Mashable

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
  Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy

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.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Colorsoft $190 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $59.99   Get Deal

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.

Save $151.99: The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are back down to their Black Friday pricing of $248 at Amazon and Best Buy. Originally $399.99, you'll score a 38% discount on this deal.

Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Amazon

A foolproof way to save on headphones this holiday season is by checking out deals on older models.

As of Dec. 22, there's one worth checking out: a $152 markdown on the Sony WH-1000XM5, which brings them down to just $248 at Amazon and Best Buy. Considering most new flagship models are $450 and up at full price, this is an especially worthwhile deal.

I had the chance to test the Sony XM5 headphones directly against the XM6 headphones, and though I appreciated the return of the folding ear cups to the XM6 headphones (from the XM4 model), I was also surprised by the minimal difference between the two. The noise-cancelling ability isn't all that different and though the sound quality was better in the newer model, it was a jump only noticeable as I tested the headphones on the same songs back to back.

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

Mashable editor Timothy Beck Werth also noted in his XM6 review that between the XM5 and XM6 headphones, the changes were "more iterative than innovative." The inputs, 30 hour battery life, and connectivity support remain the same between generations.

Though the XM6 headphones are also on sale as of Dec. 22, they're still $150 more than the XM5 headphones, making the latter a better buy from a pure value perspective (and the superior choice for anyone who doesn't need the latest and greatest tech from Sony). The XM5s still hold their own, and with this deal, you can also take your choice of colorway between the four available options.

SAVE $30: As of Dec. 22, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is still on sale for just $9.99 with the on-page coupon code HOL4KFTV. That's $30 or 75% off its list price and its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select $9.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $30 with on-page coupon code HOLFTV4K Get Deal

Amazon really wants you to grab its newest Fire TV Stick this season — so much so that it's practically giving them away.

As of Dec. 22, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select is still on sale for just $9.99 with the on-page coupon code HOL4KFTV (make sure to hit "redeem" next to the code). That's a massive $30 price drop from its usual $39.99 tag and 75% in savings. We first saw this deal pop up ahead of Black Friday (it quickly became one of Mashable readers' top buys), then it disappeared and reappeared a few times throughout the month of December. There's really no telling how long it will stick around this time, so we suggest grabbing it ASAP if you have a streaming stick on your shopping list.

The latest Fire TV Stick in Amazon's lineup, the 4K Select is the most affordable option to deliver vibrant 4K quality with HDR10+ support. It also features an ultra-responsive and quick new operating system called Vega. We haven't had a chance to test it for ourselves, but we're glad Amazon is switching things up. The previous operating system was a bit laggy in our tests — an upgrade was in order. Its plug-and-play design is the same as other streaming sticks in the Fire TV lineup and instantly brings all of your favorite streaming apps into one convenient location. Press and ask Alexa to open Peacock or Prime Video or even pick up an episode where you left off.

The new streaming stick offers support for Xbox Game Pass, Amazon Luna, NordVPN, and IPVanish, and will soon also offer Alexa+ and Amazon Kids+. It may not feature Dolby Atmos or Vision, but it's a pretty advanced streaming device nonetheless. Plus, at just 10 bucks, it's much more than you'd expect.

SAVE 40%: As of Dec. 22, you can get the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement (10345) for $65.99, down from $109.99, at Amazon. That's a 40% discount or a $44 price cut. It's also the lowest price we've tracked for this Lego set.

LEGO Botanicals Flower Arrangement Building Set (10345) $73.50 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $36.49   Get Deal at Amazon

Lego sets are a huge tradition in my family — I always get one for both my dad and my nephew for Christmas and birthdays. If you’re looking for a version that’s a bit more "adult" (or just want flowers that won't die while you’re away for the holidays), this Botanicals set is the one to grab.

SEE ALSO: Our 15 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

Right now, the Lego Botanicals Flower Arrangement (10345) is on sale for $65.99 at Amazon. That’s a 40% discount off the $109.99 list price, which is a steal for a set with 1,000+ pieces. Just a heads up: this one currently arrives after Christmas, but at nearly half off, it’s the perfect "treat yourself" project to work on during that weird week between Christmas and New Year's.

This 1,161-piece set includes 14 different flowers (including peonies, camellias, and lilies). It even comes with its own buildable white pedestal vase, so you don’t have to go hunting for one that fits. My favorite part is that you can actually adjust the flower heads and stems to "prune" and style the arrangement however you want. It's a great way to unwind and ends up looking like a legitimate piece of art for your desk or dining table.

