Technology

Calling all half-bloods! Disney+ has released the full trailer for Percy Jackson & The Olympians Season 2, and it looks like it's going to be a watery good time.

Based on The Sea of Monsters, the second book in Rick Riordan's beloved series, Season 2 reunites viewers with Percy Jackson (Walker Scobell), son of the Greek god Poseidon (Toby Stephens). After recovering Zeus' (Courtney B. Vance, replacing the late Lance Reddick) Master Bolt and preventing a war among the Olympians in Season 1, Percy is headed back to Camp Half-Blood for the summer.

SEE ALSO: How is 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' different from the books?

However, things are different this year. Percy's satyr bestie Grover (Aryan Simhadri) has gone missing on his search to find Pan. To make matters worse, Kronos' acolyte Luke (Charlie Bushnell) has poisoned the tree that keeps all of camp safe from monsters — the very same tree that Zeus' daughter Thalia (Tamara Smart) transformed into prior to the events of Season 1. Now, Percy must head to the Sea of Monsters, aka the Bermuda Triangle, in order to find the Golden Fleece and save both Grover and Camp Half-Blood.

Accompanying him are Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries), the wise daughter of Athena (Andra Day); Clarisse (Dior Goodjohn), the hotheaded daughter of Ares (Adam Copeland); and Tyson (Daniel Diemer), Percy's newly discovered cyclops half-brother.

The trailer teases massive nautical battles, new monstrous encounters, and even a glimpse at Thalia in action. Still no sign of what book fans are most pumped to see, though: Grover in that wedding dress.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres Dec. 10 on Disney+.

The right-click menu on Windows 11 has received a lot of criticism over the last few years, and for good reason. Some people love it, while others aren't too pleased with its ever-changing look. Lately, the right-click context menu has become somewhat lengthy, bloated, and cluttered, and it appears that Microsoft is ready to clean things up.

Google Messages has been the default messaging app on Samsung phones for more than a year now. While you can still use Samsung Messages on your Galaxy device without issues (at least for now), you ought to switch to Google Messages. Here's why.

Have you ever counted how many USB ports are on your computer? Do you ever think twice about which port you plug your hard drive or mouse into? If you feel like your peripherals aren't performing up to snuff, it might be due to which port you are plugging them into.

Ikea is known for many things: its cafeteria meatballs, assembly instructions that drive you to madness, and now, it's venturing into smart home. While the home goods purveyor is mostly known for its affordable, assemble-it-yourself furniture, is branching out into tech, specifically smart home.

Ikea is launching a collection of 21 new smart home devices centered on lighting, sensors, and controls. All of the devices will be Matter-over-Thread, meaning that they speak the universal smart home language so they can work with your Apple HomePods and Google Homes.

Ikea is known for its affordability, and they're staying true to that as they expand their smart home collection. “Until now, smart home technology hasn’t been easy enough to use for most people — or affordable enough for many to consider. This launch brings us closer to helping everyone feel ready and confident to get started,” says David Granath, Range Manager at Ikea of Sweden. 

The new light bulbs in Ikea's smart home collection can add a colorful touch to your home. Credit: Ikea

This isn't actually Ikea's first foray into smart home. Previously, its tech came in the form of sneaky built in appliances like air purifiers built into side tables or speakers that blend into book shelves. But this is the first line with Matter certified products.

Matter is a system developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, to allow any smart home device to speak to another, regardless of what brand makes the device. This means your Google Home can connect to your new Ikea lightbulbs, and you don't need a new smart home hub to control them.

Ikea's devices will also be Thread connected. Thread is another away of connecting devices, similar to how many devices connect via WiFi.

What's coming to Ikea's Matter-over-Thread collection? Ikea's new smart home devices include light bulbs and remotes that work together. Credit: Ikea

Ikea has broken down its collection into three categories: lighting, sensors and controls. The lighting will include a new line-up of light bulbs as well as sensors that monitor your homes well-being. No release date or pricing has been provided for the products as it will vary between markets. Here are all the new smart home products coming soon.

