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Looking forward to Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, but don't have enough time for a full Season 1 rewatch? Don't worry, Phineas and Ferb (voiced by Vincent Martella and David Errigo Jr.) are here to help.

SEE ALSO: 'Phineas and Ferb' creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh reveal the ultimatum that made the show fans love

Yes, you read that right. In a new animated short, the leads of Phineas and Ferb helpfully walk their friends through Percy Jackson's quest to return Zeus' Master Bolt to Mount Olympus. As a child of both Phineas and Ferb and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books, this crossover's clearly been designed in a lab to make my nostalgia go through the roof.

To help set the scene (and channel that Disney corporate synergy), Phineas is rocking a Percy cosplay, blonde wig and all, while Ferb is dressed as Mr. D. They're not the only ones in costume: Isabella (voiced by Alyson Stoner) has Medusa's snake hair, Baljeet (voiced by Maulik Pancholy) has gone full Grover mode, and Buford (voiced by Bobby Gaylor) is channeling his inner Ares. Even Perry the Platypus (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) is in on the fun, trading his trademark fedora for a Chimera costume, horns and all.

For their recap, Phineas and Ferb have crafted a Greek urn that plays out the condensed story of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1. With all these inventions, you know the two of them would fit right in with the children of Hephaestus at Camp Half-Blood.

To relive Percy Jackson's adventure with Phineas, Ferb, and some Greek vase painting-style animation, check out the full short above. The short will also be available on Disney+ and Disney Channel Animation's YouTube Channel on Dec. 5, and on Disney Channel Dec. 7.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres Dec. 10 on Disney+.

Phineas and Ferb Season 5 is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes arriving in January.

HBO has released the final trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it gives viewers our best look yet at the Ashford Meadow tournament.

SEE ALSO: 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms': 5 things we learned at the New York Comic Con panel

The tourney, complete with jousting and sword fights aplenty, is the main setting for George R.R. Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, upon which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based. In the novella, newly knighted Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), also known as "Dunk," heads to Ashford Meadow to earn some money (and maybe a tad of knightly glory along the way).

On his journey, Dunk encounters Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), a plucky young boy determined to be his squire. So begins a Westerosi buddy comedy, one with a decidedly lighter tone than either Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. (Timeline-wise, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms falls between the two.)

But just because A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a lighter show doesn't mean Dunk and Egg aren't in any danger. In fact, Dunk's in tons of it, because Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) wants his head. You remember the old saying about how every time a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin to determine whether they'll be mad? Well, let's just say that the coin did not land in Aerion's favor, and that's going to complicate things for Dunk once he winds up in Aerion's crosshairs.

How will they settle their beef? On the battlefield, of course! Check out the full trailer above for teases of the jousts and duels that await in this new Westerosi adventure.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Lagging Zoom calls aren't just annoying parts of the average work day. They may be irreparably changing our social interactions.

According to a new study published this week in Nature, audiovisual glitches can have far-reaching affects on users that extend beyond expected nuisances, but which have the power to fundamentally impact major areas of our life, including the outcome of a job interview, trust in medical professionals, and the result of legal proceedings. And for people who don't have reliable internet access, including digitally disconnected, rural, or low-income households, the impact may be even more severe.

SEE ALSO: It's time to add AI protections to your will

Titled "Video-call glitches trigger uncanniness and harm consequential life outcomes," the study focused primarily on on-screen face-to-face video calls, rather than audio-only calls or conversations featuring screen sharing or visual aids. Researchers reviewed several scenarios, including a database of casual video social interactions, a scripted video sales pitch given to participants, and a health consultations. They found that frequent video lags reduced feelings of trust and willingness to engage, such as to take the advice of or reconsult with a health provider.

The reason is that a dropped internet connection or glitches that distort faces, misalign audio and visual feedback, or create choppiness "break the illusion of face-to-face contact" that is created while on a video call, researchers write. This evokes a feeling of uncanniness that reduces a sense of social connectedness and trust — like when you realize you're talking to an AI. This sense is commonly referred to as the "Uncanny Valley," where something looks almost human, but not quite.

