Technology

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A fashion sense.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

STYLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An addictive drug.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

OPIUM

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Attached.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

STUCK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Thick.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DENSE

Final Hurdle hint

Two cents.

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

INPUT

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

Instagram has always been pretty precocious. Now, just ahead of its 15th birthday, we have a new measure of its global fame — and it is on a level far beyond the dreams of regular teenagers.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Wednesday that the once-humble photo-sharing app, which he had the foresight to buy for a mere $1 billion in 2012, now has more than 3 billion active users. That's an extraordinary achievement, and not just because Instagram had barely cracked 30 million monthly active users at sale time.

Three billion is nearly 37 percent of the population of Earth. If it were a country, Instagram would be larger than India (which has the largest Insta audience), China, the U.S. and the E.U. combined. The Roman Empire, the British Empire, the American whatever-this-is — they can only dream of this level of conquest.

No empire, real or virtual (and these days who can tell the difference), has ever been forged this quickly. Even Instagram's older sibling, Facebook, only just hit 3 billion users in January, at the ripe age of 21. Instagram, launched on Oct. 6, 2010, is the true prodigy of the social media family. (WhatsApp is Meta's middle child; the company says it has 3 billion users too, but your mileage may vary on whether it counts as social media.)

Based on these growth numbers, there's every reason to believe Instagram will soon overtake big brother, and become synonymous with social media in the 2020s (and maybe even 2030s) the way Facebook was in the 2010s. (TikTok is on Insta's tail, but currently eating its dust with an estimated 1.6 billion active users.)

SEE ALSO: What to expect when you're expecting 8 billion internet users

Just as Alexander the Great was said to have wept when there was no more of the then-known world to be conquered, Zuckerberg may well lament that there are less than 5 billion smartphone users who could possibly download his app. (It's still banned in China, which Alexander couldn't reach either.)

Who counts as an Instagram 'user'?

But how does Zuckerberg's Meta count Instagram's "active users," anyway? And does it matter as much as the hype suggests?

It's an important question because Zuckerberg has been zigging and zagging on his metrics of late. In July, the company simply said that 3.48 billion people used the Meta "family of apps" — and that they did so every day. The last time Zuckerberg broke out Instagram's user number, on a quarterly call for investors and analysts in 2022, he pinned it at 2 billion monthly active users, which is the more frequently-used number. (MAUs are what we've used for TikTok and WhatsApp above.)

And Monthly Active Users (MAUs) is what Zuck meant this week, according to his Threads post. One that threw in a Breaking Bad GIF — "billions, with a b" — for extra swagger.

SEE ALSO: Who is actually using Threads?

So why switch from monthly to daily and back again? Is counting users as simple as receiving pings from servers when they log in, or is fuzzy math involved? Are we talking across all devices and web browsers, or smartphones only? Mashable reached out to Meta and asked them to walk us through the MAU-counting process, but the company is staying tight-lipped for now.

Still, there is some evidence to suggest that a Monthly Active User ain't what they used to be — and that counting the amount of time spent on the app may be a more relevant metric.

Take me, for an extreme example. Technically, I'm a Monthly Active User of Instagram. I'm part of the three billion-strong empire! But what that means is practice is that once or twice a month, I'll look someone up via their handle. I posted a grand total of two photos in 2024, and 15 in 2023, continuing a decline since 2020. According to Screen Time on my iPhone, my Instagram usage has dropped to an average 18 seconds a day.

Why? My feed has long felt too clogged with ads and algorithmic recommendations for me to truly enjoy it (and I'm far from alone on that front, especially given the controversial feed changes of 2024). The brand new redesign, which hides the post button and prioritizes DMs and Reels, makes Insta feel less friendly (at least to this user) than ever. It's a far cry from the app I loved in the 2010s (when at least one Mashable staffer declared an Instagram addiction, and I wasn't far off myself).

Why time on Instagram may be a better metric

Meta doesn't provide any kind of time-spent-on-app data for Instagram. Estimates from multiple online data services suggest it's around 32 minutes daily per Insta user, worldwide.

That might sound like a lot, but the number hasn't shifted since 2022. Previous to that, time on Instagram was increasing year on year. Now it may have flatlined.

SEE ALSO: President Trump finally inked a $14 billion TikTok deal to keep the app alive

TikTok is ahead of Insta here. The ByteDance app may have a billion-with-a-b fewer users overall, but those users spend an estimated average of 56 minutes every day on the app.

