Technology

The Moon is getting closer to full, with most of its surface now lit up as it moves through the Waxing Gibbous phase. There's a lot more to see tonight than a week ago, so be sure to look up tonight.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Monday, Oct. 19, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 56% of its surface visible.

Tonight, you should be able to spot the Mare Crisium and Mare Fecunditatis without any visual aids. If you have binoculars you'll also see the Endymion Crater, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Appenine Mountains. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 15 and 16 landing spots, plus the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to travel around Earth, and its appearance changes throughout the month. As it moves around our planet, we see different amounts of its sunlit side, from a slim crescent to the quarter phases and eventually a Full Moon. It then begins the cycle again. As NASA explains, these phases are caused by the Moon's changing position relative to Earth and the Sun.

The eight phases are:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it's not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Shop the Target ACOTAR collection: Angie's Sweet & Salty Popcorn (6.5oz) $3.79 Shop Now Suriel Earl Greyer Lavender Black Tea (36ct) $14.99 Shop Now ACOTAR Adult Apparel Clearance prices from $12.75 Shop Now Alex and Ani Amarantha's Riddle Collection Bracelet $24.99 Shop Now ACOTAR x Fine'ry Limited Edition High Lord of the Night Court Cologne (2 fl oz) $29.99 Shop Now BrüMate drinkware Starting from $35.99 Shop Now

If your reading list revolves around the Night Court, clear your schedule and prep your wallet. Target is turning its aisles into Prythian with a massive merchandise lineup and late-night celebrations for the sixth installment in Sarah J. Maas’s A Court of Thorns and Roses series, A Court of Splintered Harmony.

The ACOTAR Collection officially landed on shelves at Target on Oct. 11, giving fans a head start on collecting themed gear. And soon, select stores will host late-night release parties where readers can purchase the new hardcover right as the clock strikes midnight.

Most of Target's ACOTAR collection is exclusive — and most items sit under $20. The lineup spans BrüMate tumblers, Fine'ry fragrances, Alex and Ani jewelry, Suriel teas, graphic apparel, kettle corn, and a tabletop game.

Party perks and gifts

On Oct. 26 from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. local time, approximately 250 Target stores nationwide will host an official A Court of Splintered Harmony midnight release event. Attendees can test their series knowledge with themed trivia, take photos, browse the merchandise line, and hang out with fellow fans.

• First 100 guests — The first 100 people in line receive a free commemorative entry ticket and a complimentary Bryaxis keychain, allowing them to buy the book at midnight.

• Sarah J. Maas gift with purchase — Anyone who buys A Court of Splintered Harmony at Target receives an exclusive gift designed in partnership with author Sarah J. Maas herself (while supplies last).

• Hasbro game gift — Guests who purchase an ACOTAR Hasbro game during the event get a free mystery gift with purchase while supplies last.

Store pickup for online preorders will not be available at midnight. If you preordered for store pickup, your copy will be ready when doors open for regular business hours on Oct. 27.

To shop the full collection or check if your local store is hosting a midnight release party, head over to Target online or the Target app. Gather your Inner Circle, brush up on your Suriel trivia, and hit up your nearest store on Oct. 26 to grab Book Six the second it drops.

Bambu Lab might be one of the best 3D printer brands out there in my opinion, but that doesn't mean I agree with every decision it makes. That's why I've deployed these three open-source utilities to help me take back control of my printer—and I think you should do the same.

TL;DR: Fandango and Lionsgate are streaming all five Hunger Games movies for free on Fandango’s ad-supported platform through Oct. 31. Fans can rewatch the entire saga at zero cost before tickets open for the new prequel.

If you need a reason to revisit Panem's most brutal arena battles, Lionsgate and Fandango just handed you one on a silver platter.

In a first-of-its-kind streaming takeover, Fandango is hosting all five previous Hunger Games films on its ad-supported streaming service. So you can catch up on the entire global blockbuster franchise without spending a single cent or using a credit card. However, the free streaming event runs for a limited time from Oct. 16-31.

You can stream the entire theatrical collection in one place:

• The Hunger Games

• The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1

• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2

• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes

Are there ads, and is there extra content?

Yes, the films are available on Fandango’s free, ad-supported streaming service with limited commercials.

The takeover also features exclusive Hunger Games-themed promotional content and special moments surrounding each film to immerse fans deeper into Panem before the next movie hits the big screen.

The streaming marathon is designed to build hype for Lionsgate’s upcoming theatrical release, The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, which arrives exclusively in theaters on Nov. 20.

SEE ALSO: The first 20 minutes of 'The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping' blew me away

By bringing the full library to Fandango, fans can rewatch the saga and then purchase movie tickets for the new release directly on the same platform as soon as showtimes go on sale. Based on Suzanne Collins’ best-selling novel, the prequel is directed by Francis Lawrence and takes place 24 years before the events of the original Hunger Games.

It follows a 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy (Joseph Zada) from District 12 on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Annual Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. Inside the arena, Haymitch forms an alliance with fellow tribute Maysilee Donner (McKenna Grace) and a broader coalition to challenge President Snow's (Ralph Fiennes) control over the Capitol.

SEE ALSO: Fandango just made it easier to stream for free — here's what changed

You can watch all five films directly through Fandango’s streaming platform on your browser, smart TV, or mobile app by logging into or creating a free Fandango account.

Head over to Fandango to start your marathon today, and get your Panem history straight before Sunrise on the Reaping takes you back into the arena.

TL;DR: Burger King is launching a Hello Kitty collab on Oct. 20. Each King Jr. Kids' Meal will feature one of six exclusive Hello Kitty and Friends by Sanrio toys, including a special golden Hello Kitty toy.

If fast-food toy hype usually passes you by, Sanrio collectors will want to pay attention to this week's drop: Burger King is partnering with Hello Kitty and Friends for a nationwide, limited-time King Jr. Meal takeover starting Oct. 20.

The collab features six collectible figurines packaged in mystery blind boxes — each depicting a popular Sanrio character wearing a miniature Burger King crown and holding menu items.

What’s inside the collection

The blind-box lineup spotlights six popular Sanrio characters:

• Hello Kitty

• My Melody

• Kuromi

• Cinnamoroll

• Keroppi

• Golden Hello Kitty (a rare pick that unlocks the entire six-piece set)

Every order includes a themed King Jr. Meal bag and an exclusive Hello Kitty cardboard crown, while supplies last.

Credit: Burger King / Hello Kitty

For hardcore collectors, Burger King is also hosting a one-day claw machine event at its Downey, CA location on Oct. 23 (starting at 11 a.m. PST). Guests buying a King Jr. Meal get a claw machine attempt — including a shot at winning a solid 14-karat gold-plated Hello Kitty figurine.

"We love seeing Hello Kitty and Friends get the royal treatment at Burger King, with each character sporting their own iconic BK crown," said Jill Koch, Chief Brand Officer, Sanrio, Inc. "Bringing these beloved characters into the King Jr. Kids' Meal in such a playful way creates something special for fans of all ages to enjoy."

Excel's SWITCH is a logical function that is primarily used for data manipulation. It evaluates an expression against a list of values, and returns a result corresponding to the first matching value.

Let's face it. Apple simply isn't targeting yearly upgrades like it did years ago. It's not surprising; smartphones aren't as exciting as they were back then. There are no game-changing features to debut anymore.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 19, the Shark Rocket Pet Plus corded stick vacuum is on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. That's $50 off its full price of $199.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Rocket Pet Plus Corded Stick Vacuum $149.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $50   Get Deal at Amazon

Cleaning up pet hair is one chore that simply can't be avoided when you've got a furry friend. That's why it's smart to have a good vacuum cleaner on hand. Models like the Shark Rocket Pet Plus are helpful for picking up fur lodged in carpets or rugs, and while it's usually priced at $199.99, you can grab it for $149.99 right now at Amazon.

This deal saves you $50. It won't be on sale for long, considering it's tagged as a "limited time deal." With that in mind, you'll want to grab it quickly at this price before it goes back up.

SEE ALSO: Dyson’s slimmest wet floor cleaner just got a huge upgrade and its own self-cleaning dock — where to buy

The Shark Rocket Pet Plus has a versatile design that converts from an upright stick vacuum to a handheld for use on stairs, furniture, in your car, and more. It even comes with a Duster Crevice Tool and a Pet Multi-Tool to help you reach into smaller spaces and pick up embedded pet hair from soft surfaces.

Since it's corded, there's no need to worry about keeping it charged up, either. Just plug it in and take it around the whole room for a thorough clean. It's lightweight as well — weighing under 10 pounds — with a slim design that makes it easy to move around and store once finished. Plus, it features LED headlights that can help you spot hair or dust in darker areas so nothing gets missed.

If the Shark Rocket Pet Plus seems like the perfect vacuum for you, don't miss out on this limited-time deal at Amazon.

I've been collecting DVDs, Blu-rays, VHS tapes, cassettes, and vinyl records for about 15 years. In spite of the renewed interest in physical media that we've seen in 2026, I'm almost certain that it's just a trend, and my expectations for the future are more or less pessimistic. I don't believe that there will be a successor to Blu-ray, and I expect to see a lot of media enthusiasts offloading their collections in the next decade.

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

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) $694.88 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) $682.98 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

If you thought Pokémon TCG collectors were already losing their minds over 30th Celebration Booster Bundles and Elite Trainer Boxes, Amazon just opened preorders for the crown jewel of the anniversary expansion: the 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections.

Both high-end boxes are currently available for preorder at Amazon for under $700 ahead of their official Nov. 6 release date.

As the ultimate flagship products for the 30th Celebration set, both Ultra-Premium Collections come packed with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, one Classic Collection booster pack, custom metal coins, deck boxes, card sleeves, and damage-counter dice. Of course, the real driver behind the hype comes from the exclusive promo cards:

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon): Includes the exclusive Espeon ex promo card with a Daytime Pikachu ex promo card and an Espeon playmat.

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon): Includes the exclusive Umbreon ex promo card with a Futuristic-rarity Pikachu ex promo card and an Umbreon playmat.

The big question when buying trading cards on Amazon is whether or not you're actually getting value for money. Amazon is a reliable pick for finding readily available stock, but you often pay above market price.

TCGplayer's market price for the Day Box is currently $561.50, so there's a decent markup from Amazon here. The market price for the Night Box is $617.40, so the convenience of Amazon actually makes sense in this case.

TL;DR: Target’s exclusive Owala holiday collection dropped on Oct. 18. Eight new colorways are available to purchase this weekend.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala x Target   Shop Now

If your emotional support water bottle is due for a festive refresh, set an alarm on your phone right now: the first of several Owala holiday drops is officially live at Target from Oct. 18. These will inevitably sell out quickly, so be warned.

The Target-exclusive collection spans eight colorways for the standard FreeSip 24oz and the contoured FreeSip Sway 30oz:

FreeSip 24oz

• Cozy Does It: A soft cream base paired with warm, knit-inspired accents.

• Bear Hug: Earthy brown tones with a teddy-bear plush aesthetic.

• Toile Be Home: Elegant cream toile print featuring delicate blue floral patterns.

• Take a Bow: Festive pastel pink wrapped with a subtle ribbon motif.

It doesn't get cosier than Cozy Does It. Credit: Owala FreeSip Sway 30oz

• Poinsettia: Metallic shimmer burgundy-red designed for the holiday table.

• Wintergreen: Deep pine green with a matte, frosted finish.

• Rose Quartz: Soft translucent pink hue with metallic undertones.

• Lightly Toasted: Warm golden-oat colorway with a matte finish.

Wintergreen gives off strong pine vibes. Credit: Owala

Limited-edition Owala drops at Target tend to disappear from shelves within hours. Just ask anyone desperately trying to hunt down Owala’s exclusive Pokémon bottles. We don't think this drop will have Pokémon-levels of interest, because nothing really does. But be warned: You might still need to act fast.

Windows 11 is a widely adopted operating system in the PC world; hence, Microsoft tries to push its apps and services by default. While most PC geeks are aware of this and clean up their system right after setting up the OS, there's a high chance you might not have. Microsoft's key offerings and services on Windows 11, like Widgets, the Edge browser, OneDrive, Teams, and Copilot, silently eat up your memory during OS startup or in the background and increase your CPU load.

TikTok has backtracked on restricting the Musk documentary's advertising account just two days after implementing the decision.

On Friday, the account was suspended from purchasing ads to promote the documentary, which is critical of the world's richest man and that Musk himself has referred to as a "hit piece" — although Mashable's Matt Binder described it as "brutal and accurate" in his review.

TikTok lifted the restriction on Sunday, informing the documentary's studio, Bleecker Street, and citing an "error," per The Hollywood Reporter.

SEE ALSO: 'Musk' review: Alex Gibney's near 4-hour doc is a scathing look at Elon Musk

This isn't the first promotional issue the four-hour documentary has faced. Last month, it was reported that YouTube and Meta were refusing to run ads for the trailer, before both companies reversed their decisions following a wave of social media backlash (YouTube claimed ads for Musk were "temporarily restricted," while Meta described its decision as an "error").

Alex Gibney's documentary tracks the Tesla and SpaceX founder's rise to power, featuring interviews with his father, former partners, and Tesla founder Martin Eberhard. It opened last weekend before expanding its run this weekend, grossing a little over $300,000 per The Wrap.

Mashable reached out to TikTok for comment, and a spokesperson said the account is now able to purchase ads, so long as it complies with the company's policy on political advertising.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

UPDATE: Oct. 19, 2026, 11:47 a.m. EDT This article was updated to clarify the restrictions placed on the 'Musk' documentary's promotional account.

I don't know about you, but I feel like Wi-Fi hasn't fundamentally changed in years. New Wi-Fi standards are constantly improving throughput and efficiency, such as the introduction of the 6GHz band with Wi-Fi 6E, but why hasn't Wi-Fi evolved in the opposite direction, too?

SAVE OVER $90: As of Oct. 19, Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are on sale for $206.61 at Amazon. That's $93.38 off their full price of $299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sennheiser Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless Headphones $206.61 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $93.38   Get Deal at Amazon

With the holidays right around the corner, it can be a busy travel period for some. That's where a solid pair of headphones comes in handy for keeping busy with music, podcasts, and more while you're on a flight or a long road trip.

The Sennheiser Momentum 4s are among our favorite headphones for travelers for their battery life, and this is a great time to grab them, as Amazon's got the sleek white pair on sale right now.

As of Oct. 19, these white headphones have dropped from $299.99 to $206.61, saving you $93.38 overall. Unfortunately, only the white pair are down to this price right now, but if they're the ones that caught your eye, you're in luck. Your purchase even comes with a bonus 90-day free trial of an Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan, which is perfect for testing during long holiday travel periods.

SEE ALSO: Razer just dropped new Pokémon gaming headsets featuring Sylveon, Charizard, and Lucario — where to buy

The Sennheiser Momentum 4 will last a long flight, and then some, as they boast up to 60 hours of battery life. Mashable's Bethany Allard also adds in our roundup of the best noise-canceling headphones for flying that they "feel more thoughtfully designed for travel, with ear cups that have a slightly flatter profile than you'll find on the Sony XM5s, and an included airplane audio adapter in the case."

Allard also notes that while their "ANC doesn't quite match up to Sony's [...] on a plane, we doubt you'll notice a drastic difference, especially if you're listening to audio." And speaking of listening, they offer "incredibly balanced sound quality," so music, audiobooks, podcasts, and more will sound crisp and clear.

Sennheiser Momentum 4 headphones are currently tagged with "limited-time deal," so be quick to save at Amazon.

If your morning routine revolves around seasonal espresso shots and viral coffee tumblers, mark your calendar: Starbucks’ 2026 holiday menu officially launches on Nov. 5, bringing back fan favorites and fresh treats.

That's exciting news, but it's not the main draw for seasoned coffee lovers and cup collectors. The Peppermint Mocha is great and all, but it's not Red Cup Day. This is arguably the biggest day on the coffee lovers' calendar. Starbucks hands out a free, limited-edition red reusable cup with every qualifying handcrafted holiday beverage order on this special day. And you guessed it: fans and collectors go wild.

Starbucks has officially confirmed the date for the holiday menu launch (Nov. 5), but we're still waiting for an announcement on the exact date for Red Cup Day 2026. That's not to say that there aren't rumors.

Based on historical release patterns — which consistently land on the Thursday of the week following the menu rollout — industry insiders and deal trackers are predicting Red Cup Day 2026 to fall on Nov. 12. We're not making any promises, but that's the word on the grapevine.

How to score a free reusable cup

Getting your hands on the free collectible cup is pretty straightforward, but we should note that supplies run out notoriously fast.

To get your free cup, buy any handcrafted holiday or seasonal beverage (hot, iced, or blended) in any size. The promo applies across in-cafe purchases, drive-thru orders, mobile orders on the Starbucks app, and delivery via Uber Eats, DoorDash, or Grubhub. Once you have your reusable red cup, bringing it back on future visits saves you $0.10 per drink.

Just be prepared for heavy app delays and long drive-thru lines on launch morning — mobile ordering at least 20 minutes ahead is non-negotiable if you want to dodge the rush.

I've used Adobe applications for many years, since the good old days when you didn't have to pay every month to keep using your software. Premiere Pro has always been my go-to video editing tool, but it's expensive and often overkill for many video editing projects. On a whim, I decided to see what Codex could do using a few free and open-source tools, and the results were impressive enough that I said goodbye to Premiere Pro.

Linux history is full of projects that thrived for years before their stewards walked away. Some faded quietly, others ended abruptly, and all left devoted communities behind. Unfortunately, many maintainers barely get paid for their work, so it often becomes a passion project. And passions fade. Here are just some examples of that.

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

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) $694.88 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) $685.98 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

If you thought Pokémon TCG collectors were already losing their minds over 30th Celebration Booster Bundles and Elite Trainer Boxes, Amazon just opened preorders for the crown jewel of the anniversary expansion: the 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections.

Both high-end boxes are currently available for preorder at Amazon for under $700 ahead of their official Nov. 6 release date.

As the ultimate flagship products for the 30th Celebration set, both Ultra-Premium Collections come packed with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, one Classic Collection booster pack, custom metal coins, deck boxes, card sleeves, and damage-counter dice. Of course, the real driver behind the hype comes from the exclusive promo cards:

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon): Includes the exclusive Espeon ex promo card with a Daytime Pikachu ex promo card and an Espeon playmat.

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon): Includes the exclusive Umbreon ex promo card with a Futuristic-rarity Pikachu ex promo card and an Umbreon playmat.

The big question when buying trading cards on Amazon is whether or not you're actually getting value for money. Amazon is a reliable pick for finding readily available stock, but you often pay above market price.

TCGplayer's market price for the Day Box is currently $560.87 so there's a decent markup from Amazon here. The market price for the Night Box is $659.98, so the convenience of Amazon actually makes sense in this case.

Trump (James Austin Johnson) crashes a meeting between Prime Minister Andy Burnham (George Fouracres) and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Freddie Meredith) in the SNL UK cold open above, and he makes a request to swap jobs.

"I take over the the UK, you take America," says Trump/Johnson. "I tell you that place is a real mess, you're gonna hate it. It's an awful, awful job. It's a terrible place full of disgusting people. I don't know what the hell happened."

After Burnham refuses, Trump turns his attention to Zelenskyy — but the answer is still no. "Trust me, you don't want my job, it's awful," says Zelenskyy/Meredith. "So much of it involves spending time with you."

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