Mashable

Federal investigators are looking into a recent incident involving an autonomous driving Waymo that passed a fully stopped school bus, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The federal agency said that the Waymo initially yielded to the school bus, which had its stop arm and crossing control arms deployed, in addition to flashing red lights.

After the Waymo paused, it proceeded to drive around the front of the bus and ultimately made a left turn in order to navigate around the larger stopped vehicle. Investigators said the Waymo drove near disembarking students.

SEE ALSO: Robot, take the wheel: What you need to know about autonomous vehicles rolling out across the U.S.

The stopped school bus had partially blocked a driveway the Waymo was exiting, according to the company. As a result, the flashing lights and stop sign were not visible to the vehicle. The Waymo then drove around the bus's front end, making a left turn at a low speed, at a distance from the students exiting the bus.

Waymo said that it has already implemented software updates to improve its performance and has more updates planned.

The incident occurred in late September, in Atlanta, Georgia. NHTSA said that the likelihood of similar incidents is high, based on its "engagement" with Waymo about this incident.

The agency's investigation will focus on how Waymo's automated driving system performs around stopped school buses, with the goal of understanding whether safety issues are pervasive.

"Safety is our top priority, as we provide hundreds of thousands of fully autonomous paid trips every week in some of the most challenging driving environments in the U.S.," a Waymo spokesperson told Mashable. The spokesperson said that Waymo will continue to work with NHTSA.

Waymo's safety data indicate that its autonomous vehicles have achieved a fivefold reduction in crashes with injuries compared to human drivers.

In May 2024, NHTSA opened an investigation into Waymo for 22 reported incidents in which its autonomous vehicles collided with objects like gates, chains, and parked vehicles. The cars also appeared to disobey traffic safety control devices.

In November 2024, Waymo voluntarily recalled 1,212 of its self-driving taxis. The recalled cars, which comprised the entirety of the company's fleet at the time, received a software update in November designed to significantly decrease the likelihood that Waymos would collide with stationary objects.

Waymo, which currently offers autonomous vehicle services in Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Austin, recently announced that it would expand its taxi service to London.

Welcome to Mashable's weekly entertainment news series, Let's talk New York Comic Con: Last weekend, cosplayers, fans, and celebs converged on New York for the massive event. And Mashable has got the highlights you won't want to miss.

The teaser for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has delivered the best look yet at the spinoff series set between House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones.  Based on the George R.R. Martin novella The Hedge Knight, the show follows the adventures of Dunk and Egg, a newly minted knight and his sassy squire. See them quest for coin, honor, and maybe each other? A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms will premiere on Jan. 18 on HBO Max. Learn more about the show and what Martin had to say about it from Mashable's Comic Con panel wrap-up. 

Speaking of big franchises taking new turns, the MCU revealed a surprising trailer for the Wonder Man mini-series coming to Disney+, and it's a stunner. Forget what you think you know about the Jack Kirby character, because this Wonder Man is tackling superhero fatigue by taking a cue from The Studio — that means showbiz satire, baby! Two actors are vying for the role of a lifetime as the lead in a Wonder Man movie. One is fighting for his big break, the other broke bad in Iron Man 3. Yup, that's Trevor Slattery, the eccentric thespian who successfully fooled the world into thinking he was the supervillain known as the Mandarin. This mini-series looks like the MCU's most bonkers offering yet, and look at that — we're not fatigued! Wonder Man debuts on Disney+ on Jan. 27. 

AMC gave Interview with the Vampire fans an extended look at The Vampire Lestat. And brace yourselves. The Brat Prince is back with sex, blood, rock ‘n'roll, and of course bickering with his eternal lover, Louis. It's going to be messy as hell, and we can't wait. Coming in 2026. 

This video also includes the star of “Good Boy,” a very sweet dog named Indy, making his play for Oscar Gold.

Last but not least, we hear from our UK editor, Shannon Connellan, to learn what the highlights are out of the BFI London Film Festival. Shannon breaks down the 6 best book adaptations from the festival: Hamnet, Frankenstein, Chronology of Water, Grief is the Thing With Feathers, Pillion, and Hedda.

Check back in next week for another edition of our weekly entertainment news show.

SAVE 43% (AND GET A FREEBIE): As of Oct. 20, the EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 is on sale for $3,599, down from $6,298, at Amazon. That's a 43% discount and a $2,699 price cut. On top of that, because the purchase is over $2,000, it qualifies for a free gift from EcoFlow — in this case, a free portable solar panel to get you started with off-grid charging.

EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 $3,599 at Amazon
$6,298 Save $2,699   Get Deal at Amazon

Having a small portable power station is great for camping or keeping your phone charged during a quick outage, but if you're in a multi-day blackout situation or need to power a larger appliance, those smaller options probably won't cut it. If you need real backup power but hate the idea of a noisy, smelly gas generator, then these massive battery systems are what you should be looking at.

SEE ALSO: I never go camping without this $24 portable charger

As of Oct. 20, the EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 is on sale for $3,599, down from $6,298, at Amazon. That's a 43% discount and a $2,699 price cut. On top of that, because the purchase is over $2,000, it qualifies for a free gift from EcoFlow — in this case, a free portable solar panel to get you started with off-grid charging.

The bundle gets you the Delta Pro 3 (which has 4kWh on its own) plus an extra 4kWh battery. That's 8kWh capacity right out of the box. Need even more? You can keep stacking batteries up to 48kWh. It's powerful enough to run almost anything, with a 4000W output and both 120V and 240V options, so it can handle big stuff like a central AC unit or even charge an RV.

And while these stats may seem intimidating, it's designed to be pretty user-friendly. It has a super-fast 10ms UPS switch-over (which means your connected devices won't even blink if the power goes out). It uses long-lasting LFP batteries and is surprisingly quiet when running, humming along at just 30 dB thanks to EcoFlow's X-Quiet tech.

Ninja Gaiden’s roots go all the way back to 1988, when the action-platformer title released on the NES. Since then, it’s been an action game staple, with a variety of 2D and 3D iterations. Developer Koei Tecmo dubbed 2025 “The Year of Ninja Gaiden” because the series has seen three separate releases this year. The Ninja Gaiden 2 Black remaster was released in January. Blasphemous developer The Game Kitchen collaborated with Koei Tecmo to release Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound, a new 2D entry in the franchise, in July.

To round out this year's releases, Koei Tecmo worked with Xbox Game Studios to launch the next mainline entry in the series, Ninja Gaiden 4. Despite being developed under Microsoft, the game is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, and even PS5. This reflects Microsoft’s shift away from exclusive Xbox releases, opting to make the games available to more players.

Ninja Gaiden 4 is the first new mainline game since 2012’s Ninja Gaiden 3, and is being co-developed with PlatinumGames, best known for titles such as Nier and Bayonetta. Despite some pacing issues and retread levels in Ninja Gaiden 4, its slick and bloody gameplay, along with a stylish aesthetic, makes it one of the best action games of 2025.

