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SAVE $220: The Sonos Arc Ultra is on sale for $879 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's a saving of 20% from the list price of $1,099.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar $879 at Amazon
$1,099 Save $220   Get Deal

What is Black Friday for if not stocking up on premium tech, particularly the likes of home cinema hardware, while it’s available at a rare discount? One such piece of hardware is the Sonos Arc Ultra, which some reviewers consider to be one of the best home cinema soundbars in existence. That comes at a price of course, usually north of $1,000, but you can pick it up in the Amazon Black Friday deals with a significant discount.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is now available at Amazon for $879, which gives you an overall saving of $220. That means 20% off the regular list price of $1,099.

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Mashable has previously hailed the Sonos Arc Ultra for being the closest to having theater quality sound in your own home. It does this by combining Sonos Sound Motion technology with Dolby Atmos, which fills the room with three-dimensional audio. It also has a dialogue enhancement feature for ensuring speech is clear and defined, plus it’s super easy to set up. Our reviewer thought it was worth the money at full price, so with $220 off this is a great time to buy it. 

The Sonos Arc Ultra is currently available for $879 in the Black Friday sale at Amazon — a saving of 20%.

SAVE $800: The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station is on sale for $699 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's 53% off the list price of $1,499.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station $699 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $800   Get Deal

It can be tough to justify the kind of money that high-quality portable power stations usually sell for — which can be in the range of $1,500. Especially if you only need it for occasional camping and RV trips, or you just want one in the garage for emergencies and outages. That’s why it’s always worth searching through the deals on Black Friday, when you can find discounts on the kind of devices that you’ve always been meaning to pick up but never quite have the cash to justify. Take the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station, for instance. 

Indeed, the Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station currently has a huge saving of $800 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. It’s now available for $699, down from the list price of $1,499.

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This app-controlled solar charger has a bigger output than competing power stations. Maxing out at 2200W, it provides enough juice to run indoor appliances as well as all your outdoor adventuring needs. If you are using it for camping and road trips, it’s also pleasingly lightweight at just 39.5lbs. 

The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 Portable Power Station is currently available for $699 in the Black Friday sale at Amazon. That saves you $800 from the usual list price of $1,499.

TL;DR: Live stream Philadelphia 76ers vs. Miami Heat in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The new NBA season is starting to take shape, and the early signs are pretty positive for the Philadelphia 76ers and Miami Heat. Expectations were fairly low for these teams at the start of the season, so a 9-6 record at this stage is a great result.

If you want to watch 76ers vs. Heat in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is 76ers vs. Heat?

76ers vs. Heat in the NBA starts at 1 p.m. ET on Nov. 23. This game takes place at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

How to watch 76ers vs. Heat for free

76ers vs. Heat in the NBA is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

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

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Stop losing your wallet with some help from the Apple Find My compatible KeySmart SmartCard, now $69.97 (reg. $119.97) for a three-pack through Dec. 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart KeySmart® SmartCard - Works With Apple Find My | Wireless Charging (3-Pack) $69.97
$119.97 Save $50   Get Deal

Want to keep better tabs on your most important items? AirTags are a little too bulky to slip into your wallet or passport case, which is where the KeySmart SmartCard really shines. This credit-card-sized tracker can fit into tight spaces and offers Apple Find My compatibility, making it easy to locate your important items.

Right now, you can snag a three-pack of KeySmart SmartCards for just $69.97 (reg. $119.97) — less than $24 each — through Dec. 7.

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Ever been late for a flight because you couldn’t find your passport? What about being late to work because you just can’t seem to find your wallet? There’s now a tracker that actually fits into these tiny spaces — the KeySmart SmartCard. Unlike chunky AirTags, this device is just 2mm thick, the size of two credit cards, so it can keep tabs on your most important possessions.

The KeySmart SmartCard is compatible with the Apple Find My app, so you’re just a few taps from finding out where your items are. It will show you the last known location, and if you’ve misplaced it you can have it make a sound so you can hunt it down. If you know you’ve left something behind, there’s also an option to display a message and contact info for anyone who finds it.

