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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 11 min 19 sec ago

Amazon just dropped the 55-inch LG C6 OLED TV to under $1,000 — act fast to save $400

11 hours 36 min ago

SAVE $400: The 55-inch LG C6 OLED 4K TV is down to $999.99 at Amazon, saving you $400 off its regular $1,399.99 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-inch C6 evo AI OLED 4K TV $999.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400   Get Deal at Amazon

Finding a current-year flagship OLED from LG for under four digits usually requires waiting for holiday doorbusters, but Amazon is jumping ahead of the calendar.

The 2026 55-inch LG OLED evo AI C6 4K Smart TV is down to $999.99, shaving a clean $400 off its usual $1,399.99 sticker price. The C6 packs over 8.3 million self-lit pixels, delivering the pure, ink-black contrast and vibrant colors OLED is famous for, backed by LG’s Brightness Booster to keep highlights punchy.

Running the entire show behind the panel is the new a11 AI Processor Gen 3. Compared to the older A9 chip, this silicon jump brings 5.6 times the AI neural processing power, 50% faster overall performance, and a 70% graphics boost. In simpler words: menus fly, upscaling looks remarkably clean, and AI Director Processing ensures films look balanced rather than artificially blown out.

SEE ALSO: The best early TV deals to shop if you can't wait until Black Friday

The TV comes fully equipped with Dolby Vision for dynamic HDR rendering and Dolby Atmos for spacious room-filling sound. You also get Filmmaker Mode paired with Ambient Light Technology, which smartly reads the lighting in your living room and fine-tunes brightness and color temperature so you see movies exactly as directors intended — whether you are watching in a sunlit afternoon room or a pitch-black den.

If you plan on hooking up a console or a PC rig, the C6 pulls double duty as an elite gaming monitor. It serves up an ultra-quick 0.1ms response time and pushes refresh rates up to 165Hz, backed by NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium, and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) to completely eliminate screen tearing and input lag. For everyday streaming, LG’s webOS platform has you covered with Google Gemini intelligence built right in, plus instant access to more than 400 free LG Channels.

Grab this top-rated OLED at Amazon before the price jumps back over four digits.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best early Black Friday fitness tracker deal: The Garmin vívoactive 5 is over $100 off

11 hours 47 min ago

SAVE $108.99: As of Oct. 28, the Garmin vívoactive 5 is on sale for $191 at Amazon. That's a 36% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $191 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $108.99   Get Deal at Amazon

You don't have to wait until Black Friday to score a deal on a Garmin fitness tracker. The Garmin vívoactive 5 is already discounted by $108.99 at Amazon, bringing the price down from $299.99 to just $191.

It packs in plenty of fitness tracking, health monitoring, and everyday wellness features, all in a sleek design. However, there is a small catch: this deal only applies to the ivory-colored watch. For the navy watch, you'll need to pay $3 more, and for the orchid and slate options, you'll need to pay around $10 and $20 more.

For fitness tracking, enjoy more than 30 indoor and GPS sports apps covering activities such as walking, running, cycling, and HIIT. The vívoactive 5 also has a wheelchair mode that tracks pushes rather than steps and gives you tailored workouts and activities, including strength and cardio.

Garmin's health and recovery tools are another highlight. These include Body Battery which estimates your energy reserves throughout the day, sleep tracking with a sleep score, personalized sleep coaching, and heart rate variability (HRV) status. You'll also get heart rate tracking, stress monitoring, morning reports, fitness age, and menstrual cycle tracking.

Head to Amazon to grab this Garmin deal while it's still available.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The DJI Power 1000 V2 is down to record-low price at Amazon — save almost $300 before Black Friday

11 hours 49 min ago

SAVE ALMOST $300: As of Oct. 28, the DJI Power 1000 V2 is on sale for $399.98 at Amazon. That's a 43% discount off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Power 1000 V2 $399.98 at Amazon
$699 Save $299.02   Get Deal at Amazon

With winter storms bringing the risk of power cuts, having a backup power source at home could come in handy.

