IT General

NYT Pips hints, answers for November 6, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:23

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 6, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 6, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 6 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-0, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 6 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answers are 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-5, placed vertically; 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this green space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this red space must be equal to 0. The answers are 2-0, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 3-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 1. The answers are 1-1, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 6 Pips

Equal (1): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 1. The answers are 1-1, placed vertically; 1-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally

Equal (2): Everything in this light green space must be equal to 2. The answers are 4-2, placed horizontally; 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 0. The answers are 4-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answers are 3-2, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add to 8. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for November 6, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:09

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 Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025:

AcrossOn the chill side ... or a homophone of 1-Down

  • The answer is Low key.

Big brand of tater tots

  • The answer is Ore-Ida.

Numbers puzzle with a repetitive name

  • The answer is KenKen.

"Oof, not my best showing!"

  • The answer is I stink.

DownThor's mischievous brother ... or a homophone of 1-Across

  • The answer is Loki.

Materials mined in Minecraft

  • The answer is Loki.

Played one's turn

  • The answer is Went.

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" singer ___ Dee

  • The answer is Kiki.

Biblical garden

  • The answer is Eden.

Sharply tug

  • The answer is Yank.

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

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:07

We know you might not want to hear it, but Black Friday is very much upon us. The beast of a shopping holiday has been looming menacingly on the horizon for some time, but it will not be contained any longer.

Leading retailers are already dropping their Black Friday ads and early-access deals. We know that shopping fatigue is a real thing at this time of year, so why not beat the rush and all the associated stress and get your shopping done early this year? You know it makes sense.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

Best Buy is one of the premier shopping destinations over the Black Friday period, and its savings-packed ad suggests that this year could be its biggest ever.

Best Buy was the first leading retailer to announce its 2025 holiday plans, with early Black Friday deals dropping as early as Halloween (Oct. 31). Best Buy will drop early Black Friday deals throughout November before its official Black Friday sale officially kicks off on Nov. 20. This 10-day sale is live through Nov. 29, followed immediately by its Cyber Monday event on Nov. 30 that runs for 48 hours through Dec. 1. Mark these dates in your diary.

Want to make the most out of Best Buy's Black Friday campaign? We've checked out all the best Black Friday deals and doorbusters from the Best Buy Black Friday ad that you can already buy online.

Best early Black Friday TV deals50- and 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs70- to 77-inch TVs85-inch TVsBest early Black Friday soundbar dealsBest early Black Friday headphone and earbud dealsBest early Black Friday laptop dealsBest early Black Friday gaming dealsGaming headsetsGaming miceBest early Black Friday smartwatch and fitness tracker dealsBest early Black Friday vacuum dealsRobot vacuumsStick vacuumsBest early Black Friday kitchen dealsBest early Black Friday unlocked phone deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

The Fire Stick 4K Max is back on sale at Amazon — act fast to save $20

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:05

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 6, the Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max is on sale for $39.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max $39.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $20   Get Deal

We can never ignore a deal on an Amazon Fire TV Stick, and as of Nov. 6, the 4K Max model is back under $40.

This model does the same as previous Fire Stick models, but it's bigger and better. And right now you can save $20 with the new list price of $39.99. It hasn't been priced cheaper than this all year, so this really is a great deal.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Nov. 7, 2025)

It works the same way as other streaming sticks in the range: you plug it into your TV's HDMI port, plug it into a wall socket, and use the remote to navigate your new Fire OS. And you won't need to switch between two remotes, as once you set this up, the Fire TV Stick remote will be the only one you need. It can control the device but also your volume and switch your TV on and off.

This is also the first of Amazon's streaming sticks that benefits from the Fire TV Ambient Experience. This is a feature that lets you display over 2,000 pieces of art and photography on your TV screen when you're not watching. It adds a pretty aesthetic vibe to your living room. It also has 16GB of storage, which is double the standard 4K version. This is ideal if you plan to download lots of apps and games.

You can get the Amazon Fire TV Stick for $20 off at Amazon right now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Football Manager 26 review: Fun to play, awful to look at

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:01

Since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with sports management simulation games — to an absurd degree. Whether it was Total Extreme Wrestling, Out of the Park Baseball, Draft Day Sports: College Basketball, World of Mixed Martial Arts, Eastside Hockey Manager, or Front Office Football Nine, I’ve played (or at least tried to play) them all.

All that to say: this micro-genre of very niche video games is my true love. Football Manager is no different. I’ve poured thousands of hours into various editions of Sports Interactive's iconic series and formed hundreds of parasocial bonds with players who, technically speaking, don’t exist. (They’re real to me, dammit.)

SEE ALSO: 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment' is fine. It's also the most disappointing Switch 2 exclusive.

Despite what you might think of a glorified spreadsheet simulator, these games aren’t grindy — they’re meditative. They reward patience and planning, demanding long-term vision, whether you’re clawing your way up from the lower leagues or assembling a squad for a run in Europe.

But Football Manager 26 demands a different kind of patience, one that asks longtime fans like me to accept unnecessary change to get to the good stuff. There’s brilliance here, buried somewhere under the clutter, but finding it requires faith bordering on masochism. In other words, the new UI/UX overhaul makes it harder to enjoy what’s otherwise an exciting evolution in gameday presentation.

After around 20 hours, I’m left wanting more — or at least wanting to look at something else. Which brings me to the question no fan wants to ask after a two-year wait: was this really worth it? Don’t we, the faithful, deserve something better?

Football Manager 26 has a new engine, new look Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

On build alone, Football Manager 26 is a massive upgrade — it’s the first in the series to run on the Unity engine. That shift, though, came with major internal challenges, which is why the originally planned Football Manager 25 was scrapped in February last year. It marked the first true cancellation in the series' history, something we hadn’t seen since Championship Manager 4’s delay decades ago, which, fittingly, was also caused by an engine change.

So, after two long years since Football Manager 24, we’ve finally arrived at the Unity-powered future of the franchise. And it looks...fine. You’d expect that extra development time to deliver flashy new bells and whistles — and yes, there are some, particularly in the new Match Day presentation. But beyond that? The rest feels, well, kinda meh.

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Let’s start with the 3D manager and player models, a weak spot that has haunted the series for years, and sadly, that hasn’t changed. When creating my manager, the models are still rough around the edges, and the hairstyles appear to have been hastily sculpted in Blender. I’m not expecting EA FC levels of hair physics or texture, but could we at least get more than three Black hairstyles — Fade, Dreadlocks, and Afro — all with identical, receding hairlines? The same issue plagues the creation of female managers, where options boil down to 10 variations of the same middle-parted bob and maybe two natural styles for Black women — one of which looks suspiciously like a stretched-out rectangle glued to the model’s head.

Minor gripes, sure, but this stuff matters because immersion is what makes Football Manager special. It’s the beating heart of the experience, the thing that turns a spreadsheet simulator into a living football world.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Speaking of immersion, I genuinely appreciate how Football Manager 26’s revamped manager creation system leans harder into your character’s lore to shape their stats. In previous editions, you’d simply select your coaching badges, level of playing experience, and management style focus — choices that translated into skill points to distribute across attributes like Attacking, Motivating, or People Management. It was a precise, hands-on way to define your manager’s identity and, more importantly, their reputation, which influenced everything from which jobs you could land to how the board responded to requests and even how players approached contract negotiations.

Now, that sense of control is gone. You can't manually allocate points anymore; attributes are locked in based on the reputation presets you choose. The familiar 1–20 numerical scale has been replaced by circular icons that fade from red ("unsuited") to green ("outstanding"). Reputation is now determined through a three-step process: first, selecting the peak of your playing career, from Global Superstar to Amateur; second, identifying any non-playing roles within the football world, whether as a coach, scout, or pundit; and third, deciding how well-known you are in that space. These decisions set your baseline Coaching and Mental attributes, though the latter has been pared back — "Level of Discipline" is now "Authority," while "Player Knowledge" and "Youngster Knowledge" have been quietly removed.

