Technology

SAVE $430: As of Nov. 10, the Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max is on sale for $2,469 at Amazon. That's a 15% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max $2,469 at Amazon
$2,899 Save $430   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking to add some serious backup power to your home, Amazon has an early Black Friday deal on a Jackery unit that is capable of powering many of your devices. The Jackery HomePower 3600 Pro Max is currently available with two 200W solar panels for $2,469, down from $2,899. That's a saving of $430.

This portable power station delivers 4,000W of power and supports both 120V and 240V appliances from a single unit. Its starting capacity is 3.6kWh, but you can expand it to up to 43kWh with additional batteries, so it's a great choice for full-home backup.

It can switch to UPS backup in under 10 milliseconds, keeping connected electronics running during a power supply interruption. It also uses EV-grade LFP battery cells rated for 6,000 cycles, with Jackery saying this gives it a lifespan of more than 16 years. A fire-resistant housing and an emergency power-off switch also provide additional longevity and safety features.

Plus, the included solar panels give you another way to keep the system topped up, alongside its eight other supported recharging methods, including gas generator and DC-DC alternator charging.

Find this Jackery deal at Amazon now.

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try all the latest earbuds, the Mashable team has taken on the task of reviewing the best ANC earbuds for you.

What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds? Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, the best of the best ANC earbuds can elevate your listening experience. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. Trust us — on the right pair of earbuds, Olivia Rodrigo's latest album will have you singing along even louder, somehow.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose offers the most comfortable headphones and earbuds. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why we set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of wireless earbuds.

How do noise-cancelling earbuds work? Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

What about wired noise-cancelling earbuds?

We focus on wireless earbuds in this guide, because historically, wired noise-cancelling earbuds haven't really existed. Until recently, that is. In late September, Bose dropped its Noise Cancelling Wired Earbuds for $99 — we'll be evaluating them as a contender for a spot on this list, but Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern had positive initial thoughts on their performance.

What are the best noise-cancelling headphones of 2026?

Even the best value headphones will feel lacking if they don't come equipped with halfway decent noise cancellation. Besides, there are simply too many headphones on the market (our testing pool gets bigger by the month) for you to pay hundreds only to get subpar ANC. So, which brand comes out on top?

For most people, we think the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) offer the best overall value, with the ideal blend of comfort, sound quality, and ANC. However, if you're looking for the best active noise cancellation overall, we have to give it up to the Sony XM6 headphones. Fortunately, there are no bad choices here.

To help you wade through the top options from brands like Apple, Beats, Bose, Sony, and Sonos, Mashable editors and reviewers tested dozens of headphones and earbuds. From flagship models to budget buds, we picked out the best options at every price range.

SEE ALSO: How we test headphones and earbuds How do noise-cancelling headphones actually work?

Even cheap headphones can block some noise from the outside world. And you can always blast your music loud enough to drown out nearby conversations and street noise via passive noise cancellation. However, if you really want to turn the volume of the world down to the limit, then you need headphones with active noise cancellation.

Active noise-cancelling headphones electronically cover up the sounds coming from your surroundings. They use internal microphones to listen to the world around you, then invert the noise and send it to the speakers. The idea is that both the output and the input will cancel out, leaving you with near-silence. The best over-ear headphones also create a tight seal around your ears, providing an extra layer of passive sound blocking.

Testing the Apple AirPods Max headphones, which didn't make the final cut for this guide. Credit: Zlata Ivleva / Mashable Getting up close and personal with Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-cancelling headphones. Credit: Molly Flores / Mashable

If you've tried a pair of noise-cancelling headphones before and haven't been impressed, don't be discouraged, as not all ANC performs equally. For instance, cheaper ANC headphones may have a more noticeable hissing sound that you'll hear when the noise cancellation is turned on, which can be distracting for some folks.

Other headphones may be great at blocking low tones, but more prone to letting in high-pitched tones. Typically, premium headphones will yield better results all around, but we have budget picks below that still do a solid job.