The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a high-capacity portable power station designed to keep essential devices and larger appliances running when you need them. And as of Oct. 28, it's on sale on Amazon. Normally, this unit goes for $699, but right now it's priced at just $399.98. According to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is also the best-ever price for this portable power station.

The unit has a 1,024Wh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and can power 99% of appliances. DJI says it can recharge to 80% in just 37 minutes when connected to mains power, which is useful when you need to top it up quickly before heading out or if a storm is coming in.

And for storms, when you get unexpected power cuts, this unit also features an uninterruptible power supply function with a 10ms switchover time, helping keep connected devices running when the mains supply is interrupted. It also operates at noise levels as low as 26dB, making it a quieter option for overnight use in an RV or camper van.

Get this DJI deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Dyson Airstrait is back on sale at Amazon — and it comes with Dysons Omega Oil for free

11 hours 53 min ago

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 28, the Dyson Airstrait is on sale for $427.74 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airstrait $427.74 at Amazon
$554.99 Save $127.25   Get Deal at Amazon

If you prefer straight hair to curl or a bouncy blowout, don't worry, Dyson still has a styling tool for you.

The Airstrait takes a different approach to styling than the brand's popular Airwrap: it combines drying and straightening in one step to give you sleek, straight hair. And as of Oct. 28, it's on sale at Amazon for more than $100 off the list price.

Usually $554.99, you can take it home now for $427.74. This deal also includes a bottle of Dyson's Omega Oil, which helps nourish your hair and banish frizz. It also helps to lock in the shine you'll get from your straightening routine.

So, how does this tool work? Rather than relying on hot plates to straighten hair, the Airstrait uses controlled airflow to dry and smooth strands simultaneously. The wet-to-dry design means you can go from damp hair to a straightened style without drying it first.

It directs air at a 45-degree angle to create the tension needed to straighten hair, helping to reduce the time spent drying and styling.

You can find this Dyson deal at Amazon now.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on October 28, 2026

11 hours 56 min ago

We're in the Waning Gibbous phase of the lunar cycle, which means the Moon appears more than half illuminated but is gradually getting smaller as we move towards the Third Quarter Moon.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, Oct. 28, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Gibbous phase, with 94% of its surface visible.

Tonight, without the use of visual aids you should be able to spot the Tycho Crater, Copernicus Crater, and the Mare Imbrium. If you have binoculars you'll also see the Posidonius Crater, the Mare Humorum, and the Grimaldi Basin. Finally, if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 12 landing spot, the Rupes Altai, and the Caucasus Mountains.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes approximately 29.5 days to complete an orbit around Earth, going through a series of phases along the way. Depending on its position relative to Earth and the Sun, the amount of its illuminated surface we can see changes, creating the familiar sequence of crescents, quarter moons and the Full Moon. Once the cycle is complete, the pattern repeats, as explained by NASA.

The eight phases are:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box is below market price on Amazon — save $130 with rare deal

12 hours 5 min ago

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box is on sale for $43.85 at Amazon, down from its $177.62 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Scarlet and Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box $43.85 at Amazon
$177.62 Save $133.77   Get Deal at Amazon

In a very rare turn of events for the Pokemon TCG market, one seller on Amazon has not only dropped the price of one of its most sought-after ETBs to under market price, but it’s still available to buy. 

As of Oct. 28, the Pokémon TCG Scarlet & Violet Prismatic Evolutions Elite Trainer Box is listed for just $43.85 at Amazon. That means you’ve not only got a $133.77 discount on list price, but it’s also $6.14 cheaper than its market price. 

This all-time low price (confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel) is offered by third-party seller What America Buys, which currently has an Amazon seller rating of four and a half stars out of five. Essentially, there’s nothing in the information provided to suggest that this shockingly low price isn’t legit — so it's well worth jumping on.

For additional perspective, TCGplayer currently values the sealed ETB at a market price of $122.31, while the cheapest listings only go as low as $122 plus $6.99 shipping. That puts Amazon's latest offer at an astonishing $78.46 below market value.

