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Find all the best October Prime Day espresso machine deals

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 09:20
The best espresso machine deals on October Prime Day Best for the basics De'Longhi Pump Espresso and Cappuccino Machine $98.98 at Amazon (Save $30.97) Get Deal Best for single serve coffee or espresso Nespresso Vertuo Next $109.19 at Amazon (Save $69.81) Get Deal Best mid-range machine Breville Duo Temp Pro $299.95 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal Best splurge Breville Barista Touch $799.95 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal

Timeless beverage as it may be, espresso is having an especially good year. For starters, Sabrina Carpenter made it the song of the summer. Now, Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days are making espresso machines one of the sale's must-get deals.

SEE ALSO: October Prime Day is just one day away — here are all the best deals to shop so far

It makes sense — the weather is finally cooling down, and the days are getting shorter. Hot espresso and the access to a latte whenever you want it are perhaps most essential at this time of year. Plus, if you like getting your holiday shopping done early, grabbing an espresso machine on sale can save you a couple hundred bucks.

Case in point — most of Breville's espresso machine line is on sale, from the Duo Temp Pro at just $299.95 to the fancier Barista Touch, also on sale for $200 off. If you're more into popping in a pod, Nespressos are also on sale, as well as picks from De'Longhi and Mr. Coffee. Whether you're looking for a high-end machine that can make any espresso drinks with the touch of a button, or something simple that can reliably pull an espresso shot, we've got you covered.

SEE ALSO: Instant Pot deals aren't great, but there are a few worth checking out ahead of Prime Day

Find all our picks for the best espresso machine deals below, and if you don't see one you like, make sure to check back during Prime Big Deal Days — we'll be updating this list as new deals appear.

Best espresso machine deal Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Duo Temp Pro $299.95 at Amazon
$499.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we picked this

Espresso machines can easily run you near $1,000, and though Breville is known for their pricier machines, this Duo Temp Pro deal sits squarely in the middle of the budget range for most consumer espresso machines. You'll get the low-pressure pre-infusion designed to help you achieve even extraction, a milk frother, and a machine that heats up quickly. If you're not a huge coffee drinker or prefer to be as minimal effort as possible, one of the under $200 options or a Nespresso might work better for you. However, if you're looking to level up your espresso game but don't want to pay $500-plus, then the Duo Temp Pro is a solid pick.

According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this machine has dropped lower in price only one time before for a record low of $279.99.

More espresso machine deals

Best deals under $200

Best deals under $500

Best deals under $1,000

PROMOTED HOME DEALS Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 4qt Air Fryer $69.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $60.00 Shop Now ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium $328.99 at Amazon
Shop Now GE Whole House Water Filtration System $205.24 at Amazon
$229.00 Save $23.76 Shop Now

Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Instant Pot deals aren't great, but there are some worth checking out on October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 09:18

UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2024, 6:04 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest pricing and availability on Instant Pot deals on Prime Big Deal Days.

October Prime Day deals on Instant Pot Best classic Instant Pot deal Instant Pot RIO (7.5-quart) $119 at Amazon (Save $10.99) Get Deal Best mini Instant Pot deal Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Mini (3-quart) $69.99 at Amazon (save $10) Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days is just a few days away, with the official start date landing on Tuesday, Oct. 8, but the deals have already started. In addition to spotting plenty of kitchen deals already, we've seen some nice discounts on Instant Pots.

SEE ALSO: These are the best early October Prime Day deals that cost under $50

Though Instant Pot had its viral moment thanks to multi-cookers that combined the capabilities of air frying, pressure cooking, and slow cooking, the brand offers a wide variety of appliance options, from toaster ovens to coffee makers. Below, we've gathered the best Instant kitchen deals available ahead of October Prime Day spanning across the brand's catalogue of products.

Best Instant Pot deal Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Instant Pot RIO (7.5-quart) $119.00 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $10.99 Get Deal Why we like it

In these final days before Prime Big Deal Days, the Instant Pot deals aren't all that thrilling. However, it's nice to see the Instant Pot RIO on sale, as it is one of the newer additions to the Instant Pot multi-cooker family. This wide model allows for more area for searing meat — overcrowding is the enemy of browning (and therefore, flavor), so giving users the ease of cooking while minimizing the need to cook in batches. While it doesn't have an air frying function like the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, it also costs a bit less (at the time of writing, the six-quart Duo Crisp is $150 on sale). Instant also added a cooking progress display to the RIO, allowing the more impatient among us to check the progress of their dinner with ease.

More Instant deals at AmazonPROMOTED HOME DEALS Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 4qt Air Fryer $69.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $60.00 Shop Now ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium $328.99 at Amazon
Shop Now GE Whole House Water Filtration System $205.24 at Amazon
$229.00 Save $23.76 Shop Now

Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Need a printer? Amazon's October Prime Day deals are worth a look.

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 09:16

Shop the best Prime Big Deal Days printer deals now:

Prime Day printer deals: Best printer deal overall HP DeskJet 6455e $89.99 at Amazon (save $60 ) Get Deal Best for business HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e $159.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal Budget pick Canon PIXMA TS6420a $59 at Amazon (save $70.99) Get Deal

It’s that time of year again — Amazon’s gearing up for Prime Day ~fall edition~ (aka Prime Big Deal Days), which means there will be deals on hundreds of items leading up to the big event on Oct. 8 and 9.

Prime Day is a great opportunity to snag some products that you may not feel the urge to buy at full price, but that you should probably have — a printer, for example. Remember the internal chaos you felt the last time you needed to sign an online document by hand or print a return label for an impulsive clothing haul? Now is your time.

Here are the best early Prime Day printer and scanner deals we could find this week:

Best printer deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP Envy 6455e $89.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to casual home or dorm room use, most of us want the same, simple thing in a printer: one that's easy to set up, easy to use, and not $200. The HP Envy 6455e is a classic choice, and its massive 40% discount at Amazon brings it below $90. It's a wireless color inkjet printer that can also can, copy, and fax. To save you even more money, this version of the Envy also comes with three months’ worth of ink through HP+. You just have to activate your subscription to get it; it's pretty easy to do through the app.

Best printer deal for business Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e $159.99 at Amazon
$224.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The HP OfficeJet Pro 8135e is a more serious printer. This all-in-one model can print, scan, copy, and fax. It also has auto two-sided printing to help save paper.

With an auto document feeder, 225-sheet input tray, and a printing speed of up to 10 color pages per minute, it can handle everything from making fliers to printing client documents. The touchscreen display makes it easy to use, and the HP Wolf Essential Security helps protect sensitive info. You’ll get three months’ worth of ink with this one, too, through HP+.

Best budget printer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Canon Canon PIXMA TS6420a $59.00 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $70.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The Canon PIXMA TS6420a is a seemingly basic printer, but it’s still an all-in-one model that works with Alexa. You can copy, print up to six pages per minute, and scan with this one, including the ability to print wirelessly from your phone or tablet — a nice feature to get for under $60.

If you want to save a little more, the Canon PIXMA MG3620 is only $49 and comes in black, red, or white. It's an all-in-one color inkjet printer with mobile and tablet printing capabilities.

More printer deals Portable photo printer deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Save up to 58% with the best Echo device deals on October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 09:07

UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2024, 9:55 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with current deals and availability.

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event is here. We've already spotted some nice discounts on Amazon Echo devices and we're tracking the latest news on the hour in our live blog.

Here are some of the best Echo deals to shop today:

October Prime Day deals on Echo devices Best Echo deal overall Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon (save $35 + free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb) Get Deal Best Echo speaker deal Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) $22.99 at Amazon (save $27 + free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) $84.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal Best Echo deal for kids Echo Dot Kids (5th Gen) $27.99 at Amazon (save $32) Get Deal Best home organization deal Amazon Echo Hub $124.99 at Amazon (save $35 + free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb) Get Deal

Amazon is well-known for many things, but today's deals combine a couple of our favorites: smart home tech and serious savings.

Prime Big Deal Days has officially arrived and you can take up to 58% off Amazon Echo devices during the retailer's big event, which runs through Oct. 9. Amazon devices are one of Mashable's top recommendations for items to buy during the sale (and check out what not to buy for good measure).

Here are some of our favorite choices if you're shopping Echo devices:

Best Echo deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / TP-Link Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $35.00 Includes a free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon conveniently dropped the brand new Echo Spot just in time for the July Prime Day event, and now during Prime Big Deal Days, it's down to its lowest price ever. This smart alarm clock is the perfect size for your nightstand, not taking up too much space. But its bright displays clearly show the time, even when you're groggy in the early mornings. In addition to just being a great alarm clock, it also has all the perks of other Echo devices with the ability to play music, set routines, and respond to voice commands.

Shop the Amazon Echo Spot for $44.99, and save $35 for 44% off. Plus, Amazon throws in a TP-Link Tapo smart lightbulb worth $24.99 for free.

Best Echo speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / TP-Link Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) $22.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $27.00 Includes a free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb Get Deal Why we like it

The Echo Dot strikes the right balance of speakers. It has big sound like Amazon's flagship Echo, however, it comes in a much smaller package so it doesn't end up being the focal point of a room — we know counter space is precious. It's compatible with other smart home devices, so you can set daily routines and basically never have to touch a light switch again.

During October Prime Day, the Echo Dot is 54% off and down to $22.99. It also comes with a free smart bulb.

Best Echo Show deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) $84.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're interested in a smart display, the Amazon Echo Show 8 is a great option that offers tons of features. Video chat with your parents, cue up some jazzy music while cleaning, or pull up a dinner recipe on the Echo Show 8. You can also use it as a way to check your calendar, display the weather, or control other Alexa-enabled devices.

In Mashable's review of the best Echo devices, the Echo Show 8 earns the top spot for those looking for a budget-friendly smart display. However, thanks to today's sale price of just $84.99, the Echo Show 8 is 43% off its typical price of $149.99.

Best deal for kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Dot Kids (5th Gen) $27.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For the kiddo or grandkid in your life, the Echo Dot Kids is a great device that can help them with independence. Coming in two adorable designs that depict either an owl or a dragon, the Echo Dot Kids allows kids to stream music, ask Alexa questions, set an alarm clock, or tune into a bedtime story. The device also comes with a year of free access to Amazon Kids+ which includes kid-friendly Audible audiobooks, games, morning routines, and more.

Amazon also includes a two-year warranty on the Echo Dot Kids, which means if the device breaks, Amazon will replace it for free within the first two years of ownership.

During Prime Day, the Echo Dot Kids is a true bargain at just $27.99 for 53% off — some of the best savings you can find ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

Best home organization deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon / TP-Link Amazon Echo Hub $124.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $55.00 Includes a free TP-Link Tapo Smart Color Bulb Get Deal Why we like it

Busy family schedules can be hard to keep track of. If you're tired of re-writing the weekly schedule on the white board each Sunday, the Amazon Echo Hub could be ideal. The eight-inch smart home control panel allow you to synch up your family's schedule, display the weather, play music, and more. The Echo Hub is also designed to link up with your other Alexa-enabled smart home systems like lights, security alarms, a smart thermostat, and video doorbells.

With Prime Big Deal Days savings, you can find the Echo Hub for $124.99 (with a free TP-Link smart bulb to boot). That's $55 down from it's listed $179.99.

More Echo device deals

Echo smart speakers

Echo smart displays

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon Fire tablets are up to 56% off this October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 08:58

A tablet is the perfect middle ground between a smartphone and a laptop. If your current tablet is slowing down, doesn't keep a charge, or lacks in display quality, today is a great day to look into a new Amazon Fire tablet. Here are some early Prime Big Deal Days deals that'll take up to 56% off the list price.

Fire tablet deals to shop today Best overall deal Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (64GB) $84.99 at Amazon (save $95) Get Deal Best budget-friendly Fire tablet Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (2024, 32GB) $54.99 at Amazon (save $45) Get Deal Best kids Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet $109.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal

The second iteration of Prime Day is fast approaching. Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on Oct. 8 and 9 this year, and we expect to see some great discounts. If you've become a fan of shopping for the holidays well before Black Friday, Prime Big Deal Days is likely to be one of your best opportunities to shop sale prices.

Like most Prime Day events, Amazon isn't making us wait around to score great discounts, and we're already seeing sale prices on items like Amazon devices, Apple products, and robot vacuums.

The best deals, though, are on Amazon Fire tablets. Discounts are up to 56% off for major savings. Not to mention, Amazon just launched a new tablet: an upgraded Amazon Fire HD 8 with more RAM and battery life. And it debuted at a sweet 45% discount.