Yakumo vs Ryu in 'Ninja Gaiden 4' Credit: Xbox Game Studios

Ninja Gaiden 4 follows a new protagonist in Yakumo, a young and edgy member of the Raven Clan — a group that rivals the Hayabusa Clan, home of series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa. Yakumo is sent on a mission to assassinate Seori, the Priestess of the Dark Dragon. After Seori reveals how to eliminate the Dark Dragon permanently, Yakumo reluctantly enters into a truce with her, and they set off on a journey to release the shrines that confine the evil entity.

There are 19 total chapters, with some dedicated to playing as Ryu. Unfortunately, the Ryu-focused chapters are largely a disappointment. They’re retreads of Yakumo’s levels, with the same bosses. They could’ve been completely cut out to make the game more concise and impactful.

While the story isn’t really as emotional or in-depth as other games like Ghost of Yotei, that didn’t hinder my enjoyment in any way. The gameplay does the talking here.

Lots of Blood Credit: Xbox Game Studios

Ninja Gaiden 4’s real-time combat is filled with bloody and high-octane action. Yakumo can unlock four types of weapons as the story progresses: the Takeminakata twin blades, the Yatousen rapier, the Magatsuhi staff, and the Kage-Hiruko, which is an assortment of miscellaneous weapons containing claws and shuriken. These options give him plenty of ways to slice and dice enemies to gory bits, and switching between them feels as smooth as butter, making the combat feel fluid. Yakumo has a chance to dismember enemies, which then lets him “obliterate” them, triggering a brief cutscene where he automatically kills them regardless of how much damage he’s already inflicted. These are satisfying to watch, as body parts fly across the screen. 

However, obliterations can be inconsistent. While bigger enemies understandably take longer to dismember, sometimes obliterations activate on smaller enemies within two hits or what feels like ages. It’s frustrating when I’m slashing away at a small enemy and they’re just soaking up my hits like a sponge while I’m still waiting for the cue for obliteration to show up. It can occasionally ruin the flow of fights.

As Yakumo fights, he can build up his Bloodbind gauge and expend chunks of it to coat his weapons in his blood, powering them up into what’s called Bloodraven form. He can then pierce through enemy shields and even crucially interrupt bosses as they charge up their most powerful attacks. Choosing when to do so is a delicate balancing act. Do I want to deal more damage immediately, or save up my Bloodbind gauge just in case I need to break through a shield? Making these decisions on the fly during the frantic combat keeps the gameplay feeling fresh every single moment.

Yakumo also has a separate Berserk Gauge, which he can activate to enter a temporarily powerful state. This state means certain Bloodraven attacks of his become automatic kills, called Bloodbath Kills. They come with their own special cutscenes, with the screen turning red and kanji stylishly emerging. This makes the combat even more explosive and fulfilling when whole swathes of the arena dissipate in a bloody haze.

The upgrade system is straightforward. By killing enemies, you earn NinjaCoin and Weapon Points to purchase abilities and items to expand Yakumo’s skillset. Sure, it’s not as immersive as finding shrines across an open world like in Assassin’s Creed: Shadows or Ghost of Yotei, but this simple approach fits an action game like this perfectly.

Cyberpunk Tokyo Credit: Xbox Game Studios

While robots and machines have always been part of the Ninja Gaiden universe, Ninja Gaiden 4 leans much more into the cyberpunk aesthetic than previous games, giving it a distinct identity that separates it from its predecessors. This is reflected most in the game’s user interface and menus, which take on a more tech-infused design, like looking through a computer screen.

Ninja Gaiden 4 even offers an in-game explanation of the constant downpour enveloping Tokyo, which is a popular trope in the cyberpunk genre. Even though Ryu has killed the Dark Dragon numerous times, its cursed husk remains and ravages Tokyo with an eternal corrosive rain. Only a direct descendant of the Dark Dragon, which Yakumo is, can truly kill it. It’s a clever way to integrate existing lore with cyberpunk influences, resulting in more believable and immersive worldbuilding.

Ninja Gaiden 4’s straightforward level design still offers plenty of room to explore. Sometimes you’ll come across a diverging path, and following it leads to things like a treasure chest filled with helpful healing items, side quest areas, or even a Purgatory Shrine. Side quests typically involve killing a specific group of enemies hidden somewhere in the level. They’re worth completing for their rewards, which can be as simple as NinjaCoins or an item that can increase Yakumo’s maximum HP. Purgatory Shrines are challenge stages that players can enter to test their skills against waves of enemies. Similar to side quests, these are worth taking on for their rewards.

Credit: Xbox Game Studios

In between certain sections, you’ll skate on rails or surf on a board to the next part of the level, all the while dodging obstacles like oncoming trains and ducking under traffic signs. They’re fun distractions to balance the game’s constant combat, but can quickly become annoying since accidentally missing a railing causes you to restart a little ways back and lose a small portion of HP. There are also instances during these sections where you’ll have to fall into wormholes, which can be difficult to judge the distance of, and failing to land these also leads to losing HP. This unfairly leaves me underprepared for the next combat encounter since my HP is lower than it should be.

Ninja Gaiden 4 also has a surprisingly robust set of accessibility settings. Not only are you able to adjust the subtitle font, but there are high-contrast elements that make it easier to see parts of the game. The visual options include things like changing the color of enemies and interactable objects, making them much more distinguishable. These implementations rival the accessibility suite tools found in PlayStation’s first-party games, and hopefully that continues with future Xbox-published games.

After completing the main campaign once, you’ll unlock Chapter Challenge mode, where you can play as Ryu throughout, instead of during his dedicated levels. This gives the game a lot more replayability, as Ryu’s playstyle is quite different from Yakumo's — including the use of ninjutsu to unleash magical attacks like fireballs. Additionally, there are Trials that you can take on where you participate in unique boss fights under special conditions. After you’ve mastered the gameplay, these are fun ways to apply what you’ve learned in one final bout.

Is ‘Ninja Gaiden 4’ worth it? Credit: Xbox Game Studios

Ninja Gaiden 4 is a worthy next entry to one of the most fabled action franchises in gaming. While it’s not without its flaws, such as underwhelming Ryu chapters and frustrating rail sections, its best parts more than make up for them. The fast-paced and gratifying combat feels refreshing in an age where more games are heading towards slow-paced Dark Souls-like gameplay. There’s plenty of replayability with the Trials and Ryu’s post-game inclusion, too.

Ninja Gaiden 4 will also be available on Xbox Game Pass, although Microsoft recently announced a price hike, with its first-party published titles now only available via the most expensive $30-per-month Ultimate tier. The game is rather short, taking about 10-15 hours to complete, depending on how good you are. So if you have an Ultimate subscription, Ninja Gaiden 4 is certainly worth it, along with the rest of the Game Pass catalog.

