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Updated: 31 min 42 sec ago

Resident Evil turns video game frustration into its best running joke

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 18:39

There are plenty of monsters in Zach Cregger's Resident Evil. But perhaps no enemy proves more formidable than the humble padlock.

Early in the movie, Bryan (Austin Abrams) is trying to escape a farm when he reaches a gate secured with a massive padlock stamped with a Diamond emblem. He's armed with a rifle, so the solution seems obvious enough: shoot the lock and move on. Except the bullets do nothing. So Bryan tries the next most logical solution and rams the gate with the farmer's truck. The gate wins.

Adding insult to injury, the key he needed was nearby the whole time, under the sun visor. He just didn't find it until after he'd totaled the truck.

SEE ALSO: Does 'Resident Evil' have a post-credit scene? Everything you need to know before watching.

It's the beginning of one of Resident Evil's funniest running jokes. Bryan keeps encountering padlocks as he makes his way through the movie, becoming increasingly exasperated every time another one prevents him from getting where he needs to go. Eventually, he snaps: "What is with all the fuckin' padlocks, man?"

Anyone who's spent enough time playing Resident Evil already knows the answer. It doesn't matter that you have a gun. It doesn't matter that you've spent the last several hours blasting through amalgamation monsters. If the game wants you to find a key, you're finding the damn key.

And Cregger knows exactly what he's doing.

Resident Evil understands the absurdity of video game logic Austin Abrams and Zach Cregger behind the scenes of Resident Evil. Credit: Sony Pictures

Cregger has been explicit that his Resident Evil isn't trying to recreate the plot of any particular game in Capcom's horror franchise. Instead, he's interested in recreating the experience of playing one. That means limited ammunition, healing items, increasingly powerful weapons, and, yes, repeatedly facing locked doors that prevent you from progressing until you find whatever key or keycard the game has decided you need.

"Some of them I wouldn't even think of as Easter eggs," Cregger told Steve Goldman of Rolling Stone when asked about the movie's references to the games. He specifically pointed to "padlocks and the search for keys and keycards" as something that's "really baked into playing the games," alongside healing items, ammunition, and weapon progression.

"All of that is like the DNA of the games that is in the movie," he said.

SEE ALSO: How 'The Last of Us' successfully translates the game's best mechanics to TV

That's an important distinction. Putting a green herb or typewriter somewhere in the background is an Easter egg. Making your protagonist desperately search for a key while standing in front of a lock he has already shot and unsuccessfully rammed with a truck is adapting a game mechanic. Because in a video game, that padlock isn't really a padlock. It's a progression system.

Bryan learns the rules of Resident Evil the hard way. Credit: Sony Pictures

Locked doors have been fundamental to Resident Evil since the beginning. Exploring the franchise's mansions, police stations, and villages frequently means discovering places you can't access yet, hunting down keys and other items, solving puzzles, and eventually backtracking once you have what you need. Resident Evil 2, for example, scatters suit-themed keys throughout the Raccoon City Police Department, with different doors requiring the Spade, Diamond, Club, or Heart Key.

The lock tells the player, "You can't go here yet." The missing key gives them a reason to explore somewhere else. So finding it doesn't just open a door; it opens another part of the game.

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It makes perfect sense as game design. According to virtually every other form of logic, however, it is completely ridiculous. Your character can be carrying enough firepower to take down a mutated bioweapon, but a padlock might as well be indestructible. The player knows there's an obvious solution. The game knows there's an obvious solution. But that's not the solution you're supposed to use.

Cregger's movie makes that implicit agreement between player and game explicit by giving us a character who doesn't know the rules.

Bryan isn't Leon S. Kennedy. He's a medical courier who Cregger described to Rolling Stone as "more suited to sitting on the couch playing Resident Evil than surviving an actual Resident Evil experience." So when Bryan encounters a locked gate, he reacts like someone in the real world rather than as a player who knows he's in a survival horror game. He shoots it. When that doesn't work, he drives a truck into it.

Neither works, because that's not how Resident Evil works.

The padlock isn't just an Easter egg. It's gameplay. Unfortunately, bullets can't solve every problem. Credit: Sony Pictures

In an interview with Dread Central, Cregger acknowledged that some of the games' more elaborate puzzles wouldn't necessarily translate to a movie he wanted to keep moving at a breakneck pace. Instead, the padlocks offered a shorthand.

Bryan "does come up against padlocks throughout the movie, and he's got to try and navigate those," Cregger said. "So I'm kind of like tipping my hat to those sorts of things."

Resident Evil also finds other ways to recreate the rhythms of playing Resident Evil. During a Reddit AMA before the film's release, Cregger talked about making ammunition matter as Bryan gradually acquires more powerful weapons. "I love the resource management aspect of the games, and it was really important to me to bring that to the movie," he wrote.

That same attention to gameplay shows up everywhere, from healing items to cinematographer Dariusz Wolski's shifting camera perspectives. But the padlocks might be the funniest expression of it, precisely because they take something Resident Evil players have long accepted and make its absurdity impossible to ignore.

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Cregger isn't just showing fans something they remember from Resident Evil. He's recreating the particular frustration of playing it.

In a 2025 Reddit thread about the series' conveniently indestructible obstacles, one player recalled encountering a door they couldn't open because its knob was broken. "Meanwhile, I have a shotgun and a grenade launcher in my arsenal," they wrote. Another joked about the absurdity of firing endless rockets at a wooden door only to eventually accept, "Damn, guess I need to go around."

A year earlier, another fan put the problem even more succinctly: "Half of Resident Evil would be skipped if everyone did a Barry and just shot the locks off the door." That's basically the joke Cregger has turned into a movie.

Video games depend on these little agreements between player and developer. A locked door isn't always just a locked door. It's an instruction, a puzzle. You don't spend the entire game asking why your heavily armed protagonist can't simply destroy it because you understand what it's actually telling you: You're not supposed to go there yet.

Put that logic into a live-action movie, though, and suddenly you have Bryan, a guy who looks at the arbitrary rules Resident Evil players have spent nearly 30 years accepting and asks the obvious question: Why can't I just shoot the lock?

That's the kind of thing video game adaptations don't always capture. It's easy enough to recreate the monsters, weapons, locations, and camera angles we recognize. It's harder to recreate the feeling of playing the game — wasting a bullet you desperately needed, finding a better weapon at exactly the right moment, or discovering yet another locked door.