Aside from slipping into wallets or passport holders, the KeySmart SmartCard also features a lanyard slot to help you find ID cards or security badges. And no matter where you place it, you can rest easy knowing it has an IPX8 rating, so it’s waterproof and can survive up to an hour in 3.3 feet of water.

These KeySmart SmartCards have a rechargeable battery that works with Qi-enabled wireless chargers, but don’t worry — you won’t need to power them up often. The battery runs for up to five months on a single charge.

Get this three-pack of KeySmart SmartCards for just $69.97 (reg. $119.97) on sale now through Dec. 7.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: This StackSocial-exclusive Babbel Lifetime Subscription offer gives you access to 14 languages, 10,000+ hours of expert-designed lessons, and long-term learning tools for just $129.99 (reg. $299) with code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $129.99
$299 Save $169.01   Get Deal

If learning a language has been sitting on your “someday” list, this might be the moment it finally sticks. With this special lifetime Babbel offer through StackSocial, you get the chance to learn 14 different languages for as long as you want — no deadlines, no pressure, no racing through lessons before a subscription runs out.

And this lifetime access is currently available for just $129.99 (reg. $299) with code LEARN through Dec. 1.

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What makes Babbel so effective is how practical it is. Lessons are short — usually 10–15 minutes — and designed by over 100 expert linguists to help you communicate in real, everyday situations.

Instead of drilling random vocabulary, Babbel teaches you how to navigate conversations you’ll actually have: grabbing food in a café, traveling abroad, chatting with coworkers, or understanding cultural nuances that help you fit in instead of stand out.

Because everything syncs across devices, you can practice on your desktop while working from home, then switch to your phone during your commute. Headed somewhere without service? Download your lessons and keep going offline. It all adapts to your schedule, not the other way around.

Babbel’s lifetime subscription isn’t just a learning tool — it’s a long-term investment in your personal and professional development.

Whether you’re building your résumé, planning future travel, or simply expanding your world, this offer gives you years of growth ahead.

Don’t miss a lifetime of Babbel language learning via this offer from StackSocial for $129.99 (reg. $299) with code LEARN — through Dec. 1.

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

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

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

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

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

A piece of wood.

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

PLANK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A smelly animal.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SKUNK

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A martyr.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 23 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 23, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SAINT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A liquid.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 23 Hurdle Word 4 answer

JUICE

Final Hurdle hint

Blame.

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

FAULT

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

After days of almost complete darkness, the moon is big and bright enough tonight to do some moon-gazing. There's plenty to see, so keep reading to find out what's on show.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Nov. 23, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. This means 10% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

If you don't have any visual aids, you'll be able to see the Fecunditatis and Crisium Mares. If you have binoculars or a telescope, you'll also be able to spot the Endymion Crater in the top right corner (bottom left, if you're in the Southern Hemisphere).

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4, this will be the last of three consecutive supermoons. The last full moon was on Nov. 5.

What are moon phases?

NASA tells us that moon phases are all a part of a repeating lunar cycle of 29.5 days. These phases describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight illuminating it changes throughout its orbit. That’s why sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes disappears entirely (the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love old music.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 23, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Easygoing

• Green: Where a furry friend lives

• Blue: Popular films

• Purple: '70s hits

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Lenient

• Green: Animal homes

• Blue: Oliver Stone movies

• Purple: Second words in titles of ABBA hits

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 #896 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Lenient: EASY, LAX, LOOSE, SLACK

• Animal homes: BURROW, DEN, LODGE, WARREN

• Oliver Stone movies: JFK, NIXON, PLATOON, WALL STREET

• Second words in titles of ABBA hits: GIMME, MIA, QUEEN, TROUPER

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 23, 2025

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

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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a snacker.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 23, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 23, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Sweet tooth

The words are related to junk food.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe sweet snacks.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Candy Aisle.

NYT Strands word list for November 23

• Nerds

• Starburst

• Runts

• Candy Aisle

• Whatchamacallit

• Dots

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and 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 today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're an animal lover.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. 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 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 23, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 23, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A rabbit.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter N appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BUNNY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 23, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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 today's Wordle.

