Mashable

Visiting Austin, Texas and planning to hop into a Tesla robotaxi after a night at the bar? Just don't barf inside the autonomous vehicle or that ride may cost you an extra $150.

According to a report from longtime Tesla influencer Sawyer Merritt, Tesla has rolled out a new cleaning fee system for its robotaxi service, which is currently only available in Austin. Basically, if you make a mess in a robotaxi, it's going to cost you a pretty penny.

Merritt reports that Tesla now has two tiers of potential fees for cleaning up a Tesla after a ride. If a rider makes a "moderate mess," which is described as "food spills, significant dirt and minor stains" then they will be charged an extra $50 for their ride.

However, if a rider makes a "severe mess," which is described as "biowaste or smoking in the vehicle," then that charge is bumped up to an extra $150 for the ride.

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"We prioritize maintaining a clean and comfortable environment for all riders and promoting responsible rider behavior," Tesla said in a statement to Merritt. "To address incidents where vehicles require additional cleaning after a trip, we will assess the type and severity of the mess and apply the appropriate fee. Once a fee is assessed, you’ll receive an email notifying you that additional cleaning was required for the vehicle after your trip. An updated ride receipt will also be available under the Ride History section of the Robotaxi app. If you believe a charge was made in error, call the Customer Support team and follow the prompts for option 7."

While fee specifics have not yet been posted by Tesla on their Robotaxi Rider Rules page, it does say that dirtying a vehicle will result in an "additional fee" at "Tesla's discretion."

Gizmodo compared Tesla's robotaxi cleaning fees with other car sharing and car rental services. Waymo, the most comparable autonomous car service to Tesla's, charges $50 for a cleaning if the rider self-reports the mess to the company. If they don't report it, Waymo charges $100 for the first incident and then "up to the cost of cleaning" if there are future cases. Recurring incidents can also affect a user's account with Waymo. The largest fine Gizmodo found was a $400 fee for smoking inside a Hertz vehicle.

Tesla's robotaxi service, although promoted as an autonomous experience, actually very much requires human intervention. Texas requires that Tesla provide a human safety monitor be present inside the robotaxi for certain types of trips. And, while we're on the topic of cleaning fees, you can guarantee that a human is going to have to scrub that vomit out of the robotaxi seat.

SAVE 30%: As of Dec. 29, you can grab TurboTax Desktop Deluxe 2025 (Federal & State) for $55.99, down from $79.99, at Amazon.

TurboTax Desktop Deluxe 2025 (Fed + State Tax Return, Digital Download) $55.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $24.00   Get Deal at Amazon

As a freelancer, tax season is a multi-week dread that starts as soon as the first 1099 hits your inbox. If you’re like me and literally hate everything about tax time, the goal is always the same: get it over with as quickly and painlessly as possible without leaving money on the table.

Right now, you can grab TurboTax Desktop Deluxe 2025 (Federal & State) for $55.99 at Amazon. That’s 30% off the $79.99 list price, which is a solid way to use some holiday gift card balance on something you're actually going to need in a few weeks.

SEE ALSO: How to manage quarterly taxes as a solopreneur

This version is specifically designed for people who need to maximize deductions. It searches for over 375 deductions and credits (including home office expenses and charitable donations) to make sure you're getting your biggest possible refund. It also includes five federal e-files and one state download, and it can import your info from last year's return, so you don't have to manually retype every detail.

Just a heads up for my fellow early birds: while the software is available to download now, some specific tax forms might not be finalized by the IRS until mid-February, so you might see a "pending" message on certain sections if you try to file today.

SAVE $10 PER BOOK: Each of the six titles in the Rachel Reid "Game Changers" series which inspired the show "Heated Rivalry" are on sale in Kindle version for $8.99 each, down from the standard print price of $18.99 each. You can also snag all six titles in a set for $53.94.

Opens in a new window Credit: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp. "Heated Rivalry" by Rachel Reid (Kindle version) $8.99 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $10.00   Get Deal

If you don't know how to proceed with life after watching all six episode of "Heated Rivalry" on HBO Max, you're in good company. We're all left with a void in our lives now that season 1 of "Heated Rivalry" is complete and we have no idea how long we'll have to wait until season 2 drops. But in the meantime, you can get back into the wonderful world of Ilya and Shane, and Kip and Scott, among others with this epic deal at Amazon.

As of Dec. 29, all six titles in the Rachel Reid "Game Changers" series are on sale in e-reader format for $8.99 each, marked down from the standard print price of $18.99 each. You can also snag all six titles in a set for $53.94.