Cregger gets that those little frustrations are part of Resident Evil, too.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

We found rare October Prime Day TV deals on TCL, LG, and Samsung: Save up to $1,000

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 18:28
The best early October Prime Day TV deals: Best TCL TV deal TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 (save $1,502) Get Deal Budget Pick Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $179.99 (save $70) Get Deal BEST LG TV DEAL LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,599.99 (save $1,100) Get Deal Best Hisense TV Deal Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $847.99 (save $652) Get Deal Best Samsung TV deal Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV $1,697.99 (save $1,002) Get Deal

Another Amazon Prime Day is upon us. Well, kind of. Prime Big Deal Days, which runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 7, isn't quite as massive as Amazon's flagship summer sale, but it serves as an unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

Casually called October Prime Day, the fall sale features deals on all sorts of tech — just like Prime Day proper. TVs, in particular, tend to see pretty big price drops now that new models have been on the market for about six months. In other words, if you're in need of a new TV, you can find a 2026 model for a steal during October Prime Day.

We've rounded up the best early October Prime Day TV deals from brands like TCL, LG, Hisense, Fire TV, and Samsung that you can shop now, but be sure to check back as the official Prime Big Deal Days sale nears for more.

Best TCL TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV $2,497.99 at Amazon
$3,999.99 Save $1,502   Get Deal Why we like it

Mashable's TV expert is a big fan of TCL's QM8L SQD-Mini-LED TVs. She named it our favorite QLED TV for most people, highlighting its "superb peak brightness, detailed picture quality, and fantastic glare handling" in her review. It's one of the brightest TVs you can buy in 2026, period, which is thanks in part to its "super quantum dot mini LEDs" (aka the SQD part of its name). On a normal day, the 85-inch model costs $3,999.99, but ahead of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, it's down to $2,497.99. That's its lowest price on record.

Best LG TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,599.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $1,100.00   Get Deal Why we like it

OLED TVs are known for their elite contrast and often extreme price tags. However, the LG C6 is what Mashable's TV expert calls the "best affordable OLED TV," compared to competitors' prices. It's also her top pick for an OLED TV for most people. It features inky blacks, stark contrast (of course), improved audio, peak brightness, and a higher refresh rate than its predecessor, and overall, incredible picture quality. At just under $1,600, the 65-inch model is over $1,000 cheaper than its list price ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We've actually seen it drop even lower before, so we'll be keeping an eye out as the official sale nears.

Best Hisense TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV $847.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $652   Get Deal Why we like it

The Hisense U7 series delivers Mini-LED performance you'd expect on higher-priced models. It packs a 165Hz refresh rate, 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio, a Google TV with a Gemini interface, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Its backlighting features full-array local dimming as well, which means clusters of tiny LED bulbs precisely control brightness levels within specific sections of your screen for more accuracy and depth. The U7 is a step up from our favorite budget TV of 2026, but with this massive price drop, it's actually a much better deal. At $847.99, the 65-inch model is already $2 cheaper than it was on Prime Day proper back in June.

Best Samsung TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-inch S90H OLED 4K TV $1,697.99 at Amazon
$2,699.99 Save $1,002.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The S90H is the mid-range OLED from Samsung's 2026 lineup and just a step down from our favorite OLED of the year (the S95H). Compared to last year's model, the S90H gets a brightness bump and an upgraded anti-reflection display. It also supports 4K at 165Hz, NVIDIA G-SYNC, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.

Usually pretty pricey at $2,699.99 for the 65-inch model, you can shave over $1,000 ahead of October Prime Day and pick it up for just $1,697.99. That's only $100 shy of its all-time low. The stock at Amazon is running low, so I suggest grabbing it ASAP. Otherwise, Best Buy has the same model for just $2 more.

Best budget TV deal

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series Fire TV $179.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $70   Get Deal Why we like it

As much as we might drool over the LG C6 OLED TV or Sony's new flagship Bravia 7 II True RGB TV, when it comes time to actually add a TV to our shopping cart, we often have to lower our expectations. The good news: TVs are one of the only tech products that have gotten cheaper over the past five years, and even budget TVs offer fairly impressive displays and sound.

The Amazon Ember 40-inch Fire TV is a good starter TV if you're on a budget, and that's why it's one of the best October Prime Day TV deals we've found so far. Despite costing less than $200, this TV has a high definition, HDR10+ display and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker. If you're already in the Amazon ecosystem and OLEDs aren't in your budget, don't overthink this one.

More early October Prime Day TV dealsUnder 50-inch TV deals50 to 55-inch TV deals65-inch TV deals75-inch TV deals80 to 85-inch TV dealsOver 85-inch TV deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon has the Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar on sale for $10 off

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 18:19

SAVE $9.99: The Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar is on sale at Amazon for $35, down from the list price of $44.99. That's a 22% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar $35 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $9.99   Get Deal

We're all gearing up for Amazon's October Prime Day event, but it's never too early to start thinking about the holiday season. If you like to celebrate with an Advent Calendar, check out this shockingly good deal at Amazon.

As of Sept. 25, the Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar is on sale at Amazon for $35, marked down from the list price of $44.99. That's a 22% discount and the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

If you have a Disney princess fan in your home, the Lego Advent Calendar is a slam dunk. It contains 290 pieces spread out over 24 days of surprises. Some of our favorite princesses are included in the 2026 version, like Ariel, Cinderella, Moana, and Mulan. Of course, some of their sidekicks are also in on the celebration, like Sebastian, Pua, and little Gus Gus decked out in reindeer antlers.

SEE ALSO: Don't wait for Lego deals: We found early Prime Day deals on Lego Star Wars, Lego Pokémon, and more

Not only does this serve as an Advent calendar, but the Disney Princess version of the Lego calendar also doubles as a board game. The buildable spinner allows for up to eight players to take part in a Disney Lego game.

While it's sitting at a record-low price, get ready for the holiday season with the Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Turkey vs. France online for free

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 18:00

TL;DR: Watch Turkey vs. France in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back with a stacked schedule of high-profile matchups, including Turkey vs. France. The hosts had a hugely disappointing 2026 World Cup, dropping out in the group stage. At one stage, it looked like France were going to dominate the competition, but they eventually fell to Spain at the semi-final stage.

Zinedine Zidane is now in charge of the national team. It's going to be fascinating to see how France's team of stars responds to his leadership.

If you're interested in watching Turkey vs. France in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Turkey vs. France?

Turkey vs. France in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 25. This fixture takes place at the Kocaeli Stadium.

How to watch Turkey vs. France for free

Turkey vs. France in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.

TF1 is geo-restricted to France, 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 France, meaning you can live stream Turkey vs. France for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Turkey vs. France 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 France

  4. Visit TF1

  5. Watch Turkey vs. France for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Turkey vs. France without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for TF1?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries, including France

  • 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 Turkey vs. France for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Shop the best early Prime Day deals on Pokémon, including 30th Celebration trading cards for under market price

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 17:59
The best early Prime Day Pokémon deals: Best TCG deal Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 (save vs. market price) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Pokémon Eevee (72151) $47.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best video game deal Pokémon Legends: Z-A (Nintendo Switch 2) $53.99 (save $16) Get Deal Best book deal Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide (Pokemon Pikachu Press) $41.98 (save $18.01) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day may still be on the horizon, but there are already plenty of Pokémon discounts to score on trading cards, Nintendo Switch games, books, and much more. Collectors everywhere have been focused on buying the 30th Celebration expansion, but this kind of sale is the perfect way to catch up on past collections.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Pokémon Eevee is close to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $12 before October Prime Day

Prime Day will run from Oct. 6-7, so be sure to keep this page bookmarked for plenty of other deals in the build-up to the sale going live. In the meantime, these are my favorite early Pokémon Prime Day deals you can buy right now.

