Technology

3 things I genuinely regret about having a cheap motherboard in my PC

How-To Geek - 1 hour 7 min ago

I recently returned to desktop PC ownership after almost eight years of using only gaming laptops as my Windows systems. Sadly, given the pricing situation, I could not have picked a worse time, but there are still ways of getting what you need at a reasonable price.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Tired of switching between Pi-hole dashboards? This open-source tool merges them

How-To Geek - 1 hour 36 min ago

Running Pi-hole on your network is a great way to block advertisements, trackers, and other unwanted domains across your devices. However, if you want some redundancy in your DNS setup, you might eventually end up running two Pi-hole instances. This gives your devices another DNS server to use if one instance becomes unavailable, but it also means maintaining two separate installations.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jon Stewart reveals where hed be if he hadnt gone into comedy

Mashable - 2 hours 3 min ago

Jon Stewart always enjoys a little audience Q&A session in between filming.

The comedian and late night show host has previously spoken about whether or not he'd ever run for office, and who his worst ever Daily Show guest was, but in the clip above he's asked what he'd be doing if he never worked for The Daily Show at all.

Stewart's response is basically a long, amusing story about getting fired from Woolworth's by his own brother after he damaged multiple aquariums during a rogue beanbag stunt.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Your phone number is now tied to all your Google accounts, and you never agreed to it

How-To Geek - 2 hours 7 min ago

Google is a company that has been in hot water more than a handful of times over the last couple of years for its blasé approach to privacy. It feels like mainstream media is constantly running stories about some new way Google has overstepped. The latest is that the company has been quietly verifying your phone number and automatically linking it to every Google account you're logged in to.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box hits best-ever price at Amazon — save $15

Mashable - 2 hours 25 min ago

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box is already on sale for $239.94 at Amazon, down from its $254.93 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box $239.94 at Amazon
$254.93 Save $14.99   Get Deal at Amazon

The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign expansion has only been out for a few days, but Amazon sellers have wasted little time pushing its 36-pack Booster Display Box down to a record-low price.

As of Nov. 9, the Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box has dropped to $239.94 at Amazon. That's a $14.99 cut from its usual $254.93 price. With that extra 6% off, you're effectively paying $6.67 per pack of the newly released expansion centered around Mega Rayquaza.

That’s an extra $3.05 below the previous record-low $242.99 preorder deal we spotted on Nov. 5, and a full $30.05 cheaper than when Amazon preorders first opened at $269.99 back in October.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Elite Trainer Box is down to market price on release day — shop the best-ever Amazon deal

According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is the lowest price on Amazon so far. The Delta Reign Booster Display Box is now only $30.54 above its $209.94 market price — determined by dedicated trading card marketplace TCGplayer. 

It’s also important to note that this particular offer comes courtesy of third-party seller Rare Goods & Deals, with free shipping and delivery estimated for Nov. 19. If you want yours even faster, you can pay just a cent more for Amazon's main $239.95 listing, sold by TCG & MORE, with delivery currently scheduled for Nov. 17.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Max power station is over $300 off at Amazon — save ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - 2 hours 29 min ago

SAVE $320.01: As of Nov. 9, the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Max is on sale for $878.99 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EF Ecoflow Delta 3 Max $878.99 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $320.01   Get Deal at Amazon

A portable power station is a seriously versatile piece of kit, and most are useful for much more than just camping trips. If you're after something with enough capacity to handle household appliances, the EF EcoFlow Delta 3 Max is a great choice. And right now it's available at Amazon for $320 less, bringing the price down to $878.99.

One of the biggest advantages of the Delta 3 Max is how quickly it can recharge. EcoFlow's X-Stream technology means it can go from empty to 80% in just over an hour, so you won't have to wait around for long before it's ready to use again. It also uses a durable LiFePO4 battery designed for years of use. EcoFlow estimates a lifespan of up to 10 years.

It also offers plenty of power. With up to 3,400W of output in X-Boost mode, it can power a range of everyday household appliances, including refrigerators and microwaves. It's also designed to work as a home backup power source, switching over automatically in under 10 milliseconds.

You can shop the EcoFlow Delta 3 Max deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The My Little Pony Trading Card Game is on sale before Black Friday — buy now for $44.35 at Amazon

Mashable - 2 hours 34 min ago

SAVE $2.64: As of Nov. 9, the My Little Pony Trading Card Game is on sale for $44.35 at Amazon. That's a 6% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kayou My Little Pony Trading Card Game $44.35 at Amazon
$46.99 Save $2.64   Get Deal at Amazon

There are 100 My Little Pony cards to get your hands on in this Discord trading card game collection. The box contains 20 booster packs, each with five cards inside, so there's plenty to open. And even better, it's currently on sale at Amazon. Normally $46.99, this trading card set has dropped in price to $44.35.