Lighting

Kajplats smart light bulbs will be available in all shapes and sizes. These are the new options:

• E27/E26 – standard globe shape, 60 mm diameter. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.
  Colour and white spectrum, 1 055 lm – colour-changing  

• P45 E14* – compact profile, 45 mm diameter. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.

• GU10 – directional spotlight. Available in white and colour. Dimmable options available.

• Clear-glass decorative bulbs. Available only in white. Sizes available include E14 and E27 standard and large globe.

Sensors

• Myggspray: Motion sensor for indoor and outdoor use that turns on lighting automatically in areas like entrances, staircases, garages, or anywhere you need hands-free light. 

• Myggbett: Door/Window sensor. Detects when a door or window is opened or closed, and if connected to a smart system you can get notifications on your phone. Also works for spaces like walk-in closets, where it can trigger a light to turn on or off. 

• Timmerflotte: Temperature and Humidity Sensor. Measures the indoor climate at home. Press the button to view temperature, followed by humidity — one after the other. 

• Alpstuga: Air quality sensor. Measures CO₂, particles (PM2.5), temperature, and humidity to show the air quality in your home. Built to work together with IKEA air purifiers for better indoor air. Can also display the time.

• Klippbok: Water leakage sensor. Detects leaks and alerts you with a sound — and can also send a notification to your phone when connected to a hub. Small enough to place under sinks, appliances, or other risk areas. 

Remotes

• Bilresa remote control with dual button: A simple way to control smart products from afar. Use it to switch lights on or off, adjust brightness, change colour, or trigger a preset scene. 

• Bilresa remote control with scroll wheel: Lets you adjust smart products with a simple turn. Use it to switch lights on or off, dim, change colour, or control a group or preset scene. 

• Bilresa Remote Control Kits (2x): Kits of three colorful versions of the remote controls, in green, red and beige. One kit with three scroll wheels, and the other is with remote control with dual buttons. 

• Grillplats smart plug: This smart plug lets you control ordinary lamps or smaller appliances remotely — turning them into smart products. It also tracks energy use and can be paired with a remote or motion sensor.

The long-awaited Samsung mixed reality headset, formerly known by its codename Project Moohan, finally made its debut this year as the Samsung Galaxy XR.

That is, if you live in the U.S. or South Korea. Samsung fans outside of those two countries are still waiting for the Galaxy XR. Fortunately, it doesn't look like they'll be waiting too much longer after the U.S. and South Korea's Oct. 21 Galaxy XR launch date.

According to a new report from SamMobile, Samsung appears to be readying a 2026 launch for the Galaxy XR in Canada, France, Germany, and the UK. In addition, that list has yet to be finalized, with more countries potentially being added to the 2026 launch list soon.

Samsung appears to be in favor of slowly rolling out the Galaxy XR in international markets as opposed to a wider global rollout. 

The Galaxy VR is basically Samsung's answer to the Meta Quest headset and the Apple Vision Pro. Samsung has priced the Galaxy VR at $1,799.99 in the U.S., placing the device squarely in the middle of both of its competitors' prices. Meta has the more affordable device, starting at $299.99. While the Galaxy VR may look expensive when compared to the Meta Quest, it looks like the affordable option when put up against the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro.

It's currently unclear where Samsung will price its headset for the upcoming international markets but it will likely be similarly priced based on Samsung's pricing in the U.S. and South Korea markets.

So, the wait won't be much longer, readers in Canada and the EU. Soon, you'll be able to get hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy XR just like Mashable did for our Galaxy XR review.

 

Spotify is leaning even further into what it does best: turning your listening habits into data you want to see and share.

On Thursday, Nov. 6, the streaming giant announced a new feature called Listening Stats, giving users a weekly snapshot of their top artists, tracks, and musical milestones.

The timing couldn't be better. Wrapped season is right around the corner — that annual internet holiday where everyone collectively decides to humble-brag about their superior playlists. Listening Stats is, in a sense, a smaller-scale version of that, designed to keep the dopamine hit of personalized music insights going year round.

SEE ALSO: Spotify Wrapped 2025: When does it stop tracking your listening?