To further tweak your manager's strengths, you then select “Tendencies,” which is a nice touch — I like having more narrative context behind my avatar. But the trade-off is a loss of flexibility. It feels like SI has simplified an already simple system. If immersion is what defines why I love Football Manager, then simplification is what defines my growing frustration with Football Manager 26’s new UI.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

It’s not just that the new UI is bad to look at — though, for the record, I'm not exactly a fan of the purple and blue gradient either — it's that you can feel the design philosophy behind it. This isn't a UI made for longtime players; it's one built to simplify things for newcomers. That philosophy has been in motion since the first reveal of the now-cancelled Football Manager 25, which aimed to unify the series across all platforms. Now that FM has fully embraced its mobile and console ambitions, the result is an interface that looks and feels like it was made for a tablet first, PC second.

Everything has that iPad app aesthetic — modular pop-up windows, tiny text, oversized spacing — and on a larger monitor, it's straight-up punishing on the eyes. Many of the player and agent interactions now are styled as text messages. The intent is clear: make the game more accessible. However, in doing so, Football Manager 26 has compromised the identity of a series that once prided itself on depth and detail.

If I were to hand out thrones and roses for Football Manager 26, I’d start by giving credit where it’s due: I like that the developers took a more modern approach to the UI design. It’s clean, sleek, and visually in step with other contemporary sims. I also appreciate the intent behind it — a genuine effort to streamline the experience and get players onto the pitch faster.

And…that’s about it for the roses.

Football Manager offers death by a thousand dropdowns

I'm trying not to sound hyperbolic when I say the new UI changes kind of ruin what I love about Football Manager. For many of us, calling FM a "spreadsheet simulator" isn’t an insult — it’s the point. The joy comes from immersion: years upon years of data, history, statistics, and stories. I want to live in that data, to get lost in the archives of players and clubs and see how football's alternate history unfolds. But the new interface makes that harder. The game now feels actively resistant to exploration, bogged down by redundant windows, tabs, and submenus that bury simple information behind too many clicks.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Case in point: in one of my saves managing Cheonan in the South Korean K League 2, I wanted to check the K League 1 table. In FM 2024, this was easy — just click the arrow next to the league logo and jump straight up to K League 1. In FM 26, that quick action has turned into a labyrinth. I now have to hover over "Competitions" → "Asia" → "South Korea" → "Men's" and then select "K League 1."

It’s death by a thousand dropdowns.

Things that were once instantly accessible on the left-hand panel — competitions, scouting, finances — are now buried behind layered menus and pop-up windows, making me wonder what exactly was happening in the design meetings. Even viewing the competitions your team is involved in, once a one-click affair under "Competitions," now requires a trek through Portal > Overview > Stages before you can even search for the competition you want.

A lot of what made FM’s interface efficient and customizable is simply gone in Football Manager 26. Basic functions like reloading skins, clearing cache, or changing attribute colors have vanished, along with small quality-of-life settings that let players decide how menus behaved — like where the back button led or what default screen club, nation, or player pages opened to. Even long-standing visual tools like the attribute graph, passmaps, heatmaps, and scatter plot numbers have either been buried behind tiny pop-ups or removed entirely. The same goes for player comparison, role attribute highlights, staff comparison, and several key finance and training options.

Match Day and squad management haven’t escaped either. Essential navigation tools, such as the spacebar-to-messages shortcut, Match Day calendar, and standings, as well as the normal sideline camera, are gone. You can't filter or toggle replays like before, match stats during highlights are limited, and useful interface details — the little "i" next to player names, the quick fitness hearts, or the "Best XI" and "Where Are They Now?" features — have all disappeared. Even staples like the Development Centre, loan and international reports, and deadline day have been watered down.

When a game built on data suddenly hides that data behind friction, it loses its soul. And for a series as detail-obsessed as Football Manager, that’s not just a UI issue — that’s an identity crisis.

Match Day Experience still sings in Football Manager 26 Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Sorry you had to hear me bitch and moan about navigating the UI, but it had to be done. Now, let's move on to the meat and bones of the Football Manager experience.

If half the fun of FM is getting buried in data to build the perfect squad, then the other half is crafting the perfect tactic. And thankfully, in Football Manager 26, that part still sings. After lamenting the lack of granularity in manager creation, it's refreshing to see that tactical customization has instead been expanded. The new In- and Out-of-Possession tactics system provides players with far greater control over shape, structure, and tactical fluidity, along with more streamlined (yet deeper) player roles.

In previous editions, both phases of play were baked into a single tactic. Player roles had fixed "modifiers" such as Defend, Support, or Attack, and these came with hidden, unchangeable instructions. So if you wanted a full-back who attacked aggressively but still challenged for the ball defensively, you had to settle for Full-Back (Attack) or Wing-Back (Attack) and hope everything behaved roughly the way you envisioned.

Now, that's changed. You can assign dual roles — one for when your team is in possession, and another for when they're not. That means your Full-Back (Attack) on offense can become a Pressing Full-Back out of possession. It's a meaningful shift that makes your tactics feel alive, adapting dynamically to the game's flow.

As someone who's not exactly a tactical savant, I love this system. I'm a simple man who runs a 4-3-3 and calls it a day — but now, when defending, I can drop my three central midfielders into defensive midfield roles to add extra cover, especially since my full-backs love to bomb forward. It feels intuitive, flexible, and genuinely rewarding.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

New to Match Day is the Instant Result button, a longtime feature of custom skin mods that were often buggy or unstable. In past games, you couldn’t actually simulate matches unless you took a "vacation," and even then, those wins were credited to your assistant coach. Personally, I’ve always been an Instant Result user — without it, playing through a single season could easily take 20–25 hours. With it, that drops to around eight–10 hours, and depending on how deep the addiction runs, I can crank out two full seasons in a week.

That said, I might be rethinking my stance now that the new Unity engine makes the in-game action genuinely pleasant to watch. "Pretty" might be overstating it, but FM 26 looks significantly better.

Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

Lighting is improved, camera angles are more dynamic, and player animations have been overhauled. Granted, those animations can still be janky — it’s painfully clear that these are 3D models with limited physics whenever there’s physical contact. Players clipping through each other during tackles or dribbles remains a jarring sight.

Still, I don’t have many major complaints when it comes to actually sitting through a match. Compared to older editions, FM 26 is easily the best-looking entry yet — for both the men's and women's sides of the game. Even better is during moments where the game is simming the action, there's a 2D match engine that shows the flow of the game, making it easier to see what's going on between highlights.

Women's Leagues are here in Football Manager 26 Credit: Screenshot: Chance Townsend / Sports Interactive

One major thing I haven’t mentioned yet is the inclusion of Women’s Football in the game for the first time. It's been teased since 2021, with SI acknowledging it would take years to integrate the women's game properly — and now, it's finally here. I quite like it. As with any new league, the challenge lies in learning how this side of the football world operates compared to what you already know. The database of players is completely new to me, but I appreciate how FM handles it: the stats system treats men’s and women’s attributes on equal footing. A "20" in any skill means the same thing, regardless of gender — it's not scaled down or adjusted to make women appear inferior.

Both men's and women's leagues load into the game together and can't be separated. So if you start a save in countries like England or France, you'll automatically have both their domestic leagues running simultaneously. That said, there are differences between the two experiences. SI clearly tried to reflect the real-world dynamics of women’s football — lower transfer fees, smaller budgets, more player movement, and shorter contracts. Even injury trends are represented realistically, with women being more prone to long-term ACL injuries compared to men.

Beyond that, though, much remains the same. The familiar issues persist: broken player interactions ("What do you mean this player wants a new contract with four years left on his deal?") and repetitive press conferences that start to feel like déjà vu after your tenth match week. I have over 1,000 hours in FM 24, and it's the same conversations. Please, lord, make it stop.