SAVE OVER $425: The Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 is on sale for $898 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's 32% off the list price for a total saving of $427.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 gaming monitor $898 at Amazon
$1,325 Save $427   Get Deal

If you're on the look out for knockdown prices on high-end gaming hardware, now's the time. It's Black Friday season once again, which is the best time to buy tech and hardware of any kind, but especially gaming gear. Because, let’s be honest, gaming hardware ain’t exactly cheap for most of the year. And with all the numerous Black Friday deals on gaming tech currently on Amazon, it would be remiss of us not to point out the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 while it's discounted by 32%.

This curved screen monitor isn’t the biggest on the market, but it’s still a fully-immersive behemoth and packed with high-spec features, which is exactly why it usually costs more than $1,300. 

But thanks to Black Friday you can now pick up the Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 for the excellent price of $898. That’s an impressive saving of $427.

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And you’ll absolutely get your money’s worth. It delivers a refresh rate of 240Hz, a response time of 0.3ms, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and HDR support. All of which adds to the incredible looking OLED display, which is among the best screen tech available. 

The Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G9 is now available for $898 for Black Friday — a saving of $427.

TL;DR: This Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business license works on both Mac and PCs, and it’s now on sale for just $149.97 (reg. $249.99) for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $149.97
$249.99 Save $100.02   Get Deal

Whether you grew up using Word to write essays for school or you remember whipping up presentations for work on PowerPoint, most of us have used Microsoft Office in our day-to-day lives at some point. If it’s been a while since you used these helpful tools or you converted to Mac and didn’t think they were an option for you, it’s time to meet Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business.

This lifetime license is compatible with both Mac and PC devices, has modern updates that keep up with how we work now, and for a limited time, you can get it for just $149.97 (reg. $249.99).

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Microsoft Office has come a long way since the days of chunky desktop computers. Now, these helpful tools are apps that you can install on a PC or Mac. This particular Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business license equips your device with four game-changing apps that you can use for life.

Draft a document with Word, figure out your budget with Excel, or tackle your emails with Outlook. You’ll also have PowerPoint on hand to help you craft presentations. This license allows you to own each app outright — so there are no subscription fees and you can work offline as needed.

This 2024 version includes new features like an updated accessibility checker in Outlook, presentation recording with voice narration and video in PowerPoint, AI-powered writing suggestions in Word, and enhanced data analysis and visualization tools in Excel.

Save big on this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business license for Mac and PC, on sale now for just $149.97 (reg. $249.99) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Scan and save documents from anywhere with this lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP for just $39.97 (reg. $199.99) with code SCAN through Dec. 7.

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

It’s 2025. We may not have flying cars quite yet, but at least you can keep a scanner in your back pocket thanks to SwiftScan VIP. This handy app transforms your smartphone or tablet into a scanner, making it easy to digitize documents anytime.

Right now, you can secure a lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP for only $39.97 (reg. $199.99) with code SCAN through Dec. 7.

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Since there seems to be an app for everything these days, it’s no surprise there’s one that can make scanning as easy as a few taps. SwiftScan VIP eliminates the need for those chunky scanners we all grew up with and instead turns your smartphone or tablet into a scanning device you can take on the go.

Whether you’re saving a handwritten note or submitting your signature on an important document, SwiftScan VIP makes it easy to digitize documents from anywhere. Just point the camera at the page you would like to scan, and SwiftScan detects the edges and crops the document for you.

The app features built-in tools, including color filters, blur reduction, and auto enhancements. If you need to scan multiple pages, it’s easy to combine them into a single document. When you’re done, you can save them as a JPG or PDF, or send them via email, fax, or upload them to a cloud storage service.

Koofr Cloud Storage can also organize your scans for you, saving them in folders and making them easily searchable thanks to OCR technology. And if you need to edit a PDF, it can do that too. You can easily sign, annotate, or redact information from the file using the app.

Snag a lifetime subscription to SwiftScan VIP for just $39.97 (reg. $199.99) with code SCAN through Dec. 7.

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If you were perusing Elon Musk's X late Friday night, you might have seen a brand new, highly anticipated feature roll out.