But there are plenty of other deals to shop on Amazon's tablets. Here are some of the best:

Best Fire tablet deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet (64GB) $84.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With a 10.1-inch screen and 64GB of storage space, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet is ready for all your streaming shows or typing out that work email from bed. The octa-core processor and 3GB RAM means you'll be able to multitask with the Fire HD 10. Amazon mentions the tablet gets about 13 hours of battery life, so it could also be a great choice for taking on your next trip.

Thanks to the early Prime Big Deal Days sale price, the Fire HD 10 tablet with 64GB of storage is just $84.99 at Amazon, a 53% discount on the usual price of $179.99. The 32GB size is on sale for $74.99, so you'll be scoring twice as much storage capacity for just $10 more.

Best budget-friendly Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (2024, 32GB) $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon has started the funny habit of launching brand-new products right before Prime Day. We can't complain when these products debut at a discount.

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days comes the latest Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet. The budget pick of Amazon's Fire tablets, the new Fire HD 8 comes with 50% more RAM than the last model. It's lightweight and comes with an outstanding 13-hour battery life.

Plus, it's joining the crowd of products with generative AI features, including a writing assist and reading summaries — two features that were also just announced for a series of new Chromebooks.

The Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet (2024, 32GB) is an impressive 45% off already, selling for just $54.99 instead of its listed price of $99.99. That means for under $60, you're getting an 8-inch tablet with 3GB RAM. If the 32GB storage ends up being too small for your downloaded shows, the tablet can accept a 1TB microSD card.

Through Amazon's app store, you'll be able to download streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Max, Disney+, and more. If you don't already own a Kindle, this size can also be great for reading e-books.

Best kids Fire tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet $109.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Fire HD 10 Kids Pro tablet doesn't mess around when it comes to features and functions. For starters, it offers ad-free content, parental controls, and 13 hours of battery life. The 10.1-inch display means kids can play games, read books, or watch movies on the HD screen.

Amazon also added some peace of mind to this kids' tablet by including a durable case to help with protection from inevitable falls and a two-year warranty. If the tablet happens to break within those two years, Amazon will replace it for free.

If you'll be heading to the grandparents' for Thanksgiving, now is a great time to snag a kid-friendly tablet at a great sale price. Plus, it doesn't hurt that it's now $80 off. Now down to $109.99, you don't want to miss these 42% savings.

More Amazon Fire tablets on sale
Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon has some pretty good deals on 2-in-1 laptops on October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 08:46

Combining the oomph of a PC with the creative functionality of a tablet, 2-in-1 laptops make solid buys for shoppers who prioritize versatility and value.

In the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days, Amazon's "October Prime Day" sale on Oct. 8 and 9, the retail giant isn't offering a ton of great deals on 2-in-1 machines — but that's no surprise. During such sitewide sales, Amazon usually saves its best laptop deals for the exact windows of the event, forcing eager shoppers to be patient.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Start time, the competition, and more

That said, there's one noteworthy 2-in-1 laptop deal up for grabs there outside of the official Prime Big Deal Days programming (i.e., its not featured on its event page), and it's a $105 discount on the Mashable Choice Award-winning Asus Zenbook Duo, our favorite dual-screener.

According to the price-tracking site camelcamelcamel.com, this isn't some new deal Amazon just whipped out; the Zenbook Duo has been sitting at the same price since late September. Knowing that, we think there's a good chance it could get even cheaper once Prime Big Deal Days formally starts. Up to you if you want to wait to find out, but it may help to know that this is its current all-time low.

The Mashable Shopping team will be closely monitoring Prime Big Deal Days deals, and we'll update this story if we find any other, better doorbusters on 2-in-1s. In the meantime, you can learn more about the Zenbook Duo below.

Opens in a new window Credit: Asus Asus Zenbook Duo (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,394.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $105.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Asus Zenbook Duo (2024).

After reviewing the Zenbook Duo, tech editor Kim Gedeon declared that "[single]-screen laptops are now cancelled." She gave it a near-perfect 4.8/5 rating for its slick, made-for-multitasking design, gorgeous displays, solid battery life, and extremely reasonable price point. Note that it includes a built-in kickstand, a stylus, and a detachable keyboard — no need to purchase accessories separately.

The base configuration (our testing unit) comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and dual 1920 x 1200 displays — and at $1,394.99, or $105 off its $1,499.99 MSRP, this is its best price on Amazon since launch. For comparison's sake, it's currently selling for $1,410.99 at Best Buy and full price on the Asus website.

For about $109 more, you can upgrade to a model with an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2880 x 1800 displays.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score a Windows 11 Pro lifetime license for £15.25

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Through 27 October, pay only £15.25 (reg. £151.96) for a lifetime license to Microsoft Windows 11 Pro at the Mashable Shop. That's a savings of 89%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro: Lifetime License £15.25 at the Mashable Shop
£151.96 Save £136.71 Get Deal

You don't necessarily have to buy a new computer to upgrade your tech arsenal. Sometimes, all it takes is installing a brand-new operating system to boost your productivity and enhance your computer's security. If you happen to have a Windows PC that meets the necessary requirements, consider breathing new life into it by upgrading to Microsoft 11 Pro.

Through 27 October, a Microsoft 11 Pro license is on sale for £15.25. This OS boasts a bunch of new features, including a new-and-improved interface, advanced security, Copilot AI, and an elevated gaming experience.

Microsoft 11 Pro is great for modern professionals, especially those working in a remote or hybrid setup. For instance, if you're a stickler for security, the OS packs BitLocker device encryption, meaning you can lock your device remotely so no one else can access it. Windows Information Protection is included, too, allowing you to remotely manage your system to prevent data leaks. Plus, you can also take advantage of biometrics login, Smart App control, advanced antivirus defenses, and more. 

In terms of usability, enjoy Windows 11 Pro's new interface, which includes snap layouts, seamless redocking, better voice-typing, and a more powerful search experience. It's primed for play, too, thanks to DirectX12 Ultimate, which bolsters the quality of your computer's graphics, resulting in more immersive gaming. 

You'll enjoy all these perks with a one-time purchase. You can install the OS on up to two devices, provided that they have 4GB RAM and 40GB of hard drive space.

Until 27 October at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can grab a lifetime license to Windows 11 Pro for only £15.25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Shop the best home security camera deals on Amazon's October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 01:41

UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2024, 6:00 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest home security deals during October Prime Day.

The best October Prime Day home security deals at a glance: BEST VIDEO DOORBELL DEAL Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 at Amazon (save $30) Get Deal BEST HOME SECURITY BUNDLE DEAL Blink Whole Home Bundle $89.97 at Amazon (save $110) Get Deal BEST SINGLE SECURITY CAMERA DEAL TP-Link Tapo MagCam $59.99 at Amazon with on-page coupon (save $60) Get Deal

Amazon's massive fall sale takes place on Oct. 8 and 9 this year, so if you're shopping for some good deals this fall you'll want to tune into Prime Big Deals Days. Last year we saw nice discounts on kitchen appliances, Amazon devices, Apple products, and plenty more.

If you're looking to give your home security a bump, the mega-retailer has dropped prices on video doorbells and security cameras of all shapes and sizes.

Looking for Ring, eufy, or Wyze cameras? You won't find them on this list. Between exploiting user data, security breaches, and a lack of transparency, we strongly recommend steering clear of these brands. You can read more about our concerns in our best home security systems guide.

We'll be keeping a running tab below on all the best home security deals as Amazon's October Prime Day plays out. Check back regularly for the latest updates.

Best video doorbell deal Blink Video Doorbell $29.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Ahead of the Prime Big Deal Days event, the Blink Video Doorbell has dropped to just $29.99 from $59.99. That's 50% in savings and matches its Prime Day price from July. Is there a chance it could drop even further? Sure, but we see no reason to wait if you're in the market for a smart doorbell now. The Blink Video Doorbell lets you see who's at the door even when you're not home with a 1080p HD live view and two-way audio, plus infrared night vision once the sun goes down.

More video doorbell dealsBest home security bundle deal Blink Whole Home Bundle $89.97 at Amazon
$199.97 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you could put a price tag on peace of mind, it'd be pretty close to this Blink Whole Home Bundle deal. It includes the Blink Outdoor 4, Mini 2, Video Doorbell, and Sync Module 2, all for just $89.97. That's 55% off the retail value and the lowest price we've seen on this particular bundle. The Blink Mini 2 can take care of the inside of your home, day or night, while the Outdoor 4 can keep an eye on things outside. Paired with the Blink app, the video doorbell can show you who shows up at your door (even at night). And the Sync Module 2 will let you keep track of all the action in one place (and store your clips locally). It's one of the most affordable ways to keep an eye on every part of your home.

More home security bundle dealsPROMOTED HOME DEALS Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 4qt Air Fryer $69.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $60.00 Shop Now ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium $328.99 at Amazon
Shop Now GE Whole House Water Filtration System $205.24 at Amazon
$229.00 Save $23.76 Shop Now

Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation.

Best single security camera deal Opens in a new window Credit: TP-Link TP-Link Tapo MagCam $59.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $60.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal Why we like it

If you only need a single security camera, the TP-Link Tapo MagCam is a reliable choice. While we haven't had the chance to test it out, our friends at PCMag (owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) have done the honor and awarded it a 4.5 outstanding rating. "It's an excellent value for a battery-powered camera that offers color night vision, built-in spotlights, local and cloud storage options, free intelligent alerts, voice control, and many other features," the review states, all of which earned the camera an Editors' Choice award. The TP-Link Tapo MagCam security camera usually sells for $119.99, but ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, the camera is down to an all-time low of $59.99. Just be sure to select the on-page coupon before adding it to your cart.

More single security camera deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

A list of 25+ Ninja kitchen gadgets on sale for October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 01:36
A quick look at the best Ninja deals during Prime Big Deal Days Best air fryer deal Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Countertop Convection Oven $219.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Ninja Dual Brew Pro Hot and Iced Single Drip Coffee Maker $149.99 at Amazon (save $90) Get Deal Best dessert maker deal Ninja Creami Deluxe Ice Cream Maker $159.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal

LIVE BLOG: Get the latest news on October Prime Day 2024

Foodi, Creami, Thirsti, you name it — if there's a Ninja appliance that you've been thinking about splurging on, it's probably on sale for Prime Big Deal Days.

After a stellar showing during Prime Day in July, Ninja's section of our October Prime Day kitchen deals list is, once again, huge. Whether you're looking to ditch a few old appliances and consolidate with a multitasking air fry grill and oven, need to replace your nonstick pans that aren't so nonstick anymore, or just need to know if the hype around the Ninja Creami is legit, you can save up to 50% on a new Ninja gadget on Oct. 8 and 9.

SEE ALSO: Testing the Ninja Slushi by making a frozen version of every drink I can think of

Weirdly enough, the only Ninja category not getting a ton of traction for Prime Big Deal days are its Foodi pressure cookers — guess they're letting Instant Pot have this one.

We're keeping a running list of the best October Prime Day Ninja deals below, updating as soon as any new deals drop. Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best October Prime Day kitchen deals Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 XL Pro Countertop Convection Oven $219.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $80.00 Get Deal Why we like it

One of the juicier discounts we found on any Ninja Foodi so far during Prime Big Deal days was a 43% slash on the 8-in-1 XL air frying oven. It has since sold out, but the 10-in-1 Foodi is also at a decent discount with $80 off. The 10-in-1 oven has buttons for air fry, air roast, bake, whole roast, broil, toast, bagel, dehydrate, reheat, and pizza, and it can do two of those at once. The two-shelf design is seriously spacious, fitting two 12-inch pizzas, a tray of veggies and a five-pound chicken, or a full 12-pound turkey if you remove the shelf.

More Ninja kitchen deals

Pressure cookers, air fryers, and other countertop cookers

Coffee makers, blenders, and more drink makers

Cookware, cooking irons, and accessories

Categories: IT General, Technology

Check out the best robot vacuum deals you can score on October Prime Day

Wed, 10/09/2024 - 01:27

UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2024, 8:25 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with the latest robot vacuum deals on October Prime Day.

Best robot vacuum deals this October Prime Day Best robot vacuum deal Shark AI Ultra robot vacuum $409.62 at Amazon (save $190.37) Get Deal Best combo robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5 robot vacuum and mop $249 at Amazon (save $10.99) Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days — aka October Prime Day — is here and deals are in full swing.

