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TL;DR: Save some money on your next trip abroad with this $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click aloSIM Traveler's Mobile Data Plan: $150 Credit $69.99
$150 Save $80.01   Get Deal

Got big travel plans in store for 2026? If you’re heading abroad, make sure you can stay in touch without spending a fortune with aloSIM. This eSIM card keeps you connected in more than 200 countries and regions without roaming charges, and right now you can get a $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

Traveling internationally is not cheap. Fortunately, you can make it a little more affordable with this aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan. Instead of coming home to ridiculous roaming charges, this eSIM card gets you $150 of data for less than half the price. You can connect to a fast, local data connection on 5G and LTE networks easily — with no surprise charges that creep up later.

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With aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan, you just install a digital eSIM ahead of your travels and connect to data networks in over 200 countries. It’s prepaid and never expires, though the data package is only valid for the length of time stated at purchase, and unused data won’t roll over to your next trip.

This eSIM can be used on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, giving you flexible connection options once you land. You also have it for life, with no monthly charges. Just add a data plan next time you need to use it. You can also add more data as you go, with packages starting at $4.50 that last for 7 days.

Don’t leave home with this $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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

An idiot.

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

DUNCE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Danger.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 27, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PERIL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Hoarse.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 27, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RASPY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Passionately

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 27 Hurdle Word 4 answer

HOTLY

Final Hurdle hint

To rehash.

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

RECAP

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

It's a new lunar phase tonight, the First Quarter. This is when half of the moon is lit on the right side.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Dec. 27, the moon phase is First Quarter. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 47% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium, Fecunditatis, and Serenitatis tonight. If you add binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater and the Posidonius Crater. With a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 17 landing spot, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Rima Hyginus.

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: Live stream Nigeria vs. Tunisia 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 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to deliver exactly what we wanted — exciting football from some of the best players in the world. Next up is Nigeria vs. Tunisia, probably one of the biggest group stage fixtures on the schedule. We can't wait.

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

When is Nigeria vs. Tunisia?

Nigeria vs. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 27. This fixture takes place at the Fez Stadium.

How to watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia for free

Nigeria vs. Tunisia 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. Tunisia 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. Tunisia 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 Nigeria vs. Tunisia (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. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Senegal vs. DR Congo 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 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has already delivered a huge number of exciting fixtures, but there's plenty more where that came from. Next is Senegal vs. DR Congo in Group D. Morocco are favorites to win this competition, but you have to consider Senegal as contenders.

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

When is Senegal vs. DR Congo?

Senegal vs. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 27. This fixture takes place at the Tangier Grand Stadium.

How to watch Senegal vs. DR Congo for free

Senegal vs. DR Congo 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. DR Congo 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. DR Congo 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. DR Congo (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. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love a good drink.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 27, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Plane tiers

• Green: To ascribe

• Blue: Life's work

• Purple: Boozy drinks

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Airline classes

• Green: Attribute

• Blue: Vocation

• Purple: Ending with alcoholic beverages

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #930 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Airline classes: BUSINESS, ECONOMY, FIRST, PREMIUM

• Attribute: CITE, CREDIT, NAME, REFERENCE

• Vocation: CALLING, CRAFT, LINE, TRADE

• Ending with alcoholic beverages: DECIDER, NAMESAKE, REPORT, VILLAGER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love adding your input.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 27, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 27, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: If you ask me...

The words are related to input.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a frame of mind.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is My Two Cents.

NYT Strands word list for December 27

• Opinion

• Perspective

• My Two Cents

• Take

• Viewpoint

• Outlook

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love baking cookies.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 27, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 27, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A pack.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BATCH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

TL;DR: This tiny NanoPhone is a 4G smartphone with Dual SIM and essential apps that’s on sale for $84.97 (reg. $199.99) with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone - A Mini 4G Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $84.97
$199.99 Save $115.02   Get Deal

One of the most popular goals for the new year is to rely less on your phone. If you are in that camp, the NanoPhone Mini 4G Smartphone offers a surprisingly practical way to get there.

For just $84.97 (reg. $199.99) with free shipping, you get a fully functional smartphone that’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand — and discreet enough that it won’t dominate your day.

