Technology

My first exposure to Critical Role wasn't a clip from any of their campaigns, but instead, a GIF set of their animated introduction for Campaign 2. Scrolling past it on Tumblr, I immediately became bewitched by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling fighting foes with glowing lollipops and unicorns? What lay in the past of this clearly traumatized, fire-wielding wizard? And how had this disparate crew of goblins and humans and orcs and more banded together?

SEE ALSO: Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of 'The Mighty Nein' on YouTube

With those questions in mind, I set off right down the Critical Role rabbit hole, discovering the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. Yet as much as I enjoyed witnessing these characters' stories play out in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons format, I couldn't help but yearn for an expansion on the animated introduction that had exposed me to them in the first place.

Now, that expansion is here in the form of Critical Role's new animated series The Mighty Nein. And it's as glorious as I had hoped.

What's The Mighty Nein about? Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, following in the footsteps of The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took a few episodes to nail the balance between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein hits the ground running, delivering a darker, more mature story right from the get-go.

That story begins with a heist: A strike team of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire steals the powerful Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence plays out almost wordlessly, punctuated by beats of lethal magic and hand-to-hand combat. It's a gripping reintroduction to the world of Exandria, one that sets the stage for a devastating war between nations. It's also a darkly funny choice for The Mighty Nein's starting point, because while the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers are elite, highly organized forces, our titular heroes are... not.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

By the time The Mighty Nein begins, the actual Mighty Nein crew is far from being assembled. Each of the team's members (and despite what the name suggests, there are only six of them) is scattered to the winds, dealing with their own woes. And trust me, The Mighty Nein does not skimp on the traumatic backstories. Dirt-covered wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien) scrounges for magical components while running from his past. Goblin thief Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) drowns her sorrows at every waking moment. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) faces derisions from her superiors, who dismiss her detective work based on her hotheadedness.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Elsewhere, shipwrecked sailor Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with magical powers he didn't ask for and doesn't know how to use, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) can't get her patron god (and best friend) to answer her call. Rounding out the group is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a circus ringmaster oozing with charisma, yet plagued with worries about his circus going under (and some unsettling memories).

In short, these six have nothing in common. However, the brewing conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unexpected ways and offer them the chance to prove that maybe, just maybe they can make a difference for the better. Based on the skills shown by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the opening, though, they have their work cut out for them.

The Mighty Nein builds a formidable team. Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein takes no shortcuts when it comes to bringing its team together. There are arguments and in-fighting aplenty in the series, each a perfect showcase of the distinct personalities the show is working with. Yet from these arguments emerge strong bonds of camaraderie, made all the sweeter by the conflict it took to get there.

The Mighty Nein manages to preserve all of the wonderful relationships players crafted at the table during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb's protection of one another, Jester and Fjord's playful friendship, Beau and Caleb's growing respect and trust, Mollymauk's ability to bring everyone together... I could go on, as the webs The Mighty Nein weaves between its characters are as rich and varied as the characters themselves.

The complexities of these characters and their relationships come through, not just in dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein's jaw-dropping action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina already set the bar high on how to translate Critical Role's battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein more than meets that bar, even surpassing it when it comes to magic usage.

That's because each magic user in The Mighty Nein has their own unique way of casting. Caleb uses material components to create destructive spells, Jester summons sparkling herds of mini unicorns and candy, Mollymauk wields blood magic that even he seems surprised he has access to, and Fjord sends out watery blasts without quite knowing how. In the case of all four, but especially the latter two, watching them fight means watching them discover enchanting new abilities on the fly. You're seeing heroes grow into themselves in real time — and in spectacular fashion, thanks to dazzling animation from Titmouse.

This sense of discovery turns The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable story of becoming something greater than you ever thought you could be, and of finding belonging you never thought you would. It's the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on the Campaign 2 intro all those years ago, never did I expect it to hit as hard as this.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

My first exposure to Critical Role wasn't a clip from any of their campaigns, but instead, a GIF set of their animated introduction for Campaign 2. Scrolling past it on Tumblr, I immediately became bewitched by the characters. Who was this joyful blue tiefling fighting foes with glowing lollipops and unicorns? What lay in the past of this clearly traumatized, fire-wielding wizard? And how had this disparate crew of goblins and humans and orcs and more banded together?