If you dislike doing chores as much as we do, there's no reason for you not to pick up a robot vacuum during October's Prime Day sale. They do all the work for you so you can spend less time cleaning and more time doing whatever "me-time" activities you prefer. Some even pack in mopping functions for double the peace of mind.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Official dates, the competition, and more

If you're ready to commit to a robotic housework companion, take a look at our favorite early deals on robo vacs ahead of Prime Big Deal Days and follow along with our live blog for the latest news.

Note: All newly added deals are marked with a ✨, while deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark RV1001AE robot vacuum $431.83 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $168.16 Get Deal Why we like it

This robot vacuum from Shark packs in a ton of features, and it's over $150 off ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. In addition to its powerful suction, the Shark RV1001AE vac also includes a self-emptying and self-cleaning base, 360-degree LiDAR home mapping, and voice controls with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. Get one for $431.83 before October Prime Day begins and save a total of $168.16.

Best combo robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5 robot vacuum and mop $249.00 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If you really despise doing chores and want the most bang for your buck, you'll want to snag a robot vacuum that also doubles as a mop. This one from iRobot does exactly that, and can handle both tasks simultaneously. This one doesn't come with a self-emptying base, but it's compatible with iRobot's Clean Base. Pick one up ahead of October Prime Day and save $100.99.

PROMOTED Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q8 Max Roborock Q7 Max $219.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $380.00 Shop Now Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.00 Shop Now

Products available for purchase here through affiliate links are selected by our merchandising team. If you buy something through links on our site, Mashable may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation.

More robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days
Categories: IT General, Technology

These award-winning Sony headphones have never been cheaper ahead of October Prime Day

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:32

SAVE $220: As of Oct. 7, the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones are on sale for $129.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 63% on its list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Headphones $129.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $220.00 Get Deal

October Prime Day has not kicked off yet, but we would be seriously surprised if any headphones deal during this shopping event can top the offer on Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones. These award-winning headphones are available for a record-low price on Amazon, so save yourself the stress of checking out hundreds of deals and shop early this year.

The Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones are on sale for $129.99 at Amazon, saving you 63% on list price. You can secure this same low price on both the Black and Silver models.

SEE ALSO: 8 best noise-cancelling headphones to buy on Prime Day

These headphones are tough to beat. They come equipped with premium noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology, a battery life of up to 30 hours with quick charging, and helpful touch sensor controls. They are also super comfortable for wearing all day, every day.

Don’t miss the Sony WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones at their lowest-ever price ahead of October Prime Day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save up to 50% off select Prime Video movies and TV shows for Prime Day

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:31

SAVE 50%: As of October 7, Amazon Prime members can save up to 50% off Prime Video movies and TV shows.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 50% off Prime Video movies and TV shows Get Deal

Prime Day is nearly here, but you don't have to wait around to find the best deals possible on a variety of categories. You can already shop some of the biggest discounts of the event, but there are also perks beyond that of the more obvious deals to be had. For instance, Prime members get access to even more than just discounted physical goods. If you've been looking to stock up on your digital media collection, you won't want to miss this deal.

As of October 7, Prime members can save up to 50% off select Prime Video movies and TV shows. This discount is available on both titles you want to buy or rent. Buying a title means it'll be added to your library and you can watch it whenever you want. Rentals include 30 days for you to start watching your content, and 48 hours to finish once you begin.

Eligible titles include the newly-released Harold and the Purple Crayon for $8.99 and the original Joker movie for $6.99. Other options include Fall Guy, If, and Borderlands. While they aren't all winners, this is a great perk if you're looking to find something to watch alone or with friends and family and you don't want to shell out for a streaming service for a glimpse at a new movie or show.

This is one lesser-known perk that's well worth taking advantage of, especially if you're someone who needs to catch up on some of the newer movies and TV that released in the last few months, and it's always good to own instead of rent when you can. Grab the content you're interested in before Prime Day officially kicks off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Save up to 53% with the best Echo device deals ahead of October Prime Day

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:28

UPDATE: Oct. 7, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EDT Updated with current pricing and availability.

We're just one day away from the official kickoff of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event, but that doesn't mean you need to wait around for the best deals. We've already spotted some nice discounts on Amazon Echo devices. Here are some of the best Echo deals to shop today:

Early October Prime Day deals on Echo devices Best Echo deal overall Echo Show 8 $84.99 at Amazon (save $65) Get Deal Best Echo deal for kids Echo Dot Kids $27.99 at Amazon (save $32) Get Deal Best home organization deal Echo Hub $124.99 at Amazon (save $35) Get Deal

Amazon is well-known for many things, but today's deals combine a couple of our favorites: smart home tech and serious savings.

We're on the cusp of Prime Big Deal Days, and you can already take up to 53% off Amazon Echo devices ahead of the retailer's big event on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9. Amazon devices are one of Mashable's top recommendations for items to buy during the sale (and check out what not to buy for good measure).

Here are some of our favorite choices if you're shopping Echo devices:

Best Echo deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Show 8 $84.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're interested in a smart display, the Amazon Echo Show 8 is a great option that offers tons of features. Video chat with your parents, cue up some jazzy music while cleaning, or pull up a dinner recipe on the Echo Show 8. You can also use it as a way to check your calendar, display the weather, or control other Alexa-enabled devices.

In Mashable's review of the best Echo devices, the Echo Show 8 earns the top spot for those looking for a budget-friendly smart display. However, thanks to today's sale price of just $84.99, the Echo Show 8 is 43% off its typical price of $149.99.

Best deal for kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot Kids $27.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For the kiddo or grandkid in your life, the Echo Dot Kids is a great device that can help them with independence. Coming in two adorable designs that depict either an owl or a dragon, the Echo Dot Kids allows kids to stream music, ask Alexa questions, set an alarm clock, or tune into a bedtime story. The device also comes with a year of free access to Amazon Kids+ which includes kid-friendly Audible audiobooks, games, morning routines, and more.

Amazon also includes a two-year warranty on the Echo Dot Kids, which means if the device breaks, Amazon will replace it for free within the first two years of ownership.

Ahead of Prime Day, the Echo Dot Kids is a true bargain at just $27.99 for 53% off — some of the best savings you can find ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

Best home organization deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Hub $124.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $55.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Busy family schedules can be hard to keep track of. If you're tired of re-writing the weekly schedule on the white board each Sunday, the Amazon Echo Hub could be ideal. The eight-inch smart home control panel allow you to synch up your family's schedule, display the weather, play music, and more. The Echo Hub is also designed to link up with your other Alexa-enabled smart home systems like lights, security alarms, a smart thermostat, and video doorbells.

Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can find the Echo Hub for $124.99. That's $55 down from it's listed $179.99.

More Echo device sales at Amazon
Categories: IT General, Technology

October Prime Day is just one day away — here are all the best deals to shop

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:24

UPDATE: Oct. 3, 2024, 10:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with the latest early deals from Prime Big Deal Days, which starts on Oct. 8.

The best early Prime Big Deal Days deals at a glance: Best Apple Deal Apple iPad, 10.2-inch (A13 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) $199.99 at Amazon (save $129.01) Get Deal Best Amazon Echo Deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $49.99 at Amazon (save $40) Get Deal Best laptop deal Acer Swift X 14 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,099.99 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best headphone deal Apple AirPods Max $399 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best Bluetooth speaker deal JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Speaker $299.95 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best TV deal Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $279.99 at Amazon (save $170) Get Deal Best streaming deal Amazon Fire Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba j7+ $490.29 at Amazon (save $34.66) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Fitbit Sense $177 at Amazon (save $72.95) Get Deal Best home security deal Blink Whole Home Bundle $89.97 at Amazon (save $110) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event is back. Scheduled a little under three months after the retail giant's flagship summer Prime Day sale, this 48-hour "October Prime Day" will present shoppers with an opportunity to get an extra-early start on their holiday shopping before the chaos of Black Friday.

Amazon started rolling out early Prime Big Deal Days doorbusters in mid-September, and we'll be keeping track of them right here in the lead-up to its official start.

When is October Prime Day?

Prime Big Deal Days will run from Tuesday, Oct. 8 (starting at 3 a.m. ET) through Wednesday, Oct. 9 this year. Many of the sale's best deals won't go live until that exact start time, but again, certain doorbusters are up for grabs already — they're basically appetizers for the main event.

What deals will we see during the sale?

Amazon previewed a selection of its top Prime Big Deal Days deals in a press release Thursday (Oct. 3), noting that new offers will drop "as often as every five minutes during select periods throughout the event." These offers include "some of its lowest prices of the year so far" on products from brands like Dyson and Lego (to the tune of up to 40 and 30 percent off, respectively), plus hefty discounts across the following categories:

Once Prime Big Deal Days begins, we'll also be keeping an especially close eye on tech from big-leaguers like Apple, iRobot, and Samsung. Based on our experience covering past Prime events, we expect many of their products to fall to new or year-round lows on Amazon during the event.

As a reminder, you don't need to buy something just because it's on sale. For more tips on how to shop smart, check out Mashable's guides to finding the best deals and what not to buy.

What are the best October Prime Day deals that are already live?

So far, Amazon is reserving most of the best deals for itself: Select devices across its Echo, Fire, Kindle, Blink, and eero brands are on sale for up to 58% off ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. (For the record, its Blink home security bundles and dirt-cheap Fire tablets feel the most worth-it at this point.)

These deals were open to all shoppers at the time of writing, but we've spotted some others that are Team Prime exclusives. Members can snag four free months of Amazon Music Unlimited, three free months of Kindle Unlimited, and a $10 discount on one GrubHub order of $15 or more; don't forget to use the coupon code PRIME10 at checkout.

Beyond that, we've seen a slew of TVs, laptops, tablets, robot vacuums, headphones, and fitness trackers go on sale on Amazon ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We're keeping a running list of the best early deals below — just keep in mind that things can (and probably will) get cheaper once the event formally begins.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 10.2-inch (A13 Bionic, WiFi, 64GB) $199.99 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $129.01 Get Deal Why we like it

The 9th-generation iPad is down to $199.99, back to its lowest price ever in late September. Even with this recent price increase, it's still the most affordable iPad out there.

This tablet comes with the A13 Bionic chip, a powerful processor that lets you stream, browse the internet, and even game. Normally $329, the sweet price of $224 saves you $129.01.

More Apple deals

iPads

MacBooks

AirPods

AirTags and accessories

Best Amazon device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Show 5 $49.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Amazon Echo Show 5 works as a smart home hub that's more than just a speaker. It displays music, recipes, and even video calls with its built-in camera. While we normally prefer the Echo Show 8 over the 5, ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, we're thoroughly pleased with the $40 discount on the Echo Show 5.

Score the Amazon Echo Show 5 for just $49.99, taking 44% off.

More Amazon device deals

Echo smart speakers and displays

Fire tablets

Eero WiFi devices

Best laptop deal

For more deals on MacBooks, scroll back up to the "Apple deals" section.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699.00 at Amazon
$1,999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).

"With a super bright mini-LED display, a good amount of useful, creative-friendly ports, gorgeous-sounding speakers, and an M3 chip that supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing, the current-gen MacBook Pro is our No. 1 laptop for photo and video editing (regardless of operating system). It's also the longest-lasting MacBook we've tested to date, clocking in at over 16 hours in our battery life test. It's another Mashable Choice Award winner that earned a 4.5/5 rating.

We highly recommend bumping up to the 1TB variant with 16GB of memory, which is currently marked down to $1,699 (down $300 from $1,999), but the base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is also on sale for $1,299 (down $300 from $1,599). Either way, you'll be locking in an all-time low." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $399.00 at Amazon
$549.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"AirPods Max are stylish headphones with easy connectivity to boot. Just like the rest of the AirPods collection, the AirPods Max connect to iOS devices just by turning them on, plus you don't need an auxiliary app to control them. While AirPods Max aren't in our round-up of best headphones, we'll still sing their merits as they possess excellent audio quality and good battery life.

A big hang-up we have with the AirPods Max is their price tag because at $549, you can find headphones of the same quality for far cheaper. However, when the AirPods Max are on sale, we're all in. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can get the AirPods Max for $399, saving $150." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphones deals

Headphones

Earbuds

Best Bluetooth speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL PartyBox On-The-Go Speaker $299.95 at Amazon
$349.95 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Maybe your Bluetooth speaker kicked the dust this summer after one too many pool parties. If you find yourself in the market for a new one, Prime Day is an especially great time to hit add to cart.

If you need a speaker for a party, the JBL PartyBox is just that. Despite its large size, the shoulder strap makes it easy to carry. Plus, six hours of battery life keeps it running all night long. Built-in lights and a microphone really keep things turning up all night long.

