Technology

You might have to rethink your plans if you share your Spotify account with friends. Spotify has tightened Premium Family and Duo plan validation to help ensure you're sharing only with the people in your home.

Driving around with Android Auto should feel more like listening to Majel Barrett’sStar Trek: TNG computer voice, giving you directions and handling tasks lightning fast. Instead, we got a dodgy Gemini integration over the past few months. My experience with it was a bit bizarre, to say the least. I also felt like it was a bit more dangerous and distracting. So I tried a little experiment: ditching Android Auto voice control for Google Home routine commands.

Sitting at your desk for extended periods can take its toll, but if your work is at your desk, it’s the norm. But sitting at a desk doesn’t have to compromise your comfort or wellness, not with a whole mess of ergonomic chairs at your fingertips. Ergonomic desk chairs, generally speaking, naturally support your whole body to improve posture and reduce overall discomfort. Finding the right chair for the job can be a challenge, though. That’s where HBADA comes in.

I don't consider myself a Linux veteran just yet, but there are probably tons of you who do. Remember your awkward Linux beginner phase, though?

UPDATE Tuesday, 12:08 p.m. ET: Google said in an update on its Cloud status webpage that most issues have been resolved on its end, with some lingering problems still being worked on.

"The issue with impacted GCP products has been mitigated for most of the customers and it is believed to be affecting currently a very small number of customers and our Engineering Team is working on it," the update stated.

At the time of this update, some banking institutions were still showing errors on their status pages, such as Revolut and HSBC.

Google reported that "multiple" Cloud services experienced issues on Tuesday morning, with some banking customers struggling to use their services.

SEE ALSO: Why does the internet keep crashing so often? First Google Cloud, then AWS, now Cloudflare.

"We are experiencing an issue with multiple services in europe-west2 beginning on Monday, 2026-10-19 23:08 PDT," Google shared in an update on its Cloud status page. "Our engineering team continues to investigate the issue. We will provide an update by Tuesday, 2026-10-20 04:00 PDT with current details. We apologize to all who are affected by the disruption."

However, by around 10 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Google closed the issue on its website, with it seemingly being resolved on Google's end. Even after that, though, some banks such as Revolut showed issues were still ongoing as late as 11:30 a.m. ET.

Banks like Revolut, Halifax, HSBC and Lloyds are among the services with customers reporting issues, per the BBC. A source told CNN that the Google Cloud outage was directly related to Revolut's issues.

At the start, it seemed as though the issue was localized to Europe. However, Revolut's United States status website also showed many of the same issues late on Tuesday morning. It's unclear if that means U.S. customers were actually affected, or if that was merely an error on the website's part.

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.

ORDER FOR FREE: Grab your copy of Amazon's Holiday Kids Gift Book 2026 for free delivery to your mailbox.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kids Gift Book 2026 $0 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon is already coming in hot with the early Black Friday discounts. While we still haven't filled up on Halloween's candy corn yet, it's time to order Advent Calendars and get shopping for the holiday season before the selection dwindles. If you love to browse holiday gift guides that appear in your mailbox, there's a special one you'll want to order.

If it hasn't shown up in your mailbox yet, you can order a copy of the Amazon Kids Gift Book 2026 for free as of Oct. 20.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday 2026 deals: See holiday gift guides from Amazon, The Home Depot, Nordstrom, Ulta, and more

Amazon included over 100 top toys of the year in this adorable catalogue any kid or grown up will enjoy browsing. There's even space to write out a personal wish list on a tear-out page. You can also shop easily thanks to the included product QR codes.

In addition to checking out this year's hottest toys, Amazon added in free stickers and activities for kids to enjoy as they check out the magazine. The gift guide features great options like Legos, Squishmallows, and ideas for gamers.

If the catalogue didn't already land in your mailbox, order your free copy from Amazon while they're still in stock.

Hackers are exploiting security flaws in your Plex Media Server, turning it into a tool for mining cryptocurrency and routing other people’s internet traffic. Users who haven’t updated their Plex servers and are still running a version older than 1.43.3.10861 are affected. The flaw is nicknamed Plex2Shell, which allows hackers to take control of the server over the internet without a password.