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is back under market price at Amazon — buy for $59.99

The ETB comes with nine Prismatic Evolutions booster packs, a full-art Eevee foil promo, 65 Stellar Tera Eevee sleeves, 45 Energy cards, dice, condition markers, a player's guide, dividers, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

Those boosters also give collectors another shot at pulling the expansion's coveted and valuable chase cards (also available to buy individually on TCGplayer) — including Umbreon ex, Sylveon ex, and Espeon ex.

We expect this deal to sell out insanely quickly — more than any readily available low-priced Pokemon TCG product we’ve covered before.

Categories: IT General, Technology

McDonald’s x Pokémon TCG: Collab adds plastic toy boxes and 15 cards in November

12 hours 9 min ago

TL;DR: According to reporting from PokéBeach, the upcoming McDonald's x Pokemon TCG collab will feature plastic toys of 15 Pokemon and two random Pokémon cards out of a set of 15.

We cover a lot of collabs, because there's something special in seeing two of your favorite brands come together to create something fun. And you clearly feel the same, because fans go wild for the limited-edition merch that drops.

Of course, there are levels to this game. The Burger King x Hello Kitty collab was popular. The Starbucks x Winnie the Pooh collab went down well. But when we talk about McDonald's x Pokemon TCG, you know it's going to be absolute chaos.

McDonald’s and Pokémon are reuniting this November, and according to PokéBeach, they are bringing back physical toys to the Happy Meal for the first time in eight years. The campaign is expected to introduce 15 collectible plastic Pokémon as mini Happy Meal boxes, each doubling as a display frame for one of two bundled Pokémon cards.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

PokéBeach reports that the limited-time event is scheduled for the following dates:

  • Canada: Nov. 3 — Dec. 7

  • Australia: Nov. 5 — Dec. 9

  • United States: Nov. 10 — Dec. 14

This 2026 rollout will mark the first time since 2018 that customers get a genuine 3D collectible toy with playable cards. The mini-boxes are designed to resemble iconic McDonald's cartons shaped around fan-favorite Pokémon. Here's the predicted roster of 15 collectible character boxes:

  • Bulbasaur

  • Charmander

  • Chikorita

  • Eevee

  • Espeon

  • Espurr

  • Minccino

  • Munchlax

  • Pikachu

  • Piplup

  • Rowlett

  • Sobble

  • Squirtle

  • Sprigatito

  • Weedle

Inside each meal, you will also find two randomized cards drawn from a specialized 15-card McDonald's reprint set. PokéBeach reports that Metagross from Temporal Forces, Palafin from Obsidian Flames, and Hawlucha from Scarlet & Violet are already confirmed.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Life ingredients probably didnt ride in on a comet, new study shows

12 hours 23 min ago

When comets hit Earth billions of years ago, they pelted the planet too fast and too steep for them to have delivered fragile organic molecules, according to a new study. 

Using advances in computer simulations, a University of Cambridge-led team of researchers ran scenarios of comet strikes, comet interactions with an atmosphere, and gravity's influence on comet movements through space to determine whether they could have brought the chemical ingredients for life to Earth. 

Rather than look at a bunch of important molecules, the researchers focused on one in particular: hydrogen cyanide, or HCN. Made of one hydrogen, one carbon, and one nitrogen atom, it's a simple molecule commonly carried on comets. They found that the immense heat would have literally vaporized most of those molecules on impact, challenging a theory on the origins of life that has existed for about a century.

Even in the rare case that HCN survived a crash to Earth, it would not have come in large enough quantities, said Richard Anslow, lead author of the paper, which appears in the journal Scientific Reports.

"It would really have to be a one-in-a-million occurrence," said Anslow, a Cambridge astronomer, in a statement. "We can't rule out for certain that it happened that way. But it seems to be a really rare occurrence — at best, a one-off fluke." 

SEE ALSO: Webb spotted a subtle difference in the interstellar comet's ice

Comets are chunks of ice, dust, and rock left over from when the solar system began about 4.6 billion years ago. Most range from a few hundred yards to dozens of miles wide, and they travel on long, stretched-out orbits. When a comet swings close to the sun, its heat converts some of the comet's ice into gas, which creates the glowing cloud and long tail. Scientists long suspected they helped start life on Earth.

In 1992, scientists Christopher Chyba and Carl Sagan studied the moon's craters and found that space dust, not comets, brought most of the carbon that reached Earth. But space dust holds its carbon in tough compounds that don't easily react, so it couldn't supply something like HCN. 

The Rosetta space mission took images of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in November 2014. Credit: ESA / Rosetta / NAVCAM

Because comets do carry HCN in a usable form, they have remained a contender as a source of life's building blocks. Lab experiments show that concentrated HCN can produce fats, sugars, and the nucleic acids that make up DNA and RNA.

The researchers selected HCN as the best case study because it's the only starter molecule that comets carry in useful amounts, and its triple bond makes it tougher than more complex molecules. In short, the scientists figured if HCN can't survive a comet crash, others chemicals probably won't either. 

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Recent computer models show that only comets wider than about 300 feet make it through the early Earth's atmosphere without breaking apart or burning up. Those models also show that earlier studies overestimated how much HCN can actually survive a high-speed collision. 

But if not comets, what could have brought life's ingredients? The researchers suggest asteroids, which slammed into Earth far more often. Their impacts may have triggered the critical chemical reactions to make prebiotic molecules. Or, an even simpler source: Maybe Earth made them on its own, without any extra help from space. 

The study showed comet delivery was slightly more probable for Mars. It's smaller than Earth with a thinner atmosphere, so comets had a better chance of reaching its surface intact. But the more likely answer is that it didn't happen on either planet, Anslow said. 

"Historically, scientists thought that comets were important for the origin of life on Earth because they carried carbon and nitrogen-bearing molecules, so these giant space snowballs were almost like a get-out-of-jail-free card that brought all the molecules a planet would need to seed life," Anslow said. "It’s kind of a romantic idea, but our results suggest it's highly unlikely." 

Categories: IT General, Technology

This JBL Bluetooth speaker brings the party wherever you go, and now it’s $80 off

12 hours 23 min ago

TL;DR: Bring the party wherever you go with this JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker, on sale now for just $319.99 (reg. $399.95).

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker (Open Box) $319.99
$399.95 Save $79.96   Get Deal

Looking for a speaker that brings stellar sound, can survive the outdoors, and even keeps your phone powered up? It may sound like a unicorn, but that describes the JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker. It combines powerful audio with IP68 protection, ambient lighting, and a built-in power bank so the party never has to stop.

Right now, you can secure your own JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker for just $319.99.

Whether you’re planning holiday parties or already looking forward to beach days next summer, you need the right speaker for your perfectly curated playlists. The JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker is an excellent option — with deep bass, IP68 protection, and even an option to charge your phone.

A dedicated subwoofer and dual tweeters, all tuned by JBL’s AI sound processing, make sure you hear your favorite songs loud and clear with deep bass and sharp highs. A Smart EQ mode analyzes what you’re playing and adjusts the EQ in real time, whether you’re listening to rock, R&B, or a podcast.

A shoulder strap with floating hooks lets you roll up to the party totally hands-free. It’s also super durable, IP68 waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof, so it can tag along to any kind of event.

The JBL Xtreme 5 gives you an impressive 28 hours of playtime per charge, so you can party the night away. Need more battery? You can get two more hours of playback with just a 10-minute charge. A built-in power bank lets you charge your phone right from the speaker’s USB-C port, too.

You’re saving big on this model thanks to its Open Box status. That means it was likely excess inventory from store shelves, but is verified to be in new condition, repackaged in clean packaging, and comes with a one-year warranty.

Get your own JBL Xtreme 5 Portable Waterproof Speaker for just $319.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jimmy Kimmel reacts to Trump being heckled at his rally

12 hours 24 min ago

It's not entirely uncommon for hecklers and protesters to crash Donald Trump's rallies, but it's not often they manage to yell an insult that can be clearly heard throughout the stadium.

In the clip above, Jimmy Kimmel plays footage of Trump's flow being interrupted by a man yelling, at top volume, "Shove that ballroom up your fat ass."

"Wouldn't it be a shame if people start yelling that everywhere he goes?" Kimmel responds. "You know what would be even worse? If people started printing it on shirts. Please, please don't do this at his next rally tomorrow in Ohio, or the next one in South Carolina. Please, it's beneath us."