In the past, not many wireless earbuds featured active noise cancellation that was comparable to over-ear headphones, but newer iterations like the AirPods Pro and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds hold their own in the ANC space. However, even these earbuds can't quite get the same seal (or fit as many mics) that headphones can, so if you're looking for maximum silence, stick with over-ear headphones.

Save $30: The Nintendo Switch 2 is available for $469 at Woot. This deal is live through Nov. 30 or until sold out. The console rarely goes on sale and is usually listed for $499, making this a 6% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $469 at Woot!
$499 Save $30   Get Deal at Woot!

Struggling to get your hands on the Zelda edition of the Switch 2? How about grabbing a discounted Switch 2 instead, weeks ahead of Black Friday?

Yes, you read that right. Nintendo's console rarely goes on sale — and even less so since its $50 price hike in September — yet Woot is offering a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 for $469. That's a $30 price drop from the usual $499, bringing it closer to its former $449 list price. Admittedly, it's not a huge discount, but again, it's rare. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, the console has dropped in price a grand total of zero times since its price hike.

For comparison, the Switch 2 is holding firm at $499 on Amazon and Best Buy.

Going into my fifth year covering Black Friday at Mashable, I can confidently say that gaming console deals can be a tricky one during the shopping holiday. A lot of folks wait until sales kick off to grab deals, meaning if there is an impressive price drop, it sells out fast. I would expect this situation to be even more competitive during the year of RAMaggedon.

In other words, sneaking in and grabbing some savings ahead of time on a truly excellent console is a great way to go this holiday season. Just make sure to grab it while supplies last, or before Nov. 30 when the deal expires, if stock is still available.

Tesla has launched its driverless Robotaxi service in San Antonio, its fifth Texas city.

In total, Robotaxi now operates in eight U.S. cities: Austin, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Fort Worth, Orlando, San Antonio and Tampa. Jacksonville, Las Vegas, and Phoenix are currently listed as "coming soon" on Tesla's website.

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

The interesting thing about the San Antonio launch is that the service covers a massive, 273-square-mile area, way larger than competitor Waymo's 59 square miles in San Antonio. You can compare the two services over at Robotaxitracker.

Nice round shape. Somewhat boring, but it does the job. Credit: Tesla

Surprisingly, and somewhat impressively, Tesla CEO Elon Musk managed to subdue his urges on this one, so the Robotaxi coverage area in San Antonio isn't penis-shaped, as it temporarily was in Austin, or rocket-shaped, as it is in Houston.

The Robotaxi fleet operating in San Antonio currently consists of Tesla Model Y vehicles. According to Electrek, Cybercabs are still limited to Austin, Texas.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk insists Cybertruck demand is strong as Tesla scraps it

Both Tesla and Waymo have been quickly expanding their autonomous taxi services in recent months. Just last week, Tesla Robotaxi launched in Fort Worth, Texas; Waymo recently started testing autonomous rides in Orlando, Florida, as well as South Bay cities in the Los Angeles area.

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.

TL;DR: Pure has no built-in background-check tools and keeps profiles anonymous. Before meeting up in person, verify their photos in the app, look up their number, and run their name through local court dockets yourself.

Mainstream dating apps love to brag about safety. Tinder briefly tried offering background checks through Garbo a few years back, while apps like Bumble and Hinge push selfie verification and real first names to keep profiles honest.

As Jack Dawes outlined in Mashable's guide to anonymous dating, Pure exists to minimize your digital paper trail. You do not need an email, phone number, or full bio on display to swipe. Instead of permanent profiles, users post temporary "dating ads" that vanish after a set window. Conversations self-delete after 24 hours by default, and built-in protections actively block screenshots to keep private photos from leaking.

That setup makes it a haven for discreet hookups, but it leaves you with a massive safety blind spot: Pure has zero integrated background-checking tools and does not screen users. In fact, the app's legal terms plainly state that it does not run criminal background or identity checks on anyone who signs up.

If you are meeting a stranger from the internet for a casual hookup, you need to know who is walking through the door. Because Pure will not do the vetting for you, here's how to handle the detective work yourself before taking things offline.