SAVE $200.06: As of Oct. 20, a Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 electric toothbrush bundle is on sale for the record-low price of $199.93 on Amazon (normally $399.99) — a 50% savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Philips Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 Electric Toothbrush Bundle $199.93 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $200.06   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon's sixth annual Holiday Beauty Event kicked off on Oct. 19, and I've been scouting out the best deals from the sale. If you and your roommate or live-in partner need new toothbrushes, you're especially in luck: A bundle of two Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9000s is on sale for half off as part of the event.

These smart electric toothbrushes usually sell for $399.99 as a pair (or $199.96 on their own), but right now, you'll only pay $199.93 total. That's a record-low price, according to the Amazon price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.

Rated highly by Amazon reviewers for its cleaning performance and value, the Sonicare DiamondClean 9000 has four adjustable brushing modes and a built-in pressure sensor. (It'll vibrate if it thinks you're brushing too hard.) If you're really trying to optimize your dental health — teeth-maxxing? — you can track your brushing habits using its companion mobile app. Philips says it can last up to 14 days on a single charge.

Amazon's BOGO offer applies to the bundle that includes rose (light pink) and white variants of the Sonicare DiamondClean 9000. Both come with their own travel cases.

Robot vacuums are supposed to save you time by keeping your house clean, so they shouldn’t require additional work on your part. Thankfully, a 3D printer can help solve some of the most common problems people encounter with robot vacuums.

The best early Black Friday cordless tool deals Best Early Black Friday Cordless Tool Deal DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $178 (Save $60) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Cordless Tool Combo Kit Deal Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless 4-Tool Combo Kit $199 (Save $50) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Cordless Ratchet Deal Milwaukee M12 F12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Ratchet $299 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday BOGO Cordless Tool Deal Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Drive Impact Wrench Kit $539 (BOGO) Get Deal

If there's a shelf that still needs hanging or a deck repair you've been ignoring since spring, a good cordless tool can make the job a little more palatable. Buying one before the holidays is a great idea, especially since retailers have already started rolling out early Black Friday deals ahead of the actual sale. Cordless tools are one of the categories where prices drop first. There's no reason to wait until the end of November when the discounts are already here, so we've done our homework to bring you some of the best and earliest to choose from.

Some of the best early Black Friday deals we've found so far are on cordless drills, impact drivers, and combo kits from brands like DeWalt, Milwaukee, Makita, and Ryobi, with battery-and-charger bundles among the most heavily marked down.

If you've been waiting for the right moment to build out your garage or workshop setup, this is a good week to start adding things to your cart. Check out some of our top picks below.

Best early Black Friday cordless tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $239 at The Home Depot
  Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

The drill/driver and impact driver in this DeWalt kit are both compact enough to fit between studs and under cabinets, so it can handle a variety of jobs. It has an LED light that illuminates whatever you’re working on as well, so you don't have to struggle with visibility when handling each project. The drill uses a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck that holds bits tight without a key, while the impact driver’s hex chuck lets you load and swap bits with one hand. You also get two 20V Max batteries, a charger, and a carrying bag to make a complete tool kit that's perfect for DIY jobs or handing over to repair enthusiasts.

Best early Black Friday cordless tool combo kit deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless 4-Tool Combo Kit with Compact Battery $199 at The Home Depot
$249 Save $50   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

Ryobi’s four-tool ONE+ kit pairs a 1/2-inch drill/driver and a 1/4-inch impact driver with a 5-1/2-inch circular saw. It also comes with an LED work light with a pivoting head that should make visibility a bit less of a concern when working in hard-to-reach places. Two 18V batteries come in the bag, a compact one for lighter jobs and a 4.0 Ah pack for longer runtime, and both work with every tool in Ryobi’s ONE+ lineup if you decide to add on later. The battery is a great addition to give you some extra oomph as well.

Best early Black Friday cordless ratchet deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot Milwaukee M12 F12V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Ratchet $299 at The Home Depot
$399 Save $100   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

Get in there and get things done with this cordless ratchet. It has a brushless motor that gives you air-ratchet speed without the hose or the compressor, so you can get into an engine bay or under a sink and finish those frustrating jobs. Its slim in-line body is balanced for one-handed use, and an LED near the head lights up fasteners in tight spots. Plus, its onboard fuel gauge shows how much charge is left so you know how much longer you have to work at a glance.