Is Football Manager 26 worth it?

Yes — but with an asterisk the size of a Match Day tactics board. The foundation here is undeniably strong. The move to Unity has given FM its biggest technical leap in years; the in-match presentation is genuinely improved, and the inclusion of women’s football finally delivers on a promise SI made long ago. Tactics feel smarter and more flexible, and there’s a level of polish under the hood that suggests real ambition for where the series is headed.

However, for every step forward, FM 26 takes a step sideways — largely due to a frustrating new UI that prioritizes simplicity over depth. The new UI is sleek, much like an empty apartment, but it strips away the intuitive complexity that made FM such a joy to get lost in. Longtime players will feel that friction immediately; the sense of immersion that once pulled you into its spreadsheets and stat lines now feels diluted, hidden behind extra clicks and menus that just don’t need to exist.

And yet, despite my complaints, I know I’ll keep playing. Because that’s the thing about Football Manager: it gets its hooks in you. You can gripe about the interface all day, but the moment you find that one wonderkid or pull off a last-minute equalizer in a cup final, the magic returns.

So yes, Football Manager 26 is worth it — not because it's perfect, but because even at its most frustrating, it still captures the beauty, chaos, and heartbreak of football better than anything else out there.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NASAs prospective boss posts 2,000 words on X. Its damage control.

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:00

Tech billionaire and commercial astronaut Jared Isaacman is trying to stem the fallout from a leaked document describing sweeping changes he has proposed for NASA, defending the plan as an incomplete rough draft. 

Some industry stakeholders and bureaucrats have interpreted the plan, known as "Athena," as an effort to cancel major projects, such as SLS, NASA's mega moon rocket, and Gateway, a future lunar space station. Critics have also speculated the plan seeks to shutter some of the agency's 10 campuses. 

President Donald Trump previously tapped Isaacman, the first civilian to perform a spacewalk during a SpaceX mission he personally funded, to lead the U.S. space agency, then abruptly withdrew that nomination in May. The decision to pull Isaacman followed a public spat between Trump and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, who had originally urged the president to select the 42-year-old entrepreneur. 

In a 2,000-word post on X, Isaacman said on Tuesday that his plan had been mischaracterized and distorted by reporters. He called the leak a political maneuver that risked undermining confidence in NASA at a critical juncture. 

Three hours later, Trump announced on his own social media platform, Truth Social, that he was nominating Isaacman for NASA administrator — again.

The controversy unfolds as NASA endures the federal funding lapse, with thousands of civil servants furloughed and most projects on hold. Only essential mission operations — astronaut safety on the International Space Station and the monitoring of active spacecraft — continue under contingency rules. The government shutdown has compounded concerns within the agency, where uncertainty over leadership has left many workers demoralized and rudderless.

"Personally, I think the 'why' behind the timing of this document circulating — and the spin being given to reporters — is the real story," Isaacman said on X. 

SEE ALSO: Astronomy students discover a tiny nearby galaxy hid an enormous secret

The confidential 62-page document, first reported by Politico, was drafted by Isaacman's team earlier this year while he awaited Senate confirmation. The plan, according to reports, laid out a series of changes that many people have viewed as potentially destructive to existing programs and contracts. 

Isaacman, who founded the Shift4 credit card-processing company, confirmed the document’s authenticity but called it outdated and "intended to be a living document refined through data gathering post-confirmation." He said only one printed copy was distributed and that it was a distilled version from a longer plan that had over 40 more pages.

Jared Isaacman became the first private citizen to do a spacewalk during SpaceX's Polaris Dawn mission on Sept. 12, 2024. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshot

The proposal, he wrote, centered on five priorities: reorganizing NASA’s bureaucracy to empower engineers and reduce red tape; expanding astronaut flight opportunities and lunar missions; strengthening partnerships with industry to build a sustainable "orbital economy"; leveraging NASA’s expertise to accelerate scientific discovery; and investing in advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence and nuclear propulsion.

Isaacman pushed back on claims that the plan sought to eliminate major programs or close NASA centers. He said it merely explored shifting resources and questioned whether existing infrastructure aligned with mission needs.

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"The report never even remotely suggested that America could ever do without the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Personally, I have publicly defended programs like the Chandra X-ray Observatory, offered to fund a Hubble reboost mission," he said, "and anything suggesting that I am anti-science or want to outsource that responsibility is simply untrue."

The businessman also voiced support for acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy, who is simultaneously the transportation secretary, saying reports of friction between them have been overblown. Both men have expressed interest in overseeing the agency. Duffy had advocated for folding NASA into the Department of Transportation, which would allow him to continue leading it, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Jared Isaacman testifies during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee confirmation hearing on April 9, 2025, before President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination. Trump announced he is renominating Isaacman for the job on Nov. 4, 2025. Credit: Kent Nishimura / Bloomberg / Getty Images

In the backdrop of this scrimmage for control is a renewed space race — this time between the United States and China. NASA has a plan to return humans to the surface of the moon as early as 2027 with Artemis III. But given the tendency for mission timelines to face delays, that may put the astronaut landing neck and neck with China's plan to put the first taikonauts on the moon in 2030. 

Right now SpaceX holds a $4.2 billion contract to supply a moon-lander version of Starship to NASA for the mission. But the spacecraft seems to be running years behind schedule. Duffy, who has promised the United States will get there before China, recently reopened the Artemis III lander contract, much to Musk's chagrin. NASA is now evaluating accelerated plans from both SpaceX and Blue Origin, its competitor founded by Jeff Bezos. 

Meanwhile, many have assumed Isaacman's close ties with Musk will mean favoritism toward SpaceX, regardless of timeline, cost, or concept. Isaacman says he has no loyalties to any aerospace vendors.

"This isn’t an election or campaign for the NASA Administrator job," Isaacman said.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Upgrade to MS Office 2024 — 1 payment, lifetime use, $80 off

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC as a lifetime license for $169.97 (reg. $249.99) — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote with no recurring fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $169.97
$249.99 Save $80.02   Get Deal

If you’re tired of paying subscriptions for tools you use every day, here’s some good news: Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is now available as a lifetime license for Mac or PC. That means one payment and full access — no monthly fees, no recurring charges.

Why upgrade:

  • Word — New Focus Mode, Smart Compose, and research tools.

  • Excel — Dynamic Arrays, AI-powered insights, and data visualization.

  • PowerPoint — Record presentations with video/voice + enhanced storytelling features.

  • Outlook — Better search, accessibility tools & stronger security.

  • OneNote — Capture, organize & collaborate effortlessly.

  • Performance Boosts — Faster, smoother handling of large files.

  • Modern Interface — Consistent Fluent Design across all apps.

  • Collaboration tools — Real-time co-authoring, Teams integration, version history.

  • AI enhancements — Intelligent suggestions, natural language processing, smarter analytics.

  • Work offline anytime — Full access without relying on the cloud.

This version gives you the latest Microsoft Office features many professionals rely on — with the simplicity of a one-time purchase.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC for just $169.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Snag a fully loaded 16-inch MacBook Pro for over $2,200 off

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:00

TL;DR: If you’re looking for a mega-powerful MacBook Pro, you may want to snatch this one up on sale for just $539.99 (reg. $2,799).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch 2019 (Refurbished) $539.99
$2,799 Save $2,259.01   Get Deal

If you’ve had your eye on a fully loaded MacBook Pro, but that gigantic price tag has prevented you from purchasing, we have some good news. Now, instead of paying more than a month’s rent, you can snag this 16-inch MacBook Pro for just $539.99 — over $2,200 off the regular $2,799 price.