And that particular engagement figure is only going to become more relevant as the smartphone app market becomes saturated — as every single one of us downloads both apps on our phones, basically. The MAUs will encompass more and more of us, because who doesn't look at the occasional Reel or TikTok when their friends send one?

Minutes of usage per day may not be the only metric that matters, but it is a growing part of a complicated social media picture.

For now, perhaps the clearest snapshot of the social media landscape emerges if you multiply number of billion MAUs by daily average usage minutes. Do that math for TikTok, and you get 89. Do it for Instagram, you get 96.

The 'gram still wins, but TikTok is too close for comfort — close enough to take the swag out of Zuckerberg's boast.

The new Xbox gaming handheld is finally available for pre-order here in the United States.

The long-awaited, Asus-produced ROG Xbox Ally consoles (there are two of them) are launching on Oct. 16, and the pre-order date is fast approaching. In fact, it's approaching so fast that it's already here. That's right, Asus just announced that the ROG Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X consoles are available for pre-order starting Thursday at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET). The regular ROG Xbox Ally runs for $599, while the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X runs for $999.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus/Microsoft ROG Xbox Ally X $999 at Best Buy
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Asus/Microsoft ROG Xbox Ally $599 at Best Buy
Pre-order Here SEE ALSO: Nintendo is bringing back the reviled 'Virtual Boy' as a Switch accessory

Here are all of the places where you can pre-order the ROG Xbox Ally:

• Asus

• Amazon

• Best Buy

• Ant Online

• Microsoft

• Walmart

If any of those links aren't working, keep checking back as retailers make pre-orders available.

If you're not buying directly from Asus, the more powerful of the two ROG Xbox Ally handheld gaming consoles is exclusive to Best Buy. There's also a sweepstakes for people who pre-order directly from Asus in the United States. If you buy from Asus, you'll get enrolled into a contest where you could potentially win a bundle that includes any of the following:

• ROG Strix Arion SSD

• ROG Raikiri Controller

• ROG Cetra wireless earbuds

• ROG Bulwark charging/TV dock

• ROG Xbox Ally 2-in-1 premium case

The Xbox Ally promises a Steam Deck-like experience but with built-in integration for your Xbox account, complete with Game Pass support. If you're an Xbox devotee who travels a lot, this may be the machine for you. Good luck with the pre-orders.

Google's Pixel Buds Pro 2 are really good, and they're better every year thanks to Google supporting them with new updates and features every so often. Now, the latest batch of Pixel Buds Pro 2 features is rolling out, and it's looking good.

OnePlus phones remain popular, even if they might not have the same weight they did before. If you happen to have a OnePlus phone, you'll want to know about this vulnerability—and while a fix is on the way, you should continue to be careful while it lands.

SAVE $151: As of Sept. 25, the 2024 Apple iMac (M4 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is down to as low as $1,347.50 at Amazon. That's a 10% or $151.50 discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iMac (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,347.50 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $151.50 Get Deal

If you've been looking for the right time to upgrade your desktop computer, Apple's M4 iMac just went on sale. So long as you're not picky about the color, now's a good time to add it to your cart.

As of Sept. 25, the 2024 Apple iMac with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage is down to $1,347.50 at Amazon if you choose the blue model. That's 10% or $151.50 in savings. The green option is also down to $1,349, while the silver option is sitting at $1,353. Unfortunately, the yellow, orange, pink, and purple models are all still full price.

Launched last October, the M4 iMac didn't make too many major changes to the previous generation Apple desktop. The main differences are the M4 chip (versus its M3 predecessor), of course, as well as new colorways and the inclusion of Apple Intelligence features. Apple said in a press release that the M4 chip is 1.7 times faster for daily productivity and 2.1 times faster for photo editing and gaming compared to the M1 iMac. While it didn't compare it to the previous M3 model, it's safe to say the M4 will trump its predecessor in speed.

Other features include support for up to 24GB of unified memory, 10-core GPU, a 24-inch 4.5K Retina display, 12MP Center Stage camera, four USB-C ports, and the ability to connect up to two 6K external displays.

There's a chance this particular iMac could drop even lower during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event. But if you're not willing to gamble, we suggest jumping on this $150+ savings while it's around.

SAVE $120: As of Sep. 25, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's a discount of 30% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Shark FlexStyle $279.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $120 Get Deal

Love a fresh blowout, but spend too much time at the salon? You can achieve those same results at home. You just need the right tool. And thanks to this Amazon deal, you can get a simple to use, affordable hair styler from Shark that can get you the hair of your dreams day in and day out, all without having to leave.

