Mashable

Never mind the debate over whether OpenAI's GPT-5 release is disappointing, or whether it can revitalize the failing world of AI Agents. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has already moved on — to releasing Sora 2, the next generation of its text-to-video engine. And to Sora by OpenAI, a new iPhone app that shot to #1 in the App Store Wednesday. Not too shabby, especially considering access to the Sora app is still invite only.

"Explore, play, and share your imagination in a community built for experimentation," the App Store description for Sora by OpenAI says. Essentially, OpenAI is about to enter the social media business the same way Facebook did — with a velvet rope around the service, and a cutting-edge feed within. OpenAI also highlighted how easy it is to insert yourself, your friends, and, well, deepfakes of just about anyone you want (including Altman, it turns out) in Sora's shortform videos.

But OpenAI is a little late to the social AI video feed app game. Since Character.AI launched Feed, which it called "the world's first AI-native social feed" in August, AI makers have begun what you might call the new pivot to video. Meta's Vibes arrived on the Meta AI app in September: Like Feed, like Sora, it's an endless scroll of shortform videos, under 10 seconds, from a creator community. (Midjourney has a similar AI video web feed, though no Midjourney smartphone app has dropped yet.)

In all cases you're invited to remix these videos and add your own. You're not invited to ask how sustainable these endless-scroll services are, given the still untold amounts of energy that every AI video creation eats.

SEE ALSO: How much is AI hurting the planet? Big tech won't tell us.

Character.AI CEO Karandeep Anand put a spin on Feed worthy of Altman's brightest predictions: "The boundary between creator and consumer is disappearing," he wrote. Come for a traditional social media "lean-back experience," stay to create a "new epic adventure," Anand added. "Doomscrolling is dead. We're ushering in the future of AI-powered entertainment."

That's one way of putting it. Another is to say these companies are competing to build the most popular "infinite slop machine," to use one description of Meta Vibes. It isn't enough that social media services like Facebook are filled with AI-generated art of dubious quality; now we're about to be inundated with so much AI video slop they'll need apps of their own to contain the flow.

Which is the one AI video feed to rule them all?

Oceans of AI slop, ironically, could help our real-world oceans to rise. Video feeds like Feed, Sora, Vibes, and Midjourney require more than their fair share of data center usage — and for many data centers around the world, that means burning carbon in one form or another. That's why once-green tech giants like Google and Microsoft are quietly walking back their commitments to renewable energy.

Are we doomed to a different kind of doomscrolling, then? One where multiple endless-scroll feeds are lighting up our brains and stroking our egos by sticking virtual versions of us in them?

There is hope, however, that we're simply going through the part of the tech product cycle known as the Cambrian Explosion.

The original Cambrian Explosion, half a billion years ago, was a relatively tiny million-year chunk of evolutionary time. During that period, most of the major forms of life on Earth that we know today emerged — in large part because they had eyes to see. It was followed by an extinction event — a crash in the levels of atmospheric oxygen that ended many species.

Likewise, we've seen this movie before in the tech world, where one product sucks all the oxygen out of the room.

There was a Cambrian Explosion of personal computer operating systems in the early 1980s. Microsoft Windows won in the early 1990s. Apple's MacOS barely survived, even though it was widely judged to be better-designed software. Users simply wanted what everyone else was using. (Even now, MacOS barely has a 15 percent market share; Apple got where it is now by dominating the smartphone market instead.)

The proliferation of search engines in the 1990s — remember Alta Vista and Ask Jeeves? — very quickly gave way to Google standing alone in the 2000s. Why? Because users simply wanted the search engine with the best secret sauce, which turned out to be PageRank.

We've also seen this movie in the social media world itself. Friendster and MySpace were part of the Cambrian Explosion of the 2000s; when the smoke cleared in 2010, Facebook was on top. The network effect kicked in. You were on Facebook because everyone else was on Facebook.

It's way too soon to judge which AI video feed will win the coming war, and not just because barely anyone can use the Sora app yet. OpenAI, Character.AI, Meta, or Midjourney are all taking slightly different approaches to video presentation and remixing, with different LLMs underpinning them.

The one with the better technology may not be the same one that wins all the users. You can have the best AI video in the world on Sora, for example, but if the world is flocking to Vibes, no one's going to see it.

But tech history — not to mention the financial cost of data center usage, which is why OpenAI has burned through more than $250 million in operating costs this year already — tells us this Cambrian Explosion won't last long. Collectively, eventually, users will choose one Infinite Slop Machine to rule them all.

And for the sake of the planet, and our survival on it, we'd better choose sooner rather than later.

Over the last couple of weeks, the internet has been enjoying what is arguably the most wholesome week on the Internet — Fat Bear Week. After a record-breaking week of votes, this year’s winner has been crowned, and the king of Fat Bear Week 2025 is 32 Chunk.

For the uninitiated, Fat Bear Week is an annual event held by Explore.org and Katmai National Park in Alaska. Since the inaugural Fat Bear Week in 2014, voters have tuned in and watched as the Alaska brown bears (also called grizzly bears) gorge themselves on salmon and pack on the pounds in preparation for the long winter hibernation. Bears are photographed at the beginning of the season and again at the end, and people vote on their favorite fat bear transformation. 

This year, 32 Chunk had the votes on his side. The mammoth male bear survived a broken jaw, which he nursed throughout the season, as the wild bears at Katmai don’t receive veterinary care. Despite this, 32 Chunk found his inner Payton Manning, Tiger Woods, and Adrian Peterson, came back from his debilitating injury, and ended up being one of the chonkiest boys on the lot when it came time for voting. 

32 Chunk (left) and the runner-up Bear 856 (right) Credit: Explore.org and Katmai National Park

The vote, which took place between Sept. 23-30, was a bracket-style competition between eight bears. Included in the bracket was 128 Grazer, a female bear who was on a two-year win streak. Much like the Kansas City Chiefs, she was unable to lock in the three-peat and was knocked out in the semi-final round against 856, whose own transformation this year was simply sensational. 128 Grazer’s child, 128 Jr, also made it out of the first round before losing in the quarterfinal. 

Chunk’s win marks his first, allowing him to join the pantheon of Fat Bear Week winners. He has a long way to go to catch up with hall of fame talent like 480 Otis, who’s won the competition four times in the last decade, and 409 Breadnose, 747, and 128 Grazer, who have two wins each. In fact, 32 Chunk joins 435 Holly as the only two bears to win the title only once. 

