biggest discount ever.

Read Mashable's full review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

More Windows laptop deals2-in-1 laptop dealsGaming laptop dealsChromebook deals

Matthew Ford contributed to this article.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Assistant's Next Official Hardware Partner Is Konnected

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:45

Konnected is officially joining the Works with Home Assistant program. This brings the company's popular Alarm Panel and Garage Door Openers into the fold as the first of their kind to be formally certified with the program.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Synology Is Ditching Its NAS Drive Compatibility Restrictions

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:36

Synology’s latest network-attached storage (NAS) devices can only use hard drives and SSDs approved by the company, which did not go over well with the company’s long-time customers. The company is finally walking back that requirement, but it might be too little, too late.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Im a pro vacuum tester, and all of my favorite robot vacuums are on sale for October Prime Day

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:33

There's not much of a reason to wait until Black Friday to buy a robot vacuum — not when Amazon treats its October Prime Day sale like Black Friday when it comes to vacuum deals.

In fact, Prime Big Deal Days has not only repeated, but amped up the discount on just about every good robot vacuum deal from Prime Day in July. Those include a handful of the 2025 Roombas that impressed me during testing and the Eufy robot vacuum that converts to a stick vacuum — a criminally underrated vacuum that more people need to know exists. There's even a substantial discount on the flagship of all flagship robot vacuums that Dreame just announced in August, which is the most powerful robot vacuum that's ever been on sale for a Prime event to date.

A look at the best robot vacuum deals during Prime Big Deal Days Editor's pick eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20 Stick and Handheld Vacuum Combo $299.99 (save $350) Get Deal Budget pick iRobot Roomba 104 Combo $224.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best mop washing station deal Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,199.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best vacuum-only robot vacuum deal Shark AV2501S AI Ultra $229.99 (save $320) Get Deal

So far, every single one of the best robot vacuums I've tested is on sale. October Prime Day ends on Oct. 8, and it's hard to say which deals will stick around for a day or two afterward — or sell out before the sale even ends. Take a second to read up on what to look for in a robot vacuum, assess the features that are non-negotiables in your home, and make your move.

SEE ALSO: How to make your robot vacuum work better: 3 setup tips to do right now

Regardless of your budget, there's definitely a robot vacuum on sale that'll squeeze perfectly into your routine. I'm tracking all of the best robot vacuum deals at Amazon below, noting when they self-empty, mop, or wash and dry their own mopping pads. (All robot vacuums in the list have smart mapping.) Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

Best October Prime Day budget robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba 104 Combo Robot Vacuum and Mop $224.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $225 Get Deal Why we like it

Prime Day Roomba deals have been a bust in years past, but that all changed when iRobot overhauled the Roomba lineup in March 2025. iRobot specifically spent extra time on the budget-friendly and mid-tier options with this product drop, and it's easily the most practical pricing I've ever seen from this brand.

One of the new Roombas released was the Roomba 104 Combo: a straightforward mopping, smart mapping, self-emptying Roomba that's an affordable choice for shoppers who want to cover those three crucial features, but don't want anything fancy. I tested the virtually-identical Roomba 105 Combo a few months ago and was satisfied for the price — it was a radically better experience than what I've had with cheap Roombas in the past. It even automatically recognizes carpet and rugs to keep them dry while it's mopping.

Best October Prime Day robot vacuum with mop-washing station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dreame Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $400 Get Deal Why we like it

Oh, nothing. It's just the most powerful robot vacuum we've ever seen on sale during any Amazon sale event. No biggie. Meet the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller: one of the flagship Dreame models that was just released in August, now 25% off for Prime Big Deal Days. I'm setting up my test unit of this model as we speak, on the first day of October Prime Day, so I haven't fully tested it yet — but on paper, it's quite the beast.

The Aqua10 Ultra Roller has a jaw-dropping 30,000 Pa of suction power — a market high for any mainstream robot vacuum. That's also significantly more powerful than the 20,000 Pa of the Roborock Saros 10R (my favorite robot vacuum of the year). Interestingly enough, the Aqua10 Ultra Roller's current sale price is the exact same that we saw for the Saros 10R during Prime Day in July. Past its strong suction being great for pet hair, the Aqua10 Ultra Roller also has a two-way livestream camera that I think any pet parent should prioritize.

