Technology

I use Google Assistant when I’m driving, planning my day, or trying to remember something before it slips my mind. I can ask it to message someone, find an answer, or remind me about a task without breaking my flow.

So, you've finally caved and decided to buy an OLED.

There’s something undeniably cool about the way Hollywood portrays hackers at work. In fact, it’s actually one of the reasons I gravitated toward Linux in the first place. Of course, real-world hacking rarely looks anything like the movies, and Linux doesn’t magically turn your PC into a cybercrime command center. That said, if you want to recreate that cinematic techno vibe on your desktop, there are a few tools that can help. Here are five of my favorites.

HP’s first RTX Spark laptops are here, and I've spent the past two weeks with the 32GB OmniBook Ultra 16. It really is a fantastic laptop in almost every way. I was able to game on it with basically no issues, and both its keyboard and OLED screen are among the best I’ve used. Then I asked it to do the thing NVIDIA is pitching hardest: run AI agents locally. With only 32GB of memory, that’s where this laptop hits a wall.

I used to think Excel was just about putting data into rows and columns and doing a few calculations. But once you start using it regularly, you realize how much time you waste doing things manually that Excel can handle in seconds.

Adobe Acrobat is a go-to PDF tool for many people, but you don't necessarily need a subscription to handle everyday tasks. Free alternatives like PDFgear on Windows and Preview on Mac can handle many common PDF tasks.

SAVE $80: As of Oct. 26, the Marshall Monitor III is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 29% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Marshall Marshall Monitor III $199.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $80   Get Deal at Amazon

Looking for a new pair of headphones? The Marshall Monitor III headphones have dropped by $80, bringing them to their best-ever price. They normally cost $279.99, but for a limited time you can buy them for $199.99. You can even choose between the two colorways: black or cream.

The Marshall Monitor III headphones are a great choice if you want seriously good sound and noise cancellation.

With these, you'll get up to 70 hours of wireless listening with active noise cancellation switched on, or up to 100 hours with it off. Plus, the upgraded active noise cancellation uses technology that continuously measures ambient noise and offers three levels to choose from. You'll also get a transparency mode that lets you hear more of your surroundings when you need to stay aware of what's happening.

Marshall's signature sound is well known and is enhanced by Dynamic Loudness, which adjusts the bass, mids, and treble to suit different volume levels. Plus, these headphones support Soundstage spatial audio, creating a wider, more immersive listening experience.

And to top it off, the foldable design makes them easy to pack away in the included hard case, and soft ear cushions help keep them comfortable during longer listening sessions.

Find this headphones deal at Amazon now.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box is on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, down from its $209.70 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box $129.99 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $79.71 Get Deal at Amazon

After spending much of September closer to $150, Magic: The Gathering's biggest box of packs for the popular Marvel Super Heroes expansion has finally given trading card collectors a sizable discount on Amazon.

As of Oct. 26, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel Super Heroes Play Booster Box costs just $129.99 at Amazon. With this 38% price cut, that’s an overall saving of $79.71 versus its $209.70 list price, working out to approximately $4.33 per pack.

It's also $17.99 below the $147.98 deal we covered on Sept. 11, and as confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price we’ve seen since the box skyrocketed in price back in August. 

Amazon is handling both the sale and delivery. Free shipping is currently estimated for Oct. 31, or as early as Oct. 27 with Prime. 

SEE ALSO: The Magic: The Gathering Reality Fracture Bundle is down to a record-low price at Amazon — save nearly $10

Each display contains 30 Play Boosters with 14 cards apiece from the hit expansion — giving you the chance to pull Marvel favorites like Iron Man, Hulk, and Doctor Doom to add to your Magic collection. 

Each pack includes a guaranteed Traditional Foil and one to four rare-or-higher cards. There's also a less than 1% chance of pulling a Foil Borderless Mythic Rare.

SAVE $150: As of Oct. 26, the Ruko F11PRO 2 drone is on sale for $389.98 at Amazon. That's a 38% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ruko Ruko F11PRO 2 Drone $239.98 at Amazon
$389.99 Save $150.01   Get Deal at Amazon

Is it too early to start Christmas shopping? Whether it is or not, you might not care when you can save $150 on a gift like the Ruko F11PRO 2 drone.

If you've got someone on your list who's always wanted to try aerial photography, or you're hoping to pick up a drone for yourself, this Amazon deal isn't one to skip. As of Oct. 26, this drone has dropped in price from $389.99 to $239.98.