As of Sep. 25, get the Shark FlexStyle for $279.99, down from its usual price of $399.99. That's $120 off and a discount of 30%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Shark made one of its multi-styler attachments into a standalone, more affordable hair tool

This multi-styling tool comes with a series of attachments so it can work with any hair type. It's compact and lightweight, and can help curl, volumize, smooth, and dry your hair. It can stay at a low heat while drying and regulates temperatures 1,000x per second to keep a consistent temperature over time.

Mashable's Bethany Allard took the FlexStyle for a spin and called it "100 percent worth it" after a thorough review: "Admittedly, I am someone who would much rather put more effort into their makeup than hair, but I found myself wanting to style my hair more often with the FlexStyle," she wrote.

If you want a good and reliable way to whip your hair into shape on the daily with hot tools, this is the way to do it. No matter what style you're looking to achieve, chances are it can help you get there, and then get you out of the door as well, all while saving you some serious cash.

SAVE $300.02: The Grecell T-1000 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $399.97, down from the list price of $699.99. That's a 43% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Grecell Grecell T-1000 portable power station $399.97 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $300.02 Get Deal

Now that we no longer have "average" weather, we've come to expect things to be weird. That means hotter than normal summers and more intense storms. As we head into October, it's time to get ready for fall storms that are likely to knock out power. Before that happens, equip your home with a way to keep phones charged and the lamps on. Thanks to this deal at Amazon, doing so doesn't have to come with a massive price tag.

As of Sept. 25, Grecell T-1000 portable power station is on sale for $399.97 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $699.99. That works out to a savings of $300.02 thanks to the 43% discount.

Instead of staying tethered to your phone charger during the next fall storm, relax that you'll have a way of keeping powered up should the lights go out. The Grecell T-1000 portable power station offers 999Wh of capacity which Grecell says can recharge a phone up to 90 times or a laptop 24 times. Unlike many portable power stations, the Grecell has a built-in wireless charging pad that's great for your phone.

SEE ALSO: The Jackery HomePower 3000 portable power station with two 200W solar panels is $1,400 off at Amazon and it comes with a free Jackery Explorer 550

It's worth mentioning the Grecell uses an older battery technology in the T-1000 with lithium ion cells. The abbreviated version of why this matters is that it won't last as long as a portable power station that utilizes lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries. But given today's sale price on the T-1000, that might not matter in the long run.

Before fall and winter storms take over the weather forecast, get the Grecell T-1000 portable power station for less than $400 at Amazon. It'll be useful for staying charged up during power outages in the coming months and it can come along to the campground come spring and summer.

SAVE $200: The Asus Vivobook S16 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale at Amazon for $999.99, down from the list price of $1,199.99. That's a 17% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Vivobook S16 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $999.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $200 Get Deal

A old(er) laptop can cause a bit of a Stockholm Syndrome effect. It slows down and you become acclimated to its speed, accepting it because the slow down didn't happen suddenly. But if you've been feeling your laptop is not performing well, it might be time for an upgrade. If that's the case, check out this deal.

As of Sept. 25, the Asus Vivobook S16 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) is on sale for $999.99 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $1,199.99. That's a 17% discount that takes $200 off the normal price.

If you're not on team MacBook, you already know Asus makes some great laptops and the Vivobook S16 has some nice features. Today's sale model comes with a respectable 1TB of storage and 16GB of memory which is nice for multi-tasking.

SEE ALSO: The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 gaming laptop is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $500 right now

The 16-inch 3K OLED display is worth noting, reaching a peak brightness of 600 nits. There's also the 120Hz refresh rate and a 0.2 millisecond response time. The Vivobook S16 could also be a great option for anyone who travels often or for students who cart a laptop between home and campus daily. The S16 weighs just 3.3 pounds and measures 0.55-inches thick. There's also the 14-hour battery life to make everything less stressful.

While it's on sale at Amazon for under $1,000, upgrade a slow machine to the Asus Vivobook S16 (AMD Ryzen AI 7 350, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD). It's 2025 and no one deserved to be dealing with a slow laptop.

SAVE UP TO $265: As of Sept. 25, start shopping early October Prime Day deals on iRobot Roomba vacuums. Get the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 robot vacuum and mop for just $399.99 and save $265.01 for 40% off — making it one of the most affordable combo vacuums available.