Ahead of Prime Day, you can find the JBL PartyBox down to $299.95, saving $50 for 14% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Bluetooth speaker dealsSoundbar dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV $279.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $220.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Who says you need to spend a grand to get a nice (and decently sized) 4K TV? With the early 35% discount that Amazon slapped on the 55-inch version of its most affordable Fire TV, Prime members could actually get one for two different rooms for way less than $1,000.

As Amazon's most basic in-house Fire TV, the 4-Series would be best suited for people who aren't super picky about saturation or brightness levels as long as it's a step up from their old LED TV — and this definitely will be. With the intuitive Fire TV platform built-in, the 4-Series can access all of your favorite streaming apps, which you can arrange in whatever layout makes sense to you.

More TV deals Best streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Is the Amazon Fire Stick 4K the best streamer we've ever tested? No, Roku takes the cake there. However, it still works perfectly fine, and not to mention, it's hard to turn away from its delightful $30 price tag ahead of Prime Day. Having tested the Amazon Fire Stick TV, set-up is easy, as simple as plugging it into an HDMI port in the back of your TV.

While the home screen is a little clunky and slow, full of ads and promotions for Prime Video content, it is a dream for those who primarily stream on the site. The Amazon Fire Stick 4K is down to $24.99, saving you $25 and 50% off.

More streaming dealsBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch Lite (Gray) $170.52 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $29.47 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Nintendo Switch Lite (Gray) is $179.99 at Amazon right now. It might go down in price during Prime Day, but its record-low is $196.80, and that was back in February 2022, so this deal (even at just $20 off) is still worth considering. If you want to save even more, you can buy a renewed model for $165.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is a portable version of the original Nintendo Switch. You can play classic games like Super Mario Bros and Zelda on the go and purchase and download other Switch games straight to the console.

If you prefer gaming on a TV, the Nintendo Switch is $264.97, down from $299.99. That's not a massive discount, but it's a decent price for a new Nintendo Switch." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Shopping Contributor

More gaming deals Best drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Holy Stone Holy Stone GPS drone HS175D RC Quadcopter $169.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you’re really into drones, the name Holy Stone should be on your radar. This brand is known for making high-end drones that are feature-packed and, at times, super affordable.

The Holy Stone GPS drone HS175D RC Quadcopter is currently $169.99 at Amazon, which is $60 off the listing price. It’s a solid mid-range drone option that shoots 4K videos, has a 46-minute flight time, and a special flight mode where you can direct its movement — whether you want it to follow you or fly along a specific path." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Shopping Contributor

More drone deals Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j7+ $490.29 at Amazon
$524.95 Save $34.66 Get Deal Why we like it

While the gold standard of robot vacuums is the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+, but every Roomba has its merits, including the j7+. Having tested the j7+ combo, we appreciated its advanced mapping skills and obstacle detection. While it doesn't have mopping, it does a good job sweeping floors for a thorough clean.

Ahead of October's Prime Big Deal Days, get the iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ for just $490.29, knocking $34.66 off the prize.

More robot vacuum dealsMore vacuum dealsMore home dealsBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Sense $177.00 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $72.95 Get Deal Why we like it

The Fitbit Sense is ideal for wellness-focused users. The EDA Scan app detects electrodermal activity (AKA a stress meter), the ECG app, which is only available in certain countries and intended for people who are 22 or older, checks heart rhythm for signs of atrial fibrillation, and the built-in GPS lets you track your runs without your phone.

The battery lasts six days on a full charge, and the fast-charge function gives you a full day's worth of use after just 12 minutes of charging (up to 12 hours with GPS mode on).

More Fitbit deals More fitness tracker dealsBest kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja specialty coffee maker $169.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

"Trying to break your Starbucks habit? Invest in a fancy brewer for your home, like the Ninja Specialty Coffee Maker. It happens to be on sale for just under $100 ahead of October Prime Day, which is 41% in savings and matches its Black Friday price from last year. It features four brewing styles (classic, rich, over ice, and specialty brew), six brewing sizes (cup, XL cup, travel mug, multi-serve travel mug, half carafe, and full carafe), and a fold-away milk frother. That means you can create anything from hot or ice lattes and macchiatos to cappuccinos and iced coffee from the comfort of your kitchen." — Christina Buff, Mashable Shopping Contributor

More kitchen deals

Air fryer deals

Blender deals

Coffee maker deals

Multicooker deals

Stand mixer deals

Best book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Avery 'Atomic Habits' by James Clear $13.79 at Amazon
$27.00 Save $13.21 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you’re not into self-help books, James Clear’s Atomic Habits might not be on your radar. But this is one of the best nonfiction titles to come out within the past few years, and it's currently 49% off in hardcover.

This book is all about teaching yourself to build good habits, break bad ones, and generally become more focused, productive, and successful in your daily life. And at just $13.79 for the hardcover, it’s a steal." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Shopping Contributor

More book deals Best home security deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Whole Home Bundle $89.97 at Amazon
$199.97 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you could put a price tag on peace of mind, it'd be pretty close to this Blink Whole Home Bundle deal. It includes the Blink Outdoor 4, Mini 2, Video Doorbell, and Sync Module 2, all for just $89.97. That's 55% off the retail value and the lowest price we've seen on this particular bundle. The Blink Mini 2 can take care of the inside of your home, day or night, while the Outdoor 4 can keep an eye on things outside. Paired with the Blink app, the video doorbell can show you who shows up at your door (even at night). And the Sync Module 2 will let you keep track of all the action in one place (and store your clips locally). It's one of the most affordable ways to keep an eye on every part of your home." — Christina Buff, Mashable Shopping Contributor

More home security deals

Video doorbell deals

Single security camera deals

Home security bundle deals

Best printer deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP ENVY 6055e $79.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The HP ENVY 6055e wireless color inkjet printer can print quickly, going through five pages a minute in color, and eight and a half pages in black and white. It also comes with three months’ worth of ink through HP+. You just have to activate your subscription to get it — it's pretty easy to do through the app. This compact printer is ideal for at-home printing or dorm room use.

Ahead of Prime Day, you can find it for 38% off. It's down to $79.99, saving you $50.

More printer dealsBest Samsung Galaxy deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy A35 (Unlocked, 128GB) $313.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $86.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Samsung's Galaxy A35 is a 'strong buy for the price,' as our friends at PCMag (also owned by Ziff Davis) said in their review. The budget-friendly Galaxy phone was released as a more affordable alternative to the Galaxy S24. As a budget phone, it doesn't offer the same speed and performance as the S24, but it also doesn't cost over $1,000. It packs a gorgeous 6.6-inch display, Samsung's Exynos 1380 processor, a 50 MP wide-angle camera with optical image stabilization, and a long-lasting 5,000mAh battery that supports fast charging. It's not the most impressive phone on the market, but on sale for just $313.99, it's a pretty hard deal to beat. That's 22% in savings." — Christina Buff, Mashable Shopping Contributor

More Samsung Galaxy deals

Galaxy Book deals

Galaxy Buds deals

Galaxy phone deals

Galaxy Tab deals

Galaxy Watch deals

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to make words shake, nod, and explode on iMessage

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:18

A new update on iPhone allows users to add new text effects to their entire messages — or just specific words. You can make words big, small, bold, italicized, underlined, or struck through. But you can also make the words shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, and jitter. This is going to revolutionize the way I thank door dash delivery drivers.

It's pretty easy once you get the hang of it, but the first step is imperative: you've got to update your phone and download iOS 18. As a reminder, you can do that by navigating to settings, clicking "general," and tapping "software update." This will tell you if you already have iOS 18 or if you need to update your software. These tools are only available on iPhone's iMessages, furthering the debate between green Android message and blue Apple message supremacy.

Here's a step-by-step guide to adding text effects to your iMessages.

Total Time
  • 1 min
What You Need
  • iPhone
  • iMessage app
  • verve

Step 1: Open a message

When you open a message, you'll see an A above the "P" in the keyboard and next to where you typically see recommended text.

Credit: Screenshot / Mashable

Step 2: Click the A

Once you click the A, your entire message will be highlighted. You'll be able to choose between four stagnant effects — bold, italic, underlined, and struck through — and eight effects with movement — big, small, shake, nod, explode, ripple, bloom, and jitter.

Credit: Screenshot / Mashable

Step 3: Choose your fighter

Now, simply click which effect you want to use and iMessage will give you a preview of how it'll look. For instance, if you click "ripple," the message will ripple for you.

Credit: Screenshot / Mashable

Step 4: Specify which part of the message you want to add an effect

If you want to specialize your message even further, you can choose to just add the effect to one specific word. For instance, if you want to really make the "yeah" in "hell yeah brother" pop, you can highlight that word and click "big" or "bold" or "explode."

Credit: Screenshot / Mashable

Of course, you can still add the other special effects to your iMessages, like confetti when you text "congrats" or fireworks when you text "Happy New Year." And, as always, if you long press on the send button, you can still add bubble effects like slam, loud, gentle, and invisible ink and screen effects like sending with echo.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All the best Apple MacBook deals ahead of October Prime Day

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:09

UPDATE: Oct. 7, 2024, 10:00 a.m. EDT This story has been updated with current pricing and availability.

The best early October Prime Day MacBook deals at a glance: Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal

Amazon is home to good MacBooks deals year-round (more so than any other kind of laptop), but its selection sees especially deep discounts during certain sitewide savings events. Next up is Prime Big Deal Days, the retailer's members-only "October Prime Day" sale on Oct. 8 and 9, which will likely bring dramatic price drops across Apple's lineup ahead of a possible M4 refresh.

In the lead-up to the event, Amazon has discounted several models across the M2 and M3 generations — most notably, the 14-inch M3 Apple MacBook Pro from last fall. Three configurations were sitting at record-low prices at the time of writing.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Start time, the competition, and more

Several variants of the MacBook Air are also on sale on Amazon before Prime Big Deal Days, though none of them have hit or surpassed their previous all-time lows just yet. As such, shoppers who aren't in dire need of an upgrade may want to hold off on purchasing until Prime Big Deal Days formally begins, in case they get even cheaper then. (We also recommend keeping a close eye on Best Buy, Amazon's toughest competition when it comes to laptop markdowns: It will be running a 48-Hour Flash Sale during Prime Big Deal Days.)

Read on for a closer look at the best early October Prime Day deals on MacBooks. Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,699.00 at Amazon
$1,999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).

The latest 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M3 chip that supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing for rendering lifelike lighting, plus a bright 120Hz mini-LED display, tons of ports (including an SDXC card slot), and a battery that lasted over 16 hours per charge in our testing. It's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our favorite laptop for video editing.

All configurations of the 14-inch M3 Pro are now on sale at all-time lows on Amazon (including the base model, which is now just $1,299). However, we're partial to the bumped-up version with 16GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage: That extra RAM is necessary if you're going to be using it for multitasking and/or creative work. Normally $1,999, it's now just $1,699 — a 15% savings. Best Buy was matching that offer when we last checked.

More MacBook Pros on saleBest MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $849.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).

Another Mashable Choice Award winner, the 13-inch MacBook Air from mid-2022 combines "[rock]-solid battery life" with "a keyboard that’s to die for, and enough horsepower to handle everyday tasks with ease," wrote Mashable tech and games reporter Alex Perry. It's our current favorite "budget" MacBook, and it's even cheaper than usual on Amazon (though not cheaper than ever before).

You can snag the base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $849, or $150 off. That's not terrible, but it's still a good $100 away from its previous all-time low of $749, which briefly appeared at Best Buy over Labor Day weekend and required a paid My Best Buy membership. If you can, wait to see if Amazon matches that for Team Prime next week.

More MacBook Airs on sale
Categories: IT General, Technology

'Metaphor: ReFantazio' review in progress: The 'Final Fantasy XV' I've always wanted

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 15:00

Disclaimer: This is a review-in-progress, as I haven't finished this game yet. As such, the score is subject to change.

I’ve spent nearly a decade aggressively trying to like Persona 5 as much as everyone else I know, but it turns out the trick was just to wait until the chief creatives behind it made a different game instead.

Metaphor: ReFantazio is, in its own way, the game of my dreams. That’s because it takes everything good about Persona, including the effervescent sense of style, fun turn-based combat, and engaging calendar-based structure, and recontextualizes it into a substantially more interesting experience. By ditching the trappings of modern Japanese high schools and embracing a unique, colorful fantasy world with a fun road trip conceit, Metaphor rises above the limitations of its spiritual predecessor.