The Ruko F11PRO 2 is built for capturing seriously impressive aerial footage, with the ability to shoot 6K photos and record 4K video. Its image sensor captures fine details and vivid colors, and the three-axis brushless gimbal keeps footage steady when the wind picks up. You'll also get two batteries in the box, offering up to 70 minutes of combined flight time.

And if you're new to drones, GPS-assisted flight modes make getting started much less complicated. You can use follow-me mode to track a subject, orbit mode to capture shots from different angles, or cruise control and waypoint to help guide your flights.

This drone deal is available at Amazon, but only for a limited time.

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 9, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is on sale for $59 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro $59 at Amazon
$79 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're on the hunt for a fitness tracker that won't stretch your budget, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is currently on sale at Amazon, making an already budget-friendly option even lighter on your wallet.

The watch typically retails for $79, but as of Oct. 26, it is available for just $59. According to camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price for this watch. All four colorways are included in the deal: ash gray, light green, orange, and dark gray.

For a budget smartwatch, the CMF Watch 3 Pro packs in plenty of tools for tracking your training. It offers tracking for more than 130 sports and workout modes, with GOMORE-powered analysis covering aerobic and anaerobic performance, training load, and recovery.

It's also packed with a range of health stats, including a four-channel heart rate sensor, continuous heart rate tracking, and blood oxygen measurements. You can also keep tabs on your sleep with detailed stage analysis or use stress monitoring to get a better picture of your overall well-being.

This deal is live at Amazon right now, but only for a limited time.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $132.98 at Walmart, down from its previous price of $237.98.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $132.98 at Walmart
$237.98 Save $105   Shop Now at Walmart

Amazon's $59.99 invitation-only listing for the Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is gone, but if you want to grab this coveted ETB right now for closer to market price, Walmart has knocked another $12 off.

As of Oct. 26, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $132.98 at Walmart, compared to its $237.98 list price. With that $105 saving, you’re spending $11.98 less than the $144.96 Walmart deal we covered on Oct. 14.

This cheaper listing comes from the third-party Walmart Marketplace seller PrimeCardHouse, with free shipping. Keep in mind that while you don’t have to apply for an invitation to buy this one, the ETBs from this listing are non-returnable. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box is close to market price at Amazon — save over $15

The new Walmart price also makes for a much closer comparison with TCGplayer. The specialist trading card marketplace currently puts the 30th Celebration ETB's market price at $120.94, leaving Walmart just $12.04 above that mark.

This anniversary ETB packs nine 30th Celebration booster packs, each containing one of 30 special Pikachu rare cards to collect. You'll also get an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 card sleeves, dice, a coin, six dividers, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

It's kind of wild to think now, but Stephen King and Elon Musk used to have fairly light-hearted interactions on X (then Twitter).

Back in 2019, they were talking about the horror author owning a Tesla. Now, seven years later, there's no love lost between them whatsoever.

King and Musk's latest clash came on Sunday, after the Tesla CEO branded Democratic candidate for the US Senate in Texas, James Talarico, a "far-left extremist."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

King reshared Musk's post and added his thoughts as to why Musk may be targeting Talarico in particular.

"Elon Musk is afraid of Talarico because he [Musk] has a lot of business in Texas," responded King. "It has nothing to do with principles or programs; for Musk, it's all about the Benjamins."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Musk, clearly prickled at being criticised by a man he once described as "one of the most creative people on Earth", hit back.

"Your mental model outside of short-sighted tribalism is pathetically stupid," he wrote.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It seems pretty clear that Musk doesn't like Talarico, who is currently in a very close midterms race with Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton. Filings have shown that the world's richest man contributed $150 million to the Texas race in support of Republicans, leading to Talarico calling him out directly at a recent rally and saying "Texas is not for sale."

Musk, meanwhile, has a large base of operations in Texas. It's easy to imagine why he'd want the state represented by someone matching his political ideology.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box is on sale for $59.99 at Amazon, down from its $79.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box $59.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon has taken another hefty chunk off the Pokémon TCG's Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box, letting you grab four booster packs from the hard-to-find, popular Mega Evolution expansion for less — even cheaper than the last time we covered this collection back in July.

As of Oct. 26, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Mega Meganium ex Box is available for just $59.99 on Amazon. Compared to its $79.99 list price, you're saving exactly $20 with this 25% discount. The box is incredibly close to its lowest-ever Amazon price.