Best Pokémon TCG deal Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Why we like it

After temporarily jumping back up to $200+ due to low supply, the Pokémon TCG’s 30th Celebration ETB is back at $89.99 — still a massive $168.94 under TCGplayer’s estimated market price of $177.93. 

The catch is availability, as Amazon is selling the box through its invitation system. You need to hit "request invite" rather than buy it immediately. If Amazon selects your request, you'll receive a limited window to complete the purchase. 

If you’re successful, you’ll get this glorious box including nine 30th Celebration booster packs, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy trading cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a collector's box, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code. 

More Pokémon TCG dealsBest Pokémon Lego deal Lego Pokemon Eevee Building Set (72151) $47.56 at Walmart
$59.99 Save $12.43   Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The 587-piece Lego Pokémon Eevee set is a posable display piece designed for adult builders. Unlike static figures, the ears, head, limbs, and angled tail are fully adjustable, so you can change up how it sits on your shelf. While $47.99 isn't a huge drop from its $50 retail price, it's just a few cents off its all-time low of $47.95, making it a good excuse to grab it now rather than waiting to see if it drops further during the main sale.

(Note: Eevee is currently the only set in the Lego Pokémon lineup receiving a discount ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, but we've listed the most popular sets below so you can keep an eye on them if Amazon drops prices during the event.)

More Pokémon Lego dealsBest Pokémon Nintendo Switch game deal Pokémon Legends: Z-A $0 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Set within Lumiose City, Pokémon Legends: Z-A lets you issue commands on the fly, compete in the nightly Z-A Royale tournament, and use the returning Mega Evolution mechanic to take down rampaging rogue Pokémon. At $53.99, a 23% discount on a major Nintendo Switch 2 title makes this an easy choice to pick up now rather than paying full retail.

More Pokémon Nintendo Switch game dealsBest Pokémon book deal Pokémon Deluxe Character Guide (Pokemon Pikachu Press) $41.98 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $18.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

For a hardbound, 336-page reference book celebrating 30 years of the franchise, a 30% markdown makes this a reasonable grab for collectors. It features a foreword from The Pokémon Company CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara and covers characters across every region in numerical order with artwork from the games, anime, and trading card game. It works well as a coffee table display piece with its color-it-yourself cover, or just as a quick reference guide so you don't have to keep an online wiki open on your phone.

More Pokémon book deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

20+ of the best early Prime Day deals on trading cards: Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, and more

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 17:40
The best early Prime Day trading card deals: Best Pokémon TCG deal Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $89.99 (save vs. market price) Get Deal Best MTG deal Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle $59.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best one piece deal One Piece Card Game Final Battle OP-16 Booster Box (Japanese) $119.74 (save $17.24) Get Deal Best Disney Lorcana deal Ravensburger Disney Lorcana TCG 2-player Starter Deck $19.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best Kpop Demon Hunters deal Kpop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards Energy Edition $50.99 (save $3) Get Deal

Prime Day might not have started yet, but trading card discounts are already piling up at Amazon — with plenty of offers in the Pokémon TCG, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece Card Game, Disney Lorcana, and even KPop Demon Hunters card markets.

We’ve also found plenty of dedicated Pokémon deals, but if you’re a card collector who’s out to save money on Oct. 6-7, keep this page bookmarked as Mashable will be updating the latest deals in the build-up to the main event.

Here are the best early Prime Day trading card deals we’ve found so far. 

Best trading card deal Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Bundle $59.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it 

Magic: The Gathering's The Hobbit Bundle is a great way to explore the newer Middle-earth set, and this all-time low price (which we uncovered last week) represents incredible value ahead of Prime Day.

Now $59.99 instead of its $69.99 list price, saving you $10 at Amazon (its lowest-ever price, confirmed at price tracker camelcamelcamel). This box is below market price — with dedicated trading card marketplace TCGplayer still estimating it at exactly $61. What’s more, actual listings on the site only go as low as $63.58 plus shipping.

For that price, you're getting nine 14-card The Hobbit Play Boosters alongside an alternate-art Traditional Foil promo, 34 Land cards, an oversized Spindown life counter, two reference cards, and a storage box. That works out to about $6.67 per booster before even counting all of those extras, making this a strong all-in-one option if you've been waiting for a cheaper way to jump into The Hobbit expansion. 

More early Prime Day trading card deals

Pokémon TCG

Magic: The Gathering

One Piece Card Game

KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards

Disney Lorcana TCG

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early October Prime Day gaming deals: I found PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox deals worth grabbing now

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 17:26
The best early Prime Day gaming deals: Best video game deal Starfield (Standard Edition PS5) $29.99 (save $20) Get Deal Best console deal Nex Playground + 12-Month Play Pass Bundle $354.87 (save $33.13) Get Deal Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) Series QHD Gaming Monitor $199.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best gaming headset deal HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset $49.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best gaming keyboard deal Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $99.99 (save $30) Get Deal Best gaming mouse deal Razer Basilisk V3 (Wired) $34.98 (save $35.01) Get Deal

Amazon’s October Prime Day is getting closer, and the retailer’s early gaming deals are now stretching well beyond discounted PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox games. We’re also seeing price cuts on gaming monitors, headsets, mice, keyboards, and other setup upgrades ahead of the main sale on Oct. 6-7.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Pokémon Eevee is close to its best-ever price at Amazon — save $12 before October Prime Day

With that in mind, we’ve expanded this guide to cover the best gaming tech alongside the console deals already worth shopping. As always, we’re sticking to products with genuine reductions against their listed or typical prices, and we’ll keep updating our picks as more early Prime Day offers go live.

Best video game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Xbox Starfield (Standard Edition PS5) $29.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Starfield only made the jump to PS5 in April, and the Standard Edition is already nearly half price. The game is currently listed at $47.33 (usually $49.99), but an on-page coupon drops it to $29.99 at checkout. That $20 savings marks the lowest price this version has ever seen on Amazon. This is the full base game rather than a trimmed-down edition, giving you Bethesda’s huge sci-fi RPG with deep character customization, ship building, and over 1,000 planets to explore.