"Glitches can be costly in these consequential, virtually held life events. That is, beyond just undermining trivial and fleeting moments of conversation, glitches have the potential to fundamentally alter the trajectory of individuals’ lives, from their health to job status and more," researchers found. "Because people participate in numerous personal and professional virtual interactions annually, even modest glitch-related disadvantages can compound over time into substantial cumulative effects."

The researchers also reviewed court data, and when combined with the above results, found that video glitches correlated with a lower likelihood of being granted parole. "Despite being considered a boon to access, virtual communication might unintentionally perpetuate inequality," write the study's authors. "Because disadvantaged groups often have poorer internet connections, they are likely to encounter more glitches, and, in turn, to experience worse outcomes in consequential contexts such as health, careers, justice and social connection."

The study suggests that the evolving political and technological landscape, which has shifted increasingly toward remote-only processes, consider the impact of reverting to in-person interactions in favor of video interfacing. And the study recognizes there may be an implicit bias in the design of remote systems that advantage certain groups over others.

It also argues for more research on how best to reduce the impact of the Uncanny Valley while video conferencing, with one possible intervention standing out among others: Cracking a joke or two.

ChatGPT users are up in arms over what seems like advertisements appearing in their conversations — while OpenAI disputes that the messages are advertisements at all.

Even users who shell out $200 per month for a Pro subscription say they're seeing suggestions for apps or stores that may not actually be ads, but feel like it.

Here's one example, in which ChatGPT suggests the Peloton app — in a chat that's unrelated to the exercise equipment brand.

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An OpenAI employee responded quickly to the viral tweet. "Thanks for flagging. This is not an ad (there's no financial component)," wrote Daniel McAuley, who works on the data team at OpenAI.

"It's only a suggestion to install Peloton's app. But the lack of relevancy makes it a bad/confusing experience. We're iterating on the suggestions and UX, trying to make sure they're awesome."

Users on Reddit and elsewhere have also complained about so-called "app suggestions" ... that aren't technically ads.

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While these suggestions may not technically be ads, there have also been indications that ChatGPT could integrate straightforward advertisements soon — although when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" for the company, he suggested this would mean delaying the ad rollout.

As AI companies with massive valuations and a huge burn rate scramble to make money, it seems the era of an ad-free chatbot might be reaching its end.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Among Amazon's flagship gadgets, like Kindles and Fire TVs, Echos are the stars of the show. These multitasking smart home devices do a little bit of everything in nearly every room in the house. (Plus, with this year's rollout of Alexa+, they're now supercharged with extra AI features.) Whether you need a smart speaker, alarm clock, or hub for your other smart devices, there's an Echo to help you out. Amazon's list of devices is ever-growing, so we've tested them to find the best Echo devices for your smart home.

If you're ready to invest in an Echo, you don't need to buy these devices at full price. They always go on sale during events like Prime Day and Black Friday, so it's worth holding out until the next sale.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Alexa is a Mashable Readers' Choice Award winner New Echos in 2025

On Sept. 30, 2025, Amazon debuted several new Echo devices. We've yet to test the new Amazon Echo Dot Max or the refreshed Echo Studio, however, once we've completed testing, we'll add them to this guide.

Changes to existing Echo devices in 2025

For existing Echo owners, or those looking to become ones, a major change happened in 2025 that affects user privacy. Amazon sent out an email to users saying the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" feature on the device will no longer be available as of March 28, 2025. But what does that mean?

Previously, the "Do Not Send Voice Recordings" setting allowed the devices to process requests locally without sending them to Amazon servers. However, with that setting no longer supported, all requests will now go through Amazon servers. Plus, if you do have that setting turned on after the change goes into effect, you'll lose access to the Voice ID feature as well.

While Amazon promises that all information requests are encrypted and secure, it still means that the retailer has access to all of that data.

What can an Echo smart speaker do? Trying out the new Echo Spot smart alarm clock. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All Echo devices utilize Amazon Alexa's AI superpowers — it's just a matter of which form you want your Echo to take. The Echo and Echo Dot are smart speakers that you can use for music, phone calls, calendar reminders, or news alerts. Amazon Echo Show devices, on the other hand, can do all of the aforementioned audio stuff, but they also boast colorful displays for making video calls, streaming entertainment, or managing your day. Think of Echo Shows as stationary, more affordable tablets, essentially.

Most Echo devices are designed to act as smart hubs within your home, but some Echo devices can also be taken on the road. Echo Auto brings hands-free Alexa functionality to the car, while Echo Buds and Echo Frames can travel with you anywhere.

What can Alexa+ do?

Alexa is to Amazon as Siri is to Apple, and is the driving force behind every Echo. But Alexa just got a big upgrade. Now there's Alexa+, a new AI-powered version of Alexa introduced to Echo devices in March 2025. For Prime subscribers, Alexa+ will be included in membership, and non-subscribers will have to pay $19.99 per month for the service.

Alexa has an answer to almost anything you ask. Just by shouting out, you can play music, adjust the volume, and set an alarm or timer. And that's just naming a few options. On devices like the Echo Show, you can also ask Alexa to pull up recipes or answer questions that come up while cooking. With Alexa+, the AI agent doesn't just respond to commands but can actually engage in conversation.

Here's a short list of what Alexa+ can do:

• Provide a highlight reel of the day's security footage

• Read stories to kids

• Plan a date night

• Book restaurant reservations

• Control your smart home technology from one central hub

• Access your calendars and set reminders

• Get answers to any question you can think of

• Make phone calls (and video calls with an Echo Show)

• Get the latest weather and news

• Follow recipes

• Shop on Amazon

• Stream music (and video on an Amazon Echo Show)

• Play games

There are more than 100,000 Alexa skills that you can utilize via an Echo device, and Amazon is always adding more.

Alexa gets supercharged when other smart home tech comes into the picture. If you have a smart thermostat or smart light bulbs, as long as they're compatible with the Alexa system, you can create routines through your Echo. That can be as simple as telling Alexa to turn on the lights in one room or programming Alexa to turn the thermostat down before you come home.

If you're ready for an Alexa-powered home, read on for the 10 best Amazon Echo devices of 2025.

I'm not saying that you can expect every robot vacuum that mops to scrub your kitchen grout with the same tenacity as you could by hand with a toothbrush. But the best robot vacuum and mop combos have gotten much closer to true deep cleaning versus the ol' wet light dusting of the cheap mopping robot vacuums of the early 2020s.

Many have smart mopping settings that unleash deeper scrubbing on specified spills or stains, and some even use AI sensors to assess whether a mess has been sufficiently cleaned. The mopping mechanisms themselves are also just more physically able to do a better job — from downward-pressing dual rotating mops that can actually get close to the wall or sturdy roller mops that rinse themselves as they go, automated mopping involves more elbow grease and brainpower than you may be expecting.

You can also set your robot vacuum to take multiple passes over dirty floors in the app's settings — one of my go-to tips for making your vacuum work better.

SEE ALSO: iRobot could be facing bankruptcy. But as a vacuum tester, I saw the Roomba flop era coming from a mile away.

The self-emptying docks of 2-in-1 robot vacuums are far more advanced than they were a few years ago. The best robot mop combos will also self-dispense detergent, automatically wash and dry their mopping pads, and then refill themselves with clean water. In theory, mopping pad maintenance should be nearly as automated as the cleaning itself.

SEE ALSO: I ran the Dyson HushJet 24/7 for a week. It's so quiet that I forgot it was on, but I did notice fresher air. Recent changes to this guide

• Narwal Freo Z10 Ultra: This is the newest recommendation in this list, added on Nov. 13, 2025. I've named it the "best robot vacuum mop combo under $1,000," a mark that it hits when on sale. The Eufy X10 Pro Omni got a similar update: It's now named the "best robot vacuum mop combo under $500," which refers to a sale price it hits quite often.

• Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller: I've added this new vacuum as of Oct. 18, 2025. For now, I've named it the "best roller mop robot vacuum," but it's a frontrunner to be my "best overall" pick.

• Roborock Saros 10R: Previously our top pick as the best robot vacuum and mop, I've now named this the "best corner mopping" vacuum, also as of October 2025.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I've tested several other robot vacuum hybrids that didn't make the cut. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra were top picks in this list at one point, but were merely upstaged in power and price tag value by newer models.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but weren't contenders for this list. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). The Roborock Saros 10 and 10R were able to hoist over the few thick doorway thresholds in my apartment just as well as the X50 Ultra. Its mopping and vacuuming capabilities are better than most mid-range robot vacuums, of course, but they weren't impressive enough for me to suggest the X50 Ultra in this list over either Saros model.

I'm also in the process of testing the new fleet of 2025 Roombas. But given iRobot's rocky financial situation and bleak-looking future, I'm only recommending one mopping Roomba (the Combo 505) at this time — and that's only if it's on sale. The Roomba Combo 205 DustCompactor wouldn't be a bad pick if you absolutely can't spare floor space for a self-empty dock. But for being one of iRobot's newest vacuums, I expected it to be a much smoother, smarter navigator.

Online dating as a lesbian can be a joyous experience, but it can also involve having your space invaded by straight people or seeing your ex-girlfriends (and your ex-girlfriends' ex-girlfriends) show up in your feed over and over.

Over the decades, queer women have turned to personal ads, roaming bars, and word of mouth to find love. These days, it's not too different. From trying to find a date on WLW TikTok to entrapranureal lesbians creating new apps just for them, LGBTQ women are down to get creative to find their special someone.

Thankfully, in 2025, there are both niche and general apps where queer women can find a partner — whether for one night or for life. Which ones are the best dating apps for lesbians? We tested the most popular dating sites and apps and got some insight from our Dating & Relationships writers to find out.

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

Mainstream dating apps attract the most users — including queer users. That means niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only options for finding love. These days, Hinge, Bumble, OkCupid, and even eharmony all have clear filters to help you match with people of the same gender (or any gender at all), as well as filters that acknowledge the existence of non-traditional relationships (like polyamory). Especially if you don't live in a densely populated area, going for the more popular dating apps over lesbian dating sites can often lead to more results.

With that said, there is one dating app lesbian women should try. HER is an app by and for queer women, and it's grown to have a strong user base. According to its website, the app has more than 15 million registered users worldwide. The app also emphasizes finding community and making friends, in addition to dating, providing you with numerous ways to connect with other queer women and non-binary users.

Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

We finally have a date for the launch of the new Amazon Kindle Scribe and Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. First announced during Amazon's Devices and Services event on Sept. 30, 2025, no purchase date was provided for the new Amazon e-readers. As of Dec. 4, Amazon has officially announced that the new Amazon Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft will be available for purchase on Wednesday, Dec. 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe 2025 (32GB) $499.99 at Amazon
  Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 2025 (32GB) $629.99 at Amazon
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During the Amazon Devices and Services event, Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, went hands-on with the new Scribe Colorsoft. The new devices are ultra-thin and lightweight, measuring just 5.4 millimeters in width and weighing just 400 grams. Additionally, Amazon developed a new chip for these e-readers, promising to be 40 percent faster. Each device features an 11-inch display with texture-molded glass, so it feels like writing on paper with the included premium pen. Both the new Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft will be available in 32GB and 64GB versions.

The new Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft finally has color displays, a game changer for avid annotators. Credit: Amazon

The Scribe Colorsoft will finally feature a color display. This means that you can now color-code your notes and annotations. Plus, both devices will have Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive integration.

Neither device is available for preorder, so if you're looking to purchase, you'll have to wait to do so on Dec. 10. But be prepared to cough up some serious dough. The Kindle Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft are the most expensive e-readers from Amazon. The new Amazon Kindle Scribe starts at $499.99, while the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft starts at $629.99.

Keke Palmer may have a murder on her hands in the teaser for Peacock's The 'Burbs.

The upcoming mystery comedy is inspired by the 1989 film of the same name, which stars Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, and Carrie Fisher as suburbanites investigating their suspicious neighbors, who may or may not be performing ritualistic sacrifices.

SEE ALSO: 'A Thousand Blows' is back with an uppercut of a Season 2 trailer

In Peacock's take on The 'Burbs, created by Celeste Hughey and produced by Seth MacFarlane, Palmer and Jack Whitehall play a young couple who has moved back to the husband's childhood home. There, Palmer's character becomes intrigued by a house that's been vacant for 20 years. In this first teaser, she learns from her neighbors that the prior owners' daughter died in the house, adding a layer of tragic mystery to her new neighborhood.

The house won't be vacant much longer, though. The show's synopsis reveals that Palmer and Whitehall's characters' "world is upended when new neighbors move in next door, bringing old secrets of the cul-de-sac to light, and new deadly threats shatter the illusion of their quiet little neighborhood."

Watch the full teaser above to see Palmer go full Only Murders in the Cul-de-sac, accompanied by the soundtrack of Doechii's smash hit "Anxiety."

The 'Burbs also stars Julia Duffy, Paula Pell, Mark Proksch, and Kapil Talwalkar.

The 'Burbs hits Peacock Feb. 8.

SAVE $82.25: The Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses are on sale for $246.75 in the matte black colorway with polarized gradient graphite lenses. That's a 25% discount compared to the list price of $329 and it's the lowest price we've seen at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ray-Ban Meta Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses (matte black, polarized gradient graphite) $246.75 at Amazon
$329 Save $82.25   Get Deal

Cyber Monday deals came with some seriously impressive savings this year, but most of those have vanished by now. But if you were busy on vacation or celebrating with family and missed the big deals, there's something special in store for you today.

As of Dec. 4, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses are on sale at Amazon for $246.75 in the matte black colorway with polarized gradient graphite lenses. That's a savings of $82.25 compared to the standard price of $329 and a new record-low. Amazon is also tossing in a free $1.76 Amazon credit to use on a future purchase.

If you've always been intrigued by the Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, here's your chance to get a pair that's on a serious discount. This sale price applies to both the regular and large sized Wayfarer AI sunglasses for a classic look with modern tech.

SEE ALSO: Level up your listening with a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for their lowest price yet

Packed with a 12 megapixel camera and open-ear speakers, you'll be able to record video or tune into an epic playlist with your sunglasses. The five-mic system can also record exactly what you're hearing for a truly lifelike recording.

Donning the Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses also means you can tap into AI to get more info about your surroundings. Ask about the history of a building or find out the name of a beautiful flower. Of course, you can also make and receive calls via the sunglasses for a hands-free experience.

If you've always wanted to listen to a podcast without earbuds while wearing your sunglasses, this is a great chance to score the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses for a record low price.

CES 2026 is just around the corner. Samsung is usually one of the companies that steals the show every year, often using the big annual consumer tech conference to make announcements regarding its line of TVs.

Well, it seems that Samsung's plans might have just leaked, courtesy of the publicly accessible European Samsung spare parts database, as first noticed by the website FlatpanelsHD.

The database lists some newer models of Samsung's most popular OLED TV sets. But, there's also a brand-new model in the database and an absolutely enormous version of Samsung's The Frame

If the leaks are accurate, new 2026 updates to Samsung's current lineup of OLED televisions are set to debut with the S85H, S90H and S95H models listed in the database. "H" denotes a new 2026 model, according to FlatpanelsHD.

However, an OLED TV model S99H is also listed, coming in sizes ranging from 55 inches to 83 inches. Based on the model number, this appears to even be a more premium version of Samsung's S95H line, which starts at just under $2,000 for a 55-inch model. It's unclear exactly what Samsung will add to make a more premium version of its current high-end TV line.

On the opposite side of the pricing spectrum, Samsung also seems poised to reveal new, more affordable lower-end models too with the S82H and S83H. The current cheapest models in this lineup are the 65-inch S84H and the 55-inch S85H, coming in at around $1,000 each. It's unclear what the newer models will be priced at, but are likely to be cheaper (yet still not "budget" priced).

And, finally, the database points to a new gigantic 98-inch version of Samsung's The Frame TV. The Samsung TV that is meant to look like a framed piece of art currently maxes out at 85-inches. Samsung may have felt that was still too small and decided to bring an even larger model to the market in 2026.

We'll find out more details when Samsung officially unveils its new products at CES.

Threads is testing a new way for users to manipulate their own recommendation algorithm.

The feature, aptly called "Dear algo," allows users to post a message to the algorithm with the note "dear algo" asking to see more or less of a certain thing. For instance, you might post "Dear algo, show me more book recommendations" or "Dear algo, stop showing me basketball updates my team is bad and it makes me sad."

Conor Hayes, the head of Threads, said in a post on the site on Dec. 3 that the platform is "testing a new AI feature to help you personalize your feed."

"When people add 'Dear Algo' to a post, it will tell your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days. If your profile is public, people can see your request, connect with you about it, or repost it," Hayes wrote. "This is just a test, so not everyone will have access now, but we're working on rolling it out more broadly soon."

Then, the feed responds by showing you what you asked for for the next three days. This won't change your feed entirely (or forever) but the temporary change will allow you to engage with content you like and that engagement will help refine your algorithm in the long term.

It's important to note that these posts are public — so it also informs all your friends and followers what you want to see more or less of.

Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, wrote that the new feature was "inspired" by people on the app "who started 'dear threads algo' requests."

Something smells delicious today. The pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving is gone and we haven't started on the Christmas baking just yet, but we're all in line for a sweet treat today because it's National Cookie Day.

Cookie Monster is celebrating today with friends on Sesame Street and here in the outside world, we have some sweet deals in store. Just like National Coffee Day, this cookie celebration means brands and popular cookie bakeries are serving up some excellent opportunities to snack on something sweet for free. Here are some of our favorite cookie deals on offer today.

Crumbl

Like it or not, Crumbl is paying homage to the "6-7" trend on Dec. 4. Order a six-pack of cookies in store and get a seventh item for free while supplies last. There's a sticky toffee pudding cookie on the menu this week if you need extra incentive to visit today.

Dairy Queen

Swing by Dairy Queen today where DQ Rewards members can save $3 on any small Blizzard through Dec. 7. The chain launched the December Blizzard of the month earlier this week and went all-in on the holiday theme with the Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard Treat. You can also score a free mini Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard Treat with purchase of a six-piece chicken strip basket or a Signature Stackburger combo.

Nestlé Toll House

Set an alarm because at 2 p.m. ET today, you can snag a free Nestlé Toll House Cookie Tacos kit while supplies last. The kit includes ingredients you'll need to bake up your own cookie taco at home to celebrate the day. We expect this deal to vanish quicker than homemade cookies fresh out of the oven, so be sure to have fast fingers come 2 p.m.

Panera Bread

Sign up for a frew MyPanera loyalty program account and then stop in to snag a free cookie with purchase of a cookie. Two cookies is always better than one.

Insomnia Cookies

Sign up for the Insomnia Cookies Rewards loyalty program and then be one of the first 100 members to visit any store today. You'll be rewarded with a free Snowball Classic cookie and you might be in for something extra sweet. One special Snowball cookie at each location is filled with purple buttercream. That signifies your golden ticket to free cookies for a year.

View this post on Instagram Jimmy John's

Get a free Holiday Magic Cookie, which is packed with red and green M&M's, today with any digital order of $5 or more. Be sure you're logged into your JJ Rewards account on mobile or the app before placing your purchase to be sure you're in line for a free cookie.

Milk Bar

If you're lucky enough to visit the Milk Bar flagship location in Los Angeles, New York, or the West Village location in New York or Logan Circle in D.C., you can score a free McCormick x Milk Bar Eggnog English Toffee Cookie. Each location will hand over this free offering to the first 50 to 100 customers, so get there early for this National Cookie Day celebration. If you're not able to snag a free cookie, you can order it online through the Milk Bar website or make them at home with the recipe listed at McCormick.

Pepperidge Farm

Early this morning, Pepperidge Farm offered to send a free Holiday Cookie Courier to anyone you love. The kit included a pack of Milano Mint Chocolate and a pack of Chessmen Butter Cookies in a lovely holiday box with a personalized note. The offering is currently sold out, but it's worth checking back later today in case Pepperidge Farms is feeling extra generous on this sweet day.

Deals for the home baker

Don't feel like heading out to take advantage of any of these free cookie deals? Today is a great excuse to bake up a few dozen cookies at home. In honor of National Cookie Day, check out these at-home baker deals that'll seriously up your baking game this holiday season.

• Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• Nordic Ware Holiday Cookie Stamps (Set of 3) — $22.50 $33 (save $10.50)

• Nordic Ware Naturals Sheet Pan (3 Piece Set) — $30 $41 (save $11)

• KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — $254.99 $399.99 (save $145)

Google is rolling out its Android 16 Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) 2, meaning your device could be due for an update.

The Android 16 QPR2 update comes with a number of new features that should improve performance, ease of use, and more. Here are three new features to check out.

Add widgets to your lock screen

The updated Android 16 allows you to add widgets that appear on your lock screen when you swipe left. Tech site 9to5Google notes you can enable the feature by navigating to "Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Widgets on lock screen."