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This credit-card-sized device delivers the core features most people actually use: Dual SIM support, 4G + Wi-Fi connectivity, clear voice calls, video chats, and access to popular essentials like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. It’s a lightweight, clutter-free option designed for staying reachable without the constant pull of a large, app-loaded phone.

The NanoPhone shines as a travel companion, gym-friendly device, emergency backup, or dedicated “focus phone” for days when you want to unplug but can’t be totally off the grid.

Its small build and surprisingly crisp 3-inch HD touchscreen make navigating apps easy, while the front and rear cameras let you capture quick moments without hauling around your usual tech loaded with distractions. And because it supports two SIM cards, you can keep personal and work numbers separate — or use it internationally without swapping your main device.

If you’re ready to reclaim some screen-free space in your life, this tiny-but-mighty smartphone is a good place to start. Get the NanoPhone Mini 4G Smartphone while it’s on sale for $84.97 (reg. $199.99) with free shipping for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

LG is set to show off the future of home robotics at CES 2026.

The Korean tech conglomerate stated in a press release that it will unveil its newest domestic helper bot at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January. Named "CLOiD," the robot is "designed to perform a wide range of indoor household tasks, enhancing everyday convenience and improving quality of life by making home management more efficient and intuitive."

SEE ALSO: Chinese demonstration shows how dangerous commercial robot hacks can be

It will theoretically do so with the help of two articulated arms, each with five finger-like digits on the end that are said to help it perform delicate tasks. The arms themselves have seven degrees of freedom. There's a chip in its head that acts like a brain, complemented by a camera, a display, a speaker, and other sensors that it will use to navigate the environment and communicate with its owners. It's powered by LG AI and, according to the company, will refine its responses over time to become more personalized to the needs of whoever it interacts with on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, that's about all we've got on CLOiD right now. LG didn't share any real photos of the robot or disclose its cost or release date. Given that this is at CES, there's a real possibility that CLOiD is designed to come to mass market a very long time from now, or maybe even never. We'll all find out together in just a week or two.

The Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) viewers meet in Stranger Things Season 5 doesn't feel like the same Dustin we've known since Season 1.

Gone is Hawkins' resident ball of sunshine, replaced with a sulking, angry young man who would sooner graffiti a bully's locker than belt "Never Ending Story" over walkie-talkie. Yet this transformation didn't come out of nowhere. Instead, it stems from a clear point of trauma for Dustin: witnessing the tragic death of Eddie (Joseph Quinn) at the end of Season 4.

SEE ALSO: Gaten Matarazzo on 'Stranger Things' 'SNL' shoutout, Dustin and Steve's big fight, and why AI is 'lame'

Since then, Dustin has channeled his inner Eddie, growing out his hair, donning handfuls of rings, and rocking his Hellfire Club shirt no matter how much abuse it gets him from bullies. But while Dustin pays tribute to Eddie, he's been pushing away his other close friends, especially Steve (Joe Keery).

"He's actively trying to cut himself off from the person he's scared of losing the most," Matarazzo told Mashable during a Say More interview.

Dustin's grief causes serious tension in Stranger Things Season 5. Gaten Matarazzo in "Stranger Things." Credit: Netflix

Matarazzo knew the strained dynamic between Dustin and Steve would be polarizing, as the two had been basically inseparable since Season 2. He also knew the same would be true of Dustin's emotional arc as a whole.

"I was kind of hoping there would be a bit of a conflicted feeling around it," Matarazzo said. "I didn't want it to come across as like, 'Oh, poor him.' Because as much as that's true, and I think a lot of people can clearly see he's going through a lot, he's also being a dick. And I think, no matter how much one is grieving, it doesn't excuse your behavior towards other people, especially those who are in your corner, people who are there supporting you."

SEE ALSO: The 'Stranger Things' play totally unlocks 'Stranger Things' Season 5, Vol. 2

That tug-of-war between sympathy for and frustration at Dustin runs through much of Season 5, starting with Dustin missing episode's 1 crawl to the Upside Down after picking a fight with his tormentors. His absence jeopardizes the mission and further strains his relationship with his friends, many of whom have experienced their own losses since Season 1.

He's going through a lot. He's also being a dick. - Gaten Matarazzo

"Dustin's in a position where there's — it seems horrible to say — but there's almost bigger fish to fry than you losing your friend," Matarazzo said. "Everyone's lost people. Maybe it's the first time it felt so present to Dustin, because it's somebody so close to him, and it happens right in front of him."