Best early Black Friday BOGO cordless tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot Makita 18V LXT Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Drive Impact Wrench Kit $539 at The Home Depot
Buy One, Get One Free Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

This BOGO deal nets you two tools instead of one. This impact wrench puts out 430 ft-lbs of nut-busting torque from a brushless motor, which is enough to break loose over-tightened lug nuts. A four-speed selector lets you dial the power down for smaller fasteners, and the auto-stop modes cut the motor once a nut comes loose so it doesn’t spin off the socket. The kit comes with two 5.0Ah batteries, a rapid charger, and a bag, and the whole thing weighs about four pounds with a battery attached. Twice is always nice.

More cordless tool deals

• Ryobi ONE+ 18V Starter Kit with 4.0 Ah Battery and Charger — $129 $159 (save $30)

• DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless 1/4 in. 3-Speed Impact Driver (Tool Only) — $129 $169 (save $110)

• Milwaukee M18 18V Lith-Ion Cordless Compact Blower w/ 2.0 Ah Battery — $129 $239 (save $40)

• DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Brushless Screw Gun (Tool Only) — $149 $199 (save $50)

• DeWalt 20V MAX XR Cordless 1/2 in. Impact Wrench (Tool Only) — $199 $279 (save $80)

• DeWalt 20V XR Battery Starter Pack (8.0Ah + 4.0Ah with Charger) — $199 $329 (save $130)

• Milwaukee M12 12V Cordless Green 250 ft. 3-Plane Laser Level Kit — $599 $649 (save $50)

• Milwaukee M18 18V Cordless Combo Kit (8-Tool) with (2) Batteries and Charger — $649 $1,298 (save $649)

Best early Black Friday Dyson deals at a glance: Best Dyson vacuum deal for hard floors Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones $423.99 (save $176) Get Deal Best Dyson vacuum deal for carpet Dyson V16 Piston Animal $799.99 (save $180) Get Deal Best Dyson air purifier deal Dyson HushJet $279.98 (save $70.01) Get Deal Best Dyson haircare deal Dyson Airwrap i.d Multi-Styler $534.49 (save $175.50) Get Deal

It feels like we just finished recovering from October Prime Day, but Black Friday is already around the corner. (It officially lands on Nov. 27 this year, but retailers are clearly jumping the gun to get deals out early.) I'm honestly shocked to see these Dyson discounts hitting Amazon this far ahead of Thanksgiving.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals actually better?

We will obviously be updating this all month long leading up to the main event (and even after), so you can expect this list to grow as we get closer to the big day. But if you want to beat the holiday rush and cross some big-ticket items off your list, here are the best early Dyson deals you can grab right now.

Best Dyson vacuum deal for hard floors Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones Cordless Vacuum $449.99 at Best Buy
$599.99 Save $150   Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Dyson Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

As of Oct. 19, the Mashable Choice Award winner Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones (what a name, right?) is on sale for $423.99, down from $599.99, at Amazon. That's a 29% discount, or $176 in savings. Not only is this the lowest price we've seen on this model in the last 30 days, but it's also a new all-time low, according to our trusty price-history tool CamelCamelCamel. Its previous record-low price was $449.99, which it last hit on March 29, 2026.

In our review, Mashable's Leah Stodart noted that it "weighs nothing and fits everywhere," making it ideal for smaller homes or apartments. The Fluffycones head swivels a full 360 degrees to glide around tight furniture legs, and dual lasers point out every speck of dust in your path. Just keep in mind that its battery life is relatively short (30 minutes), and it has a tiny dustbin — plus, it's built for hard floors and struggles on carpet.

Read our Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones review.

Best Dyson vacuum deal for carpet Dyson V16 Piston Animal $799.99 at Amazon
$979.99 Save $180   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Dyson Why we like it

If your home has thick carpets or shedding pets, the ultra-slim PencilVac won't cut it — you need heavy-duty suction. Meet the Dyson V16 Piston Animal. It's on sale for $799.99, down from $979.99, at Amazon. That's an 18% discount or $180 savings. It's also the best price we've seen on this model to date.

Not to be dramatic, but this is the most powerful Dyson vacuum ever made. It offers 315 Air Watts of suction power, features an anti-tangle All Floor Cones cleaner head that yanks deeply embedded hair right out of rug fibers, and has a newly designed compression dustbin that makes it easier to just set it and forget it.

Read our Dyson V16 Piston Animal review.