This year's final bracket. Credit: Explore.org and Katmai National Park

It was also the most successful Fat Bear Week yet, as voters poured in to show their support for 32 Chunk and the other bears. Per Explore.org, this year’s event drew 1.7 million total votes over the course of seven days, beating out the prior record of 1.3 million, which was set in 2023.

The bears all still have work to do. Generally speaking, brown bears continue to hunt for food and get fatter until their food sources become naturally scarce due to the changing of the seasons. Most bears go into hibernation sometime between October and December. Since Alaska gets colder faster, bears at Katmai tend to land on the October and November side of that timeline. For 32 Chunk, he has no earthly idea that he’s heading into hibernation as a champion. His fans are hoping that come next spring, the king will awaken, lose up to 33 percent of his body mass, and start competing for next year’s belt.

Godspeed, 32 Chunk.

Yesterday, rumors started to spread in the tech world that a gamer had accidentally received the upcoming Xbox ROG Ally X gaming handheld weeks before its official launch. The gamer even took to Reddit to post an early review of the device, in a now-deleted thread.

If you hang around the tech space long enough, you'll eventually hear stories of unsuspecting customers getting new devices ahead of schedule. Case in point: Earlier this year, some folks who pre-ordered the Samsung Galaxy S25 received their units a few days before launch thanks to expedited shipping error. Usually, these surprises happen a few days early at the most, which makes it very interesting that someone is claiming they received the Xbox ROG Ally X more than two weeks early.

The story started to spread thanks to the deleted Reddit post titled "WTFF ALMOST 3 WEEK BEFORE!" from a user named Technical_Fun77. The Redditor expressed their very great surprise that they received the unit so early, an apparent mistake on the part of Amazon France, they said. The post, which was saved in a screenshot by Windows Central, shows that the user did a quick review of the alleged ROG Ally X, praising its lightweight design and the Xbox Full Screen Experience.

The post garnered hundreds of responses that were a mixture of congratulations and jealousy. However, because we can't independently verify these reports, some skepticism is also in order.

So, what's really going on with the case of the early Xbox ROG Ally X?

The early release was traced to an Amazon France listing. A screenshot circulating online shows that the device would be delivered as early as Oct. 1, a full 15 days before the official release date of Oct. 16. We checked the listing, which you can view online, shows no available delivery options or dates, as of this writing. A Wayback Machine screenshot of that listing from September does show an early delivery time, but the product is listed for sale from a dubious-looking third-party seller, and pre-orders weren't even available at that time. (You can pre-order the Xbox ROG Ally now, however.) That means the users may have unknowingly purchased a counterfeit unit from a third-party seller on Amazon.

And there's yet another reason to be skeptical: the original Reddit post didn’t contain any image. So, would Amazon France have really shipped the long-awaited handheld gaming console more than two weeks early? While it seems very unlikely, after the news initially popped, other Redditors have come forward with their own early deliver stories, this time with pictures 

As of this writing, there are now a couple of additional user posts in the ROG Ally X subreddit from gamers claiming that Amazon France also sent them units by mistake. These newer posts all have pictures as well, with users showing the alleged units in and out of the packaging. Mashable reached out to these users and Amazon for more information, and we'll update this post if we learn anything new.

Reddit Reddit

We should note that thanks to generative AI image makers, it's now trivially easy to create fake images and screenshots. However, based on these reports, it seems there's a non-zero chance that someone at Amazon France royally flubbed something.

You can pre-order the new console for yourself; it's scheduled to launch on Oct. 16.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X $999 at Best Buy
Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Xbox Ally $599 at Best Buy
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The critically acclaimed animated series Long Story Short has been resonating with me ever since Netflix dropped all 10 episodes of its first season in late August. Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg (BoJack Horseman), the show takes the familiar growing pains and family matters of a sitcom and reshapes them through an inventive, time-jumping format. It’s been tugging at my heartstrings and grief journey while making me laugh in between moments of poignant relatability.

The show follows the Schwoopers, a Jewish family in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their surname is a portmanteau of matriarch Naomi Cooper (voiced by Lisa Edelstein) and patriarch Elliot Schwartz (Paul Reiser), passed down to their three children: Avi (Ben Feldman), Shira (Abbi Jacobson), and Yoshi (Max Greenfield).

Unlike other animated series about families, Long Story Short shows these characters at different ages, jumping across time to capture snapshots of parenting, loss, religion, rites of passage, and shifting dynamics. Even the opening titles, set to Jesse Novak’s plucky theme song, feature different photos of the Schwoopers in each episode. (Resist that “skip intro” button!)

Watching those sequences feels a lot like what I've been experiencing on my grief journey after losing both my parents within three years. I’ve been rewatching old home videos and flipping through family photos I haven’t seen in decades, time-traveling from the comforts of my couch, reliving holidays, birthdays, and vacations, reuniting with long-lost loved ones and faces I haven’t thought about in years.

Credit: Hiko Mitsuzuka Credit: Hiko Mitsuzuka

 Long Story Short beautifully — and quite literally — illustrates the passage of time and the complicated emotions that come with it. The show feels like an exercise in wish fulfillment, tapping into the desire to see my family from an almost omniscient point of view: to rewind and fast-forward through moments, drawing parallels between past and present and seeing how they shape each other.  

Memories, meatloaf, and Michael Bolton

In Episode 4, “Shira Can’t Cook,” Shira struggles to perfect her mother's knish recipe for a school potluck. She wants to make Naomi proud, and in one scene, Shira tears up while reviewing her mom’s handwritten instructions, realizing how much love went into Naomi’s cooking when she was younger. 

Every once in a while, I try to recreate my late mother’s signature meatloaf, a dish she served every Monday for our extended family. She loved hosting meals, especially during the holidays, in our apartment in New Rochelle, New York. I’ve carried on the tradition in my own way, with an annual holiday cocktail party in my L.A. apartment. I even dug up her handwritten anisette cookie recipe — her favorite Christmas treat — and keep it posted to my refrigerator as a reminder of her love. 

These stirred-up memories don't feel that far away, but time marches on because that’s what it does. Opening the nostalgia floodgates has brought me face-to-face with the fragility of life, reminding me of a song lyric from Michael Bolton, one of my mom’s favorite artists: “Nothing heals a broken heart like time, love, and tenderness.”

Reuniting with my younger self to heal myself

Long Story Short also touches upon the aftereffects of the pandemic through passing references (see: “Wolves” and “Uncle Barry”), which made me reflect on the time with my parents that felt stolen from me back then. While I eventually tried to make up for that lost time, it never felt like enough, because I soon lost my father in 2021 and then my mother in 2024. It's an emotional struggle similar to what the older Schwooper siblings wrestle with as they reflect on their own losses. 