Opens in a new window Credit: Pure Pure   Shop Now Max out Pure's in-app verification tools

Before digging into someone's legal history, you first need to confirm the person chatting with you actually looks like their photos. Catfishing and bot profiles are common across anonymous ad boards, but Pure gives you a few built-in tools to filter out fakes before you share personal contact info:

• Look for the Photo Verification badge — Pure lets people take a quick live selfie to earn a verification checkmark, confirming they actually look like their ad photos and aren't using someone else's pictures.

• Request a True Photo or hop on a video call — Pure includes a native "True Photo" feature that requests an instant, unfiltered snapshot taken directly through the app's camera. Even better, jump on Pure's built-in video chat. Pure notes in its own safety guidelines that a quick face-to-face video call acts as immediate "face control" — so if a match refuses a two-minute video chat before meeting, take that as an immediate red flag.

• Protect yourself during calls — While Pure blocks in-app screenshots and alerts you if someone tries to take one, an external camera can still record a screen. Keep your clothes on during the initial video vibe check until you establish real trust.

Run a reverse image search

If your match has an unverified profile or their photos look like professional studio shots, run them through an image search before getting invested.

Because Pure blocks in-app screenshots inside private chats and alerts the other user if you try to take one, grab a screenshot of their public ad photo from the main feed before opening a conversation, or snap a quick picture of your screen with a second phone or tablet.

SEE ALSO: Uber announces stronger background checks for drivers

Once you have the photo, run it through Google Lens, TinEye, or a facial search tool like FaceCheck.ID. Stolen images from Instagram models, adult content creators, or Reddit threads usually pop up within seconds.

If the photo belongs to an influencer living in another state, do not bother arguing. Tap the three dots inside Pure's chat or ad menu, hit "Report," select "Fake profile," and move on.

Get verifiable contact info before leaving the app

You cannot run a meaningful public records search without a real first and last name, an active phone number, or a confirmed social handle. Pure does not require users to link any personal details, so you will eventually have to exchange contact info if you plan to meet in person.

When you do move the conversation off-app, run a few quick digital checks on whatever info they give you:

• Check for disposable numbers — Run their 10-digit phone number through a free lookup like NumLookup or Truecaller. This shows whether the number belongs to an actual wireless carrier (like Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile) or a disposable virtual VoIP service (like Google Voice, TextNow, or a burner app).

• Use Zelle to confirm their legal name — If they give you a real phone number, you can often confirm their identity without spending a dime. Because Zelle connects directly to verified bank accounts, entering the recipient's phone number on Zelle's send screen will usually display the recipient's legal first name and last initial before you approve a payment. Venmo works too, but remember that users can change their Venmo display name to a nickname or fake handle.

Search free public records and court dockets

Once you have a legal name and a general metro area, you do not need to pay third-party consumer data broker sites for basic safety checks. The most critical public safety records are maintained directly by government agencies and are completely free to search:

• County court clerk records — In the U.S., criminal and civil court records are public information managed at the municipal and county levels. Search "[County Name] court records" or "[County Name] clerk of courts" for the area where your match lives. Most county court websites allow you to search public dockets for free, letting you spot active warrants, felony convictions, or domestic violence restraining orders.

• The National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW.gov) — Run by the U.S. Department of Justice, NSOPW is a free, nationwide registry search tool. You can search by a prospective date's first and last name, city, or zip code to see whether they appear on any state, territorial, or tribal registry.

Avoid the fake "safety verification" link scam

Be on high alert if a match asks you to prove yourself on an outside website.

A common hookup app scam involves a match claiming that their personal safety app, roommate, or house rules require you to register on an external link before meeting up. The link usually leads to an official-looking site asking for your name, phone number, and a $1 credit card authorization to run a quick check.

The site is a credit card phishing scheme. Pure never requires third-party registration to chat or meet, and legitimate safety services do not ask strangers for payment details to verify an identity. If a match sends you an external verification link, tap the three dots in Pure's chat menu, report the account for "Scam or fraud," and block them.

SEE ALSO: How to run a background check on a Tinder match

Pure's safety guidelines also warn against a common scam in which a match asks you to chip in for gas money, an Uber fare, or a taxi to come to you. If someone asks for cash transfers before you meet face-to-face, block them immediately.