More Dyson vacuum deals

• Dyson Ball Animal 3 — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)

• Dyson V15 Detect Origin — $589.99 $839.99 (save $250)

Best Dyson air purifier deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson HushJet (Black/Teal) $279.98 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Dyson HushJet is our official pick for "the perfect lazy person air purifier," mainly because its fully sealed Electrostatic and Activated Carbon filtration system can last for up to five years before you need a replacement. It's designed to purify spaces up to 203 square feet, making it a practical addition to stuffy bedrooms or home offices (it's also helpful for pet parents — I have two beagles, and I love my HushJet).

Right now, you can get it for $279.98, down from $349.99 at Amazon, saving you $70. For a purifier that works this well while running at a whisper-quiet 24 decibels on sleep mode, that's a damn good early Black Friday steal.

Read our Dyson HushJet Compact Air Purifier review.

Best Dyson haircare deal Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler and Dryer and Dyson Chitosan Post-Style Serum (Amazon Exclusive) $534.49 at Amazon
$709.99 Save $175.50   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you've been waiting for the Airwrap i.d. to get cheaper, now's the time to whip out your wallet. The Amazon-exclusive bundle with the Dyson Chitosan Post-Style Serum is on sale for $534.49, down from its $709.99 list price — saving you $175.50 (25% off).

This deal includes six versatile attachments for curling, smoothing, drying, and adding volume without heat damage, plus the post-style serum to lock in your finished look with all-day hold. Yes, it's still an investment, but getting the multi-styler and full-size product for over $175 off makes it much easier to swallow.

More Dyson haircare and beauty deals

• Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer — $372.49 $449.99 (save $77.50)

• Dyson Airstrait Straightener — $427.74 $554.99 (save $127.25)

If you’re still on your parents' Spotify Family plan after moving out of the house, keeping your share of the subscription could be getting harder.

Spotify is now asking some Premium Family members to scan a changing QR code on their plan manager’s phone to verify that they live together, according to Spotify's support page. Members have seven days from the date of notification to complete the check. Miss the deadline or fail verification, and they cannot join a different Family or Duo plan for 12 months.

That could put a sizable dent in the savings from sharing. In the U.S., Premium Family costs $21.99 a month for up to six accounts — roughly $3.67 each if everyone splits the bill equally. Premium Individual costs $12.99 a month, more than three times that amount.

SEE ALSO: How much is Spotify Premium in the U.S.? Spotify's household rule goes back years

Despite the name, Spotify's Family subscription doesn't cover relatives living wherever they please.

The company originally introduced its Family plan in October 2014 for five accounts, touting a $4.99 per-month subscription in the U.S. for each additional family member, on top of the main subscriber’s $9.99 subscription. (They expanded to 6 accounts in 2016.)

In a 2019 newsroom post, Spotify announced updates to the Family plan and described it as for family members "living under one roof." They are clearly starting to take that terminology more seriously.

As of an Oct. 19 report by 9to5Google, Family plan members must share an address and allow the company to request verification again to confirm it. Rumors about this feature also predate this week's coverage: A Reddit post from December 2025 describes the same rotating-code verification.

Spotify's support page says it may ask "some" Family members to complete the scan, without specifying how widely the checks are being used.

What members need to do Credit: Screenshot: Spotify Support Page

If Spotify asks you to verify through a QR code, you'll have seven days from the notification to complete the scan with your plan manager — the person who manages and pays for the subscription.

The manager opens Spotify on their phone and taps their profile picture, then Your Premium → Manage. You scan the code with your phone's camera. Spotify says both people must be in the same place and have the latest version of the mobile app installed. The code changes every few seconds, so a screenshot could expire before you use it.

If you're having trouble, Spotify recommends checking the date and time settings on both phones and restarting the app. If you miss the deadline or can’t complete verification, you cannot join a different Family or Duo plan for 12 whole months, but you can still subscribe to another option, such as Premium Individual (which costs $12.99 a month in the U.S.).

SEE ALSO: Spotify hits 300 million Premium subscribers

For members who live together but are temporarily apart, that leaves a practical problem: Your household may qualify, but you still need to coordinate an in-person scan before the clock runs out. Let the panic commence!