Matarazzo contrasts Dustin's own grieving over Eddie with Lucas' (Caleb McLaughlin) grieving over Max (Sadie Sink) being in a coma for over a year.

"Lucas is clearly dealing with something very similar to Dustin, but also seems to be taking it in a route that's less selfish," he said, pointing to Lucas' continued involvement in the Season 5 crawl and the friend group overall.

SEE ALSO: 'Running Up That Hill' returns for Season 5 of 'Stranger Things'

The differences in the two characters' grieving processes on screen highlights that there's no one way to deal with loss. Grief is not linear, and Dustin's own journey comes with no shortage of mess and tension. That's especially true of his relationship with Steve, which hits its lowest point in Season 5.

Dustin and Steve's more contentious relationship this season altered the way Matarazzo and Keery approached key scenes together, as the pair's friendlier, more fun dynamic as scene partners clashed with Dustin and Steve's conflict.

"Sometimes we'd be goofing off before takes and especially early on, they would yell, 'action,' and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm not centered in the slightest,' because I'm still just joking around with him," Matarazzo said. "That was a different approach. And so we would look at things and look at each other and be like, 'Man, this is really sad,' because we just want to have fun sometimes. That's the natural drive there."

SEE ALSO: The 20 best Netflix TV shows of 2025

That's not to say there are no fun Dustin and Steve moments in Season 5. Matarazzo points to the scene in episode 4 when Steve drives his car through a rift into the Upside Down, with a terrified Dustin, Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) hanging on for dear life.

"[In that scene] there's the normal excitement of us screaming and yelling and insulting each other, but with playful banter, and I think it's one of those moments where in [Dustin's] weird, little pent-up rage, when all is said and done and when everything else goes crazy around him, he doesn't really have time to actively try to be mean to [Steve]," Matarazzo said.

Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 centers Dustin and Steve's relationship. Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Keery in "Stranger Things." Credit: Netflix

The Dustin and Steve drama comes to a head in Season 5, Volume 2, when the pair investigate Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down. There, the two fully have it out about Eddie's death, with their cutting words culminating in a physical altercation. In prior seasons, Matarazzo would have put a lot of pressure on himself the entire day leading up to shooting that scene.

"But that day, I remember I felt very normal until about 20 minutes before we started shooting," he recalled. "Sometimes I just wander around in a corner with headphones on, not really to build up any emotions or anything like that, but to just weirdly get the head fog out of it and just be at a neutral place, because then you can be open to discovering what happens. There are a lot of different takes. There are takes where we're crying before the fight, there are takes where we're even angrier, and there's takes where's it just at a neutral tone, where we're just saying these things to each other and then seeing how naturally it digs in, and they took a lot from each of them."

However, one scene that Matarazzo did put pressure on himself for was Dustin and Steve's eventual reconciliation, which led to a hug so deep I felt it in my bones.

"I was so scared of it the whole time," Matarazzo said. "I remember the whole season, I read it at the table read, and I was like, 'Oh great, it's one of those.'"

Much of Season 5 was shot chronologically, too, so Matarazzo and Keery came into the scene having already gone through much of the emotional build-up. That just makes the conversation all the more cathartic, as Stranger Things' fan-favorite duo finally lay all their emotions bare.

"I think one of the healthiest things to do in grief is unpacking it when you feel the need to do so and diving in and feeling everything that you possible can feel and that you're naturally inclined to feeling," Matarazzo said.

The reconciliation scene is that to a T, with Steve and especially Dustin dropping any facades and just allowing themselves to be open about how much they mean to one another. It's a stand-out Stranger Things moment in a season full of them, made all the sweeter by the complex twists and turns Steve and Dustin took to get there.

For more from Mashable's interview with Gaten Matarazzo, watch the full Say More episode on YouTube.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix. The series finale premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix and in theaters.

Spoilers ahead for the season one finale of HBO Max's Heated Rivalry:

That's a wrap for the first season of Heated Rivalry, the come-from-nowhere Canadian romance that quickly leapfrogged to the top of HBO Max's streaming series list. There is not yet a critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes for episode six, but the ultra-romantic, (mostly) languid finale certainly captured hearts on social media, with plenty of meme-able moments between NHL lovebirds, Shane and Ilya.

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After their fellow player Scott Hunter (François Arnaud) very publicly came out, Ilya decides that he will accept Shane's offer to spend a few weeks at the latter's secluded Canadian cottage (this cottage is more like a mansion in the woods, but it's good to be a professional athlete). Once at their private compound, some initial awkwardness between the besotted duo gives way to lovemaking, meal prep, barbecues, and numerous heartfelt confessions, delivered perfectly by Hudson Williams (Shane) and Connor Storrie (Ilya).

Some of the most affecting conversations include Ilya discussing his mother's suicide — he found her body when he was 12 — and a wonderful moment where Shane expresses to Ilya that their relationship is no longer just about the thrill of the forbidden, or even just about lust, but something much more. Then, Ilya, discussing his residency issues, admits he may marry his best friend/occasional lover Svetlana in order to obtain a green card. This elicits a wounded response from Shane, who quietly pleads with his betrothed not to marry someone who's not him (Williams's eye acting here is beautiful).

It's Shane's solution to Ilya's problem — his desire to never return to Russia — that serves as the impetus to what the whole season has built up to. Shane has stayed up all night, working on a solution, one that could keep them in each other's proximity. Shane proposed that Ilya abandon the Boston team that drafted him and join Ottawa, only two hours from Shane's home in Montreal. Shane also wants to start a charity with Ilya, giving them a reason to work together off the ice; a prelude to them being together, which Shane admits is what he wants so much it scares him. Shane's devotion to building a future for them together is catnip to Ilya, who starts smothering Shane with kisses, whispering words to him in Russian. Those words: "I love you."

SEE ALSO: Why is the sex in 'Heated Rivalry' so hot?

A moment later, crying and shaking, Ilya gathers to courage to tell Shane those words in English. Seeing this tougher-than-nails Russian hockey beast quivering over his love for Shane is a TV moment for the ages. Shane, gobsmacked, waits a beat to respond, which almost makes Ilya waver, until Shane responds in kind. "I love you so fucking much," Shane says. The oceans parted and the skies wept.

Hours later, Ilya watches the sunrise as Shane brings him coffee and a blanket; they soon embrace and sit in profound silence. It's a direct contrast to the previous episode, where the men watched the sun set over Tampa Bay, while barely scraping each other's pinkie fingers.

There is also a sunrise, toe-touching, sex, cheeseburgers, and swimming before the episode's biggest detour occurs — Shane's father (Dylan Walsh) catches his son making out with Ilya when he stops by the cottage to pick up a phone charger. The men, now seemingly a couple, drive to Shane's parents' house for a coming-out discussion that is as harrowing (mostly for Shane) as it is cathartic. The "talk" features the guys reassuring each other by touching toes under the kitchen table, a call back to their flirty press conference from earlier in the season. After a beautiful moment between Shane and his mother (a lovely Christina Chang), the boyfriends (not "lovers!") drive back to the cottage as the credits roll. Their intimacy, finally settling into something comfortable, is on display as they laugh, hold hands, admire each other, touch each other gently, and then in the last moment of the show, Shane playfully grabs Ilya's cheek while making a loony face himself. It was a rare demonstration of levity for Shane.

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Some on X speculated that the final shot of the show was more Williams and Storrie than Shane and Ilya. In an interview with EW, Williams and Heated Rivalry show creator (the series is based on the books by author Rachel Reid) and writer Jacob Tierney explained the exchange in the car was intentional and about the characters, not the actors.

"[Tierney] left that sweet exchange in to show how Shane is capable of breaking his guarded facade. 'I think Shane does have a playful side that is stifled...Under every scene in season 1, there's not much room for super goofy play,' Williams says. 'There's a tentative nature to episode 6. Although it's calm, it's still like, 'Can this work, when we're left alone to our own devices?'"

"It does feel like a puppy learning to play," Tierney adds.

One of the many things Heated Rivalry does well is showcase thoughtful details like the face-holding and the sentiments of love in Russian. Other notable examples include Shane's blood pressure dropping when Ilya enters his hospital room, Shane's period-appropriate boat shoes from the finale, and all the accurate Russian dialogue delivered brilliantly by Storrie.

Researchers are making headway in the "terrifying robot apocalypse" department.

Yicaiglobal reported (via Interesting Engineering) that specialists from the Chinese cybersecurity research group Darknavy recently showed off a method of compromising commercial humanoid robots that has somewhat terrifying implications if used in a real-world setting. At GEEKcon in Shangai, the researchers took a commercially available Unitree robot and demonstrated that it could be hacked with voice commands and, if that wasn't bad enough, used to infect other nearby units.

The robot in question ran off an internal AI agent. By exploiting a flaw in the software, the researchers were able to take over the robot while it was connected to a network, at which point the researchers had the robot use local wireless communication to spread the hack to another nearby robot that actually wasn't even connected to the network at the time. Spreading the hack from one robot to another only took a matter of minutes. Even worse, the researchers were able to issue a command for the robot to physically strike a mannequin on stage.

SEE ALSO: What the iRobot bankruptcy means for Roomba owners

The implications here are as obvious as they are scary. For decades, cybersecurity risks have largely involved stealing money or information from people. If humanoid robots become commonplace in homes (for use in elder care or things like that), it suddenly opens up a whole new world of horrible possibilities for hackers to commit legitimate physical harm to innocent people. Beyond that, it could disrupt robotic labor operations or critical infrastructure.

For now, let's just be glad all of this was done in a safe environment, with the intent of finding ways to fix these problems rather than propagate them.

Gaten Matarazzo doesn't quite believe Saturday Night Live star Jane Wickline's claims that the Stranger Things kids are "the greatest threat to humanity right now."

During a Dec. 13 Weekend Update appearance, Wickline sang a song warning viewers that the Stranger Things child actors, now grown-up, would be using their influence to take over the world. But Matarazzo is happy to assure humanity that that is not the case.

SEE ALSO: Here's how to watch the 'Stranger Things' Season 5 finale in theaters

"Even if we did have the capabilities of being the greatest threat to humanity, I don't think any of us really have the gumption to go with it," Matarazzo told Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards during a Say More interview. "I don't know if I really have that in me."

However, Wickline's song was never really about the Stranger Things actors. Instead, it's a tongue-in-cheek critique of artificial intelligence, with the comedian citing everything everything from AI's impacts on job markets to its heavy water usage. And while Matarazzo may not agree with Wickline that the Stranger Things actors are willing to commit to world domination, the AI criticism is something he can fully get behind.

"It's lame," Matarazzo said of AI. "Making a show like Stranger Things, or making anything in general, especially when you look at film and TV, the whole point is that it's subjective so people can have whatever opinion they have. But I don't think that anything is art unless people make it, and I don't really think there's much to comment there unless people are pulling from their own experience or shared experience."

SEE ALSO: The 'Stranger Things' play totally unlocks 'Stranger Things' Season 5, Vol. 2

AI has undeniably been one of the most polarizing hot-button topics in the entertainment industry over the past few years. During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which impacted production on Stranger Things Season 5, AI was a major topic of concern for both unions. In 2025, it continued to be a talking point, from the creation of AI "actress" Tilly Norwood to Disney's $1 billion deal with OpenAI.

For Matarazzo, the acceleration of AI is a worrying one. "The scariest thing, I think, is that people are like, 'OK, great, we draw a line here,' but then two years from now... there's a fear that it gets to a point where it is unrecognizable," he said. "I think that's kind of the goal there, that people who are enthusiasts of AI art are like, 'isn't it going to be great when you can't tell the difference?' I'm like, 'That scares the shit out of me.'"

The full interview also dives into standout moments from Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2, including Dustin's emotional fight with Steve (Joe Keery) in the Upside Down. The pair have been at odds for the entire season, as Dustin's grief over Eddie's (Joseph Quinn) death causes him to push his friends, especially Steve, away. That tension comes to a head in the Upside Down's replica of Hawkins lab, when the pair's argument about Eddie's death ends in a fistfight that's full of telling character moments about Steven and Dustin.

"What I really do love about that fight is that, if I remember properly, he never swings at me once. He never hits me once," Matarazzo said. "Everything he does is to get me away from him. He does push me against a wall and push me away from him, because I'm actively trying to hurt him."

Dustin finally punches Steve in the face, at which point the gloves come off. Steve wrestles Dustin into a headlock, and after the two wind up, spent, on the floor, he walks away.