More early Prime Day video game deals

PS5 games

Nintendo Switch games

Xbox games

Best console deal Nex Playground + 12-Month Play Pass Bundle $354.87 at Amazon
$388 Save $33.13   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Don't write this off as just a kids' toy. Mashable freelancer Tabitha Britt bought one a couple of years ago for Christmas, when it was sold out everywhere — she literally had to special-order it and wait two weeks for it to ship — and says it's still one of the most genuinely fun active setups you can buy. It's kind of like a Wii, but it uses an AI camera to track your movements, so you don't need a handheld controller to play.

(Note: Standard PS5, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch systems are still at their full retail price, so we haven't included them here. We're keeping a close eye on console prices and will update this section the second actual markdowns go live.)

Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G50F) Series QHD Gaming Monitor $199.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $150   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Finding a 32-inch 1440p panel from a top-tier brand under $200 is a steal. You're getting a 180Hz refresh rate and a 1ms response time, plus G-Sync and FreeSync support to keep fast-paced action smooth and free of screen tearing. It also comes with a height-adjustable ergonomic stand right out of the box, so you can pivot, tilt, and swivel to your setup's needs — a practical feature most budget displays cut to trim costs.

More early gaming monitor deals Best gaming headset deal HyperX Cloud II Headset $49.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

The HyperX Cloud II has been around for years because the basic design just works. For $50, you get 53mm drivers, hardware-driven 7.1 virtual surround sound, and an aluminum frame built to take a beating. The memory foam ear pads stay comfortable during long gaming sessions, and the detachable noise-canceling mic keeps voice chat clear without getting in the way when you just want to listen to music.

More early gaming headset deals Best gaming keyboard and mouse deals Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer BlackWidow V4 X Mechanical Gaming Keyboard $99.99 at Amazon
$129.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Basilisk V3 $34.98 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $35.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Getting a top-tier wired mouse at half off makes the Razer Basilisk V3 an easy pick. It has 11 programmable buttons, a smart scroll wheel that toggles between tactile clicks and free-spin scrolling, and a thumb rest shaped for long gaming sessions.

If you're upgrading your keyboard too, the Razer BlackWidow V4 X has real tactile mechanical switches instead of those squishy membrane keys. It includes six dedicated macro keys, custom RGB lighting for each key, and a physical volume roller right above the number pad, so you don't have to tab out of your game to tweak audio.

More early keyboard and mouse deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Starlink satellites are becoming a barometer for Earth’s atmosphere

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 17:25

Starlink satellites are usually discussed in terms of what they’re doing to the sky. Astronomer Tony Phillips has found a way to use them to learn something about it.

Phillips, who runs SpaceWeather.com, has turned the orbital data of hundreds of Starlink satellites into a daily measure of changes in Earth’s upper atmosphere. He calls it a "planetary barometer," though it tracks air density rather than pressure. His planetary barometer relies on an ingenious observation, which Phillips explained in a blog post (as reported by The Register).

Here’s how a satellite becomes a weather instrument: Even hundreds of miles above Earth, there’s enough atmosphere to create drag. When energy from the sun heats the upper atmosphere, it expands, putting more particles in a satellite’s path. More drag means a satellite would lose altitude faster if it weren’t using its thrusters to stay in orbit.

Phillips analyzes publicly available orbital records to estimate that effect. His daily "sink rate" asks how many meters a typical Starlink satellite at about 480 kilometers (roughly 300 miles) up would lose in a day with its thrusters off. So far in 2026, that figure has ranged from 19.7 meters on a quiet day in August to 127.6 meters during a major geomagnetic storm in January. That doesn’t mean Starlink satellites actually plunged that far on either day; the number is a way to show how much the atmosphere changed.

And Phillips isn’t relying on Starlink alone. He checks the pattern against satellites from Planet Labs, Amazon’s Kuiper network, and Eutelsat OneWeb. Planet’s SuperDoves are particularly useful because they have no thrusters: Their actual descent offers a check on the Starlink estimate. The index has limits, including orbital data that can blur sudden changes over several days.

Scientists have studied atmospheric drag using Starlink data before. Phillips’s contribution is a public number updated daily, offering a running look at conditions that matter for satellite orbits. Starlink’s crowded presence overhead remains a concern for astronomers. For this one purpose, though, all those satellites make it possible to watch the atmosphere change without launching anything new.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsofts new Surface laptops get rid of Copilot+ PC branding

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 17:13

Microsoft's AI-branded Windows laptops are dead.

At Qualcomm's Snapdragon Summit 2026 this week, Microsoft Surface CVP Brett Ostrum told news outlet Windows Central that it will no longer use the "Copilot+ PC" branding for its Surface PCs going forward.

As Windows Central points out, none of the Surface laptops that launched this year used the Copilot+ PC branding, and it appears none of Microsoft's upcoming products will use it either.

Copilot+ PCs were launched in mid-2024 as Microsoft went full throttle with its AI push. The Copilot+ branding was derived from its AI chatbot assistant Copilot, which the company released the previous November.

Microsoft called Copilot+ PCs "the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built" and said they were "the most significant change to the Windows platform in decades," when they were launched. These computers were basically new Surface PCs with processors specifically built for AI processes, like pre-built AI PCs.

However, it seems like Copilot+ PCs weren't as successful as Microsoft had hoped. In fact, the company has been reconfiguring its entire approach to AI more broadly, too. 

Last month, Microsoft retired the animated mascot Mico that it had created to represent the Copilot brand. And now, just today, Microsoft unveiled a revamped version of the Copilot AI assistant, too.

With OpenAI's ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Google's Gemini, and other AI companies carving out their niche in the AI market, Microsoft is still trying to figure out theirs. One thing seems sure, though: Copilot+ PCs won't be part of Microsoft's AI plans.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I found 13 early October Prime Day earbuds deals that are worth buying from Bose, Apple, Beats, and more

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 17:07
Early October Prime Day earbuds deals at a glance Best Apple deal Apple AirPods 4 $99 (save $30.99) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best open earbuds deal Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 (save $60) Get Deal Best sleep earbuds deal Soundcore Sleep A30 Special + get a free Anker Soundcore Eye Mask $199.99 (save $30) Get Deal

It's leaf-peeping season, and that means it's time for another massive sale event at Amazon. This year, October Prime Big Deal Days is a two-day sale, spanning Oct. 6 and 7. While we're still a couple of weeks away from the sale kicking off, Amazon is already packed with great offers. That's especially true if you're in need of fresh earbuds.

Many of us depend on earbuds like we depend on water. On the checklist before walking out the front door, we need a wallet, phone, keys, and earbuds. They're with us all the time, from a morning walk with the dog to pre-bedtime YouTube streaming. If your current pair is not up for these tasks, early October Prime Day deals will come to the rescue.

SEE ALSO: 12 expert-sourced deals on headphones and earbuds ahead of October Prime Day: Shop Beats, AirPods, and Sony

From incredibly comfortable Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd gen) to the Soundcore Sleep A30 Special, we're seeing plenty of great early deals on earbuds, and I've rounded up the best options below. Keep an eye on Mashable's Prime Day coverage as we start to see more delas rolls in ahead of the sale.