NINJA GAIDEN 4 – Deluxe Edition – Xbox Series X|S and Windows [Digital Code in Box] $89 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon NINJA GAIDEN 4 – Standard Edition – PlayStation® 5 $69 at Amazon
  See It at Amazon Ninja Gaiden 4 (for PC) $69.99 at Steam
  See It at Steam

Best Dyson Airwrap i.d. deals Straight/Wavy hair Dyson Airwrap i.d. $499.99 (save $150) Get Deal Curly/coily hair Dyson Airwrap i.d. $449.99 (save $200) Get Deal

Anyone in the market for a Dyson Airwrap should prepare to drop some cash, but that doesn't mean they should accept that they have to pay full price.

If you're willing to wait for the right time, different Airwrap models drop in price year-round, large scale sale or not. Though we didn't see any deals on the Airwrap i.d. this past October Prime Day, just a couple weeks later, we spotted two different models of this multi-styler on sale. As of Oct. 20, you can grab the curly/coily Dyson Airwrap i.d. on sale at Dyson for $449.99 and the straight/wavy model on sale at Woot for $499.99. The former deal slashes $200 off the $649.99 multi-styler, while the latter saves you $150.

SEE ALSO: I found 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are almost as good as the real thing

The Airwrap i.d. is Dyson's 2024 release of the viral multi-styler that quietly replaced the Airwrap Complete in Dyson's lineup. The tool initially launched at $599.99, but these current deals put the Airwrap at a similar price point as they would be if marked down from their launch price. Though the tool mostly performs the same as the slightly older Airwrap, it comes with slightly different attachments. Both the curly and straight hair models include a 20mm conical curling barrel for more targeted styling at the roots (and the appearance of tighter curls overall) and the fast dryer attachment, which is the drying attachment design found on the first, but not second, generation Airwrap.

The curly hair model also comes with the wave and curl diffuser. Overall, both models include six attachments, with the curly model swapping a smoothing dryer attachment for a wide tooth comb attachment. They can also connect to the companion app via Bluetooth for styling tips. It is worth noting this isn't the latest Airwrap in Dyson's lineup — the $749.99 Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x launched in July of this year (though initially at $699.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. (straight/wavy) $499.99 at Woot
$649.99 Save $150   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap i.d. (curly/coily) $449.99 at Dyson
$649.99 Save $200   Get Deal

If even on sale, these hair stylers are still on the expensive side for you, it's also worth checking out the best Dyson Airwrap dupes for under $300.

SAVE $800: The 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $1,499.99, down from the standard price of $2,299.99. That's a 35% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor (57 inch) $1,499.99 at Amazon
$2,299.99 Save $800.00   Get Deal

Dark winter nights are arriving. It's time to crank up the heat and tuck into cold-weather activities. If gaming is one of your preferred ways to stay busy until spring, check out this great Samsung deal.

As of Oct. 20, the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $1,499.99, marked down from the normal price of $2,299.99. That's a 35% discount that takes $800 off the price.

A gaming monitor can make a major different in your session, and if you're not willing to compromise by hanging out with a sub-par model for another winter, consider this your sign to upgrade. In Mashable's analysis of the best gaming monitors, the Samsung Odyssey series earns top marks in the ultrawide category.

With a 1000R curve, you're getting a whole new view. Mashable's review explains: "[it] basically feels as if the screen is wrapping around your head." The review elaborates to says, "That may sound scary, but it has a purpose: To fully immerse you in whatever you're playing. It certainly does that — anytime we used this monitor, it had our full attention, making us feel like we were transported into a different world. Isn't that what gaming is all about?"

SEE ALSO: Pokémon TCG Black Bolt Elite Trainer Box crashes to market value at Amazon

Today's sale model also comes with an ergonomic stand that tilts, adjusts, and swivels to your liking. There's also the picture-in-picture function which allows you to get two viewpoints on the screen. Of course, since it's a gaming monitor, it comes with a respectable 240Hz refresh rate.

If you're looking to make an investment you'll thank yourself for everyday, upgrade to the 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 curved gaming monitor. If you game for just one hour everyday for the next year, the price of this massive monitor comes out to just above $4 per day. That seems like a perfectly reasonable form of self-care.

On Saturday, Oct. 18, nearly 7 million Americans gathered in the streets to protest what they view as the machinations of a tyrannical government: The president's deployment of national guard troops to patrol "dangerous" cities, the movement of masked immigration agents tasked with rounding up undocumented residents, and, what many see as an authoritarian power grab across the three branches of government.

At more than 2,700 No Kings rallies held in cities small and large, protesters demanded President Donald Trump be held accountable to the people, harkening back to the foundational tenets of the American Revolution. In an Air Force One interview following the day's events, Trump dismissed the demands of protesters, calling the attendees a "whacked out" joke. "I’m not a king. I work my ass off to make our country great," he said.

SEE ALSO: Leaked texts of Young Republicans expose racist, pro-Nazi groupchats

He didn't stop there. Taking to Truth Social, the president shared a clearly AI-generated video, depicting a military jet emblazoned with the phrase "King Trump." The aircraft, piloted by an eerily proportioned President Trump in a golden crown, then takes to the skies to fly over a group of city protesters. The jet opens its fuselage and... appears to rain down excrement on the gathered crowd.

The video is soundtracked to Kenny Loggins' "The Danger Zone," made famous in the Academy Award-winning film Top Gun. "This is an unauthorized use of my performance of ‘Danger Zone.' Nobody asked me for my permission, which I would have denied, and I request that my recording on this video is removed immediately," said Loggins in a statement to Variety after the post went viral.

The video is just the latest of numerous deepfaked videos and AI slop shared by the president — and not even the only AI video Trump posted that day, resharing another King Trump clip with a song by band Avenged Sevenfold. In the past, Trump has come under fire for resharing AI-generated content, the use of copyrighted music without permission, and, unsurprisingly, a combination of the two. Public comments and legal threats from artists have yet to stop the country's leader. In addition to AI memes that littered the campaign trail, Trump has even shared deepfaked, even racist, videos of his political opponents while sitting in the Oval Office.

As part of a larger, right-wing social media strategy featuring increasingly questionable content, Trump and fellow GOP leaders have been on a spree of sharing AI-generated content. Last week, the official Senate Republicans X account posted a video which depicted an AI deepfake of Minority Leader Chuck Schumer saying the government shutdown has benefited Democrats (the quote was real, but the video of Schumer saying it was not). In the weeks prior, the Trump administration plastered claims that the federal shutdown was the result of a scheme by the "Radical Left," in what could be a violation of the Hatch Act.

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The posts have been the center of White House press room debates and mass fact checks by misinformation watchdogs. Meanwhile, Trump has been riding on the support of Big Tech's biggest names, including the leaders of the country's biggest generative AI developers. The combination has spurred concerns about the blurring of political satire and political misinformation, and whether or not the social media posts of the nation's political leaders should be more contained.

SEE ALSO: The bros’ new clothes: How Big Tech lurched to the right

At a news conference on Monday, Speaker Mike Johnson defended the use of AI by the president. "The president uses social media to make the point. You can argue he’s probably the most effective person who’s ever used social media for that," said Johnson. "He is using satire to make a point. He is not calling for the murder of his political opponents."

SAVE 40%: As of Oct. 20, the Hisense 75-inch Class U8 Mini-LED 4K Google Smart TV (2025 model) is on sale for $1,498 at Amazon. That's 40% off its $2,499.99 list price and matches the price we saw during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event (aka October Prime Day).

Hisense 75-inch Class U8 Mini-LED 4K Google Smart TV (2025 model) $1,598 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $901.99   Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been holding out for a serious TV upgrade (maybe something that can handle bright rooms without looking washed out, or keep up with your next-gen gaming console) you know that kind of tech usually costs a fortune. Mini-LED TVs are awesome, but they aren't cheap. So, when a deal that matches a Prime Day price sticks around, it's worth paying attention to.

As of Oct. 20, the Hisense 75-inch Class U8 Mini-LED 4K Google Smart TV (2025 model) is on sale for $1,498 at Amazon. That's 40% off its $2,499.99 list price and matches the price we saw during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event (aka October Prime Day).

SEE ALSO: What's the best time of year to buy a TV? Yes, there's an answer.

The U8 is Hisense's higher-end model, and it has features that'll impress picture quality snobs and gamers. The Mini-LED Pro backlight paired with Quantum Dot (QLED) color (along with up to 5,600 local dimming zones and a peak brightness of up to 5,000 nits), means you'll get bright highlights, deep blacks, and vibrant colors, even if you've got sunlight streaming into the room. Plus, the Anti-Reflection Pro screen helps cut down on glare.

For gamers, the native 165Hz refresh rate panel is a huge bonus. It also supports Variable Refresh Rate (up to 165Hz) and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro to prevent screen tearing. Add in the smarts from the Hi-View AI Engine Pro, and a decent built-in 4.1.2 channel sound system with Dolby Atmos, and you've got a seriously impressive TV for under $1,500.

SAVE 50%: The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale for $397.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $799. That's a savings of $402.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $379.99
$799 Save $419.01   Get Deal

Halloween is approaching and the temperatures are dropping. Only a few more weeks until we roll the clocks back and decide 5 p.m. is the ideal time for pajamas. This season is also likely to bring storms that can knock out power. Instead of sitting in the dark, upgrade the experience with a portable power station. One of my favorite models just went on a major sale at Amazon.

As of Oct. 20, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale for $397.99 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $799. That's a savings of $402 and a major 50% discount. Today's price marks the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

The original Anker Solix C1000 is a star, and the new Gen 2 ups the game in terms of shorter recharging times and smaller dimensions. When I was reviewing the new model, I found it to be easier to carry both in weight and in overall size.

Anker also knocked it out of the park with recharging, and the Solix C1000 Gen 2 earned itself a Guinness World Record for recharging in under 49 minutes. With that speed, you should still have time to get sufficient charge even if you forget to plug it in until the storm hits.

SEE ALSO: Save $70 on the Anker Solix C300X portable power station at Best Buy

With a 1,024Wh capacity, you'll be able to keep cell phones charged during the next outage, as well as the WiFi router and a few lights. Overall, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 packs in three USB-C ports, one USB-A, and five standard AC. Since it's so compact and lightweight, it could be a great model to keep in the bedroom closet in case of a power outage and it won't be a huge ask to bring it inside if you store it in the garage.

Before the fall storms knock out power, get equipped with the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 while it's down to a new all-time low-price at Amazon. The LiFePO4 can last for about 10 years which brings the price down to under $40 per year. Plus, it'll be great for summer camping trips.

SAVE 14%: As of Oct. 20, you can get the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 for $429, down from $499, at Amazon. That's a 14% discount and a $70 price cut.

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 $429 at Amazon
$499 Save $70   Get Deal at Amazon

Whether you're planning a camping trip or just want some peace of mind for the next power outage, having a reliable portable power station is a smart move. Jackery is a big name in this space, and its newly updated Explorer 1000 v2 just got a decent price drop.

As of Oct. 20, you can get the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 for $429, down from $499, at Amazon. That's a 14% discount and a $70 price cut.

SEE ALSO: I never go camping without this $24 portable charger

The v2 uses a LiFePO4 battery, which means it should last way longer than its predecessor, the Explorer 1000. (Jackery claims up to 10 years or 4,000 charge cycles). Charging is also way faster; you can get it from 0 to 100 percent in just an hour using the "emergency charge" setting in the app, though the default is a slightly slower 1.7 hours to help the battery last even longer.

Power-wise, it offers 1070Wh capacity and can put out 1500W (with a 3000W surge peak), enough to run things like a mini-fridge, electric grill, or even a small heater, plus charge all your usual gadgets like phones (74 times) and laptops (14 times). It's got plenty of ports, including three AC outlets and a powerful 100W USB-C output. And, it's relatively portable at just under 24 pounds and has a handy foldable handle.

TL;DR: The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6-inch Touch is a sleek, secure, and powerful laptop that’s now just $612.99 (MSRP $849.99) with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6-Inch Touch (2021) $612.99
$849.99 Save $237   Get Deal

Some laptops are all looks, others are all power—but the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6-inch Touch happens to do both (and then some). Priced at just $612.99 (reg. $849.99) with free shipping, this machine blends performance, security, and style into one smart device built for real life.

Inside, you’re getting a snappy 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage — translation: fast boot-ups, smooth multitasking, and plenty of space for work and play. It’s also equipped with Intel Iris Xe graphics, so streaming, editing, or light gaming feels buttery-smooth.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops of 2025: Compare the M4 MacBook Air, Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, and more

But what really sets this laptop apart is how thoughtfully it’s designed.

The physical webcam privacy shutter keeps nosy hackers out, while the fingerprint power button means logging in takes literally one tap. The 15.6-inch touchscreen with a 90 percent active area ratio makes everything look cinematic, and the soft-touch finish gives it a premium, fabric-like feel that’s surprisingly cozy to carry.

And it even comes with Amazon Alexa built right in, turning your laptop into a voice-activated hub for reminders, playlists, and smart home control.

For remote workers or anyone who wants a reliable daily driver without the price shock, this Lenovo IdeaPad 5 is proof you don’t have to choose between brains and beauty.

Get this new Lenovo IdeaPad 5 15.6-inch Touch while it’s just $612.99 (reg. $849.99) with free shipping.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Just last week, Microsoft officially ended support for Windows 10, pushing users to upgrade to its latest operating system Windows 11. That makes the timing of a recent Windows 11 issue very awkward for Microsoft.

