Technology

The small American SUV that’s currently outselling its Japanese competitors

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 22:30

America’s smallest SUVs don’t usually steal the spotlight, but one model is quietly dominating the segment, even outperforming some of the most established Japanese nameplates. Its surge in sales isn’t a fluke; it’s the result of smart packaging, strong value, and features that resonate with buyers who want more for less.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your childhood video games are literally rotting away in storage

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 22:00

Retro gaming and collecting retro games is all the rage right now, but there are some among us for whom there's never been a break between "retro" and modern gaming. Their retro collections come from simply never getting rid of old games, but keeping them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Is it possible to build a future-proof media library?

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 21:00

There's always some tension between those who don't care about keeping a personal collection of media and those who want to control and maintain certain titles to access and watch whenever they want, without third-party dependence.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Ireland vs. Australia in 2025 Autumn Internationals online for free

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 20:40

TL;DR: Live stream Ireland vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals for free on RTE Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ireland started the Autumn Internationals with a tough defeat to the All Blacks, but bounced back against Japan last weekend. Now they face off against Australia in an intriguing matchup. Australia will be desperate to secure a result after defeats to England and Italy.

If you want to watch Ireland vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ireland vs. Australia?

Ireland vs. Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 15. This fixture takes place at the Aviva Stadium.

How to watch Ireland vs. Australia for free

Ireland vs. Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on RTE Player.

RTE Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock RTE Player to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ireland vs. Australia for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

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

  4. Visit RTE Player

  5. Watch Ireland vs. Australia for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of Ireland's Autumn Internationals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RTE Player?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Ireland vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

45 Walmart Black Friday deals: We found Legos, AirPods, and Dyson vacuums cheaper at Walmart than anywhere else

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 20:35

As of Nov. 14, Walmart's first Black Friday sale is officially live. While Walmart+ members got a five-hour head start, the sale is now open to everyone. The event only runs through Nov. 16, and on the first day of the sale, we've already seen popular products like Beats Studio Buds completely sell out, so shop accordingly. For this shopping guide, we searched for products that are cheapest at Walmart, including Shark Matrix 2-in-1 robot vacuums, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Samsung QN65 QLED TVs.

Walmart's early Black Friday deals at a glance: Best TV deal Vizio 50-inch Class 4K LED HDR Limited Edition Smart TV (V4K50S-08) $128 (Save $86) Get Deal BEST LEGO DEAL Lego Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Set $74.94 (save $25.05) Get Deal Best laptop deal HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $119 (save $290.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 (2nd Gen) $139 (save $100) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $255.99 (save $43.99) Get Deal Best Stick Vacuum Deal Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner $399.99 (save $330) Get Deal FOR GAME NIGHT Hurry Up Chicken Butt by Exploding Kittens $10 (save $9.99) Get Deal BIGGEST SAVINGS Seray Adjustable Outdoor Basketball Hoop $186.99 (save $213) Get Deal GET ALL THE PERKS 1-Year Walmart+ Membership $49 (Save $49) Get Deal

This is just the first of Walmart's planned holiday events. After this one ends, things will cool off until the second Black Friday sale, which runs from Nov. 25 through Nov. 30. That will be followed by an online-only Cyber Monday sale on Dec. 1. Until then, Walmart is hosting rollbacks galore, as well as a 50% off deal for Walmart+ memberships. You can either choose from the usual 30-day free trial or get a one-year membership for $49. On top of that, you can score major bargains on headphones, laptops and Chromebooks, holiday decor, toys and games, and affordable smart TVs.

SEE ALSO: 100+ of the best early Black Friday gaming deals — epic deals on consoles, games, accessories, and more

We've combed through all the best Walmart Black Friday deals, checked them against other retailers' prices, and gathered them all into one convenient place. Keep checking back as we add more deals.

Best Walmart Black Friday TV deal Vizio 50-inch Class 4K LED HDR Limited Edition Smart TV (V4K50S-08) $128 at Walmart
$214 Save $86   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

Vizio TVs are known for being affordable and surprisingly high-quality (for the price). And right now, you can get a 50-inch Vizio 4K LED HDR "limited edition" Vizio Smart TV at Walmart for just $128. That's an $86 savings off its $214 list price. It's a pretty incredible price for a 50-inch TV that features Dolby Vision Bright+, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. We couldn't find this exact model anywhere else for this price, so if you're looking for a new TV that fits within your budget, this might be your best bet.