If you're wondering, the "Roller" part of the title is referring to the paint roller-style roller mop, which rinses itself as it's mopping, not just when it returns to the dock. This is one of a handful of late-2025 robot vacuum and mop combos to ditch the dual spinning pads typically seen in older premium robot vacuums. They're said to offer a bit more heavy-duty scrubbing, and avoid smearing better than spinning and flat pads.

More robot vacuums on sale at AmazonHybrid robot vacuums that mopRobot vacuums that don't mop
Categories: IT General, Technology

Catch all of these October Prime Day Pokémon deals before they disappear

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:26
Best Pokémon deals at Amazon Best Pokémon card deal Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Box $59.99 (save $7.90) Get Deal Best Pokémon Switch deal Pokémon Shining Pearl $48.90 (save $12.97) Get Deal Best Pokémon merch deal Loungefly Holiday Pikachu Mini Backpack $56.87 (save $44.51) Get Deal White Flare Elite Trainer Box 88.88 Get Deal Pokemon: Adventures in the Orange Islands - The Complete Collection 8.84 Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day (also known as Prime Big Deal Days) is upon us, officially running Oct. 7 and 8. For Pokémon people, that just reads as a chance to find Pokémon merch on sale. Whether you’re a seasoned Pokémon TCG collector, a nostalgic anime fan, or someone just looking to add a bit of Pikachu sparkle to your wardrobe, there are plenty of ways to save. Not unlike the rush of an in-store expansion set drop, online Pokémon deals tend to disappear faster than an Abra’s Teleport.

Right now, amidst the chaos of October Prime Day deals across those big categories like TVs and kitchen gadgets, Amazon has quietly rolled out a surprising range of Pokémon discounts — covering everything from trading card booster bundles and plush toys to coveted Loungefly backpacks and official binders to keep your rare pulls pristine. There's something for all kinds of trainers, whether you’re a competitive card collector seeking the latest Scarlet & Violet expansions, a parent hunting for kid-friendly toys, or an anime enthusiast looking to complete your DVD collection with Ash & Pikachu’s classic adventures.

SEE ALSO: We handpicked some of the best October Prime Day Lego deals

Mashable has spotted a handful of stand-out offers that blend genuine value with collector appeal, and we’ll continue to update this list as more Pokémon products go on sale (or sell out) at Amazon, Best Buy, and beyond. So, keep an eye on this space as more Poké-savings evolve over the next few days.

Best Pokémon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Binder Collection $47.99 at Amazon
$67.89 Save $19.90 Get Deal Why we like it

Packs of Black Bolt & White Flare cards have been in short supply in the world of the Pokémon TCG lately, so even a 12% discount on this Black Bolt Binder Collection is a pretty solid Prime Day deal involving booster packs. You can potentially get some solid pulls and store your special rares all in one go.

The $47.99 sale price we saw on this box a few days ago is back and cheaper than market value — we're surprised it's still in stock at all. This premium bundle combines both functionality and Gen-V fun: Inside, you’ll find a themed 9-pocket binder capable of holding hundreds of cards, plus five Black Bolt booster packs from the Scarlet & Violet expansion and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Each pack gives you the chance to pull striking cards, including rare Zekrom variants worth hundreds of dollars, a practically priceless Victini, and a picturesque Special Illustration Rare of N’s plan. While pull rates vary, fans of the Pokémon Black and White games will still love even the common cards from this set, dedicated to the franchise’s fifth generation. 

The binder’s tight-fit sleeves and elastic closure add an extra layer of polish too — making this a tidy, display-ready set that’s great value for collectors and gift-givers alike.