This My Little Pony Trading Card Game expansion is the next release following the Fantasy Wonderland series, giving fans even more cards to add to their collection, with the cards featuring designs inspired by the wider My Little Pony universe. You can also trade cards with fellow fans, whether you're looking to complete a collection or simply share some of your favorite designs.

Suitable for ages 10 and up, the set is aimed at both My Little Pony fans and trading card collectors. It's also a two-player game, so you can enjoy the cards with someone else rather than keeping the whole box to yourself.

This offer is available at Amazon now, so don't miss out on this limited-time My Little Pony deal.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Upgrade your morning brew with this Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ deal, now $50 off at Amazon

Mashable - 2 hours 36 min ago

SAVE $30: As of Nov. 9, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon

You don't need lots of equipment and a long, fancy process to enjoy a tasty coffee at home. If you want something that goes from machine to cup in seconds, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is your go-to. It keeps things simple by brewing your coffee at the touch of a button, and better yet, it's currently $50 off on Amazon.

There are several colors to choose from, all at the same low price: white, lilac, spicy red, aqua mint, and more.

The machine makes five cup sizes, including single and double espressos, as well as 5, 8, and 12 ounce coffees. It can also make both hot and iced drinks, so it's well-suited for a household with diverse preferences. Its compact design is another plus, particularly if your kitchen is short on counter space.

And it really is a case of pressing a button to get tasty coffee. The one-touch system heats up in around 30 seconds, so all you need to do is pop in a pod and wait.

You can get this Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your Ethernet cable can be damaged and still appear fine. I slowly mutilated one to prove it

How-To Geek - 2 hours 37 min ago

My server kept throwing network errors, and I literally spent hours blaming everything else and trying to get it to work. I looked at the cable. The link light was on, the connection was up, and nothing about that patch cord looked wrong. We treat a cable as either working or dead, but there's a lot of room in between where things limp along and cost you speed. When I took my storage out, the Ethernet cord popped off. It was broken, and I had no idea.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Targets second KPop Demon Hunters drop turns your PC setup into the ultimate tribute

Mashable - 2 hours 43 min ago

TL;DR: Target’s second KPop Demon Hunters x heyday drop arrived on Nov. 8, bringing mechanical keyboards, wireless headsets, and Switch accessories starting at just $4.99.

Target's first team-up with Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters was an instant hit when it landed on Oct. 11. The initial drop leaned heavily into quirky, everyday desk pieces, like the viral ramen charging kit, soda-can Bluetooth speakers, and tap-on night lights, all for $20 each. But if you wanted real peripherals for your PC or console, Target's heyday brand isn't done yet.

Arriving in stores and online starting Nov. 8, the second wave focuses directly on PC and console setups. Just like the first drop, the whole idea is to turn the show's characters, emblems, and artwork into things you can play with, show off on a shelf, and collect. The big difference is that this lineup is tailor-made for gamers and fans who want a fun desk upgrade without paying crazy prices.

You get a little bit of everything here, from quick little cosmetic add-ons to full-blown setup staples. While the previous drop kept everything at a flat twenty bucks, this round gives you a wider range — starting at $4.99 for small accessories and maxing out at $49.99 for the keyboard and wireless audio.

Credit: heyday / Netflix / Target Credit: heyday / Netflix / Target What's in the second drop?
  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Figural Key Caps ($4.99) — Fun little character caps you can pop onto your favorite keyboard keys.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Joycon Thumb Grips ($7.99) — Cute analog stick caps repping both HuntrX and the rival Saja Boys.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Wrist Rests ($7.99 to $12.99) — Comfy foam rests sporting Derpy Cat and Soda Pop designs.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Desk Mats ($9.99 to $19.99) — Standard long mats in Derpy Cat and HuntrX artwork for $9.99, or an edge-lit LED version for $19.99 that adds a soft glow around your setup.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Switch Case ($17.99) — Travel-ready protective cases available in Demon Markings, Derpy Cat, and HuntrX prints.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Ramen Light ($19.99) — A soft glowing desk light celebrating Rumi, Mira, and Zoey's go-to snack.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Wired Headsets ($22.99) — A simple plug-and-play wired option themed after HuntrX and Soda Pop.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Mouse ($29.99) — Made to pair right alongside the mechanical keyboard for a clean, matching look.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Gaming Mechanical Keyboard ($49.99) — The main star of the desk, finished with custom character artwork and clicky keys.