50- and 55-inch TV deals 65-inch TV deals70- and 75-inch TV deals Best laptop deal HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) $119 at Walmart
$409.99 Save $290.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

At $119 (down from $409.99), the HP 14-inch HD Chromebook (Intel Processor N200, 4GB RAM, 128GB UFS) is a great starter laptop for students or commuters who need something lightweight, speedy, and capable of handling daily tasks like email and working in multiple tabs. This laptop isn't available on Amazon right now, and it's about $100 more at Best Buy. With more than 2K reviews and a 4.4-star rating, and smart apps like Gemini, Docs, and Gmail built right in, you can't beat this deal.

More Black Friday laptop deals at WalmartBest earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $139 at Walmart
$239 Save $100 $88.99 more at Amazon Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple AirPods Pro 2 have since been eclipsed by the new AirPods Pro 3, but they're still a phenomenal pair of headphones, and this $139.99 sale price is absurdly low for flagship-quality buds. Walmart is actually beating Amazon's lowest-ever sale price on the earbuds by $20. The AirPods Pro 2 have incredible ANC, as well as seamless connectivity for Apple users.

More earbuds and headphones deals Best Walmart vacuum deal 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $255.99 at Walmart
$299.98 Save $43.99   Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

The 3i G10+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo is Mashable's vacuum expert and senior shopping reporter, Leah Stodart's, favorite budget-friendly robovac under $500. It's not a well-known brand (you've probably never heard of it), but it is efficient and effective at getting the job done. It boasts numerous high-end features, including a live-stream pet camera and smart mapping. With its dust-compacting, space-saving design, you won't have to deal with a self-emptying dock. And right now you can get it for $255.99, down from $299.98. Not to be dramatic, but: What a deal!

More Black Friday vacuum deals Best deal on toys and games Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Wicked Welcome to Emerald City Building Set $74.94 at Walmart
$99.99 Save $25.05   Get Deal Why we like it

One of our favorite things about the new Wicked movies? Parents can enjoy them just as much as kids. If you have little ones who are obsessed with Glinda and Elphaba (yes, this Lego set comes with figures of them both), then make their Christmas with this Lego building kit. Bonus: Walmart has the best price on this set as of this writing, so you know you're getting a good Black Friday deal.

More Walmart Black Friday deals on toys and gamesBest Walmart Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) $249 at Walmart
$399 Save $150   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple recently replaced the Series 10 smartwatch with the Series 11, but the only real difference between the two models? The newest version has a longer battery life. Besides that, they're virtually identical, except now the Series 10 is a lot more affordable. You won't find this watch on sale at Amazon, but at Walmart, the remaining sizes and colors are on sale for $249 — that's a savings of $150 on one of the best smartwatches in the world.

More Walmart deals on Apple products:

UPDATE: Nov. 16, 2025, 2:17 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect the fact that the Walmart Early Black Friday sale ends soon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

E-Ink displays are finally having a moment, here's why

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 20:30

When it comes to display technology, the two most important and prolific technologies are LCD and OLED. E-Ink is a completely different approach to creating images on a screen, but no one thinks of it in the same breath as LCD or OLED.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The one setting I always disable on any smartwatch

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 20:00

In theory, an always-on display can help a smartwatch look and feel more like a traditional watch. Personally, I’ve always felt smartwatches look better when that screen turns off. I don’t get the hype. To my eyes, an always-on display is a battery life hit for almost no benefit.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones 31% off this weekend and selling fast

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:47

SAVE $131: As of Nov. 15, Amazon has the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones on sale for 31% off for $298, down from their list price of $429.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth Headphones $298 at Amazon
$429 Save $131   Get Deal

This weekend, Amazon has marked down the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones by 31%. That’s down $131 from their typical list price. These noise-cancelling headphones are beloved by the brand. These headphones have several features that contribute to their top strength. Of course, their eponymous cushioned ear cups are beloved by reviewers. That’s not their only industry-leading feature that fans of the headphones love, though. 