When it comes to powerful and portable devices, it’s pretty tough to beat the MacBook Pro. This particular model also features upgrades that take it to a whole new level — making it the perfect device for those with demanding workloads.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best Windows laptops of 2025: See how our top-tested picks compare

You’ll enjoy plenty of power thanks to the 2.6Hz Intel Core i7 processor and 32GB of RAM, which can even keep up with tasks that require some serious heavy lifting. There’s also a 512GB SSD that delivers lightning-fast boot times and plenty of space for your important files.

The 16-inch Retina display gives you plenty of room to work, stream, and play, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU delivers smooth, vibrant visuals across the entire screen. It also features Apple’s True Tone Technology, which keeps it easy on the eyes. And if you’re streaming or working on a creative project, you’ll love the six-speaker sound system that provides studio-quality audio.

This MacBook Pro includes unique Apple features like the Touch Bar, which offers shortcuts at the top of the keyboard, and Touch ID to keep your device secure. It’s also fully integrated with macOS, so you can seamlessly connect with other Apple devices easily.

Curious why you’re saving over $2,200? This device is grade A refurbished, which means it will arrive in near-mint condition, while you still score a deep discount.

Get an upgraded MacBook Pro for just $539.99 (reg. $2,799), while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Whats new to streaming this week? (Nov. 7, 2025)

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 11:00

Looking for something great to watch at home? Streaming subscribers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+, Apple TV, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television programs within each streamer!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services to determine what to watch. We've got your back, whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, and animation, among others. But if you're seeking something brand-new (or just new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

Mashable's entertainment team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of the week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Whether you're looking for scintillating scandal, a mind-bending new series, stranger-than-fiction historical drama, a heavenly comedy, or an epic monster movie, we've got something just for you.

13. Squid Game: The Challenge, Season 2

Squid Game may have come to an end, but Netflix's attempts to capitalize on its biggest TV show of all time are still going strong. The most misguided of these efforts remains Squid Game: The Challenge, a reality show that asks, "Hey, you know those horrible death games that Squid Game created as a cautionary tale? Well, what if we made them a reality?"

Squid Game: The Challenge remains a painstakingly accurate recreation of Squid Game, capturing the scale and prize money of the original show. But the former is everything the latter critiques, a hollow capitalist venture made to exploit people for entertainment. You may get invested due to its reality TV shows gimmicks, but chances are you'll hate yourself for it. Just go watch the original show instead. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Squid Game: The Challenge Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.

12. All's Fair

You might think that a Ryan Murphy series starring Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close would be worth the watch. You might think it would deliver powerhouse performances mixed with high camp. You would be wrong.

SEE ALSO: Critics hate 'All's Fair,' but the internet has other thoughts

Murphy's latest outing All's Fair is an uninspired, un-fun dud, centering on a team of female divorce attorneys who start their own practice. But what should be a glossy, juicy drama falls flat, and what should be a scintillating ensemble piece shows few signs of good chemistry. In Mashable's Fall TV preview, I asked, "Will Kardashian be able to hold her own against these Emmy and Oscar nominees and winners?" The answer, unsurprisingly, is no. — B.E.

Starring: Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts, Niecy Nash-Betts, Teyana Taylor, Matthew Noszka, Sarah Paulson, and Glenn Close

How to watch: The first three episodes of All's Fair are now streaming on Hulu, with new episodes every Tuesday.

11. All Her Fault

After watching Sarah Snook's Emmy–winning work as Shiv Roy in Succession, I'd watch her in anything. Lucky me, then, as Snook is back on TV in thriller All Her Fault. Snook plays Marissa Irvine, a mother who goes to pick up her son Milo from his first playdate. However, the woman who answers the door isn't someone Marissa recognizes. Not only that, this woman has never even heard of Milo. What follows is a parent's worst nightmare, all based on the novel by Andrea Mara.* — B.E.

Starring: Sarah Snook, Jake Lacy, Dakota Fanning, Michael Peña, Sophia Lillis, Abby Elliott, Daniel Monks, Jay Ellis, Thomas Cocquerel, Duke McCloud, and Kartiah Vergara

How to watch: All Her Fault is now streaming on Peacock.

10. Materialists

It was the love triangle that had audiences giddy in anticipation. Dakota Johnson stars as a New York career gal who must choose between the rugged blue-collar hunk played by Chris Evans and the debonair millionaire portrayed by Pedro Pascal. However, as winsome as the press tour for Materialists was, the movie — from Past Lives' filmmaker Celine Song — was far more complex, even dark.

Taking a bracing look at the dating scene in New York, Song upends the expectations of a traditional rom-com to dig into the unsexy terrain of financial pressures, parental trauma, and sexual assault. As I wrote in my review, "She sets up a traditional rom-com in scenario and characters, but then rejects the buzzy optimism and whimsy of standard Hollywood romantic comedies to create something cuttingly modern." But that's not to say it will win over everyone seeking a rom-com. — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans

How to watch: Materialists debuts on HBO Max on Nov. 7.

9. The Smashing Machine

Based on the life of MMA champion Mark Kerr, The Smashing Machine delivers a bold drama from Uncut Gems' co-writer/co-director Benny Safdie. Dwayne Johnson stars as Kerr, who, when he's not fighting in the ring, is battling addiction outside of it — with the help (and sometimes hindrance) of his girlfriend Dawn Staples (played here by Johnson's Jungle Cruise co-star Emily Blunt). 

In my review out of TIFF, I wrote, "Johnson gives a career-defining performance that should well prove he can handle meatier, even artier fare. Blunt gives her all in a thankless role, and Safdie, in his feature-length directorial debut without his brother/Uncut Gems co-helmer Josh Safdie, takes some big swings. It's a shame he didn't have a sharper eye on what was hitting, and what was leaving his audience needing more." — K.P.

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Ryan Bader, Bas Rutten, and Oleksandr Usyk

How to watch: The Smashing Machine is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

8. The Outrun

Have you ever felt so alienated from your world that only the folklore of wild things could soothe you? In the opening of The Outrun, a young woman named Rona (played by four-time Academy Award nominee Saoirse Ronan) shares the legend of the selkie. Through a dreamy voiceover, she explains how these mythological shapeshifters of the sea could come ashore at night, shed their seal skins, and dance in the guise of humans on the sand and rock. But should they be seen by humans, they'd be trapped to live on the soil, discontent the rest of their days. Rona, an alcoholic struggling with sobriety, can relate, having had her fair share of scandalous revels and scorching disappointments. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Outrun' review: Saoirse Ronan leads a tender and poetic addiction drama

Based on the 2016 memoir of the same name by British journalist Amy Liptrot, The Outrun follows a deeply personal tale of self-love, loss, and addiction, weaving in elements of science, folklore, and animation to profound effect. Determined to get sober, Rona returns to her hometown, the Orkney Islands off the coast of Scotland, to reconnect with her parents and herself.*— K.P.

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Paapa Essiedu, Nabil Elouahabi, Izuka Hoyle, Lauren Lyle, Saskia Reeves, and Stephen Dillane

How to watch: The Outrun is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

7. St. Denis Medical, Season 2

The TV mockumentary genre is alive and well thanks to comedies like Abbott Elementary, The Office spin-off The Paper, and St. Denis Medical. The latter returns to NBC and Peacock this week, and if you haven't tuned in yet, consider this your chance to do so.

St. Denis Medical follows the nurses and doctors at an understaffed, underfunded Oregon hospital, where they juggle chaotic patients and their own personal lives. It's what The Pitt would be if it was a comfort watch, and it absolutely deserves a spot on any sitcom lover's list. — B.E.

Starring: Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Mekki Leeper, Kahyun Kim, Kaliko Kauahi, and David Alan Grier

How to watch: The first two episodes of St. Denis Medical Season 2 are now streaming on Peacock, with new episodes airing Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on Mondays, and streaming Tuesdays on Peacock.