  • Heyday x KPop Demon Hunters Wireless Headsets ($49.99) — Cord-free gaming audio coming in Derpy Cat and Demon Markings styles.

If the first release was any indication, the most popular character pieces won't sit on shelves for long, so it's smart to grab what you want the day it goes live. Have your cart ready on Nov. 8 to grab your favorite pieces at Target while you still can.

Categories: IT General, Technology

National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day 2026 deals: Score free food from Burger King, KFC, McDonalds, and more

Mashable - 2 hours 47 min ago

National Sandwich Day took place on Nov. 3, but sandwich lovers have another chance to secure free food this month.

National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day (Nov. 9) is here. We know you've had this date circled in your calendars all year. Forget Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is obviously the date that matters.

A number of popular chains are celebrating this special occasion by launching BOGO offers, limited-edition products, and genuinely free deals. We've scanned the market to bring you a selection of standout promotions.

Check out some of our favorites below:

National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day 2026 food dealsBuffalo Wild Wings

B-Dubs Rewards members can pick up a free classic or spicy chicken sandwich when they pair it with any $10 food or drink purchase.

Burger King

Royal Perks members can get a BOGO offer on the elongated Original Chicken Sandwich, or claim a free Royal Crispy Chicken Sandwich with a qualifying digital purchase of $3 to $5.

Hardee’s

My Rewards members can get a BOGO $1 Hand-Breaded Chicken Sandwich deal valid across Original, Nashville Hot, or bacon-packed BLT builds.

Jollibee

Jollibee Rewards members unlock an instant BOGO deal across all signature chicken sandwiches.

KFC

Place an order of $10 or more on the KFC website or official mobile app to get a free Extra Crispy Chicken Sandwich at checkout.

Krystal

Make a $5+ minimum order, and you’ll automatically unlock a free Original or Spicy Chik sandwich.

McDonald’s

Claim a $2 classic or spicy McCrispy sandwich through the McDonald's app.

Popeyes

Rewards members spending $10 or more online or via the app can snag a free full-size chicken sandwich.

Shake Shack

Spend $10 or more on digital orders and enter coupon code SCARYGOOD at checkout to unlock a free chicken sandwich. The offer is active through Nov. 10.

Super Chix

Loyalty members can get a BOGO chicken sandwich reward, available to claim digitally or scan in-store at participating storefronts.

Urban Bird Hot Chicken

Urban Bird is running BOGO chicken sandos all day on Nov. 9, for both dine-in guests and digital carryout orders.

Whataburger

Rewards members ordering digitally through the app on Nov. 9 can score a $2 Signature Whatachick’n or Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

Wingstop

Rewards members can grab a free chicken sandwich in any of the chain’s 12 signature dry rubs or sauces with any qualifying menu purchase through Nov. 9.

Wonder

Wonder is running a BOGO special on Streetbird fried chicken sandwiches across all active regional hubs, accessible directly through the Wonder app.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rosalía drops 1,000-song Spotify playlist to celebrate LUX

Mashable - 2 hours 49 min ago

If you're spinning the same songs on Spotify over and over again, Rosalía has a monster playlist for you.

Marking the one-year anniversary of her wildly popular, critically lauded, Grammy-nominated album LUX, the Spanish artist shared a 1,000-track Spotify playlist for fans in a Substack post over the weekend.

Titled "1.000 TEMAS QUE TE DAN LUX" ("1,000 SONGS THAT GIVE YOU LUX"), the playlist is a fittingly eclectic, global mix of artists including icons Kate Bush and Patti Smith, Spanish singer Camarón de la Isla, famed opera singer Maria Callas, Icelandic queen Björk (who featured on LUX), Bulgarian ensemble Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir, Egyptian reciter Abdul Basit Abdul Samad, Ethiopian composer Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, as well as German experimental electronica, Spanish flamenco, Ukranian folk songs, Czech polka, Austrian and Italian classical, Japanese Buddhist chants, medieval para-liturgical songs, and Black Sabbath. It's deeply LUX-inspired.

SEE ALSO: LE SSERAFIM's Huh Yunjin and creator Emily Fan know that fandom is personal

"It's been a year since I gave Lux a try and I still can't believe it, how daring of me, haha," Rosalía wrote on Substack on Saturday.

"I love acts of service; there's something about preparing something for someone else that fascinates me. That's why I've dedicated myself to making a playlist of 1,000 songs that I listened to during the years I conceived, composed, and shared Lux," she added, sharing the anniversary playlist.