"That's where he draws the line and ends it right there. It's very clear, like, there's no fight there. If he wanted to, absolutely, he could knock me into the next room, and that's just never his intention there," Matarazzo said. "That's why, even as much as I've hurt him throughout the year, he just always keeps his composure. And that's really cool. He says some hurtful things, for sure, but everybody tends to, and I really like that that's how it goes down."

Watch the full Say More episode on Mashable's YouTube page to hear more from Matarazzo about Dustin and Steve's eventual reconciliation, as well as his reaction to fans' worries that Dustin will die.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix. The series finale premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix and in theaters.

The best streaming deals to watch 'Bugonia' at a glance: BEST NON-STREAMING OPTION Buy or rent 'Bugonia' on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Best overall Peacock Premium yearly subscription $109.99/year (save 17%) Get Deal Best for students and young adults Peacock Premium for Students and Young Adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Best for first responders/medical professionals Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Best for military personnel Peacock Premium for Active Military and Veterans $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Best for teachers Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4/month) Get Deal Best for Instacart+ members Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal Best for Walmart shoppers Peacock Premium free for Walmart+ subscribers Get Deal

The dynamic duo that brought us Poor Things is back with another cinematic gem. Bugonia, directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and starring Emma Stone, is a conspiracy caper that plunges you into a perpetual state of doubt. It also stars the fantastic Jesse Plemons (Stone and Lanthimos' Kinds of Kindness collaborator) and made Mashable's list of the best movies of 2025.

Bugonia is now officially available to stream as of Dec. 26. If you missed it on the big screen, here's everything you need to know to tune in at home.

What is Bugonia about?

A remake of Jang Joon-hwan's 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet!, Bugonia follows Teddy (Plemons), a bike-riding beekeeper and conspiracy theorist. He believes the state of the world is due to aliens living among us — one being no-nonsense big pharma CEO Michelle Fuller (Stone). Teddy, along with his cousin Don (Aidan Delbis), enacts a plan to kidnap Michelle and uncover the truth. What follows is a battle of wills, uncomfortable discussions of capitalist greed, class politics, and whether or not humanity is worth saving.

Check out the official trailer below, complete with a Chappell Roan jam session.

Is Bugonia worth watching?

Bugonia premiered at the 2025 Venice International Film Festival, where it received mostly positive reviews, before heading to theaters nationwide on Oct. 31. It didn't break any box office records, but most of the awards season favorites didn't.

It's earned an 87 percent critic rating and 84 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as three Golden Globe nominations and three Critics Choice Awards nominations. Oscar nods are likely to follow.

Mashable's own entertainment editor didn't think it was one of Lanthimos' best, writing, "Bugonia, despite having a sensational cast and clear vision for its world, lacks profundity in its smorgasbord of hot topics. Environmentalism, oligarchy, the manosphere, healthcare for profit — all of these make for a dizzying brew from which Teddy and Michelle arise on opposing sides."

However, Bugonia still managed to earn the number 11 slot on our list of the best movies from 2025.

Check out our full review of Bugonia.

How to watch Bugonia at home Credit: Focus Features

There are a couple of different ways you can watch Bugonia at home as of Dec. 26. You can buy it or rent it at digital-on-demand retailers for as low as $19.99, or you can stream it on Peacock. See the details below.

Buy or rent it on digital

Bugonia is available as of Nov. 25, 2025, to buy or rent at digital-on-demand retailers. If you choose to rent, you'll get 30 days to watch the film and just 48 hours to finish it once you start. If you choose to buy it instead, then it's yours to keep with no watch limits.

Here are some quick links to rent or purchase the film:

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Stream it on Peacock

As a Focus Features film, Bugonia made its streaming debut on Peacock on Dec. 26, 2025. This follows the digital-to-streaming arc of other recent Focus Features films (The Phoenician Scheme, The Ballad of Wallis Island, Honey Don't!).

Don't have a Peacock subscription? You can sign up for $10.99 per month with ads or $16.99 per month without (thanks to the most recent price hike). Before you get ahead of yourself, though, be sure to check out the best ways to save some money on a subscription below.

