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TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) and Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) are available to preorder now on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokemon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon) $699.89 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon) $699.89 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

If you thought Pokémon TCG collectors were already losing their minds over 30th Celebration Booster Bundles and Elite Trainer Boxes, Amazon just opened preorders for the crown jewel of the anniversary expansion: the 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections.

Both high-end boxes are currently available for preorder at Amazon for $699.89 ahead of their official Nov. 6 release date.

As the ultimate flagship products for the 30th Celebration set, both Ultra-Premium Collections come packed with 29 30th Celebration booster packs, one Classic Collection booster pack, custom metal coins, deck boxes, card sleeves, and damage-counter dice. Of course, the real driver behind the hype comes from the exclusive promo cards:

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Day (Espeon): Includes the exclusive Espeon ex promo card with a Daytime Pikachu ex promo card and an Espeon playmat.

• Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collection Night (Umbreon): Includes the exclusive Umbreon ex promo card with a Futuristic-rarity Pikachu ex promo card and an Umbreon playmat.

The big question with buying trading cards on Amazon is whether or not you're actually getting value for money. Amazon is a reliable pick for finding stock, but you often pay above market price.

TCGplayer's market price for the Day Box is currently $561.50, so there's a decent markup from Amazon here. The market price for the Night Box is $690.23, so the convenience of Amazon actually makes sense in this case.

Elon Musk put his billion-dollar (no longer trillion-dollar) bank account and his AI agent Grok Bot to work after giving the worst financial advice ever this week.

After telling X users wanting to shop online with his AI agent to "take a picture of your credit card, drop it in the chat" to have Grok research and order items for you, despite xAI's explicit warning for users "not to include personal information in prompts," Musk showed his seemingly successful use of the feature.

SEE ALSO: Does 'Carrie' contain a sneaky dig at Elon Musk?

On Sunday, the X owner posted on his social media platform that he'd asked Grok "to research the most fun Lego Star Wars kits for young kids and order them."

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On Tuesday, Musk added an update, claiming that Lego sets bought for him by the AI agent had indeed arrived in the mail (though he posted only screenshots of his conversation with Grok, not photos of the delivered items).

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The order consisted of five Star Wars Lego sets totaling $241.34, including Smart Play items, and was placed through Lego's website with free shipping.

In screenshots of Grok's updates, it appears the Lego sets were sent via UPS, delivered to a house in Austin, then once the order was complete, Grok Bot turned off the shipping and tracking checks.

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Remember, the richest man in the world's disposable budget and ownership of the technology mean there's little risk to Musk's bank balance from providing credit card information to an AI bot, possibly within the chat itself. However, consumers should be very cautious about personal financial details online, especially in a chat with an AI agent — the memes aren't completely bonkers.

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Featured Video For You 'No Other Choice' skewers the job market. Here's why Park Chan-wook made it.

SAVE $152: As of Oct. 14, the TCL 65-Inch QM6K Series QD-Mini LED 4K TV is marked down at Amazon. Snag this stunning TV for $647.99, down from $799.99 — a 19% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-inch Class QM6K Series 4K HDR TV $647.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $152   Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been tolerating an aging flat-screen that turns dark movie scenes into a black blob, you don't have to blow thousands of dollars on a high-end OLED to get a massive upgrade. The TCL 65-Inch QM6K Series QD-Mini LED 4K Smart Google TV is marked down to $647.99 at Amazon. That shaves $152 off its regular $799.99 list price — a 19% discount on our hands-down pick for the best 65-inch TV for most people.

Earning a 4.5/5 rating and a Mashable Choice Award, the QM6K hits the absolute sweet spot for "happy medium" shoppers. It combines Quantum Dot colors with Mini LED technology, using 500 local dimming zones to deliver punchy brightness and surprisingly deep contrast. Whether you're watching afternoon college football games in a sun-drenched living room or streaming dark horror movies with the lights off, this panel punches way above its weight class.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy the new Apple TV 4K — how to preorder the 4th generation of Apple TV

In her hands-on review, Mashable shopping reporter Leah Stodart noted that the QM6K easily conquered notoriously dim content like Game of Thrones' infamous darker scenes, rendering crisp shadow details where older TVs only show muddy reflections. Gamers win here too: with a native 144Hz refresh rate, VRR, and ultra-fast response times, plugging in a PS5 or Xbox Series X gives you buttery-smooth gameplay without awkward motion blur. That's you sorted for GTA 6, then.

On the software side, Google TV is built right in for fast, painless app navigation, while Onkyo audio with Dolby Atmos support keeps the built-in sound surprisingly robust. While its screen isn't completely matte, the sheer punch of the Mini LED backlight easily overpowers ambient glare from nearby windows.

If you want a serious home theater upgrade without the steep price tag, head over to Amazon to grab this top-rated 65-inch screen while the deal lasts.