However, watching my family’s old home videos has shown me that I got to spend a lot of wonderful moments with my parents. Even though my awkward, pre-pubescent self tried to avoid the camera at all costs (I never liked the sound of my own voice), I can now sit back and appreciate the memories that were captured. I can be grateful for what I had with them. And if I could, I’d give my younger self a big hug, letting him know he’ll eventually find his voice, his confidence, and more reasons to feel secure in himself. 

Watching Long Story Short while revisiting these memories has ultimately helped me develop more compassion for myself, for what I went through, and for where I was at certain points in my life. That compassion remains, especially while I continue to grieve my parents. 

Confronting so many “if only I had knowns”

In Episode 2 of LSS, “Hannah’s Dance Recital,” Avi and Shira realize they remember a family trip to the Jersey Shore very differently. For Avi, what seemed like an innocent decision to leave his sister and play with some kids on the beach turns out to be a hurtful act of abandonment for Shira when she’s left alone and nearly drowns in the harsh ocean waves, becoming a traumatic moment she carries into adulthood. 

While I thankfully never had a near-death experience like Shira’s, my younger cousin  (who’s always been like the kid sister I never had) once revealed how scarred she was from a haunted house ride my very persuasive mother and I had dragged her onto while visiting the pier at Seaside Heights, NJ. What my Mom and I thought was a fun, innocent family outing turned into a horrible night for an 8-year-old who’s terrified of haunted houses to this day. 

In hindsight, she’s grateful that my mom pushed her to face her fears and try something new because that’s just how my mom operated. One piece of advice she left me with remains: “Keep broadening your horizons.” These four simple words have shaped how I approach the rest of my life. They help me look forward to new opportunities, new experiences, and, of course, new memories.

And in the meantime, I can look forward to more hilarious and human stories from the Schwoopers; Long Short Short has been renewed for a second season. 

Season 1 of Long Story Short is now streaming on Netflix.

AI giant OpenAI debuted Sora 2 this week, its "flagship video and audio generation model." Sora 2 is OpenAI's answer to Google Veo 3, which is widely considered the most advanced generative AI video model to date.

With the launch of Sora 2 has come lots of strange videos, which you can see for yourself in the new Sora app.

There's one reason, in particular, that the videos are getting weird. That would be the "Cameo" feature, which allows you to insert yourself or friends into AI-generated videos. For just one moment, let's forget all the ways this could be used for ill-conceived or nefarious purposed — OK, phew, that is a lot to forget — it's also just tremendously weird to insert a real person into uncanny valley, AI-generated situations. But people are certainly doing it.

Here's a viral video of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman rapping from a toilet, referencing skibidi toilet, because sure.

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Naturally somebody responded with the poster of that post...also in a toilet. And they said creativity was dead and AI is eroding our ability to think.

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Or here's AI Bob Ross painting a gorilla fighting 100 men (get it, like the meme).

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Or there's this AI video of Altman stealing GPUs purportedly generated by an OpenAI employee. Again...no way this could be sued for nefarious purposes, right?

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Or here's Altman awkwardly dancing.

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And here's a video playing on the fact that people are eating up AI slop.

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Or a video of a guy sloppily eating via AI.

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So, as you might've expected, the videos from Sora 2 are immediately getting pretty weird — and, in some cases, scarily realistic looking.

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.

In a time when everything is getting more expensive, it should come as no surprise when subscription services raise their prices. And yet, we're shocked and dismayed every time. The latest to join in on the price hike craze is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Microsoft made the announcement in an Oct. 1 press release, just two days before Xbox consoles are set to increase in price as well. It's a tough time to be a gamer.

New Xbox Game Pass tiers and pricing

Xbox Game Pass is getting a full facelift, which includes some new benefits as well as, of course, price changes. Game Pass Core and Game Pass Standard are now becoming Game Pass Essential and Game Pass Premium. These tiers will cost the same — $9.99 for Essential and $14.99 for Premium — and include 50+ and 200+ curated Xbox, PC, and cloud games, respectively.

The biggest change is reflected in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, once known as the best deal in gaming. Effective immediately for new subscribers and as of Nov. 4 for current subscribers, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will now cost $29.99 per month. That's a 50% price jump from its former monthly price of $19.99, ultimately adding up to an extra $120 every year. If you prepaid for months of Ultimate already, you won't see the new price reflected until the end of your prepaid time.

It's not all bad, though. In an attempt to justify the price increase, Microsoft is giving Ultimate subscribers more perks. These include 75 day-one releases per year (about 50 percent more than last year), access to Ubisoft Plus Classics (reg. ~$16 per month) and Fortnite Crew (reg. $11.99 per month), and unlimited access to cloud gaming and Stream Your Own Game.

The new Xbox Game Pass tiers. Credit: Microsoft How to avoid the Game Pass Ultimate price hike

Set on keeping Game Pass Ultimate, but want to save some money? Here's a pro tip: stock up on digital codes at Amazon. As of Oct. 1, the price for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate digital codes has not changed at Amazon. You can get a one-month code for just $19.99 still — now basically like getting a $10 discount — or secure three months for $59.99. You'll only be able to add 12 codes to your account total, but that could effectively get you 36 months of Game Pass Ultimate at the former price if you opt for 12 three-month digital codes.

I'm not telling you to go drop $719.88 on a three-year gaming subscription, but if you plan on subscribing long term, stacking these codes is your best bet for saving money. You don't have to commit to 36 months. You can opt for just four three-month codes and lock in a full year of Ultimate for $239.96, compared to the $359.88 you'll pay otherwise post-price hike.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 1-month subscription $19.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 3-month subscription $59.99 at Amazon
$89.97 Save $29.98 Get Deal How to cancel Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

If the latest price hike has simply pushed you over the edge, we don't blame you. All good things must come to an end. If you want to cancel your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you can do so on the web or on a console. You certainly won't be the only one to take this route.

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To cancel on a web browser:

1. Go to Subscriptions and sign in with the Microsoft account you used to purchase your subscription.

2. Find your subscription and select Manage. (If you find Turn on recurring billing instead of a link that says Manage, your subscription is already set to expire on the date shown and you won’t be charged after this date. You can continue to use the subscription’s benefits until it expires.)