Released Nov. 7, 2025, Rosalía’s chart-topper LUX became the most-streamed album in a single day in Spotify history by a Spanish-speaking female artist — a level of popularity echoed in her extremely sold-out LUX world tour. The album was nominated for Album of the Year at the 27th Latin Grammy Awards, with track "La Perla" nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Pop Song.

You can listen to Rosalía's LUX playlist on Spotify.

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Featured Video For You How TikTok is Changing the Music Industry
Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple might turn Siri AI into an agent next year

Mashable - 2 hours 57 min ago

Apple's intelligent assistant Siri has been an early success for the company, but in recent years it became a pain point as it lagged behind far more capable large language models such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. The company significantly improved Siri this year, rebranding the whole system Siri AI, but it's still not quite there yet.

This might change next year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's new CEO John Ternus is "pressing" Apple's software chief Craig Federighi to turn Siri into an AI agent that can take actions autonomously and perform a variety of tasks for users.

Bloomberg's report goes into the intricacies of the relationship between Ternus and Federighi, with the latter described as being an AI skeptic, while Ternus pushes for a more progressive approach to AI.

Bottom line for users is that Siri AI, while far more capable than last year's Siri, still isn't the type of assistant that you can just throw a bunch of (complex) tasks at and get back results. But next year's version should get a couple of advanced capabilities that will make it a powerful rival to other AI agents. The most important among these is the ability to tap into apps (both Apple's and third-party apps) and perform actions within them. Examples include asking Siri to book a table or order food, with the assistant autonomously performing the task through a service such as OpenTable or Uber Eats.

Siri should also get more precise control over Apple's own apps; for example, it could go into the Photos app, edit a photo, and then share it with someone, all on its own.

The part in which Siri gets more capable of performing tasks in Apple's apps might come "as early as December," with the public version of iOS 27.3 (the company recently launched the first iOS 27.3 beta). More advanced Siri capabilities inside third-party iOS apps won't arrive until spring 2027, and is likely to be launched with either iOS 27.5 or iOS 27.6, with a possible launch ahead of Apple's WWDC conference in June.

SEE ALSO: Apple unveils colorful new HomePod mini 2 with no Siri AI at launch

All of this still isn't enough to make Siri as capable as an agent like ChatGPT's Dots or Meta's Muse, which you can give a task (such as creating a website) and have them work on various tasks as they build and improve the project. Gurman believes Apple intends to launch such capabilities for Siri as early as next year. One example of that has already been announced during WWDC 2026: Siri's ability to find weak passwords tied to a user's Apple account and changing them autonomously on the appropriate websites and in the user's Passwords app.

Ultimately, Gurman argues, Apple can allow itself to be a bit more cautious about this as it controls the hardware and software of the devices itself, but rivals could start developing hardware of their own, which could take away Apple's most important market advantage.

Categories: IT General, Technology

SNLs parody Republican post-election ad is filled with brutal honesty

Mashable - 2 hours 59 min ago

We know what kind of ads Republicans were running in the run-up to the midterm elections, but what kind of ads might they have run after they were over?

SNL imagines exactly that in the clip above, with host Druski and cast members Andrew Dismukes, Ashley Padilla, Jeremy Culhane all playing brutally honest politicians.

"Keep in mind, a lot of stuff was said on both sides," says Dismukes at one point. "He said I was out of touch with everyday Americans; I said his children weren't biologically his."

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon TCG 30th Anniversary Ultra-Premium Collections are live: Shop for under market price

Mashable - 3 hours 24 min ago

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) and Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) are available to buy now at Walmart.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) $394.95 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) $399.95 at Walmart
  Shop Now at Walmart

Last week was pretty huge for Pokémon TCG collectors. The Day and Night Ultra-Premium Collections launched alongside the Delta Reign expansion, leaving shoppers scrambling for the best deals.

Nothing has really changed this week. We're all still desperately seeking deals for anywhere close to market price.

Amazon's stock for the Ultra-Premium Collections has been coming and going, and mostly at above-market prices. Right now, Walmart is the best place to pick up the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) and Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon).

Both boxes are available to shop at Walmart for close to market price or under. TCGplayer's market price for the Day Box is currently $384.19, compared to Walmart's $394.95. The market price for the Night Box is $429.47, compared with Walmart's $399.95. You're getting the best value by shopping for the Umbreon edition.

With Amazon struggling for stock, we expect these boxes to sell quickly.