Best Apple earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $99 at Walmart
$129.99 Save $30.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Down to the affordable price of $99, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale at Walmart. Redesigned for comfort, the AirPods 4 come with a massive 30-hour battery life with the included charging case. And good news on that front, because Apple made the case smaller and compatible with USB-C recharging.

Keep in mind that the base model of the Apple AirPods 4 does not come with active noise cancellation. If that's a priority, the Apple AirPods Pro 3 with ANC are on sale for $199.

SEE ALSO: The 5 headphones deals we want to see on sale during October Prime Day Best Bose earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) $249.99 at Amazon
$299 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking for the most comfortable earbuds, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) are a top pick. Mashable's analysis of the best earbuds notes that the Bose buds are unmatched for comfort and well worth the investment. "With spatial audio and some of the best ANC we've encountered, these earbuds deliver immersive sound that envelopes you in your music," wrote Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard.

Best open earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shokz Shokz OpenDots One $139.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $60   Get Deal Why we like it

If you'll be wearing earbuds while running or working out at the gym, open earbuds might be the best option. The design focuses on solid sound quality while also allowing you to stay aware of your surroundings. The Shokz OpenDots One are one of Mashable's favorite open earbuds models, and they're already on sale for under $140 ahead of Prime Day. Need more convincing? They're also Mashable's top choice for running earbuds.

The sale price of $139.95 is the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon. Given that pricing history, you probably don't need to wait for Oct. 6 to buy this pair.

Best sleep earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Special $199.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $30 get a free Anker Soundcore Eye Mask Get Deal Why we like it

If you struggle to sleep on account of environmental noise, sleep earbuds might be a great solution. Instead of using earbuds that hurt when sleeping on your side, sleep earbuds are specially designed for comfort, no matter which sleeping position you prefer. Mashable's favorite sleep earbuds are the Anker Soundcore Sleep A30 Specials, and they're already on sale for $199.99 ahead of October Prime Day.

In Mashable's review of the Sleep A30 Specials, Allard wrote, "Soundcore's quick upgrade to the recently released Sleep A30 earbuds is a welcome one, delivering a longer battery life and lower price point, making a great pair of sleep earbuds even better."

If you're searching for solutions to get better sleep, consider these sleep earbuds while they're on sale. Plus, they come with a free Anker Soundcore sleep mask.

More earbuds deals

Categories: IT General, Technology

Our favorite early Prime Day deals on iPads: Live deals on the iPad Air and iPad Pro

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 16:06
The best early Prime Day iPad deals: Best iPad Deal Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $649 (save $100) Get Deal Best budget iPad deal Apple iPad (A16, 128GB, WiFi) $399 (save $50) Get Deal Best iPad Pro deal Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M5, 256GB, WiFi) $1,139 (save $60) Get Deal

Fall has just begun, and the holiday shopping season is already heating up. No longer do things kick off on Black Friday. With Amazon's annual Prime Big Deal Days running Oct. 6-7, it's your first chance to start shopping and saving this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: You can now get free Amazon Prime delivery on other websites, no Amazon login required — how it works

Leading up to Amazon's October Prime Day event, we're tracking all the early deals on the biggest brands. We've already spotted savings on Apple products, including iPads. The deals are nowhere near the best we've ever seen. There are some minor savings to enjoy ahead of the event. But considering Apple products (including iPads) have all seen price hikes in the past year, even the meager savings now are something to celebrate.

Here are the best iPad deals to shop ahead of Amazon's October Prime Day.

Best iPad Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air 11-inch (M4, 128GB, WiFi) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal Why we like it

Luckily, the best deal on iPads is on our favorite iPad. The Apple iPad Air comes with an M4 chip, making it as capable as any laptop. It has stellar performance and extensive battery life, plus with upgraded iPadOS, you can now navigate multiple windows at once.

Normally $749, the Apple iPad Air is marked down $100. That brings it down to $649, for 13% off its list price. While it's not the cheapest it's ever been, these savings bring it closer to its pre-price-hike rate.

Read our full review of the M4 Apple iPad Air.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

War review: HBO and Skys delicious legal drama is your next TV obsession

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 16:00

In HBO and Sky's new legal drama War, battles aren't fought in muddy trenches or torn-up fields. They're fought in elegant wood-paneled rooms or glassy offices perched high above London's streets. But just because these arenas are polished and proper doesn't mean the fighting is similarly clean. No, the lawyers who make up War's two rival firms of Cathcarts & Sons and Taylor & Byrne are itching to get absolutely filthy.

SEE ALSO: 'War' trailer promises the high-profile divorce trial of the year

They get their chance when they take on a high-profile divorce case, unleashing a flurry of betrayal and backstabbing that's so exquisitely ruthless, it's sure to make War your next drama obsession.

What's War about? James McArdle, Sienna Miller, and Phoebe Fox in "War." Credit: Miya Mizuno / Sky / Fox

The divorce in question is that of movie star Carla Duval (Sienna Miller) and tech magnate Morgan Henderson (Dominic West). She's a beloved actress whose fame is beginning to wane, while he's the CEO of a social media platform that keeps rising in prominence. As their fortunes diverge, Carla questions Morgan's fidelity. She even goes so far as to enlist her friend Flora (Rose Williams) to honeytrap him for proof so she can kickstart the divorce proceedings. It's the first of several underhanded — and often ill-advised — chess moves War's characters make throughout the series, as well as a tantalizingly bitter amuse-bouche for all the delicious drama to come.

Much of that drama comes from Carla and Morgan's imploding marriage, but their woes are really a gateway to War's main draw: Carla and Morgan's lawyers, who are as relentless as they are petty.

SEE ALSO: 2026 fall TV preview: Every show you should know about

Morgan's team of choice is Cathcarts & Sons, a storied firm with deep roots in London's legal scene and even deeper pockets. Partners St. John Smallwood (Pip Torrens) and Beatrice Ubosi (Nina Sosanya) delight in taking down their opponents, discussing Morgan's case with the calculated relish of a predator playing with its food.

Their food, in this case, is Carla and her firm: the more recently established Taylor & Byrne. Partners in both law and marriage, Nicholas Taylor (James McArdle) and Serena Byrne (Phoebe Fox) hope this case can launch their firm to Cathcarts-level prominence. Winning it would make their name, but losing it would break them financially. With Morgan and Carla's respective firms in place, the board is set for a nasty divorce, with astronomical stakes for both lawyers and clients.

War turns divorce into an enthralling battleground. Nina Sosanya, Pip Torrens, and Dominic West in "War." Credit: Sky / HBO

As the divorce gets underway, War turns each stage of the proceedings into its own captivating battlefield. During mediation, lawyers shuttle settlement offers back and forth between teams, looking for all the world like messengers trying to negotiate a surrender before the war has even begun. During arbitration, Carla and Morgan's face-off carries all the explosiveness of a shootout. At each stage, their lawyers regroup to strategize, evaluating their status the way a military leader would evaluate their casualties.