Early October Prime Day iRobot deals Best iRobot deal iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Robot Vacuum & Mop $399.99 (Save $265.01) Get Deal Best budget deal iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum $149.99 (Save $100) Get Deal Best budget combo vacuum iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum and Mop $249.99 (Save $200) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba Plus 504 Robot Vacuum $379.99 (Save $215) Get Deal

Amazon is hitting us with another Prime Day in October. Its annual Prime Big Deal Days returns October 7 and 8, and is going to be 48 hours full of deals. While we still have a few weeks until all of the deals roll in, some brands are getting a head start on the savings. As of Sept. 25, iRobot has launched four great deals on Roombas to kick off Amazon's fall sale.

iRobot launched the first successful robot vacuum, essentially making its signature Roomba synonymous with robot vacuums. While we may have other robot vacuum brands we prefer over iRobot, there's no denying that Roombas are still fantastic models — especially when they're on sale. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, iRobot has dropped four great deals on its Roombas so you can start shopping early. Save up to $265 on the brand's robot vacuums now, before Amazon's October Prime Day kicks off on October 7.

Best early Prime Day iRobot deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Plus 405 Robot Vacuum & Mop $399.99 at Amazon
$665 Save $265.01 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to robot vacuums, I always turn to Mashable's in-house robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart. When I asked her about these deals, she pointed out that iRobot marked down the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 to $399.99, making it one of the most affordable combo robot vacuum and mop. That saves you $265.01 off its list price of $665 for 40% off.

The Roomba Plus 405 includes both vacuum and mopping abilities, featuring strong suction to really scrub at dirt and grime. It features four cleaning levels that you can adjust from the iRobot app. Plus its dock not only empties the vacuum, but even cleans the mopping pads for a truly hands-free experience.

While we're not sure what other combo vacuum and mop deals are coming during Prime Big Deal Days, we can safely say that the Roomba Plus 405 is one of the best deals you can get ahead of the event.

More early Prime Day iRobot Roomba deals

• iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• iRobot Roomba 104 Robot Vacuum and Mop — $249.99 $449.99 (save $200)

• iRobot Roomba Plus 504 Robot Vacuum — $379.99 $594.99 (save $215)

SAVE $300: As of Sept. 25, get the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next for $799.95, down from its usual price of $1,099.95. That's a discount of 27%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next $799.95 at Amazon
$1,099.95 Save $300 Get Deal

Do you spend more time going out every day to get an espresso from your favorite coffee shop than enjoying it at home? Skip the daily trip and invest in an espresso maker. You'll save time and money and enjoy some of the best you've ever had. You can make things even easier on yourself by grabbing an espresso maker that's on sale right now.

As of Sept. 25, get the De'Longhi Magnifica Evo Next for $799.95, down from its usual price of $1,099.95. That's $300 off and a discount of 27%.

SEE ALSO: The De'Longhi Magnifica Start espresso machine is on sale for a record-low price at Amazon

This programmable coffee maker lets you create delicious espresso, cappuccino, Americano, macchiato, and several other recipes, 13 in total, with the push of a button. It has 13 grind settings for the perfect extraction every time, so you don't have to lift a finger to change anything. The machine truly does all the work.

Its special Lattecrema hot system uses proprietary technology to texture milk and other milk alternatives, with frothed, tasty additions to your drink every single time. You can control everything with an intuitive 2.4-inch color screen and soft touch buttons that guide you through the complete process as well. Have a personal drink recipe? Save it with 3 user profiles.

If you crave espresso and other coffee shop treats on the daily, save time and money and just make them at home yourself with this very capable gadget. You'll be glad you added it to your kitchen arsenal.

RadioShack. Modell's Sporting Goods. Pier 1 Imports. Dress Barn. Linens 'n Things.

What do they all have in common? These once well-known brick-and-mortar retail brands eventually hit hard times and were then acquired by Retail Ecommerce Ventures (REV), run by Tai Lopez and Alex Mehr.

Now, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is accusing Lopez and Mehr of running a $112 million Ponzi scheme, using these brands in order to defraud investors.

“REV’s primary business was identifying distressed companies with name brand recognition, raising funds from investors in order to purchase the brand’s assets, and converting them into successful e-commerce-only businesses,” reads the SEC's lawsuit. Lopez and Mehr first began acquiring struggling retail brand names in 2020. Between 2020 and 2022, Lopez and Mehr "made material misrepresentations" in order to raise money from hundreds of investors.