If you got a Kindle or a Kobo e-reader for Christmas, it's time to stock up on titles to keep you busy for the winter. The Libby app gives you access to free titles from your local library but the wait times can be lengthy for hot titles. If you're feeling truly lost after the cottage and simply cannot wait the 17-or-whatever weeks until "Heated Rivalry" becomes available for free from your library, you can snag the e-book version for only $8.99 at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: The glorious, easy-to-miss moments in Heated Rivalry's finale

The Rachel Reid series "Game Changers" series features Scott and Kip's storyline in book one, "Game Changer" while the second book, "Heated Rivalry," explores Ilya and Shane's complicated romance. Of course, you need to read both after binging the show. If you still crave more, get all six e-books for under $54. Keep in mind the sixth book, "The Long Game," picks up on Shane and Ilya's story ten years after "Heated Rivalry," so this title is a must-have.

If you have some time set aside week or plan to read more in 2026, today's sale prices at Amazon offer a great opportunity to dive deeper into the Rachel Reid series that we cannot stop thinking about.

We may be in that weird timeframe known to most as “Betwixmas,” but that hasn’t stopped brands from launching new ideas and releasing products just before the new year hits. Just last week, Samsung introduced its 2026 sound device lineup. It’s not available to purchase just yet, so if you’d like to see it in person, you’ll have to go to CES 2026 in Las Vegas (Jan. 6-9).

SEE ALSO: If your Samsung TV sounds underwhelming, it’s because you haven’t applied these cool hacks

The higher-ups are pretty stoked about the newest designs. “For more than a decade, Samsung has shaped the evolution of home audio through advanced acoustics, intelligent features, and thoughtful design,” Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said in a press release. “We’re continuing that legacy with next-generation sound devices designed to deliver a rich, expressive performance for any space and moment."

Whether these new devices are actually revolutionary remains to be seen, but here’s everything we know so far.

There are two new soundbars

Samsung’s 2026 audio lineup includes two new soundbars: the HW-Q990H and the HW-QS90H.

The first is supposed to deliver Samsung’s most “immersive soundbar experience yet,” with an 11.1.4-channel system, a 7.0.2 main bar, 4.0.2 rear speakers, and a dual eight-inch driver with a built-in compact active subwoofer. This soundbar also features “next-generation AI tuning,” though we’re not entirely sure what that entails just yet. This is the first Samsung soundbar to have “Sound Elevation” technology, which Samsung says “lifts dialogue toward the center of the screen.” This soundbar also debuts Samsung’s “Auto Volume” feature, so there’s consistent volume across channels and content.

The second soundbar (the HW-QS90H) is an all-in-one setup that focuses on “aesthetic versatility.” It’s a 7.1.2-channel system with 13 drivers (including nine wide-range speakers) and a built-in Quad Bass Woofer system, so you shouldn't need a separate subwoofer with this one. It also features a “Convertible Fit” design that gives you the option to mount it on the wall or set it on a table — the built-in gyro sensor auto-adapts based on its orientation.

There are two new WiFi speakers

In addition to the soundbars, Samsung is expanding its portfolio with two WiFi speakers, the “Music Studio 5” and “Music Studio 7." These speakers are designed to fit your decor with what Samsung calls a “timeless dot concept” (designed by Erwan Bouroullec), but they definitely look Pixar-coded — like a giant, sleek eye.

The Music Studio 7 will be available in black. Credit: Samsung

The Music Studio 7 offers 3.1.1-channel spatial audio through left, front, right, and top speakers. There’s also an AI Dynamic Bass Control system that gives you the ability to play high-res audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz) with minimal distortion. It's black (there aren’t any other colorways at the moment) and works as a standalone or can be paired with compatible speakers, soundbars, or TVs.

The Music Studio 5 (model LS50H) is a smaller, “gallery-inspired” design for more compact spaces. It features a four-inch woofer and dual tweeters with a built-in waveguide for balanced sound. This speaker also includes the AI Dynamic Bass Control and supports WiFi casting, streaming services, and Bluetooth connectivity.

A more connected ecosystem

While each of these devices is designed to stand on its own, the real goal here seems to be total integration. Samsung is leaning heavily into Q-Symphony, the tech that allows your TV speakers and external audio gear play at the same time rather than fighting for control. For this new lineup, they’ve bumped the limit to allow up to five sound devices to pair with a single TV at once. The system also uses AI to map out your room and calibrate the sound based on where you’ve actually placed the speakers, which should theoretically make that "eye" on your bookshelf and the bar under your TV feel like parts of the same immersive setup.