Of course, Carla and Morgan get multiple opportunities to stop and settle, but be it because of greed or pride, they just keep pushing. The same goes for the lawyers. Why would they stop the process early on when they have so much to gain from a high-profile win? Time and again, War's character keep making the wrong choices, from Carla and Morgan down to lawyers like the ambitious Johnny Warren (Archie Renaux), caught in the crossfires between Cathcarts and Taylor & Byrne. Yet each choice keeps pulling at the truth at War's core: that people will go to self-destructive lengths to get what they think they're owed.

Between Carla and Morgan's collapsing relationship and their inevitable march to the courtroom, War could easily have been played as a full-on tragedy. Instead, creator George Kay turns it into something darkly funny, full of scathing remarks and playground insults. At one point, St. John and Beatrice share a laugh over how Beatrice ignored Serena, a high school mean girl moment dressed in an expensive suit. Their arch takedowns of Serena and Nicholas turn St. John and Beatrice into the closest thing War has to outright villains, but neither side escapes the trial without blood on their hands. Kay teases out the story in such a way that viewers' allegiances may flip from Carla to Morgan over the course of an episode, creating a shifty, intoxicating viewing experience.

Because at the end of the day, War is downright fun. Its ensemble is excellent across the board, each scene crackling with incredible performances. Its episodes are among the most propulsive I've watched this year, rivaled only by Industry's astounding Season 4 run. And even though it loses some of its bite in its final episodes, its sharpness cuts deep. Do your best to pick a side, and head off to War.

War premieres Oct. 1 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. In the UK, War premieres Oct. 2 on Sky and NOW.

UPDATE: Sep. 25, 2026, 11:17 a.m. EDT This article has been updated with information about War's airdate on Sky and NOW.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Italy vs. Belgium online for free

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 16:00

TL;DR: Watch Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League for free on RaiPlay. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The UEFA Nations League is back, and for Italy, that means a chance at rebuilding its status after missing out on a string of tournaments. Belgium did qualify for this summer's World Cup, only exiting in the quarter-final stage at the hands of eventual winners Spain. They'll fancy their chances against a struggling Italy.

If you're interested in watching Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. Belgium?

Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Sept. 25. This fixture takes place at the Stadio Olimpico.

How to watch Italy vs. Belgium for free

Italy vs. Belgium in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, 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 Italy, meaning you can live stream Italy vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Italy vs. Belgium 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 Italy

  4. Visit RaiPlay

  5. Watch Italy vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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 Italy vs. Belgium without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

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

  • Servers in 105 countries, including Italy

  • 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 Italy vs. Belgium for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early October Prime Day deals on hair tools, skincare, and red light masks

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 15:47
The best October Prime Day beauty deals: Best round brush deal Drybar The Double Shot 2.4-Inch Oval Blow-Dryer $131.75 (save $23.25) Get Deal Best Shark hair deal Shark FlexStyle $199.99 (save $114.01) Get Deal Best Dyson hair deal Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer $382.99 (save $67) Get Deal Best red light mask deal Dreame Chrona $209.99 (save $60) Get Deal

This is my fourth year covering Prime Day, so I've learned to be pretty cynical about pre-sale "discounts." But looking through the current beauty markdowns, a handful of these early prices actually match — if not beat — the deals we saw during June's Prime Day event.

Amazon's official October Prime Big Deal Days doesn't kick off until Oct. 6–7, but if you want to restock your essentials now, here are the best beauty deals you can shop today, sorted from least to most expensive in every section.

Best beauty deal Opens in a new window Credit: Drybar Drybar The Double Shot 2.4-Inch Oval Blow-Dryer Brush $131.75 at Amazon
$155 Save $23.25   Get Deal Why we like it

You don't need to drop $400+ on a high-end multi-styler just to get a good blowout at home. I use this exact Drybar brush every single day, and it gets me ready in minutes. The combination of ionic airflow and tufted bristles smooths out stubborn frizz and cuts drying time in half, while the 2.4-inch oval barrel gives you real volume at the roots in a single pass — so you never have to awkwardly juggle a heavy dryer and a separate round brush.

Best early hair tool and hair care deals Best early skincare and makeup deals Best early device dealsBest brand-wide sales
Categories: IT General, Technology

Rockstar’s massive $400 GTA 6 box comes with Oakleys, a hat, and a map of Leonida — where to preorder

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 15:33

TL;DR: Preorders are live for the $399.99 GTA VI: Vice City Collection. The 11-piece crate packs custom Oakley sunglasses, a New Era cap, and a physical map of Leonida — though the actual game is sold separately. Lock yours in directly at the Rockstar Store before the limited run sells out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Rockstar GTA 6 Collector's Box $399.99 at Rockstar
  Pre-order Here

Rockstar Games officially launched preorders for the Grand Theft Auto VI: The Goodtime State – Vice City Collection on its webstore, priced at $399.99. The massive 11-piece crate is themed after Macca the Gator, a hit TV show inside the fictional state of Leonida, and comes packed with high-end apparel, barware, and physical lore collectibles.

Before grabbing your wallet, you should know the major catch: the actual game is sold separately. This is strictly an elite merch drop for hardcore collectors, so you will still need to buy your copy of GTA 6 when launch day hits.

Credit: Rockstar What's inside the box

Rockstar packed this 11-piece crate with apparel, barware, and lore collectibles:

  • Oakley Frogskins Sunglasses — Matte black frames with Prizm Sapphire lenses and a Vice City pink GTAVI logo

  • New Era 9FORTY Snapback Hat — A-Frame cap featuring Vice City and Leonida embroidery

  • Leonida Keys Crossbody Bag — Ripstop bag with black-and-pink lining and a debossed YKK zipper pull

  • Macca the Gator Figure — 6-inch figurine with a secret twist-open stash base

  • Macca the Gator Magnetic Mirror — Electroplated pink glass mirror for hanging or tray use

  • Chunkee the Manatee Shot Glass — Features Chunkee on the front and a laser-etched Rockstar logo

  • Vice City Collectible Swizzle Spoon — Decorative spoon with debossed enamel Vice City branding

  • Double-Sided Souvenir Poster with Map of Leonida — Macca the Gator TV show art on the front and the full physical state map on the back

  • Vice City Razor Blade Keychain — Metallic razor-blade-style keychain

  • Leonida Keys Enamel Pin Set — Nine enamel pins inside a custom metal tin

  • Leonida Keys Sticker Pack — Nine vinyl stickers in a stash bag

Credit: Meta / Rockstar

You can place a preorder directly on the official Rockstar Store. This is a limited-run release shipping out on Nov. 19, 2026. Due to the size of the box, it does not qualify for free shipping, and orders are strictly capped at one per customer. Secure your preorder while the first batch is still up before stock runs dry.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Moon phase today: What the Moon will look like on September 25, 2026

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 15:08

The Moon is almost completely full in the sky, so tonight, there's another chance to spot some of the features that stand out on its surface. Here's what to look for if you've got clear skies.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, Sept. 25, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 98% of its surface visible.