This listing comes from the third-party seller Collectors Expedition, which also handles shipping — delivery is expected by Nov. 4 at the time of writing. Despite it being a third-party listing, this box still comes with Amazon’s 30-day refund or replacement window if there are any issues.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is way under market price at Amazon — shop for $59.99

For that $59.99, you'll be getting four Ascended Heroes booster packs, one playable foil promo card featuring Mega Meganium ex, and an oversized lenticular version of the same card. That effectively works out at around $15 per booster pack, with both promotional cards thrown in on top.

If you’re after any of the expansion’s most valuable chase cards — like the $700+ SIR Mega Gengar ex, the $600+ SIR Pikachu ex, and the $400+ SIR Mega Dragonite ex — you can buy individual Ascended Heroes cards on TCGplayer. 

Ryobi is one of the most popular power tool brands around, especially with homeowners and DIYers. And while you probably have all the usual tools you'll see on the shelves of Home Depot, like drills and drivers, that's not all Ryobi offers. It's easy to buy some of the most recommended gear, but don't forget about these underrated Ryobi tools.

SAVE $28.01: As of Oct. 26, the 11-inch Lenovo Idea Tab bundle (256GB) is on sale for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its typical $258 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Idea Tab (Folio Case and Lenovo Tab Pen) $229.99 at Amazon
$258 Save $28.01   Get Deal at Amazon

You can grab the Lenovo Idea Tab bundle on Amazon for $229.99, down from its usual $258 price tag. Best of all, you don't have to buy must-have accessories separately — Lenovo includes both the official Tab Pen stylus and a protective folio case right in the box.

The tablet features an 11-inch 2.5K screen with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate. It delivers sharp picture quality, and built-in eye-care protection helps reduce strain when you're staring at the display for hours. For sound, you get four built-in speakers tuned with Dolby Atmos, giving you clear audio for streaming shows, movies, and music.

SEE ALSO: Amazon’s all-new Kids Tablets ditch Fire OS for parent-managed Google Play — where to preorder

Behind the glass, you get 8GB of memory and 256GB of built-in storage to hold all your apps, class notes, and video downloads. It also supports Circle to Search with Google. You simply draw a circle around any image or text with your finger or the pen to get instant search answers or translations without having to leave the app you're in.

Battery life lasts up to 12 hours of video playback on a single charge, and the included 20W wall adapter helps refuel it quickly. It also comes preloaded with useful note-taking and math tools — including Lenovo AI Note, Squid, Nebo, and MyScript Calculator — plus Smart Connect so you can easily send files to your other devices without messy cables.

Grab this campus-ready setup on Amazon before the deal ends.

SAVE $82: As of Oct. 26, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (32GB) is on sale for $72.99 on Amazon. That cuts the price by 53% and matches its Prime Day low.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $72.99 at Amazon
$154.99 Save $82.00   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon is running a limited-time deal on the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (32GB), slashing the price down to $72.99 from its typical $154.99 price tag. That marks a 53% discount, saving you $82 and matching its all-time Prime Day low.

The 13th-generation tablet won a Mashable Choice Award, earning 4.5/5 stars in our review for its standout value as a casual entertainment hub. It trims 30 grams off the older model and uses strengthened aluminosilicate glass to keep the screen protected against everyday drops. Our reviewer noted the design feels feather-light in hand, making the 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display easy to hold while binge-watching in bed or on a treadmill.

SEE ALSO: Amazon’s all-new Kids Tablets ditch Fire OS for parent-managed Google Play — where to preorder

The tablet runs on an upgraded octa-core processor paired with 3GB of RAM — delivering 25% faster speeds than the older edition — and packs up to 13 hours of battery life. You get 32GB of onboard storage, which expands up to 1TB using a microSD card for offline movies and books. The front camera also jumps from 2MP to 5MP, which our testing found offers a noticeably clearer picture for Zoom, Facebook Messenger, or Alexa video calls.

The built-in Silk browser streams YouTube without lag alongside pre-loaded services like Prime Video. If you just need an easy, inexpensive screen for streaming your shows, casual gaming, and hands-free Alexa tasks, it delivers way more value than you'd expect.

Snag the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet on Amazon before this limited-time deal ends.

SAVE $599.02: As of Oct. 26, the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 portable power station is on sale for $899.98 at Amazon. That is a 40% discount on a 2,048Wh emergency backup powerhouse.