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Early Black Friday Gift Guide deals at a glance Best Walmart deal Apple Airpods Pro 3 $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best Amazon deal Hisense 85-inch E6 Hi-QLED 4K TV $797.97 (save $102.02) Get Deal Best Target deal Tineco Go HammerHead Cordless Wet/Dry Mop & Vacuum $149.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best Ulta deal Conair InfinitiPRO DigitalAIRE Drying Wand $90.99 (save $39) Get Deal Best Home Depot deal Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit $649 (save $649) Get Deal

It's not often walk to the mailbox and find something inside we're excited about. Amidst the bills and junk mail, top brands launch their Black Friday gift guides, and some might be landing in your mailbox.

The official Black Friday date is Nov. 27 this year, the day after Thanksgiving. But you don't need to wait for deals to drop then. Amazon, The Home Depot, and Target all have Black Friday sales underway right now.

Browsing the deals is half the fun of shopping during Black Friday. And if you're trending toward Analog life, you can request a free physical copy of some gift guides including Amazon's Holiday Kids Gift Book 2026. But you have plenty of other browsing to do, too.

The Home Depot Black Friday Gift Guide is packed with cordless power tools, holiday decor, and gifts for the gardener in your life. Walmart has conveniently broken down the top 100 gifts including Apple Airpods Pro 3 and the Nintendo Switch 2.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday kitchen deals from Ninja, De'Longhi, and Viking are already live

Ulta's Black Friday Gift Guide is the perfect cheat-sheet for buying beauty gifts for your friends, and Costco has excellent deals on artificial Christmas trees and laptops if you're a member. Nordstrom is a great place to grab stocking stuffers and gifts are already up to 40% off.

If toys are on your shopping list, be sure to peek the Target Black Friday Gift Guide, as well as the Meijer Toy Book and the Fleet Farm's Toyland which opened earlier in October. Remember if you're shopping for tech deals, sometimes Target offers better discounts than Amazon's Black Friday offerings.

Below, we've rounded up some of our favorite early Black Friday deals from the top gift guides.

Best Walmart deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Airpods Pro 3 $199 at Walmart
$249 Save $50   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

A classic sale on some of the best Airpods, you can already snag them for $199 at Walmart. The Airpods Pro 3 come with great sound, exceptional noise cancellation, good battery life, and even a heart-rate monitor. On Mashable's list of the best earbuds, the Airpods Pro 3 earn the top spot as the best option for Apple users. While the $199 sale price isn't unheard of, they do tend to sell out during busy sale seasons, so shop early to avoid the stress.

Best Amazon deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-inch E6 Hi-QLED 4K TV $797.97 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $102.02   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The holidays are a time for relaxing and what better to do so than with a massive TV to watch romantic Christmas movies? The giant 85-inch Hisense E6 QLED 4K TV is already on sale at Amazon well before Black Friday and it's under $800. Plus, it's the perfect early holiday gift for anyone who's recently moved into a bigger place.

Best Target deal Opens in a new window Credit: Tineco Tineco Go HammerHead Cordless Wet/Dry Mop & Vacuum $149.99 at Target
$279.99 Save $130   Get Deal at Target Why we like it

No one likes to spend the holidays cleaning the house. Keep the task of cleaning the floors as quick and painless as possible with the Tineco Go HammerHead Cordless Mop and Vacuum. All in one go, you'll be able to vacuum and mop, and maneuvering is made easy thanks to Tineco's swivel steering.

Best Ulta deal Opens in a new window Credit: Conair Conair InfinitiPRO DigitalAIRE Drying Wand $90.99 at Ulta
$129.99 Save $39.00   Get Deal at Ulta Why we like it

Black Friday sales is one of the best times of the year to shop for beauty deals. Instead of paying big time for a Dyson hair dryer, Ulta has great deals in store on Conair beauty tech including the InfintiPro Drying Wand, which is on sale for under $100.

Aiming for a faster drying experience, the Conair detangles, smooths, and adds volume. It'll be a staple for getting ready for holiday parties this season.

Download the Ulta app and you'll be in line for special daily savings you won't find online. Today's mobile app deals include saving 20% on CeraVe products, makeup from Smashbox, and free gifts with purchase.

Best Home Depot deal Opens in a new window Credit: Milwaukee Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit $649 at The Home Depot
$1,298 Save $649   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

With eight cordless power tools and two batteries, the Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion Cordless Combo Kit is the ultimate gift for anyone in your life who could use a tool upgrade. Winter is the perfect time for garage and home renovation projects, so this deal couldn't come at a better time.

I have long been intrigued by locally-run AI models, but I've never had the hardware to do it—until now. The Cephalon Lucy Max is a small cube-shaped mini PC and NAS combo that delivers AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chip with 128GB of RAM, and it's actually capable of running some pretty impressive local models. So impressive that it almost got me to ditch my cloud AI subscription.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon trading card game, Pokémon is dropping a massive wave of free digital loot for Pokémon TCG Pocket players.

Starting Oct. 20, players who log into the mobile card game can participate in the Pika Pika! Pikachu event, where logging in for just 10 days unlocks a free, exclusive Pikachu ex immersive card designed by Japanese graphic artist YOSHIROTTEN.

How to claim your free Pikachu ex card and event loot

The first step you need to take is to open Pokémon TCG Pocket on iOS or Android on any 10 separate days between Oct. 20 and Oct. 19 of next year. That's not going to be particularly challenging for dedicated players. Logging in during the event awards special Pika Pika! Pikachu booster packs, containing Pikachu cards across various rarities.

The event also includes a guaranteed Pika Pika! Pikachu Pack ex, which promises either a 2-star rarity card or a Shiny Pikachu ex. Players can also unlock matching Pikachu-themed playmats, card sleeves, and digital coins to customize their in-game battle decks.

We want to be very clear that this is a digital card inside a mobile app, not a physical piece of cardboard you can sell for a lot of money on eBay.

It's a refreshingly player-friendly move from Pokémon TCG Pocket, offering a full year-long claim window with zero microtransaction requirements. If you already play Pokémon TCG Pocket during your daily commute, taking 30 seconds to log in for 10 days gets you one of the highest-value digital collectibles in the game for free. That kind of promo doesn't come around too often.

Milwaukee batteries are actually quite versatile. While you might think they can only run power tools, you can actually do a whole lot more with them. Here are six genuinely odd (yet super useful) things that you can definitely power with Milwaukee batteries—and one that you probably shouldn't do.

Microsoft may have borked Outlook for some folks with a new Windows update.

Specifically, a Windows Server security update has caused access issues for Outlook on some Exchange Server systems, according to a Microsoft security note (cited by BleepingComputer). This is specifically affecting systems running Windows Server 2019 and later, per Microsoft. As a result, users may not be able to access Outlook, or sent messages might just remain in the Outlook outbox without actually going anywhere.

SEE ALSO: Microsoft president warns AI is less regulated than milk and washing machines

There is no firm fix for this problem just yet. Microsoft says that the severity of the problem will differ from server to server, with some not encountering any problems at all. In a different post, Microsoft urged users not to uninstall the problematic update, instead offering a workaround:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt on an Exchange Server

2. Enter the following as a command: "reg add "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Rpc" /v EpmapSavedContextCap /t REG_DWORD /d 65536 /f"

3. Reboot the server

That should help alleviate the issue until Microsoft offers a long-term fix for it.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

The best early Black Friday Amazon device deals at a glance: Best Fire TV Stick deal Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $19.99 (save $40 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best Echo deal Echo Dot Max $89.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $72.99 (save $82) Get Deal

Amazon's official Black Friday sale technically doesn't kick off until next month, but time means nothing to retailers in 2026. The actual dates of Black Friday have been blurred beyond recognition and deals start popping up in October and last well into December. That's good news for anyone looking to save some cash and spread out their holiday shopping.

If there's an Amazon device on your list, there are already quite a few live deals floating around on Fire tablets, Fire TV Sticks, and Echo devices. Whether they're lingering discounts from October Prime Day or early Black Friday deals doesn't really matter. What matters is you can score an Amazon device for cheaper than usual — especially since many of these devices saw price increases in 2026 (thanks, RAMageddon). Other devices like Kindles, Fire TVs, Blink cameras, and more are still at full price, but we're keeping an eye out for any drops.

We'll be tracking all of the best Amazon device deals leading up to, during, and post-Black Friday below. For early deals beyond Amazon devices, be sure to follow along with all of Mashable's coverage in our Black Friday hub.

Best early Black Friday Fire TV Stick deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K $15.96 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $44.03 with on-page coupon code 'FTV4K' Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Sadly, the whole lineup of Fire TV Sticks was hit with a price increase back in August. But that doesn't seem to affect how impressive the discounts are. Prime members can grab the brand-new Fire TV Stick 4K, which was released in September, for just $19.99 with the on-page coupon code FTV4K. That's its best price so far on record.

The 4K Select was only released last year, but the 4K has officially replaced it. It features the Vega 2.0 operating system for even speedier navigation and a more robust app store. Amazon listened to customer qualms with the 4K Select and added over 2,000 more apps to the 4K, including Spotify, Xbox, VLC, and a range of VPNs. The all-new 4K also comes with 8GB of storage, a quad-core 1.7GHz processor, support for WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, HDR10+, HLG, and Alexa+. It also features an all-new Fire TV remote.

More Fire TV Stick deals

Fire TV Stick deals

• Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $14.99 $49.99 (save $35 with on-page code SELECT4K)

• Amazon Fire TV Stick HD — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22 with on-page code HDFTV)

Best early Black Friday Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Max $89.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

One of Amazon's most popular speakers got a refresh last year specifically with Alexa+ in mind. The Echo Dot Max is a super-powered speaker that's just slightly bigger than the Echo Dot, but features nearly three times the bass and can fill up large spaces with lossless, high-definition audio. It can also adapt to its environment to offer the best sound possible, have more natural conversations via Alexa+, double as a mesh WiFi extender, and seamlessly control all of your smart devices.

The Echo Dot Max got a $20 price increase back in August, so we're glad to see an early Black Friday discount that negates the price hike and then some. While we have seen it cheaper in the past, this is still a pretty solid deal if you don't want to wait.

More Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Echo Show 11 — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

Best early Black Friday Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet $72.99 at Amazon
$154.99 Save $82.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Amazon surprise-released a new line of tablets earlier this month, so it only makes sense for its older tablets to see huge discounts. We're certainly not complaining. The Fire HD 10 tablet, while several years old, still serves as a solid pick for anyone who just wants a tablet to stream shows, check emails, and browse socials. It won't wow you like a speedy new iPad, but it'll get the job done without breaking the bank — especially since it's on sale for just $72.99. That's more than 50% off its list price. For what it's worth, I bought this exact tablet for my dad last Christmas and it's well-loved.

More Fire tablet deals

• Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet — $79.99 $129.99 (save $50)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids tablet — $94.99 $169.99 (save $75)

• Harry Potter Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (limited edition) — $132.99 $189.99 (save $57)

When it comes to Halloween decorating, Arby's just raised the steaks.

The fast-food chain is launching a limited-edition "Meat Sweats" tracksuit ahead of the spooky holiday, but not just any tracksuit: one "made specifically for 12-foot skeletons," according to an email sent to press.

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

That could only refer to "Skelly," the viral giant skeleton animatronic that The Home Depot has sold since 2020; this year, it was updated with app controls. The tracksuit doesn't appear to be an official collaboration between the two brands, though they had an exchange about it on social media this week. (Mashable has reached out to The Home Depot for comment.)

"things get spooky Wednesday," Arby's captioned a picture of the tracksuit on Instagram Monday, adding, "be afraid @homedepot." In the comments, the home improvement retailer replied: "That's one way to beef up your Halloween decor 👀"

View this post on Instagram

The Meat Sweats suit features an all-over print of folded roast beef and an Arby's logo on its chest. Priced at $46.66, it will be available exclusively in Arby's online merch store starting this Wednesday, Oct. 21 at noon ET.

Skelly has built up quite the wardrobe over the years. The Home Depot released Santa, scarecrow, and witch costumes for the oversized animatronic in 2021, and many Skelly owners have DIYed their own outfits for it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Arby's Arby's Skeleton Sweat Set $46.66 at ArbysShop.com
Launches Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 12 p.m. ET. Learn More at ArbysShop.com

The Moon is more than half illuminated, which means we're getting closer to the Full Moon. Each night the Moon will appear bigger in the sky, with lots of opportunity to spot some features on its surface.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Oct. 20, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 65% of its surface visible.

Tonight, you should be able to spot the Mare Crisium, the Tycho Crater, and Mare Fecunditatis without any visual aids. If you have binoculars you'll also see the Endymion Crater, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Appenine Mountains. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots, plus the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to travel around Earth, and its appearance changes throughout the month. As it moves around our planet, we see different amounts of its sunlit side, from a slim crescent to the quarter phases and eventually a Full Moon. It then begins the cycle again. As NASA explains, these phases are caused by the Moon's changing position relative to Earth and the Sun.

The eight 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.