With just your naked eye, tonight you can see the Mare Crisium, Mare Fecunditatis, and the Oceanus Procellarum. If you have binoculars, they'll also help you see the Posidonius Crater, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Mare Frigoris. On top of this, if you have access to a telescope, you'll see the Apollo 12 and 16 landing spots, and the Schiller Crater.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on September 26.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon goes through a repeating cycle as it orbits Earth, taking roughly 29.5 days to complete. During that time, the amount of its sunlit side visible from Earth changes, giving us the different lunar phases. It starts with a slim crescent, grows to a half Moon and eventually reaches the Full Moon, before beginning the cycle again. NASA explains that which phase we see depends on where the Moon is in relation to Earth and the Sun.

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 internet is obsessing over a Minion-shaped router: Heres where to buy yours

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 15:00

TL;DR: Davolink's officially licensed Minions WiFi router went viral on X, racking up over 4 million views and wiping out Amazon's inventory. You can still grab the Bob (AX1800) model via third-party Amazon sellers for $79.49.

Opens in a new window Credit: Davolink Bob (AX1800) Minion WiFi Router $79.49 at Amazon
  Shop Now

If you thought home networking equipment was strictly limited to glowing black boxes with spider-like antennas, social media just proved otherwise.

A viral X post praising Davolink’s officially licensed Minions WiFi router racked up over 4 million views in less than 24 hours — causing Amazon's direct stock to sell out almost instantly. Underneath the denim-overalls exterior, these devices are surprisingly capable WiFi 6 and 6E routers built by an enterprise networking company.

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Built as a compact upright unit, it sits easily on a desk or bookshelf like a vinyl figurine while delivering actual high-speed home networking. Performance-wise, Bob runs on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, with combined theoretical speeds up to 1.77 Gbps. It is specifically built for low-latency tasks like wireless PC VR streaming, online gaming, and 4K media streaming, where a steady connection matters. On the back, you get 1 GbE WAN and LAN ports to connect your modem, PC, or gaming console directly.

Versatility is where Bob shines. You can run it as your main home router, set it up as a standalone access point, use it as a range extender, or link it to another compatible Minions router to build a full mesh network to cover dead zones in your apartment. It also comes with standard WPA3 encryption to keep your connection secure.

Amazon still has select third-party listings for the Minions Bob router at around $79.49. You can also check eBay, where completed sales have been popping up rapidly following the social media spike. Just make sure to double-check total seller pricing and shipping costs so you don't overpay.

Grab the Davolink Minions Bob Router for $79.49 on Amazon before this third-party stock also dries up.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pokémon 30th anniversary: 11 of the weirdest little freaks in Pokémon history

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 14:47

Thirty years of Pokémon means 30 years of absolutely bizarre, confounding, and totally lovable little freaks populating our screens.

To be clear, I say "little freaks" with nothing but admiration and love. The entire appeal of Pokémon, to me, is that every few years you get a couple hundred strange new creatures to look at and, eventually, learn to love. In fairness to all Pokémon, basically every single one of them is a weird little freak, but the 10 on this list go above and beyond. Lightning-powered mice are pretty weird, but not as weird as sentient ice cream cones, if you get what I'm saying.

Pokémon 30 year anniversary celebrations are in full swing everywhere. Whether you're mucking about in the cutthroat world of trading card collecting or simply obsessed with Pokémon Pokopia, we're all in the mood to celebrate three decades of greatness and, importantly, abundant little weirdos.

Appropriately, here are 11 of my favorite Pokémon, included mostly for how strange they are.

SEE ALSO: Target is hosting a huge Pokémon 30th Anniversary event: How to claim free promo cards Klefki

Introduced in Gen VI (2013)

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Some of the later generations of Pokémon (well, later by the standards of someone who started playing in the 90s) introduced a bunch of little freaks who are more or less just mundane, inanimate objects with faces. These are some of my favorite Pokémon because it feels like whoever designed them was just glancing around the room, looking for anything they could anthropomorphize.

That brings me to Klefki, which is literally a living ring of keys. Series lore suggests Klefki uses the keys as a defense mechanism by rattling them, but the keys also hold deep meaning for the creature, as it will hold onto its favorite ones for long periods. I love this little guy.

Chandelure

Introduced in Gen V (2010)

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Chandelure is another "random inanimate object" Pokémon, which is best described as a ghostly chandelier. It's the final evolution of a line that also includes a ghostly candle and a ghostly lamp. One thing I love about Chandelure is that it has a Mega Evolution in Pokémon Legends: Z-A, turning it into an even more ornate chandelier. We love a Pokémon who can dress for the occasion.

Garbodor

Introduced in Gen V (2010)

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Garbodor is a living, breathing pile of trash. I don't mean that in a derogatory sense; that's literally what it is. Presumably, someone saw a bunch of garbage piled up outside the Pokémon office one day and used that as a source of inspiration. I love it.

SEE ALSO: I tried to buy my son some Pokémon cards at retail price. It was almost impossible. Mimikyu

Introduced in Gen VII (2016)

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Mimikyu made waves online when it was first introduced 10 years ago because, frankly, it has one of the saddest backstories of any Pokémon. It's actually a tiny ghost whose true form we never really see, hidden under a shoddy, low-effort Pikachu costume. The reason it wears the costume? To make friends, of course, given Pikachu's massive popularity and the presumed ugliness of Mimikyu's true self.

Personally, I'm sure the real Mimikyu is beautiful, too, but I can't say I dislike the way it presents itself.

Unown

Introduced in Gen II (1999)

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I really cut my teeth as a Pokémon video game player in the second generation of games, otherwise known as Gold, Silver, and Crystal. Gen II had a lot of really neat stuff going on, including Unown, a new Pokémon that exists in a couple of dozen different forms that all resemble hieroglyphs or, in some cases, just regular letters. They like to hang out on the walls of ruins, but that's only when they leave the special other dimension that only they get to live in.

Unown has a place in my heart for contributing to a real sense of mystery when it first appeared, even if later Pokémon games sort of demystified it over time. It's also the only Pokémon that you can use to form sentences.

Gimmighoul

Introduced in Gen IX (2022)

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Gimmighoul is a strange little fella who lives in treasure chests, which is how it is encountered in the core video games in which it appears. It loves gold coins, which is key to its weirdness; it is actually possible to evolve Gimmighoul into an also-very-weird golden humanoid monster, but only if you collect literally 999 gold coins. I love Pokémon with specific, deeply involved evolution processes, and I have to applaud Gimmighoul for being as high-maintenance about evolution as it is.