The Ultra-Premium Collection comes with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, one Classic Collection booster pack, custom metal coins, deck boxes, card sleeves, and damage-counter dice. The Day collection includes the exclusive Espeon ex promo card with a Daytime Pikachu ex promo card and an Espeon playmat. The Night box features the exclusive Umbreon ex promo card with a Futuristic-rarity Pikachu ex promo card and an Umbreon playmat.

Shop the Day and Night Ultra-Premium Collections at Walmart.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Most of Gen Z isnt turning to porn, Feeld report finds

Mashable - 3 hours 37 min ago

More than a third of men say romance novels, erotic fiction, or fan fiction have shaped what turns them on. Most of Gen Z isn't turning to porn when dating gets hard. And eight in 10 adults say the buildup is a huge part of what makes sex exciting. (So much for instant gratification.)

That's according to the new State of Dating report from Feeld, the dating app “for the curious” (including those interested in ethical non-monogamy, kink, and unconventional relationships), and honestly? I'm not the least bit surprised.

SEE ALSO: AI agents are banned on Tinder and Hinge, CEO says

The report, titled Holding Out For a Slow Burn, was developed in collaboration with Dr. Justin Lehmiller, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute, and Feeld's senior product data analyst, Sy Dusk.

Here’s what the report, with insights from 3,310 adults in the U.S. and UK, revealed about Gen Z’s dating habits and modern dating in general.

Dating is obviously ‘missing something’  

Across the survey, 80 percent of respondents said it was difficult to meet their sexual and romantic needs through IRL connections, and 73 percent agreed that “modern dating often feels like it’s missing something.” What’s missing? For 58 percent, it was authenticity and clear intentions.

Dating has been “optimized,” maybe too much. We have so many apps and algorithms, but is anyone really taking the time to put themselves out there and meet organically? Or are we retreating to our “romantasy” novels and TV shows just to feel something again?

“Dating apps can certainly make it harder for slow-burn attraction to develop because they encourage us to make snap judgments based on limited information,” Dr. Lehmiller tells Mashable. “And since there’s always another potential match just around the corner, it can be tempting to just keep swiping in search of an immediate spark instead of giving attraction time to grow.”

About those ‘goon caves’ 

The survey also found that nearly 60 percent of Gen Z men and more than 70 percent of Gen Z women do not turn to porn when real-world intimacy feels difficult. And in a separate 2026 Kinsey survey conducted in collaboration with Playboy and Julie Care, 34 percent of young men and 53 percent of young women said porn is something they “never watch.” Guess those “goon caves” aren’t as popular as the internet wants us to think.

Texting, sexting, and the occasional bot

Digital intimacy is taking over the world one sad little phone screen at a time. According to the latest survey, 81 percent of respondents said getting close to someone through a screen plays a role in their intimate lives. That’s not all AI — texting, sexting, and video calls count, too. But for one in six, digital intimacy is their main way of exploring intimacy, and about one in 10 turn to AI companions when connecting in real life gets difficult.

Some respondents said they believed digital intimacy could help their real-world relationships (29 percent), and 30 percent said it offers a way to explore their desires and vulnerabilities.

Yearning, sexual tension, and the slow burn 

So, about that slow burn. The survey found that eight in 10 adults agreed that anticipation and buildup are "crucial to erotic excitement."

There are several reasons we might need more time to get there, including financial stress, the lingering effects of living through a pandemic, political turmoil, and general uncertainty — it’s enough for anyone to say, I’m not in the mood.

It’s called chemistry for a reason 

The idea of love at first sight is, well, lovely. But attraction doesn’t always happen right away. Only 13 percent of people surveyed said attraction develops instantly, while 86 percent agreed that “attraction typically becomes stronger when two people create a shared story together through conversations, experiences, and future plans.”

Research cited in the report suggests that getting to know someone can give that spark a chance to grow. For example, when someone turns out to be “funnier than you expected,” that can be a turn-on for your brain — it can trigger what’s called a positive prediction error. Basically, you’re experiencing something even better than your brain expected, which leaves you wanting more.

Mistakes, or the little things that make us human, can also give us brain boners. But you usually have to like the person already for it to work. Seeing them spill their coffee or make an embarrassing admission can make them more endearing, not less. You get to see a little of who they are, unfiltered. And in a world where “looksmaxxing” is a thing, we could stand to be a little less polished.