6. I Really Love My Husband

The feature debut of writer/director G.G. Hawkins is a playful and enticing look at love and desire, with a sharp sense of humor.

The story of this sexy comedy begins on a honeymoon to tropical Panama. There, newlyweds Drew and Teresa (Travis Quentin Young and Madison Lanesey) are seeking pleasure and fun under the sun. But something is eating at Teresa, who seems irked by her husband's every move. That is, until they meet their enchanting rental host, the free-spirited Paz (Arta Gee). More than a sexy stranger, they seem a path to sexual exploration and personal liberation. While this concept of a straight-seeming couple dabbling in kink and queer hook-ups might seem predictable and problematic, Hawkins and her cast show a keen self-awareness in the film's final act. The result is a comedy that's funny, poignant, and thought-provoking.* — K.P.

Starring: Travis Quentin Young, Madison Lanesey, and Arta Gee

How to watch: I Really Love My Husband is now available for rent or purchase on Apple TV.

5. Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

We've finally come to the end of Downton Abbey, with the Crawleys moving into the late 1930s, ready for their final bow. Julian Fellowes' Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale gets a final two-hour film from Simon Curtis that takes the series' beloved characters further into the decade, and pays tribute to Dame Maggie Smith as Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, who died at the end in Downton Abbey: A New Era, released two years before Smith's own passing.

As Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, "Downton’s biggest strength has always been its operatic whiplash... The contours of The Grand Finale aren’t quite so extreme, but this lack of overt melodrama may be owed to a single missing ingredient: the fearsome, irascibly funny Dowager Countess." — S.C.

Starring: Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Michelle Dockery, Paul Giamatti, Elizabeth McGovern, and Penelope Wilton

How to watch: Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale premieres on Peacock on Nov. 7.

4. Good Fortune

Imagine if Keanu Reeves was your guardian angel? Ok. Do you need any further convincing to check out Aziz Ansari's critically-heralded comedy?

If so, Good Fortune stars Ansari as an L.A. resident scraping to get by in the gig economy, while tech bros — like the one played by Seth Rogen — get to live a sweet life of luxury. That is, until a well-meaning but dim-witted angel (Reeves) life-swaps them to teach them both a lesson. Naturally, things go awry. And as they do, Reeves delivers one of his best performances as an angel out of his depth. He's not to be missed. — K.P.

SEE ALSO: 'Good Fortune' review: Keanu Reeves is a comedy blessing as a clueless angel

Starring: Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh, and Keanu Reeves

How to watch: Good Fortune arrives on premium digital on Nov. 7.

3. Death by Lightning

In the mood for a solid historical drama? Then check out Death by Lightning, a miniseries that examines the events leading up to the assassination of President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) by Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen).

SEE ALSO: 'Death by Lightning' review: Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon weave a gripping tale of political assassination

The series parallels the two men's lives in fascinating ways, juxtaposing Garfield's surprise rise to power with Guiteau's desperate attempts to get in with the Republican party. Boasting shady politicking reminiscent of the papal hijinks of Conclave, along with Macfadyen once more channeling the pathetic striving of Succession's Tom Wambsgans, Death By Lightning is, as I wrote in my review, "a riveting look into a short and often forgotten presidency." — B.E.

Starring: Michael Shannon, Matthew Macfadyen, Nick Offerman, Betty Gilpin, Bradley Whitford, and Shea Whigham

How to watch: Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

2. Pluribus

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul creator Vince Gilligan comes back to TV with Pluribus, a sci-fi drama that reunites him with Better Call Saul star Rhea Seehorn. But that team-up is just one small portion of what makes Pluribus so exciting.

The series follows Carol (Seehorn), the most miserable person in the world. She faces a daunting task: saving the rest of Earth's population from happiness. Why are they so happy? Why does Carol need to save them? Pluribus' plot details are shrouded in secrecy, but trust that the reason is downright enthralling, and that Carol's journey moving forward is bound to be must-see TV. — B.E.

Starring: Rhea Seehorn, Karolina Wydra, and Carlos Manuel Vesga

How to watch: The first two episodes of Pluribus premiere Nov. 7 on Apple TV, with new episodes every Friday.

1. Frankenstein

Master of monsters Guillermo del Toro finally reveals to the world his Frankenstein. The movie he's dreamed of making for ages is a gorgeous and gory wonder, starring Oscar Isaac as the titular mad scientist and Jacob Elordi as his misunderstood monster.

With a grand scale, a dark imagination, and a rich vision, del Toro delivers a must-see for horror fans. As I cheered in my review out of the TIFF premiere, "As a whole, del Toro's Frankenstein is a marvel. His vision is clear and mesmerizing. His ensemble is electrifying. His adaptation is unique, soulful, and unforgettable. The man who loves monsters has just made his masterpiece: It's rich, rapturous, and ruthlessly interrogates what it means to be human, with all of our glory and our flaws." — K.P.

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jacob Elordi, Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Christian Convery, Charles Dance, and Christoph Waltz

How to watch: Frankenstein debuts on Netflix on Nov. 7.

(*) denotes a blurb comes from a previous list.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Google Pixel 9 just dropped to a record-low price at Amazon — save $300 right now

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 10:59

SAVE $300: As of Nov. 6, the Google Pixel 9 is on sale for $499 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price and its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 9 $499 at Amazon
$799 Save $300   Get Deal

Black Friday is just a few weeks away but there's already some early deals kicking around. Walmart's sale will kick off midway through the month and Best Buy dropped its sale on Halloween, so if you want some early discounts, there's places for you to go. Meanwhile at Amazon, the Daily Deals continue to impress, and one deal that has really caught our eye is on the Google Pixel 9.

As of Nov. 6, this smartphone is down to its lowest-ever price, now just $499. That's a saving of $300, and quite a drop from its previous low. This deal is for the 128GB option and you can choose between the obsidian, wintergreen, and porcelain colors.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps introduces conversational navigation with Gemini

It obviously comes with built-in Gemini, giving you access to Google’s newest AI tools. Google AI features include Add Me, Best Take, and Magic Editor which all let you tweak photos, fix group shots, or rework backgrounds effortlessly. So, with this phone you can take great photos and edit them easily.

And speaking of taking photos, the camera setup includes a 50 MP main sensor and a 48 MP ultrawide lens with a Macro Focus for detailed close-ups, so this is one seriously impressive phone camera.

Get this great smartphone deal at Amazon ahead of Black Friday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Sony Bravia 5 75-inch TV just got its biggest-ever discount at Amazon — save over $600

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 10:52

SAVE OVER $600: As of Nov. 6, the Sony Bravia 5 75-inch is on sale for $1,398 at Amazon. That's a 30% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Bravia 5 75-inch TV $1,398 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $601.99   Get Deal

In need of a new TV for the holidays? Look no further than the Sony Bravia 5. This impressive TV has everything going for it: great picture quality, stunning sound, and built-in Google TV. It's also on sale at Amazon for its lowest-ever price, so you don't need to wait for Black Friday to scoop up a great deal.

As of Nov. 6, this TV is priced at $1,398 (down from $1,999.99). That's a saving of over $600 on list price. 75-inch a little too big for your living room? Not to worry, all sizes of this TV are reduced, even up to 98-inch if you want to go seriously big.

SEE ALSO: Hurry to snag the 85-inch Hisense Class QD6 Series QLED 4K TV while it's under $770

So, what else does it have going for it? This TV uses thousands of Mini LEDs to create amazing qualityat all times. It benefits from a XR Processor with AI, which adjusts the picture in real time, so everything you watch looks clear and detailed.

On the inside it runs on Google TV, so all your streaming apps are in one place. And you can use voice control through Google Assistant. There’s also access to movies through the Sony Pictures Core app, including IMAX Enhanced titles, and special picture modes made for Netflix and Prime Video.

Are you a gamer? This TV is set up for that too, especially if you have a PS5. It’s equipped with PS5 features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode.