Unfortunately, Microsoft's most recent Windows 11 update appears to have caused problems with numerous different applications and hardware peripherals, according to a multiple reports from different outlets, including our sister site, CNET. Many devices using Windows 11 will now require a follow-up emergency update to fix issued caused by the previous mandatory update.

The October Windows 11 update "breaks localhost (127.0.0.1) HTTP/2 connections," according to Windows Latest, which also listed a number of issues that users are facing. For example, apps that were hosted locally were no longer able to connect to the network. Windows users were also finding that some hardware by Logitech was no longer working on their PCs. In addition, some users reported that their mouse and keyboard wouldn't work in WinRE (Windows Recovery Environment) and that File Explorer document wouldn't open in the Preview pane due to a false security issue.

Microsoft has since indicated that a fix is on the way in a subsequent update for issues with Windows 11 KB5066835. The company says a patch is rolling out and users should continually check for an update. However, it could take more than 48 hours for the update to finally show for some users.

Mashable previously reported on one of the last updates to Windows 10, which caused issues that included frame rates dropping in games like Fortnite, making them near unplayable.

Windows 11 was released in 2021 and now holds nearly 50 percent of the marketshare. Its predecessor, Windows 10 was first released to the public in 2015 and still holds 40 percent of the PC marketshare, regardless of the fact that Microsoft ended support for the operating system earlier this month. 

As Microsoft looks to move those who have still yet to update their operating system to Windows 11, this latest update bug couldn't have come at a worse time. Microsoft is certainly looking to get that fix out to everyone as soon as possible.

Lego Advent calendar deals Lego Disney 'Frozen' Advent calendar $30.79 ($14.20) Get Deal Lego Friends Advent calendar $20.39 (save $14.60) Get Deal

Missed out on grabbing the Lego Minecraft Advent calendar on sale last week?

You're in luck, because Amazon has marked down two other Advent calendars as of Oct. 20. The Lego Disney Frozen Advent calendar is on sale for $30.79 — a $14.20 (or 31%) markdown from its $44.99 full price, while the Lego Friends Advent calendar is just $20.39, saving you $14.60 (or 42%) off its $34.99 list price.

SEE ALSO: Lego is giving away free Witch models for Halloween — here’s how to get yours on Oct. 26

Even though it's only October, we're already getting into peak Advent calendar season. Case in point: that aforementioned Minecraft calendar is already sold out at Amazon and on Lego's website. In other words, if one of these calendars catches your eye, it's probably better to grab it sooner rather than later.

Both the Frozen and Friends Advent calendars include 24 days of buildable Legos, with the former featuring 231 pieces in total, and the latter featuring 237 pieces. Kids and adults alike can enjoy these sets — the Frozen calendar is suited for ages five plus, while the Friends calendar is for ages six and up.

So far, this is the lowest price either of these calendars has hit.

ABC's suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! may have caused Disney+ and Hulu cancellations to rise, new data shows.

According to subscriptions analytics firm Antenna, the monthly churn rate for Disney+ went from four percent in August to eight percent in September, the same month in which ABC pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air for a week following Kimmel's monologue about far-right commentator Charlie Kirk's killer. The churn rate for Hulu, which is also owned by Disney, increased from five percent in August to 10 percent in September.

SEE ALSO: Jimmy Kimmel spends 2 minutes mocking Trump's watches

Kimmel's suspension led for calls to boycott Disney and its streaming services, with celebrities like Tatiana Maslany and Cynthia Nixon joining in. Disney reportedly lost over 1.7 million subscribers across Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN between the announcement of Kimmel's suspension and his return to air.

The discrepancy between months is undeniably notable, as subscriber churn tends to remain fairly consistent from month-to-month. However, a Disney source speaking with The Hollywood Reporter noted that Antenna's numbers appear higher than Disney's internal data, and that it is unclear how Antenna measures subscription plan upgrades and downgrades as part of subscriber churn.

Kimmel's suspension also wasn't the only Disney-related controversy that might have caused Disney+ users to rethink their subscriptions. Right after Disney announced that Kimmel would be returning to air, the company announced price hikes for Disney+ and Hulu. These hikes, which go into effect on Oct. 21, will make Disney+ and Hulu's ad-supported and most basic ad free tiers the most expensive across the major streaming services.

For the best listening experience possible, you should familiarize yourself with the sound settings on your audio products. In particular, the equalizer (aka the EQ). Understanding how to operate this tool can vastly enhance a sound profile when done correctly. No, a PhD in audio engineering isn’t mandatory.

Anyone can create an effective EQ directly on their media player or via third-party software. Need some guidance with the process? Say no more — Mashable’s got you. We gathered a few professionals from legacy audio brands to teach you how to properly customize the EQ settings on your headphones, earbuds, portable speaker, and car sound system. 

Before we jump in, let’s get you caught up on some basics.

A crash course in frequency ranges

All those numbers on an EQ can be intimidating to look at. Don’t freak out. They’re easy to grasp once you read a breakdown. Depending on your device, the sound frequencies are often listed as numbers above or below the sliders, with numbers on the left representing how much that frequency can be boosted or reduced by moving the sliders up and down.

Here’s a simplified breakdown of each audio frequency category and range:

• 50Hz (Sub-Bass): Boosts the fullness of low-frequency instruments (e.g, kicks, snares) and increases basslines. Decreases the “boom” effect.

• 60Hz - 200Hz (Bass): Adds warmth to brass (horns) and percussion instruments (piano), while giving fullness to guitars and snares. Increases clarity.

• 200Hz – 600Hz (Low-Mids): Adds fullness to drums, guitars, and vocals. Decreases the ambience and sharpness of high-frequency sounds. 

• 600Hz – 3kHz (Mids): Boosts bass, clarity, definition, and vocal output. Reduces dullness and harshness of low-frequency sounds. 

• 3kHz – 8kHz (Upper Mids): Emphasizes presentation of high-frequency instruments (e.g, cymbals, strings). Minimizes sibilance in vocals.

• 8kHz - 20kHz (Highs/Treble): Adds realism to electronic effects (e.g, synths) and brightens high-frequency instruments and vocals. Reduces hissing noises.

Got it? Now, take out your wireless headphones, so we can tune them to perfection.

How to customize the EQ on your wireless headphones and earbuds

Personalizing sound on your wireless headphones and earbuds is pretty effortless these days, thanks to companion apps. These mobile software suites often come equipped with a manual graphic EQ and preprogrammed presets that complement select music genres or content (e.g, podcasts or video). Some apps even come with an auto-generated EQ that can tailor sound to your hearing; results are based on a series of listening tests. 

There are also third-party EQ apps you can download from the App Store or Google Play.

Sony Electronics expert Shimo Jiroaki, the Product Marketing Lead for Personal Entertainment, has some excellent tips for optimizing EQ performance. For starters, Jiroaki wants listeners to abide by the following guidelines:

• Always adjust the EQ at the volume level you typically listen to, since perceived sound changes with volume.