“Our desire for a slow burn isn’t inherently incompatible with dating apps. But we need to be more intentional in how we use them,” says Dr. Lehmiller. “Instead of fast swiping in search of instant chemistry, we need to give people opportunities to surprise us and reveal new sides of themselves. That’s where the unexpected rewards lie, and where attraction has an opportunity to go beyond the surface.”

Getting our fix somewhere else

And so, we’ve been getting our fix through books, streaming series (Bridgerton, Heated Rivalry, and Off Campus, just to name a few), and even audiobooks and audio erotica like Dipsea and Quinn. Which I’m totally here for.

Media has become so entwined in our intimate lives that one survey respondent described his most intimate moment as “Watching TV and crying in my partner’s arm because the episode struck chords I was feeling because of a recent familial loss.”

Men want romance, too 

Men are turning to romance media that “taps into fantasies of being desired, understood, and truly seen,” which usually (not always) isn’t shown in porn. In some surveys, men reported fantasizing about “passion, intimacy, and romance” more than the women did.

Before COVID, a Kinsey Institute survey found that 6 percent of men said romantic or erotic novels had shaped their sexual fantasies. In Feeld’s new survey, 37 percent of men said romance novels, erotic fiction, or fan fiction had shaped their desires. These aren’t identical comparisons, but the romance genre clearly isn’t just for women.

And “romance” doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing to everyone. Men in the survey were more likely to associate romance with physical affection and touch, while women were more likely to associate it with emotional openness and vulnerability.

That said, when asked about their most intimate non-sexual moments, men and women described similar things: cuddling, talking, being vulnerable, and really listening to one another.

So, how do we make the slow burn happen?

We can’t all live in a romantasy novel. But surely we can make time for a little sexual tension…

“It is quite funny to think about translating epic fantasy romance arcs into daily life filled with heading to work, taking out the bins, remembering to floss and reply to friends, and being generally unglamorous,” Ruby Rare, a sex educator and Feeld’s intimacy expert, tells Mashable. “But there are ways of weaving this in, and it all comes down to intentionality.”

Her advice? Tell the person you’re seeing that you want to take your time.

“Once you've connected with someone and felt that shared glimmer of excitement for what might come next, be vocal about your desire for a slow burn as an antidote to the self-gratification that we’ve become so used to,” Rare says.

“This isn't about going full Victorian and making courtship chaste and timid; instead, lean into activities that will deepen connection and intrigue between you. Write love letters, go for long walks where you challenge each other to stay off your phones and be present with each other, make out for as long as possible before things escalate.”

Categories: IT General, Technology

6 AdultFriendFinder features other hookup sites lack

Mashable - 3 hours 37 min ago

AdultFriendFinder has been in the internet hookup game for literally decades. Launching online in 1996 — the distant past of the World Wide Web — AFF soon became the No. 1 adult dating site. In other words, AFF knows what it's doing when it comes to hooking people up. It's been doing it for 30 years, after all. That's why it's the go-to platform for singles, casual flings, and all kinds of kink-based fun.

AFF has also held firm through major changes in the dating game and online culture. It's survived the emergence of dating apps like Tinder, which have otherwise taken over the dating game, while maintaining its original identity. Consequently, AFF still stands out in a very crowded marketplace. The world of online dating is hugely competitive, with all kinds of apps drawing daters' attention in various alternative directions, but AFF hasn't budged an inch.

If you're looking to let your freak flag fly loud and proud — and why not? Just go for it, we say — AFF offers you the best variety of ways to explore fantasies and indulge in kinks. To help get you started, here's a round-up of six great features on AdultFriendFinder — features you won't find on any other dating sites.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More Naked content

The first thing to notice when you register for an AFF account (and you could hardly miss it) is that the site doesn't exactly shy away from nudity. You'll find it in every corner of AFF and all over its interface. Indeed, it's very common for users' profile photos to contain genitalia close-ups or full-frontal nudity — a stark difference to the generic headshots you get on other dating sites. But what better way to signal the face you're using the world's spiciest hookup site?

You can also post videos on your profile, including explicit videos, and there are webcam feeds live at any given time with amateur and professional models in various states of undress and pleasure. 

If you find yourself distracted by all of the nudity or just want to browse the site in public without having NSFW imagery all over your screen, you can turn on the adult content filter by navigating to your profile settings in the top right of the screen, then scrolling down to Content Filter to select either No Nudity, Some Nudity, or Everything (the default setting, naturally). Be warned, the default setting is to have all that nudity front and center. And it's best to avoid checking AFF while you're in public, no matter what filters you have in place. You might otherwise raise a few eyebrows among fellow commuters or passers-by.