SEE ALSO: Critical Role fans, you can watch the first episode of 'The Mighty Nein' on YouTube

With those questions in mind, I set off right down the Critical Role rabbit hole, discovering the adventuring party known as the Mighty Nein. Yet as much as I enjoyed witnessing these characters' stories play out in an improvised Dungeons and Dragons format, I couldn't help but yearn for an expansion on the animated introduction that had exposed me to them in the first place.

Now, that expansion is here in the form of Critical Role's new animated series The Mighty Nein. And it's as glorious as I had hoped.

What's The Mighty Nein about? Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, following in the footsteps of The Legend of Vox Machina. While the latter took a few episodes to nail the balance between bawdy humor and high fantasy, The Mighty Nein hits the ground running, delivering a darker, more mature story right from the get-go.

That story begins with a heist: A strike team of formidable wizards from the Dwendalian Empire steals the powerful Luxon Beacon from the Kryn Dynasty. The sequence plays out almost wordlessly, punctuated by beats of lethal magic and hand-to-hand combat. It's a gripping reintroduction to the world of Exandria, one that sets the stage for a devastating war between nations. It's also a darkly funny choice for The Mighty Nein's starting point, because while the Dwendalian wizards and Kryn soldiers are elite, highly organized forces, our titular heroes are... not.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

By the time The Mighty Nein begins, the actual Mighty Nein crew is far from being assembled. Each of the team's members (and despite what the name suggests, there are only six of them) is scattered to the winds, dealing with their own woes. And trust me, The Mighty Nein does not skimp on the traumatic backstories. Dirt-covered wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien) scrounges for magical components while running from his past. Goblin thief Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel) drowns her sorrows at every waking moment. Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray) faces derisions from her superiors, who dismiss her detective work based on her hotheadedness.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Elsewhere, shipwrecked sailor Fjord Stone (voiced by Travis Willingham) awakens with magical powers he didn't ask for and doesn't know how to use, while prankster Jester Lavorre (voiced by Laura Bailey) can't get her patron god (and best friend) to answer her call. Rounding out the group is Mollymauk Tealeaf (voiced by Taliesin Jaffe), a circus ringmaster oozing with charisma, yet plagued with worries about his circus going under (and some unsettling memories).

In short, these six have nothing in common. However, the brewing conflict over the Luxon Beacon will bring these outcasts together in unexpected ways and offer them the chance to prove that maybe, just maybe they can make a difference for the better. Based on the skills shown by both the Dwendalian and Kryn forces in the opening, though, they have their work cut out for them.

The Mighty Nein builds a formidable team. Credit: Prime Video

The Mighty Nein takes no shortcuts when it comes to bringing its team together. There are arguments and in-fighting aplenty in the series, each a perfect showcase of the distinct personalities the show is working with. Yet from these arguments emerge strong bonds of camaraderie, made all the sweeter by the conflict it took to get there.

The Mighty Nein manages to preserve all of the wonderful relationships players crafted at the table during Campaign 2: Nott and Caleb's protection of one another, Jester and Fjord's playful friendship, Beau and Caleb's growing respect and trust, Mollymauk's ability to bring everyone together... I could go on, as the webs The Mighty Nein weaves between its characters are as rich and varied as the characters themselves.

The complexities of these characters and their relationships come through, not just in dialogue but also in The Mighty Nein's jaw-dropping action sequences. The Legend of Vox Machina already set the bar high on how to translate Critical Role's battles into animation, but The Mighty Nein more than meets that bar, even surpassing it when it comes to magic usage.

That's because each magic user in The Mighty Nein has their own unique way of casting. Caleb uses material components to create destructive spells, Jester summons sparkling herds of mini unicorns and candy, Mollymauk wields blood magic that even he seems surprised he has access to, and Fjord sends out watery blasts without quite knowing how. In the case of all four, but especially the latter two, watching them fight means watching them discover enchanting new abilities on the fly. You're seeing heroes grow into themselves in real time — and in spectacular fashion, thanks to dazzling animation from Titmouse.

This sense of discovery turns The Mighty Nein into an unforgettable story of becoming something greater than you ever thought you could be, and of finding belonging you never thought you would. It's the found family trope done to a tee, and honestly, when I dreamed of an animated series based on the Campaign 2 intro all those years ago, never did I expect it to hit as hard as this.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

We, as a society, have discovered that perhaps the world isn't ready for a ChatGPT-powered children's toy. Or, rather, ChatGPT isn't ready to safely interact with kids.

Toymaker FoloToy announced it would pull its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma, which was built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. The news follows reports of serious safety concerns, including the bear talking about sexual subjects, knives, or lighting matches.