3. Select Cancel subscription and follow the instructions. If eligible, you may be prompted to initiate a refund for your subscription.

To cancel on a console:

1. Press the Xbox button to open the guide.

2. Go to Profile & system > Settings > Account > Subscriptions.

3. Choose the subscription that you want to manage, click on Cancel subscription, and then follow the steps to cancel. If eligible, you may be prompted to initiate a refund for your subscription.

Meta is back with a new pair of AI smart glasses, and the reviews are in.

To start, I should clarify that the reviews are for the second generation version of the Meta Ray-Ban glasses, which first debuted a couple of years ago. In other words, this is not the upcoming Meta Ray-Ban Display unit that has a display in one of the lenses. The ones we're looking at today have no display, but do come with onboard cameras and some AI features.

Anyway, several outlets have published early reviews of the new display-less Ray-Ban glasses and they have lots of positive things to say. From improved battery life to 3K video recording, it sounds like there's plenty to like about these glasses, even if their reception of the AI features is mixed.

SEE ALSO: Meta AI chatbots have new guardrails to stop inappropriate interactions with children Meta Ray-Ban second generation: What the critics are saying

Here's what everyone has to say about these new specs.

The new battery is a huge plus

First things first, let's talk longevity. Put simply, it sounds like Meta's biggest improvement from the first pair of Ray-Ban glasses comes in the form of longer battery life. Meta rates the new glasses at about eight hours of use on a single charge, though Engadget's Karissa Bell (also a Mashable alum) didn't get quite that much during stress testing.

"I was able to squeeze a little more than five and a half hours of continuous music playback," Bell wrote. "That's a noticeable step up from the battery on my original pair which, after two years, is starting to show its age."

Meanwhile, Scott Stein of CNET had better results under more normal usage circumstances. (CNET is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis.)

"One day at Meta, the battery lasted from 8 a.m. to nearly 9 p.m. with occasional AI prompts, photos, videos, some music and phone calls. Another day, on a nonstop run to the airport with music and podcasts playing, it lasted from 9 a.m. breakfast to my 1 p.m. flight," Stein wrote. "Results varied day to day, but I'm no longer in the same battery-life panic with my glasses that I used to be."

The point is that the battery is better, even if it might depend on what you actually do with these glasses.

3K video recording is a nice bonus

Perhaps unfortunately, the still camera photography capabilities on the new Meta Ray-Ban glasses are unchanged. The cameras still come in at 12MP with a max resolution of 3024x4032. However, Meta packed in some exciting new video features this time around.

Specifically, you can now record videos in 3K resolution or 60 frames per second, but not both at the same time, sadly. I should also mention that reviewers didn't have access to the 60FPS option because it's coming in a software update. Still, James Pero of Gizmodo had very nice things to say about 3K video recording on the new Ray-Ban glasses.

"Where some edges used to be blurred and a little too smooth, the videos recorded in 3K feel like a more accurate slice of life," Pero wrote. "That’s not going to be important to everyone (a lot of people are just going to take still photos), but if you’re like me and you want to capture some beautiful foliage on a bike ride, the upgrade is welcome."

That said, not everyone was as impressed by the new video shooter. Michael L. Hicks of Android Central said the difference wasn't that noticeable. He also lightly took Meta to task for the lack of improvements to still photography.

"Honestly, I just wish we'd seen a photo quality boost, as well," Hicks wrote. "The unchanged 3024 X 4032 resolution is still great in ideal conditions, but I'd still like to see better low-light quality, color balancing that's not quite so oversaturated, or some kind of optical zoom (if that's feasible in glasses form) when the Gen 3s arrive in a couple of years."

AI features are hit-or-miss

Lastly, just like before, these glasses offer hands-free, voice-activated AI features. You can look at something with the camera and ask the voice assistant to identify it for you, as an example. Reviews were mixed on these features. Let's go to Hicks for more.

"Meta AI can be undeniably helpful for on-the-go questions, live translations, or Live AI. But I'd like it to be better at answering questions about the glasses themselves, such as telling me what video resolution is active or what the touchpad shortcuts are, rather than telling me where to look for myself," Hicks wrote. "And I hear the response 'I can't help with that, but I'm learning more every day!' if I ask it to do anything too complicated, such as 'Take a 15-second video.'"

Meanwhile, Stein over at CNET had trouble with its recognition functionality.

"While these glasses can describe your surroundings or offer supposedly helpful commentary by snapping a photo and analyzing it, the range of responses is unpredictable. Sometimes Meta is accurate; other times it just makes things up," Stein wrote. "Most days, I find myself having existential arguments with the on-glasses AI voice of Judi Dench (one of several voices you can choose from) about things like the stuffed animals my son is holding up on the sofa."

Live translation also sounds like a major perk here. Over at Engadget, Bell had positive things to say about her experiences with that feature, while noting that it can also be a huge battery drain.

"On a recent trip to Argentina, I used live translation to follow along with a walking tour of the famous Recoleta cemetery. It wasn't perfect — the feature is meant more for back-and-forth conversations rather than extended monologues — but it allowed me to participate in a tour I would have otherwise had to skip," Bell wrote.

All in all, it sounds like these new Meta glasses are a decent upgrade over the original, especially when it comes to longevity. However, if you want to feel really futuristic, you might want to wait for the Ray-Ban Display glasses instead.

“Speculation on top of speculation” can be used to describe any number of Elon Musk's daily posts on his social media platform X.

However, in this particular case, that's how Apple's lawyers are responding to X Corp.'s lawsuit against the company, which alleges rigged App Store charts and favoritism towards certain AI apps.

On Tuesday, Apple filed its response to Musk and his company, asking the judge to outright dismiss the case.

Musk's company filed a lawsuit against Apple back in August. X Corp. claimed that Apple was "working in tandem" with ChatGPT creator OpenAI in order to "maintain their monopolies." This followed Musk taking to — where else? — X to openly accuse Apple and OpenAI of rigging the App Store against xAI and Grok. In his suit, Musk alleged that Apple was preventing his companies and products from fairly competing.

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The lawsuit specifically singled out Apple's deal with OpenAI, in which ChatGPT powers some of the company's Apple Intelligence features. However, according to Apple's lawyers, its deal with OpenAI is not "exclusive."

"Apple and OpenAI's agreement is expressly not exclusive, and it is public and widely known that Apple intends to partner with other generative AI chatbots," Apple's lawyers said.

OpenAI's lawyers also responded to Musk's lawsuit against them, claiming Musk is engaging in "a campaign of lawfare" and also asked the judge to dismiss the case.