Rolling out to both Free and Premium users in more than 60 markets, the feature breaks down your past four weeks of listening and builds playlists inspired by your current obsessions. It also drops in little highlights that capture what makes your habits unique — like a new discovery, a fandom milestone, or the realization that, yes, you did play that one NMIXX song 27 times in a row. In the spirit of transparency, here's a look at my top songs from the week of Oct. 27.

Have you listened to "Spaghetti" by Le Sserafim yet? Credit: Crystal Bell

Users can share their stats directly from the app to Instagram, WhatsApp, and beyond.

Spotify has long been a leader in personalizing music experiences through data, from algorithmic playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar to experimental formats like daylist. These features work because they blend tech and taste, turning raw listening history into something emotional and shareable.

SEE ALSO: Why artists are leaving Spotify — and how you can, too How to find your Listening Stats on Spotify Total Time

• 1 min

What You Need

• Spotify App

Step 1: Tap your profile image in the Spotify app to open the menu.

Credit: Crystal Bell

Step 2: Click the "Listening Stats" tab.

Step 3: Explore your top artists, songs, and insights from the past four weeks.

Credit: Crystal Bell

Step 4: Tap "Share" to post your weekly stats or individual highlights on Instagram, WhatsApp, or anywhere else you show off your taste.

As Spotify Wrapped looms on the horizon, this new weekly feature is a reminder that every track, every late-night loop, and every guilty pleasure counts toward the story of your year in music.

CrossOver, the Wine-based compatibility layer for running Windows software on Mac and Linux, just released its first 64-bit ARM version. It allows games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hades II, and Ghost of Tsushima to run on Linux ARM computers without installing additional emulators or translation layers.

Mathematica is well-known for its ability to solve all kinds of math and science problems. It's also notoriously expensive and closed-source. What if there was an open-source program for Linux that let you explore math for free? There is, and it's called SageMath.

Traveling during the holidays is always stressful, and there's a chance it might get even more stressful this year thanks to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.

On Wednesday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced he is ordering a 10 percent cut in flights at 40 U.S. airports, Reuters reported in an exclusive. Why? The U.S. government is on the 36th day of its longest shutdown in history (the previous record was set by the first Trump administration). As a result, there are concerns about air traffic control safety as 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents work without pay, according to Reuters. The timing couldn't be worse for people planning to visit family or friends over the fall and winter holidays.

Republicans blame Democrats for the shutdown. Democrats blame Republicans for the shutdown. Meanwhile, thousands of federal workers are without paychecks.

"We had a gut check of what is our job," Duffy told reporters, according to Reuters. "Our job is to make sure we make the hard decisions to continue to keep the airspace safe."

The FAA added that international flights are excempt from the reduction cuts.

"When we see pressures building in these 40 markets, we just can't ignore it," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said at a press conference, Reuters reported. "We can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating so the system is extremely safe today, will be extremely safe tomorrow."

According to CNBC, the flight cancellations are a "proactive" measure, Duffy said. The reduction goes into effect on Friday, NBC reported.

What to do online if you're flight is canceled

Before you head to the airport, make sure your flight is still on. You can do that by heading to the airports website or your airline's website. If it is cancelled, check with your airline to see if you're owed a refund or other types of compensation, and then figure out your next move. Can you take a train to your destination, or rent a car? Is there another airline you can switch to?

If your travel plans get mixed up this year, you can figure out a lot of the mess from the comfort of your home — as long as you check online before you leave.

FAA flight reductions: Full list of 40 airports reportedly threatened by shutdown

Duffy did not say which 40 airports would be affected, but said that the airports experience "high volume," meaning it's likely an airport you're traveling through. No official list has been released by the FAA, but reports from ABC News and CBS News, citing anonymous sources show that these are likely the affected airports. The FAA did not immediately respond to a request from Mashable.