SAVE $30: The Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are on sale at Amazon for $199.99, down from the list price of $229.99. That's a 13% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Soundcore Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30   Get Deal

Now that we're almost to New Year's, some of us are considering resolutions for the upcoming year. Sure, getting 10,000 steps everyday or going to the gym a few times per week is great for overall health, but how are you sleeping? If your sleep is not great, it can have negative repercussions on almost every other aspect of life. Instead of suffering through noisy sleep interruptions, check out these sleep earbuds that are on sale at Amazon.

As of Dec. 29, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds are on sale at Amazon for $199.99, marked down from the usual price of $229.99. That's a rare 13% discount for these earbuds.

Anker designed the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds to be comfortable enough to wear all night while sleeping, even for side sleepers. But equally important, they can help mask any noises that might wake up in the middle of the night. They'll help you sleep soundly despite a snoring partner, the cat running around the house, or noisy neighbors.

SEE ALSO: The cult-favorite Loftie alarm helped me kick my nighttime phone habit

The Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds came out earlier this year, replacing the previous A20 model. The Sleep A30 earbuds are the first to offer noise cancellation and in Mashable's testing, Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard found the Sleep A30 earbuds to be even more comfortable compared to the A20 earbuds. Plus, Anker says you can get up to 45 hours of playtime before you'll need to recharge. Assuming you sleep about eight hours each night, you'll only need to plug them in about ever sixth day.

In Mashable's review of the best sleep earbuds, the Soundcore Sleep A30 earn the spot as the best noise-cancelling option. Allard wrote, "Sometimes, the sleep situation demands more than passive noise cancellation and good white noise, and that's where the Sleep A30 earbuds come in. As the only pair of sleep earbuds on the market with ANC, the A30s have a clear advantage."

Allard's review goes on to mention sleepers get three types of soundscapes to help with falling and staying asleep: AI audio brainwave, snore masking, and white noise. She also found the app to have a nice layout.

If your sleep quality is suffering due to noise disruptions, consider the Soundcore Sleep A30 earbuds a necessary form of self-care. Snag them while they're on sale at Amazon for under $200 and make 2026 the year you finally get restorative sleep.

If you have an embarrassing or outdated Gmail address, you may soon be able to change that — without losing all your files and records.

The tech site 9to5Google reported that it appears Google may be rolling out the ability to change the address of your gmail.com email without losing all your files.

9to5Google reported that the change was discovered on a Hindi-language support forum page but that the ability was "gradually rolling out to all users." Read the translated forum page:

"The email address associated with your Google Account is the address you use to sign in to Google services. This email address helps you and others identify your account. If you’d like, you can change your Google Account email address that ends in gmail.com to a new email address that ends in gmail.com."

Obviously, the change has not been confirmed just yet. In fact, the English-language version of the support page still reads, "if your account's email address ends in @gmail.com, you usually can't change it."

So if your Gmail address is from middle school and a little embarrassing, you might be able to change it soon. But it's not quite guaranteed.

Best outdoor deals at Amazon Best overall deal Garmin inReach Messenger $165.50 (save $134.49) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C300 $169.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Whoop 5.0 Peak $199 (save $40) Get Deal Best backyard deal Govee Smart Outdoor String Lights 2 (144 feet) $109.98 (save $70.01) Get Deal Best camping deal Stanley Perfect Brew Pour Over Set $32.93 (save $12.07) Get Deal

Not everyone thinks of winter as the ideal time for outdoor activities, but it might actually be the best time of the year if you don't love crowds. It's also a great time to restock your outdoor gear during the off-season, like snagging a portable power station. And since we're heading into a new year, it's also a nice opportunity to grab items that'll help you with fitness goals like the Whoop 5.0.

Amazon hasn't forgotten about us outdoor-lovers with this week's deals and there's an especially noteworthy one if you'll be heading out on adventures this winter. Check out the details for keeping in touch while staying safe.

Best Amazon outdoor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin inReach Messenger $165.50 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $134.49   Get Deal Why we like it

Communication has come a long way from the days of not getting cell service while sitting in your own home. But while out in the backcountry, you might still run into connectivity issues. That's not the best for staying safe and keeping family up to date with your whereabouts. The Garmin inReach Messenger solves the issue of having no cell service. Thanks to its satellite network, you can keep in touch with two-way messages no matter where you are. Once you download the Garmin app and sign up for a satellite subscription, you'll have access to global two-way messaging, even when you're without cell service.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best power stations for camping keep you both online and off-grid

The Garmin inReach Messenger is lightweight and compact, clocking in at about four ounces. Open the Garmin app on your phone, and you can text contacts directly from the app. Garmin even lets you send group messages, so you won't have to individually text each friend who's waiting for an update. Of course, it comes with an SOS function, too.