Pokémon deals at Best BuyPokémon TCGPokémon TCG cheaper at TCGPlayerFunko Pop! dealsVideo GamesGift ideasDVDsDVD MoviesClothing
Categories: IT General, Technology

Ninja, Keurig, and more October Prime Day kitchen deals you can buy now

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:12
The best October Prime Day kitchen deals at a glance: Best small appliance deal Ninja Crispi $159.94 (save $20.05) Get Deal Best cookware deal Great Jones Dutchess (6.75-quart) $164 (save $41) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Keurig K-Mini Single Serve $42 (save $57.99) Get Deal Best Instant Pot deal Instant Pot Duo Plus (6-quart) $69.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best drinkware deal Yeti Rambler travel mug (30-ounce) $29.40 (save $12.60) Get Deal

Amazon’s gifting us with its second Prime Day event of the year, officially dubbed “Prime Big Deal Days,” and true to form, we’re seeing tons of deals across just about every category, including some hefty price cuts on kitchen essentials from top brands like Ninja, Le Creuset, and Keurig.

SEE ALSO: In true air fryer fashion, early October Prime Day deals on air fryers have heated up quickly

We did some early deal hunting, but now that the sale is live, the savings on kitchen appliances and gear has exploded. We've spotted hundreds of dollars in savings on top brands and we're keeping track of the best deals below.

Prime Big Deal Days runs through midnight on Oct. 8 (3 a.m. for folks on the East Coast), but these deals are still nothing to sneeze at, as they could disappear before that depending on stock availability. In other words, if you see something you want, grab it ASAP.

Here are the best October Prime Day kitchen deals.

Best small appliance deal Ninja Crispi $159.94 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20.05 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja Crispi is finally on sale. We’ve been watching the price of this little air fryer since its release last September, and Amazon’s been stingy with discounts. But right now, you can get it for $159.94, the lowest price we’ve tracked so far.

The Ninja Crispi is one of Mashable’s favorite small kitchen appliances. Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino says its compact size makes it ideal for on-the-go meals or prepping smaller portions for the week. “Plus, it actually works,” she writes as it delivers crispy on the outside, moist on the inside meals.

Best cookware deal Opens in a new window Credit: Great Jones Great Jones Dutchess cast iron dutch oven (6.75-quart) $164
$205 Save $41 Get Deal Why we like it

Soup season is here for much of the country, and what better way to embrace it than with a discounted Dutch oven? During the Prime October event, you can get the Great Jones 6.75-quart Dutchess cast iron Dutch oven for only $164 in any color. It's the perfect size to fit a whole chicken, a rustic sourdough loaf, or (of course) a hearty soup or stew. Plus, it goes from stovetop to oven to table to dishwasher with ease. While this isn't its lowest price ever, it's the best price we've seen in a while.

Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Mini Single Serve $47.49 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $52.50 Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a new single-serve coffee maker, but you’re not willing to shell out a ton of cash, the Keurig K-Mini Single Serve is a budget-friendly option that’ll get the job done without compromising on convenience or quality. Its compact design is perfect for smaller kitchens, dorm rooms, or office spaces, and it can brew six to 12-ounce servings in seconds with the touch of a button. And right now, you can get it for the super-low price of $42. That's its best price ever.

More Kitchen deals

Air fryer and toaster deals

Blender and food processor deals

Beverage, coffee, and tea deals

Cookware deals

Drinkware deals

Ice cream deals

Kitchen tool deals

Multicooker and slow cooker deals

Categories: IT General, Technology

AT&T data breach settlement claim deadline nears. How to file yours.

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:04

The public has been granted another month to claim a portion of their dues in a recent data breach settlement against AT&T.

The first of the two large-scale breaches was spotted in March 2024, AT&T explained in a statement last year, compromising the addresses, social security numbers, and passcodes of users in a database going back to 2019. An even-larger data breach in 2024 exposed the call logs and text messages of nearly every AT&T customer that took place between approximately May 1 and Oct. 31, 2022, and on Jan. 3, 2023. 