X Corp. claimed that Apple's partnership with OpenAI meant that Apple had to "simultaneously" partner "with every other generative AI chatbot." Apple's lawyers scoffed at the idea, responding simply that " antitrust laws do not require that.” 

Musk also alleged in the lawsuit that Apple was rigging the App Store rankings in favor of ChatGPT and hurting Musk's apps like X and Grok.

When Musk first posted his theory that Apple was rigging the App Store against Grok, X users were quick to point out that numerous other AI apps have hit the top of the App Store rankings. (Musk's theory was also refuted by Community Notes.) Most recently, Gemini has been dominating App Store charts thanks to the runaway success of Nano Banana, an AI image editor.

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.

Are you an apartment dweller who dreams of a lush garden and endless access to seasonal produce? If you don't have the backyard fit for such dreams, you could bring your garden inside. Gardyn's indoor hydroponic systems allow you to grow fresh produce and flowers inside your home.

Mashable Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern tested the Gardyn Studio and was able to grow salads and burger toppings all from her apartment. Now, Gardyn is launching the second generation of its apartment-sized system: the Studio 2. We went hands-on with the new Studio 2 ahead of its launch.

About the Gardyn Studio 2 The Gardyn Studio 2 now comes with no-clean columns and sunrise/sunset lighting. Credit: Gardyn

The Gardyn Studio 2 is made for apartment dwellers, taking up about 1.4 square feet of space and standing 4.5 feet tall. Like the previous generation of Studio, it can grow up to 16 plants at once and self waters with a five-gallon tank. It has an included LED light to provide the right amount of light for the plants.

The new Studio 2 is similar to the original Studio with a few key upgrades. The new Gardyn system has no-clean columns with sealed silicone modules to prevent build-up and minimize maintenance.

The 24/7 camera included on the Studio 2 has upgraded HD, which lets users and Gardyn's built-in AI system get a better picture for health monitoring. Plus, it now has sunrise and sunset lighting that mimics the natural life cycle.

The Studio 2 will launch at $549, a $50 increase from the previous Gardyn Studio. It will be available at Amazon and The Home Depot and starts shipping on Oct. 15.

Gardyn Studio 2 first impressions The new Gardyn Studio 2 features 16 pods for growing herbs, leafy greens, and fruiting plants. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

I've only had the Gardyn Studio 2 set up in my apartment for a week, so it doesn't look nearly as lush as Kern's does now that hers is fully grown. However, I am pleased with the system and just how easy it is. Setup was a breeze — far easier than a piece of Ikea furniture. The hardest part was the number of trips to the sink to fill up the five-gallon tank.

The starter kit is exceptionally easy. No gardening gloves or potting soil are required. You plug in yPods to the system, which then automatically get watered. Using Gardyn's built-in AI assistant, Kelby, doesn't require much thought — Kelby takes care of the watering and light and sends reminders about when to distribute plant food.

The Gardyn yPods don't look like much to start, but in a few weeks, they'll start to sprout. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

I was looking forward to trying the Gardyn Studio 2, especially with the new lighting; however, one thing to note about the Gardyn is that it's really bright. Before I embarked on testing, Kern warned me that the Gardyn Studio was extremely bright.

She's right. Even with Studio 2's sunrise and sunset lighting, it's still so bright even when dimmed 50 percent. Plus, for recommended plant growth, you need to have the lights on around the clock, which could disrupt your home's ambient lighting.

It's a worthy sacrifice for all the fresh produce you're growing, but definitely something to consider before buying and placing in your home.

While there aren't a ton of differences between the Gardyn Studio and Studio 2, that's not necessarily a bad thing. In our review of the Gardyn Studio, we were impressed by its efficacy and ease, and we expect the same from the Studio 2.

It's about to get a lot easier to toggle between Street View and Satellite View on Google Maps on Android — and it's coming via an Aerial View button.

According to a report from Android Authority, the code in Google Maps' newest version, v25.39.07, allows users to seamlessly switch between Satellite View, also known as Aerial View, and Street View while you're looking at the map via Street View. A simple button labeled "Aerial" in the bottom-left corner of the display reportedly switches between views.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps will now let you search your saved locations

Android Authority, which activated the button before its release, showed that the "Aerial button essentially brings users to a top-down, close-up of the Satellite View, and it works across both the 2D and 3D satellite maps."

Users can switch back to Street View at any time, the outlet reported. According to the news outlet, Aerial view even remembers which direction you're facing in Street View when you transition to another view.

This isn't official yet, and Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Mashable. But this is about to really elevate the way we explore a city before visiting — or find where that storefront is.

Just a day after Amazon rolled out new products, Google is answering with a lineup of Nest smart home devices, as both companies vie for dominance in AI-powered living.

The new devices include an indoor ($100) and outdoor Nest Cam ($150), a Nest Doorbell ($180), and a Google Home Speaker ($99). The camera-based products are available now, but the directional speaker won’t hit shelves until spring 2026.

Credit: Google

The updated cameras bring a few notable upgrades: sharper 2K video resolution (up from 1080p), HDR recording, and wider fields of view. The Nest Cam now captures a 152-degree perspective, while the new Nest Doorbell stretches that to a 166-degree diagonal view.

SEE ALSO: Google launches Search Live, a Gemini-powered AI search tool that sees through your phone's camera

Still, the real centerpiece of the event was Gemini for Home, which replaces Google Assistant across the company's smart devices. According to the company, the Google Home app has been revamped with new tabs for Home, Activity, and Automations. A standout feature is "Ask Home," pitched as a "natural command center" designed to make managing your devices more conversational.

Credit: Google

Gemini Live will also be available on all speakers and displays, but there’s a catch: Most of the new functionality sits behind a paywall. Google Home Advanced costs $20 per month (or $200 annually) and unlocks the full suite of Gemini for Home features.

A cheaper, $10-per-month plan offers 30-day event history, intelligent alerts, and Gemini Live, but excludes the upgraded Gemini for Home tools.

Apple has added nearly a dozen products to its vintage list, the first step toward obsolescence.

The move was first spotted by the Apple-focused tech site Mac Rumors. So, what Apple products are now vintage?

In short: the iPhone 11 Pro Max and every model of the Apple Watch Series 3. The iPhone 11 Pro Max dropped in 2019 while the Series 3 debuted in 2017. Curiously, the regular iPhone 11 Pro was not deemed vintage, suggesting Apple could continue to distribute the phone to resellers for the time being.