SAVE $119.01: As of Oct. 14, the 2026 Apple Mac mini (M6, 16GB, 256GB) is marked down to one of the lowest prices we've seen. Snag one from Amazon for $779.99 — a 13% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2026 Mac mini M6 $779.99 at Amazon
$899 Save $119.01   Get Deal at Amazon

If you’ve been eyeing Apple’s latest desktop hardware refresh, you don’t have to wait around for Black Friday to pick up a solid discount.

As of Oct. 14, the brand-new Apple 2026 Mac mini (M6 chip, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) is marked down to $779.99 at Amazon. That is a clean 13% off its usual $899 list price, and one of the best prices we've seen on this model.

Don't let the ultracompact five-by-five-inch box fool you — this tiny desktop lives large on performance. Driven by Apple's M6 chip with a 12-core CPU and 12-core GPU, it delivers up to 4.8x faster AI performance thanks to a Neural Accelerator packed into each GPU core, faster unified memory, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine.

Whether you're flying through everyday creative tasks or running demanding AI workflows, like LLMs, locally on device, everything feels super responsive on macOS. Plus, if you already use an iPhone, features like iPhone Mirroring and universal copy-paste make it feel like pure magic on your desk.

It also comes stacked with modern connectivity, so you can wire up your entire setup without needing an ugly hub. Apple kept the port selection practical: the front features two USB-C ports and a headphone jack for your everyday plug-ins, while the rear houses three Thunderbolt 4 ports, HDMI, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet jack (supporting up to three external displays). Wireless connectivity gets a huge boost, too, thanks to the N1 chip, which brings WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

SEE ALSO: Surprise! New Macs Before iPhone Event — What’s Going On?

With 16GB of fast unified memory (featuring 170GB/s bandwidth) and a 256GB SSD, this M6 Mac mini is easily one of the best value-for-money entry points into Apple's ecosystem right now.

Snag the 2026 Mac mini at Amazon before the deal disappears.

SAVE $400: As of Oct. 14, the Samsung 65-Inch Class S90H OLED 4K Smart TV is down to its lowest-ever price of $1,497.99 at Amazon. That's $400 off its full price of $1,897.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch Class S90H Series TV (2026) $1,497.99 at Amazon
$1,897.99 Save $400   Get Deal at Amazon

If you're thinking about buying a new TV ahead of the holidays, there's no need to wait for Black Friday. Amazon has plenty of offers to check out right now, including some exciting price cuts on sleek OLED screens like the Samsung 65-Inch Class S90H OLED 4K Smart TV.

As of Oct. 14, this display has dropped from $1,897.99 to $1,497.99, hitting its lowest-ever price thanks to a $400 discount. Plus, Amazon's throwing in a 90-day free trial of Amazon Music Unlimited Individual Plan. This bonus is only available if you're a new subscriber.

SEE ALSO: The 8 best 65-inch TVs to buy in 2026, from budget sets to stunning OLEDs

This 2026 model features a 65-inch OLED display. The latter helps bring out vibrant colors, contrast, and brightness, further aided by 4K resolution to capture every detail on screen. This TV's NQ4 AI Gen3 processor can even upscale everything to 4K, so there are no dips in picture quality.

On top of that, this TV also comes with Glare Free technology, which is helpful if you're putting it up in a room with windows and more light, as it eliminates reflections. Plus, those planning to play games on it can enjoy smooth, tear-free, low-latency gameplay with up to a 165Hz refresh rate alongside NVIDIA G-SYNC or AMD FreeSync Premium Pro.

Don't miss out on this deal on the Samsung 65-Inch Class S90H OLED 4K Smart TV at Amazon.

TL;DR: The Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G55C) curved gaming monitor is on sale for $189.99 at Amazon, down from its $242.08 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 Curved Gaming Monitor $189.99 at Amazon
$242.08 Save $52.09 Get Deal at Amazon

Going bigger than a regular 27-inch gaming monitor can get expensive, especially if you want sharper-than-1080p visuals and a refresh rate that can keep up with the latest games like Grand Theft Auto VI — whether you’re playing on console or waiting for the PC port.

As of Oct. 14, the Samsung 32-inch Odyssey G5 (G55C) is available for just $189.99 at Amazon, $52.09 off its typical price of $242.08. This works out to a 22% saving, with Amazon selling and shipping the monitor directly.

Amazon is also including its usual 30-day return policy, along with next-day delivery for Prime members. Buyers are getting the best-ever price for this monitor (confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel).

SEE ALSO: PS5 Pro stock updates: Where to buy Sony's console for 'GTA 6' without overpaying

With its 1,000R curved screen, the G5 wraps around the Odyssey G5 and combines with the 2560 x 1440 QHD resolution for even greater immersion, offering 1.7 times the pixels of HD. Plus, HDR10’s been added to flourish in extra picture detail across bright and dark scenes.