SEE ALSO: Real-life 'Minority Report': AI hopes to stop crime before it starts

In June, courts ruled that the company would dole out $177 million to affected AT&T customers who had accounts between 2019 and 2024. Claimants were divided into two classes: account holders affected by the March 2024 breach would split $149 million, while customers' whose communications were downloaded in the July incident would share $28 million. Direct payments — up to $5,000 for the first class or $2,500 for the second — to users who suffered direct financial losses were paid first, according to the company.

Now, everyone else whose data was exposed is splitting the pile.

How to claim your AT&T settlement money

According to the settlement website, affected customers now have until Dec. 18 to claim their cut — impacted users should have already received a settlement notice containing a Class Member ID or will receive notice by Oct. 17. If you would like to opt out of the settlement, or want to object to your classification under the settlement, you have to physically mail the request by Nov. 17.

To be paid, you must fill out the settlement claim form. You will need your Class Member ID, as well as an email address, AT&T account number, or full name. Be prepared to fill out payment information, such as a direct deposit or check, too.

Who is eligible for the AT&T settlement?

There are different eligibility requirements for the two settlement classes in the case:

  • For Class 1: eligibility extends to any living person whose personal identification information was exposed by the March incident

  • For Class 2: eligibility extends to AT&T account owners or "line or end users" whose numbers or direct communications were downloaded by bad actors

How much money will I get?

Customers will be paid based on the severity of the data breach.

  • For Class 1: Individuals who had their Social Security Numbers exposed (Tier 1) will receive five times more money than those who did not (Tier 2)

  • For Class 2: Individuals who did not prove a documented financial loss will receive a share of remaining settlement funds (Tier 3)

Have questions? You can call the settlement hotline (833) 890-4930 to get answers.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Editing a Formula in an Excel Dialog Box? Here's a Tip to Make Life Easier

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 16:00

When editing a formula in a dialog box in Microsoft Excel, you might go to use the Arrow keys to move the blinking cursor to a different position. However, frustratingly and confusingly, doing this inserts a seemingly random cell reference. Luckily, there's an easy fix!

Categories: IT General, Technology

The DJI Mini drone is on sale for its lowest price ever for October Prime Day

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 15:49

SAVE $60: The DJI Mini is discounted 20% during October's Prime Day. You can get the 4k drone for $239, its lowest-ever price on Amazon.

DJI Mini drone with 4K UHD camera $239 at Amazon
$299 Save $60 Get Deal

The DJI Mini 4K is on sale for $239 on Day 2 of Amazon's October Prime Day. That's its lowest-ever price on the platform and represents a 20% discount on its typical list price of $299. That's a solid discount for one of DJI's popular beginner drones.

There might be a good reason the drone is priced so low — these are troubling times for DJI, especially in the United States. The Trump administration instituted new rules for drones manufactured in China that could halt all DJI drone sales in the U.S. by Dec. 23. The company, meanwhile, has had issues importing all its products under the new administration, leaving consumers to rely on third-party sellers.

If you're interested in purchasing the DJI Mini, it might make sense, then, to purchase through Amazon, considering it's a massive, respected seller that can also easily process free returns.

So if you're in the market for a DJI drone, this might be your last, best chance to get one for a good price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Cadillac's Compact Electric Crossover Gets a Power Boost For 2026

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 15:31

Cadillac’s push into electrification is gaining momentum, and its compact electric crossover is leading the charge. For 2026, it’s not just getting a refresh, it’s getting a serious power upgrade that brings new excitement to the luxury EV segment.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Top Tech Deals: Smart Garage Hub, Galaxy S25 Edge, Anker Chargers, and More

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 15:20

Amazon's Big Deal Days sales event just kicked off, which is basically a continuation of Prime Day sales, and that means you can score all sorts of tech at solid discounts. Naturally, far too many items are on sale, so we've gathered a collection of the best tech discounts worth considering.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Linux File Permissions: 13 Most Important Things to Know

How-To Geek - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 15:00

File permissions are core to almost everything you do on your Linux machine, from viewing a PDF to saving an image and running an app. The core model keeps things simple, but there are quite a few basic details to get started with.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Ive found some epic October Prime Day gaming laptop deals

Mashable - Wed, 10/08/2025 - 14:59

It's the final day of the October Prime Day sale, which means it's the last day to get over being priced out of console gaming and get into PC gaming, where you'll get more bang for your buck on hardware and games. But if gaming handhelds aren't powerful enough for your AAA gaming appetite and you don't want to carry a case packed with ten fans and ARBG lighting packed in, you'll want a gaming laptop.