Before you take off on winter adventures this year, be sure you have a way to stay in touch thanks to the Garmin inReach Messenger. It's on sale at Amazon for an enormous 45% off which is a new record-low price.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 December 29, 2025

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 December 28, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 29 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 29 Pips

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 29 Pips

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-2, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this green space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically.

Number (20): Everything in this space must add up to 20. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-2, placed horizontally; 1-5, 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.

SAVE 28%: As of Dec. 29, you can get the 27-inch HP All-in-One Touch (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) for $809.99, down from $1,129.99, at Best Buy. That's a 28% discount or $320 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP 27-inch HP All-in-One Touch (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) $809.99 at Best Buy
$1,129.99 Save $320   Get Deal

If you're officially tired of staring at a cluttered desk filled with wires and tower units, you may want to look into an all-in-one desktop.

Right now, you can get the 27-inch HP All-in-One Touch (AMD Ryzen 7 7730U, 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD) for $809.99, down from $1,129.99, at Best Buy. That's a 28% discount or a $320 price cut.

It’s powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 7730U processor, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD, so it’s fast enough to handle multitasking or creative projects and shouldn't freeze up if you try to do more than two things at once. The 27-inch Full HD touchscreen is ideal for anyone who usually keeps multiple tabs open, and it even includes a pop-up privacy camera for video calls. Plus, it comes with a wireless keyboard and mouse in the box, so you can literally plug it in and start working immediately.

Among the most difficult parenting tasks, there are few as dreaded as asking a child to put down the device that's just absorbed their attention for hours.

As a parent, you feel guilty that it got this far. You're also gearing up for a potential fight, should that child throw a toddler, tween, or teen tantrum. As they say, nobody wants this.

While setting new boundaries on screen time might feel daunting, experts want you to know that a reset is possible. The new year, with its fresh beginnings and renewed optimism, is a great time to make such a move.

Think of it not as a battle, says Catherine Price, co-author of the new book The Amazing Generation: Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen-Filled World. Instead, remember that you're working toward a shared goal frequently thwarted by social media and excessive screen time.

"In reality, we really should be on the same side, because what do we want for ourselves and our kids?" says Price. "We want to have meaningful and fun lives, with strong relationships."

With that in mind, follow these four strategies to help your child reclaim their time from digital screens:

1. Don't lecture about screen time rules

Parents keen on curbing screen use often make the mistake of lecturing their child on the topic. Price says it's more effective to start a family conversation about how screen time makes each person feel, whether it's their own or yours.

This part is important, and an oft-missing ingredient in efforts to recalibrate device use, because parents must reckon with their own habits.

It's worse than you might expect. Take, for example, a recent nationally representative Girl Scouts survey of 1,000 5-to-13-year-olds which found that 52 percent struggled to get their parents' attention because they were on their own phones.

"What are you modeling currently for your kids?" says Price, who was not involved in the survey. "Because you can't expect your kids to follow your instructions if you're not following those habits yourself."

"What are you modeling currently for your kids?" - Catherine Price, co-author of "The Amazing Generation"

You might rely on your own memory, but that's unlikely to offer a full picture of what your kids experience. Instead, look at any screen time reports created by your personal devices.

Price recommends drilling down to time spent using specific apps. A road trip might give the impression that you spent eight hours glued to your phone when it was just using a maps app. But several hours of regular daily use on an app like TikTok or WhatsApp should be a wakeup call for parents about their own habits, and one they might not recognize without objective data.

Price also suggests treating the conversation about household screen time rules as a mini science experiment wherein both kids and parents get to track what they observe, then talk about it together. The point is to identify what aspects of parent or child screen time lead to unpleasant experiences like negative or hurt feelings and limited socializing.

Parents might also be surprised by their child's interest or curiosity in spending less time online. The Amazing Generation, co-written with Dr. Jonathan Haidt, is a middle school-aged companion book to his best-seller The Anxious Generation. Presented with graphic novel elements, it also includes regretful anecdotes from young adults who wished their childhood and adolescence hadn't been dominated by social media and screen time.

Relatedly, the Girl Scouts survey similarly found that 46 percent of girls felt pressure to be online, even if they weren't enjoying it.