Lickitung

Introduced in Gen I (1996)

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So far, I've focused on weird little freaks who were introduced after Pokémon got its start in 1996. I don't want anyone to think I'm ignoring the original 151, plenty of whom are quirky and goofy in their own ways. One such weirdo is Lickitung, who just has a giant tongue that it uses to lick things. Sometimes weirdness is simple like that. Give a little guy a big tongue and make that his defining feature, and you've got yourself a 30-year-strong weird little guy.

Mr. Mime

Introduced in Gen I (1996)

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Mr. Mime is a classic weird little freak. It's one of the best Pokémon ever, purely because it likes doing parlor tricks and will slap the hell out of anyone who isn't impressed by them. You have to respect Mr. Mime's hustle or suffer the consequences. I like a Pokémon who has a day job.

Rotom

Introduced in Gen IV (2006)

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Rotom is not, in and of itself, a living inanimate object. It's more like a living spark of electricity. It has no evolutionary tree, but it does learn to inhabit a variety of household objects, gaining different abilities. At different points in the series, Rotom has been a microwave, a washing machine, and a lawn mower, and it has even served as the basis for smartphones in modern Pokémon video games.

In other words, Rotom benefits society.

Vanilluxe

Introduced in Gen V (2010)

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There isn't much to say about Vanilluxe other than it's literally just an ice cream cone with a face. Well, two faces, technically. It looks like two ice cream cones smashed together because it's the third form of an evolutionary line, and I guess they needed to do something to differentiate it from the other two, which also just look like ice cream cones. I mostly put Vanilluxe on this list because I really like ice cream.

Gengar

Introduced in Gen I (1996)

The best of the best. Credit: Jan Woitas/picture alliance via Getty Images

This choice almost feels like a cop-out in some ways because Gengar is one of the most popular Pokémon of all time. Everyone loves this guy, and he's been a favorite since the series started all those years ago.

But I can't help but include Gengar because, I mean, just look at him! No fictional character has ever been more down to party than Gengar. But, like, in a kind of insidious way. You never know how things are going to go with Gengar is around, but they're always going to be interesting, and that's one of the best qualities a person (or Pokémon) can have.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Press play: 5 celeb-creator interviews the internet loved this week (Sept. 25)

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 13:56

It won't shock you that there's a superabundance of interview podcasts and internet series out there. You're probably subscribed to a bunch of content creators (perhaps those who made this year's Mashable 101), or maybe you depend on your feed to hand-deliver the most viral clips.

But I consider your time precious, the algorithm treacherous, so I've rounded up the best on the internet this week.

Whether you're into deadpan showdowns, niche hot takes, or simply wholesome interviews between creative minds, here's what we reckon is worth your time (and of course, I'd never leave out Mashable's own Say More, what are you, nuts?).

SEE ALSO: The Mashable 101: The creators defining the internet in 2026 The Comment Section with Drew Afualo: Grace Reiter

Watching two superstar content creators at the top of their damn game? Calendar cleared. Mashable 101 alums Grace Reiter and Drew Afualo chatted on the latter's The Comment Section, and it's one of the most fun, real chats you'll see this week. From growing up loving Jack Black movies to going to premieres and getting a proper stylist, the latest addition to Saturday Night Live and Afualo have a lot to talk about when it comes to how being a content creator actually works.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Spotify, Apple Podcasts.

Royal Court: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan

Best of the Best star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan attended Brittany Broski's Royal Court and it's a delightful time. From talking through the attribute she'd give Kirby to being humbled by her friends and family at home, Ramakrishnan is a wonderful guest. And while you're at it, check out the actor's appearance on Recess Therapy.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok

Mythical Kitchen: Josh Johnson

Josh Johnson enjoyed his "last meal" on Mythical Kitchen, and halfway through, he called his mom. What a gem. The comedian, writer, Daily Show host, and Mashable 101 alum joined host and chef Josh Scherer for a tasty stroll down memory lane. They dine on fruit slushes, a giant charcuterie board, lychee milk tea boba, pad thai, New York-style pepperoni pizza, pumpkin soup, chicken and shrimp gumbo, and young coconuts (served as a soup), as the comedy star talks through memories.

It's a delightful chat, with Johnson stopping during the soup course to call his mother to check gumbo details and tell her that "someone's doing it right out here."*

How to watch: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram

Hot Ones: Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe is something of a hot sauce warrior himself. The Oscar-nominated screen icon took on First We Feast's Hot Ones with Sean Evans, surviving increasingly spicy vegetarian wings while talking through his experiences playing Hunter S. Thompson in Gonzo Girl, working with sled dogs in Togo, being pitched by Martin Scorsese to play Jesus in The Last Temptation of Christ, being buried alive in multiple movies, and an early experimental theatre show involving nude hula dances.

For more Defoe, check out Mashable's Kristy Puchko chatting with the Late Fame star in the Say More studio.

How to watch: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok

The Romesh Ranganathan Show: Stephen Graham 

Stephen Graham joined British comedian Romesh Ranganathan on his podcast this week and it's a most excellent chat. The Emmy-winning Adolescence star talked through his epic screen career, from Shane Meadows' This Is England to Philip Barantini's one-shot wonder Boiling Point and groundbreaking series Adolescence, as well as breakdancing in his teens, fatherhood, and his new book Letters to Our Sons.

How to watch/listen: YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Instagram

And, of course...Say More: Dropout

In this week's episodes of Mashable's Say More, Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko gets all your Dropout questions answered. Following the Game Changer finale, Sam Reich revealed the secrets of "Last Talent Standing," and stars Vic Michaelis (Very Important People) and Jacquis Neal (Crowd Control) came by Mashable's SXSW Say More studio to unpack some of Dropout's biggest moments.

How to watch/listen: Mashable, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok

And here's a few more the internet loved this week:

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters, or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Mahershala Ali and Bassam Tariq share the path to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother

Fri, 09/25/2026 - 13:42

During promotional interviews for Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, two-time Academy Award winner Mahershala Ali and celebrated writer/director Bassam Tariq have shared how this fantastic film rose from the ashes of the MCU's fumbled Blade reboot.

In this interview with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, Ali and Tariq discussed how they met through the Blade project and found a deeper connection that led them to collaborate on Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother. This not only allowed Ali to employ the physical training he'd begun for Blade, but also to take on a leading man role that gave him space to explore.

SEE ALSO: 'Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother' review: Mahershala Ali flashes his blade in epic thriller

But there's much more to Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother than its ties to Blade. Puchko dug into the film's details, including its distinctive fighting style, the platinum grills of John Cho's villain, and its thoughtful depiction of furry culture.

Plus, Ali reflected on how he made the transition from TV to film, and what he learned along the way.

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother is now in theaters.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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