SEE ALSO: Apple claims MagSafe stands are responsible for iPhone 17 'Scratchgate'

What does the vintage list mean? Well, for now, not much. It just signifies the product is old. Typically speaking, a product is added to the list five years after Apple stops selling it, but the company will still offer service and parts. Not much changes for another half a decade. But five years after being added to the vintage list, Apple may classify the product as obsolete, which means the company will no longer offer support for it.

So, again, being vintage is Step 1 toward being obsolete. There's a metaphor for life in there somewhere.

If you're wondering whether self-emptying would be worth it for your robot vacuum purchase, just consider your entire justification for wanting a robot vacuum cleaner in the first place. If it's to save time and effort on a chore you don't feel like doing, you just answered your own question. Dustbin maintenance definitely counts as part of that chore, and future you will be thankful that you opted for a self-emptying robot vacuum on sale this October Prime Day.

The best self-emptying robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days Budget pick Eufy C10 $219.99 (save $260) Get Deal Affordable mop washing station pick Roborock Qrevo $399.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal Space-saving pick 3i G10+ $299.99 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Premium pick Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller $1,279.99 at Amazon (save $320) Get Deal

Self-emptying robot vacuums aren't nearly as tied to the size or budget constraints that they were when they were the fancy new thing in 2021. A ton of self-emptying docks are compact enough to work in a small apartment, and almost all of the best cheap robot vacuums under $300 or $400 are auto-emptying. During an Amazon sale like Prime Big Deal Days, the number of options in any price range grows. I'm already seeing a handful of vacuums beating their own prices from Prime Day in July.

If you do have floor space or extra cash to spare, the ultimate auto-empty dock to eye would be one that also auto-washes and dries the robot vac's mopping pads. This is a main feature on high-end robot vacuum and mop combos near $1,000, but can be found for as low as $399.99 on sale.

SEE ALSO: The most underrated robot vacuum of 2025 is also a stick vacuum

I'm tracking the best deals on self-emptying robot vacuums ahead of and throughout October Prime Day. If a self-empty dock is also a mop washing station for a robot vacuum that mops, that'll also be pointed out below.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal ahead of Prime Big Deal Days Roborock Qrevo $399.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $250 Shop Now Why we like it

This Roborock Qrevo model is the updated version of the Roborock Qrevo S: Mashable readers' most purchased robot vacuum during Cyber Monday 2024. Compared to the Qrevo S, the Qrevo with no S has stronger suction power (8,000 Pa versus 6,000 Pa) and meets my minimum number for sufficient pet hair pickup for one pet. Despite being the stronger model, the Qrevo on sale for October Prime Day is $60 cheaper than the weaker model.

Other advanced features squeezed into this $399.99 package include self-washing and -drying mopping pads and small obstacle avoidance. It's easily one of the best bangs for your buck that you'll find before Black Friday.

Best space-saving self-emptying robot vacuum deal 3i G10+ $299.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

I've been saying it for months: The 3i G10+ is the best robot vacuum under $500, but most people have never heard of it. This up-and-coming model rocked in more ways than one during my testing, but its approach to automatic emptying is the most relevant here. There's no self-emptying dock here at all — rather, the 3i G10+ compacts debris within the robot vacuum body itself. You're still off duty from dealing with the dust bin for around two months or so.

Did I mention the 18,000 Pa of suction power? Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

3i also packed a few other high-end features into this budget vacuum: namely small obstacle avoidance and, even rarer in this price range, a livestream pet camera. And it's all contained in a compact design that can be stored under a TV stand.

More self-emptying robot vacuums on saleRobot vacuums that mop

• Yeedi C12 Plus — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

• iRobot Roomba 104 Combo — $249.99 $449.99 (save $200) 🔥

• Yeedi C12 Plus— $269.99 $479.99 (save $210 with on-page coupon) 🔥

• Dreame D20 Plus — $296.99 $399.99 (save $103) 🔥

• Roborock Q10 S5+ — $299.99 $549.99 (save $250) 🔥

• 3i G10+ with dust compression — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• Narwal Freo Pro with mop washing station — $479.99 $699.99 (save $220)

• iRobot Roomba 405 with mop washing station — $399.99 $799.99 (save $400) 🔥

• Eufy Omni C20 with mop washing station — $379.99 $699.99 (save $320) 🔥

• Yeedi M12 Pro with mop washing station — $379.99 $899.99 (save $520) 🔥

• Dreame X40 Ultra with mop washing station — $799.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

• Dreame X50 Ultra with mop washing station — $1,199.99 $1,699.99 (save $500) 🔥

• Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller with mop washing station — $249.99 $449.99 (save $200) 🔥

• Roborock Saros Z70 with OmniGrip arm and mop washing station — $1,999.98 $2,599 (save $599.02) 🔥

Robot vacuums that don't mop

• Eufy C10 — $199.99 $479.99 (save $320) 🔥

• Shark AV2501S AI Ultra — $229.99 $549.99 (save $320) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba 105 — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• Eufy L60 — $299.99 $559.99 (save $260)

• Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum and stick vacuum — $348.99 $649.99 (save $301) 🔥

• iRobot Roomba Plus 504 — $379.99 $749.99 (save $370) 🔥

Best early Prime Day kitchen deals Best small appliance deal Ninja Crispi $159.94 (save $20.05) Get Deal Best bakeware deal Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven $319.99 (save $114.96) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Keurig K-Mini Single Serve $64.98 (save $35.01) Get Deal

Amazon’s gifting us with its second Prime Day event of the year, officially dubbed “Prime Big Deal Days,” and true to form, we’re seeing tons of early deals across just about every category, including some hefty price cuts on kitchen essentials from top brands like Ninja, Le Creuset, and Keurig.

SEE ALSO: In true air fryer fashion, early October Prime Day deals on air fryers have heated up quickly

Whether you’re on the hunt for a new coffee maker or are finally ready to upgrade your cookware, we’ve rounded up the best deals on kitchen appliances and gadgets you can shop right now. Of course, we’ll probably see some of these prices drop even more the closer we get to Oct. 7 (the sale's official start date), but these deals are still nothing to sneeze at and could disappear depending on stock availability.

Here are the best early Prime Big Deal Days kitchen deals to shop as of Oct. 1:

Best small appliance deal Ninja Crispi $159.94 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20.05 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja Crispi is finally on sale. We’ve been watching the price of this little air fryer since its release last September, and Amazon’s been stingy with discounts. But right now, you can get it for $159.94, the lowest price we’ve tracked so far.