These headphones can hold a charge for approximately 24 hours, and their noise-cancelling capability is impressive. Some reviewers have noted that they must exercise caution when using the highest noise cancellation setting, as it can be too loud and they can’t hear anything. 

The good news is that the headphones have three separate settings: no noise cancellation, some sound blockage, and total noise isolation, allowing you to live in your own world.

The headphones come in six different colors, including blue, plum, white, silver, and black. Reviewers of the headphones also appreciate the sturdy and ergonomic case that comes with the product. Toss your headphones in their case, and you won’t have to worry about them getting crushed in your bag. Having a trusty set of noise-cancelling headphones can be extremely helpful in various settings. If you have been on the fence, the price on these Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones is much lower than their average list price. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

This De’Longhi Combination Coffee Maker Espresso Machine turns your kitchen into your favorite coffee shop (and it’s on sale)

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:45

SAVE $140: This De’Longhi Combination Coffee Maker Espresso Machine is on sale this weekend for 31% off at $269, down from its list price of $399

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi All-in-One Combination Coffee Maker & Espresso Machine $269 at Amazon
$399 Save $130   Get Deal

The De’Longhi all-in-one combination coffee maker, espresso machine, and milk frother does a lot. Maybe the best thing that this machine does is settle the debate between drip coffee and espresso for your household, ad infinitum. If you, your partner, or anyone you share a household with has a "how you like your coffee" gap, this might be the perfect addition to your kitchen. This machine can brew coffee and espresso simultaneously.

For espresso enthusiasts, it features a 15-bar pressure pump for pulling high-quality shots as often as desired. The multi-functions don’t stop there either. Make a latte or enjoy cold foam on top of some iced coffee with a milk frothing steam wand. 

Program your drip coffee or espresso shot up to 24 hours in advance. The coffee pot is also made of glass and features a "spill-proof" pour spot, ensuring that no drop of your precious joe is wasted. Some espresso-loving reviewers have praised this machine as an ideal entry-level machine that does a lot. They also note that the price is attractive for the breadth of its capabilities.

One caveat that is common among more experienced reviewers is that if someone is looking for absolute perfection with their espresso’s taste, this might not be the best fit. However, the price ($269) offers excellent quality espresso compared to espresso machines that typically cost over $1000. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Beware these hidden costs of free streaming services

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:30

Streaming started out as an affordable alternative to cable or other traditional paid broadcast services, but over the years, fragmentation, inflation, and perhaps even a touch of greed has made streaming no less expensive than what it supposedly replaced.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The great YouTube TV-ESPN dispute is finally, mercifully over

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:22

YouTube TV was finally made whole again to start the weekend.

After a financial dispute between Google and Disney that lasted a couple of weeks, Disney properties (including the ESPN family of networks) returned to the streaming cable service, as a deal between the two parties was announced on Friday night. As a YouTube TV subscriber, I got an email directly from the service letting me know, which read, in part:

"We're happy to share that we've reached a deal with Disney to bring their content back to YouTube TV," the email said. "You now have access to Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, and any recordings that were previously in your Library. Your personal preferences and recommendations are just as you left them."

SEE ALSO: Google is training Gemini-powered agents using 'Goat Simulator 3'

The email also clarified that the $20 credit Google offered to YouTube TV customers affected by the lack of Disney channels is still valid for anyone who wants to claim it. In other words, if you're patient and can live without Disney products for a couple of weeks, you've just earned $20 off your next bill with minimal effort on your part. As a big college football fan, though, I and others definitely felt the outage. A large majority of big-time college games air on ESPN networks and ABC.

I'll gladly take the $20. Just don't let this happen again during the next football season.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This absolutely massive 75” TOSHIBA QLED 4K Smart TV is half off this weekend

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:17

SAVE $380: This weekend, Amazon has a 75” TOSHIBA Smart TV on sale for 49% off at $399, down from its list price of $779. 