2. Set and stick to rules for screen time

Dr. Jean Twenge, a psychologist and author of 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World: How Parents Can Stop Smartphones, Social Media, and Gaming from Taking Over Their Children's Lives, says parents should create new household screen time guidelines based on conversations with their kids, or return to enforcing existing rules. For help with this task, parents can consult the American Academy of Pediatrics' customizable resource for creating a family media plan.

Twenge, a mother of three teens who's conducted extensive academic research on screen time, recommends setting the same standards for every child in the household. This might include no smartphones and social media until age 16, time limits on specific devices, and prohibiting certain apps or websites. Parents should follow household expectations as well, like device-free mealtimes.

Even if the plan goes well at first, there will be moments you feel like relenting, because of inconvenience, crisis, or peer pressure. Twenge suggests having a plan for these times.

Airplane rides, for example, might be the exception to your thoughtful rules, when the 10-year-old gets unlimited time on their favorite gaming platform. It's important to be transparent about these exceptions to avoid confusion and backtracking.

Twenge also encourages parents to substitute TV time for device use at home if they really need to occupy a child. You'll know what they're watching, compared to how they might spend time on a tablet or phone, and the content is probably higher quality than watching short videos on social media.

Along with the rules you set, Twenge urges parents to use parental controls or even a third-party monitoring system. Even if your child has limited screen time, you still want to prevent them from discovering or engaging with harmful content.

Twenge says she's come to the "reluctant conclusion" that device and app-specific parental controls are so difficult to use that third-party software, like Bark or Aura, may be necessary to ensure they're staying safe and following the rules you've set.

3. Coach kids through the downsides of less screen time

Even if a child likes the idea of spending less time online, the very real tradeoffs to them can include boredom and social exclusion.

Sarah Keating, vice president of Girl Scout Experience for the Girl Scouts, says parents play an important role in coaching kids through these concerns. First, she says adults need to be comfortable with the idea of their children being bored.

To make this less painful for everyone, Keating recommends offering screen-free alternatives that help satisfy the tactile sensory experience of picking up a phone or tablet. For younger children, these could be blocks or markers. Older children might enjoy an activity book like Mad Libs or doing something with their hands, such as crocheting.

Twenge suggests asking a tween or teen to make a list of activities they can do instead of scrolling or posting. You might also discuss how screen time can worsen their boredom, a phenomenon that research suggests is real.

It's also helpful to remind teens of what they still have, Twenge says, particularly if you've given them a "dumb" phone or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) phone to communicate with friends.

Keating acknowledges that kids use technology and internet culture to create cliques that exclude others. She says it's critical to talk with your child about this dynamic and help them create a script they can use in such situation. Instead of feeling rejected, for example, the child might ask their friend with curiosity about a meme they've referenced.

4. Encourage real-world freedom over screen time

Price likes to flip the concern about missing out on its head by pointing out what offline opportunities kids will lose if they spend so much time online.

In this regard, she hopes that parents trying to set new screen time norms for their kids also offer real-world freedom that helps build confidence and independence.

"It's not just about restriction," Price says. "It's about actually making life more fun and enjoyable."

Tweens and teens might get opportunities to walk to the store or a friend's house by themselves. While younger children might need a different approach, parents can focus on ensuring they're playing with friends or at the park instead of sitting at home on a screen.

To generate more ideas, parents can ask their children what they're interested in trying or learning and then figure out ways for them to do that independently.

The way Price thinks about it, recalibrating screen time isn't just about getting kids offline, it's about bringing "kids back to life."

Nineties boyband fans rejoice: a new Take That documentary series will be landing in the new year, launching globally on Netflix on 27 Jan. 2026.

This three-part limited series, directed by David Soutar, will tell the story of Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, and Robbie Williams and their experiences in one of the UK's most successful bands.

Expect archive, previously unseen footage, along with interviews with Gary, Howard, and Mark as the series explores the highs and lows of the iconic band which sold over 45 million records worldwide.

All episodes of TAKE THAT will be available on Netflix from 27 Jan. 2026.

Sure, we've already taken stock of the best overall smartphones in 2025, but that doesn't mean we can't give them a little more shine.

Specifically, it's time to talk cameras. Apple, Samsung, Google, and others released some excellent handsets in the past calendar year, but there's a lot that goes into deciding whether or not a phone is good. Processing power, battery life, AI features, and a bunch of other little odds and ends factor into our reviews, but for a lot of people, all of those things are secondary to the cameras.

So, with that in mind, let's focus on cameras as we close out 2025. Here are our favorite smartphone cameras of the year.