"FoloToy has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a comprehensive internal safety audit," FoloToy Marketing Director Hugo Wu told The Register in a statement. "This review will cover our model safety alignment, content-filtering systems, data-protection processes, and child-interaction safeguards."

The news follows a report from a consumer watchdog organization called the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) that revealed serious concerns about the toy. The teddy bear reportedly gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks like bondage, and gave tips for "being a good kisser." It even asked if the user would like to explore said kinks.

We've seen time and again that guardrails for AI tools can fail when it comes to young people. It seems like it's a good idea to no longer sell an AI-powered teddy bear so long as that's the case.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

We, as a society, have discovered that perhaps the world isn't ready for a ChatGPT-powered children's toy. Or, rather, ChatGPT isn't ready to safely interact with kids.

Toymaker FoloToy announced it would pull its AI-powered teddy bear called Kumma, which was built on OpenAI's GPT-4o model. The news follows reports of serious safety concerns, including the bear talking about sexual subjects, knives, or lighting matches.

"FoloToy has decided to temporarily suspend sales of the affected product and begin a comprehensive internal safety audit," FoloToy Marketing Director Hugo Wu told The Register in a statement. "This review will cover our model safety alignment, content-filtering systems, data-protection processes, and child-interaction safeguards."

The news follows a report from a consumer watchdog organization called the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) that revealed serious concerns about the toy. The teddy bear reportedly gave detailed instructions for lighting a match, talked about sexual kinks like bondage, and gave tips for "being a good kisser." It even asked if the user would like to explore said kinks.

We've seen time and again that guardrails for AI tools can fail when it comes to young people. It seems like it's a good idea to no longer sell an AI-powered teddy bear so long as that's the case.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

The Apple Watch has offered sleep tracking since 2020, and since then, it has been updated with new visuals and features. Each update has provided more insight into your sleep patterns and overall performance.

Uh oh, there's a new trend on TikTok, and this one's sad.

The white rabbit TikTok trend is all about your life turning upside down. Think: footage of a ballet dancer followed by them experiencing a horrible accident, or footage of a wedding followed by footage of a divorce, or footage of my cat following a laser pointer across the wall followed by footage of a dead battery.

The videos are usually set to the tune of a clock ticking and some soft piano coming in later. Nearly 180,000 videos have been made using the audio, some with text over the first clip that says, "the day before the rabbit got me," or "48 hours before that stupid rabbit got me," or simply, "that damn white rabbit." Sometimes it's followed by the aftermath; often, it isn't.

It's a reference to the white rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, whose trickery and general vibe turn everything upside down.

Uh oh, there's a new trend on TikTok, and this one's sad.

The white rabbit TikTok trend is all about your life turning upside down. Think: footage of a ballet dancer followed by them experiencing a horrible accident, or footage of a wedding followed by footage of a divorce, or footage of my cat following a laser pointer across the wall followed by footage of a dead battery.

The videos are usually set to the tune of a clock ticking and some soft piano coming in later. Nearly 180,000 videos have been made using the audio, some with text over the first clip that says, "the day before the rabbit got me," or "48 hours before that stupid rabbit got me," or simply, "that damn white rabbit." Sometimes it's followed by the aftermath; often, it isn't.

It's a reference to the white rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, whose trickery and general vibe turn everything upside down.

Even though we're over a decade into the USB Type-C era, there are still many desktops, laptops, and other electronics without the port. Thankfully, SanDisk has a new portable SSD with both Type-A and Type-C ports, making it easy to move files across all your devices.

Starlink, SpaceX's satellite internet provider, is appearing everywhere in homes, on RVs, boats, and even airplanes. While we've seen some airlines, like United, add Starlink to select planes, this week another major airline announced that it'll be outfitting its entire fleet with super high-speed internet, starting later this month.

If you've noticed high CPU usage on your Windows desktop or laptop, you’ve come to the right place. Unless you’re running a demanding application, high CPU usage usually means something is using more processing power than it should, causing your computer to feel slow or unresponsive.

Firefox just rolled out some upgrades to its Tab Groups feature to make browser organization far more useful. This is the kind of thing you would normally see from Google Chrome, so it's now something you wouldn't miss if you switched to Firefox from Chrome.

SAVE 35%: As of Nov. 17, the Hisense 100-inch Class QD6 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV is on sale for $1,299.99 at Amazon, down from its list price of $1,999.99. That's a 35% discount and $700 in savings.