Live webcam feeds

We know that webcam sites are rife — there's no shortage of places to find cam-based naughtiness — but it's rare to find an actual dating site that hosts live webcam action. With AFF, you'll get both professional models and regular users on webcam feeds.

All you need to do is go to the Live Action menu at the top of your AFF window and click either Member Webcams or Pro Models. Once you've selected your preference, there are even more specific search filters, including gender (Men, Women, or Trans), Nude or Non-Nude, and even by proximity to your location.

SEE ALSO: The Looksmaxxing Glossary: Every term you need to understand the internet's most unhinged subculture

One thing to note, however: While free members can view webcam feeds, only Gold members and above can actually chat with models. Gold members can also watch multiple webcam feeds simultaneously.

Discussion forums, blogs, and group chats

Unlike traditional dating sites, which focus solely on one-on-one matches, AdultFriendFinder encourages group dynamics, especially in its Community section. Here you'll find personal blog posts by AFF users who share their experiences, tell stories, and post questions. It's like a seriously spicy social media platform. You'll also find group discussion boards organized around literally hundreds of interesting topics. Most of them are obviously sexual in nature. There's a polyamory group, for example, and a "women who like older men" group. This is AdultFriendFinder, after all. But there are discussions around regular everyday interests too, such as politics, tech, travel, movies, and music. 

Best of all, you can participate in these communal discussions without paying for AFF's Gold membership, which helps keep these spaces livelier than they would otherwise be if only paying members could access them. 

Erotic stories

Fun fact: Erotic fiction now accounts for approximately 25 percent of all fiction sold in the United States, so it's hardly surprising that erotic writing ("literotica" for those in the know) would be a major draw. What is surprising, however, is how few online dating sites take advantage of it.

AdultFriendFinder members who wish to read or write sexy stories, real or imagined, can navigate to the Community menu and select Stories, which unlocks a near-unlimited array of stories, novels, fan fiction, and erotic poetry. 

SEE ALSO: The 10 best free dating apps to find your spring fling

If you're feeling adventurous, you can explore the stories at random, but AFF also deploys a clever tagging system that allows you to search by topic, with popular options including First Time, Sci-Fi, TSTV (trans and transvestite), and Voyeur. 

Popular stories score higher ratings and get improved on-site visibility, and popular authors can build a large following on the site. So, whether you're eager to read more erotic fiction or aspire to write some sexy lit of your own, AFF is a great place to do it. 

Contests

One of the more fun aspects of AdultFriendFinder is that it genuinely seeks to build a sense of community by actively encouraging users to spend more time on the site. Especially in the public-facing sections. Their on-site contests are a fantastic example of this in action. 

About once per month, the site hosts a themed photo contest, asking members to submit photos and then allowing the rest of the site to vote on which submissions best reflect or embody the contest caption. 

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

For instance, one photo contest theme was "Velvet Secrets: Valentine's Masquerade," while prior contests included "Naughty & Nice" for the holidays and "Midnight Mischief." Winners get a special badge they can display on their profile, plus tons more profile visibility, so there's a strong incentive to take part.

To enter, scroll to the Community menu and then find Contests at the very bottom of the options list. If there's an active contest and you are logged in to your account, you'll be given the option of participating.

Kink-based profile search

Every online dating site or app has a profile section where you can fill out pertinent personal information, such as your sexual orientation, level of education, and any hobbies, interests, or special skills that might help you stand out from the crowd. What sets AdultFriendFinder apart is that it naturally takes things a step further. It does this by allowing members to list their personal kinks.

If you navigate to your profile name in the top right of your AFF screen and then select Dating Profile and Edit Profile, you'll find your My Kinks section. Popular options here include BDSM, voyeurism, and cross-dressing, but the full list is far more extensive. Nothing is off limits — as long as it's legal, of course. AFF is a place to not only indulge in your kinks and fantasies but also to discover some you never knew you had. There are whole worlds of kinks, fetishes, and fantasies that you can play in and find new pleasures.

SEE ALSO: How to use the internet to figure out what you’re into in bed

If you have a premium account, you can actually search out other members by their chosen kinks, allowing you to find users in your area who like exhibitionism or have a foot fetish, for example. In other words, you can find your kink-minded people.

There's no shortage of online dating and hookup sites, but when it comes to adult dating, AFF separates itself from the competition by offering this wide array of kink and fetish-friendly features. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Zelda Switch 2 restock: Live restock updates at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy (Nov. 9)

Mashable - 3 hours 50 min ago
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 two drops went live in-store on Thursday, Nov. 5, and online on Friday, Nov. 6.