SEE ALSO: The best smartphones of 2025 include some surprises Best overall: iPhone 17 Pro/Pro Max Big surprise here. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

It almost feels like a cop-out to give this award to the highest-end iPhone released in 2025, but the fact of the matter is that we didn't test out any phone cameras in 2025 that impressed us more than the iPhone 17 Pro models. If you don't trust me, listen to what our reviewer Stan Schroeder had to say about it.

"The triple 48-megapixel camera system on this phone is the best I’ve ever tried. The main sensor captures rich and detailed photos," Schroeder wrote. "Low light photography is so good that you can snap a shot in near-total darkness and get a photo that looks like it was taken during the day."

The low light photography is impressive. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Schroeder said the iPhone 17 Pro Max was capable of taking good shots under a lot of different conditions. Low light photography was impressive, in particular, as were the zoom capabilities. He said that photos taken at up to 8x zoom looked crisp, which is no small feat. Apple always brings its A-game when it comes to cameras, and the iPhone 17 Pro is no different.

Looks good! Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Best cheap Android camera: Google Pixel 9a No bump this time, though. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

Google's Pixel phones have always delivered on the camera front, and the Pixel 9a is no exception, especially considering its lean $500 price point. As I noted in my Pixel 9a review, it's now the budget smartphone to beat in 2025, thanks in large part to the competent camera array.

By the numbers, it's nothing spectacular. The rear camera array consists of a 48MP wide lens and a 13MP ultra-wide lens, which are fairly standard smartphone megapixel counts, and come in below what you'd get on a more expensive Pixel 9. Still, thanks to Google's software wizardry and some smart feature inclusions, the Pixel 9a can produce plenty of gorgeous shots with vibrant, bright colors.

Hard to tell this came from a cheap phone. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

I'd also like to shout out Google for including Macro Focus in the Pixel 9a, which wasn't in the previous Pixel A-series phones. This feature lets you place the lens just an inch or two away from your subject and capture fine details. It's a really nice thing to have on a $500 phone.

This is what Macro Focus can do. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable Google Pixel 9a $499 at Google Store
  Shop Now at Google Store Best cheap iOS camera: Apple iPhone 16e Just one lens. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

There hasn't been a flagship iPhone release in 2025 yet (wait for September), so the only Apple product we can give any props to right now is the iPhone 16e.

Apple's $600 budget-minded handset has just one solitary camera lens on the back, measuring in at 48MP. However, don't let that description sell it short. As our reviewer Stan Schroeder demonstrated, it can take very nice-looking shots with clear details and natural colors.

Ahoy. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Schroeder also shouted out its competent low-light photography, which isn't incredible, but gets the job done for a phone of that price.

Looks good. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Apple iPhone 16e $599 at Apple.com
  Shop Now at Apple.com Best affordable flagship camera: OnePlus 15 Kinda generic looking, but that's not the point. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable

At $899, the OnePlus 15's affordability is definitely relative. This is not a Pixel 9a in terms of price, or even an iPhone 16e. That said, for less than $1,000, you get a trio of 50MP lenses on the back with 7x optical-quality zoom. That's shockingly close to the iPhone 17 Pro in terms of specs, and the results are also pretty satisfactory.

Nice. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

Colors are vivid, image clarity is sharp, and you've got pretty much all of the modes you'd want, including a nice macro photography option. OnePlus has a habit of making phones that just...do what you want a phone to do, without asking for too much in return. I would say the OnePlus 15's camera array fits that description pretty well, to the point where there isn't much else to say about it.

Macro is great. Credit: Alex Perry/Mashable

TL;DR: Learn 12 different languages with a lifetime subscription to Promova, on sale for $55 when you use code LANG25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Promova Promova Premium Plan: Lifetime Subscription $54.97
$299.99 Save $245.02   Get Deal

Sticking with a new language is tough when attention is split between work, social feeds, and everything else on a screen. Promova is a language-learning platform that tries to meet that reality with short lessons, AI practice, and live tutors in one app, and you even get access to lessons in 12 different languages. Right now, a lifetime subscription is on sale for $54.97, but that won’t last much longer (reg. $299.99).

There’s more than one way to learn from Promova. You can move between vocabulary cards, grammar explanations, dialogues, podcasts, and AI role-play in a single interface on web or mobile. Your learning path adjusts to your unique goals, so someone focused on travel will not see the same content as someone preparing for work calls. Lessons follow CEFR levels, and the app tracks progress so you can see where you left off.

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AI-powered tools let you rehearse conversations, get feedback on pronunciation, and step into scenarios like ordering food, checking into a hotel, or talking to coworkers. Tutor sessions are available when you want real-time guidance, but the app is designed so you can still get meaningful practice on your own.

