Technology

Remember when everyone tried to tell you that gold-plated HDMI cables were the (forgive me) gold standard of home theater? Or gold-plated audio cables, that was also a thing. Well, I think that home networking has finally found its equivalent, and it comes in the form of Cat 8 Ethernet cables.

Microsoft is delivering on its promise to fix more of Windows 11's longstanding problems. The company is starting a large-scale rollout for a series of updates that both improve performance and rework key apps, including a new Photos app.

Scrolling through Netflix might take a long time when searching for a movie for the weekend. Seeing what everyone else has been watching can be a good place to start. And I love the underrated gems, but some of the platform’s most-watched movies this year are actually worth the hype.

The most important part of your computer, if you had to choose just one, would be the central processing unit (CPU). It's the primary hub (or "brain"), and it processes the instructions that come from programs, the operating system, or other components in your PC.

Automatically updating your Docker containers might sound like the peace of mind you've been wanting—it's anything but that. I tried auto-updating Docker containers in my homelab, and it ended in disaster one too many times. Here's what happened and how I run Docker in my homelab now.

There are lots of ways to get a 3D model to print on your 3D printer. You can model it yourself, or use a 3D scanner to turn real-world objects into data that can be converted into a printable format. Most people, however, will likely download a model someone else has created from 3D printing websites.

TL;DR: Daily Red is a free, daily Pokémon battle game where everyone gets one chance a day to defeat Red on Mt. Silver. Red's team stays the same, but your lineup is randomly generated every 24 hours — forcing you to win with whatever random squad you're dealt.

If your morning browser routine already includes Wordle or the Mini Crossword, there is a new fan-made puzzle game making the rounds among Pokémon fans. Daily Red takes the most legendary boss encounter in franchise history and reimagines it as a fast-paced, tactical puzzle you can solve in under five minutes.

Instead of spending dozens of hours training a competitive squad, the game puts you right on top of Mt. Silver for a Level 100 showdown against Red. The catch? You do not get to pick your party. Every 24 hours, every player worldwide is handed the exact same randomly generated lineup of six Pokémon. Your job is to figure out how to pilot whatever unusual, bench-warming team you've been dealt to victory.

Is Daily Red an official Pokémon game?

No. Daily Red is an unofficial, free-to-play fan project and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company. It runs entirely in your browser with no microtransactions, ads, or sign-ups required.

How to play Daily Red

Getting started takes zero downloads and no account registration. Here is the step-by-step breakdown:

1. Head to the site — Go to daily-red.com on your mobile device or desktop browser.

2. Inspect your squad — Click to begin your daily match at the peak of Mt. Silver. Once the fight starts, inspect your six assigned Level 100 Pokémon — checking their movesets, abilities, and type coverage — before locking in your first move against Red's lead Pikachu.

3. Outsmart Red — Defeat all six of Red's classic Level 100 Pokémon before he wipes your party out.

4. Share and track — Copy your spoiler-free results grid to share with friends, then return the next day to protect your streak.

Your win streaks and battle stats are saved directly to your browser's local cache. If you want to keep a long streak going, stick to the same device and browser for your daily battles. 

Daily Red relies on the same viral mechanics that made Wordle a massive hit: every player tackles the same daily puzzle, your wins are tracked through an ongoing streak, and you can share a color-coded grid of your results without spoiling the winning moves for others.

Knowing your enemy: Red's fixed team

While your party changes every single night, Red's team remains completely static. Knowing who he brings to the fight lets you plan your strategy before making your first move:

• Pikachu (Level 100 — always his starting lead)

• Espeon (Level 100)

• Snorlax (Level 100)

• Venusaur (Level 100)

• Charizard (Level 100)

• Blastoise (Level 100)

Because Red always leads with Pikachu, your first big tactical decision happens the second the match loads. Check your six assigned Pokémon to see who has the best matchup or immunity against an electric lead, then plan how you'll handle his bulkier threats like Snorlax later in the match.

The daily battle resets every night at midnight in your local time zone. A live countdown timer at the top of the site tracks how much time remains in the current window. Once the clock strikes midnight, everyone receives a brand-new randomized party to take on Red all over again.

SEE ALSO: Pokémon x Beats: Where to buy Pokémon collab that turns the Beats Pill into a Pikachu-themed speaker

Whether you get handed an overpowered legendary or find yourself trying to defeat a Level 100 Snorlax using a Luvdisc, it’s easy to see why Daily Red is blowing up across the Pokémon community right now.

Did you put your PTO requests in for the middle of November? Because Grand Theft Auto VI is right around the corner, as evidenced by Rockstar publishing a launch trailer for the game on Thursday morning.

Amid yet more GTA 6 leaks, we have our first official glimpse of the game since the Netflix extended look premiered.

This latest look at the game is brief, but it's GTA to the core, with lots of open-world vibe shots, a good deal of action, and in a new twist for the series (at least for a recent entry), lots of romance between protagonists Jason and Lucia. As a reminder, the game is out on Nov. 19, so this may be the last bit of marketing Rockstar does before GTA 6 is in our hands. Savor it, folks.

Taylor Sheridan is in the empire business. Over the last eight years, Sheridan has built a roster of television shows that few creators can match. From building the Yellowstone universe to establishing a signature aesthetic, Sheridan's shows are uniquely his. When fans see Sheridan's name attached to a project, they know what they're going to get.

Are you looking for an alternative to Docker that’s fully open source and doesn’t have any vendor-lock in? Well, there are four tools that you can use which are completely free of Docker’s influence.

The Elf on the Shelf x Disney collection: Disney's Mickey Mouse-Inspired Ready to Roll Travel Set $14.95 at Elf on the Shelf Shop Now Disney's Mickey & Friends Oh Deer Tee Set $14.95 at Elf on the Shelf Shop Now Disney Frozen Olaf Hoodie Set $16.95 at Elf on the Shelf Shop Now Disney Princess Pretty in Pink Party Dress $16.95 at Elf on the Shelf Shop Now Disney Princess Royal Slumber Party Set $29.95 at Elf on the Shelf Shop Now

If you find yourself running out of creative ideas for your Scout Elf every December, this year’s setup is going to be a whole lot easier. The Lumistella Company has officially teamed up with Disney, bringing characters like Mickey Mouse, the Disney Princesses, and Olaf straight into the North Pole universe.

Instead of trying to pull off crazy setups with flour and pipe cleaners late at night, you can just pop a cute Disney outfit on your elf and call it a day. It takes about two seconds, and kids love it.

Mickey and friends travel gear and tees

If you want something quick and easy, the Disney Mickey & Friends Oh Deer tee set is a super simple pick. It comes with a graphic T-shirt and a tiny Mickey ears headband that slips right onto your elf.

If you want to build a little scene around them, the Disney's Mickey Mouse-Inspired Ready to Roll travel set gives your elf a full vacation look. It comes with a functional mini rolling suitcase that opens, a neck pillow, a belt bag, a tiny passport, and Mickey ears. It’s especially cute if you’re traveling over the holidays and want your elf to pack their bags, too.

Royal dresses and slumber party sets

If your kids are big into Disney Princesses, there are a couple of really cute ways to style your elf. The Disney Princess Pretty in Pink party dress gives them a full royal look, complete with a tulle skirt, snowflake details, and a tiny matching tiara.

You can also grab the Disney Princess Royal Slumber Party set, which gives you an entire cozy setup ready to go right out of the box. It comes with two sets of princess-inspired pajamas, a tiara-shaped pillow, a mini sleeping mask, a cuddle buddy, and a sleeping bag.

Frozen hoodies and other fan favorites

For fans of Arendelle, the Disney Frozen Olaf hoodie is an easy favorite. It features a cheerful Olaf print on a soft hoodie and includes a double-sided movie-scene standee you can set up right behind your elf for extra atmosphere.

The fun doesn't stop with Disney, either. The new lineup also dips into a few other iconic worlds, including Harry Potter Hogwarts house robes and Gryffindor pajamas — perfect for celebrating years of Hogwarts magic — as well as Spider-Man hoodies for Marvel lovers. There are even standing pants and ski sets if your elf is more into winter sports, giving you plenty of ways to keep the morning surprises fresh all December long.

Bring the magic home and shop the full Disney x The Elf on the Shelf collection today.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $159.99 at Amazon. Due to high demand, shoppers need to request an invite to buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $159.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

There was a time when Amazon listed preorders for the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box at $89.99. We made some noise about this deal, but we truly didn't know how good we had it. We wish we had stocked up, because prices have climbed post launch and stayed there.

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is currently listed at $159.99 on Amazon, with shipping and sales handled directly by Amazon rather than a third party. Demand for the product remains high, so Amazon is routing orders through its "request invite" system.

We do have eyes on how many of these boxes are selling. We won't get into the details, but it's a lot. Requesting an invite to buy is a hassle, but the system is clearly working for a lot of shoppers.

At $159.99, Amazon’s price isn't a million miles away from TCGplayer’s market price. It's also cheaper than a lot of the actual listings on TCGplayer. It might not look like a great deal, but Amazon's price is something for collectors to seriously consider.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is packed with nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Shop the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB for $159.99 at Amazon.