Across its 32-inch VA panel, this should make everything from the cockpit view in Forza Horizon 5 to exploring the open world of Cyberpunk 2077 feel even more jaw-droppingly fun.

It's a particularly decent fit for faster games thanks to the combination of a 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms MPRT response time, and AMD FreeSync, which reduces tearing when frame rates fluctuate. If you’re planning on a console gaming setup upgrade for GTA 6, this type of monitor is perfect for when you’re blazing across Leonida. 

At a glance:

• Grand Theft Auto VI will be a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S console exclusive at launch, with no confirmed PC release date. Given Rockstar's history with PC ports, we originally thought gamers were in for a long wait.

• An October 2026 report from gaming business media site Gamesbeat reveals a potential PC launch in early 2027, which is sooner than we expected.

• The game likely cost $1 to $3 billion to produce, so Rockstar may be eager to recoup its costs with a faster GTA 6 PC release date.

The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on Nov. 19, 2026, but PC players will have to wait. Rockstar has confirmed that the game is console-only at launch, with no PC version officially announced at this time.

Despite that, we recently got some good news: GamesBeat reports that GTA 6 will get a PC release sometime in Q1 of 2027. GamesBeat has a good track record with unannounced news like this. According to their reporting, the GTA 6 PC release window was confirmed by industry sources familiar with Rockstar's plans. They spoke with the outlet under the condition of anonymity.

Why won't GTA 6 be available on PC at launch?

Rockstar and Take-Two haven't given an official reason for skipping PC at launch, but a few factors are typically cited when publishers stagger releases this way.

Console hardware is standardized, which tends to make optimization more straightforward than building for the huge range of PC configurations. Some industry data has also indicated that consoles generate higher per-unit revenue, giving publishers an incentive to front-load console sales.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6 leaks: Map and gameplay potentially revealed

A more cynical take is that Take-Two could just be double-dipping, hoping fans who can't wait for the PC launch will buy the console first, then buy the PC version later. A PC Gamer poll found that 39 percent of respondents said they're fine waiting for a port rather than needing it on day one, suggesting a meaningful share of the PC audience isn't treating the delay as a dealbreaker.

However, there could be another, less financially motivated reason for all of this.

Speaking to YouTuber KiwiTalkz, former Rockstar producer John Ricchio explained that building for consoles first and scaling up to PC is technically easier than the reverse, since consoles have fixed, predictable hardware. According to IGN, Ricchio said it's simpler to start with tighter constraints and add polish later than to build a PC-first game and then try to trim it down to fit console limitations.

GTA 6 PC release date: Past rumors

Without an official release date, gamers have had to speculate on the most likely launch window for a GTA 6 PC version.

If you look at several past Rockstar games, you can see that there's typically a significant amount of time between the console launch and the PC port.

Grand Theft Auto 4 was released in April 2008 and didn't reach PC's until that December. Grand Theft Auto V was released in Sept. 2013, and its PC counterpart was released 19 months later in April 2015. Red Dead Redemption 2 arrived on PC roughly a year after its console release.

The one exception was Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, which launched simultaneously across platforms in 2021. Based on that track record, a GTA 6 PC port, if it follows the usual pattern, could be a year or more away.

A recent report from The Verge claimed that Xbox would have exclusive rights to stream GTA 6 via its cloud gaming service at launch. The report noted that PC gamers would be able to play GTA 6 on day one after all, despite Rockstar's lack of news about a potential release window for a PC port. Unfortunately, Xbox Gaming's Chief Strategy Officer, Matthew Ball, shot down this report. Ball wrote on his personal X account that The Verge's coverage led to some "misreporting."

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Per Ball, not only is GTA 6 not being exclusively streamed by Xbox, but it will not be available to stream on PC at launch either.

Fortunately, the report from GamesBeat indicates gamers may not have to wait a full year for a PC release, though that report remains unconfirmed.

UPDATE: Oct. 13, 2026, 11:26 a.m. EDT This article was updated to include information from Gamebeat's reporting that a 'GTA 6' PC launch will happen in Q1 of 2027.

UPDATE: Oct. 12, 2026, 2:32 p.m. EDT This article was updated to reflect information reported by The Verge about Xbox gaining streaming rights to 'Grand Theft Auto VI'

Astronomers have watched Earth-like clouds drift and shift on a cold, distant world, the first time they've seen that beyond our solar system.

The world, WISE 0855, lies 7.5 light-years away in space. Astronomers classify it as a brown dwarf, something that is too large to be a gas giant planet but too small to burn like a star.

Though WISE 0855 doesn't have much in common with our planet, it does have clouds made of water like Earth's. Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, a team led by University of Arizona astronomer Brittany Miles observed those clouds thicken and thin in real time, while gases welled up from deep inside it. 