• Anchorage International

• Baltimore/Washington International

• Boston Logan International

• Charlotte Douglas International

• Chicago Midway

• Chicago O`Hare International

• Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International

• Dallas Love

• Dallas/Fort Worth International

• Denver International

• Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County

• Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International

• George Bush Houston Intercontinental

• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International

• Honolulu International

• Houston Hobby

• Indianapolis International

• Las Vegas Harry Reid International

• Los Angeles International

• Louisville International

• Memphis International

• Miami International

• Minneapolis/St. Paul International

• Newark Liberty International

• New York John F. Kennedy International

• New York LaGuardia

• Oakland International

• Ontario International

• Orlando International

• Philadelphia International

• Phoenix Sky Harbor International

• Portland International

• Ronald Reagan Washington National

• Salt Lake City International

• San Diego International

• San Francisco International

• Seattle/Tacoma International

• Tampa International

• Teterboro

• Washington Dulles International

We're not going to say the Trump administration is threatening to hold Thanksgiving hostage in the shutdown fight. There are legitimate worries about air traffic control staffing. But we're not not saying that.

SAVE $110: As of Nov. 6, get the Bluetti Elite 30 v2 portable power station for $189 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299. That's a discount of 37% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bluetti Elite 30 v2 portable power station $189 at Amazon
$299 Save $110   Get Deal

A portable power station is always something that's super handy to have in your corner. Whether you want to take it with you on a camping trip or keep it in your car or home for emergencies, it could be the difference between a very bad time and being prepared for any situation. And right now, there's a great one you can get for the cheapest price we've ever seen.

As of Nov. 6, get the Bluetti Elite 30 v2 portable power station for $189 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $299. That's $110 off and a discount of 37%. It'a also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Save over $300 on the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station at Amazon

The Bluetti Elite 30 V2 is made to help keep your smaller gadgets, like your phone, tablet, or laptop, going when they're on their last legs. It has 228Wh of capacity, which means it can top up your things lickety split. It's got plenty of electricity to go around for quite some time, so you won't be without a way to stay in touch with friends and family.

It's also super portable and lightweight, so you can take it anywhere. It has a built-in handle to facilitate that, and it weighs just under 10 pounds, which means you can tote it around wherever you go. Plus, it has a slew of port options to choose form, including two AC outlets, two USB-C ports, and two USB-A ports for good measure.

Don't get caught unaware without emergency power. Grab one of these power stations and be ready for the next time the power goes out.

The Linux Mint team showed off in its October blog post progress on the System Reports tool, which is being overhauled and renamed "System Information." The redesign is meant to assist with troubleshooting issues, which is easily one of the biggest pain points in switching to Linux.

I've certainly seen my share of malware over the years, and while the methods evolve, our thinking must evolve too. It’s easy to believe the threats are all "advanced," but for everyday Windows users, the majority of compromises still come down to the same few glitches that are recognizable to most. A click we shouldn’t have made, a "free" download we didn’t check well enough, or a system update we kept postponing. If you think you’re safe because you’re not part of some headline-grabbing breach, you might want to take another look.

SAVE $56.76: As of Nov. 6, get a Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box for $107.94 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $164.70. That's a discount of 34% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box $107.94 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $56.76   Get Deal

Looking to grow your Magic: The Gathering collection without breaking the bank? Amazon typically has a wide selection of cards on sale that you can splurge on without having to spend so much you dive into your savings cache. Case in point: a booster box that's on sale for its lowest price ever right now.

On Nov. 6, get the Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box for $107.94 at Amazon. It's a nice discount — the usual price is $164.70. That's 34% off and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender sealed product and single cards

This booster box contains 30 Tarkir: Dragonstorm packs, each with 14 cards and 1 Token or Art card within. You get 1-4 cards in each pack that are Rare rarity or higher, and you could even get a Special Guest Mythic Rare with borderless art with each pack you pull.

Additionally, each booster comes with at least one Traditional Foil card of any rarity. To sweeten the deal, 20% of the packs in hese boxes come with an additional shiny card in the form of a Traditional Foil land. If you're really lucky, you might also find Art cards with pieces of artwork from Tarkir: Dragonstorm with a foil artist signature.

You can use these cards to add more to your collection or build your own decks to play with others. And getting a box for this price is much, much sweeter than spending an arm and a leg, so be sure you snag yours now while it's still in stock.

Tinder is testing a new AI matching feature called Chemistry, its parent company, Match Group, told investors on Tuesday during its third quarter earnings call.