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Stuff Your Kindle Day is live for Halloween: How to download 100s of free spooky books this week

12 hours 50 min ago

TL;DR: The latest Stuff Your Kindle Day takes place on Oct. 26-30. Get Spooked, hosted by Indie Author Collective, offers thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books for Kindle and Kobo users.

Stuff Your Kindle Day provides an awesome opportunity for bookworms to add to their TBR list without any guilt.

We're blessed with a pretty busy Stuff Your Kindle Day schedule in 2026, including romance, thriller, and young adult giveaways. Now that it's officially spooky season, Get Spooked has launched with 100s of free thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books.

Get Spooked, hosted by Indie Author Collective, is aimed at Kindle and Kobo users. Everything you download is yours to keep forever, so you can go wild.

SEE ALSO: T-Mobile is giving away the 2026 Motorola Razr for free — how to qualify

Looking to make the most of the latest Stuff Your Kindle Day? We've lined up everything you need to know about this popular event.

When is Stuff Your Kindle Day?

Get Spooked takes place from Oct. 26-30. This five-day giveaway doesn't carry the same stress as a 24-hour event. You can consider your options and take your time. You could dip into the selection today and come back later in the week.

Which books are free?

Get Spooked is offering a huge selection of thrillers, mysteries, paranormal, and horror books. The helpful hub page has filters for price, retailers, e-reader, representations, and genres. Play around with the filters and find exactly what you want to read. Chances are you'll find something for free.

Is Stuff Your Kindle Day the same as Amazon Kindle Unlimited?

Everything you download on Stuff Your Kindle Day is yours to keep forever, and there's no limit on the number of books you can download. Stuff Your Kindle Day downloads don't count towards the 20 books that Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscribers can borrow at the same time, so what's holding you back?

The best Stuff Your Kindle Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle (16GB) + Kindle Unlimited (3 Months) $149.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Why we like it

These popular e-readers let you take your entire library on the go, with weeks of battery life and an anti-glare display. Plus, you can get three months of Kindle Unlimited for free with your purchase for a limited time.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Block ads and boost your cybersecurity with this $35 deal

13 hours 23 min ago

TL;DR: Enjoy a more private and peaceful internet experience with this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker Family Security Suite, on sale now for just $34.97 (reg. $439.39) through Nov. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN + Ad Blocker Family Security Suite $34.97
$439.39 Save $404.42   Get Deal

Between pop-up ads, trackers, and online privacy concerns, browsing the internet can feel like a chore. The AdGuard VPN and Ad Block Family Security Suite makes it easier by combining VPN protection and ad blocking, so you can enjoy a more private and less cluttered online experience.

Right now, you can lock in a 5-year subscription to AdGuard VPN and a lifetime subscription to the Ad Blocker Family Plan with this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker Family Security Suite for just $34.97, with no coupon code required, until Nov. 1.

We’re all multitasking, so it’s time for our tools to do it, too. The AdGuard VPN and Ad Block Family Security Suite can tackle two things for the price of one — keeping you safer online while providing an ad-free internet experience.

The AdGuard VPN and Ad Block Family Security Suite kicks off with a 5-year subscription to AdGuard VPN, boosting your cybersecurity so you can rest easier knowing hackers and cybercriminals are stopped in their tracks. You can use it on up to 10 devices in your household.

AdGuard VPN provides encrypted internet access and a zero-logging policy, so your internet activity stays secure and private. You can also enjoy internet access without geographic restrictions, choosing from over 60 locations worldwide and watching content from anywhere.

In addition to a safer internet, you’ll also get a more peaceful one with a lifetime subscription to the Ad Blocker Family Plan. This handy tool stops ads in their tracks, banishing pop-ups, banners, and video ads. You can share with up to nine devices, and it works with both Android and iOS. There’s also a parental control feature available to help the little ones in your life stay safer.