The Ninja Crispi is one of Mashable’s favorite small kitchen appliances. Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino says its compact size makes it ideal for on-the-go meals or prepping smaller portions for the week. “Plus, it actually works,” she writes.

More small appliance deals

• Chefman Electric Kettle — $21.99 $27.99 (save $6)

• Crock-Pot 7-QT Manual Slow Cooker (SCV700-S-BR) — $35.99 $59.99 (save $24)

• Magic Bullet Blender — $39.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Ninja Air Fryer 4-in-1 Pro — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

Best bakeware deal Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven $318.24 at Amazon
$434.95 Save $116.71 Get Deal Why we like it

Soup season is basically here (it’s October, so I feel comfortable making that statement), and what better way to embrace it than with a discounted Le Creuset Dutch oven? Right now, you can get the iconic Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven for $318.24. (Note: the price does change depending on the color you choose.) While this isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was around $239 back in 2022), it is the lowest price it’s been in a while.

This particular model is ideal for slow-cooking stews, braising meats, or baking artisan breads, thanks to its tight-fitting lid and heat and moisture retention. It’s also dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is just as easy.

Best coffee maker deal Keurig K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker $64.98 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $35.01 Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a new single-serve coffee maker, but you’re not willing to shell out a ton of cash, the Keurig K-Mini Single Serve is a budget-friendly option that’ll get the job done without compromising on convenience or quality. Its compact design is perfect for smaller kitchens, dorm rooms, or office spaces, and it can brew six to 12-ounce servings in seconds with the touch of a button. And right now, you can get it for the super-low price of $64.98.

Best Prime Day Bluetooth tracker deals Best Bluetooth tracker deal Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $74.99 (Save $24.01) Get Deal Best Android Bluetooth tracker deal Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 27.02 (Save $2.97) Get Deal Best Bluetooth tracker bundle deal Tile by Life360 Essentials $54.99 (Save $20) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day sale is right around the corner, but you don't have to wait until October 7 for the deals to begin. You can save big right now on Bluetooth trackers, which you might very well want to stock up on for fall travel, cleaning, and more.

If you constantly find yourself losing important items like your wallet, keys, or bag, a Bluetooth tracker can help you find them. They're available for iOS and Android devices, and they're usually pretty affordable, but knocking some extra cash off of them doesn't hurt. We've found deals on several Bluetooth trackers that you can snag right now before Prime Day starts.

Here are some of the best deals on Bluetooth trackers to scoop up ahead of Prime Day.

Best Bluetooth tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $74.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $24.01 Get Deal Why we like it

Apple AirTags are among some of the easiest Bluetooth trackers to use if you have Apple devices. They use Apple's Find My functionality to use a network of Bluetooth-enabled AirTags to help you find your item, with the option to play a sound or use directions and location to find your missing belongings. This pack of four means you get plenty of trackers to drop in luggage, attach to a keychain, or even put on a pet's collar. Plus, their battery lasts up to a year, so you can just forget about it once you put the tracker where you need it.

Best Android Bluetooth tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2 $27.02 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $2.97 Get Deal Why we like it

This Android-compatible Bluetooth tracker has a hole so you can attach it to a keychain or ring and make it simple to add to any item you need to track. It's IP67 rated for water and dust resistance, and can stay powered up for up to 500 days, or 40% longer with its Power Saving Mode. It offers sound-based location options as well as ways to track it down with your Android device's directions, too. It's compatible with all Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets as well, so it plays nice with your Android ecosystem phones.

Best Bluetooth tracker bundle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Tile by Life360 Essentials $54.99 at Amazon
$74.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Tile trackers offer a happy medium between both iOS and Android devices. This bundle comes with multiple form factors that you can slide in your wallet, attach to a keychain, or toss in a bag, with a 4-pack that you can get for a great price. You can locate your Tile tags by ringing them, using your phone to get directions, and even trigger SOS alerts via the tags if you find yourself in an emergency. Plus, they work with the Life360 app to help you keep track of everything.

More Bluetooth tracker deals

• Tile by Life360 tracker — $19.99 $24.99 (save $5)

• MiLi MiTag — $11.99 $12.99 (save $1)

• Apple AirTag — $24.99 $29 (save $4.01)

• Tile by Life360 Slim — $37.99 $54.99 (save $17)

Apple just launched a new lineup of flagship iPhones, but it's probably not done releasing new products this year. We could still get new AirTags, MacBooks, or even iPads.

To be clear, nothing is officially announced as of yet, but Apple watchers are paying close attention to a new leak that suggests something might be unveiled soon. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman spotted an unboxing video on YouTube for a new M5 iPad Pro. The video, uploaded by a Russian account called Wylsacom, features about 13 minutes of very explicit, up-close footage of a new iPad that Apple fully hasn't said anything about yet.

To be clear, we can't independently verify that this M5 iPad Pro is legit, but Gurman is a reliable source of Apple news.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: Every new Apple product known or rumored for 2025

If the product in the video is real, the new model looks physically identical to the M4 iPad Pro released a year ago. It's very thin with a single camera on the back, just like its predecessor. One thing that stands out (apart from the fact that at one point in the video the YouTuber smells the tablet, for some reason) is that it's purportedly a 256GB model with 12GB of RAM. Previously, the M4 iPad Pro with 256GB of storage only had 8GB of RAM, so that would be an upgrade. According to the YouTuber, the new Apple tablet also outperforms the old one in benchmark tests, which is not a surprise.

There are a couple of weird things to note here, as pointed out by 9to5Mac. First, Apple doesn't sell its products in Russia, so it's hard to figure out how this guy got his hands on a new, unannounced iPad. Second, this isn't the first time this has happened. The same account did the same thing with the M4 MacBook Pro last year.

Go figure.

SAVE $6: As of Oct. 1, Prime members and Prime Video subscribers can get two months of Screambox as a Prime Video add-on for just $1.99 per month. Typically $4.99 per month, that saves you $6 on thousands of hours of horror movies, TV shows, and documentaries for spooky season.

Opens in a new window Credit: Screambox Screambox (Prime Video add-on) $1.99/month for two months (save $6) Get Deal

Spooky season requires spooky movies. Those are the rules. Whether you prefer a supernatural thriller, a bloody slasher, or a good ol' creature feature, the Screambox library is abundant with all the horror content your heart desires. And perfectly timed to kick off spooky season, Amazon is running a sweet deal on the streaming service.