The dating app's interactive feature is "a major part of Tinder's upcoming 2026 product experience," a Tinder spokesperson told Mashable. Chemistry will get to know users through conversational prompts and (with permission) their camera roll to learn about their interests and personality. It's currently live in Australia and New Zealand, and Tinder plans to roll it out in more countries in the coming months.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps for 2025: I swiped until my thumb hurt

The announcement comes soon after Tinder started requiring facial scans for new U.S. users last month. It also launched several other features this year, like Modes, which lets users arrange double dates or indicate if they're a college student.

This also isn't Tinder's first foray into AI features. The app launched an AI photo selector tool last year, which also assesses a user's camera roll, this time for the purpose of picking the best photos. Tinder also uses AI for trust and safety tools, like scans for potentially harmful messages.

Featured Video For You 3 simple tips to optimise your ChatGPT search

"Chemistry aims to reduce dating app fatigue by surfacing a few highly relevant profiles each day — driving more compatible matches and more engaging conversations," Tinder's spokesperson said over email.

Dating app fatigue is a phenomenon that Tinder and other apps have had to contend with over the last few years, as trust in dating apps has declined while singles increasingly want to meet potential partners in person. As daters seek offline connections, dating apps have leaned more and more into AI features.

Match's third-quarter earnings call also reported that Tinder's direct revenue and paying users are both down year-over-year (three percent and seven percent, respectively). Hinge, meanwhile, is up in both metrics (direct revenue increased 27 percent and paying users increased 17 percent year-over-year), continuing the same story as in quarter two: as Tinder struggles, Hinge is on the rise.

SAVE $200: As of Nov. 6, the Google Pixel 10 (unlocked, 128GB) is on sale for only $599 at Amazon, Google, and Best Buy in every color. That's 25% off its list price and the best price to date.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel 10 (Unlocked, 128GB) $599 at Amazon
$799 Save $200   Get Deal

The Google Pixel 10 arrived on shelves in August and has only seen one discount since. So, it comes as quite a surprise that you can slash $200 off the base model with the latest deal.

As of Nov. 6, the Google Pixel 10 (unlocked, 128GB) is on sale for only $599 at Amazon, Google, and Best Buy in all four color options. That's 25% off its list price and the best price to date by far. A $200 discount on a phone that's just three months old screams Black Friday doorbuster deal — even though it's still early November.

The standard Pixel 10 is the most approachable option in Google's 2025 lineup, but it's powered by the same Tensor G5 chip as its bigger siblings. That means it gives you the same AI-first smarts and performance as the Pro for a much lower price. Of course, there are some drawbacks for going for the cheaper option, like a less impressive camera lineup and less RAM and storage. Still, the base model Pixel 10 has a lot to offer. The biggest upgrades from its predecessor are the addition of a third rear telephoto camera lens, a new processor, and better battery life. The 6.3-inch display is also brighter and smoother than the previous generation.

Mashable's reviewer writes, "Google Pixel 10 will do just fine if you’re in need of a solid Android handset that takes nice photos and can give you a full day of use out of a single charge. And if you're excited about new AI smartphone features, this phone has a few notable ones."

It's hard to pass up a price this low on a 2025 smartphone — no need to wait until Black Friday. Grab the Pixel 10 in any color for under $600 while you can.

SAVE $500: The Best Buy drop for Nov. 6 is the Ukiyoe edition of the 13-inch MSI Prestige AI laptop, on sale for $1,499.99 in the Best Buy app. MSI is only releasing 700 units of this piece of art, so this is a rare chance to find it in stock at all (let alone on sale).

Opens in a new window Credit: MSI MSI Prestige 13 Ukiyoe Edition OLED AI Laptop (Intel Core Ultra 7-258V, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499.99
$1,999.99 Save $500   Get Deal

The most beautiful laptop you've ever seen doesn't stop at an OLED display or a chic aluminum chassis. It has one of the world's most recognizable paintings — The Great Wave off Kanagawa — laser-engraved into the back. Only 700 units of the Ukiyoe edition of the 13-inch MSI Prestige AI laptop will be released in the U.S., and one of your chances to secure one is through Best Buy Drops. On Nov. 6 only, you can save $500 and score it for $1,499.99.