An atmosphere is often the only part of a distant world astronomers can study, and much of what they hope to learn depends on interpreting it correctly: what it's made of, what's happening deep beneath its clouds, and how it compares with the worlds that orbit the sun. But clouds and weather constantly reshape the light that reaches a telescope, underscoring how important it is for astronomers to understand them or risk misreading the world underneath.

"Before JWST, we only had photometry, which mixed up the effects of clouds, chemistry, and temperature all together," Miles said in a statement. "Now we can actually distinguish them."

SEE ALSO: A starquake 10 billion years ago may have just sent a flash to Earth

Photometry gauges how bright an object looks overall, so it lumps every source of change into a single number. A spectrum, on the other hand, spreads light into a rainbow-like readout that reveals which molecules the light passed through. 

For 11 straight hours, Miles' team captured a fresh spectrum every 15 minutes. The results have been accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. 

Experts sometimes refer to brown dwarfs as 'failed stars' because they're not quite massive enough to sustain hydrogen fusion in their cores. Credit: NASA illustration

Mark Marley, director of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and a co-author, likens the problem of trying to study a world wrapped in an atmosphere to looking at it through a screen door. 

"We're learning about the world on either side of the screen, but we also have to understand the screen itself," he said.

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WISE 0855, about the size of Jupiter but double its weight, is an isolated, free-floating object in space. It doesn't orbit a star that shines light on it, but it does make its own light. Brown dwarfs radiate heat left over from their formation, and this one has cooled to about 17 degrees Fahrenheit — colder than any other known brown dwarf. 

The chill lets water condense into clouds. By contrast, hotter worlds sometimes fill their skies with clouds of molten minerals and metals instead.

WISE 0855, a brown dwarf about 7.5 light-years from Earth, exhibits water clouds and other features similar to Jupiter. Credit: Penn State University infographic

The observations also revealed a rhythmic pulse in two gases: carbon monoxide and phosphine, a compound of phosphorus and hydrogen. Heat from the brown dwarf's interior drives that pulse by hauling gases up from hotter layers below, the way a lava lamp lifts warm blobs from its base. Planetary scientists know this convection process from Jupiter and have spotted it in other brown dwarfs. 

Brown dwarfs make handy targets for research. Most worlds beyond our solar system circle stars that outshine them so badly that a telescope struggles to pick them out. WISE 0855 has no blindingly bright star nearby to wash it out. And although it's some 44 trillion miles away from Earth, it actually sits relatively close to us in terms of the galaxy — close enough for Webb to watch it for hours. 

What astronomers learn from this study may help them eventually read the atmospheres of smaller, harder-to-see planets, including ones that future telescopes could study directly. That WISE 0855 shares a behavior with Jupiter suggests that the same rules are governing worlds near and far, Miles said. 

"There is a spectrum of behaviors, not a hard line between brown dwarfs and planets," she said. "Jupiter and this object look distinctly different, but they have similar weather patterns."

TL;DR: Give your cybersecurity a boost with this 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan, on sale now for only $62.99 (reg. $430) through Oct. 15 with code SAVE25.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $62.99
$430 Save $367.01   Get Deal

Free Wi-Fi is convenient… until you start thinking about what you’re sending across that connection. A VPN gives you a secure connection so you can easily keep yourself protected no matter where you log on — whether at home or out and about.

Right now, you can lock in a 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for just $62.99 until Oct. 15 with code SAVE25.

How often are you thinking about your cybersecurity? If you’re rarely working from home or your office, it’s even more important to consider how you’re connecting to the internet. Give yourself peace of mind when signing on to public WiFi by adding a layer of protection with Surfshark VPN.

Surfshark VPN keeps you safer online and ensures your data is never compromised with military-grade AES-256 encryption. You won’t be tracked, and a no-logging privacy policy makes it even more secure by not retaining any records of your activity.

Aside from keeping you safe from hackers, Surfshark VPN lets you enjoy a freer internet without any geographical restrictions. Simply choose from one of the 3,200 servers around the world across 100 countries. If you ever need to share your real location on an app, there’s a bypasser feature that easily shows it.

Surfshark VPN includes other perks like Surfshark Search, a search engine that keeps your searches totally private and gives you unbiased, organic search results. You also have a kill switch to disable your internet connection if your VPN ever drops.

Secure your own 3-year subscription to Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for just $62.99 through Oct. 15 with code SAVE25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a laptop that can keep up with your workflow without breaking the bank thanks to this Dell Latitude 5420, on sale now for just $264.99 (reg. $1,099).

Opens in a new window Credit: Dell Dell Latitude 5420 2021 (Refurbished) $264.99
$1,099 Save $834.01   Get Deal

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop that really does the trick, look no further than this Dell Latitude 5420. It’s a reliable device that can handle multitasking and keep up with your workflow, letting you tackle your lengthiest to-do lists.

Right now, this Dell Latitude 5420 can be yours for just $264.99.

If you’re looking for a laptop that’s not fussy and can get the job done without costing a month’s rent, it’s the Dell Latitude 5420. This workhorse of a laptop comes equipped with an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor that delivers super-responsive performance, with a 2.4 GHz base frequency and up to 4.2 GHz Turbo Boost.

A 256GB SSD gives you space for apps and storing files locally. A 14-inch Full HD anti-glare display with integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics enables comfortable viewing even during the longest workdays.

This Dell Latitude 5420 is running Windows 11 Pro, an efficient operating system that helps you tackle everyday business tasks. It also has WiFi 6 and Bluetooth for easy connectivity.

You’re saving big on this model thanks to its Grade A rating, which means it will arrive in near-new condition with minimal scuffing, and you’ll score a massive discount.

Get your own Dell Latitude 5420 for just $264.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: CellarStash’s 15-bottle assortment costs $79 plus $34.95 shipping, with red, white, and mixed options selected at redemption.

Opens in a new window Credit: CellarStash 15 Bottles of Curated Wines (Shipping not included) $79
$294.87 Save $215.87   Get Deal

Choosing wine can be tricky, especially when you’re trying to find something that suits someone else’s taste (or multiple someone else’s). To make things less complicated, CellarStash offers a 15-bottle assortment featuring wines sourced from California, France, Argentina, and Italy. The collection includes a range of familiar varietals, with three assortment options available at redemption.

Customers can select a mixed assortment of red and white wines, an all-red collection featuring Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and red blends, or an all-white selection featuring Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio, and Moscato.

The assortment is priced at $79 (reg. $294.87). Shipping costs an additional $34.95, paid separately at redemption, bringing the total purchase and shipping cost to $113.95, which is still a very low price for 15 bottles delivered to your door.

Orders ship only to eligible addresses within the United States. Shipping is unavailable to South Dakota, Utah, Arkansas, Mississippi, Michigan, Delaware, Rhode Island, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, and PO boxes.

Purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Delivery requires a valid adult signature and identification. Redemption within 180 days is recommended for the fastest processing.

Whether you’re stocking up for a long winter to come or getting ready for holiday festivities, this is a win.

Get 15 bottles of CellarStash’s red, white, or a mix of both for $79, plus $34.95 shipping, while you can.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

There's always a nervousness when signing up for a new dating site. If you're not that tech-savvy, it can be a daunting thing to do. Especially on a site such as AdultFriendFinder, which has been around for so long (it's one of the true OGs of online dating). The site comes across as dated and counterintuitive, with a myriad of menus and submenus to navigate. It's easy to assume it's unsafe or just too difficult to use. But trust us when we say it's worth the effort due to its sizable community of singles and non-monogamous users looking for steamy fun.

Making the most of AFF means a certain amount of trial and error, or at least some guidance from someone with an intimate knowledge of the spicy hookup platform.

We've come to the rescue by outlining four essential tips to get you started on AFF and help you connect with like-minded people for kink-based fun.

We also recommend keeping an open mind when delving into AFF. If you charge in with a narrow idea of what it is you want, you'll almost certainly be disappointed. But if you start searching AFF with an open-minded curiosity and let yourself just go along for the ride, you might even discover new things about yourself — and find never-before-explored pleasure points — while you have some fun.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdultFriendFinder AdultFriendFinder   Learn More

Here are four essential steps for getting the most out of your AdultFriendFinder experience:

Fill out your full AFF profile 

Sure, this is a given on any online dating service, but it’s particularly important on AFF because the site doesn’t rely on the carousel-style, swipe-left formula of dating profiles that you get on other apps. With AFF, you specify everything from your age and gender to your sexuality and personal kinks. All of this makes it easier for potential connections to find you in their searches. In other words, the more you fill out, the easier it is for someone else to find you; the less you fill out, the harder it is.

We recommend doing this even if your personal kink list is fairly conventional, and even more so if it leans towards the exotic. Trust us when we say there are people out there looking for the very same experience, so it's worth taking the time to be specific and detailed. It will pay off in the end.

SEE ALSO: Is Hinge really 'designed to be deleted'? I tested it to find out.

Also, don’t sleep on the importance of videos. Unlike many dating sites that only have profile pictures, AFF allows you to upload short videos to your profile. It's a super helpful way of showing other users that you’re an actual human being — as opposed to a bot, of which you'll find many on AFF — and it helps you show off a little personality in the process. Just be wary of posting nude content upfront in your profile. It's perfectly within the rules of AFF — the site's culture encourages it, in fact — but putting that kind of content online carries privacy risks.

Verify your AFF account as soon as possible

AdultFriendFinder throws up very few barriers when you're creating your account. That makes it very easy for anyone to join, but it also means there is a huge amount of spam and bots clogging up the platform. To combat this, they’ve also created a profile verification system using the Confirm ID service. 

It requires you to share your government ID for cast-iron verification, but the benefits to your profile will give you major peace of mind. It means photo authentication, age confirmation, and location verification, all of which help others trust that your profile is authentic. When the process is complete, you'll see a blue checkmark beneath your profile photo, just to the right of your username, which helps people identify your profile at a glance and boosts your visibility in search results, as search results prioritize verified users.

Be selective with your search criteria

If you use the site’s search function, you’ll find that you can be extremely specific and selective. And if you know exactly who and what you want, by all means, narrow your search, but if you’re on AFF to be surprised, it’s also worth being less selective from time to time.

For example, if you know you want an in-person date for next week, it obviously makes sense to narrow your location search to people who live near you. But what if you don’t know exactly what you want, or if you’re open to a sultry chat with a stranger half a world away? In that case, distance is irrelevant, and you should consider turning that filter off.

SEE ALSO: All your Tinder questions, answered

On the other hand, there are quite a few filters that are turned off by default that we actually recommend you turn on. For example, the default profile filter shows you all people who have bothered to upload photos, but while that’s a good start, it’s not enough to help you wade through the huge number of users. We strongly recommend narrowing it down to Verified/Confirmed users, since those people all proved their identity the same way you did (see above). That way, you can trust that your search results and potential connections are 100 percent legit. It's another means of filtering out the spam.

Another useful filter is the Last Visit, which by default is set to "All." We recommend specifying accounts that have been active within the last month. That's because lots of people sign up to AFF then never bother checking back in. Other users go inactive for weeks or even months at a time. If you stick with the default "All" setting, you risk messaging accounts that you might never get a reply from.

Explore the live-chat communities

AdultFriendFinder isn’t a traditional dating website, so don't use it like one. The search-and-swipe dating app method is tried and true, but it’s also a bit played out, and one of AFF’s biggest strengths is its larger community offerings. There's more to it than swiping — or should we say swinging? — left or right.

There are lots of forums to explore, all based around common interests (though you should know that some of these interests — or kinks — are not so common), or you can venture into a user’s livestream and interact with them and others there. AFF even has a dedicated Stories section, where users can share their memories or try their hand at writing erotica. That's all well and good for anyone with a knack for the written word, but if you're more visual, you can set up a webcam stream and invite others to tune in. 

For all of the above, AFF tracks not only which stories/streams/group chats are new but also which are trending, making it very easy to jump into a popular discussion or keep up with the latest site news.

Upgrade your AFF membership tier

As with other dating sites and apps, you only get the most out of AFF when you sign up for a paid membership. It is entirely possible to use AFF and interact without handing over your credit card information, but the site’s best features and functions are paywalled. And it has to be said that the advantages — visibility, communication options, and site functionality are all just too good to ignore.

Gold and VIP members receive special icons on their profiles, and these profiles are given priority in every search, regardless of the criteria. Because there are thousands of potential profile options for almost every search criterion that isn’t location-based, it’s very difficult to stand out from the crowd on AFF as a free user.

Additionally, if you fork out for the upgraded VIP membership, you’ll unlock an entire section dedicated exclusively to VIPs. It's the dating site equivalent of entering the velvet-roped area of a night club; you'll find the most glamorous people hiding there. VIP members even get additional points to spend on digital gifts or lavish on live streamers who catch your eye. This is another great way of standing out from the crowd. 

The learning curve on AdultFriendFinder is steeper than most other dating sites, and much steeper than most dating apps, but if you follow the above tips and you're willing to experiment, you’ll encounter more than a few fun and sexy surprises along the way. 

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is on sale for $108.99 at Amazon, down from its $122.09 typical price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $108.99 at Amazon
$122.09 Save $13.10   Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon has given us some decent discounts on the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed expansion this year, including a deal for under $120. That was good, but the latest deal on the 30-pack Play Booster Box is the best we've ever seen.

As of Oct. 14, the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is available for just $108.99 at Amazon, cut by $13.10 from its usual $122.09 price. Confirmed by the price tracker camelcamelcamel, this 11% discount is the lowest-ever price for this MTG box. 

At $3.63 per pack, this limited-time deal is shipped and sold directly by Amazon, not through a third-party seller. 

SEE ALSO: Magic: The Gathering Star Trek Play Booster Box preorders hit an all-time low on Amazon — save over $40

If Amazon does end up running out of stock, Walmart has matched the same $108.99 price. Just know that this listing is sold by third-party seller Cataclysm Games, but the order is still fulfilled by Walmart.

The Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box contains 30 packs of 14 cards each, giving you 420 cards overall. Every booster guarantees a traditional foil, plus one to four cards of rare or higher rarity.

The expansion revisits the worlds of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, featuring returning creature types like Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, and Elves, with new and familiar mechanics to experiment with.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $159.99 at Amazon, but Walmart has it for $144.96.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $144.96 at Amazon
$237.98 Save $93.02   Shop Now at Amazon

Amazon has been offering the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box for $159.99, but there's still the issue of actually getting invited to buy one. Fortunately, Walmart has now introduced a considerably cheaper alternative that doesn't require waiting for an invitation email.

As of Oct. 14, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for just $144.96 at Walmart, with $93.02 knocked off its previous list price of $237.98. That puts this 30th Celebration ETB only $6.20 above its $138.76 market price. What’s more, it's also $15.03 cheaper than Amazon's $159.99 invitation-only listing. 

TCGplayer is currently the cheapest place to buy readily available stock, with the specialist trading card marketplace boasting listings as low as $138.76 at the time of writing — actually matching that estimated market price. 

SEE ALSO: The Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle is now only $55 at Walmart — save $25 on preorders

For the price, you're getting nine 30th Celebration booster packs, each containing one of 30 collectible Pikachu rare variations. There's also a special full-art foil Nidorina promo, featuring 30 Nidorina to match its #0030 Pokédex number. The ETB also includes 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 card sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player's guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card.

If you’re hunting any chase cards, like any of the RGB Rare Mews worth over $3,500, you can buy single 30th Celebration Pokemon cards at TCGplayer.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is under $100 with T-Mobile. To claim this offer, switch and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed)

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for under $100   Shop Now

We're constantly tracking the best deals on smartphones. T-Mobile is usually one of the first places we look, because they generally offer free deals on new handsets like the Motorola Razr+, Google Pixel 11, and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.

But what about the iPhone?

The only iPhone you can get for free right now with T-Mobile is the iPhone 17e. To claim this handset for free, you can switch to almost any T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. The iPhone 17 is not free at the time of writing, but it's under $100 when you switch and bring your number on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed). That's still a wild offer.

T-Mobile spreads your savings across 36 monthly bill credits, effectively locking you into a three-year agreement. If you cancel or switch carriers early, you will owe the remaining balance immediately. You will also need to cover state sales tax on the phone’s full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout.

This is one of the best ways to score a top-tier phone without taking a massive hit to your bank account.

Get the Apple iPhone 17 for under $100 this week with T-Mobile.

PREORDER NOW: Preorder the Apple HomeView smart display for $299. Choose from either the standard or wall-mounted edition in silver, starlight, rose pink, or space gray.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple HomeView $299 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

Apple’s first smart display has officially been announced. The Apple HomeView, announced on Tuesday morning at the company’s “Welcome Home” event, puts a seven-inch screen on top of a HomePod-style speaker base and adds FaceTime, messages, photos, and smart home controls to the mix.

It’s the first entirely new Apple hardware category since the Vision Pro, and likely an enticing buy for users firmly rooted in the Apple ecosystem. But where and when can you get your hands on one to deck out your home with additional Apple tech? Here's everything we know so far.

What is Apple HomeView?

Powered by Apple's A18 chip, the Apple HomeView is a seven-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen attached to a domed speaker base by a stainless steel hinge. You can tilt the screen to whatever angle works on a counter or nightstand. The display goes up to 500 nits in a bright room and down to 0.3 nits at night, and the interface shows simpler information when you’re across the room and more detail as you walk closer.

It includes two full-range drivers in the display, plus a down-firing woofer and two passive radiators in the base, with Spatial Audio support and computational tuning that adjusts bass at any volume. It supports Apple Music with animated album art and lyrics, Apple Podcasts, Apple News, Apple TV, and third-party audio and video apps, and also pairs with other HomeViews, HomePods, and AirPlay speakers for multiroom audio.

As a smart home hub, HomeView controls lights, thermostats, locks, and blinds by touch or Siri AI, and its Home Camera face can livestream up to nine camera feeds at once. It works with Apple Home and Matter accessories as well as the new Apple Home Collection, a lineup of cameras, thermostats, and a lock built with LG and Schneider Electric that arrives in December.

Where to buy Apple HomeView

Right now, you can preorder the HomeView at Apple and Amazon. Both the tabletop model and the wall-mounted model cost $299, and both are set to ship out on Friday, Nov. 13.

The tabletop Apple HomeView version is available in silver, starlight, rose pink, or space gray, each with a color-matched USB-C cable.

Meanwhile, the wall-mounted option is up for grabs for the same price and is available only in space gray and silver. It uses the same display, speakers, and features as the tabletop version, but you’ll need one of the Schneider Home mounts to hang it.

There are accessories as well: The Power Mount USB-C Wall Connector for $59.95 and the Power Mount AC Wired for $79.95. Both can be preordered through Apple as well today. A Power Mount PoE Wired version is also coming in early 2027 for $129.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple HomeView $299 at Amazon
  Preorder at Amazon

On Saturday, singer Kelly Clarkson published a scathing X post about her experience at Brooklyn store Art of Play, claiming that she was treated "like Julia Roberts' character in Pretty Woman" when she tried to buy a mechanical bird. The internet quickly took sides, with Clarkson and Art of Play both issuing multiple statements arguing about what actually happened.