Set up Pure's Safety Signal before meeting in person

When it is time to meet up in person, turn on Pure's built-in Safety Signal tool.

Safety Signal lets you share your date details with a trusted contact before heading out. When you turn it on, Pure generates a password-protected link you can text to a friend. Your friend does not need a Pure account — opening the link in any mobile browser shows your last-known location on a map, your match's profile photos, and an active timer.

Beyond using Safety Signal, keep the basics in mind: meet in a busy, public spot for the first drink, and never rely on your date for a ride. A little planning lets you have fun without taking unnecessary chances.

Discreet hookups are great, but a little healthy snooping ahead of time is the best way to make sure your date stays fun, safe, and completely on your terms.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Nintendo Shop Now Amazon Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Amazon Shop Now Walmart Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Walmart Shop Now Target Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Target Shop Now Best Buy Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Best Buy Shop Now GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at GameStop Shop Now

If your current morning ritual involves violently hitting refresh on a dozen retail tabs, you already know the vibe: finding the Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is turning into an Olympic sport.

Between automated bot armies scooping digital drops, surprise order cancellations at Walmart, and inventory vanishing in seconds on Amazon, this custom black-and-gold console feels like a myth. But while digital storefronts look completely barren, stock is actively circulating behind the scenes.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock right now

Before getting into the restock details, bookmark these retailer pages to check for surprise drops:

• Nintendo Store — Out of stock right now, but you can add it to your wishlist to get pinged the second a restock hits.

• Amazon — Dropping tiny batches of consoles randomly throughout the day.

• Walmart — Stock exists but only for third-party listings selling at way over market price, so make sure your in-stock email alerts are turned on.

• Target — Sold out online, but periodic drops have taken place in-store.

• Best Buy — Sold out online, but select stores ran midnight openings on Nov. 5 with walk-in stock.

• GameStop — Online orders are off; you will have to walk into a store to find one.

Why is the console selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is being supercharged by Nintendo’s staggered release calendar. While the custom Zelda 40th Anniversary hardware dropped first on Oct. 29, the flagship game driving demand — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 — arrived on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The remake rebuilds the 1998 classic from the ground up with modernized controls, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. Since the $520 console doesn’t include the game, everyone is rushing to lock down a system before launch day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 $59.99 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon What comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2?

The package includes the special-edition Switch 2 system sporting a custom black-and-gold finish, themed Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a matching dock decorated with the gold Triforce emblem. It retains the platform's signature flexibility, letting you switch between TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes whenever you want.

Inside the themed chassis, you get 256GB of built-in storage (expandable with microSD Express cards), a vivid display in handheld mode, faster load times, and support for up to 4K resolution on compatible TVs when the console sits in the dock.

The magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers add mouse-style tracking in supported games, while the new GameChat hub lets you voice chat and share your screen directly as you play. It also plays your older Switch games and supports standard multiplayer options.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

Landing limited-edition Nintendo hardware takes a little prep work, but these battle-tested habits will give you a real edge over the bots:

• Save your checkout details everywhere — Log in to Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Nintendo Store to save your shipping address and default card. Stopping to type a card number or billing zip code during a live drop is how you lose an order.

• Hands off the refresh button in Best Buy's queue — When an online drop goes live, Best Buy puts shoppers into a randomized waiting line to filter out scrapers. Touching the reload button resets your spot and boots you straight to the back.

• Watch for Walmart+ early-access paywalls — Walmart frequently locks headline console drops behind paid Walmart+ subscriptions for the first 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a membership, keep that tab signed in; if not, wait for the general public window to unlock.

• Dodge third-party sellers — Double-check the seller before buying. Marketplace scalpers frequently list units for jacked-up prices; make sure it says "Sold and shipped by [Retailer]" at the standard price.

• Skip the web wars and head to physical stores — Online checkout bots grab website stock in under 15 seconds. Showing up in person is easily your most reliable path to securing one without paying scalper markups.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked on Black Friday?

Most likely, yes.

Stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy often hold onto popular gaming hardware to use as headline deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week.

With that said, Black Friday restocks are usually the hardest ones to catch. You will be fighting website crashes, gift shoppers, and automated bots all at once. If you can grab a console during the Nov. 5 launch drops at Target or Best Buy, take it. Think of Black Friday as a backup plan, not your main bet.

Console hunting sucks right now, period. But between the surprise micro-drops and Thursday's physical store restocks, you still have real shots at retail price — just be ready to move the second that button turns yellow.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. That's way under TCGplayer's $114 market price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

After weeks of growing excitement and preorder wars, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is out in the wild. And Amazon is celebrating by bringing back its stunning $59.99 deal.

As of Nov. 10, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is on sale for just $59.99 on Amazon. Everything is handled directly by Amazon, but Amazon is still routing orders through its "request invite" system. We can see these are selling fast, so it's clearly a system that's working for many shoppers. Don't be discouraged by the invitation process.

Amazon’s deal is way under TCGplayer’s $114 market price. We rarely see deals this far below market price, so we understand the hype.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box contains 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 $59.99 at Amazon, while supplies last.

TL;DR: Have one spot for all your AI image generation needs with this lifetime subscription to the DrawThis Starter Plan, $58.99 (reg. $299).

Opens in a new window Credit: Aivolut DrawThis Starter Plan: Lifetime Subscription $58.99
$299 Save $240.01   Get Deal

One way AI makes life a lot easier? You can bring creative ideas to life without needing a background in graphic design. DrawThis by Aivolut gives you a one-stop shop for all your image creation needs — making it easy to generate everything from a book cover to a product image.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to the Starter Plan of this image creation studio for just $58.99.

Create ads, product images, and more with this tool

You never know when you’ll need to create an image. You don’t have to dread figuring out how to generate them with DrawThis by Aivolut. This helpful image creation studio can help you tackle everything from an ad to social media graphics to a book cover for your latest masterpiece.

This DrawThis Starter Plan makes your content production a whole lot easier — even saving brand details, products, characters, or preferred styles to make future creations even easier.

Curious how it works? Select from multiple creation modes: Freeform, Ad Creatives, Product Images, Character Scenes, or Book Covers. From there, type in your idea and see it come to life with a visual.

If you’re writing a story, you can reuse up to five saved characters across different scenes. You can also use those same characters for social media content or as a brand mascot. DrawThis can save brand information, logos, and visual references for reuse, too.

The DrawThis Starter Plan lifetime subscription gives you 200 credits per month, which lets you generate up to 100 images, depending on your usage. Your finished images will all be watermark-free, and you retain all commercial use rights.

Lock in this lifetime subscription to the DrawThis Starter Plan for only $58.99 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

On Nov. 13 from 5-7 p.m. local time, participating Lego stores across the U.S. and Canada are hosting a holiday make-and-take event. Attendees can build a miniature Lego Reindeer model and take it home at no cost. It doesn't get any more festive than that.

The set is not available for purchase and is limited to one build per guest on a first-come, first-served basis while inventory lasts.

The event is aimed at builders aged 6 and up, making it a great low-stakes Friday evening pitstop whether you're bringing kids along or just want a quick five-minute breather after a long week of meetings.

SEE ALSO: I found 19 early Black Friday Lego deals including Pokémon, Star Wars, and Lego advent calendars

The only real catch is the two-hour window with limited supply. That's a recipe for long lines and rapid stockouts, so we recommend getting to your local store early.

You should also be aware that free events like these are generally designed to pull foot traffic through the front doors before Black Friday. If you step inside to grab your Lego Reindeer, you will be surrounded by high-ticket holiday temptations. It's up to you to stay strong. There's no need to walk away with a Lego Death Star, right?

TL;DR: Refresh a PC with a new OS and tools with The Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Bundle, on sale now for just $43.98 (reg. $448.99) with code DEAL20 through Nov. 15.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft The Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows + Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Bundle $43.98
$448.99 Save $405.01   Get Deal

Whether you’re working from home, managing a business, or just trying to keep your household afloat, the right software makes everything run a little smoother. And if you’re not looking to spend a fortune to upgrade your tools or your OS, the Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Bundle is here to help.

Right now, you can score the Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Bundle for just $43.98 with code DEAL20 until Nov. 15.

Skip the new laptop and upgrade your PC for $44

Don’t feel like investing in a new laptop before the holidays? The Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Bundle offers a solution — a combo that will upgrade any aging PC.

This bundle kicks off with a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows, a suite of apps that can help you build budgets, craft presentations, manage emails, and much more.

With Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024, your PC is set up with a non-binding key that links to your device, not your Microsoft account. This saves you money and gives you permanent access to Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Access. Just make sure you redeem it within 7 days of purchase.

Aside from new tools, you’ll also have a fresh new operating system to work with: Windows 11 Pro. Enjoy the classic Windows experience you love, with new enterprise-grade tools to help you get things done.

Features like snap layouts make multitasking easier, while enhanced security features give you peace of mind. You’ll also have access to Copilot, built right into your taskbar for easy access. Just make sure to redeem within 30 days.

Score the Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024 for Windows and Windows 11 Pro Lifetime License Bundle for just $43.98 with code DEAL20 through Nov. 15

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Amazon has nailed down its holiday plans. Today, the retail giant announced that it will host an extended Black Friday Week & Cyber Monday sale from Nov. 19 to Nov. 30 — 12 straight days of deals.

This will be the fourth year in a row that Amazon starts its Black Friday sale at least a week early. (The actual holiday falls on Friday, Nov. 27 this year.)

Amazon is hardly the only major retailer that draws out its Black Friday festivities. Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Kohl's are also offering Black Friday deals throughout the month of November — a win for early birds who are worried about popular gifts selling out as the holiday shopping season revs up. Here's what you need to know before you start filling your cart.

When does Amazon's Black Friday sale start?

Amazon's Black Friday Week sale will begin at 3 a.m. ET (12 a.m. PT) on Thursday, Nov. 19, a week before Thanksgiving Day.

What to expect during Amazon's Black Friday sale

Amazon will likely offer some of its most competitive deals of the year during its 2026 Black Friday sale. However, its prices may not be as low as they've been on Black Fridays past. That's because myriad products have seen price increases in 2026 due to factors like higher fuel costs, tariffs, and the ongoing memory shortage, aka "RAMageddon."

The latter is the reason why Amazon raised the prices of its Kindle e-readers, Fire TV Sticks, and most Echo smart speakers in August.

Do you need to be a Prime member to shop Amazon's Black Friday sale?

Amazon's Black Friday sale is not exclusive to members of its Prime program; anyone can shop its holiday deals. This is one of the main things that separates it from other Amazon events like Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 10, 2026 Abracadabra meaning

Magic words.

Onomatopoeia meaning

The description of sound phonetically.

Apothecary meaning

A place to obtain medicine.

Foofaraw meaning

Making a fuss over a small matter.

Oxymoron meaning

A figure of speech that puts contradictory words together.

Protozoology meaning

The study of protozoa.

Haberdasher meaning

A person who sells men's clothing.

Beekeeper meaning

Someone who raises bees, likely to harvest honey and wax.

Scrivener meaning

A clerk who drafts official documents.

Hyperbole meaning

A large exageration.

Brouhaha meaning

A dispute, often physical in nature.

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.

Wainwright meaning

A person who makes and repairs wagons or carts.

Kerfuffle meaning

A dispute of some kind.

Invisibility meaning

Unable to be seen by the human eye.

Metonymy meaning

Referring to something by the name of something associated with it.

Hullabaloo meaning

A dispute or celebration.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you talk a good game.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's 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?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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.

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

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: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 10, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Happenings

• Green: Writing tools

• Blue: Bygone professions

• Purple: Lots of repeated letters

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.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Hubbub

• Green: Literary devices

• Blue: Old-timey occupations

• Purple: Words with five of one vowel

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 #1248 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Hubbub: BROUHAHA, FOOFARAW, HULLABALOO, KERFUFFLE

• Literary devices: HYPERBOLE, METONYMY, ONOMATOPOEIA, OXYMORON

• Old-timey occupations: APOTHECARY, HABERDASHER, SCRIVENER, WAINWRIGHT

• Words with five of one vowel: ABRACADABRA, BEEKEEPER, INVISIBILITY, PROTOZOOLOGY

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you're a chatterbox.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 10, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Influentially online

The words are highly online.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words involve online content.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Content creator.