  • 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is live at Amazon: Shop now for under market price

Mashable - 3 hours 56 min ago

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. That's way under TCGplayer's $1116 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 building excitement and preorder wars, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is out in the wild. And Amazon has marked the occasion by bringing back its stunning $59.99 deal.

As of Nov. 6, 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 $116 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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang admits affair with alleged Chinese spy

Mashable - 5 hours 47 min ago

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to cheating on his wife with a suspected Chinese spy. The company's board announced that it is launching an independent investigation into the matter, with Huang's cooperation.

SEE ALSO: Why tech stocks are down today, including Nvidia, SpaceX, AMD, more

"I owe my family and all of you an apology," Huang wrote in an unexpected press release on Sunday. "I was unfaithful to my wife. My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry."

Huang has been married to his wife since 1985. They have two children together.

Allegations of Huang's affair arose in a New York Times report last month. According to the report, U.S. spy agencies determined that a Chinese intelligence asset had been sharing information with the Chinese government. Specifically, the New York Times identified the alleged agent as Alice Huang (no relation), an executive at Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed who had reportedly developed a close relationship with Nvidia's CEO. 

In a statement to the New York Times, a spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington, D.C. said that the U.S. was conducting an operation of "groundless smears and slanders" against China.

Megaspeed gained the U.S. government's attention last year due to suspicion that it was smuggling Nvidia chips to China. If true, this would be in circumvention of U.S. restrictions, which have blocked the export of many Nvidia chips to China due to national security concerns. The Singaporean government also opened an investigation into Megaspeed for potentially violating local laws.

Megaspeed denied these allegations at the time, stating that it had already been investigated and cleared by multiple institutions, including both the U.S. Commerce Department and Nvidia. 

"We operate fully within the bounds of all applicable export control regulations and maintain the highest standards of legal and ethical conduct," read a statement from Megaspeed from last December.

It's unclear whether Ms. Huang is alleged to have been operating independently or as an agent of Megaspeed. Huang previously denied an inappropriate relationship with Ms. Huang in an interview with Bloomberg late last month, and claimed she was no longer with Megaspeed.

"Our relationship, our interactions, have been related to Megaspeed, and it was all completely normal and not unusual," said Huang.

Nvidia's board of directors has stated that it is opening a new investigation prompted by the reports that Huang was targeted by "a foreign intelligence effort." The investigation will be led by independent directors and assisted by outside independent counsel.

"The Board prioritizes U.S. national and economic security, which is paramount to the interests of Nvidia and its shareholders," read the Nvidia board's statement on Sunday. "While the Board has no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, the Board's inquiry will examine all available information."

A Nvidia spokesperson told the New York Times that Huang would continue as CEO during this investigation. For his part, Huang has stated that he supports and will cooperate with the investigation, and pledged to earn back the trust of his wife, family, and colleagues.

"Leading Nvidia is the privilege of my life," Huang wrote, addressing his co-workers. "My responsibility is to serve you and be worthy of your trust. I have fallen short of that responsibility. I am fully committed to Nvidia and will work to earn back your confidence…

"I love our country and our company. I am committed to protecting Nvidia and supporting America’s national security. I am proud and grateful to be an American." 

This news comes just over a week before Nvidia is scheduled to hold its Q3 2027 earnings call on Nov. 17. The chipmaker has significantly benefitted from the AI boom, bringing in $96.2 billion in revenue during Q2 — an 18 percent increase over Q1's $81.6 billion. This is despite the U.S. government's restrictions largely cutting Nvidia off from the significant Chinese AI market, Huang previously stating that the company's advanced chip market share dropped from 95 percent to zero in the region.

Though Huang has called being blocked from the Chinese market a "tremendous loss," he remains a supportive ally of President Donald Trump. The Washington Post reported last month that Nvidia donated $25 million to the construction of the White House's controversial new ballroom, with other tech companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Palantir also making contributions.

Speaking to reporters about Nvidia's investigation on Sunday, Trump called Huang an "honourable guy" who had "done an amazing job for our country," and expressed support for him staying on as the company's CEO. Trump further stated that he would be open to bringing Huang with him on his trip to China for the APEC summit next week.

"I just know he's a fine person, but you never know what's going on," said Trump. "I think he probably has an excuse for it… I haven't heard he's done anything wrong. He dealt with somebody, but you know, so does everybody else."

Nvidia was one of several tech companies whose stock dropped after the recent U.S. midterm elections, as investors feared the Democrats' decisive victory would slow data centre construction.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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