TL;DR: Live stream South Africa vs. Angola 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 keeping us all entertained through the festive period. We've already had Morocco vs. Comoros and Mali vs. Zambia, and now it's the turn of Group B. South Africa face Angola in their opening game. Both sides will be desperate to start with a win, as Egypt will be favorites to top this tricky group.

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

When is South Africa vs. Angola?

South Africa vs. Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 12 p.m. ET on Dec. 22. This fixture takes place at the Marrakech Stadium.

How to watch South Africa vs. Angola for free

South Africa vs. Angola 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 South Africa vs. Angola 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 South Africa vs. Angola 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 South Africa vs. Angola in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

Google's AI image generation tool got some minor alterations in the Android Messages app.

Specifically, Google slightly retooled how you access the Remix tool (which is powered by Nano Banana) in Messages, per 9to5google. If you wanted to put a funny hat on a picture of your dog or whatever prior to this change, you would long-press on an image and tap the "Remix" button on the lower left corner of the display. That's still true, but the button is now smaller and less prominent than before. Additionally, Google removed the banana emoji that was on the button, replacing it with a more generic AI image icon.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI launches new ChatGPT Images tool to rival Nano Banana: How to try it

Beyond that, if you look at an image in the fullscreen view mode, there won't be a Remix button on top of the image anymore. It's now in the bottom-left corner of that view, as well.

Again, these are not hugely seismic changes to the way Nano Banana Remix works in Google Messages, but they're worth knowing about so you don't get lost the next time you want to use those features.

SAVE $61.99: The Sony XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $398, down from the normal price of $459.99. That's a 13% discount that matches the record low at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones $398 at Amazon
$459.99 Save $61.99   Get Deal

Want to gift or receive some of the best headphones that came out in 2025? You're in luck if you prefer over-the-ear headphones with incredible sound because the Sony XM6 headphones are on sale at Amazon and they'll likely arrive in time for Christmas.

As of Dec. 22, the Sony XM6 headphones are on sale for $398 at Amazon, marked down from the normal price of $459.99. That's a savings of $61.99 thanks to a 13% discount. Today's sale price also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

For anyone interested in top-of-the-line headphones, the Sony XM6 model shines. Freshly launched in the spring, the Sony XM6 is the brands latest flagship model which earned a Mashable Choice Award for their exceptional sound quality. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the headphones and said, "The new Sony headphones offer impressive audio quality, and they definitely improve on the XM5 models. The active noise cancellation is particularly phenomenal."

SEE ALSO: The Sony XM5 headphones now come with free earbuds at Amazon

This could be a huge benefit for anyone traveling this holiday season. Another major benefit for those who travel with headphones is the XM6 headphones now fold up for better portability. On Mashable's list of the best headphones, the Sony XM6 earn the top spot as the best option for sound-first headphones.

Big points get added to this sale price on the Sony XM6 thanks to the fact that Amazon might be able to get these on your doorstep today. Depending on your delivery address, these could come with same-day delivery, which could be a lifesaver if you're shopping for a last-minute Christmas gift for family or yourself.

While they're sitting at an all-time low price, upgrade in a major way to the Sony XM6 headphones. You'll be in line for some of the best sound in the industry.

Save $250: You can still save 21% on a MacBook ahead of Christmas. As of 2022, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is on sale at Amazon and Best Buy for $949, down from its full price of $1,199.

Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $949 at Best Buy
$1,199 Save $250   Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon

We may be just three days out from Christmas, but your window of opportunity to grab a great tech gift on sale hasn't closed just yet.

Both Amazon and Best Buy marked down the 15-inch M4 Apple MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage to just $949 as of Dec. 22. (The latter store does have a countdown on the product page showing that the deal will end come Dec. 23). At the time of writing, the deal applies to all four available colorways.

Mashable's laptop expert Haley Henschel deemed the 15-inch Air the best MacBook for most people in her MacBook guide. Why? Even at full price, the value is near unbeatable. (Mashable Senior Editor and longtime Apple review Stan Schroeder agrees, titling his review of the M4 Air "A really good deal").