Accessibility is baked into the design. There’s a Dyslexia Mode with adjusted fonts and layout, white-noise options to help learners with ADHD stay focused, and even an American Sign Language course alongside spoken languages.

Use code LANG25 to get a lifetime subscription to Promova on sale for $54.97. Sale ends Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Turn your phone into a professional-grade document scanner with lifetime access to SwiftScan VIP for $39.97 — use code SCAN until Jan. 11.

Opens in a new window Credit: SwiftScan SwiftScan VIP: Lifetime Subscription $39.97
$199.99 Save $160.02   Get Deal

Is your workspace buried under a growing stack of papers? From receipts and contracts to loose notes you meant to organize ages ago, staying on top of documents can feel like a losing battle. SwiftScan VIP brings order back into the chaos. For a limited time through Jan. 11, you can unlock lifetime access to this powerful mobile scanner app for a one-time payment of $39.97 when you use the code SCAN at checkout.

This app turns your phone into a top-tier scanner, letting you create crystal-clear scans in seconds. Whether it’s an important invoice or handwritten notes from a meeting, SwiftScan makes them look polished and professional. With intuitive editing tools, you can crop, adjust, or fine-tune your scans before saving them, so they’re always ready to impress.

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SwiftScan also plays nicely with your favorite cloud services, so you can save and access your documents from anywhere. Need to send something fast? The app has built-in sharing options, so you can email, text, or upload with a tap.

Unlike subscription services that charge you forever, this lifetime deal means you pay once and get access to all premium features forever. No monthly fees, no surprises, just hassle-free scanning for life.

Say goodbye to paper chaos.

Whether you’re a student managing class notes, a professional on the go, or someone looking to tidy up their paper clutter, a lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP is the ultimate solution at just $39.97 (reg. $199.99) with promo code SCAN until Jan. 11 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

30% OFF: It's your last chance to save 30% on Nomad eSIM plans (excluding anything already on sale) with the Mashable-exclusive discount code MASH30. This code is only valid until the last day of this year.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad eSIM Nomad eSIM: 30% off with code MASH30   Get Deal

2026 is just a couple of weeks away, and if you've been planning some trips for the new year, it's worth having an eSIM that helps you stay connected while you travel abroad. Nomad can help here, and thankfully, Mashable readers still have time to take advantage of an exclusive discount code to save 30% on select eSIM plans.

The Mashable-exclusive code MASH30 only lasts until the last day of 2025, so you'll want to act fast to sign up for the eSIM plan that catches your eye. Keep in mind that this code doesn't apply to plans that are already discounted. This offer is well worth taking advantage of so you can worry about one less thing while traveling in the new year.

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

Nomad's eSIM plans offer coverage in over 200 locations around the globe, which is excellent news for frequent travelers with a busy schedule in 2026. With an eSIM plan, you won't need to worry about losing out on service or data while you're out and about, so you can stay focused on the adventure ahead instead. Nomad even breaks down their plans by Global or Regional eSIMs alongside an individual breakdown of all available destinations so you can find your best fit.

If an eSIM is a new investment for you, Nomad has some information pages available to help you out before you jump in. This includes a page detailing which devices support an eSIM, so you can make sure it works with your phone before buying, alongside a page detailing what an eSIM actually is. To cover the basics of that, this is a digital alternative to a physical SIM card that's inserted in a device.

There's plenty of perks that come with a digitally activated SIM card, including the ability to swap between carriers without having to change out a physical card. This means that you can have a second cell number active on your phone, allowing you to have a foreign number in the country you're going to. Compared to using your carrier's pricey roaming fees, this is a more cost effective approach.

Again, this offer code only lasts until the last day of 2025. Now's your chance to save 30% on select eSIM plans from Nomad with the Mashable-exclusive code MASH30.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, Dec. 29, 2025:

AcrossBunny on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

• The answer is Bugs.

Capital of Norway

• The answer is Oslo.

Constantly complaining

• The answer is Whiny.

Precipice

• The answer is Edge.

Part of R&R and R.I.P.

• The answer is Rest.

DownKnot for the present

• The answer is Bow.

"Love in This Club" singer, 2008

• The answer is Usher.

Move effortlessly

• The answer is Glide.

Spotify Wrapped listings

• The answer is Songs.

"You ain't seen nothing ___!"

• The answer is Yet.