The best Peacock streaming dealsBest Peacock deal: Save 17% on an annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription $109.99 per year or $169.99 per year (save 17%) Get Deal

The best Peacock deal for most people on any given day is the annual subscription deal. You'll get 12 months of streaming for the price of 10 just by paying for a year up front. While monthly subscriptions cost $10.99 per month with ads (which adds up to $131.88), yearly subscriptions cost $109.99 (which breaks down to only $9.17 per month). That's about 17% or $21.89 in savings.

Prefer to watch ad-free? It'll cost you $169.99 per year (which breaks down to $14.16 per month instead of $16.99).

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Xfinity customers should check the eligibility details below before signing up for Peacock, as you might be able to score a subscription without paying a cent. Here's a breakdown of who is eligible to get Peacock for free through Xfinity. You can also head to Xfinity.com for more details.

• Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards and choose Peacock as a reward. Then, wait for your email (it may take a few hours) with instructions on activating the offer.

• NOW TV customers can also receive Peacock Premium as part of their service.

• New customers with Xfinity Internet and an X1 TV Box, Flex streaming TV Box, or a Xumo Stream Box from Xfinity can get Peacock Premium for free for six months.

Best Peacock deal for students and young adults: Save $5/month for one year Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for young adults $5.99/month for 12 months (save $5/month) Get Deal

Students and young adults can save $5 per month on a Peacock Premium subscription all year long — that's a total of $25 in savings. You'll need to verify your student status via SheerID and retrieve the unique promo code to knock the cost down to just $5.99 instead of $10.99. Just note that after the promo year is up, you'll be charged full price again unless you cancel.

Best for first responders, medical professionals, military, and teachers: Save $4/month Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Military $6.99 per month (save $4 per month) Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Teachers $6.99/month (save $4 per month) Get Deal

First responders, medical professionals, military personnel, and teachers can all secure a Peacock Premium subscription at a discounted rate of $6.99 per month by verifying their professional status via SheerID. Unlike the student deal, however, it's not limited to a year. If you continue to meet verification qualifications, you can renew your subscription at the discounted rate each year — although you may have to go through the verification process each time and receive a new promo code.

Best for Instacart users: free Peacock Premium for Instacart+ subscribers Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart / Peacock Peacock Premium annual subscription Free for Instacart+ subscribers (save $109.99/year) Get Deal

Instacart+ membership ($99.99 per year) unlocks a free Peacock Premium subscription ($109.99 per year value) on top of free grocery delivery, lower fees, and credit back on eligible pickup orders. Plus, if you're new to Instacart+, you'll get a free two-week trial to kick things off. That means you can watch Bugonia and plenty more for free. Just be sure to cancel before you're charged the full amount.

Best for Walmart shoppers: free Peacock Premium for Walmart+ members Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Walmart+ $98 per year Get Deal

Walmart now gives its Walmart+ members the ability to choose Peacock Premium as a free perk. A $109.99 value, your $98 Walmart+ membership is already a better deal than paying for Peacock on its own. Add in free shipping (with no order minimums), fuel discounts, a Scan & Go checkout tool, and early access to deals during Walmart's major shopping events, and you've got yourself a winning subscription.

It's no secret I love the Brick, a device that single-handedly cut my screen time in half. In fact, as I'm writing this, my phone is currently Bricked. Instagram, TikTok, and Substack, you will not distract me from my work today. The physical barrier that Brick adds makes it the best choice for those whose built-in screen limits just don't work.

However, there's one big barrier with the Brick — its price. At $59, it's a steep cost for the sake of cutting screen time, unless you get one sale (which, btw, it's currently 20% off.) But there's one thing that I think makes it an even better value — you can share it with your whole household.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick $47.20 at Brick
$59 Save $11.80   Get Deal Can multiple people use the same Brick?

When I first started using the Brick, a few things happened. My screen time plummeted, I rediscovered how to be bored again, but most surprisingly, my wife wanted in on the Brick life.

Our days look very different. I work from home, typing away on my laptop, and hunting the internet for the latest tech and shopping news. Meanwhile, my wife is a high school teacher, instructing and working with students in the classroom. But despite how different our days look, we both fall into the trap of scrolling when we have downtime or a free period.

Plus, at the end of the day, when we're finally home together, our nights usually culminate in turning on our current binge of the moment, but end with us looking at our phones rather than the TV. All this to say, we both needed some help with screen time.