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

That's mostly thanks to the M4 chip, which as Henschel writes, "effectively closed the gap between Apple's MacBook Air and Pro series." The fanless model will likely get hot to the touch when handling especially heavy workloads, but it certainly has the power to do it. The 15-inch display is also useful from a productivity standpoint, but not so huge as to become obtrusive — overall, the Air stays true to it's name, remaining an ultraportable laptop.

When you do decide to hunker down in one place, your display options get even better, with this laptop providing open-lid support for two external displays. The only major con? The port selection is rather limited, with just two Thunderbolt/USB-C ports, one MagSafe 3 charging port, and a headphone jack. Still, it's an incredible value at full price, and an even better one at $250 off. (Note: this laptop does go on sale frequently, but $949 remains its lowest price ever).

Prime members can likely get this laptop in time for Christmas, while Best Buy also offers same-day pickup (pending your local stores' availability).

Grocery delivery service Instacart will end its controversial price tests, it announced on Monday.

The move comes weeks after a Consumer Reports investigation claimed that Instacart's AI-enabled price experiments may be upping your grocery bill.

SEE ALSO: YouTube pulls the plug on popular AI-generated fake movie trailer channels

The investigation reported that the experiments priced the same products differently for different consumers, sometimes by as much as 23 percent. The price variations could result in a yearly difference of $1,200 in grocery spending, according to Consumer Reports. The investigation also found that Instacart acquired an AI company in 2022 called Eversight, and afterwards, Instacart began offering pricing software to retail companies to "optimize" prices.

Several lawmakers took action against individualized pricing this month. Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego of Arizona introduced a bill to crack down on "surveillance" pricing, while Democratic Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig sent a letter to Instacart asking for answers. Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York sent a different letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The latter two cite the Consumer Reports investigation.

Last week, Instacart denied that the experiments were dynamic pricing or surveillance pricing, instead stating that they were random A/B tests. (Dynamic pricing fluctuates based on demand, and surveillance pricing uses a consumer's characteristics and behavior to set individual prices.) It also denied Consumer Reports' claim that these tests cost a typical family $1,200 a year.

Today, Instacart announced that it is ending these price tests.

"We understand that the tests we ran with a small number of retail partners that resulted in different prices for the same item at the same store missed the mark for some customers," the blog post states.

"Effective immediately, Instacart is ending all item price tests on our platform. Retailers will no longer be able to use Eversight technology to run item price tests on Instacart."

The post explains that this means if two families are shopping for the same items at the same time at the same store location on Instacart, they will see the same price.

An Instacart spokesperson denied that these tests were dynamic or surveillance pricing in a statement sent to Mashable. "While these pricing tests were not dynamic pricing nor surveillance pricing, and were never based on personal, demographic, or user-level behavioral characteristics, we've listened carefully to customer feedback, and we understand these tests fell short of their expectations," the spokesperson said.

This announcement also comes days after the FTC announced that Instacart will pay $60 million to consumers as part of a settlement. FTC's lawsuit claimed that Instacart engaged in deceptive tactics like falsely advertising "free delivery" and failing to disclose the terms of its Instacart+ membership. Instacart denied the FTC's allegations.

SAVE 34%: As of Dec. 22, you can get a four-pack of Apple AirTags for just $64.98, down from $99. That's a 34% discount or a savings of $34.02.

Apple AirTag Tracker (4-Pack) $64.98 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.02   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy

If you’re still hunting for those last-minute stocking stuffers that people will actually use, this Apple AirTag deal is probably the easiest win you’ll find. I’m a firm believer that you can never really have too many of these, especially if you’re prone to losing your keys or want to keep tabs on your bags during holiday travel. (They're also great for pets; I use them to keep track of my beagles whenever we visit my parents' house.)

SEE ALSO: Apple's AirTag might get improved location tracking soon

Right now, you can get a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for $64.98 at Amazon. That’s 34% off the $99 list price, which brings them down to about $16 per tracker. Most importantly for this time of year, they arrive before Christmas (Amazon is currently showing overnight delivery in many areas), so you can get them under the tree just in time for the Big Day.

AirTags are super simple to use. It’s just a one-tap process to connect them to your iPhone or iPad. They use the "Find My" network to help you track down your stuff, and if you have a newer iPhone, the Precision Finding feature will lead you right to your lost keys with an arrow on your screen. They’re also water-resistant and have a replaceable battery that you can easily swap out yourself (after about a year), so they aren't just a "disposable" piece of tech.