X visitors were able to go to any users' profile page, click on their join date to view a new "About this account" page which revealed exactly which nation an account was based. This information differed from the usual "Location" detail on an X profile page, as it showed exactly where an account was posting from based on their IP address, not what the user input themselves.

SEE ALSO: Grok generates sycophantic praise for Elon Musk after new update

The country of origin disclosure was broadly lauded among X's user base. Then, suddenly, without notice, the country of origin was removed from the "About this account" page just hours after it made its late-night debut.

Mashable reported last month that the feature was on the way. X's head of product, Nikita Bier, originally teased the feature, rolling it out on his own account as a demo of how it would work before it was visible on any other X users' accounts.

It's unclear exactly why X quickly removed the feature shortly after rolling it out to the public. However, Bier replied to some X users who were reporting that their "About this account" was showing inaccurate information, which may be the reason why the feature was taken down.

One X user named "Canadian Beaver" shared that their country of origin was appearing as the United States despite residing in Canada.

"Fixing this now," Bier replied. "Looks like Starlink threw us off."

Along with the current country of origin, the "About this page" also displayed where a user resided when first creating the account. One X user reported that their join date location was inaccurately displayed as Korea.

"We identified the problem: it looks like you used a VPN to register your account in '22," Bier said to that user. "We are adding a indicator on that row on Monday for Android and iOS—and it will be live on web tomorrow."

Based on Bier's responses, it seems X may have removed the feature to fix location inaccuracies caused by VPNs, and the intention is to re-roll out the feature in the coming days.

X users mostly welcomed the country of origin feature, as many feel it would discourage foreign actors from spreading misinformation and propaganda related to political discussions on the platform. Facebook has a similar feature for Facebook Pages, where users can view the country of origin for the administrators of the page, although Facebook does not reveal the profiles behind the pages.

We'll soon find out if Musk's social media platform reinstates the feature.

SAVE $450: As of Nov. 22, Amazon has a Microsoft Surface laptop (2024) on sale for $749, down from its list price of $1,199. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop $749 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $450.99   Get Deal

Okay, if you’ve been living life sans a laptop, it can be so annoying. On the other hand, it can be hard to find the right laptop at the right price for your specific life. This weekend might hold just the deal you’ve been waiting for. In honor of Black Friday, Amazon is offering a 38% discount on a 2024 Microsoft Surface laptop. The model comes with Microsoft’s AI software “Copilot”. That’s on top of all the software that you get with a Microsoft Surface PC. This model features 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. 

As for hardware, this Microsoft Surface laptop features a 13.8-inch touchscreen. The battery life can last up to 20 hours. The laptop is also extremely portable, weighing in at approximately 3 pounds. It’s made of durable aluminum that comes in four different colors: black, sapphire, dune, and silver. Copilot can support your work by keeping track of and recalling various documents and webpages you’ve been working on. It can also subtitle any videos in up to 44 languages and generate art from text or image prompts.

Choosing a laptop is a highly personal decision, and you should definitely take your own needs into account. This laptop is ideal for individuals who need to handle various life administrative tasks, school assignments, or light creative work.

SAVE $900: The Acer Aspire 16 is on sale for $449.99 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. That's 36% off the list price of $699.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Aspire 16 AI Laptop $449.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $250   Get Deal

One of the most sought after items during Black Friday is the laptop. And even with Black Friday itself just under a week away, Amazon and other retailers have already launched plenty of live deals. That includes a selection of laptop deals at Amazon, which features one of our favorite budget-priced models, the Acer Aspire 16 AI. 

The Acer Aspire 16 AI is currently priced at just $449.99, which means an overall saving of $250 — 36% off the list price of $699.99. According to camelcamelcamel, that's its lowest ever price.

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It’s a superb Windows laptop for anyone shopping on a budget and comes equipped with Copilot AI assistant and features. It also boasts a massive 17-hour battery life plus a touchscreen display and a lively user experience that performs above the price point. Especially now it’s discounted as part of Amazon’s Black Friday deals.