Lock in this AdGuard VPN and Ad Blocker Family Security Suite, on sale now for just $34.97 (reg. $439.39) through Nov. 1.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Dig trailer: Amy Poehler leads archeology comedy from Parks and Recreation co-creator

14 hours 49 min ago

Peacock has released the official trailer for Dig, an upcoming comedy series by Amy Poehler and Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, The Good Place). 

Based on the novel Excavations by Kate Myers, Dig follows a group of archeologists and students working on a Greek excavation site. However, the expedition takes an unexpected turn when they discover a rare artefact. 

"When the team uncovers a long-buried secret with the potential to rewrite history, they find themselves at the center of a high-stakes international conspiracy," Dig's logline reads.

Led by Poehler, Dig's cast features Geraldine Viswanathan (Bad Education), Fina Strazza (Paper Girls), Antonia Thomas (The Good Doctor), and Hugh Laurie (House). The trailer teases a few other familiar faces as well, including Jason Mantzoukas (Taskmaster) and Brennan Lee Mulligan (Dimension 20).

Dig premieres Nov. 23 on Peacock.

Categories: IT General, Technology

AT&Ts $177 million class-action settlement payout is coming, but probably wont change your life

15 hours 19 sec ago

AT&T settled a $177 million class-action lawsuit last year, agreeing to pay customers whose personal information was stolen in two data breaches. A Texas district court has since approved the settlement agreement on Oct. 2. However, even if you were impacted, this doesn't mean a windfall is coming your way.

SEE ALSO: AT&T data breach impacts 'nearly all' customers

In March 2024, AT&T announced that data belonging to approximately 73 million current and former customers had been found on the dark web. The data appeared to be from 2019 or earlier, and included personal information such as social security numbers.

Four months later in July, AT&T discovered a second major data breach. A bad actor had accessed AT&T's cloud server and downloaded records of customers' calls and texts, as well as their phone numbers. This breach impacted nearly every AT&T customer who used the telco's network between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2022, as well as some on Jan. 2, 2023.

Customers filed multiple class-action lawsuits against AT&T which were later combined. The company ultimately agreed to pay a cash settlement fund of $177 million: $149 million for those impacted by the first breach, and $28 million for the second. Though that is no small chunk of change, the amount each individual claimant receives will be significantly smaller. After more than $18 million is subtracted for lawyers' fees, the remaining settlement must be divided among several million people.

Claimants in the AT&T class-action settlement are split into three tiers, each of which will receive a different payout. Tier 1 class members had their social security number exposed by the breach discovered in March 2024. Over 1.65 million people made claims as members of this class, and will each receive around $39-$40.

Tier 2 claimants were impacted by the same breach, but did not have their social security number exposed. More than 687,000 people submitted claims as part of this tier, and will each get approximately $7.50-$8.10.

Finally, Tier 3 claimants were impacted by the July 2024 breach. Over 1.5 million of these class members will take home around $6.50-$7.10 each.

People in Tier 1 could submit a claim for up to $5,000 if they had documentation proving they suffered actual losses due to the AT&T breaches. Similarly, those in Tier 2 could claim up to $2,500 if able to show such losses as well. These aren't mutually exclusive either, so claimants could receive up to $7,500 if they are part of both tiers. Even so, the majority of class members are unlikely to have documented losses.

Unfortunately, if you haven't already submitted a claim, it's too late to do so now. The deadline to opt in for a payout from AT&T's settlement was Dec. 18 last year. If you didn't submit a claim before then, you will not receive any money. Those applying for a higher payout due to documented losses also had to submit their evidence by Sept. 8 this year.

If you didn't opt in but also didn't explicitly exclude yourself from the class by Nov. 17, you are still bound by the settlement's terms. This means that you can't bring your own lawsuit against AT&T for the same breaches, so there's no chance of you getting anything at all.

It isn't clear exactly when class members will receive their money.  The official settlement website states that even after the court approves the settlement, appeals may delay any payouts. Class members will only begin receiving settlement money after the time window for appeals has expired, and all claims have been reviewed. However, if no appeals are filed, payments are expected to begin around December this year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 28, 2026

16 hours 49 min ago

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for people who've played football.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Assembling a team

  • Green: Reggie, who?

  • Blue: Backfield route tree

  • Purple: Gymnastics equipment

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Club

  • Green: Reggie____

  • Blue: Receiving Routes for a Running Back

  • Purple: Rhythmic Gymnastics Apparatuses

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #765 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
  • Club: GROUP, SIDE, SQUAD, TEAM

  • Reggie____: JACKSON, MILLER, WAYNE, WHITE

  • Receiving Routes for a Running Back: ANGLE, FLAT, SWING, WHEEL

  • Rhythmic Gymnastics Apparatuses: CLUBS, HOOP, RIBBON, ROPE

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

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for October 28, 2026

16 hours 54 min ago

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.

Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 28, 2026

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 28, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 28 Pips

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 28 Pips

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 3-5, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 28 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 3-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for October 28, 2026

17 hours 23 min ago

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

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

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

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

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

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

Prepare.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BRACE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Soft bread filling.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 28, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DOUGH

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Worship.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 28, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 28, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DEIFY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A form of writing.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

PROSE

Final Hurdle hint

Darkest color.

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

BLACK

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Venezia vs. Inter online for free

17 hours 23 min ago

TL;DR: Watch Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A for free on SportyNet. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Serie A is back for a batch of midweek fixtures, including Venezia vs. Inter. The visitors have made an incredibly strong start to the season, winning seven of their opening eight fixtures. Venezia are bottom of the standings after winning just one of their eight games. Fans will expect Inter to win this clash comfortably.

If you're interested in watching Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Venezia vs. Inter?

Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A kicks off at 1:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 28. This fixture takes place at the Pier Luigi Penzo Stadium.

How to watch Venezia vs. Inter for free

Venezia vs. Inter in Serie A is available to live stream for free on SportyNet.

SportyNet is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can live stream Venezia vs. Inter for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Venezia vs. Inter for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice

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

  4. Visit SportyNet

  5. Watch Venezia vs. Inter for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Venezia vs. Inter without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture (plus other Serie A action) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Serie A?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

  • Fast connection speeds free from throttling

  • Up to 10 simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Venezia vs. Inter for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 28, 2026

19 hours 23 min ago

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 27, 2026 Attachment meaning

A digital file, document or image sent along with an email message.

Body meaning

The main part of a letter, article, book or email, separate from the header or signature.

Signature meaning

A unique mark written or created on a document to prove identity,

Subject meaning

A main theme of conversation, a book or an academic branch.

Attraction meaning

A feeling of liking, interest or drawing toward another person.

Crush meaning

A strong, often temporary or unexpressed romantic liking for someone.

Feelings meaning

The conscious, subjective experience of an emotion, physical sensation or opinion

Interest meaning

A feeling that accompanies or causes special attention to something or someone.

Curiosity meaning

A strong desire to learn, know,or discover something

Opportunity meaning

A favorable time, occasion or combination of circumstances that makes it possible to do, achieve or experience something you want or need.

Perseverance meaning

The continued effort to achieve a goal, complete a task or maintain a course of action despite difficulties, failures, setbacks or opposition

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

Spirit meaning

The non-physical, vital essence of a person or living thing.

Coarse meaning

Consisting of a harsh, abrasive or non-smooth surface.

Rode meaning

.The past form of ride, used to describe sitting on, being carried by or controlling an animal or a vehicle.

Rout meaning

An overwhelming defeat in a battle, sports match or election

Weigh meaning

To ascertain the heaviness of by or as if by a balance.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 28, 2026

19 hours 23 min ago

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you've got butterflies.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 28, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Love is in the air

  • Green: Electronic communication

  • Blue: Out of this world

  • Purple: The way

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Romantic Liking

  • Green: Components of an Email

  • Blue: NASA Mars Rovers

  • Purple: Homophones of Paths

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1235 is...

What is the answer to Connections today
  • Romantic Liking: ATTRACTION, CRUSH, FEELINGS, INTEREST

  • Components of an Email: ATTACHMENT, BODY, SIGNATURE, SUBJECT

  • NASA Mars Rovers: CURIOSITY, OPPORTUNITY, PERSEVERANCE, SPIRIT

  • Homophones of Paths: COARSE, RODE, ROUT, WEIGH

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

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