Originally live at 11 a.m. ET, the MSI Prestige Ukiyoe edition laptop is $500 off until the day's inventory runs out. You'll only see that price through the Best Buy mobile app, as that's the only spot that Drops show up. Then you can add it to your cart and check out like usual, as long as the status bar says there are still some left.

SEE ALSO: Framework Laptop 13 review: A good laptop and an even better concept

But aside from Best Buy's personal stock, you're doubly working against the clock here. Many items featured as a daily Best Buy drop will likely be available for purchase or on sale at another time, but the Ukiyo Prestige laptop is incredibly scarce. That's because MSI isn't exactly mass-producing these. Each unit's artwork incorporates maki-e: a Japanese laquering technique involving sprinkled powder onto wet lacquer. The rarity of each is sealed through a unique laser-engraved serial number, and MSI says that no restock is planned.

Even with such detail packed into the lid, the 13-inch Prestige is still relatively thin and remarkably lightweight. At .67 inches, it's not as slim as the MacBook Air or the Asus Zenbook a14 (our favorite cheap Windows laptop of 2025). But considering it only weighs 2.18 pounds, it's definitely not clunky — that's noticeably lighter than the MacBook Air's 2.7 pounds and is an exact match for the aforementioned Zenbook.

Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel just got the non-Ukiyoe version of this laptop in her hands for testing. She was immediately impressed with the 2.8K OLED screen and its apparent sturdy build, referring to it as a "well-specced ultraportable with good future proofing." Its 32 GB of RAM is quite generous, and it's outfitted with WiFi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, and a robust variety of ports.

You may have heard that "vibe coding" is Collins Dictionary's word of the year for 2025. So, if you've been nodding and smiling every time you hear the phrase, it might be finally time to figure out what it means.

So, what is vibe coding? Here's the TL;DR version: Vibe coding means using AI to create apps, software, and code — no computer programming experience required. Simply describe what you want to create with natural language or voice prompts, and the AI will create the code for you. It's still a relatively new phenomenon, but one that's been hugely popular this year. Everyone's doing it. Or, at least, it might feel that way.

Back in February 2025, former OpenAI co-founder Andrej Karpathy posted a tweet that would start a revolution in coding and software development. The term he used, “vibe coding,” has since spread across the internet like wildfire. Even OpenAI’s latest GPT-5 model aims to please the vibe coding fanatics.

So, what is this new method of coding?

Vibe coding 101

The practice of vibe coding, per Karpathy, is simply using AI to do your coding for you. For example, you would come up with an idea and then tell the AI to code it. From there, you’d review the code, and any changes or fixes you wanted would be sent back through the AI again and again until everything feels right. 

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

The coder doesn’t need to do any actual coding; instead, they use natural language to describe the code, website, or application they want to create. The feeling of letting go of preconceived notions and letting the AI handle everything is described as “fully giving into the vibes” by Karpathy. Any change suggested by the AI is automatically accepted and rolled into the code. No thoughts, just vibes. 

It has been met with champions and detractors. On one side of the fence, people like Karpathy have fully embraced AI’s ability to write code and let the AI do the heavy lifting, content to explore what AI can and can’t do on its outer fringes. Others have derided the practice, saying code created this way is often incomprehensible and unpredictable, and that good engineers understand their own code. 

How can I get into vibe coding?

It’s honestly pretty easy to do. If you have access to an AI chatbot, you can start vibe coding right away. You’ll want to make sure you go into it knowing what needs to be done. For example, many have suggested making sure that you have a strong, clear vision for what you want your code to do before going into it, so that the AI writes better code. Mashable has a tutorial for getting started with vibe coding as a beginner.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT vs Claude vs Grok: Best vibe-coding platform for beginners

If you'd like to practice with training wheels, Google recently introduced Opal, a sort of paint-by-numbers vibe coding tool. You can see what others have created and use templates to get started.

What are the best vibe coding tools?