I've used a plethora of gaming handhelds over the years, but my go-to for portable gaming has been the ASUS ROG Ally X for over two years now. Even when ASUS and Xbox announced a partnership and the Xbox Ally family was unveiled, I wasn't tempted to upgrade—why should I, when the Xbox Ally X features the same display, just marginally improved performance and endurance, and only a handful of improvements? Even the headlining full-screen Xbox experience swiftly came to other handhelds, including my trustworthy ROG Ally X.

I regularly try out new launchers to replace my Android home screen, and most are variations of how my phone already works — but I’ve recently stumbled across one that does things so differently, it’s had a noticeable impact on how I live my life.

SAVE OVER $50: As of Oct. 15, the DJI Power 1000 V2 portable power station is on sale for $399.98 at Amazon. That's $50.01 off its full price of $449.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station $399.98 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $50.01   Get Deal at Amazon

The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a "near-perfect portable power station for content creators," according to our review by Lauren Allain. Of course, you don't need to create content to get a lot from this machine — it's a solid portable power station for just about anyone. If it's caught your attention, Amazon currently has it on sale, but only through the rest of today.

As of Oct. 15, shoppers can snag the DJI Power 1000 V2 for $399.98, down from its full price of $449.99. Ultimately, that saves you $50.01. It's worth noting that this model is sold by a third party, but they have an 88% positive rating over the last 12 months.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Titan 5000 home backup system just launched and preorders get a discount

With a 1,024Wh capacity and 2,600W output, the DJI Power 1000 V2 boasts plenty of power to boost your devices. Allain's review highlights that it's "an upgrade from the original, offering two extra AC ports, a higher max power output, and quicker recharging." And as for why we think it's a great pick for content creators, it's also "super quiet and has dedicated SDC ports to quick-charge DJI drones."

Alongside the SDC ports (including a 1440W Max SDC port and a 400W Max SDC Lite Port), this power station also comes with a 1440W Max AC input, two 140W Max USB-C ports, two 24W Max USB-A ports, and four 2600W AC outputs. Its battery even has a 10-year lifespan, making it a very solid investment.

Time is running out to save on the DJI Power 1000 V2 at Amazon. Don't miss out on this great deal while it's still live.

SAVE OVER $500: As of Oct. 15, the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 portable power station is on sale for $899.98 at Amazon. That's $599.02 off its full price of $1,499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 $899.98 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $599.02   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon's still dropping exciting deals for shoppers during this quiet period between Prime Day and Black Friday. Among them are portable power stations like the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2, which is currently 40% off.

As of Oct. 15, this power station has received a massive $599.02 price cut, bringing it down from $1,499 to $899.98. It's only available at this price for a limited time, so be quick to grab this compact, lightweight station before the price goes back up.

SEE ALSO: The EcoFlow Titan 5000 home backup system just launched and preorders get a discount

Whether it's used as backup power for the home or brought along on a camping trip, the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 is a mighty helpful power station to have around. It boasts a 2,048Wh capacity and 2,400W output, with 4,000W peak power, to provide a nice boost to various appliances. It can power a dual-door fridge for up to 32 hours, which is great news if you run into a power outage in winter.

With two handles on its side and a lightweight build (41.7 pounds), this power station is easy to take on the go. Plus, its battery has a 10-year lifespan.

Keep in mind that this Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 deal is only available for a limited time.

It's fair to say that I am a lifelong Windows user. Pretty much everywhere I’ve worked has required me to use a Windows PC. More recently, I've begun to rely on Linux. At first, it was a way to extend the life of my old Windows 10 machines, but the more I used it, the more I realized there was very little keeping me on Windows. My favorite Linux distros are the ones that are closely modeled after Windows. While the underlying operating systems may work differently from Windows, they have a look and feel that works for me.

TL;DR: The Pokémon Center just launched its 2026 Winter Night Sky holiday collection, packing over 400 festive items spanning tree toppers, knit sweaters, plushies, and kitchenware. Every order from the drop placed before Dec. 25 includes a free sticker sheet while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Center Pokémon Center Holiday Collection 2026   Shop Now

The Pokémon Center just dropped its official 2026 holiday collection, and this year’s Winter Night Sky theme leans into pastel auroras, starry night aesthetics, and Pokémon getting up to festive winter activities.

With over 400 new items hitting the digital shelves, trying to scroll through the entire drop can get overwhelming fast. However, any purchase from the holiday lineup made between now and Dec. 25 comes with a free Winter Night Sky sticker sheet at checkout, while supplies last.

What I loved while digging through this collection is just how accessible it is — almost everything sits around $40 or well under. Plus, whether you’re looking to grow an existing Pokémon stash, deck out your tree, or just add a subtle charm to your kitchen counter, there’s a piece tailored for every corner of your home.