According to the SEC, REV claimed that its approach was "one of the best strategies you can invest in." The company also told investors that unlike other businesses, its portfolio of brands was "on fire" and "cash flow strong." In addition, REV promised investors that their funds would only be invested in the specified firm.

In reality, according to the SEC, while some of REV's portfolio of brands generated some revenue, none generated any profits.

"Consequently, in order to pay interest, dividends and maturing note payments, Defendants resorted to using a combination of loans from outside lenders, merchant cash advances, money raised from new and existing investors, and transfers from other portfolio companies to cover obligations," the SEC's complaint alleges.

"At least $5.9 million of the returns distributed to investors were, in reality, Ponzi-like payments funded by other investors,” says the SEC.

The SEC also says that Lopez and Mehr used at least $16 million in investment funds for their own personal use.

Mashable previously covered Lopez's acquisition of RadioShack after the company started posting viral "edgy" tweets on the social media platform then known as Twitter. Under Lopez's REV, RadioShack attempted to pivot to a cryptocurrency platform in 2022 while also setting up an ecommerce shop using the brand name.

Lopez should be well-known among YouTubers as the internet marketer who once filled the platform with video ads like "Here in My Garage," which features Lopez showing off his Lamborghini, in order to promote his "get rich quick" schemes. 

The SEC also names REV's Chief Operating Officer, Maya Burkenroad, in its lawsuit. Burkenroad was pitched to investors as an "experienced" manager who had run multi-million dollar companies for 10 years. In reality, she is Lopez's cousin who previously worked as his assistant.

Google is far and away the most dominant search engine on the planet, with an enormous share of the search engine market. Just because Google search is dominant, however, doesn't mean it's necessarily good. In fact, the opposite is true; the quality of Google search has been getting worse and worse, and it's possible to identify the moment when it all went wrong.

Almost a year to the day of its last price hike, Disney has decided to raise the prices once again for Disney+ and Hulu standalone plans, as well as bundles.

First of all, read the room, Disney. It's not the best time for Disney to be asking for more from us after the backlash over the Jimmy Kimmel Live! suspension led users to cancel their Disney+ and Hulu accounts in droves. But the multi-billion dollar media empire can do whatever it wants, so here we are.

This is Disney+'s fourth price hike in as many years, so we can't say we're surprised. It's just the latest streaming service to raise prices this year (Peacock jacked up its costs in July as well). Standalone Disney+ and Hulu plans with ads are rising $2 from $9.99 to $11.99 per month, while Disney+ Premium (no ads) is jumping from $15.99 to $18.99 per month. Bundle plans are also rising by $2 to $3.

Credit: Mashable When do the new prices go into effect?

There is some good news, at least: new pricing doesn't go into effect until Oct. 21. That means you still have time to lock in a deal (more on that below). If you're on a monthly plan, you'll be charged the new prices once your subscription renews after that date. If you're on a yearly plan, you won't be charged the new cost until the year is up. If you wish to cancel, just click on your profile icon, then account, then "manage my account." Click on subscription details and you'll see options to change, pause, or cancel your plan.

How to save on a Disney+ subscription

The best way to lock in the best cost on a Disney+ subscription is to sign up for an annual plan before the Oct. 21 deadline. Unfortunately, Disney+ doesn't offer an annual plan on its ad-supported tier, but it does offer an annual plan for its Premium tier. If you sign up now for a year of Disney+ Premium, it'll only cost you $159.99. That effectively saves you $30 right off the bat, as the price will jump to $189.99 in a few weeks. You’ll have to fork over the cash up front, but future you will thank you. That breaks down to just $13.33 per month, which is a pretty solid cost for ad-free streaming.

Opens in a new window Credit: Disney+ Disney+ Premium annual subscription $159.99/year (save $30 pre-price hike) Get Deal

If you're a Verizon Wireless or Total Wireless customer, you also have the opportunity to get a discounted (or free) subscription to Disney+. Verizon Wireless customers can save $6.99 per month (which will jump to $9.99 per month with the price hike) on the Disney Bundle through Verizon myPlan. Just add the Disney Bundle to your account through myPlan, which includes Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (all with ads). There's no word yet if Verizon will change the cost of the bundle, but as it stands, you'll only pay $10 for all three services.

Total Wireless customers on the $60 per month prepaid unlimited plan can enjoy Disney+ Premium (no ads) for free — no questions asked. That's a $15.99 per month (soon to be $18.99 per month) value tacked onto your phone plan for free. Just keep your account in good standing, and your Disney+ account will remain active.

Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon / Disney Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $10/month through Verizon myPlan Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Total by Verizon Disney+ Premium Free with the Total by Verizon $60 plan Get Deal How to save on a Hulu subscription

Just like Disney+, the best way to lock in the best price on a Hulu subscription is to sign up for the yearly plan before the Oct. 21 deadline. Unlike Disney+, however, Hulu only offers a yearly plan for its cheaper ad-supported tier. The yearly plan will jump to $119.99 come October, but if you sign up soon, you'll only pay $99.99. That breaks down to only $8.33 per month, which is pretty major savings compared to the soon-to-be $11.99 monthly cost. Sure, you have to watch some ads here and there and pay upfront for a year, but the savings is totally worth it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save $20 pre-price hike) Get Deal

If you're a T-Mobile customer on a Go5G Next or Experience Beyond plan, you can get Hulu for free — price hike be damned. Already on one of these plans? Just head over to the T-Mobile promo page and choose "redeem now" to claim the offer. You'll need to enter your T-Mobile number and account details in order to sign up for Hulu.

Opens in a new window Credit: T-Mobile / Hulu Hulu (with ads) free for select T-Mobile customers Get Deal Other ways to save on Hulu and Disney+

There are a few other ways you can save on either a Hulu, Disney+, or bundle subscription. If you're a sports fan, you can sign up for the new ESPN Unlimited bundle for the promotional rate of $29.99 per month. It includes ESPN Unlimited, Disney+ with ads, and Hulu with ads, and locks you into that rate for an entire year. Of course, if you're not a sports fan, this would end up costing you. If you happen to be a Spectrum customer with TV Select, TV Select Signature or TV Select Plus service, you can get the Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited bundle for free.

If you're a student, you can also unlock savings on Hulu and Disney+. You can sign up for Hulu for only $1.99 per month for as long as you remain a student or save 15% on a Disney+ subscription through UNiDays. Either way, you'll have to prove your student status.

The best ways to save on Hulu and Disney+: Best Disney+ deal for most people Disney+ Premium annual subscription $159.99/year (save $30 pre-price hike) Get Deal Best Hulu deal for most people Hulu (with ads) annual subscription $99.99/year (save $20 pre-price hike) Get Deal Best for Verizon customers Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Select (with ads) $10/month through Verizon myPlan (save $9.99/month with price hike) Get Deal Best for Total by Verizon customers Disney+ Premium free for Total by Verizon customers on the $60/month plan Get Deal Best for T-Mobile customers Hulu (with ads) Free for T-Mobile customers on the Experience Beyond and Go5G Next plans Get Deal Best for students Hulu (with ads) $1.99/month (save $10/month with price hike) Get Deal Best for students Disney+ (with ads) save 15% through UNiDays Get Deal Best for sports fans Disney Bundle: Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited (with ads) $29.99/month for one year Get Deal

Spooky season is right around the corner, meaning it's time to go pick up some pumpkins for carving or set up that gigantic 12-foot-tall skeleton on your front lawn. If you're looking for decorations for inside your house, Lego sets are excellent display pieces. Plus, who doesn't love a little project to work on when the weather starts to get a little colder?

Lego has a wide variety of Halloween-themed sets for those of us who love getting in the spooky spirit the second fall weather hits, whether you're an adult or kid. These include a set for The Nightmare Before Christmas, BrickHeadz figures of Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will from Stranger Things, and even a delightful Hocus Pocus build.

SEE ALSO: Lego just revealed a jaw-dropping new Star Wars Death Star — the biggest-ever set launches in October

Below you can see a few of our favorites from Lego's Halloween-themed sets this year, but it's worth checking out the full Lego Halloween range to see everything they have available right now.

Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas Credit: Lego

Is The Nightmare Before Christmas a Halloween or Christmas movie? I like to believe it's a bit of both, as I'd happily watch it during both points in the year, and Lego seems to agree as this set is included in their collection of Halloween Lego sets. Coming to 2,193 pieces and recommended for adults aged 18 and up, this set allows you to build three locations from the film: Spiral Hill, Jack Skellington’s house, and the Halloween Town Hall.