Hisense 100-inch Class QD6 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $700   Get Deal at Amazon

Remember when a 100-inch TV was something you'd only see in a millionaire's home theater on MTV Cribs? (Definitely dating myself here, but some of you have to remember this, right?) They were hard to come by and basically cost the same as a used Honda Civic. The fact that you can now get a 100-inch QLED TV for under $1,300 is genuinely wild.

As of Nov. 17, the Hisense 100-inch Class QD6 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV is on sale for $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's $700 off its $1,999.99 list price. According to our trusty price tracker, CamelCamelCamel, this is the lowest price it's ever seen. Just last week, it was getting attention for dropping to $1,498, and this new "Limited time deal" beats that by another $200.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

This TV features a QLED panel with Quantum Dot color for over a billion shades, a native 144Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium. For gamers, that means super smooth, lag-free gameplay, which is a high-end feature for this price.

It's also a Fire TV, so the smart interface is built in, and it comes with an Alexa voice remote. It supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, too. The main "catch" here isn't a feature; it's the logistics. This is a 100-inch TV. You're going to need help getting it inside, so definitely check the dimensions (and maybe select Amazon's "Room of Choice Delivery").

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 4 msgs/mo. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

SAVE 35%: As of Nov. 17, the Hisense 100-inch Class QD6 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV is on sale for $1,299.99 at Amazon, down from its list price of $1,999.99. That's a 35% discount and $700 in savings.

Hisense 100-inch Class QD6 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $700   Get Deal at Amazon

Remember when a 100-inch TV was something you'd only see in a millionaire's home theater on MTV Cribs? (Definitely dating myself here, but some of you have to remember this, right?) They were hard to come by and basically cost the same as a used Honda Civic. The fact that you can now get a 100-inch QLED TV for under $1,300 is genuinely wild.

As of Nov. 17, the Hisense 100-inch Class QD6 Series QLED 4K Smart Fire TV is on sale for $1,299.99 at Amazon. That's $700 off its $1,999.99 list price. According to our trusty price tracker, CamelCamelCamel, this is the lowest price it's ever seen. Just last week, it was getting attention for dropping to $1,498, and this new "Limited time deal" beats that by another $200.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

This TV features a QLED panel with Quantum Dot color for over a billion shades, a native 144Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync Premium. For gamers, that means super smooth, lag-free gameplay, which is a high-end feature for this price.

It's also a Fire TV, so the smart interface is built in, and it comes with an Alexa voice remote. It supports both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, too. The main "catch" here isn't a feature; it's the logistics. This is a 100-inch TV. You're going to need help getting it inside, so definitely check the dimensions (and maybe select Amazon's "Room of Choice Delivery").

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 4 msgs/mo. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

Karen Oren, a cofounder of the wedding stationery brand The Ceremony Club, uses ChatGPT for every part of her wedding.

"I get advice from ChatGPT sometimes," said Oren, who's getting married next year. While she has a human wedding planner, she still utilizes the LLM — especially after work hours. "Those late-night conversations at 10 p.m., scrolling through Instagram, getting inspiration, I use ChatGPT with [that] inspiration," she told Mashable. An example is inputting wedding dresses she likes and her budget, and asking ChatGPT to find boutiques near her.

SEE ALSO: Couples are using ChatGPT to fight now

"I make it work hard for me," she joked.

Oren isn't alone. Since ChatGPT launched, people have utilized it in their relationships — to write flirty messages, to win fights, and now to plan their nuptials. Across Reddit and Instagram, couples are sharing how they're using ChatGPT and other AI tools for wedding planning. 

From wedding advice to graphics

"There are so many different blogs and Reddit threads and websites that you can go through for advice, and it's kind of nice to have a streamlined version of what you're looking for with links to different pages to kind of like get exactly what you need," said Alessandra, a bride who got married last month. (She requested to be referred to by her first name only.)

In addition to ChatGPT, Alessandra told Mashable she used Gemini search and the image generator Midjourney while planning her wedding. She used a combination of the latter and Canva to make her cocktail menus. She got specific about how she wanted the specialty drinks to look (three espresso beans on an espresso martini, and a Tajín rim on a margarita) and a hand-drawn style. Since she has a paid Midjourney subscription through her job, she figured she'd use the tools she had as opposed to paying someone on Etsy or trying to make it totally herself.