If you want to deck out your home or score a few gifts early, here is a look at what is floating around in this year's lineup.

Tree decor and living room upgrades

Mew is taking center stage as this year's literal star. The Mew tree topper puts the Mythical Pokémon right at the peak of your Christmas tree, complete with a matching Mew Winter Night Sky stocking if you want to keep the theme going.

If you prefer classic tree ornaments, there are new individual pieces featuring Piplup, Amaura, and Slowpoke, as well as a particularly cute Pikachu and Munchlax cookie treat two-pack. For broader tree coverage, you can grab themed multi-packs like the Winter Wonders globe ornaments twelve-pack or tie everything together with the Winter Night Sky tree skirt.

Credit: Pokemon Center Holiday village figures and display pieces

For mantelpieces or desk setups, The Pokémon Center added fresh display options to its Holiday Village figure line. Three new additions — Town Hall Greetings, Meloetta Majestic Theatre, and Yamper Snowy Scamper — bring little snow-covered scenes to life. If you want a larger centerpiece, the Aurora Sighting figure depicts Pikachu watching pastel lights dance across the sky.

Cozy apparel and cold-weather gear

If you are looking to stay warm this season, there are plenty of sweater and accessory options. Heavy knit sweaters feature detailed character art, including the Hisuian Zorua moonlight turtleneck, Arcanine flames sweater, and Wooloo winter wonderland sweater.

For smaller pieces or easy stocking stuffers, beanies like the Snom knit beanie or Espeon purple knit beanie are effortless add-ons. There are even touchscreen-friendly gloves like the Charizard chill touch screen gloves, so you can use your phone outside without freezing your fingers off.

Credit: Pokemon Center Plushies, kitchenware, and holiday hosting

It would not be a Pokémon Center drop without a pile of festive plushies. A few fun picks this round include the Sylveon holiday wishes plush, Gardevoir holiday wishes plush, and the smaller Piplup and Mantyke undersea holiday plush.

If you like subtle holiday touches in your kitchen, you will find everything from a Wooloo mug and a six-pack of Pokémon cookie cutters to a four-pack of Winter Woodland pasta bowls. To settle in for a cozy night, you can also grab a Winter Woodland fleece throw blanket or a 1,000-piece holiday puzzle featuring Pikachu, Piplup, and friends under the northern lights.

Credit: Pokemon Center

Shop the full Winter Night Sky holiday collection at The Pokémon Center, and get a free sticker sheet with your order through Dec. 25.

Starbucks is teaming up with Disney for a 20-piece Starbucks x Winnie the Pooh collection celebrating 100 years of the Hundred Acre Wood. The limited-edition lineup drops on Oct. 20, delivering honey-drip cold cups, ceramic beehive mugs, and plush Bearista keychains.

It's an incredibly cute collection that is bound to cause a stir, but there's a catch. We hate to break it to you like this, but the collection is exclusive to the Asia-Pacific region.

Credit: Starbucks / Disney What’s in the Starbucks x Winnie the Pooh collection?

The 20-piece range mixes aesthetic drinkware with lifestyle accessories:

• Hunny Pot Tumblers and Cold Cups: Cold cups with honey-drip lids, golden-yellow straw toppers, and Pooh illustrations.

• Ceramic Beehive Mug: A textured, beehive-shaped ceramic mug featuring Pooh stuck in a honey pot entry.

• Bearista Costume Keychains and Phone Straps: Collectible Starbucks Bearistas dressed in plush costumes of Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger.

• Packable Tote Bag: A reusable Hundred Acre Wood tote that folds into its own matching pouch.

Credit: Starbucks / Disney

We want everything, but here's where it gets complicated.

How to buy this collection?

If you live in North America or Europe, you won't find these on local Starbucks shelves.

On launch day (Oct. 20), the collection will be available at participating Starbucks coffeehouses in Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. Unfortunately for collectors elsewhere, the secondary market is going to be your best bet.

Exporters will begin listing inventory from Oct. 20, but you should expect a significant markup over retail prices on high-demand pieces like the ceramic beehive mug and plush Bearista straps. Head over to eBay and good luck.

If you desperately want official Disney x Starbucks drinkware without paying reseller markups, the Disney Store regularly stocks collaboration tumblers that ship directly to U.S. and UK addresses. In fact, we've spotted a cute Winnie the Pooh tumbler going for $27.99.

Shopping for networking gear is an ... interesting experience, to put it mildly. You can spend $10 on an Ethernet adapter and get wild returns on your investment, but you can also throw away a good chunk of change on gear that's essentially a waste of your time and resources.