Through the end of Prime Big Deal Days (which runs Oct. 7 and 8), Prime members can sign up for two months of Screambox for just $1.99 per month — a grand total of $3.98. Typically, a subscription costs $6.99 if you sign up for Screambox on its own or $4.99 if you sign up through Prime Video, which means you'll keep an extra $3 or $5 in your pocket for two months.

Screambox is a top streaming destination for horror fans, with a horror-exclusive library that spans cult classics, modern originals, and indie gems. It showcases uncut versions of films that are hard to find elsewhere, as well as exclusive streaming premieres. This isn't where you'll find all the most popular Hollywood blockbuster horror flicks, but more specialized genre deep cuts. It's the streaming home of horror icons Art the Clown and the Toxic Avenger, as well as cult favorite films like I Spit on Your Grave, Sleepaway Camp, and Devil Dog: Hound of Hell.

Craving a particular type of horror? The curated Screambox library gets creepily specific. There are categories for everything from "The Power of Christ Compels You" to "Movies Where Guys Get Their Junk Destroyed." If you're into obscure scares, it's the streaming service for you. And as part of Amazon's October Prime Day streaming deals, you can get spooked for just under $2 per month.

GET TWO FREE KINDLE BOOKS: As of Oct. 1, get two free books from the Amazon First Reads program as an Amazon Prime member.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Choose two free Amazon First Reads books Get Deal

If you're an Amazon Prime member, you likely already know it comes with plenty of perks: same-day shipping, tons of streaming content, and a Grubhub+ discounted subscription. But you might not be aware of one of the other great options you can take advantage of: Amazon First Reads. This program lets you snag a free book every month to add to your Kindle library. October is the perfect month to give it a try, as the spookiest time of the year now nets you two books instead of one.

As of Oct. 1, choose two books from the Amazon First Reads program. There are 10 different options, including romantic thriller The Fix by Mia Sheridan and sci-fi short story 3 Days, 9 Months, 27 Years by John Scalzi. There's a little something for everyone, no matter what you're into.

SEE ALSO: How to make the most of your Kindle: 8 features you need to use

Normally, you only get one book each month, but you can select two of these options. All you have to do is check out the Amazon First Reads home page and check out what's on offer. Choose the books you want to read, and find the option "Read now for free." When you confirm the books you're interested in, this button will automatically add them to your Kindle library.

Then make sure to keep coming back each month, because there's a new set of books on rotation each time, typically all pulled from a pool of new or upcoming books that are exclusive to Amazon. Plus, if you miss a set of First Reads, you can usually go back and find them by way of Kindle Unlimited if you're a member and catch up as part of your membership.

Fall is a great time to get more reading in, so make sure you take advantage of this deal and check out all the new free picks for October.

SAVE $170: The Shark Clean & Empty cordless stick vacuum is on sale at Amazon for $279.99, down from the list price of $449.99. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Clean & Empty cordless stick vacuum (BU3523) $279.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $170 Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day doesn't officially kick off until Tuesday, but that doesn't mean you can't score great deals now. Like always, Amazon sneaks in thousands of sales that are well worth shopping before the event actually starts. If you're in need of a new vacuum that's powerful enough to clean up fall's pine needles, check out today's deal.

As of Oct. 1, the Shark Clean & Empty cordless stick vacuum is just $279.99 at Amazon, marked down from the list price of $449.99. That's a 38% discount that shaves $170 off the normal price.

Shark makes some great vacuums, including robot vacuums, but the Clean & Empty comes with some fancy features that are certainly worthy of attention. Not only is it a lightweight and cordless stick vacuum, but its base also serves as a debris receptacle. Instead of emptying the dust bin after each use like a normal stick vacuum, the base sucks it away automatically. Shark mentions the capacity can handle up to 30 days' worth of debris before you'll need to empty it.

SEE ALSO: As a pro vacuum tester, I'm already impressed by the robot vacuum deals live ahead of October Prime Day

This model also uses auto-detection to adjust the suction power to match your floor type. The LED headlights are great for helping with visibility when it comes to dust bunnies under the bed and pet hair in the corner.

Before the rush of Prime Day begins, secure the Shark Clean & Empty cordless stick vacuum while it's on sale for under $280. Tracking the forest floor into the hallway won't feel like such an inconvenience with this lightweight model.

Apple's new iPhone Air is thin and elegant at the expense of camera versatility and battery life. Knowing that the battery bit could annoy some users, Apple launched a special battery pack aimed pretty much exclusively at the iPhone Air.

It's called the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery, and during the iPhone launch event in September, the company hyped it to the point where it seemed like a must-buy. But is it?

The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is slim and luxurious At least the camera "plateau" is somewhat protected when this thing is on. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

I don't like the idea of buying a super-thin, ultra-fancy iPhone Air and then lugging an external battery to cover for its somewhat lacking battery life.

On the other hand, this battery pack is beautiful in its simplicity: It sticks to the phone magnetically and, besides a USB-C charging port, has no other nooks or crevices. It's very slim itself, it only comes in a silky white finish, and it pairs with the iPhone Air beautifully. It's like a smooth, magical rock that charges your phone.

Featured Video For You Hands-On with the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max

And, despite how simple it is, this thing is pretty smart. If you plug it in while it's on an iPhone Air, it will charge itself and the phone at the same time. You can also use it to charge your AirPods, or even other phones, both wirelessly or with a USB-C cable.

That all sounds great, but... It's thin, but it only packs a 3,149mAh battery inside. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

So what's not to like? First of all, it's pricy; 99 bucks is a steep charge given that it only has a 3,149mAh battery, which is only good for charging your iPhone Air some 65 percent (Apple's number). It charges rather slowly; up to 12W. It doesn't give you any indication of the state of charge; the sole LED (beautifully hidden beneath the device's surface) will glow green when it's getting charged, and orange when its battery is getting depleted.

Then there are the design quirks. True to its name, the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack only fits the iPhone Air; it literally does not fit any other iPhone. Frustratingly, while it's a MagSafe-compatible battery pack, it does not have MagSafe on its own back, meaning you can't place a wallet or any other accessories onto it. As someone who's completely switched to Apple Wallet which I carry on my phone at all times, this is a deal breaker.

The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery only fits the iPhone Air; it's too big even for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. But it can charge it...like this. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Now, if none of the issues above apply to you, and you don't mind dishing out another $99 on top of the $999 starting price for the iPhone Air, the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery Pack is probably the best battery pack you can get for the Air, simply because it's so pretty and fits the Air so nicely.