This past year has been pretty rough for layoffs — and you can thank AI for that, at least in part.

According to a report by CNBC citing consulting firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, AI was responsible for nearly 55,000 layoffs in the U.S. in 2025. This comes during a year that had the highest number of layoffs since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.17 million job cuts across the country, the consulting firm also reported.

In November alone 71,000 jobs were cut — and 6,000 of those, or about 9 percent, were due to AI.

While AI-focused layoffs hit workers across a wide range of employment statuses and ages at companies like Amazon and Walmart, Inc reported that AI has led to a hiring hiring freeze that has hit workers at the entry level particularly hard.

SEE ALSO: Amazon will reportedly cut 30,000 jobs in biggest mass layoff ever

"The rise in youth unemployment might actually be a symptom of the rise in AI," Stephanie Roth, chief economist at Wolfe Research, told Inc. "It’s not even that AI is doing the job for these people, but companies have uncertainty about the direction of travel and they want to preserve optionality [by not hiring young people]."

All the while, Fortune reported that AI-fueled finance jobs taking over human jobs is predominately "smoke and mirrors" for now.

No matter how you look at it, this was a tough year for U.S. workers — and AI reportedly played a role.

Louisiana's Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation act, a social media law that requires social platforms to verify user ages and implement parental controls, has been struck down.

The before the buzzer decision was issued on Dec. 15, made just ahead of the act's enforcement period by Louisiana regulators. The federal judge ruled in favor of tech trade lobbying group NetChoice, which has been constitutionally challenging age verification laws across the country. In April, NetChoice successfully blocked Arkansas' Social Media Safety Act.

SEE ALSO: All the states and countries that have age-verification laws (so far)

"The Act is at once under-inclusive and over-inclusive," wrote judge John W. deGravelles in the Louisiana decision.

NetChoice joins other free speech advocates who argue sweeping age verification laws may pose large scale privacy risks, restrict access to protected speech, and chill open expression online. Online safety advocates, meanwhile, have pushed for social media regulation in the wake of widespread child exploitation and mental health concerns.

Louisiana was the first to enact such a law in 2023, and other states quickly followed suit. Currently, 25 U.S. states have some sort of age verification law on the books, with many focused on restricting access to online pornography. Most recently, Missouri began enforcing an age-gaiting law that requires user verification on sites with "one-third or more pornographic content" — Congress has discussed more than a dozen online safety acts in this month alone.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill has said she will appeal the ruling. Murrill has made social media regulation a priority of the state, including filing the first of a wave of new lawsuits against kids gaming platform Roblox. “The assault on children by online predators is an all-hands-on-deck problem. It’s unfortunate that the court chose to protect huge corporations that facilitate child exploitation over the legislative policy to require simple age verification mechanisms,” said Murrill.

SAVE $20: As of Dec. 22, the basic Kindle (2024) is still on sale for just $89.99 at Amazon. That's 18% off its usual cost of $109.99 and $10 shy of its best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kindle Amazon Kindle $89.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $20   Get Deal

On a normal day, Amazon's basic Kindle is a steal at $109.99. It's the most affordable e-reader in Amazon's lineup (and the best, in my humble opinion), and this holiday season, it's an even better deal than usual.

As of Dec. 22, you can still grab the basic Kindle for just $89.99. That's $20 or 18% off its typical retail price and only $10 away from its best price ever (which I accurately predicted it would hit on Black Friday). If you're in the market for an e-reader for yourself or to gift to someone else, I highly recommend snagging this deal while it's still around.

While Mashable's resident e-reader expert's top pick is the Paperwhite, I would go to battle for the basic Kindle. It's the cheapest option and also the smallest. At only 6 inches, it's tiny enough to slip it into my purse and comfortable enough for one-handed reading. It packs 16GB of storage, which may not sound like much, but is surprisingly enough space for thousands of books. It also has the same screen resolution as the more expensive Paperwhite and the same magical formula that makes you fly through books unbelievably fast. Its only drawbacks are that it's not waterproof and that there's no warm light option. The warm light really isn't a huge deal — I've never felt eye strain from reading on the basic Kindle. The screen literally looks like paper. The waterproof issue is kind of annoying, though. Just be extra cautious if you choose to read at the beach or in the bathtub.