Persona series director Katsura Hashino (with character artist Shigenori Soejima and composer Shoji Meguro, among others) has put his name on something special, provided the game doesn’t completely fall apart in the third act. After about 40 hours, though, I’m in love. 

SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom' review: Princess Zelda shines in her protagonist debut I just can’t wait to be king  Our hero for this journey. Credit: Sega/Atlus

Fair warning: I haven’t seen the end of Metaphor’s story yet, so I can’t pass full judgment right now. But so far, so good.

Rather unlike the Persona series, which has traditionally melded a real-world setting with supernatural nonsense, Metaphor cuts out the middleman and is a full-on fantasy adventure. The United Kingdom of Euchronia’s king has been assassinated and, thanks to a series of simultaneously wacky and very cool magical shenanigans, a new contest for the throne has been declared. Anyone can sign up and whoever gains the trust of the people (as judged by magic) through a series of kingly challenges around the world is declared king at the end.

Naturally, our protagonist joins the fray, accompanied by a diverse, constantly growing group of friends along the way. As one might expect, the contest for the throne is made exponentially more complicated by the circumstances around it. The true heir is either missing or dead, depending on who you ask. There’s an unwritten but widely accepted racial hierarchy that favors some tribes over others, and the state church is trying to rig the game so its chosen candidate will win.

That’s all exciting and intriguing in its own right, but a lingering mystery about the nature of this world keeps driving the plot at crucial moments. I’ll just hint that the giant, terrifying monsters threatening the kingdom’s safety are called “Humans,” so there’s definitely something strange going on.

This is what Humans look like in 'Metaphor.' Credit: Sega/Atlus

Metaphor’s narrative is hard to fully judge without having finished it, but after 40 hours, it’s got me hooked. One of the reasons why I didn’t vibe with Persona 5 was the central cast of characters; a few of them were simply very annoying to me — and I never grew attached to them. That isn’t the case here, at least partially because the story is about people who scan as adults rather than high school kids with problems that I don’t care about.

Here, we get to pal around with a talking rodent who is also a master assassin and the fantasy equivalent of Taylor Swift instead. These are fascinating people with backstories that I want to discover and problems that I want to help them solve. It’s really all I ask for from any RPG party, and Metaphor delivers on that front handily.

I’m a little less sure about Metaphor’s overarching themes. Racism is a major part of this world, as the kingdom is made up of several tribes with varying levels of political power. However, where I’m at in the game, it feels like a story where racism happens rather than a story about racism. It’s very nice that each member of the central party is from a different tribe, but characters repeatedly saying “it’s bad to be racist” feels a bit simplistic without much examination of how the culture got to this point or how to fix it. 

Of course, I could feel totally differently about that by the time the credits roll. Time will tell.

Metaphor is giving me what Final Fantasy couldn’t

The crown contest involves traveling from place to place and solving various local problems to win the support of the populace.

Who doesn't love cooking with the homies? Credit: Sega/Atlus

However, regular carriages are too slow and not grotesque enough, so you and your buddies travel the world in a fantastical tour bus called a Gauntlet Runner, which looks like a boat with two enormous, disgusting monster legs. I love it.

In this way, Metaphor quietly became the version of Final Fantasy XV I always wanted, but never got. Yes, I’m going to complain about a game that came out in 2016 for a second. Bear with me.

FFXV’s entire selling point was that it was about a group of close friends on a road trip together. When I played the game at launch, huge amounts of backstory and character development had been off-loaded to a movie and a five-episode anime miniseries. In addition to that, the main cast of dudes almost never spoke to each other in the game itself. I spent like 80 hours driving around the world with those boys and learned almost nothing about them. It was a broken, fractured story that didn’t fulfill its most basic promise at all.

Talking to your friends is very important in 'Metaphor.' Credit: Sega/Atlus

A cavalcade of post-launch DLC eventually “fixed” FFXV, but if you want a road trip JRPG, just play Metaphor instead. It adapts the calendar-based structure from Persona, in which you have to carefully think about how to spend time each day because there are hard deadlines for finishing major story dungeons. Even in a Gauntlet Runner, traveling takes time, so you wind up spending a lot of Metaphor just kind of screwing around with your buddies on your tour bus.

You can read books by your lonesome to develop the protagonist’s personality traits like courage, tolerance, and eloquence, which, in turn, unlock other gameplay opportunities around the world. If you’d rather cook meals with beneficial status effects in the Gauntlet Runner’s kitchen, you can call a friend over and do that with them. And, like Persona, each character has a corresponding social level that goes up the more you spend time with them.

This can be accomplished on the Gauntlet Runner while traveling, which is great and heightens the feeling that this is a real road trip that’s having real effects on these people’s lives.

A very accommodating road trip

None of the above would be very compelling if there weren’t also an excellent turn-based RPG under the hood. 

You gotta beat up enemies in real-time before you get to beat them up in turns. Credit: Sega/Atlus

Metaphor takes the basics of Persona and tweaks them in additive and smart ways. This is still, at its core, a turn-based RPG about carefully enduring long dungeons that can’t be completed in a single in-game day because there intentionally aren’t enough magic potions to go around. Eventually, you have to turn back and go to sleep to recharge. That’s also how real life works if you think about it. 

There are some key differences that elevate the experience, though. For instance, hitting enemies with their elemental weaknesses doesn’t automatically stun and knock them down like it does in Persona. Rather, it does extra damage and gives you an extra turn before the enemies act again. Fights feel less like puzzles where the goal is to knock everyone down at the same time and more like, you know, actual fights because of this change.

There’s also a formation system wherein each active party member can switch between standing in the front or back row at any time. Being closer to enemies means your melee attacks do more damage, but you’ll take more, in turn. Step back, and both the damage you deal and damage you take go down. This isn’t particularly complicated, but it gives you more to think about during fights, which I appreciate.

A real-time action element enhances things further. You can simply start turn-based combat as soon as you see an enemy, but if you’re feeling brave, you can bang out quick melee combos against them in the overworld to drain a stun meter. If you drain it and then go into turn-based mode, you’ll start with stunned, half-dead enemies instead of fully healthy, pissed off ones.

Oh, and if an enemy hits you in the overworld, the opposite happens. They get a big advantage over you, and your best bet at that point might be to run away. Encounters against even weak, basic enemies can quickly go haywire if you aren’t careful. 

Mapping out trips is vital. Credit: Sega/Atlus

Problematically, the camera can be a bit uncooperative when fighting in real-time. There were more than a few instances where I was hit by an enemy I couldn’t see and nearly hit a game over screen because of it. Still, I find the real-time bits to be an overwhelmingly positive addition to the game. It keeps the player on their toes and adds a layer of challenge that wasn’t in this crew’s previous games.

Archetypes are the cherry on top of the combat cake in Metaphor. These are magical alter-egos you unlock through making friends with people outside of combat that basically act as equippable classes for each party member. Every character can equip every Archetype, and Archetypes level up independently. Max out an Archetype’s level, and eventually you can evolve it into a more powerful one.

This is an incomprehensibly huge upgrade over Persona, which had a similar system wherein the protagonist could switch between combat roles at will, but each party member was stuck doing whatever they were designed to do. In Metaphor, tinkering with party composition and planning out your long-term upgrade path are both vitally important and extremely fun. Each Archetype has a different weapon associated with it, and these weapons behave differently in real-time combat, so that has to enter the equation, too. I’m just a sucker for a class system in any RPG and this is a really, really good one.

All of this is wrapped in a level of difficulty that I would describe as accommodating and fair. After 40 hours of gameplay, I haven’t hit any frustrating roadblocks, likely because Metaphor is generous with optional hints about which party members to bring to each dungeon and offers items that allow you to quickly level up Archetypes you’re not actively using. If you’re a couple dozen hours into the game, and you suddenly find yourself in need of strong fire magic, you won’t need to do any grinding to get it.

Even armed with the knowledge of what to expect and the tools to deal with it, Metaphor still requires just the right amount of tactical awareness and planning to feel challenging without being excessively hard.

Everything looks awesome in Metaphor

There’s no reason to dance around this: Metaphor looks amazing.

Dude, even the menus look sick. Credit: Sega/Atlus

It’s largely due to art direction, too. The kingdom’s capital city of Grand Trad looms large in the distance, thanks to a giant inverted pyramid that looks rad as hell. Humans (the enemies, not people) are nasty freaks who often defy description. And perhaps most importantly, the fashion is out of this world. Nearly every character is absolutely rocking whatever outfit they’re wearing, especially the nasty fella you’ll meet fairly early on who rolls around in a purple cheetah print robe.

The only criticism I can offer is that, at least on Xbox Series X, Metaphor doesn’t run very well. It targets 60 frames per second and is able to hit that when indoors or fighting enemies. Go outside or run around a bustling city, however, and everything tanks a bit. This almost exclusively affects non-combat situations and doesn’t inhibit playability at all, but it’s very noticeable.

Metaphor is full of earworms

Metaphor’s soundtrack is similarly dazzling, though not without some small imperfections. Composer Shoji Meguro brings the heat when it matters, as the main combat themes are serious toe-tappers with a male opera vocalist who kind of sounds like he’s rapping in gibberish. I’ve had the music that plays when you have an advantage in combat stuck in my head for several weeks.

Environmental and story tracks stand out less to me, but they’re all nice enough to listen to that I can’t complain. Meguro’s score is mostly made up of orchestras and choirs, as is befitting the setting, but I can’t help but yearn for the more rock or funk-inspired tracks he wrote for Persona at times. Pursuant to that thought, the boss fight music isn’t hype enough for me.

I’m willing to change my mind on that depending on what happens later in the game, of course. I’ll also say the English voice acting is excellent across the board.

Is Metaphor: ReFantazio worth getting?

In a year almost dangerously packed with exciting RPGs like Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Metaphor: ReFantazio is almost certainly, if nothing else, on the medal stand for that particular genre in 2024.

Granted, I need to wrap up the game before rendering my final verdict on it, but my 40 hours with Metaphor have been consistently delightful. Its endearing cast of characters populate a fascinating fantasy world with fictional layers that I just want to peel back until I see everything there is to see. Enhanced turn-based combat with real-time elements, combined with wholesome friendship mechanics and great road trip vibes, all work to seal the deal for me.

So, yeah, you should probably get Metaphor: ReFantazio.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon’s Kindle (2022) is a great addition to your library

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 14:49

I’ve been a lover of books for as long as I can remember. Junie B. Jones was my icon in kindergarten, helping me develop both my vocabulary and my backsass. Even still, my book collection is expansive and my greatest ambition is to one day have an entire library with one of those sliding ladders (assuming I eventually have the funds to buy my own house). Regardless, I buy books almost as often as I buy clothes, but surprisingly have never used an e-reader of any kind. Paper copies have always had so much value to me, and I never thought a screen would be able to beat it. After reviewing Amazon’s latest Kindle, I can say that there are a lot of perks that come along with the device, such as reading in the dark (and one-handed) with no problem. For only $100, I now consider it a fantastic addition to my ever-growing library, not its replacement. And while this Kindle model is not available at Amazon heading into Prime Big Deal Days, we are hoping to see discounts on other models such as the Kindle Paperwhite and Kindle Scribe.

The base Kindle model is small, lightweight, and comes with double the storage of the previous version. It also has the longest battery life of any model, claiming to last up to six weeks. The image resolution is 300ppi, the same as the Kindle Paperwhite, but for a fraction of the cost. The 2022 release is the 11th generation of the basic Kindle model and it has some differences compared to the 10th generation released in 2019. 

The new Kindle is a nice upgrade from the 2019 model. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable Kindle (2022) price and specs

As I mentioned, the standard Kindle retails for $99.99, though we usually see that price drop for Prime Day and Black Friday. If you want to get rid of lockscreen ads, the price bumps up to $119.99. Here's what the Kindle is working with in terms of specs:

  • 6-inch glare-free display

  • 16GB of storage

  • USB-C charging port

  • Up to six weeks of battery life

  • Weight: 5.56 ounces

  • Dimensions: 6.2 x 4.3 x 0.32 inches

Phone setup isn’t that simple  

The Kindle was relatively easy to set up. All I had to do was press the power button until the screen lit up, and then the device prompted me to select a language and region. It then gave the option to set up on the Kindle device or my phone via the Kindle app. At first, my phone wouldn’t connect to the Kindle, but after I plugged my phone into the charger, it worked fine. My phone then made sure it was on the same WiFi network as the Kindle and my Amazon account was transferred to the Kindle. There’s a “kid-friendly” setting, which seems like a good option for parents to have during setup. After that, my library immediately popped up on the device and the Kindle ran me through a quick user tutorial. I also reset the device and tried the “set up on Kindle” option, which actually took less time because all you had to do was login to Amazon versus going through extra steps using your phone. 