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Ubisoft shut down the servers for Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege X for more than 24 hours after suffering a massive systems breach over the weekend. Hackers reportedly gained access to the first-person shooter's servers, giving away in-game currency worth millions in real-world value.

SEE ALSO: 'Counter-Strike 2' update wipes $2 billion in real money from game's economy

Videos and screenshots of the Rainbow Six Siege X hack began circulating on social media over the weekend, with multiple players noticing that they suddenly had rare in-game items and an extra 2 billion R6 Credits on their accounts. R6 Credits are in-game currency that can only be purchased with real-world money, and is used to buy new playable characters or cosmetic items. The Ubisoft Store sells 15,000 R6 Credits for $99.99, meaning 2 billion would be worth over $13 million.

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Several players also reported seeing highly unusual in-game notifications while playing Rainbow Six Siege X, further hinting that something was afoot. Pop-up notifications ostensibly displaying the names of users being banned instead relayed messages such as "What else are they hiding from us?," "All work and no play makes me a dull boy," and the lyrics to 2000's hit song "It Wasn't Me" by Shaggy. 

"The ban ticker was turned off in a past update," wrote Rainbow Six Siege X's official X account. "Any messages seen were not triggered by us."

Ubisoft first acknowledged the hack just after 9 a.m. ET / 6 a.m. PT Saturday morning, with Rainbow Six Siege X's X account posting that it was "aware of an incident" impacting the game and was "working on a resolution." Less than two hours later, it announced that both Rainbow Six Siege X and its Marketplace had been shut down white they worked to fix the issue. The Marketplace is an official platform on which users can trade in-game items with each other.

The game subsequently remained offline for over 24 hours, with Ubisoft's next update at around 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT on Sunday stating that it was in the process of rolling back the game to a previous state. It would also be conducting "extensive quality control tests" to check that the issue had been resolved and no accounts had been compromised.

Ubisoft finally announced that it was slowly bringing Rainbow Six Siege X back online at around 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, eventually declaring it reopened to all players two hours later (though you may experience delays as servers ramp up again). As of writing, the status page on Rainbow Six Siege X's official website still lists the game down globally, with unplanned outages across all of its platforms. Exactly how unauthorised actors gained access to Ubisoft's servers has not yet been officially confirmed.

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If you already went on a Rainbow Six Siege X shopping spree with your unexpected R6 Credit windfall, the good news is that you won't be penalised. Ubisoft states that players will not be banned if they spent the credits they received. However, you won't be able to enjoy your in-game purchases for long. All transactions which took place after 6 a.m. ET / 3 a.m. PT on Dec. 27 will be reversed, with the Marketplace to remain closed "until further notice as investigations continue."

Unfortunately, this will likely impact some legitimate purchases as well, Ubisoft noting that some players may temporarily lose access to a few of their in-game items. Such issues are expected to be corrected over the next two weeks.

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

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

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

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

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

To assume.

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

IMPLY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To allow.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 29, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SHALL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Digested.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 29, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

EATEN

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To live.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 29 Hurdle Word 4 answer

DWELL

Final Hurdle hint

To narrow.

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

TAPER

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

We're just a few days from the end of the year, and the next Full Moon. This means that the Moon is big and bright in the sky, with lots to see on its surface.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Dec. 29, the moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 69% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

If it's a clear sky tonight, there should be lots for you to see. With just your naked eye, you'll be able to see the Mares Fecunditatis and Serenitatis, and the Copernicus Crater. If you add binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater, the Alps Mountains, and the Apennine Mountains. With a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 11 landing spot, the Descartes Highlands, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next full moon?

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

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, it takes roughly 29.5 days for the Moon to complete a full cycle, known as the lunar cycle. During this period, the Moon moves through a series of phases as it orbits the Earth. While the same side of the Moon always faces our planet, the amount of sunlight illuminating its surface changes over time. This is why the Moon appears fully lit, partially illuminated, or not visible at all at different stages of the cycle. The lunar cycle is divided into eight main phases:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We're down to the final batch of group games in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Round of 16 brackets still to be fully decided.

Held in Morocco, the tournament features a number of strong nations, including Nigeria. They reached the final at the 2023 AFCON and pose a serious threat in front of goal thanks to the presence of Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen. Uganda, meanwhile, are playing in their first AFCON since 2019 and went into this event hoping to simply progress from Group C.

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

When is Uganda vs. Nigeria?

Uganda vs. Nigeria in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 29. This fixture takes place at Complexe Sportif de Fès.

How to watch Uganda vs. Nigeria for free

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

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

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

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

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

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

4. Visit Channel 4

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

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

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

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

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