I wouldn't consider myself a Kindle pro, but as I have said before, I'm obsessed with my basic Kindle. I highly recommend it if you're in the market for an e-reader — especially when it's on sale. The discount won't last forever, though.

TL;DR: Live stream Egypt vs. Zimbabwe 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 has started with a number of really entertaining fixtures. We didn't expect anything less from this electric tournament.

Next is Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in Group B. All eyes will be on Mohamed Salah as he looks to put his club issues behind him and lead his country to another AFCON victory. Egypt has won this competition seven times, but Salah has never lifted the trophy.

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

When is Egypt vs. Zimbabwe?

Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 22. This fixture takes place at the Adrar Stadium.

How to watch Egypt vs. Zimbabwe for free

Egypt vs. Zimbabwe 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 Egypt vs. Zimbabwe 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 Egypt vs. Zimbabwe 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 Egypt vs. Zimbabwe (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 Egypt vs. Zimbabwe in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $30: As of Dec. 22, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee and espresso machine is down to just $99 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount from its usual $129.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ $99 at Amazon
$129 Save $30   Get Deal

Last-minute shoppers, if you're looking for a gift idea for under $100, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ just slid below that threshold.

As of Dec. 22, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is on sale for only $99 instead of its usual $129. That's 23% or $30 in savings. There's a ton of color options, but only the pacific blue, pastel yellow, and candy pink have dropped below the $100 mark.

The Vertuo Pop+ delivers on-demand espresso shots at any time of day. But that's not all it does — it can also brew coffee in several other ways. Choose from single shots, double shots, five-, eight, or 12-ounce cups. Just pop in Nespresso pods, fill up the 25-ounce water tank, wait about 30 seconds for it to heat up, and it's ready to rock and roll.

It's just 8.5 inches wide, but the water tank can also be removed for an even slimmer build that can slide into small spaces. It's the smallest Nespresso machine on the market, but it still offers the same massive flavor. The Pop+ is a particularly good fit for dorms, small apartments, or even cubicles. As the name suggests, it adds a pop of color to any space, rather than the standard stainless steel look of most appliances.

At the time of writing, you can still order the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ on time for Christmas — but you'll have to act fast. Save 23% while you can.

SAVE $100: The iPad mini (128GB, WiFi, Space Grey) is on sale at Amazon for $399, down from the list price of $499. That's a $100 savings from a 20% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (128GB, WiFi, Space Grey) $399 at Amazon
$499 Save $100   Get Deal

Sometimes smaller is better. That's true for those who travel with their devices or for students who commute to campus everyday. Smaller handheld devices can also be ideal for those with dexterity restrictions. For whatever reason, the smaller size of the iPad mini might be perfect for some folks. If that sounds ideal, check out this sale price.

As of Dec. 22, the iPad mini (128GB, WiFi, Space Grey) is on sale at Amazon for $399, marked down from the standard price of $499. That's a $100 savings from a 20% discount. Note there's no information about a delivery date from Amazon. Instead, it says you'll get a notification once they have an estimate. If you want the iPad mini as soon as possible, consider Best Buy which is also offering the same $399 sale price but with delivery on Dec. 24.

Christmas shopping brings on major discounts, but we often forget that it's a great time to consider goals for the New Year and if we should grab anything to help achieve those goals. If you want to read more in 2026, the iPad mini is Mashable's top choice for as the best iPad for reading.

Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino explained the compact size and quick processing makes this model perfect for readers. "The other models, like the iPad Air, start at around 11 inches, which is a lot of screen when you just want to flip through your book," Mangino wrote. "But the iPad mini isn't just a glorified e-reader; it's still a versatile tablet. Like any iPad, you can read on it, but you can also stream your favorite shows — a level of flexibility that a Kindle simply can't match."

SEE ALSO: Score the Apple Watch Series 11 for its best-ever price at Amazon — save $100 right now

This 7th generation model of the iPad mini comes with 128GB storage in its compact 8.3-inch display. Apple claims it has "all-day battery life" which translates to up to 10 hours of web surfing on WiFi. In Mashable's full review of the iPad mini from Senior Editor Stan Schroeder, he wrote, "If you're new to the iPad, and you want the most compact one around (or any compact tablet), the new iPad mini 7 is the best choice."

If your 2026 plans could be improved by a lightweight and compact tablet that's also great to use as an e-reader, jump on this deal to get the iPad mini for $399.