• High-quality tracks already contain a lot of detail and dynamic range, so it’s usually best to keep EQ adjustments minimal. Even small changes can make a noticeable difference.

• It’s often more effective to reduce unnecessary frequencies than to over-boost others. 

• Noise cancellation makes EQ adjustments simpler. For instance, without it, when low-frequency sounds such as airplane noise are prominent, they can combine with the low end of the music, causing excessive bass. Cutting the low frequencies will then enhance the clarity of the music. However, with noise cancellation, you're less affected by such external sounds, allowing you to adjust without worrying too much about the noise's impact.

• Use music with vocals when tuning — our ears are sensitive to voices, making it easier to fine-tune.

Bass A screenshot of the EQ settings for Sony headphones on a phone, which shows the bass sliders boosted and the low-mid range reduced slightly. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

According to Jiroaki, those who want more thump from their headphones need to increase the 32–64Hz range. Slightly reducing the 125–250Hz range keeps bass separate from the midrange. This is vital because you still want to hear vocals and mid-range instrumentals clearly. 

Midrange A screenshot of the EQ settings for Sony headphones on a phone, which shows the mid-range sliders boosted and everything else reduced. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

If you want more clarity and presence from your sound profile, make the midrange stronger by “reducing 32–135Hz and 8kHz–16kHz, then increase 500Hz–2kHz.”

Highs A screenshot of the EQ settings for Sony headphones on a phone, which shows the high-range sliders boosted. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Raising the high end will bring out more detail in recordings. Jiroaki says to “boost 4kHz–16kHz, but adjust carefully, as too much can make the sound sharp or harsh.”

How to customize the EQ on your wired headphones and earbuds

You can’t adjust the EQ on your wired headphones or earbuds, at least not through a companion app. Instead, third-party software is required. Any audio adjustments made on these programs will apply to any wired headphones or earbuds that are plugged into your media device (i.e, desktop/laptop, smartphone, tablet). Another option is accessing the EQ on select music streaming services (e.g, Apple Music, Spotify), which will offer similar results.

How to customize the EQ on your wireless speakers

Adjusting the EQ on portable Bluetooth speakers is often no different than wireless headphones. JBL arguably has the most popular and user-friendly EQ for speakers, so we brought in Klaus Hartung, the Vice President of Intelligent Audio Lab at Harman International — which owns JBL — to discuss some essentials.

Several factors must be looked at when customizing the sound profile on a speaker, such as environment (indoor/outdoor), music genre, placement, room acoustics, surrounding walls, and vocal output. The boundary effect needs to be examined as well. This is when you hear a mix of the direct sound from a speaker and the sound that’s reflected from a surface (e.g, a desk or wall).

Bass A screenshot of the EQ settings for a JBL speaker on a phone, which shows the bass slider boosted. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Start by adjusting +2–3 dB on the lowest band (125Hz). This creates “more punchy and balanced bass.” If the results are muffled, Hartung says to “reduce the level slightly by −1–2 dB in the 250–500 Hz region.” 

Something else to monitor is bass loss in outdoor settings. If this occurs, “increase the bass and treble (bass +2–3 dB, treble +1–2 dB),” says Hartung. Having your speaker in the living room around furniture and walls will affect sound quality. Adjust the EQ to the 60–200Hz range and cut the lowest band by −2 to −4 dB to eliminate muddiness. 

Midrange A screenshot of the EQ settings for a JBL speaker on a phone, which shows one of the mid-range sliders boosted. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

Increase by +1–2 dB in the 1–4kHz region to raise vocals. If the sound becomes too harsh, then decrease by −1 dB at 4kHz. Any EQ with a gain setting should be increased by 1–2 dB at 1–3kHz. When listening to acoustic genres, Hartung wants you to set the midrange to −1–2 dB at 200–400Hz for more clarity.

Highs A screenshot of the EQ settings for a JBL speaker on a phone, which shows the high-range slider boosted. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

“You’ll also want to consider room acoustics and how those high-frequency sounds reflect in the space,” says Hartung. Reduce treble by -1–2 dB in bright rooms (e.g., no curtains or carpets) and increase treble by +1–2 dB when in dull rooms (carpeted with curtains).

How to customize the EQ on your car sound system

If your vehicle has an HMI (Human-Machine Interface) system, then it likely supports an audio EQ. Bear in mind that the interface will look different across vehicles. Enter the Audio Settings menu and you’ll stumble upon a few controls, such as bass, midrange, and treble. 

Director of Global Experiential R&D at Harman Automotive, Jonathan Pierce, notes that a premium in-car system combines “high-quality components and sophisticated software tuning to achieve both power and clarity.” He also suggests that listeners ask for what they want more or less of and question whether they understand the tools available to “shape the experience.”

Bass

Per Pierce, “increase by +2 to +4 dB to add warmth and depth, but avoid going higher than +5 dB to prevent muddiness.”

Midrange

Keep the midrange near neutral (0 to +2 dB) for clearer vocals and instruments.

Treble

Raise this by +1 to +3 dB for a bit more sparkle and detail. At the same time, lower the treble slightly if it sounds “too sharp,” says Pierce.

Your old Twitter handle might be worth something to someone, apparently.

X (formerly Twitter) announced over the weekend that it will start selling inactive handles on the Elon Musk-owned social network. The company will facilitate sales through a new Handles Marketplace, which will only be available to paid Premium and Premium Business users. Some usernames will be "complimentary" (AKA free), and X is calling those "Priority" handles. Others will be doled out on a paid or invite-only basis, and those are designated as "Rare" handles.

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It's all bit strange, but our friends at PCMag have a clearer explanation of how this works. The free ones will be longer handles with full names or alphanumeric phrases, while the ones that cost money will be shorter and more recognizable handles, like the ones that brands use. Anyone who wants a free username will have to submit a request and wait for approval, while paid usernames will be given out via public drops or, in other cases, an invite-only program.

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X settles $128 million lawsuit with Twitter executives

In case you were wondering, prices for these usernames apparently start at $2,500 and can go up to seven figures depending on "demand and uniqueness," per a support page cited by PCMag. Ownership of sold usernames cannot be transferred, so theoretically, there won't be a resale market for them.

This is certainly a unique solution to the age-old problem of wanting a username that's claimed by someone who doesn't use it anymore. There are definitely a couple of major potential issues with it, though. For starters, there's no indication that the previous owner of a sold username will see any of that money. Beyond that, this could easily be used for nefarious means; it's not hard to imagine someone buying @dril in a few years and using it to shill crypto scams, or whatever it is grifters do on X these days.

Given that X has already killed the original purpose of the blue checkmark as a verification tool and turned it into a paid status symbol, this at least feels like it could be an avenue for digital identity theft, the likes of which the site's current ownership and moderation policies might not be equipped to handle at the moment.