SEE ALSO: Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review: The upgrade is worth the money An elevated reading experience 

As soon as I finished setting up, I downloaded Jeannette McCurdy’s memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died. It’s been in the top 10 for weeks and consequently, on backorder as well. I knew that with the Kindle, I could read it without having to wait or search for it in a store. To download the book, all I had to do was click on the Kindle Store icon and search for it. Then, since my Amazon account is already linked to the device, I just clicked “buy” and downloaded it to my library and began reading. The download was super fast, and I started reading before the download was even finished.

Kindle's e-books let you read sold-out bestsellers without having to wait. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable

I must admit, I was glued to the couch reading for the next few hours. Even when I was ready for bed, I took the Kindle with me and kept reading. At night, the light in my room is a pink LED lamp, which provides very little light for reading books. Normally, my eyes strain too much to read in there for a long time, but the light of the Kindle made it easy. I adjusted the brightness and switched to night mode, feeling virtually no eye strain after hours (seriously, I could not put this book down). You can feel, from using it in low light, how much better it is for your eyes than your phone, which can cause major eye strain from blue light.

While reading a book on the Kindle, there will be a percentage at the bottom of the page that indicates how far along in the book you are. For some reason, I think this motivates me to keep reading. It goes up one percent every few pages or so (depending on the book) and it just made me want to keep going. If I was at 72 percent, I would think OK, I’ll put it down at 75 percent. You know how some people need the TV volume to be an even number or an increment of five? Same vibe. Currently, I am on my third Kindle read. I also read Drew Barrymore’s memoir Wildflower and am almost finished with the best-selling fantasy novel A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Mass. 

SEE ALSO: Amazon Kindle vs. Kindle Paperwhite: Which one is for you? What makes this Kindle the best Bezos has to offer? 

Compared to the previous versions of Kindle, the 2022 release is the smallest and most lightweight model yet. At only 158 grams, it weighs less than my iPhone, so I am able to read one-handed for a pretty long period of time without any discomfort. Also, the screen measures six inches diagonally, making it the smallest screen available for a Kindle. I really like the size of the device — it’s super easy to carry around and fits in a lot of my smaller purses. 

The Kindle is nice and compact for convenient transport. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable

The resolution of the 2022 Kindle screen is 300ppi, while the 2019 Kindle model only has a resolution of 167ppi. Book covers and pictures appear very clearly, but keep in mind they are always black and white to keep up the “paper and ink” aesthetic. Not great for books that are mostly photos. It also comes with 16GB of storage instead of 8GB, letting you download way more to your library at a time. So far, I have five or six books downloaded to my library and haven’t run into any storage issues. I’m interested to see how many books I can have downloaded at a time (it's supposedly thousands). The battery of this device does last for a while. Fully charged, I read two and a half books over the course of three weeks or so before the device reached 10 percent battery and prompted me to charge. I think Amazon’s “six weeks of battery” claim is a bit of a stretch, because it obviously depends how much you’re reading. Three weeks is still a long time for how much I was using it. 

Images appear clearly on the Kindle's screen. Credit: Mallory Minich / Mashable She’s even Earth-friendly

I’m pretty proud of Amazon for this one. The website states that the new model is made with 90 percent recycled magnesium. It’s also made with 75 percent recycled plastics for the black model and 30 percent recycled plastics for the denim model. It comes in 100 percent recyclable packaging, which lessens plastic waste. Amazon actually has a whole program dedicated to recycling old Kindle models, and they will offer you Amazon gift cards and discounts on a new Kindle device in exchange. For a company that has a large carbon footprint, it’s nice that they’re using old materials to make new Kindles, as well as giving customers incentives to return their old ones.

Why do e-books have to cost so much? 

Amazon offers Kindle Unlimited, which is $11.99 a month for access to more than 3 million book titles on Kindle. New Kindle users can get a three-month free trial of the service. However, nothing I had been gunning to read was available through Kindle Unlimited. There were a few from some authors I knew, but it seems like the Kindle Unlimited selection is for people who are okay with reading whatever. I am not that person. I have a list of the next 15 books I want to read on deck at all times. I wish more than anything that Amazon had some type of deal where you could buy the printed and Kindle versions bundled together. That way, I could own the printed version while still using the Kindle for nighttime reading or traveling. My book collecting habits are against me on this one. I’m not going to spend $15 on a Kindle copy of a book that I already own on paper. 

Is the Amazon Kindle worth it? 

If you’re looking for a basic e-reader, this one has everything you could need. While some of Amazon’s other releases, like the Kindle Scribe or Kindle Oasis, come with bells and whistles, they cater to a specific audience. The basic Kindle is really all you need if your goal is to read for pleasure. It’s only $10 more than the previous version of the basic Kindle and comes with way more storage, battery life, and pixel resolution. This review is coming from the perspective of someone who has never owned an e-reader, so I’m not sure how worth it these upgrades are for someone who owns an earlier version. If you are a book fanatic like me, I highly recommend adding it to your collection. For only $99, it has genuinely made me read more than I have in months. 

Kindle (2022 release) $99.99 at Best Buy
Shop Now Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better?
Categories: IT General, Technology

October Prime Day Kindle deals aren't too impressive yet

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 14:30
Best October Prime Day Kindle Deals Best Kindle Deal Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle with Basic Pen (16 GB) $379.97 at Amazon (Save $60) Get Deal Best Kindle Paperwhite Deal Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle (32 GB) $202.97 at Amazon (Save $55) Get Deal Best Budget Kindle Deal Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle (16 GB) $137.97 at Amazon (Save $70) Get Deal

It's officially cozy season. If you're thinking about settling down on the couch or cuddling up in bed with a good book, now's the time to do it. And what better way to do so than with a new Kindle? If you've had your eye on one, this is one of the best times to go ahead and lock one in, because when the weather gets cooler, snuggling with a loved one or a pet and a great read just hits different.

Thanks to Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, you can save on some of the best Kindle bundles at Amazon right now. While individual Kindle deals are scarce at the moment, and more likely to appear in the next couple of days, there are still some great options to be had here if you're looking to get a head start on the sale.

Below, find some of our favorite Kindle deals to be had ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. And don't forget to snag your free Amazon First Reads books this month, which includes two in October just for being a Prime member.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe Essentials Bundle with Basic Pen (16 GB) $379.97 at Amazon
$437.97 Save $58.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Kindle Scribe is a great multifunctional tablet that lets you enjoy your favorite books and magazines with the potential to be used as a digital notebook. This bundle nets you a Kindle Scribe (16 GB) with a Basic Pen, leather folio cover, and power adapter. The Basic Pen lacks the eraser and built-in "Shortcut" button, but it connects magnetically to the Scribe. In addition to all your normal Kindle options, the Scribe lets you take notes while reading or use it as a dedicated tablet with smooth writing and a responsive screen. You can save big with this bundle that nets you everything you need to get started with your new device.

Best Kindle Paperwhite deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition Essentials Bundle (32 GB) $202.97 at Amazon
$257.97 Save $55.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is the best version of the Kindle Paperwhite, with wireless charging and an auto-adjusting front light. You can get it as a part of this bundle with 32 GB of storage and an adjustable warm light that you can change to your liking. The bundle offers a fabric cover as well as a wireless charging dock, so you're prepared to jump in and attack your fall reading list right away. That's plenty of space for most of the books you want to add and a great option for just about every reader at this bundle price.

Best budget Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle (16 GB) $137.97 at Amazon
$204.97 Save $67.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you don't need any additional bells and whistles, the Kindle Paperwhite Essentials Bundle is a good budget option when it comes to e-readers. This bundle comes with a 16 GB Kindle Paperwhite, a fabric cover, and a power adapter. It doesn't have auto-adjusting lighting or wireless charging, but it's the Kindle Paperwhite you know and love, with a few extras tossed in for good measure.

More Kindle deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

I got scammed on Upwork so you don't have to

Mon, 10/07/2024 - 12:50

Last November, I was reeling from the sudden back-to-back disintegration of my two most recent employers. My lingering self-respect, along with a glance at the all-time low wages now being offered by the driving and delivery apps that once kept me afloat during the gaps in my freelance writing career, stopped me from revisiting those abusive relationships, but things were getting undeniably grim. 

That’s when I recalled a potential life preserver mentioned by a fellow writer pal: Upwork, a freelancing platform that wisely rebranded from "Elance-oDesk" in 2015 with the subtly fatalistic slogan, "This is How We Work Now." (You may have seen it in their recent commercial blitz.)

Over a catch-up coffee a year earlier, my buddy told me he’d found surprise success on Upwork. He spoke of well-paid, fun-sounding gigs he’d landed ghostwriting wedding speeches and wine mom group chat zingers. A glance at his profile page indicated that having worked a mere 85 hours, his lifetime earnings on the platform were already listed at "$10,000+." That plus symbol was downright decadent. My friend assured me that, once I had a few initial Upwork jobs and their subsequent reviews under my belt to help establish my "Job Success Score" — the metric essential for being shown to potential employers by the site’s algorithm — I too could join him in this digital promised land.

Following that coffee, I created an Upwork account and poked around the site, but, all too familiar with the drawbacks of the gig economy and its inherently exploitative and labor law-skirting business model, I wasn’t going to be lulled into a false sense of security just yet.  

It only took a year before I heard the wolves at my door. Sure, all gig work sucks, but at least this was a platform I could participate in from home. At least that’s what I said to psych myself up. Unfortunately, by the time I’d dusted off my pristine Upwork profile, I had all but forgotten the coda that capped off my buddy’s otherwise ringing endorsement. "But, seriously," he’d said, the sudden absence of levity in his voice demanding my eyes meet his waiting pair. "You’ve really got to watch out for scammers there."

How Upwork works

Landing jobs on Upwork happens through a bidding system. Clients post ads describing one-off projects or short-term work along with the budget they’ve allotted for it, which is paid out in return for time logged working or fixed-price lump sums upon completing the contract or reaching "milestones" reached or a completed contract. With these parameters in mind, applicants propose the hourly rate or flat fee they’d be willing to accept and wait to be selected. 

Upwork invites anyone running low to re-up to the tune of $0.15 per Connect, which may seem like a negligible cost to individual freelancers, but has proven to be...wildly lucrative

A key difference between Upwork and other job boards (and a hint as to why it's publicly traded, but Craigslist isn’t) is the fee structure. The platform takes a 10 percent standard "service fee" from all payments to freelancers. Upwork also collects a flat $4.95 contract initiation fee from the client for each new job as well as an additional 5 percent "client marketplace fee" added on to payments from the platform to freelancers.

Here's an illustration: if a freelancer's contracted for work that pays $1,000, the (theoretically honorable) client must pay a total of $1,054.95 ($1,000 payment + $50 client marketplace fee + $4.95 initiation fee) to Upwork, $1,000 of which is — this is very important for later — set aside in escrow. Once the contract ends, the $1,000 is remitted from escrow to the freelancer, but only after Upwork takes another 10 percent off the top (and an additional "VAT" off the $1,000 in some regions). The client pays $1,054.95, the freelancer makes $900 (or $880), and Upwork pockets $154.95.

This is but one of the systems Upwork uses to harvest revenue from its freelancers — the total number of whom is no longer a figure Upwork makes public, but the topic remains hotly debated in Upwork’s own forums, and those discussions often place the figure around 15-20 million active. 

There’s also Connects, the platform’s proprietary premium currency, which job seekers must spend to even apply for work. Currently all new freelancers are granted 50 Connects upon joining the site and bank an allowance of 10 every month. Taking a cue from dating apps raking it in with similar digital products, Upwork offers freelancers the option to spend Connects to boost their profiles' visibility and/or to pay a monthly $20 for a "Plus" account that multiplies the user's per-billing-cycle Connect ration from 10 to 100. In past years, bids on jobs may have cost the freelancer around two to four Connects. Today, some cost upwards of 16. Few I’ve encountered let you submit for under 10. Upwork says, when determining how many Connects each job’s proposal should cost, they "consider a range of factors, including project size, scope, and market demand."

Naturally, Upwork invites anyone running low to re-up to the tune of $0.15 per Connect.