SEE ALSO: What is Prime Big Deal Days? Everything you need to know and what deals to expect.

The great things about gaming laptops are that they're super versatile. I rocked my old ROG Strix for years hooked up to a gaming monitor, mouse and keyboard then take it with me to game in hotel rooms and long commutes. It's the best of both worlds, and now these massive discounts for October prime day is making it a great time to start an obsession to building a steam library.

Whilst we're on the subject, games on PC are simply cheaper. New releases are usually $10 cheaper, and there's plenty of opportunities to get a boatload of game codes at a massive discount from the likes of Humble Bundle and Fanatical. So regardless of budget, I've found some epic gaming laptops for you ranging from powerhouse lappys to budget grafters. Let's get into it:

Best budget gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / ASUS ASUS TUF Gaming F16 (Intel Core 5 210H, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB DDR5, 512GB SSD) $829.99 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $270 Get Deal Why we like it

This is about the lowest I'd go specs wise in a gaming laptop before we're getting frame rate issues on performance mode in Fortnite. If you're into gaming but not interested in big demanding AAA titles and have a love of Indie titles, this setup is for you. Whilst you're still rocking a Blackwell GPU with RTX 5050 and have the RAM to back it up, don't expect to be running Cyberpunk 2077 on high settings and forget about ray tracing.

This is the gaming laptop for someone who wants to grab a load of random game keys from Fanatical and dig deep in the weird and wonderful world of indie gaming whilst dipping their toe into blockbuster experiences. It does what it says on the tin with a 1080p 144hz 16:10 display, which will handle anything this setup can throw at it.

More budget gaming laptop dealsBest mid-range gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G16 2025 (Intel® Core i7 14650HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060, 16GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,199.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $300 Get Deal Why we like it

This is a solid 1080p gaming machine that should handle any game at 60FPS, then kicking things up even higher when flicking that DLSS 4 switch. Particularly on smaller screens like this 16-inch 165hz LED bad boy, those AI-generated frames alongside turning in-game resolutions down to 900p for AI upscaling will squeeze exceptional performance out of this RTX 5060-powered lappy.

In an ideal world, we'd all have 32GB of DDR5 RAM in our gaming laptops, but this is $1,300 cheaper than my high-end pick in the October Prime Days sale, which means corners have to be cut somewhere. 16GB is plenty and should be for a long time, and the same goes for the Intel Core i7 clocking in at a massive 5.2GHz on 14th gen architecture. This G16 model also rocks the same epic cooling system it's high-end has, so expect to get the best performance possible out of this portable rig.

More mid-range gaming laptop dealsBest high-spec gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G16 2025 (Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD) $2,399.99 at Amazon
$2,899.99 Save $500 Get Deal Why we like it

This bad boy is the cream of the crop for October Prime Day gaming laptop deals. $500 off an RTX 5080 laptop with stacked specs to boot is nothing to be sniffed at. This is going to run everything, especially with the latest Blackwell architecture inside that discreet GPU rocking DLSS 4. That's NVidia's latest generation of AI frame generation and upscaling AI tech which allows players to squeeze more performance out of their rigs than standard hardware would put out. Although I don't think many will be moaning about performance on a 16" 16:10 240hz/3ms HDR 1440p screen.

So if you're looking for a laptop that's going to be smashing the latest and greatest in years to come this is it. I can hear the PC master race shouting "But it's not really a 5080" from the comments, but it is. Obviously you're not going to get the same performance as you would from a full-fat RTX 5080 desktop GPU, but it's close. Factor in a mix of liquid metal, tri fan and end-to-end vapor chamber cooling in this bad boy and 32GB of 5600MHz DDR5 RAM, this beast is well worth the $500 off.

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