There's a variety of fun little details within it, and it even comes with eight characters to place in the town, including Jack Skellington, of course, Sally, Santa Clause, minifigures of Lock, Shock, and Barrel, a Zero the dog figure, and a figure of The Mayor with two faces. It looks like the set even comes with some Christmas decorations, so you can keep it up as a display going into the holidays, too.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas $199.99 at Lego
Shop Now Halloween Wreath Credit: Lego

If you're looking for a Halloween decoration that can be hung up in your home, this Halloween Wreath looks like a great build to pick up for spooky season. It's recommended for ages 12 and up, making it a great project for younger Lego fans to piece together, and comes with 617 pieces. The wreath itself features a large bat, pumpkins, a ghost, and spider webs, alongside various plants and flowers around the edges, making it an excellent display piece to have up throughout the month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Halloween Wreath $39.99 at Lego
Shop Now Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters' Cottage Credit: Lego

For those who make Hocus Pocus an annual watch every Halloween (same, honestly), this Lego set of the Sanderson Sisters' Cottage is a great display piece to have set up through October. While it's recommended for ages 18 and up, younger fans can piece it together with the help of someone older if it's caught their eye. It comes with 2,316 pieces that create the cottage — which is filled with plenty of fun details on the inside — with a little gate and graveyard.

Of course, it also comes with minifigures of Winifred, Sarah, and Mary Sanderson, Max and Dani Dennison, and Allison Watts alongside a Thackery Binx cat figure to complete the set.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Disney Hocus Pocus: The Sanderson Sisters' Cottage $229.99 at Lego
Shop Now Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck Credit: Lego

For younger Lego fans, this Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck set is a delightful build to work on over the Halloween season. It's recommended for ages eight and up and comes with 177 pieces that create the pickup truck and the giant carved pumpkin that's placed in the back. It even comes with a farmer minifigure to drive it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck $14.99 at Lego
Shop Now Haunted Mansion Credit: Lego

The Haunted Mansion set is recommended for slightly older Lego fans than the Jack-O'-Lantern Pickup Truck — ages nine and up rather than eight — and comes with 736 pieces. It's a three-in-one set that allows you to build either a haunted house, a haunted ship, or a haunted train set that comes with a platform, so you have a variety of options to piece together for the season. It also comes with five minifigures that are perfect for Halloween: a werewolf, a vampire, a ghost with a glow-in-the-dark cape, Frankenstein’s monster, and a skeleton.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Haunted Mansion $89.99 at Lego
Shop Now Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will Figures Credit: Lego

With the final season of Stranger Things set to arrive this year, there's no better time to revisit the show and start a rewatch. Lego has a fun set to build while watching, offering BrickHeadz figures of Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will from season one of the show that are currently available to preorder and set to be released on Oct. 1. It's a set that's recommended for ages 10 and up, and comes with 542 pieces.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will Figures $39.99 at Lego
Shop Now Wednesday Addams Figure Credit: Lego

If The Addams Family and/or Wednesday are on your Halloween season watchlist, this Lego set of Wednesday Addams is well worth checking out. Especially now that it's on sale at the Lego store for 30% off. Coming with 702 pieces, and recommended for those aged 10 and up, this set features a posable Wednesday model whose head, arms, and feet move. She even comes with two different faces and outfits, so you can have her in the Rave’N Dance dress or her uniform from the show.

Alongside a variety of accessories and a Thing figure, this set also comes with a stand for Wednesday to be placed on that has two lockable drawers within it for storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Wednesday Addams Figure $34.99 at Lego
$49.99 Save $15 Shop Now Hogwarts Castle and Grounds Credit: Lego

If you're searching for a nice challenge to work on through the month of October, this Lego set of Hogwarts Castle and its grounds is sure to keep you busy. It comes with 2,660 pieces (and is recommended for adults ages 18 and up) which build Hogwarts Castle, including the Main Tower, Astronomy Tower, Great Hall, courtyards, bridges, greenhouses, Boathouse, and the Black Lake.

This set also comes with cool little details like the Durmstrang Ship, the Beauxbatons Carriage, the Ford Anglia stuck in the branches of the Whomping Willow, a Hogwarts architect minifigure, and a Hogwarts Castle nameplate to fully complete the display.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Hogwarts Castle and Grounds $169.99 at Lego
Shop Now Gremlins: Gizmo Credit: Lego

Gremlins is another one of those movies that can be watched during both Halloween and Christmas, but since this set is releasing on Oct. 1, there's no better time to work on it than during spooky season. The Gremlins: Gizmo set is recommended for ages 18 and up and comes with 1,125 pieces that creates adorable little Gizmo with a set of brick-built 3D glasses. He can be assembled to either be standing up or sitting down and has a posable head, ears, arms, hands, fingers, and feet. He even comes with a little water splash element that can be attached to his back.