That means you'll be able to easily access things like your calendar, camera, and more.

SEE ALSO: Android 16 is out now. Here are the new features. Notification organizer and summaries

Listen, we all get overwhelmed with notifications. Android 16 QPR2 promises to leverage AI capabilities to keep those pesky notifications in check. The updated software will summarize notifications — a long message in a group chat, for instance — and automatically prioritize more important notifications.

"Notification organizer automatically groups and silences your lower-priority notifications (such as promotions, news, and social alerts), making it easier for you to stay focused on what matters with fewer distractions. Notification organizer is rolling out in stages and will be available in the coming weeks," wrote Google.

Improved parental controls

Android 16 QPR2 introduces a "parental controls" option within settings, which means parents can keep tabs on their kids' devices from a single location. It'll allow parents to remotely set screen-time limits, control app usage, and set a schedule for when a kid's device locks.

If you want further details on updates with Android 16 QPR2 you can head over to Google's blog.

SAVE $100.99: As of Dec. 4, get the Ninja Luxe Café for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's a discount of 17%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ninja Luxe Café $499 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.99   Get Deal

If you spend too much for baristas to whip up hot coffee drinks for you on the daily, there's a solution: a home espresso maker. Yes, you can get absolutely fantastic coffee at home without paying an arm and a leg. Or if you do have the initial arm and leg payment, additional savings will pay for itself when you find a machine that you love. We've found one to help you out so you can start saving and cutting back on those pricey morning drinks.

As of Dec. 4, get the Ninja Luxe Café for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's $100.99 off and a discount of 17%.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite Ninja gifts are still on sale for Cyber Week — save 43% on blenders, air fryers, and ice cream makers

Ninja is a brand you likely already recognize from its line of air fryers and other countertop appliances, but they handle espresso makers, too. This triple threat can do it all, too: espresso, drip coffee, cold brew, and more. Specifically, it can handle two different kinds of espresso, three kinds of drip coffee, and two cold brews.

It features additional options that you can use to customize your drink further as well. You can alter the grind, pressure, temperature, and flavor of each brew, so if you want to make something as close to what a barista might, you've got the option. You can even add milk with the included milk frother and steam wand, to lend to the overall cafe drink authenticity.

There's plenty of reasons to grab the machine for yourself or get it as a gift for the coffee lover in your life, but you'll mainly want to because of easy it is to use and all the savings you'll rack up. Grab yours before this deal grows cold.

Apple's recent iOS 26 overhaul included a plethora of major additions and complete system makeovers, but there were even more tweaks, settings, and customization settings that flew under the radar for many users.

One of those was a subtle update to a feature known as Vehicle Motion Cues, launched last year as part of a new suite of accessibility tools, including eye-tracking powered by machine learning, music haptics, and vocal shortcuts controlled using not just whole words, but sounds and utterances as well.

SEE ALSO: Apple iOS 27: Everything we know so far

Using on-device sensors, Vehicle Motion Cues battle the kind of motion sickness commonly experienced by people staring at their screens while in cars, buses, and trains. When turned on, users will see an animated border of dots along the edge of your iPhone, iPad, or (in an update released earlier this year) MacBook screen. The dots move according to the movement of the vehicle, lessening the sensory conflict that leads to motion sickness.

On iOS 26, those features have gotten even better. Now, users can choose between a regular or "dynamic" pattern for those moving dots. The former displays consistent, repeating animations, while "dynamic" turns the dots into a more free-form, sensory-specific spectacle. Users can also now adjust the color and size of the on-screen dots, making it more adaptable to the user's vision needs and the way they use their device while on the move.

Vehicle Motion Cues can be added to the device's control center and automatically sense when in motion, so it's easy to activate as soon as you get in the car.

And it's super simple to turn on.

TL;DR: Live stream Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Thursday Night Football is back with a bang as the Dallas Cowboys clash with the Detroit Lions. It's been a fair season for both teams so far, with the Cowboys at 6-5 and the Lions at 6-5-1 — all of which means this looks like an evenly-matched game. On paper at least.

But Dallas has the momentum. They're coming off a three-game winning streak and a Thanksgiving Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Detroit, meanwhile, took a loss at the Green Bay Packers that same day. But don't count them out. With three losses in five, Detroit are looking to regain their footing and keep contending for a playoff spot.