Opens in a new window Credit: TOSHIBA item TOSHIBA 75" Class M550 Series QLED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV, Voice Remote with Alexa, Stream Live TV Without Cable $399 at Amazon
$779 Save $380   Get Deal

Honesty, fall is the best time to invest in a new TV. Twilight fans celebrate the arrival of “hoa hoa hoa hoa” season, sports fans rejoice in the return of football Sundays, and Gilmore Girls fans delight at the first crispy leaf. If you’re a maximalist when it comes to your viewing pleasure, this 75” smart TV from TOSHIBA might be your next perfect purchase.

The TV is ready to use right out of the box, featuring built-in Fire TV streaming capabilities. The device might be absolutely massive, but it is also super thin. This makes it easy to fit onto an entertainment center or TV stand, although extra work may be required due to its size. 

TOSHIBA’s Full Array dimming technology analyzes your content and increases or decreases the brightness and sharpness to offer you more contrast and a crisper image. It also analyzes your content and optimizes the best possible picture quality with its engine, known as REGZA Engine ZR. Reviewers are quite pleased with the size ratio for its price. Some reviewers note (and praise) the fact that they can see the screen clearly from other rooms. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 15, 2025

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:10

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is easy if you love SEC football.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Fitcheck

  • Green: How to get two points

  • Blue: College QBs

  • Purple: Super things

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Headgear

  • Green: A Score in Basketball

  • Blue: First Names of SEC QBs

  • Purple: Super____

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #418 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Headgear - BALACLAVA, CAP, HAT, VISOR

  • A Score in Basketball - BASKET, BUCKET, FIELD GOAL, MAKE

  • First Names of SEC QBs - ARCH, DIEGO, TRINIDAD, TY

  • Super____ - FLEX, SONICS, SPEEDWAY, STAR

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Bash scripting techniques every Linux user should know

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:00

Have you been thinking about biting the bullet and learning Bash scripting? Or perhaps you're like me, and you're always looking for ways to improve. I have three tips that will improve every Bash script you write.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I fixed all of my Plex remote streaming issues with these 7 simple changes

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 19:00

Are you having troubles streaming movies and TV shows remotely with Plex? There are a few things to check to make sure your media server is set up correctly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The forgotten art of burning discs (and why it still matters)

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 18:15

It might shock you to learn that I have burned over 100 optical discs in the past year, but that's just a fraction of how many discs I burned at the peak of physical media storage.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify lossless is secretly wasting your phone's storage

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 18:00

You’re a Spotify Premium subscriber who’s just toggled on the new lossless playback option to hear your favorite tracks in richer detail. Maybe you notice the difference; maybe you don’t. But one thing you do notice is that since going lossless, your phone’s free storage seems to be shrinking.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I’ve given up on buying the perfect 3D printer

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:30

Buying your first 3D printer is a big decision. You’re about to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a hobby that you’ve yet to fully commit to, and you’ll probably doubt your decision right down to the moment you click “Pay.”

Categories: IT General, Technology

X rolls out its Signal-like encrypted chat feature

Mashable - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:28

The site formerly known as Twitter has killed what were formerly known as Twitter DMs, in favor of something new.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk: Tesla drivers will soon be able to text and drive

Elon Musk's X has finally rolled out Chat, a replacement for the DM tab that has been located at the bottom right of the Twitter app for many years. All your old DMs and group chats are still there, but there have been some changes. It's all end-to-end encrypted now; you can edit and delete messages, and even set them to disappear after a certain amount of time, similar to Signal. X claims this is all for the sake of privacy, of course.

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

All of this came along with a UI makeover as well. While added privacy is, in concept, a very good thing, I should note that many longtime Twitter power users in my life are dismayed by these changes. Finding existing chats in the web browser version of X is now more challenging than it used to be, and changing the names of group chats has also become difficult, if not impossible. The mobile app version of Chat is also noticeably slower than what was there before, in my experience. One of my longtime group chats has already started the process of migrating to Discord.

However, it's now Elon Musk's site, and he can do with it as he pleases. Maybe Bluesky will finally add group chats one of these days.

Categories: IT General, Technology

7 surprising ways to repurpose your old Chromecast

How-To Geek - Sat, 11/15/2025 - 17:16

Got an old Chromecast sitting in a drawer unused? It doesn't matter if you no longer need it for streaming, there are plenty of other ways to make use of it. So connect it to your TV, update the software, and try one of these ideas to repurpose your old Chromecast.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker