Mashable

TL;DR: Treat yourself to the gift of relief — get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac for just $49.97 (reg. $219) and say goodbye to subscriptions.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Home & Business for Mac 2021: Lifetime License $49.97
$219 Save $169.03   Get Deal

Between streaming, fitness, and every productivity app under the sun, monthly fees add up fast. That’s why Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac stands out: pay $49.97 just once, and you’ll own a lifetime license with the full suite of everyday Office tools.

Here’s what’s included: Word for polished documents, Excel for number-crunching, PowerPoint for presentations that don’t put your audience to sleep, Outlook for wrangling email and calendars, Teams (basic) for collaboration, and OneNote for all the scribbles and ideas you’d otherwise lose on sticky notes. It’s everything most Mac users need day-to-day, and it’s the Home & Business edition — meaning it works just as well for freelancers and small teams as it does for students or families.

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Setup is painless, too. The code ties directly to your Microsoft account (not your device), so you’re good to go once redeemed. Download links and license keys hit your inbox instantly, and you’re up and running without any confusing hoops. Plus, you’ll stay compatible with macOS 13, 14, and 15 with updates included.

This holiday season, give yourself the gift of ending a never-ending payment cycle — get a lifetime license to Microsoft Office for Mac for a one-time payment of $49.97 (reg. $219).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This exclusive StackSocial deal gets you lifetime access to Babbel Language Learning for $159 with promo code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
$646.20 Save $487.20   Get Deal

If picking up a new language — or a whole collection of them — has been on your mind, now’s the moment to dive in. For a limited time, StackSocial is offering Babbel Language Learning (all languages) as a lifetime deal, letting you unlock every course for far less than usual. A single $159 payment (reg. $646.20) with code LEARN gives you access forever, no renewals required.

Unlike no-name apps that promise fluency without substance, Babbel was developed by over 100 expert linguists and backed by researchers from Yale University. It’s designed to help you actually speak a new language with confidence — whether you’re prepping for a trip abroad, connecting with family, or hoping to boost your career.

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You’ll get access to 14 languages and 10,000+ hours of high-quality content. Lessons are short and made to fit into even packed schedules — just 10 to 15 minutes — and available on desktop or mobile, with progress synced across devices. You can even download lessons to practice offline, whether that’s on a flight or in a Wi-Fi dead zone on the subway.

Here’s part of what makes Babbel a standout:

• Real conversations: Lessons focus on practical topics like dining, shopping, transportation, and more.

• Speech recognition: Built-in tools help you perfect pronunciation and avoid awkward slip-ups.

• Personalized learning: Whether you’re a beginner or advanced, you’ll find lessons that match your level.

• Expert design: A proven method that emphasizes conversational skills over rote memorization.

And with lifetime access, you’re free to hone in on one language or explore all fourteen — on your schedule, forever.

Pick up a lifetime Babbel Language Learning access for $159 (reg. $646.20) with this limited-time exclusive offer from StackSocial using code LEARN for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Internxt’s 100TB lifetime offer gives you secure, private, encrypted cloud storage forever for a one-time $974.97 payment (reg. $9,900).

Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97
$9,900 Save $8,925.03   Get Deal

Anyone hunting for a last-minute holiday gift for the tech-savvy person on your list — or if you’re simply ready to level up your own digital life — Internxt’s 100TB Lifetime Cloud Storage Plan for $974.97 (reg. $9,900) is one of those rare, practical splurges that keeps paying off for years.

Internxt takes a different approach to cloud storage: everything is private by design, open-source, and end-to-end encrypted. Your files aren’t just stored — they’re split into encrypted fragments so no unintended party can ever read them.

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With zero-knowledge architecture, even Internxt can’t view your data. That’s a reassuring upgrade in a world where your digital footprint keeps getting bigger.

Across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and any browser, you can store, sync, and share files instantly. Photos, videos, work archives, creative projects, multi-gig backups — it all fits comfortably inside 100TB. And because Internxt now uses post-quantum encryption, your storage is designed to withstand tomorrow’s computing power, not just today’s.

This plan shines especially for photographers managing giant RAW libraries, remote workers juggling massive project folders, families backing up years of memories, and anyone who’s tired of juggling subscriptions and running out of space.

The interface is clean and intuitive, sharing is simple, and performance stays lightning-fast thanks to Internxt’s optimized infrastructure.

Whether you’re gifting peace of mind to someone else — or finally giving it to yourself — 100TB of lifetime, fully private cloud storage is a seriously thoughtful upgrade for the new year and beyond. Get Internxt’s 100TB of cloud storage for life with a single $974.97 payment (reg. $9,900) for the holidays.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you felt like you needed more Seth Meyers and Sabrina Carpenter after watching that Day Drinking episode, there's good news.

On Monday, Late Night released seven minutes of bonus footage, which includes an innuendo-based game, some song-themed cocktails, and plenty more alcohol-fuelled giggling.

Get these two their own podcast already.

ChatGPT is giving your chatbot conversations the Spotify Wrapped treatment, launching personalised end-of-year recap Your Year with ChatGPT. In the spirit of the holidays, perhaps this is a good opportunity to reflect on your AI use.

What is Your Year with ChatGPT?

Launched today, Your Year with ChatGPT is a personalised summary of how you've used the generative AI chatbot throughout the past year. This includes statistics such as the number of messages sent, chats you've had, images generated, and "em-dashes exchanged."

Similarly to Spotify Wrapped's clubs, Your Year with ChatGPT also gives out "awards" determined by your behaviour. These vary depending upon what you primarily used ChatGPT for, whether it was to brainstorm business ideas, generate images, or for any other purpose. Some users are already sharing their superlatives such as "Most Likely to Automate His Entire Personality" and "Most Likely to Automate His Own Thought Process." There's a lot to unpack there.

Your Year with ChatGPT's wrap up also features an AI-generated poem and comes illustrated by AI-generated images, including a pixel graphic based on your interests. Just as with other end-of-year wrap ups, these graphics are intended to be saved and shared, helping you tell everyone exactly how much you relied on AI in 2025.

How to get Your Year with ChatGPT This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

To see Your Year with ChatGPT, either access ChatGPT in your web browser, or open the ChatGPT app on Android or iOS (first ensuring that it's up to date). From there, you should see Your Year with ChatGPT prominently promoted on the home page, which you can select to see your summary. OpenAI states that you can also just ask ChatGPT to "show me my year with ChatGPT" in the same way you would make any other request of the AI chatbot. 

Of course, Year with ChatGPT does require you to have used the chatbot enough that there is actually data to collate. Users must also have "reference saved memory" and "reference chat history" turned on in their ChatGPT settings.

Your Year with ChatGPT is available to free users as well as those with a Plus or Pro subscription, though not everywhere. The feature is only being rolled out to users in the US, U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

OpenAI states that it will be rolling out Your Year with ChatGPT throughout the day, so if you don't see yours yet you may simply need to check back later.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

To express oneself.

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

EMOTE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An EMT.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MEDIC

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pastry chef.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BAKER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Liquified.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 23 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PUREE

Final Hurdle hint

To switch.

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

PIVOT

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

TL;DR: Live stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

These are special times for Crystal Palace fans. Fresh from winning the FA Cup last season, they now find themselves in the top half of the Premier League and the quarter finals of the EFL Cup. Arsenal stand in their way in the cup, so it's going to be very tough to progress. But Oliver Glasner seems to have the magic touch with this squad — anything is possible.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace?

Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup is likely to take place on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace for free

Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

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

Live stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The World Cup is still months away but there's no shortage of soccer excitement thanks to the Africa Cup of Nations , which takes place over the holiday season and pits 24 top Africa soccer nations against each other.

The tournament is held in Morocco, and the host nation — aka the Atlas Lions — are heavy favorites to win the whole thing. But you never know what will happen in the group stages. That's part of the magic of any tournament.

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Group C kicks off today with Nigeria vs. Tanzania, followed by Tunisia vs. Uganda. Nigeria are probably the strongest team in this group but Tunisia have the talent to do well, including Premier League midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. They're in good form too, having just qualified for the 2026 World Cup without conceding a single goal. They're certainly be favorites over Uganda, a team that has only qualified for AFCON a handful of times in recent years. But like we say, anything can happen in the early stages of tournament soccer.

If you want to watch Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Tunisia vs. Uganda?

Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Olympic Stadium.

How to watch Tunisia vs. Uganda for free

Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Tunisia vs. Uganda for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Tunisia vs. Uganda for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Tunisia vs. Uganda (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Tunisia vs. Uganda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

If you're looking for a soccer fix over the holidays, the Africa Cup of Nations promises fantastic action. The event, which is held every two years, sees 24 African countries compete — including world class players from clubs in top leagues.

With numerous group games already in the books, including tournament hosts — not to mention favorites — Morocco taking on Comoros, the AFCON excitement continues with Nigeria vs. Tanzania in Group C. Tanzania enter this group opener as the underdogs — this is only their fourth time qualifying for the tournament — while Nigeria are always a team to watch in AFCON. They're multi-time champions and finished in second place in 2023. They've also got striking power in the form of Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen.

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If you want to watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nigeria vs. Tanzania?

Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 1.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Complexe Sportif de Fes.

How to watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania for free

Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Nigeria vs. Tanzania for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream South Africa vs. Angola (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Nigeria vs. Tanzania in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is one of the biggest soccer tournaments in the world and is sure to whet the appetite of fans waiting for next year's World Cup. There's a big game to catch today as Senegal and Botswana clash in Group D, which also sees action today from DR Congo vs. Benin.

Tournament hosts Morocco are overall favourites but Senegal are in good form and, with star player Sadio Mané in their squad, are coming off an 8-0 win over Kenya. This game is an opportunity to Senegal to mark themselves as major contenders. They're also no strangers to silverware, having won AFCON back in 2021.

If you want to watch Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Senegal vs. Botswana?

Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Grande Stade de Tangier.

How to watch Senegal vs. Botswana for free

Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Senegal vs. Botswana for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch Senegal vs. Botswana for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Senegal vs. Botswana (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Senegal vs. Botswana in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Africa Cup of Nations is delivering hot soccer action all through the holidays, with plenty of nations that bring something different to the pitch. Next up is the Democratic Republic of Congo against Benin, who follow the likes of South Africa vs. Angola and Mali vs. Zambia.

DR Congo finished fourth in the 2023 edition of the tournament. They haven't made the final since their winning effort in 1974 but they have some solid players in their squad, including Lille defender Chancel Mbemba and West Ham wing back Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Benin enter the game as underdogs — this is only the fourth time the West African squad has qualified for the tournament in their history.

If you want to watch DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is DR Congo vs. Benin?

DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 7.30 a.m. ET on Dec. 23. This fixture takes place at the Stade El Barid.

How to watch DR Congo vs. Benin for free

DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream DR Congo vs. Benin for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

5. Watch DR Congo vs. Benin for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream DR Congo vs. Benin (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch DR Congo vs. Benin in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

Uber admits it is routinely approving drivers with violent felony convictions — including assault, child abuse, and stalking — so long as those convictions were more than seven years ago. That's in the wake of a damning New York Times investigation (the second in six months) into Uber's ongoing problems with safety, particularly for female riders.

The ride-hailing app does at least have a blanket ban on would-be drivers convicted of murder, kidnapping, sexual assault, or terrorism. But in 22 states, the Times uncovered approvals for drivers convicted of other violent acts past the seven-year horizon. It also found a loophole in 35 states:

Background checks are only looking for crimes committed in the place the driver lived, letting other convictions slip through the net.

Uber defended the seven-year time window as "striking the right balance" between rider safety and letting people who've been convicted of a crime rebuild their lives. But the company has also admitted — in a roundabout way — that its rides aren't safe enough.

Uber admits a serious report of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct was filed every 32 minutes.

When the previous Times report found that Uber received reports of sexual abuse or misconduct against drivers every eight minutes on average between 2017 and 2022, the company responded by saying that 75 percent of those reports were "less serious." By which it meant cases where drivers used explicit language, flirted, or made comments on a passenger's appearance.

Even leaving aside the likelihood that those 75 percent of passengers still felt unsafe enough to report an incident, this still means in effect that Uber admits a "serious" report of sexual abuse or sexual misconduct was filed every 32 minutes.

Meanwhile, a third of people arrested on rape charges have at least one felony conviction, according to a U.S. Department of Justice study. Several Uber drivers convicted of rape in the past five years, and one Lyft driver, had violent felony convictions. Two of these cases took place in California, where people with violent felonies are supposed to be permanently banned from working for ride-hailing apps.

SEE ALSO: Uber, Lyft face lawsuits from male drivers, claiming discrimination

So just how lax is Uber's background check? Our biggest clue comes from officials in Massachusetts, who did background checks of drivers on ride-hailing apps in 2017 and banned 8,000 drivers that had been approved, largely by Uber. (Lyft's policy is not to approve any drivers with violent convictions, no matter how much time has passed; Lyft has also recently allowed riders to block drivers altogether.)

If Massachusetts is any indicator, then, riders have a roughly 1 in 10 chance of getting a driver who would not be approved by state regulators.

Uber reportedly considered but rejected more than 20 new safety measures — including fingerprint checks, deemed too costly and too slow, at a time when Uber wanted to onboard new drivers faster. "We are def not doing everything we can," one Uber executive said in an internal email in 2018.

"The fact this is an internal policy that we don’t feel comfortable talking about," the exec added, "highlights the need for improvement here."

The moon is back into view now, and after a few nights of darkness, if you look hard enough, you should be able to catch a glimpse of come craters of mares.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Tuesday, Dec. 23, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 11% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

With an unaided eye tonight, you can spot the Mares Crisium and the Fecunditatis. If you add binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to see the Endymion Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

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.

TL;DR: A dependable, lightweight refurbished MacBook Air (2017) with up to 12 hours of battery life is just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping — an easy upgrade for everyday tasks.

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Most of us head into the new year with fresh goals. Whether they’re career-focused or more personal, like finally drafting that book idea you’ve been sitting on — this Apple MacBook Air (2017) is a surprisingly ideal companion.

At just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping, it’s an affordable way to add a reliable, lightweight laptop to your productivity lineup.

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This refurbished model delivers exactly what most people need from a daily-use computer. The 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor handles emails, documents, browsing, and light creative work smoothly. The 128GB SSD keeps things snappy and gives you room for files, drafts, photos, and essential apps.

And with up to 12 hours of battery life, you can work from the couch, a café, or a cross-country flight without worrying about an outlet.

The 13.3-inch display offers crisp clarity for streaming and video calls. Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth make it simple to stay connected and transfer files. It’s also thin, quiet, travel-friendly, and ideal as a secondary laptop for freelancers or anyone who wants a dependable everyday machine.

As a Grade A/B refurbished unit, it may show minor cosmetic wear, but performance-wise, it’s tested and ready for regular use.

If you’re hoping to kick off the new year with better tools (and without overspending), this pre-holiday sale might do the trick.

Get this quality refurbished MacBook Air for just $199.97 (reg. $999) with free shipping ahead of the new year.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: AdGuard Family Plan is currently just $15.97 with code FAMPLAN — block ads, boost privacy, and protect up to nine devices for life.

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If your online experience doesn’t feel smooth or optimized, this holiday deal makes it almost too easy to declutter your digital life.

The AdGuard Family Plan Lifetime Subscription is just $15.97 (reg. $169.99) when you use code FAMPLAN, and it gives you powerful ad blocking and privacy protection across up to nine devices — forever.

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AdGuard is more than a simple pop-up remover. It’s a full ad-blocking and safety toolkit designed to make everyday browsing feel calmer, cleaner, and faster. Pages load without the usual clutter of banners, autoplay videos, and distracting overlays, and the built-in privacy shield helps keep trackers from collecting information about your family’s online habits.

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Setup is simple, and because this plan covers Android and iOS, everyone in the household can benefit — phones, tablets, and computers included. Even better, this is lifetime access, meaning updates, improvements, and new features are included without ongoing fees.

It’s a small one-time payment for a noticeably smoother online experience, and a helpful upgrade heading into the new year.

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to invest in something like this, this is an ideal time.

Get lifetime access to AdGuard’s Family Plan for $15.97 (reg. $169.99) with code FAMPLAN for a limited time.

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Legendary video game designer Vince Zampella, who co-created the Call of Duty series, was killed Sunday in a car crash in southern California.

Zampella, 55, most recently led the Battlefield shooter series at EA Games, but also had his hand in many successful franchises, including Medal of Honor, Titanfall, and Apex Legends.

Along with Grant Collier and Jason West, Zampella co-founded the Infinity Ward studio in 2002, which led to the creation of the iconic first-person shooter Call of Duty in 2003. After Infinity Ward was fully acquired by Activision, Zampella was later dismissed and went on to successfully sue the company for tens of millions of dollars in unpaid royalties and bonuses.

SEE ALSO: Electronic Arts nears $50 billion buyout by Saudi Arabia and Jared Kushner's firm

Zampella was integral in some of Call of Duty's most acclaimed entries, according to the Guardian, including 2007’s Modern Warfare and 2009’s Modern Warfare 2. The Call of Duty series now encompasses nearly two dozen games and has sold half a billion units.

Zampella co-founded the Respawn studio with Jason West in 2010, which released two Titanfall games under Zampella's leadership before the company was acquired by EA in 2017. While under EA, Respawn released not only Apex Legends, but also Star Wars games, including Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

SEE ALSO: Where to pre-order 'Call of Duty: Black Ops 7' — Standard and Vault editions explained

Zampella, along with another person in his car, died on the Angeles Crest Highway north of Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon in a single-vehicle crash.

EA released the following statement to TMZ on Zampella's death:

"This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince’s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work. Vince’s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching. A friend, colleague, leader and visionary creator, his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment and inspired millions of players and developers around the world. His legacy will continue to shape how games are made and how players connect for generations to come."

It's been a tough few years for iRobot, maker of the popular robot vacuum cleaner Roomba. 

After a deal to sell the company to Amazon fell through the year before, iRobot has had trouble finding a buyer amid financial difficulties and mounting debts. Last week, iRobot announced it was filing for bankruptcy. As part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, the company said it was being taken over by iRobot's primary contract manufacturer, the China-based robotics company Picea.

But, most importantly, what does all of this mean for you, the consumer? 

Roombas are an extremely popular brand of robot vacuum cleaners. iRobot holds a commanding 42 percent market share in the U.S. for robotic vacuums. On top of that, the timing of the bankruptcy means that there's likely many brand-new Roomba owners who bought deals for themselves and gifts for others just weeks earlier on Black Friday.

According to iRobot, there's nothing for consumers to worry about. 

TechRadar's Ruth Hamilton spoke with iRobot CEO Gary Cohen who assured the tech outlet that "it's business as usual" at the robot vacuum cleaner company. 

"The app is working, the warranties are going to be honored," Cohen said.

TechRadar also pressed Hamilton on the bankruptcy announcement, which shared that there would be no immediate disruption. Did this mean consumers should be worried down the road?

According to Cohen, no, there's no need for concern and Roombas were "never" going to just stop working due to the company's financial troubles.

"Now that we have a path forward, the app will continue, the products will continue...We'll have firmware updates on the products, which is one of the benefits of this category – we're constantly putting software updates in the marketplace. So those will continue," Cohen said.

Cohen also told the outlet that iRobot and Picea are already working on new products for the new year and that the transition has been smooth because the two companies were already working together.

So, Roomba fans, it seems like there's no need to worry just yet. Your robot vacuum should be good to go – at least for now.

SAVE 25%: As of Dec. 22, you can get the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) Smart AI Glasses for $246.75, down from $329, at Amazon. That's a 25% discount or a $82.25 price cut. It's also a new record-low price, according to our trusty price tracker CamelCamelCamel.

Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) Smart AI Glasses $0 at Amazon
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If you’ve been interested in smart glasses but haven't moved forward because they seem a little too "techy" or intimidating to wear, the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are probably the easiest way in. They look just like classic Wayfarers, so you don't feel like you're wearing a computer on your face.

SEE ALSO: Despite awkward demos, Meta Ray-Ban Display early testers say it's the real deal

Right now, you can get the Ray-Ban Meta (Gen 1) Wayfarer Smart AI Glasses for $246.75 at Amazon. That’s 25% off the $329 list price. It's also a new all-time low, according to CamelCamelCamel.

Kimberly Gedeon, a tech expert and former Mashable editor, says these smart glasses are a "useful extension of your phone." She was particularly impressed by the sound quality, noting that music sounds "rich, full, and smooth" through the discreet open-ear speakers.

They also have Meta AI built in, which can answer questions or provide real-time translation between Spanish, French, and Italian without WiFi. Plus, they feature an ultra-wide 12 MP camera for photos and 1080p videos, along with a five-mic system so you can take calls or livestream directly to Facebook and Instagram.

Just a heads up: Gedeon's "golden rule" is to keep a close eye on the charging case — if you lose that, you're pretty much screwed since it's the only way to power them up.

Spotify's library was scraped and released by pirate activists Anna's Archive just two weeks after the streaming giant released its "largest Wrapped ever."

The unprecedented data grab of nearly 300 terabytes was announced by the website in a Dec. 20 blog post. The archive says it obtained metadata for 99.9 percent of Spotify's 256 million tracks and audio files for 86 million pieces of music, or a library that represents about 99.6 percent of listens on the platform.

SEE ALSO: Barack Obama just dropped his 2025 'Best Of' list. The internet has thoughts.

"It’s the world’s first 'preservation archive' for music which is fully open (meaning it can easily be mirrored by anyone with enough disk space)," said Anna's Archive. "With your help, humanity’s musical heritage will be forever protected from destruction by natural disasters, wars, budget cuts, and other catastrophes."

Anna's Archive made the metadata library immediately available for public download, and says it will release the rest of the scrape in stages, including music files and album artwork. It also released an expansive breakdown of the metadata including stream count, genre, and popularity analysis.

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"An investigation into unauthorized access identified that a third party scraped public metadata and used illicit tactics to circumvent DRM to access some of the platform’s audio files. We are actively investigating the incident," Spotify wrote in an initial statement to Android Authority. As of Dec. 22, Spotify said it has "identified and disabled the nefarious user accounts that engaged in unlawful scraping." The streaming platform also said it is implementing new safeguards against further copyright attacks to combat piracy.

Anna's Archive, an open source search engine that directs users to pirated, paid, or paywalled content like books and articles, has become a bane of copyright holders across the internet. Last month, Google removed more than 749 million search result links that directed to Anna's Archive, a vast majority of the 784 million link removal requests the company received. According to reporting by TorrentFreak, Anna's Archive URLs (annas-archive.se, annas-archive.org, and annas-archive.li) face the highest amount of Google takedown requests.

SAVE $60: The Kindle Colorsoft is on sale at Amazon for $189.99, down from the standard price of $249.99. That's a 24% discount.

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If we think about the best tech gifts of 2025, some are geared toward gamers while others are perfect for kids. But if you're searching for an item that's likely to thrill almost anyone on your Christmas shopping list, it's an e-reader. Almost everyone is either constantly diving into new titles or has the best intentions to stop scrolling and read more. If you're looking for an e-reader, check out this Amazon deal.

As of Dec. 22, the Kindle Colorsoft is on sale for $189.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $249.99. That's a 24% discount.

A Kindle is the perfect device for anyone looking to cut down on doom scrolling. The doom will still be there tomorrow so why not head into the wonderful world of a book instead? The Kindle Colorsoft is a great version if you like manga, studying maps at the beginning of books, or reading graphic novels. It's Mashable's top pick for the best Kindle if you want a color version.

SEE ALSO: The Kindle Scribe is at its lowest-ever price ahead of Christmas — save $140 right now

Like most Kindles, you'll be in line for excellent battery life. We're talking about up to eight weeks of battery before you'll need to recharge. An iPad could never. The seven-inch display size on the Kindle Colorsoft is a great middle ground, offering enough space to not need to turn the page after two sentences but still small enough to be travel-friendly.

Mashable Shopping Reporter and e-reader expert Samantha Mangino noted the Kindle Colorsoft is just as quick and efficient as the popular Kindle Paperwhite, but she wasn't convinced it was worth the $250 price. However, thanks to today's sale price at Amazon, we're getting way more bang for the buck.

If you're still not thrilled about the price of the Kindle Colorsoft even with the sale, consider the Kobo Clara Colour which is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon. It's one of Mashable's favorite e-readers and comes in at a more affordable price. In either case, your reading wishes for 2026 will be off to a great start with a fresh e-reader.