Now security footage of the interaction has been made public, offering more fodder for people to scrutinise and argue about. 

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Podcast Pablo Torres Finds Out shared the video in a YouTube livestream on Tuesday, showing Clarkson visiting Art of Play just before 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. In the footage timestamped 2:49 p.m., a person Torres identified as Clarkson entered the store and began browsing items on display. She soon looked toward Molly, the mechanical bird at the centre of the controversy, and sought the attention of a store worker.

Though Art of Play's security video has no audio, it appears as though Clarkson and the worker were discussing Molly. The pair stood behind the bird as they spoke, Clarkson pointing and looking toward it while the worker performed an American lean with a drink in hand. Unfortunately, the footage is too blurry and obscured to clearly determine the full nature of the conversation.

The worker then walked away toward the other side of the store while Clarkson moved to the back of it, apparently done with the conversation. The worker did point at something on the wall he had moved to, looking toward Clarkson as he did so. However, Clarkson did not appear to see this gesture due to her back being turned. The Art of Play worker then began speaking to a different customer, and was engaged in this conversation when Clarkson turned back around.

Clarkson then returned the other items she'd picked up to the shelves and exited the store, but not before appearing to express her displeasure to another Art of Play worker. Though it's unclear exactly what she said, Clarkson's hand gestures suggest she was left frustrated and unhappy after her interaction with his colleague. Overall, Clarkson was in Art of Play for approximately five minutes, having promptly left after her negative experience.

While podcast host Torres did not state how he obtained the video, he and guest Wyatt Cenac disclosed that both were customers at Art of Play and had previously spoken "a bunch" with Adam Rubin, one of the store's co-owners. Torres even shared a clip he had filmed last year of Molly in action. However, he also claimed that Pablo Torres Finds Out is a "pro Kelly Clarkson podcast," citing a 2024 episode in which he praised her song covers.

The internet reacts to Kelly Clarkson security footage

The internet has swiftly pounced on the new security footage, attempting to analyse Clarkson and the worker's body language to determine what happened. Even so, the video doesn't appear to have changed many people's opinions, with its lack of audio and unclear images leaving much up to debate.

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Technically, a store is not legally obligated to sell a product merely because an associated price tag is on display. U.S. contract law states that a price tag is an invitation to negotiate, meaning that it is a seller telling customers they can offer to buy the item. If a customer does so, it is then up to the seller to decide whether to accept the offer. 

The U.S. has anti-discrimination laws which prevent stores from denying service to potential customers based on factors such as their race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender. However, such laws do not cover discrimination based on socioeconomic status, which Clarkson's Pretty Woman comparison implied occurred.

Regardless of the strict legalities of the situation, general social convention dictates that items in a store with a price tag on them are for sale. As such, it seems reasonable that Clarkson believed Molly was for sale, and was put off when a worker attempted to direct her to alternatives. At the same time, Art of Play also appears within its rights to refuse her attempt to buy Molly. Whether or not the worker was rude when he refused Clarkson is another question, and one that seems unlikely to be definitively answered by this security footage.

Donald Trump's rally tour may have drawn attention for its empty seats, but the president has a secret weapon up his sleeve: Jake Paul.

Trump brought out the YouTuber-turned-boxer during a recent rally in Ohio, with Paul making a speech about how he doesn't understand the left because they "just carry [protest] signs around while we're doing the work."

Unsurprisingly, Jimmy Kimmel wasn't impressed.

"I have a quick question for Jake: Are you under the impression that what you do is work?" the host asks in the clip above. "Last I checked you were promoting gambling apps and selling crypto tokens. What is your job? Being Logan Paul's brother? You're selling body spray to people. These guys have done such a good job of deluding themselves into thinking they're hard-working, average Americans."

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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for those who watch basketball.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

• Yellow: Audience

• Green: Crashing the boards

• Blue: Famous Madisons

• Purple: Tee

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: People in the Stands

• Green: Basket off an Offensive Rebound

• Blue: Madison___

• Purple: Preceded by "T-"

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

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

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #751 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• People in the Stands: CROWD, FANS, SPECTATORS, SUPPORTERS

• Basket off an Offensive Rebound: FOLLOW, PUTBACK, STICK-BACK, TIP-IN

• Madison___: BUNGARNER, CHOCK, KEYS, SQUARE GARDEN

• Preceded by "T-": BALL, MAC, SHIRT, WOLVES

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 14, 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 14, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 14 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 5-1, placed vertically.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 14 Pips

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

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

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically; 6-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 14 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 4-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Number (14): Everything in this space must add up to 14. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

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