Upwork shares no data on how many Connects the average freelancer has to spend per job landed, but the Upwork forums again overflow with users complaining about and questioning this ever-increasing cost of doing business that also seems to be yielding fewer results.

Initially, it seemed that setting up and forgetting about my profile the year before had been a stroke of good luck — my account had accrued a tidy Connect stockpile while dormant. I soon relearned how easy it is to blow through a token currency that’s been abstracted from its USD value. My quest for work that would help me be less broke had somehow only made me just as broke in an entirely new economy. 

Finally getting a bite from a client... not knowing you're the fish

On Nov. 29, with my Connect starter pack nearly drained after a few days of job searching and applying, one of my bids yielded a response. 

The post I’d responded to was by someone named "Khuram D." who was seeking a "creative writer for a short story." I would be provided all necessary background information for said short story, which would run about 1,000 words and "cover a person's career/life in a compelling and catchy way." "Essentially," the description continued, this would be a "'featured profile' of a person, written in a short story format." I didn’t know why Khuram hadn’t just called it a profile, but I chalked that up as the reason he was hiring someone else to write for him.

I was not only about to land my first job, but it was shaping up to be a steady income stream.


I pored over Khuram’s linked company profile sidebar before applying (and checked it again after his response to my pitch arrived). This was a site allegedly full of scammers, after all. I assumed his linked company, "KD," to just be his initials. But I saw no reason his seeming self-employment should prevent us from doing business together, especially as a one-man shop myself. Further bolstering the case for Khuram’s legitimacy were the raw figures on that company page, tabulated by Upwork itself. The data showed KD had paid out over $14,000 to 200+ freelancers over 120+ jobs he'd posted on Upwork since 2015. Upwork offered another stamp of assurance on the KD page, stating that my prospective client had a "payment method verified," replete with a little green checkmark badge. Most impressive was that the 153 reviews from past clients left him with a 4.73/5 star rating. I couldn't read those reviews myself, but their aggregated co-sign was enough to convince me this wasn’t some fly-by-night scammer.

Khuram’s opening salvo was to ask for relevant samples of my writing, which I provided. In this intro message, like others to come over the course of our correspondence, Khuram alternated between "I" and "we" when referring to himself. "Before I hire you..." was followed up a couple sentences later with "what we’re looking for." At the time I made little of it. Maybe there were other people who’d be looking at my work, maybe it was someone putting on airs. And while such self-aggrandizement was worthy of my eye rolls, it didn’t reach the heights of "red flag." 

After reviewing my samples, Khuram flattered me, saying "the tone and style of this is very well written." He added, "If we needed you to write these pieces on a regular pieces [sic] (3-5 per week), could you handle such a workload," and inquired about what sort of bulk rate I might offer for the opportunity.

Just as my faith in the platform had begun to waver, I was not only about to land my first job, but it was shaping up to be a steady income stream. Maybe my friend was right about this being the land of milk and honey.

I would later learn that at least half a dozen other writers had already complained on and/or to Upwork about this guy ripping them off — information I was not allowed to see, and that Upwork seemingly had not acted on.

Early warning signs of an Upwork scammer

I suggested I start with the one profile Khuram had initially posted about at my originally proposed hourly rate so I could get a feel for the work’s flow and demands. We could figure out a bulk rate for future writing after that, presuming we wanted to continue working together.

Khuram seconded my idea and said that, since we didn’t yet know how many hours this would take, he’d "place a small deposit, and leave the budget open." I should "just let [him] know the total time spent when [I’m] done."

Khuram’s proposed invoicing process aligned with most of the past hourly writing work I’d done via email. We were keeping everything on platform, and we would be using the escrow system to process payments. Still, we were deviating from Upwork’s SOP of having a job’s entire budget placed in escrow up front, and I hadn’t completely forgotten my friend's words, or the subreddit’s calls for vigilance. On the other hand, neither of us knew what an appropriate budget should look like just yet. And he’d been entirely candid about the meager size of the initial deposit. 

All the same, my gut had its first genuine "off" feeling, and I wasn’t about to ignore it. After Khuram put $5 in the escrow pot and sent over documents about the subject, I asked him to affirm a few things in writing before I started any work.

"Am I correct in my understanding," I asked him via Upwork’s in-house message service, "that your $5 in escrow is merely a 'hold' of sorts and, at the end of this trial assignment, I’ll report my hours to you when I turn it in [sic] the piece, whereafter you’ll honor my current proposed rate, regardless of whether or not we decide to move ahead with a bulk rate deal?”

"Yes, exactly, you described the deal accurately," Khuram confirmed.

As my one business law class from college taught me (and double-checking with an attorney confirmed), our message exchange now constituted a bona fide contract.

But once I uploaded that rewrite on Dec. 12, my once prompt responder adopted a vow of silence.


In the coming days, I wrote a fluffy bio for personal injury attorney "James Specter." The accompanying dossier told the tale of a man who’d had a deep desire to fight for the little guy instilled in him after a hit-and-run driver took out his father’s motorcycle, leaving the man paralyzed from the neck down, and facing a future full of suffering and misery.

That sinking feeling that your Upwork client has ghosted...

As I worked on the piece, I was surprised at the fun I was having writing something so far out of my usual wheelhouse. Throughout the process, Khuram was a paragon of professionalism. After I turned in my initial draft, he offered solid feedback along with a helpful outline for an arrangement of the story that was more to his liking.

I did what I assumed was the necessary due diligence of sending DMs into the void and began building my nest egg of case-making receipts.

But once I uploaded that rewrite on Dec. 12, my once prompt responder adopted a vow of silence. I frantically began looking all over the web for a lawyer named "James Specter" or any attorney matching the story beats that had been fed to me. My searches turned up nothing. Who had I just written about? And to what end? My heart sank as it dawned on me that my client had ghosted.

Still, I’m not one to roll over when wronged. Khuram could close whatever tabs he wanted. Our exchange was all there in writing on Upwork. And since the company had required a government ID when I’d signed up, they presumably had required the same of him.

I did what I assumed was the necessary due diligence of sending DMs into the void and began building my nest egg of case-making receipts. I asked Khuram if further edits were needed, to no reply, before sending my total hours and final invoice on the 18th. I even went so far as to create an additional Upwork milestone that requested the $475 he still owed me. Then, I had little choice but to sit on my hands until the new year. 

On Jan. 1, Upwork sent me an email alert asking if I was "ready to get paid?" Khuram had logged back on to release the $5 from escrow and, now that Upwork had their two quarters, my $4.50 was ready to be transferred to my bank at my convenience. Rather than rush to claim my riches, I sent Khuram one final impotent message on the 3rd stating that he was leaving me no choice but to escalate.

Please, may I have a crumb of recourse?

I assumed a recounting of what had happened, along with the related chat logs, would be enough for Upwork to confirm they had a scammer on their hands and do what it took to resolve matters. Whether I’d be able to get Khuram to pay me outside of Upwork remained unclear, but at least I could ensure nobody else got burned by him. To my surprise, Upwork’s response to my spread of receipts and request for Khuram’s deplatforming was relatively nonchalant.

[Upwork's] message did include another reminder that they weren’t going to be able to help me get that additional $475


After verbally patting my head about the deception and confirming what I already knew — that Upwork wouldn’t be covering what Khuram owed me or telling him to pay it — along with a helpful reminder to make sure everything gets into escrow next time, my first email response from Upwork Support did concede that my client had given me "misleading information." They offered to try and reach out to Khuram on their end, making sure to qualify that this "nudge" did not guarantee a response.

I took them up on that offer. I also asked if, presuming Khuram remained unresponsive, they’d hand over his name and contact info so I could pursue recourse elsewhere. I closed my response looking for assurances that, given the evidence I’d presented, Upwork would be 86ing this obvious ne'er-do-well.

Upwork messaged me next from the Disputes and Mediation department, but there was no update on their attempts to contact Khuram or even an acknowledgment that some kind of effort was afoot. The message did include another reminder that they weren’t going to be able to help me get that additional $475, and, since my case wasn’t eligible for dispute assistance, they were afraid they’d be unable to assist me further.

I again asked for Khuram’s info, and Upwork's acknowledgment that he’d indeed been a bad boy whom they planned on punishing.

Upwork’s next response refused to even dignify my assertion that Khuram violated site policy or that they could and should do something about it, only sharing that the Disputes and Mediation team couldn’t give out users' personal information for (understandable) privacy reasons. But if I told them specifically what I was after, they could pass my request along to the appropriate channel.

I would later learn that at least half a dozen writers had already complained to Upwork about this guy ripping them off — information I was not allowed to see, and that Upwork seemingly had not acted on.

When all else fails, commiserate?

I stepped back from the affair to research which legal avenues I might use to get Khuram to honor our contract. I can only assume this was construed by Upwork as my acquiescence based on the survey email they sent asking for a satisfaction rating about the resolution of my now-closed support ticket.

'Upwork responds well after the scam happened...but it seems to do nothing to vet or prevent them.' - Ruben Miller

During my holding pattern over the holidays, I’d first begun researching Upwork’s scamming issue and the company’s historic response to it. After my frustrating tussle with support, I redoubled my efforts. I was taken aback by the sheer number of those who had been burned like me. All around the web were stories from wronged Upwork users wondering if they should  — and finding out they might actually be able to — sue the company for its role in the harm done to them by scammers or the platform itself. 

I was able to get in touch with a few of them.

Ruben Miller from California has been hiring as a client on Upwork for 15 years and has experienced "everything under the sun" when it comes to the platform’s other cohort of scamming: "Freelancers disappearing, trying to add manual hours, using mouse wiggler apps to fake productivity, getting hired and giving [the work] to freelancers in other countries, faking identity (as far as fake AI video face changer apps on calls), fake accounts, and tons of AI applications without knowing how to do the job."

Like other victims, Miller says that, after he reports an incident, "Upwork responds well after the scam happened...but it seems to do nothing to vet or prevent them." He also laments what he perceives as a degradation of Upwork’s vetting and prevention processes that has resulted in scams "growing exponentially."

"Used to be a few scam proposals per job now it's 90%. It's turning UpWork into a bottom barrel scam platform sadly," he stated over our DM exchange. "Once they fired the majority of staff it got real bad and AI made it worse. It's starting to make me think they make money off scam proposals, as it pushes the job auctions up." He elaborated about his issues with the Connect-based bidding system, stating that "if scammers pay for proposals, that makes [Upwork] money as well. The proposal earnings is just a huge potential conflict of interest with what the site provides. Why root out scammers if you get paid per proposal?"

Raised in Manilla, Ralph Ngo thought he’d won big when he landed a job with Upwork that promised him $5 for every page of a middle school science textbook he converted into a multiple-choice question. The Philippines, like many English-speaking foreign nations where workers can be paid far less than their U.S. counterparts, is a natural fit for a place like Upwork. Philippines-based outsourcing firms advertise the labor on offer — for prices as low as $3.33 per hour — and Upwork’s Western "enterprise" clients get to shop at fire sale prices while Upwork merely hosts the connection.

'Upon job completion, my anxiety was through the roof.' - Ralph Ngo

Ralph told me over email that he spent 2 months converting 1-4 pages a day and "was expecting to get paid around $300-$500 for the massive amount of work that [he’d] put in," a relative fortune for a 20-year-old still living in the Philippines at the time.

Ralph acknowledges he'd been less than vigilant about following the site's terms of service and policing for scams, and agreed to the deal through a verbal agreement the client had offered on Skype after the client had invited him there to discuss the job.

"I had a growing anxiety in the last few weeks where I thought that they had no obligation to pay me as I did not accept any contract in Upwork," lamented Ralph. "Upon job completion, my anxiety was through the roof… I blindly followed every instruction they gave me regarding payment, including to accept an Upwork contract for $5 for my work. When I asked why it was only $5, they said that it will be changed later to reflect my work and it's only there temporarily."

Ralph pleaded with his client for full payment, even making up a sick aunt as a last resort. Twisting the knife, the scammer told him that he’d been planning to offer Ralph a raise but was retracting the offer after such insulting insinuations of impropriety by Ralph.

Like me, Ralph ultimately only got a $5 payout. He says the experience left him "devastated" for two weeks. Unfortunately, his scammer was based in the UK, and the $200 he’d need to file a small claims case there was out of Ralph’s budget. Though he doesn’t hold Upwork entirely responsible for what happened to him, Ralph wonders why they haven’t done more to curb the "big scamming and quality control problem" that "runs rampant" on the site.