UPDATE Monday, 5:07 p.m. ET: Amazon indicated its AWS services were well on the way to fully recovering.

"We continue to observe recovery across all AWS services," the company wrote in an update to the AWS status page. Updates from the company heading into Monday evening, eastern time, suggested its efforts to mitigate AWS' issues were steadily resolving the problems.

UPDATE Monday, 3:05 p.m. ET: Amazon said its efforts to fix issues with its AWS services appeared to be working, just hours after its popular cloud services platform suffered a major outage during the early hours of Monday morning. The company wrote that it saw "decreasing networking connectivity issues" in its most recent update on its status page.

And at 2:20 p.m. ET, the company wrote that its "mitigations to resolve launch failures" were progressing and that it expected "launch errors and network connectivity issues to subside" as it worked to apply fixes more widely.

More on the AWS outage: Is Canvas still down?

UPDATE Monday, 1:25 p.m. ET: Amazon wrote that it was still working to resolve issues with its widely used AWS service.

"We continue to apply mitigation steps for network load balancer health and recovering connectivity for most AWS services," the company wrote in an update to the AWS status page.

The latest issues came after a massive outage in the early hours of Monday morning, eastern time. We'll continue to update this story, and you can read further details about why the crash occurred.

UPDATE Monday, 12:20 p.m. ET: Amazon wrote it was working on correcting the underlying issue that caused renewed issues with AWS on Monday.

"We have narrowed down the source of the network connectivity issues that impacted AWS Services," read the latest update from the AWS status page. "The root cause is an underlying internal subsystem responsible for monitoring the health of our network load balancers."

UPDATE Monday, 11:35 a.m. ET: Amazon confirmed it was looking into "the root cause for the network connectivity issues that are impacting AWS services such as DynamoDB, SQS, and Amazon Connect," in its most recent update to the AWS status page. User-reported issues for a number of services were on the rise at Down Detector, including FanDuel, Snapchat, Apple Music, and many more.

UPDATE Monday, 11:15 a.m. ET: Hours after seemingly stabilizing, Amazon Web Services (AWS) is again reporting issues, seemingly confirmed by a massive uptick in user reports on Downdetector. It's unclear which sites will be impacted, but Downdetector error reports are rising for Venmo and slowly rising for several other services. We'll continue to update this story, and you can also read more about why this morning's crash occurred.

Amazon services, including Prime and Alexa, as well as other internet services including Snapchat, Roblox, Lyft, and more appear to be disrupted, according to Downdetector.

The reported issues began shortly after 3 a.m. ET, according to Downdetector.

Amazon Web Services' status page first reported the issue at 3:11 a.m. ET. The page confirmed engineers were investigating the ongoing issue and had potentially identified the root cause as of 5 a.m. ET.

As of 6 a.m. ET, AWS reports services to be recovering, which is consistent with a drop of reported issues across impacted sites, per Downdetector.

SEE ALSO: AWS outage list: Roblox, Fortnite, Snapchat, Signal, and more

Many sites and services rely on AWS to operate, which can cause a ripple effect across the internet when disrupted.

(Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns Mashable.)

Sites impacted by AWS outage

Here is a partial list of websites or services seemingly impacted by the AWS problems, according to Downdetector:

• Snapchat

• Amazon

• Roblox

• Robinhood

• Amazon Alexa

• Ring

• HBO Max

• Chime

• Venmo

• Lyft

• Prime Video

• Fortnite

• Disney+

• Hulu

• Roku

• Signal

• IMDb

• United Airlines 

• Amazon Music

• Reddit

• Character.AI

• AT&T

• My Fitness Pal

• Steam

SEE ALSO: Amazon internet outage reactions hit full meltdown

It's important to note that not all services were knocked offline completely by the outage. Reddit for example, is reporting degraded performance as it deals with issues in "Reddit infrastructure." The issues, while not explicitly tied to the AWS outage, were observed to be occurring at the same time.

Slack is also experiencing significant performance issues attributed to an "upstream provider," but the service is still functioning Monday morning.

This is a developing story. More details will be provided as they become available.

Attention Oura Ring users: A new app experience is coming. On Oct. 20, the fitness tech brand revealed that the Oura app is getting a redesign in the coming weeks. But that's not the only news. Oura is also unveiling cumulative stress metrics and other updates along with the redesign.

The new Oura app

Oura has not provided an exact date for the new app design. The brand has said the new design will rollout globally in the coming weeks, so don't be surprised if you wake up to a new in-app look sometime soon.

The new Oura app will allow more personalization for users to see the information they want first. Credit: Oura / Mashable SEE ALSO: Oura Ring 4 review: It's got a key edge over Apple Watch

The Oura interface is getting a refresh, but it's maintaining the same three tabs: Today, Vitals, and My Health. While it still delivers all the same data and health biometrics, it'll do so in a refreshed package.

The new app design has more integrated design, Oura says. Rather than separate boxes delivering each biometric, it'll have a better flow between categories. The background will show serene natural landscapes, adding to an overall zen-like app experience.

The tab with the biggest overhaul is the My Health tab, which now prevents an overview of your long-term health metrics at the top of the page, before diving into the specifics of your resilience, heart health, and sleep health.

An update to Cycle Insights Cycle Insights will now have a 12-month view in the Oura app. Credit: Oura / Mashable

One of the most popular features in the Oura app is Cycle Insights, used to track and support reproductive health. The new app design will now support a 12-month view of predicted period and fertile windows. Plus, users used to wait 60 nights before receiving personalized cycle phase data, but now it will be available after one night's sleep.

Oura launches Cumulative Stress Cumulative Stress will be calculated from sleep continuity, heart stress-response, sleep micromotions, temperature regulation, and activity impact Credit: Oura

Oura measures daily stressors as will as users long-term resilience to stress, but a new metric is coming. Cumulative Stress will now monitor chronic, long term stress. The metric will be calculated from five factors: Sleep continuity, heart stress-response, sleep micromotions, temperature regulation, and activity impact.

Cumulative Stress can be viewed in a new Stress Management page where users can see it alongside Daytime Stress and Resilience.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings Oura is looking for FDA-approval on blood pressure insights

While the new app design and Cumulative Stress are coming soon, Oura is also getting started on blood pressure insights. Oura has received approval from an Institutional Review Board to begin a study on blood pressure insights in Oura Labs, an early step in potentially receiving FDA approval for a future blood pressure feature.

Oura Labs is the brand's hub for testing experimental features before they've officially launched. Users can beta test features and provide Oura with feedback before they officially launch.

The blood pressure study in Oura Labs combines Oura health data with information from a user questionnaire focusing on family history, medication, and lifestyle habits. Participants in Oura Labs will then receive one of three hypertension assessments — no signs, moderate signs, or major signs. According to Oura, "the Blood Pressure Profile Study will be used to refine and validate a future feature for submission to the FDA for clearance."