Almost any modern LLM is decently suited for vibe coding. All of them have code knowledge at the heart of the product. Even AI companies use LLMs to code things, which was proven when Anthropic cut OpenAI developers' access to its APIs in early August. However, if you’re completely new at this and want ideas on where to look, there are some really good tools for vibe coding. 

We recommend being careful, making backups, and saving your work. Vibe coding can go seriously wrong, leading to the deletion of your code and other errors.

Claude Code

Claude Code is a wonderful place to start for vibe coding. It’s a variant of Anthropic’s Claude chatbot that is optimized specifically for coding. We've been impressed with the latest models from Anthropic, Claude 4, particularly for coding work.

Claude Code works specifically in integrated development environments (IDEs) like VS Code while also being able to edit multiple files at once. It also has protections built in so that it won’t edit your code without your expressed consent, which helps avoid problems like code deletion that we mentioned earlier.  Of course, if you've never heard of an IDE before, then we recommend starting with a more beginner-friendly vibe coding tool, such as GPT-5 or Google Opal.

Using Claude, more advanced vibe coders can import existing code, which the AI can then read and summarize. Per Anthropic, the AI can make small changes like bug fixes or larger changes like feature implementations, both of which make it good for vibe coding. Other big-name LLMs like Google Gemini work great for this too, but Claude Code is built specifically for this stuff, so it’s a more natural option. 

GPT-5 Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; Open AI

We’ve already mentioned the other big dogs, but GPT-5 gets a special mention because it’s brand new. OpenAI released the model on Aug. 7, and when it comes to state-of-the-art smarts, this is a good choice. On top of being the latest model on the market, OpenAI has put a lot of thought into the coding side of things, which is what we’ll talk about. 

One of the big highlights of the release is the improvements to agentic coding, which is tech-speak for being able to code things based on natural language prompts. OpenAI demoed this during its livestream with good results. Our tech editor also gave it a shot, and we've found that for folks with zero coding experience, GPT-5 is a great vibe coding tool for beginners. It's a big push forward for fans of vibe coding, and it’s surprisingly easy to use. 

Cursor

Cursor is another good choice for vibe coding for much the same reason as Claude Code. It’s an IDE with an AI chatbot integrated into it, and as such, vibe coding is right at the top of its feature list. It’s one of the AI tools we saw recommended most often, and it’s pretty easy to get into without a lot of prior experience. 

The big draw for Cursor is its coding agent. You can tell it to make changes, and it’ll do so while also telling you what changes it's making. This keeps coders in the loop so they know what to ask for next. It can also do things like automatic bug fixes to reduce the amount of effort you need to spend testing and iterating. Like Claude Code, you can also import libraries to use for documentation, giving you the ability to customize your coding. 

Lovable

Lovable is right up there with Cursor as an option we saw recommended fairly often. It works much the same way as Cursor, where you can talk to the AI bot to get your code written while also asking for changes, bug fixes, and the like. It also has common features like importing code for documentation and other things like that. 

Also like the competition, Lovable has various integrations that you can add to make life easier, including API access to OpenAI and Anthropic, along with GitHub. So, with a little effort, you can integrate the necessary stuff to give you the performance you need. Lovable focuses more on the AI prompt side of things, but Cursor is a more traditional IDE. So you should choose whichever one vibes (pun intended) better with your style. 

v0 by Vercel

v0 by Vercel is the final tool we recommend checking out. It works great for vibe coding and appears to be built specifically for such a thing. You tell it what you want, and it generates a web app that does what you ask. However, like 21st.dev, it seems to be mostly preferred by people looking to make UI elements alongside the software, making a good all-in-one program for vibe coding. 

Like the others on the list, you have a list of integrations that you can add to increase the likelihood of success with your work. It can integrate directly with Grok, for example, and coders can add their API keys for others like OpenAI and Anthropic. While researching this article, I found that many folks recommend using this with something like Claude Code as a one-two punch for vibe coding. 

Honorable mention: Opal by Google Credit: Google

As we mentioned before, Google recently launched Opal, a vibe coding tool that lets you leverage a variety of other Google AI tools, such as Imagen, Gemini, and even Veo, Google's generative AI video maker. While you're limited in the types of applications and websites you can create, this beginner-friendly tool doesn't require any experience with programming languages or software development. In our testing, the interface makes it easy to understand how your app functions. As you work, Opal creates a visual web of connections so you can see how each step fits into the whole.