Grab the Acer Aspire 16 AI for just $449.99 at Amazon — a saving of $250.

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 22, this PlayStation 5 Slim is 18% off at $449.99, down from its list price of $549.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation 5 console (slim) $449.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $100   Get Deal

The colder months are upon us, and what better way to celebrate than adding a new gaming console to your setup for nights of gaming, the dark at 4 pm, nights away. This weekend, Amazon is offering the PlayStation 5 Slim for $100 off. That’s an excellent, and not super common, deal. 

There are a few key features that the PlayStation 5 Slim has that might make it a perfect fit for you. First of all, it’s smaller than the PlayStation Pro and does not come with a disc drive. However, you can purchase an attachable disc drive if that is a crucial feature for you. It comes with a high-speed SSD for super-fast loading. It can also run a wide range of supported PS4 games. If loading speed and graphics are extremely important to you, the PlayStation 5 Pro is noticeably faster with higher image quality, making it a crucial factor to consider. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable and compact console, the PlayStation 5 Slim could be the perfect addition to your entertainment setup. 

Reviewers rave about the graphics quality, value for cost, physical appearance, and they also particularly appreciate the console’s compatibility with 4K TVs. 

TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals for free on TF1+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Autumn Internationals continue to deliver huge matchups between the biggest sides in the world, including France vs. Australia. Neither side has dazzled in recent games, so both teams will be looking to this clash as an opportunity to put things right. France will be favorites, but don't count out the Wallabies just yet.

If you want to watch France vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Australia?

France vs. Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 22. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.

How to watch France vs. Australia for free

France vs. Australia in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on TF1+.

TF1+ is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can unblock TF1+ to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Australia for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit TF1+

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

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of France's Autumn Internationals 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 eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream France vs. Australia in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.

You may have seen the now-viral warnings that Google is snooping around your Gmail account and using your emails to train its AI models.

"IMPORTANT message for everyone using Gmail," reads the most viral post on X from user Dave Jones. "You have been automatically OPTED IN to allow Gmail to access all your private messages & attachments to train AI models."

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

Numerous outlets have now reported on these claims, usually followed by a step-by-step process to shut off Gmail's Smart Features, which supposedly stop Google from using your emails.

But it's not true, according to Google. The company is not using your Gmail account to train its AI, even if users leave the Smart Features on.

"These reports are misleading – we have not changed anyone’s settings, Gmail Smart Features have existed for many years, and we do not use your Gmail content for training our Gemini AI model," said a Google spokesperson in a response provided to Mashable. 

"Lastly, we are always transparent and clear if we make changes to our terms of service and policies," Google continued.

Mashable was initially skeptical about the claims that Google was using users' emails to train AI unless users opted out of a feature. Smart features, which essentially integrate Google's AI model Gemini into a user's Google Workspace account, have been available for some time now. This is not a new feature.

Additionally, Google has been explicit about its commitment to user privacy regarding AI models, such as Gemini. 

"Your data stays in Workspace," reads Google's policy page on Gemini. "We do not use your Workspace data to train or improve the underlying generative AI and large language models that power Gemini, Search, and other systems outside of Workspace without permission."

Some users seem to have interpreted giving Gemini access to Gmail by turning Smart features on as equivalent to granting Google that permission. However, Google has previously addressed this on its AI on Google Workspace page, stating that this is not the case. The permissions a user grants with these Smart features are specifically to let Gemini access the data for that user's use cases, not AI training.

Users are certainly justified in questioning the AI policies of all tech companies. We are aware that numerous companies have already trained their AI models on data and content for which they did not have permission to use. And any user who wants to turn off AI features to be safe is well within their right to do so.

But, this specific claim about Google training its AI using emails from Gmail accounts unless users specific turn off a few features appears to be completely false.

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

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

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

How to play Pips

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 22 Pips

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 22 Pips

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

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (6): Everything in this space must be greater than 6. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 22 Pips

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

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

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

Equal (5): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally; 5-2, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 2. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

Number (14): Everything in this red space must add to 14. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (14): Everything in this space must add to 14. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 3-2, placed horizontally.

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