NYT Strands word list for November 10

• Content creator

• Vlog

• Reaction

• Review

• Skit

• Tutorial

• Demo

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you prefer peace.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 10, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A cessation of hostilities.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

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.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

TRUCE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Wordle.

Booking a vacation sounds like one thing to hand off to an AI assistant, right up until it has to check the calendar, open a dozen tabs, and figure out whether the cheapest flight is still the cheapest once a carry-on is involved. Every one of those steps takes work, and when an AI agent is doing it, the cost can add up.

Meta has a new model built for that part of the job.

On Nov. 9, Meta's Superintelligence Labs introduced Muse Ember, which the company calls its smallest and most cost-efficient AI model yet. It's designed for the steps an agent might repeat dozens of times in a single assignment, like pulling details out of a document, calling another tool, or running a test after changing a line of code.

Muse is the app with the cute little avatar — named Jolly — that Meta has been promoting since September. The AI assistant can work across (some) apps with a user's permission. The app passed 5 million downloads in 22 days, and has already had many updates; last week, Meta started rolling out voice conversations and animated avatars for the assistant in the U.S.

Meta also uses the Muse name for a family of AI models. The company positions Muse Wonder as the model for its toughest problems and Muse Spark as a model for coding and other work that involves using tools. Ember is the cheaper option for repeatable tasks. Meta's pitch is that developers can use Wonder to plan a complicated job and hand off the individual steps to Ember. For now, Meta lists Ember as available through its Muse Code tool and developer API.

SEE ALSO: Meta launches Muse Wonder, catching OpenAI and Anthropic at the frontier What Muse looks like in action

In early testing shared by Meta, cloud storage company Box said it used Ember to check contracts clause by clause against a company’s negotiation rules and assign an overall risk rating. Meta says the model can take in up to a million tokens at once, enough to work through large sets of documents, and can handle images, audio, and video alongside text. That gives developers room to build an agent that can read a scanned contract or pull details from a meeting recording.

The price is what makes Ember interesting. On Artificial Analysis's benchmark, Ember and Anthropic's Claude Haiku 5.5 both rounded to a score of 36 at their highest reasoning settings. Ember cost about 14 cents per benchmark task, compared with 41 cents for Haiku, even though the two have the same standard rates of 10 cents per million input tokens and 50 cents per million output tokens. OpenAI's GPT-6 Luna scored 28 and cost about 15 cents per task at its highest setting.

In Meta's published results, Ember beat Haiku on a terminal coding test, while Haiku did better on a test that judged whether code changes were ready to merge. Meta added that it already has even cheaper models in training.

As the company continues to bet that AI assistants will take on more everyday tasks, developers will need an affordable way to handle all the little steps behind the scenes. A flight search, for example, can mean sorting through dozens of fares, each with its own rules. If Meta wants people to hand off that kind of chore every day, it has to make checking the carry-on policy cheap on its end, too.

If your Linux system breaks after an update, refuses to show the login screen, or throws another error during startup, you don't have to reinstall your entire distro. Linux provides several boot options that can help you recover a broken installation, troubleshoot startup problems, and get back into your system.

I'm usually the first person to look for a free alternative before paying for an app. Why spend money when the Play Store is full of apps that promise to do the same thing without charging a dime? But I've also learned that free doesn't always mean better. Sometimes, I end up dealing with annoying limitations or missing features that make a simple task unnecessarily complicated.

If you're looking for raw utility that takes up the least space in your pocket, you'll want to buy a good multi-tool. And while there are plenty of excellent options these days, Leatherman remains one of the best. The company has over 20 models available this year with a variety of capabilities, and if you're wondering which Leatherman has the most tools, we have you covered.