Rachel, the person behind the hand-drawn stationery Etsy business PipiPrintables, told Mashable that while AI is great for many things, she doesn't believe it can replicate artistic talent. 

"It can try to mimic, but it doesn’t have the same authentic look and feel," she said. Understandably, though, cost is a major factor, and some people are willing to forgo the aesthetics of real hand-drawn art. "I think, like most things, there is a place and market for both."

Illustrator and graphic designer Sasa Khalisa echoed the sentiment. AI can help couples who are tight on budget and time, she said. For couples who pay more attention to their wedding aesthetics, she believes they'd steer away from AI images "as it tends to generate generic or flawed images" — known colloquially as "AI slop." 

[AI] can try to mimic, but it doesn’t have the same authentic look and feel - Etsy business PipiPrintables

Khalisa has seen changes in her business since the onset of AI, including the rise of ready-made templates. She's diversified her business in response by selling digital graphic assets on top of custom-made invitations and portraits to adapt to the changes. 

Physical memories in the AI age

Like basically every other industry out there, AI has also impacted other vendors in the wedding industry.

Wedding photographer and planner Lynea D'Aprix told Mashable she believes competition within the industry will get tougher because of AI, but also believes the results will be "better businesses doing a better job supporting couples."

AI can help reduce busywork and save money, D'Aprix continued, but she noted there are large caveats — including formulaic content.

"AI is helpful, but it is still quite outdated when it comes to wedding information, especially, and it is generic," she said. "If couples opt for using AI, I encourage them to double-check their work with a professional. At the end of the day, AI is just a tool."

She believes couples are equally divided in their feelings about using AI. Some are excited, others are concerned about the impacts. "I've noticed the couples that are open to it are already utilizing it for their jobs," she said, "so it's natural to them to use it for their personal life as well."

Featured Video For You New Controls Let Parents Monitor Teen ChatGPT Use, Actors' Union Blasts AI Actress, Digital Safety for Halloween | Tech Today

That's the case with both Alessandra and Oren. Oren and her sister Leore, the other cofounder of The Ceremony Club, also use ChatGPT in their business. Leore called it their third and fourth employee. "We have a lot of work on our plate all the time, so it just helps get things moving," she told Mashable. "We are a small team, so it does really help us." They said they use it for tasks such as resourcing, development, and photo editing.

The Ceremony Club sells physical memorabilia, such as photo albums and keepsake boxes. And while the sisters use ChatGPT in their business and personal lives, they also acknowledge the pull young adults have away from technology.

"We actually notice that people are kind of sick of their phones and sick of technology," Karen said. "So it's nice to have an option that you're not looking at a screen."

"I think that a big inspiration for [wedding photo albums] was kind of bringing back a nostalgic thing that we all had in our homes, which was our parents' photo albums," Leore said. "So I feel like there are certain things that new technology can't really compete with."

The best early Black Friday deals on big-screen TVs: Best TCL Deal TCL 85-Inch Class Q6 4K UHD HDR QLED TV $848 (save $1,151.99) Get Deal Best Samsung Deal Samsung 85-inch QN90F Neo Mini LED QLED 4K TV $2,299.99 (save $2,200) Get Deal Best Hisense Deal Hisense 100-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $1,299.99 (save $700) Get Deal

Black Friday goes hand in hand with TV deals. Sure, you expect heavy discounts on things like Apple products, robot vacuums, and all those other items you've had on your wishlist for months, but TV deals are usually the stars of the show. And let's be real: When you look at the many price drops over Black Friday, it's the biggest screens with the heaviest discounts that really make their mark.

What can we say? We're a sucker for a massive screen.

SEE ALSO: The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is down to its lowest-ever price — save $25 ahead of Black Friday

So with this in mind, we've gone ahead and checked out all the TV deals on offer right now and picked out the best deals on the biggest screens. Forget those super cheap TVs that you stick in the spare room and never actually use. We're seeking out deals on the absolutely massive TVs that bring the whole family together.

Best early Black Friday TCL TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-Inch Class Q6 4K UHD HDR QLED TV $848 at Walmart
$1,999.99 Save $1,151.99   Get Deal Why we like it

An 85-inch screen is more than enough for most people (and probably too much for some), but this is not just a big screen. It has a 144 Hz Variable Refresh Rate, making the TCL Q6 a strong choice for watching sports, streaming new shows, and of course, gaming. The Dolby Atmos Audio and DTS Virtual:X also provide advanced spatial audio processing for a deeper level of immersion. That's good enough for us, especially at under $900.