Get this great TV deal from Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score double PokéCoins in Pokémon GOs Black Friday sale

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 10:39

DOUBLE POKÉCOINS: As of Nov. 6, Pokémon GO is doubling PokéCoin bundles over $19.99, and first time web store customers get an extra 15% discount plus bonus coins.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Double Pokémon GO Pokécoins $19.99 at Pokémon GO
$39.98 Save $19.99 $19.99 minimum spend (15% discount on first web order purchase plus bonus PokéCoins) Get Deal

It's been a strange year for Pokémon GO since Scopely aquired Niantic's gaming division for $3.5 billion back in May, with many trainers feeling unsure about the future of the GPS-based hit. Nothing much has changed bar the introduction of Pokémon Stamp Rally and quality of life improvements such as faster Pokémon intros and local content becoming remotely accessible. Of course, that's just my take.

Black Friday is officially creeping into the Pokémon GO Web Store until Nov. 29. Trainers can double their PokéCoin purchases over $19.99, which also includes bonus coins for purchasing and a 15% discount at checkout for first-time buyers through the web store.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

That's not the only Black Friday deal Niantic is offering, either. Trainers can also purchase the new Seasonal Delights Ultra Box for 6,095 PokéCoins. This includes the following:

  • 40 Incubators ($38.87 value)

  • 40 Super Inclubators ($59.80 value)

  • 3 Remote Raid Passes ($3.99 value)

  • 5 Premium Battle Passes ($4.99 value)

  • 1 Max Particle Pack ($7.99 value)

Needless to say it's great value, with the figures above representing the price when bought seperately. There's usually other bundles to score these items for far less, but this is a solid deal considering you can double your PokéCoins right now.

Super Inclubators are one of the biggest gains here, cutting Pokémon Egg hatching down by a third of the walking time it usually takes for a standard incubator. Max Particles are very important too. They're needed for entering Max Battles whilst also used as currency to unlock and level up Max Moves for a trainer's Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon. You'll also need Pokémon-specific candies to unlock max moves.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Death by Lightning review: Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon weave a gripping tale of political assassination

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 09:01

In 1881, a man named Charles Guiteau shot President James A. Garfield twice at point-blank range. The attack, which took place four months into Garfield's presidency, resulted in him becoming the second American president to be assassinated.

Yet the events leading up to the shooting, as well as its aftermath, proved just as shocking as the assassination itself. These make up the bulk of Netflix's four-episode miniseries Death by Lightning, which charts the parallel stories of Garfield (Michael Shannon) and Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen) before their final meeting. Based on the nonfiction book Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard, Death by Lightning offers up a riveting look into a short and often forgotten presidency.

SEE ALSO: 'Death by Lightning's true story: What does the show get right? Death by Lightning provides political drama in spades. Michael Shannon in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Aside from some flashbacks, Death by Lightning mostly hones in on the 15-month long period between Garfield becoming the Republican presidential nominee and his death. During that time, Garfield goes from avoiding the spotlight to being thrust into power and facing off against powerful New York politicians like Roscoe Conkling (Shea Whigham) and Chester A. Arthur (Nick Offerman), who was also his vice president.

The inter-party sniping is especially juicy, conjuring up the backhanded scheming of Conclave. The comparison is most apparent during the show's depiction of the 1880 Republic National Convention, which sees multiple flawed candidates jockeying for power, several chaotic rounds of voting, a number of shady comments lobbed across the convention floor, and a surprise winner in Garfield, who didn't even enter the convention as a contender. Swap Conclave's cardinal robes for suit jackets and campaign buttons, add a bit more raucous shouting, and you've got a good idea of what awaits in Death by Lightning.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2025 (so far)

The drama doesn't end with Garfield's nomination or even his election. Once in office, Garfield hopes to push new civil service reforms and advocate for civil rights. However, Conkling and the New York crew's beef with him leads to corruption-fueled government deadlock. While Death by Lightning features events that played out nearly 150 years ago, watching them during the U.S. government shutdown gives them an all-too-real relevancy. It's also a grim reminder that as wild as these dramatized political shenanigans are, our political reality has only gotten more unbelievable since Garfield's time.

If Death by Lightning were just about the struggles Garfield faced in office, it would be a fascinating enough political drama. But there's a dark underbelly to Garfield's story, and that's that of his killer.

Matthew Macfadyen brings Tom Wambsgans energy to Charles Guiteau. Matthew Macfadyen in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Death by Lightning's grander-scale set pieces focus on Garfield, with crowded conventions and speeches highlighting the far reach of the presidency. And there is always one man just skirting the edges of these events: Charles Guiteau, a failed lawyer and newspaper editor with political aspirations of his own.

As played by Macfadyen, Guiteau carries shades of the actor's Emmy-winning role of Tom Wambsgans on Succession. Few performers do "pathetic" as well as Macfadyen, and there's a pathetic-ness to both Tom and Guiteau, a need for validation that manifests as desperate striving for a higher stature. (Plus, Death by Lightning does have Macfadyen say the word "ludicrous," which I will never not associate with Tom and ludicrously capacious handbags.)

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Because of their wheedling attempts to get closer to power, Tom and Guiteau both act as a wretched kind of comic relief, one that makes you want to cringe just as much as it makes you want to laugh. However, there's one key difference. Tom, for all the humiliations he faces in his personal and professional lives, does find success. He's rich, holds high-ranking positions at Waystar-Royco, and (spoiler alert!) even winds up as CEO. Guiteau, on the other hand, is an abject failure across the board, and a low-level con man to boot. Yet he's so deluded by visions of his own greatness and what he believes God has in store for him that he never truly acknowledges the truth.

That quality is especially present during Garfield's campaign, of which Guiteau was a huge supporter. In one of Death by Lightning's funniest storylines, he begs relentlessly to be granted the opportunity to deliver a speech in support of Garfield. When he finally does get to speak, it's in front of a crowd of a dozen, and Guiteau's words are less than convincing. But that doesn't stop Guiteau from believing that he, personally, got Garfield elected.

Contrast Guiteau's awkward speech with Garfield's rousing one at the Republican National Convention, delivered with charismatic gravitas by Shannon. Those two speeches prove the men couldn't be more different. Still, Guiteau views them as kindred spirits, as the two were both born into poverty in the Midwest. (There were even more historical parallels between the two, including the stranger fact that both survived boat accidents, but the show doesn't dive into that as much as it could.) That Garfield rose to the presidency proves that Guiteau could do so, too. Now, he feels he's owed power, and that makes him dangerous.

Guiteau's spiral from Garfield supporter to eventual assassin makes for a darkly funny counterpoint to Garfield and his nation-level political battles. The latter is looking to lead the country, while the former is only looking to help himself.

Death by Lightning's meticulous plotting of the two men's differences and individual struggles means that by the time we get to their infamous (and deadly) meeting, we have a rich portrait of each. The result is an encounter that is, as the title suggests, both sobering and electrifying.

Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Death by Lightnings true story: What does the show get right?

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 09:01

Netflix's Death by Lightning is a thrilling look into the events leading up to the assassination of President James Garfield (Michael Shannon) by Charles Guiteau (Matthew Macfadyen). The series is based on Candice Millard's 2011 nonfiction book, Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine, and the Murder of a President.

SEE ALSO: How much does Netflix cost per month?

But how much of what takes place in the series actually happened?

Below, we've broken down Death by Lightning's most shocking moments and whether or not they're based in historical fact. From brains in jars to chilling executions, here's what Death by Lightning gets right about Garfield and Guiteau's stories (and what's been dramatized).

Is Charles Guiteau's brain really in storage? Matthew Macfadyen in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Death by Lightning begins with the wild revelation that in 1969, almost a century after Garfield's death, Guiteau's brain was in storage at the Army Medical Museum in Washington, D.C. In the show's final episode, we learn why. During Guiteau's autopsy, doctors studied his brain in the hopes of finding physiological proof of his mental illness. However, aside from the abnormally thick dura mater membrane around his brain, the doctors found nothing unusual.