Luckily, more than one person can use a Brick. In fact, according to Brick's support site, there's no limit to how many people can use the same Brick. All you need to connect to a Brick is access to the app and to make your own account — you can't share accounts.

Make sure to keep the Brick in a spot everyone in your house can access. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

So to go in on a Brick with one other person cuts the cost in half. Sharing it with a whole house of roommates, well, you can do the math. But before you share your Brick, remember this isn't like sharing a streaming subscription (because we definitely don't do that...). You need physical access to the Brick to use it, so you can only share it with people in your household.

And a word of caution on sharing your Brick with other people — agree to keep the Brick in one spot. You don't want to go to block (or unblock) your phone and find that it's been moved — you want to avoid using an Emergency Unbrick.

So if you've been holding out on buying a Brick, consider splitting the cost with a partner or roommate because we could all use some help getting offline.

Opens in a new window Credit: Brick Brick $47.20 at Brick
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TL;DR: Digitize anything from anywhere with this lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, on sale now for just $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $27.99
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If you’ve ever needed to scan something quickly, you know how hard it can be to hunt down a scanner. Luckily, there’s now an app for that — iScanner. This handy tool turns your iPad or iPhone into a scanner that lets you digitize documents anywhere. And right now, a lifetime subscription to iScanner App can be yours for only $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.

It’s almost 2026, but we’re often still dealing with physical documents and find ourselves needing a scanner. The iScanner App lets you keep a scanning device ready at all times by turning your iPhone or iPad into a scanner.

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With the iScanner App, submitting signatures, safeguarding handwritten notes, and sharing documents is easy. Just point your device’s camera at the page you would like to scan and let the app take over. It has AI-powered features that detect and adjust the document’s borders, so you don’t have to deal with distortions.

Once you have scanned something, you can improve it with editing tools like color correction and noise-removing features. Then export it as a PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT. If you pick a PDF, you can also use it to sign, add text, or auto-fill documents on this file type, as iScanner doubles as a PDF editor.

iScanner also serves as a document manager. You can organize your scans into folders using convenient drag-and-drop. It also lets you lock folders and files with a PIN if you’re handling confidential information. And if you need to translate text or solve a math problem, this app can do that too.

Get a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, on sale now for just $27.99 (reg. $199.90) with code FLASH through Jan. 11.

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TL;DR: This $23.99 lifetime PDF Converter & Editor gives you fast, accurate conversions, full editing tools, OCR, form building, and more — on both Mac and Windows.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acethinker PDF Converter & Editor: Lifetime License $23.99
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Sometimes it feels like PDFs are running your day instead of the other way around. This lifetime PDF Converter & Editor license is the workflow upgrade you might not have realized even existed.

For just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT, you get a full-featured tool that converts, edits, merges, scans, and organizes documents with accuracy and zero drama — available to both Windows and Mac users.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

At its core, the software delivers fast, high-quality conversion in every direction. Need a PDF turned into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Text, HTML, JPG, or PNG? Done. Want to convert those files back into clean, well-formatted PDFs? Also done — with the layouts, fonts, images, and links fully preserved.

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You can even extract all images from a PDF in one click or compress oversized files for easy sharing.

Whether you’re freelancing, running a small business, or simply organizing personal documents, this tool eliminates the usual PDF frustrations and gives you full control over your files — permanently. Get lifetime access to the PDF Converter & Editor while it’s on sale for just $23.99 (reg. $99.99) with code CONVERT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Moon is now a few days into the new cycle, so there is plenty to see when you look up in the sky tonight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Friday, Dec. 26, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 37% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium, Fecunditatis, and Serenitatis tonight. If you add binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater and the Posidonius Crater. To see even more, pull out a telescope and you'll spot the Apollo 11 and 17 landing spots and the Rupes Altai.

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: Live stream Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Fans can follow a number of festive NBA games for free this year, including Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics. The Celtics have been much better than expected this season without star player Jayson Tatum, and they'll be expected to beat the Pacers comfortably here.

If you want to watch Pacers vs. Celtics in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Pacers vs. Celtics?

Pacers vs. Celtics in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 26. This game takes place at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

How to watch Pacers vs. Celtics for free

Pacers vs. Celtics in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access 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 access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.