Best early Black Friday Samsung TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 85-inch QN90F Neo Mini LED QLED 4K TV $2,299.99 at Best Buy
$4,499.99 Save $2,200   Get Deal Why we like it

This 85-inch beast uses Samsung's most advanced 4K processor for enhanced picture, sound, and "breakthrough TV experiences," whatever that means. Samsung promises that users will get detailed picture and vivid color on a glare free screen for viewing without distraction. To us, that says this massive TV is absolutely perfect for movie night or the big game at the weekend. And with a discount of over $2,000 on list price? You know it makes sense.

Best early Black Friday Hisense TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 100-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $700   Get Deal Why we like it

Hisense regularly delivers some of the best deals around Prime Day and Black Friday, and they've started so strongly this year with a number of record-low prices. The Hisense 100-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV has been steadily falling in price over the last week or so, and now it's at its all-time low price of $1,299.99. So if you were waiting to pounce, your patience has been rewarded. Getting a 100-inch TV of this quality for under $1,300 is honestly amazing.

More early Black Friday deals on big-screen TVs

• Insignia 75-inch F50 Series 4K TV — $379.99 $529.99 (save $220)

• Amazon 75-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $569.99 $839.99 (save $270)

• Samsung 75-inch Q6F QLED 4K TV — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• Hisense 75-inch QD7 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $617.99 $799.99 (save $182)

• TCL 75-inch QM6K Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $698 $999.99 (save $301.99)

• Amazon 75-inch Omni Mini LED QLED 4K Fire TV — $1,289.99 $1,499.99 (save $210)

• Samsung 75-inch QN90F Neo Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,799.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,200)

• LG 77-inch B5 Series OLED 4K TV — $1,499.99 $2,999.99 (save $1,500)

• Samsung 77-inch S90F OLED 4K TV — $1,999.99 $3,499.99 (save $1,500)

• Samsung 85-inch Q6F QLED 4K TV — $1,028.38 $1,297.99 (save $269.61)

• Hisense 85-Inch S7N Canvas QLED 4K TV — $1,947.99 $2,049.99 (save $102)

• Hisense 85-inch U8 Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $1,997.99 $3,499.99 (save $1,502)

• Samsung 85-inch QN90F Neo Mini LED QLED 4K TV — $2,299.99 $4,499.99 (save $2,200)

• TCL 98-inch Q55K Series QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $2,499.99 (save $1,500)

• Hisense 98-inch QD5 QLED 4K TV — $1,399.99 $2,299.99 (save $900)

• Hisense 100-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV — $1,497.99 $1,999.99 (save $502)

Are you tired of giving Google tons of your hard-earned money while also giving them the ability to mine your information and photos? Kicking Google Photos to the curb and picking up a cheap NAS is definitely the right way to go if that describes you.

Are you tired of Linux distros that try to hide all the technicalities and simplify everything? Do you want distributions to let you optimize, configure, and push your system to its limits? Well, here are four distros built for all you power users who enjoy tweaking their machines!

Did you know that your Chromebook has both reading and writing help built-in? Help me read and Help me write are two AI-based functions that come baked into Google’s Chromebook Plus lineup.

You don’t need to be a decorating master to add some sparkle to your house this holiday season. TikTok may be going off about “Ralph Lauren Christmas,” but one thing will never go out of style: stunning Christmas lighting displays. Smart-home brand Govee, best known for its LED lighting products, is holding its annual Black Friday sale from November 20 until December 1, offering up to 42% off its best-selling lights. So, now is the best time to transform your home for the holidays with the brand’s smart lighting systems and customizable indoor and outdoor displays.

Josh O’Connor stands accused of an impossible crime in Rian Johnson's latest Knives Out film, with a new trailer out today.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery sees dapper detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) on his toughest case yet, following The Glass Onion. In a small town in upstate New York, Monsignor Wicks (Josh Brolin) ends up dead, and it's a locked room mystery worthy of fictional case-crackers from Sherlock Holmes to Jonathan Creek.

The prime suspect? Newcomer priest Jud Duplenticy (O'Connor), who swears he didn't do it. Could it be him? Or one of the star-studded cast? Andrew Scott, Kerry Washington, Daryl McCormack, Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Jeremy Renner, and Thomas Haden Church are also on the bill.

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery will open in select cinemas on Nov. 26, then debut on Netflix on Dec. 12.