Since then, chunks of Guiteau's brain have found new homes, winding up in the collection of the Mütter Museum at the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and the National Museum of Health and Medicine. Doctors also preserved Guiteau's enlarged spleen.

SEE ALSO: Michael Shannon and Judy Greer on the profound poignancy of 'Eric LaRue'

Ironically, while Guiteau's brain did make it to a museum, the ivory-handled revolver he assassinated Garfield with — chosen specifically for its "museum quality," as the show's Guiteau says — isn't on display anywhere. Once in the Smithsonian collection, it has since been lost.

Was Charles Guiteau part of the Oneida Community? Matthew Macfadyen in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

He was. Guiteau joined the Oneida Community, a religious sect built on ideas of utopia and free love, in 1860. But he was familiar with Oneida well before that, as his father was close with Oneida founder John Humphrey Noyes. (And yes, this commune is the same Oneida as Oneida Silverware.)

As seen in Death by Lightning, Charles Guiteau didn't actually get any free love. The women of the community even nicknamed him "Charles Gitout." Guiteau left Oneida in 1865, because he believed he was "destined to accomplish some very important mission." At the time, one can only imagine he didn't mean shooting a future president.

Did Charles Guiteau actually meet James Garfield? Matthew Macfadyen and Michael Shannon in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

He did. As with the rest of the show, Death by Lightning's big meeting between Garfield and Guiteau is highly dramatized, but it's linked to true historical event. In real life, as in Death by Lightning, Guiteau consistently stopped by the White House in the hopes of gaining some office in Garfield's administration. He originally wrote to Garfield about becoming a minister to Austria, but later changed his mind in favor of the Paris consulship.

It was during one of these visits that Guiteau met Garfield and pleaded his case for the consulship. Millard describes Guiteau giving Garfield a copy of the stump speech he had delivered during Garfield's campaign. On it, he wrote "Paris consulship" and connected those words to his own name, just to make sure Garfield got the message.

SEE ALSO: Does Netflix's 'Ballad of a Small Player' have an end-credits scene?

Guiteau also encountered Vice President Chester A. Arthur (Nick Offerman) often during his time in New York. While Millard makes no mention of Arthur shoving Guiteau to the ground in Chicago, or of Guiteau meeting Arthur on a drunken night out, she does write that Guiteau would find Arthur at campaign headquarters, out on the street, or even at his house. Arthur never let him inside, but he did let him give one stump speech to a very, very small crowd in New York.

Did Alexander Graham Bell try to help James Garfield after he was shot? Michael Shannon in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Yes! Telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell's appearance in Death by Lightning's final episode isn't a random historical cameo. It's fully rooted in fact.

According to the National Park Service, when Bell read news of Doctor Willard Bliss' (yes, his first name was actually Doctor) attempts to find the bullet within Garfield's body — attempts that would lead to the infection that eventually killed Garfield — he realized he might be able to help. He could repurpose earlier induction balance work on his telephone into a metal detector.

Bell tested his device on wooden boards and animal carcasses with bullets in them, then on Civil War veterans who still had bullets in their body. When he brought the invention to the White House, Bliss was adamant that Bell only search the right side of Garfield's chest, where he believed the bullet to be lodged. However, the bullet was actually on the left side of Garfield's chest. Perhaps Bell would have been able to find it had he not been dealing with Bliss' incompetence.

How did James Garfield die? Michael Shannon in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Like Death by Lightning says in its final episode, Garfield ultimately died of infection and not from his bullet wound. 79 days passed between the shooting and his death, during which doctors probed his back with unwashed hands and unsterilized instruments.

Chiefest of the physicians involved was Bliss. Bliss was aware of British surgeon Joseph Lister's practice of antisepsis, but he paid no mind to it. In the series, Charles Purvis, surgeon in chief of the Freedmen's Hospital and the first Black physician to treat a living president, reminds Bliss of Lister's theories, only to be waved off. Something similar occurred in real life, when Purvis asked Bliss to stop his invasive examinations.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2025 (so far)

Ironically, Bliss had once been supportive of Black physicians. The District of Columbia Medical Society expelled him from their ranks after he took a stand against their policy to ban Black doctors, as well as became interested in homeopathy. Garfield lauded him for his efforts. However, six years later, Bliss caved to the Society and apologized in order to return to its ranks.

Did Lucretia Garfield stop the publication of Charles Guiteau's book? Betty Gilpin in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

One of the standout scenes from Death by Lightning's finale comes when Lucretia "Crete" Garfield (Betty Gilpin) visits Guiteau in jail. In a searing monologue (everybody say, "Thank you, Betty Gilpin!") she tells Guiteau that he will be a footnote in history, and nowhere near the great leader he thinks he will be. She also promises to block the publication of his book, The Truth.

As great as the scene is, there's no evidence this happened in real life. Guiteau and Crete did cross paths briefly, though, as Destiny of the Republic mentions that Guiteau approached Crete at a public White House reception and gave her his card. The show moves a version of this meeting to Garfield's inaugural ball. However, the hampered publication of The Truth does actually have some truth to it.

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As Millard writes in Destiny of the Republic, Guiteau stole most of his ideas for The Truth from Oneida founder Noyes' 1847 book, The Berean. He tried to get the book published by Boston publishers D. Lothrop & Co. When they refused, Guiteau made 1,000 copies through a printing company, even adding "D. Lothrop & Co." to the binding to feign legitimacy. The book didn't sell, and Guiteau never paid the printer.

Did Charles Guiteau stub his toe on the gallows? Matthew Macfadyen in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Indeed he did. Guiteau tripped on his way up to the gallows, at which point he told Washington-based minister Reverend Hicks, "I stubbed my toe going to the gallows."

Death by Lightning follows that piece of history beat for beat, but that's not all it got right about Guiteau's final moments.

Did Charles Guiteau sing at his execution? Matthew Macfadyen in "Death by Lightning." Credit: Larry Horricks / Netflix

Death by Lightning's execution sequence culminates in Guiteau's last words, a reading of a poem he penned that very morning titled "Simplicity," or "I Am Going to the Lordy."

Millard writes that Guiteau recited his poem in "a falsetto meant to evoke the pleadings of a child." Death by Lightning carries that sense to the screen, where Macfadyen delivers a singsong rendition of some of "Simplicity." (The original version is much longer.) Guiteau wanted an orchestra to accompany his last words, but his request was denied.

However, "I Am Going to the Lordy" does live on in musical history as part of Stephen Sondheim's Assassins. The song "The Ballad of Guiteau" heavily features Guiteau's poem. Looks like he got his orchestra after all.

Death by Lightning is now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for November 6, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 06:00

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, e, i, o, u.

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

VOWEL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A pattern.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CYCLE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A sudden withdrawal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DETOX

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Brutal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 6 Hurdle Word 4 answer

CRUEL

Final Hurdle hint

Terribly.

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

BADLY

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on November 6

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 06:00

Now that the full moon has passed, the moon will be getting less visible each night until the New Moon. This is called the lunar cycle.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Nov. 6, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 98% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

The moon is still big and bright in the sky tonight, so there's so much you'll be able to spot, if the clouds stay away. If you look up, without any visual aids, you can still see the Tycho Crater, Mare Vaporum, and the Mare Serenitatis. If you have a pair of binoculars you'll also see the Clavius Crater, Mare Humorum, and the Mare Frigoris. Finally, with a telescope you'll spot the Apollo 14 and 17 landing spots, as well as the Rima Ariadaeus, a fracture system caused by rising magma.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

NASA notes that as the Moon orbits Earth over about 29.5 days, it goes through a series of phases. These phases occur because of the changing angles between the Sun, Moon, and Earth. Depending on its position, the Moon can appear fully illuminated, partly illuminated, or completely hidden, even though we always see the same side. What changes is how much sunlight reflects off its surface, creating a repeating sequence known as the lunar cycle.