"Briefly looking through the front page of jobs, majority of them are unverified payments, low quality descriptions, asking for the impossible while paying 3rd world country wages or worse," says Ralph. "It's common knowledge that Upwork is a race to the bottom. It’s close to being not worth someone’s time."

Like so many other victims, when Ralph complained publicly, a throng of vigilant Upwork loyalists materialized to criticize him. Though the site’s scamming issues are a well-documented blight, characters like Upwork power user Preston can be found in the replies of nearly every help, I’m new and think I’m getting scammed post on the Upwork forums, or on the subreddit, where they chide freelancers for their "user errors" and generally imply that they have no right to hold Upwork accountable for the literal crimes perpetrated against them in said company’s domain.

A scourge in plain sight

Some academic experts, like University of California, Hastings College of the Law, professor Veena Dubal, have gone on record suggesting that Upwork presenting its platform as a secure spot to conduct business could open the company up to some legal responsibilities when fraud occurs there. In a 2020 NBC News report on a previous Upwork scamming imbroglio, Dubal complained about the increasing normalization of contractors being scammed as if it were an assumed job risk.

'[T]here's a sense that the way to not have to deal with any kind of potential liability is just to not interfere at all.' - Veena Dubal

"There should be more of a sense of owing something to these workers," Dubal said. "But instead there's a sense that the way to not have to deal with any kind of potential liability is just to not interfere at all."

Dubal, like many others in and outside of her field, regards the unregulated gig economy as a larger existential threat to freelancer security deserving more urgent attention than the alleged misdeeds of one company within it.

Still, I had a personal interest in Upwork. A company so dependent on user confidence in the security of their platform had to be doing more behind the scenes to proactively identify and ban fraudsters, I thought, digging into Upwork’s shareholder reports for evidence.

In its 2023 Annual Shareholder Report, Upwork cites their "trusted work marketplace" as the primary core aspect of their business that provides them a competitive advantage; they claim only that it’s being monitored by "an industry-leading fraud detection vendor." 

The report does acknowledge that: 

"[Upwork’s] controls relating to customer identity verification, customer authentication, and fraud detection are complex. If such controls are not effective, our work marketplace may be perceived as not being secure, our reputation may be harmed, we may face regulatory action or action by our payment partners, payment networks, or other third parties, and our business may be adversely impacted."

This statement, followed a few lines later by the admission they experienced a "significant increase in provision for transaction losses in the year ended Dec. 31, 2022, due to increased instances of fraud, higher chargeback losses, and bad debt losses related to clients of our Enterprise Solutions offering" — i.e. clients skipping the freelancer bill by initiating credit card chargebacks — indicates that, at least internally, Upwork is sweating the scamming issue. 

'[O]ur performance metrics may not accurately reflect activity on and the performance of our work marketplace.' - Upwork shareholder report

Further into the document, Upwork states that they "may be, and historically have been, held liable for the unauthorized use of credit or debit card details” like those chargebacks and acknowledge, at a certain point, the financial institutions caught in the middle of these shenanigans may someday hit them with fines and fees “or cease doing business with" them altogether. 

In a section about disputes between clients over marketplace payments I found particularly relevant to my own case, Upwork states that “through our terms of service and services agreements for premium offerings, we disclaim responsibility and liability for any disputes between customers… however, we cannot guarantee that these terms will be effective in preventing or limiting our involvement in customer disputes or that these terms will be enforceable or otherwise effectively prevent us from incurring liability.” 

Professor Dubal may be on to something.

The publicly available report even candidly acknowledges all the fraud is having an impact on their data sets, as they do not independently verify the performance metrics they track with internal tools. The report goes on to state that the company is "unable to identify and remove all fake accounts and fraudulent activity from being reflected in the performance metrics that we report. Accordingly, our performance metrics may not accurately reflect activity on and the performance of our work marketplace."

This admission of potentially compromised data sets reminded me of a claim in a blog I came across while researching the company. Whistleblowing blogger Nebojsa "Nesha" Todorovic, who admittedly also did work for Upwork competitor GoLance at the time of the 2020 post, analyzed the sudden emergence of textually similar work posts he believed were from "fake job farms," According to Todorovic, Upwork has a clear incentive for turning a blind eye toward posts tailor-made to attract novice freelancers with bulging Connect wallets.

Ghosting clients are just the tip of the iceberg

Todorovic, a Serbian writer who has blogged about many of Upwork’s changes over the years, elaborated on his case when I reached out to him. To him, those Connects are the lynchpin. He thinks the "beginning of the end" for Upwork was a 2019 earnings call — mere months after the company’s IPO — that reintroduced the lesser-used currency as a cornerstone of Upwork’s vision for the future. Previously, Connects cost $1 each, but as users got 60 free ones a month and job bids cost 1 or 2 (if any), there wasn’t much need for most users to buy extra. The Connects reboot dropped the pricing of them to $0.15 but raised the cost of job bids to a 0-6 Connect range (which has since been raised to upwards of 16).

'[O]bviously, scammers are additional and valuable profit generators because they make freelancers spend connects. The biggest scammer is Upwork itself.' - Nebojsa "Nesha" Todorovic

So when Todorovic noticed the "fake job farms" in 2020, he didn’t just complain about the spam. He started connecting dots.

"There are some accounts, reviews, and jobs that are fake on Upwork," he states in an email. "We can never know for sure what’s the exact percentage or number of these fake ‘elements’ that are the core substance of every freelance platform."

In a follow-up post to the "fake job farm" one, Todorovic shares a screenshot where an Upwork community mod acknowledges the uptick in job post anomalies freelancers like Todorovic had noticed. This moderator goes on to state that "Upwork did review the jobs discussed on this thread and found that they were actually created as part of an outside course by a client teaching other clients how to use Upwork. They were posted as a 'test job.'"

Todorovic remains skeptical to this day that anyone but Upwork was responsible for the phantom jobs, no matter what unnamed company is offered up as explanation.

"Plain and simple, Upwork decides who's a scammer," he begins, "but obviously, scammers are additional and valuable profit generators because they make freelancers spend connects. The biggest scammer is Upwork itself."

When I asked Upwork if they’d like to respond to Todorovic's allegations, this was their reply.

"Please thank Nebojsa for his feedback. We also encourage him to report suspicious behavior directly to us via the platform, as each report is investigated by our team and actioned appropriately. We take the integrity of our platform very seriously and have robust measures in place to detect and address fraudulent activities, and are committed to maintaining a safe and trustworthy environment for our customers."

Despite the company’s statement, the data section in Upworks 2023 shareholder report would seem to indicate that Upwork does share Todrovic’s concerns about the influx of scammers on the platform, albeit for different reasons.

Claims of impropriety aside, Upwork’s 2024 Q1 earnings report suggests they’re hoping to foster a robust Connect-based economy, where users buy and spend more of the currency than ever before. While a cut of the action through percentage fees remains Upwork’s largest revenue stream, the quarterly report states that "revenue from ads & monetization products (i.e. Connects) grew 93% year-over-year, continuing to be Upwork’s fastest-growing revenue stream."

The hunt for my scammer continues

Still certain I had a clear-cut breach of contract case on my hands, I opened a new support ticket requesting my old one be exhumed. I again let Upwork know of my intent to take Khuram to small claims court over the balance.

This time, the Executive Escalation team was at the helm for Upwork’s response. I was again informed that nothing from the suite of fraud-prevention protections and guarantees touted to prospective freelancers applied in my case. Though downgrading Support’s earlier description of Khuram’s messages to a simple "misunderstanding," the representative acknowledged my request for info to aid in outside legal action and told me policy dictated they give Khuram one more ping before releasing anything to me. 

As expected, Khuram held his tongue. Upwork’s legal team signed off on relinquishing the private personal information of one of their users to a demonstrably disgruntled and tenacious second user. Even while crossing this Rubicon, Upwork offered no recognition that Khuram had done anything wrong, let alone a promise that he would be banned, put on probation, or even looked into further. 

[The] conditionality of Upwork’s commitment to its customers finally came into full focus for me. 

The contact email and number support Upwork gave me immediately proved to be dead ends, but that didn’t matter because I had his full name — Khuram Dhanani — a name with SEO-friendliness outmatched only by my own. So I set to poking about and pulling threads on the internet in the ways that only vengeful injured parties (and suspicious significant others) do.

My quarry’s positive ID came quickly, packaged in juicier dirt than I ever could have hoped for. The more I looked into this guy, the deeper and funnier the rabbit hole got, and the focus of my ire shifted from Khuram to the companies that gave him safe habitats to thrive.

But the story of my runaway client is somehow even longer and more mind-bending than everything I learned about Upwork over the course of this odyssey. There’s his Potemkin office park of fictional companies he claims to have founded. There was his "interview" by a text-to-speech British-accented woman’s voice on the only episode of an obscure podcast titled "London Digital." There are his numerous Nathan Fielder-esque Twitter posts about living the good life with photos either taken from outside the trendy restaurants he claimed to have just dined at or borrowed from travel websites when he felt like flexing his hotel arrangement.

Khuram is still ultimately responsible for his actions. And he still owes me $475 that I’d prefer to not take him to small claims court over. (Just DM me, man.) But as interesting as it was to follow  the life journey of an intrepid kid who started out flipping his parents’ brick-and-mortar jewelry shop best sellers on Yahoo Marketplace for bigger profits and telling victimless fibs in the comment section of a SpaghettiMonster.org post about a Burning Man wedding only to turn into a flim-flam man who seemed to have no qualms about stealing directly from individuals like me, he’s ultimately just some guy.

Taking my cue from Professor Dubal, I thought it’d be better to go after the ecosystem that allows him to pull his fast ones.

I did finally encourage a little action from Upwork when I reached out one last time to tell them I was doing this story. While I waited for their rep to get back to me, I noticed that someone had changed the status of my contract with Khuram (which had been unresolved this whole time) to "complete," and text had been inserted into our private message exchange that stated "Khuram D. is currently restricted from this conversation."

After I asked if this was SOP for all completed contracts, someone from customer support confirmed that Upwork had indeed closed my contract and explained "we don't prevent clients from communicating with freelancers after a contract ends unless there is a valid reason to do so, such as having an account hold in place, which limits access to certain features like message rooms."

To say this hint of Khuram’s account only now possibly having a hold on it after so much fuss felt like a hollow victory would be an understatement. The support email concluded with more of the usual links about how I can "report suspicious activity" and "stay safe" while using the platform going forward.

The official company response in my inbox contained more boilerplate assurances about how Upwork "considers the trust and safety of our customers to be of utmost importance" and mentioned their oft-touted-but-never-expounded-upon "trust & safety policies, systems, and a dedicated operations team working 24/7 to detect, prevent, and remove fraudulent platform activity." I was told for the umpteenth time that "it's critical that freelancers adhere to our Terms of Service and follow the best practices we share to stay protected." 

But this time, the draconian conditionality of Upwork’s commitment to its customers finally came into full focus for me. 

If you are part of the 91 percent of consumers who don’t read pages of legal writing every time you sign up for a new app or account, Upwork can and likely will tell you to kick rocks should misfortune happen to befall you while using their platform. Even if you go in with the best of intentions and do your part to protect yourself, if you happen to break any rule—even one you weren’t aware of—while attempting to find work while avoiding the horde of scammers that Upwork acknowledges are prowling the site, recounting your plight will only result in cold comfort from the company and its most fanatical supporters. 

As work on this article was winding down I made a few more attempts to get in touch with Khuram for comment via email and phone, all to no avail. But my last pokes around Khuram's Upwork profile did reveal something that I'd never seen once before over my numerous visits. 

At the bottom of the page for the original job post that got me, beneath the work description and stats about how much engagement the post was earning was a section titled "Client's recent history." According to a post on the Upwork subreddit, this feature was down site-wide from October 2023 through March 2024, when I really needed it.

Khuram's history lists the 50 most recent job posts he hired for, the star rating and comment (if given) by the freelancer hired, and how much he paid them. Of those 50 jobs, dating as far back as May '22, 39 hirees were paid out only $5. A 40th was paid $6. Each of these 40 was hired for writing work, many lured by the same post claiming to be "Looking For Long Term [sic] Article & Blog Writer" advertising a $44.50—$120 hourly rate. There were comments left among the numerous 1-star reviews describing bait-and-switch tales similar to my own, claiming he took off with their samples, or plainly warning others to avoid this "scammer." 

But in June of 2024, well after I — and presumably at least a few of these others — had raised our concerns with Upwork, and their crack security protocols had assessed the threat, Khuram was back hiring for a "photo manipulation" job which, to his credit, he paid $30 for.

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