This Lego set is currently available to preorder for $109.99 and is set to be released on Oct. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Gremlins: Gizmo $109.99 at Lego
Shop Now

TL;DR: Get a refurbished MacBook Air for $189.97 (reg. $999) — ideal as a second laptop for the kids, travel, or everyday basics.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3-Inch 2017 (Refurbished) $189.97
$999 Save $809.03 Get Deal

Your “extra laptop” doesn’t have to come from a random brand you’ve never heard of. If you want a reliable second computer for your kids, travel, or just keeping up with bills and online shopping, this refurbished Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch (2017) is a smart choice — especially at just $189.97 with free shipping.

It may not be Apple’s newest release, but the 2017 MacBook Air still delivers where it counts. With a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD storage, and 12-hour battery life, it’s more than capable of handling the daily stuff: browsing, streaming, emails, spreadsheets, homework, and beyond.

SEE ALSO: Amazon has knocked the 15-inch 2025 MacBook Air M4 back down to its lowest-ever price

And since it runs macOS, you’re not sacrificing familiarity or ecosystem perks — you’re staying firmly in Apple territory.

Here’s what you’re really getting:

• 13.3-inch display with crisp 1440×900 resolution

• Intel Core i5 (1.8GHz) for smooth multitasking

• 128GB SSD storage for files, apps, and downloads

• Wi-Fi + Bluetooth for easy connectivity

• Intel HD Graphics 6000 for sharp streaming and visuals

• 12-hour battery life to keep you powered all day

This unit comes with a Grade A/B refurb rating, which means it’s in excellent working condition with only light cosmetic signs of use (if any).

Grab this refurbished MacBook Air while it’s on sale for $189.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Pay once, own Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business forever. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote — all for $169.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC: Lifetime License $169.97
$249.99 Save $80.02 Get Deal

When it comes to your productivity, time, and business, outdated tools shouldn’t be slowing you down. Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business is here to make sure you stay sharp — with the latest apps, smart AI features, and seamless collaboration — all for a one-time price of $169.97 (reg. $249.99).

That means no monthly subscription fees, no renewals, no “trial expired” messages. Just a lifetime license to the latest version of Microsoft Office, ready to install on your Mac or PC.

• Word 2024: Create polished reports and documents with new Focus Mode and Smart Compose.

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• OneNote 2024: Organize notes and ideas with a refreshed, unified interface.

Office 2024 isn’t just a facelift. You’ll see faster performance across apps, improved accessibility, and smarter collaboration. AI now helps you write cleaner, analyze data more effectively, and even suggest design ideas for presentations. Plus, with built-in Teams integration, real-time co-authoring, and version history, working together is simpler than ever.

For professionals, small business owners, or anyone who needs reliable tools to stay ahead, this suite delivers both power and peace of mind. It’s also fully optimized for Mac and PC, so whichever device you prefer, your workflow just got an upgrade.

Get a lifetime of Office 2024 Home & Business while it’s still $169.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

On Thursday afternoon, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that facilitates the sale of TikTok to a group of American investors. So, is TikTok officially off the chopping block in the United States? Not quite. Technically, the deal still hasn't been finalized, according to CNN.

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the TikTok deal so far

The executive order declares that the TikTok deal meets the requirements of a 2024 law that banned TikTok from operating in the United States. Moving forward, data for U.S. users would be managed by Oracle, and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that the U.S. algorithm would also be controlled domestically. In addition, Vice President JD Vance said the deal values the U.S. TikTok assets at $14 billion, per Deadline.

In addition to Oracle, the new consortium of owners could include Oracle head Larry Ellison, Dell Technologies CEO Michael Dell, and Fox Corp.

This comes after years of Trump posturing and signing executive orders to hold off the Biden-era ban, which also took years of posturing and debating.

ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, has been on a timeline to either find a new owner or get banned in the U.S. due to security reasons. Trump has signed executive orders to extend the deadline time and time again. Finally, after talks between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, the leaders struck a deal.

Just installed Linux on an old PC and want to know how to you can make the most of it? Or maybe you want to do more in the terminal? I've gathered some free and open source software for Linux that's worth an install this weekend.

AI is slowly becoming integral to many operating systems, including Windows. Copilot and Windows Recall are two of the main AI features available on Windows PCs. But what if you want your Windows computer to be free of these AI features? In that case, you can use Flyoobe to install Windows 11 without any AI components.