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)

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 6, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 04:00

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you have some knowledge on college basketball.

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: Throw this

  • Green: Run this

  • Blue: Bet on this

  • Purple: Wildcats

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Throwing Events

  • Green: Football Running Plays

  • Blue: Fantasy Sports Apps

  • Purple: Kentucky Basketball Alumni in NBA

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 #409 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Throwing Events - DISCUS, HAMMER, JAVELIN, SHOT PUT

  • Football Running Plays - COUNTER, DRAW, SWEEP, TOSS

  • Fantasy Sports Apps - ESPN, FANTRAX, SLEEPER, YAHOO

  • Kentucky Basketball Alumni in NBA- FOX, MONK, QUICKLEY, TOWNS

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch The Smashing Machine: See Dwayne Johnsons Mark Kerr biopic at home

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 03:00
The best streaming deals to watch 'The Smashing Machine' at home: Watch now Rent or Buy on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy on Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Watch later HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch later Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $10.99 per month) Get Deal Watch later Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 41%) Get Deal

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson is ready for a change of pace. Known for his larger-than-life personality and smoldering action-comedy performances, The Smashing Machine sees him take on a heavier, more dramatic role as MMA fighter Mark Kerr.

It world premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, then played at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival, where Mashable's film editor, Kristy Puchko, reviewed the film. It earned mostly positive reviews, with tons of praise for Johnson's performance. The movie also stars Emily Blunt as Kerr's partner Dawn, Ryan Bader as UFC champion Mark Coleman, and Oleksandr Usyk as MMA fighter Igor Vovchanchyn.

If you missed it in theaters, you can now watch The Smashing Machine at home. Here's what you need to know to tune in — including where to watch it and when.

What is The Smashing Machine about?

Written and directed by Benny Safdie (Uncut Gems), The Smashing Machine tells the true story of MMA fighter Mark Kerr (Johnson) during the early days of the UFC in the '90s. It's set across several years, ushering audiences to Japan for the Pride FC competition and back to the U.S. for training. It dives into his personal struggles and tumultuous romantic relationship with Dawn Staples (Blunt) as he strives to be the best in the ring.

Get a glimpse at Johnson's transformation in the official trailer:

Is The Smashing Machine worth watching?

The Smashing Machine may not have been a knockout at the box office, but Johnson's transformation into Mark Kerr and his performance alone make it worth watching. The film took home the Silver Lion during the Venice International Film Festival and has racked up a 70 percent critic rating and 75 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Mashable's own reviewer writes, "In the end, Johnson gives a career-defining performance that should well prove he can handle meatier, even artier fare. Blunt gives her all in a thankless role, and Safdie, in his feature-length directorial debut without his brother/Uncut Gems co-helmer Josh Safdie, takes some big swings. It's a shame he didn't have a sharper eye on what was hitting, and what was leaving his audience needing more."

Check out Mashable's full review of The Smashing Machine.

How to watch The Smashing Machine at home Credit: A24

While we wait for an official streaming date for The Smashing Machine, you can still tune in at home by purchasing or renting via digital video-on-demand as of Nov. 4. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

As of Nov. 4, The Smashing Machine is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms. You can buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just note that although you'll have 30 days to watch, you'll only have 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or Buy 'The Smashing Machine' at Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal Stream it on HBO Max (at a later date)

A24 has a multi-year output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, so new A24 theatrical releases exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else.

Based on the theater-to-streaming trajectory of other recently released A24 movies — like Sorry, Baby, Materialists, and Bring Her Back — we can estimate that The Smashing Machine will hit HBO Max sometime in February or March 2026.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month (thanks to a recent price hike), but there are some ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal

The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $9.17. With the annual plan, you'll pay $109.99, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Best Max deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on HBO Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal

If you'd rather go ad-free, the annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over the monthly plans. The Standard tier costs either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (about $15.42 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both tiers offer ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier also features 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

One way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is to switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free — a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Dashpass / HBO Max HBO Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is to sign up for the DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month). DashPass memberships include $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus a complimentary HBO Max subscription (with ads). That means you'll pay just $8 per month for both DashPass and HBO Max, which is cheaper than a typical HBO Max with ads monthly subscription on its own. Activate the subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. Rather watch ad-free? You can upgrade for a discounted rate.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can watch The Smashing Machine when it hits streaming by signing up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status through UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $10.99 to $5.49 per month.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 41% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, so you'll keep an extra $15 in your pocket monthly. If you prefer an ad-free experience, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That's up to 41% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is $69.95 at Amazon and Best Buy right now

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 01:08

SAVE 30%: As of Nov. 5, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for $69.95 at both Amazon and Best Buy. That's a 30% discount and $30 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Amazon
$99.95 Save $30   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Best Buy
$99.95 Save $30   Get Deal

If you've been thinking about getting a fitness tracker but don't want to drop a ton of cash (or just don't need a super complicated smartwatch), the Fitbit Inspire 3 is probably on your radar. It's a great, straightforward tracker, and its price just dropped to a "Black Friday Deal" level. (It's also our "Best Budget" pick for 2025.)

As of Nov. 5, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for $69.95 at both Amazon and Best Buy. That's a 30% discount and $30 savings. It's also the best price we've seen on this model.

SEE ALSO: The Fitbit Versa 4 just got its biggest discount of 2025 — save $80 right now

This is a really solid price for what you get. The Inspire 3 tracks your steps, 24/7 heart rate, sleep (including sleep stages), stress, and workout intensity. Unlike an Apple Watch, its battery basically lasts forever — up to 10 days on a single charge.

It's also got a bright color touchscreen (a nice upgrade) and will give you a "Daily Readiness Score" (this part requires a Fitbit Premium membership, but you'll get a free six-month trial with your purchase) to let you know whether you should push it at the gym or take a rest day. For under $70, it's one of the best no-fuss trackers you can get, and this is a great price to snag it before the holiday rush officially starts.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get a MacBook Air for the lowest-ever price while supplies last

Mashable - Thu, 11/06/2025 - 00:00

TL;DR: Bring home a MacBook Air for the lowest price ever, only $189.97 (reg. $999), while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch 2017 (Refurbished) $189.97
$999 Save $809.03   Get Deal

Spending a lot of time with the in-laws this holiday season? Whether you want to be productive and get some work done or just want to be able to keep up with your reality shows at your mother-in-law’s house, you’re going to want to bring a laptop. And when it comes to portable computers, you really can’t beat the MacBook Air for laptops you don’t mind taking everywhere.

Right now, you can score this 13.3-inch MacBook Air for the lowest price ever — just $189.97 (reg. $999) — while supplies last.

SEE ALSO: The M4 MacBook Air just dropped back to its lowest-ever price

This MacBook Air makes it easy to take your laptop anywhere. It weighs in at only 2.96 pounds, making it easy to toss in a tote and bring everywhere this holiday season and beyond. But don’t be deceived by its sleek and compact frame — it’s still packing an impressive 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor and 8GB of RAM, enough to handle your streaming and multitasking.

A 13.3-inch widescreen display and Intel HD Graphics 6000 provide an awesome viewing experience, no matter what you’re doing over the holiday break. And you have an impressive 128GB of storage to store your important files and save your favorite media locally.

This model has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities, making it easy to connect from anywhere. It also offers an impressive 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, so you won’t constantly be looking for an outlet.

Curious how you’re saving over $800? This model comes with a grade A/B refurbished rating, which means it may have light scuffing on the bevel or case, or light scratches or dents on the body, but you’ll still secure this deep discount.

Save big on a MacBook Air and grab one for just $189.97 (reg. $999), while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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