UPDATE: Oct. 20, 2025, 3:28 p.m. EDT This article has been updated to clarify the status and availability of the blood pressure study in Oura Labs.

Excited for Stranger Things Season 5, but don't have time for a full rewatch? Don't worry: The Stranger Things cast is here to help.

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things 5' teaser: We're in for a traumatic final season, aren't we?

In the lead-up to the release of Season 5, Netflix has released videos of Stranger Things' cast reacting to the biggest moments from prior seasons. This week, it's Season 3's turn, meaning Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and more are turning back time to the summer of 1985. The Starcourt Mall has opened, Robin (Maya Hawke) has joined the cast, and the Mindflayer is about to rain down carnage on Hawkins.

Check out the full video above to see the cast's full reactions to Stranger Things Season 3. Highlights include Joe Keery reliving the Steve and Robin bathroom scene, and Gaten Matarazzo rewatching Dustin's standout performance of "The NeverEnding Story."

"It feels like it was designed fully to fuck with me," he laughs. And Stranger Things audiences are grateful for it!

Volume 1 of Stranger Things 5 premieres Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 26, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31.

Meta's most futuristic device is here, and critics have some thoughts about it.

The $800 Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses, which have a built-in display for the first time in Meta's brief history of making techno-glasses, are now available. As such, plenty of people who review this stuff for a living have had some time with the glasses, giving us a bunch of well-informed reviews to look at.

What are critics saying about the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses? Keep reading to find out.

Meta Ray-Ban Display review roundup

The overall vibes seem positive, but that's not to say there aren't major criticisms to be found here.

Critics like the display, mostly

Obviously, the big reason to buy these glasses over the cheaper Gen 2 Meta Ray-Ban glasses is that the Display has, well, a display built into the right lens. You can use them as a viewfinder for taking photos, a language translation tool, a way to read and respond to text messages, or anything else that the Meta app store (which reviewers didn't really have access to) will enable over time.

The good news is that, per reviewers, this works pretty well. Victoria Song at The Verge spoke highly of the ability to offer live text captions for anything someone says to you. While it doesn't work as well in very noisy environments or when someone is talking to you from out of your line of sight, Song said it's still a strong selling point.

"Even so, it’s a scenario that feels magical when all the pieces fall into place," Song wrote. "When I show the feature to my in-laws, their jaws drop. Immediately, their minds go to relatives who are hard of hearing who might benefit."

Tech Fowler, a tech review channel on YouTube, also spoke highly of the display overall, especially the ability to use it as a camera viewfinder for taking photos. The other Meta glasses simply can't do that, so anyone who works in content creation should highly consider these ones instead, according to Tech Fowler. However, that review did mention one particular issue that could be an annoyance for some users.

"To be honest with you, because it's only in one eye, it does take a little bit of time to get used to," Tech Fowler's review said. "That's because I find that sometimes it feels a bit, I wouldn't say fuzzy, but I do get double vision a little bit. I'm only getting an image in one eye, my brain is kind of interlacing the images from both eyes together, and because of that, there is some shared vision in both eyes."

Battery life is a problem

Obviously, adding a display to any device is going to make battery life an even bigger priority. According to early reviews, battery life is not a strength of the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses.

Engadget's Karissa Bell noted that Meta rates the glasses for about six hours of use on a charge, but that's apparently a generous rating, depending on how much you use the display.

"With very limited use, l was able to stretch the battery to about seven hours, but if you're doing display-intensive tasks like video calling or live translation, it will die much, much more quickly," Bell wrote.

Nathie, another YouTube tech reviews channel, offered some slightly more damning specificity. According to that channel, the device ran out of juice after about 3.5 hours of use. It really seems like this is going to vary from person to person depending on how much use they get out of the display, but given that the display is such a major selling point with this device, it's worth pointing out that heavily using the display evidently kills the battery.

The frames are heavy and don't offer enough privacy

One thing that pretty much every review I found pointed out is that the frames, which come in at 69g of weight, are simply too chunky to be used as all-day-every-day glasses. Just listen to what Song had to say in her review.

"At 69g, these are also too heavy for daily all-day wear. My normal glasses with very thick lenses are 31g. I was fine wearing these for a few hours, but discomfort crept in after that," Song wrote. "A few times, I felt the telltale signs of a headache at the back of my head and nose bridge. The bottom of the frames also left indentations on my cheeks. I’m prone to dry eye, so needing to wear contacts with these every day has been deeply uncomfortable. Artificial tears help, but the combination of the weight, eye strain, and dry eye has been tough to navigate."

Tech Fowler also pointed out that the Ray-Ban Display frames weigh about twice as much as his regular glasses. This seems to be a pretty ubiquitous complaint. Song also pointed out that the LED light which is meant to signal to other people that the glasses are recording footage is too subtle to be noticed in some situations. Privacy is a huge concern for a device like this, as it was for Google Glass a decade ago. It doesn't seem like Meta has solved that particular issue yet.

The neural band works well Do you want to wear a wristband all day? Credit: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Meta's new glasses can be controlled via voice commands using Meta AI (the same as other Meta glasses), but since there's a display now, some finer control is warranted. That's where the wrist-worn neural band comes in. You slap it on your wrist, make sure it's charged up (apparently its battery can last a full day or so), and use hand gestures to navigate the UI. Critics were generally pretty kind to the neural band.

"In more than a week, it almost never missed a gesture, and it never falsely registered a gesture, despite my efforts to confuse it by fidgeting or rubbing my fingers together," Bell wrote at Engadget. "The gestures themselves are also pretty intuitive and don't take long to get used to: double tapping your thumb and middle fingers wakes up or puts the display to sleep, single taps of your index and middle fingers allow you to select an item or go back, and swiping your thumb along the side of your index finger lets you navigate around the display."

Critics also noted that there's a helpful little haptic vibration to let you know when it's registered a gesture, so there's no uncertainty there. Another big bonus is that you don't need to have your hands in view of the camera for these gestures to work, unlike some other XR devices.

These are for early adopters right now

In general, these reviewers came across as fairly positive on the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses. They mostly work as intended, despite poor battery life and the (at the time of reviewing) total lack of an app store, which is not an issue most consumers will have to worry about. However, there's still the matter of value. At $800, these cost as much as a good smartphone, while not offering nearly as much day-to-day usefulness. As such, multiple critics agreed that these glasses are really for early adopters right now.

"Unless you are an early adopter, you need to have the newest tech, or you really love one of the features in particular, I don't think these are worth it," Tech Fowler's review said. "I think $800 is a huge amount of money for something that doesn't do that much."

Nathie, our other featured YouTube reviewer, echoed the sentiment.

"Having used these for a week, it became clear to me that there are still many challenges that have to be tackled to go truly mainstream," Nathie's review said.

It sounds like the biggest steps for Meta going forward are going to be be making sure there's a robust selection of apps, improving battery life, and finding some kind of way to alleviate the privacy issue.