If you want to watch Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Cowboys vs. Lions?

Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 4. This game takes place at Ford Field.

How to watch Cowboys vs. Lions for free

Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, but anyone around the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can help by hiding your real IP address (digital location) and connecting you to a secure server in Australia, allowing you to unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Cowboys vs. Lions 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 Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Cowboys vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most VPN providers offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL without committing any cash. While it's not a long-term solution, it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before claiming back your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like 7Plus, 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 currently on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free. That's 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 pick up a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

BEST PRICE: As of Dec. 4, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box is on sale for $123.99 on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Store Magic: The Gathering Marvel's Spider-Man Play Booster Box $123.99 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $85.71   Get Deal

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are long gone now, but the deals just keep coming. Unfortunately, we are seeing a significant drop in the number of deals on top tech items, but to make up for it, Amazon has dropped a number of impressive deals on trading cards.

As of Dec. 4, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box is on sale for $123.99 on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price for this popular box. So listen up collectors. It doesn't get better than this.

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This set contains 30 Play Boosters, each with 14 cards and at least one rare or mythic rare plus a foil card. This set features your favorite Spider-Man characters, villains, and thematic new game mechanics.

Score the best-ever price on the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box at Amazon.

SAVE $150: As of Dec. 4, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That's a discount of 35% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $279 at Amazon
$429 Save $150   Get Deal

There's a ton of great music out right now, and you deserve to enjoy it with a great pair of headphones. If it's high time for an upgrade, or you know someone you want to gift a pair to this year for the holidays, we've found an excellent option that you won't want to pass up at Amazon, even after the Cyber Monday kerfuffle has ended.

As of Dec. 4, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That's $150 off and a discount of 35%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2025 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

These comfortable headphones excel in terms of both audio and wear time. Not only do they feature plush ear cups and an adjustable band that doesn't dig into your head, but they sound fantastic so you'll relish keeping them on to enjoy music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more.

Their deep bass and crisp treble make them excellent candidates for your new go-to headphones, as do the way they offer noise cancellation that's rarely beaten. You can choose between three modes to tailor it to your unique listening preferences: Quiet, Aware, and Immersion. With a different level of noise blocking, they each let you hear what you want and ignore what you don't.

Beyond that, they also offer spatial audio support to help raise the immersion level so that you feel like you're actually in the middle of your favorite artist's concert when listening. Tack on a 15-minute charge time when you've ran out the battery, and these headphones are nothing if not a no-brainer for anyone who takes music seriously. Grab yours while they're still on sale for Cyber Week.

SAVE $465: The 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $834.99, down from the standard price of $1,299.99. That's a 36% discount and the lowest price on record at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor (G81SF) $834.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $465   Get Deal

A good monitor can make a major difference in your gaming experience. That's true whether your preferred game is Animal Crossing, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Assassin's Creed Shadows. If you've been limping along with a lame gaming monitor and want an upgrade, there's a top-tier Samsung model on sale today.

As of Dec. 4, the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $834.99, marked down from the list price of $1,299.99. That works out to a savings of $465 from a 36% discount. It's also the lowest price on record at Amazon.

Now that we're almost to December holidays, the dark nights are here. By 4 p.m., it feels like it's time for pajamas and staying indoors. One of winter's greatest activities is catching up on top gaming titles you might have missed earlier in the year. If that's the case at your home, this Samsung monitor could be worth the upgrade.

SEE ALSO: The Toshiba 55-inch Class C350 Series TV is still at its low Cyber Monday price — save $200 right now

One brag-worthy spec is the massive 240Hz refresh rate. Pair that with the GtG response time of 0.03 milliseconds and you're in line for fast action without tearing or screen lag. Samsung uses glare-free technology on this monitor so you won't be dealing with distracting interference from your background.

The Samsung G8 is also designed to shine with showing deep blacks and great color contrast. Plus, Samsung used a dynamic cooling system on this model which is said to diffuse heat five time faster than graphite sheet, spelling a lower likelihood of burn in.

As a nice treat for you and your gaming setup in 2025, consider an upgrade to the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor while it's on sale at Amazon for $834.99. It'll also be ideal for work tasks when those arise.