Honorable mention: 21st.dev

21st.dev isn’t a tool that you would use to vibe code. However, it is something you would use alongside vibe coding. The idea is that it helps you build a UI for your program. You can then vibe code and use the UI elements crafted here to create one cohesive app. The service works primarily on modules that you can then export and use in your existing code. 

These components give you some template-level ideas for a UI that you can then change and construct to your specifications using the built-in AI chatbot. So, for instance, you can use this Apple-style liquid glass button component and then edit it with AI to make it look and do what you want. You can then import that code into your project, making UI work a lot easier. 

Let the AI do it

While testing all of these products, I did quite enjoy the fact that I have virtually no modern coding knowledge, and I could still create some simple stuff pretty quickly. I guess that’s the benefit of vibe coding from someone who hasn’t touched an IDE since 2008.

In any case, vibe coding in its current form is months old, so more tools are being released all the time to take advantage of the latest fad in coding. Keep an eye out for new AI coding tools in the months ahead. 

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.

Happy Stranger Things day!

Nov. 6 marks the anniversary of Will Byers' disappearance in the very first episode of Stranger Things, so what better way to celebrate than by getting a look at a new Stranger Things series?

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things' Season 5 trailer teases epic battle in the Upside Down

We're not talking about the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which will be here before you can say "mouth breather." Instead, we're talking about Stranger Things: Tales From '85, an animated spin-off series that takes place between Stranger Things' second and third seasons. The show, set to release in 2026, reunites viewers with Hawkins heroes like Eleven and Will, who must uncover a new paranormal mystery in their town.

Netflix has released a first look featurette of the new series, offering a glimpse into the show's animation and the new monsters that await the Stranger Things crew.

"With animation, there's really no limits," executive producer Ross Duffer says in the featurette. "[Showrunner] Eric [Robles] and his team can just go wild."

"And they have," adds executive producer Matt Duffer.

To prove their point, Netflix also unveiled two first look images from Stranger Things: Tales From '85. One shows the Hawkins party gearing up for adventure, while the other features a massive monster that looks like a cross between a Demogorgon and a spider, which has ensnared Eleven and her friends in its tendrils.

The gang's all here. Credit: Netflix Is this better or worse than getting Mindflayed? Credit: Netflix

Netflix closed out the Stranger Things: Tales From '85 announcements with the reveal of the show's cast list. None of the original Stranger Things cast is reprising their roles, so who's taking over?

The cast includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, EJ Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, and Brett Gipson as Hopper. Other members of the cast include Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 premieres in 2026 on Netflix.

Meta is reportedly making a lot of money off scam ads.

A new investigative report from Reuters, citing Meta's own internal documents, found that the company's platforms show, on average, an estimated 15 billion "higher risk" scam advertisements to its users every day. Reuters reported that a 2024 document showed that Meta makes about "$7 billion in annualized revenue" from those scam ads each year.

The internal documents revealed by Reuters show that Meta expected as much as 10 percent of its 2024 ad revenue "would come from ads for scams and banned goods."

Wrote Reuters:

"A cache of previously unreported documents reviewed by Reuters also shows that the social-media giant for at least three years failed to identify and stop an avalanche of ads that exposed Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp’s billions of users to fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos, and the sale of banned medical products."

Scammy ads have become a routine part of online life, and Mashable has reported on fraudulent Facebook ads repeatedly over the years. You might see a Facebook ad for an AI-powered photo editor and download malware. Or you might see one for Joann fabrics — except that, too, is a scam. The new report suggests this is actually a lucrative portion of Meta's advertising business.

The Reuters report also revealed, according to the internal documents, that Meta "only bans advertisers if its automated systems predict the marketers are at least 95% certain to be committing fraud" — while other likely scammers simply get charged a higher rate as punishment. So, yes, that might make scammers pause — but it would also make Meta a lot of money. Billions of dollars a year, in fact.

So, the next time you go to click on an ad on Facebook or Instagram, be careful.