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 is running a limited-time deal on the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 portable power station, marking it down to $899.98 from its regular $1,499 list price. That saves you $599.02 and lands it $50 above its Prime Day low.

At the core of the unit is a 2,048Wh LiFePO4 battery pack built for extended use. For portable setups, the frame measures 18.1 × 9.8 × 10.1 inches and weighs 41.7 lb, making it smaller than most competing 2kWh options. The compact build makes it much easier to toss into a car trunk or carry around a campsite.

SEE ALSO: The best early Black Friday portable power station deals to shop right now

For everyday power delivery, the station handles 2,400W continuous output and surges up to a 4,000W peak. That gives it enough muscle to run multiple heavy appliances simultaneously, including window AC units, RV air conditioners, and kitchen gear.

Its standby mode draws only 9W, which allows the station to keep a dual-door refrigerator powered for up to 32 hours straight on its own. If you need more runtime for multi-day outages, the system can be scaled up. You can connect an expansion battery to double the capacity to 4kWh, extending that same dual-door fridge's runtime to 64 hours.

Recharging the battery is fast thanks to six different charging methods. Plugged into both AC wall power and solar panels, the station charges from empty to 100% in 58 minutes. For vehicle charging, it supports 800W UltraFast alternator charging to reach a full top-off in three hours, which is eight times faster than using a standard car 12V socket.

Grab the Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 on Amazon before this limited-time discount ends.

TL;DR: Watch PSG vs. Lyon in Ligue 1 for free on CazéTV. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ligue 1 has started slowly for PSG, but make no mistake: they are coming. PSG confidently beat Barcelona in the last round of Champions League fixtures, proving to any doubters that they are still the same dominant force. Now they face Lyon, the team that topped the standings before this weekend's fixtures.

If you're interested in watching PSG vs. Lyon in Ligue 1 from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is PSG vs. Lyon?

PSG vs. Lyon in Ligue 1 kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This fixture takes place at the Parc des Princes.

How to watch PSG vs. Lyon for free

PSG vs. Lyon in Ligue 1 is available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream PSG vs. Lyon for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream PSG vs. Lyon for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch PSG vs. Lyon for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch PSG vs. Lyon without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus Premier League action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Ligue 1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream PSG vs. Lyon for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Anthropic is reportedly being sued for allegedly training its AI on Elvis Presley's music without permission.

Billboard reports that owners of Presley's intellectual property rights filed the lawsuit on Friday, claiming that Anthropic used 274 of the rock icon's songs to train its Claude AI models. Such songs allegedly included hits such as "Can't Help Falling in Love," "Don't Be Cruel," "Return to Sender," and "(You're the) Devil in Disguise."

SEE ALSO: Anthropic’s AI safety bill would pause AI models if 50+ people could die

The complaint alleges that Claude's generated content now adapts or copies Presley's discography without appropriate licensing or consent, and accuses Anthropic of having "built its entire business model on infringing copyrights at an unfathomable scale." The lawsuit specifically described instances in which users could request Claude recreate and update Presley's songs.

"These renders keep landing very close to the originals: same structure, same hooks reused with light rewording, and full sets of verses/choruses/bridges," read the filing. "That's edging past 'inspired by' into reproducing the copyrighted song, even when the words are swapped out."

Anthropic has refuted the allegations, a spokesperson stating, "We disagree with the claims and intend to defend this case fully."

The plaintiffs are requesting a permanent injunction to prevent Anthropic from using Presley's songs, as well as damages of up to $150,000 for each work allegedly infringed upon. At 274 works, that would be a fine of up to $41.1 million.

Anthropic has been the target of multiple prior lawsuits alleging unauthorised use of intellectual property. Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music sued Anthropic in August, claiming that it had conducted a "brazen campaign of illegally torrenting, scraping, and downloading copyrighted works on a massive scale." In July, Anthropic settled a $1.5 billion class action lawsuit in which authors accused it of illegally downloading pirated books. Universal Music Group has sued Anthropic for copyright infringement twice, filing this January as well as in October 2023.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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 hole where a small piece of ground was removed.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

DIVOT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To improve writing.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EMEND

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A feeling of fear or anxiety.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 26, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 26, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DREAD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A meal often had in the middle of the day.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

LUNCH

Final Hurdle hint

A smell that indicates something aged, perhaps moldy.

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

MUSTY

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