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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
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The best streaming deals live ahead of October Prime Day: Criterion Channel, Starz, and more

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 23:05
The best October Prime Day streaming deals at a glance: BEST Overall Starz annual subscription $11.99/year for your first year (save $58) Get Deal Best for movie lovers The Criterion Channel annual subscription $79.99/year for your first year (save $20) Get Deal Best Prime Video add-on deal AMC+ and MGM+ ad-free bundle $5.99/month for two months (save $12) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day events are no longer just a time to score TVs and laptops at a discount. Back in July, Amazon also dropped a ton of streaming deals. Now, ahead of October Prime Day — formally dubbed Prime Big Deal Days — we're seeing some sweet discounts on streaming services once again. So it's safe to say that Prime events are now a good time to diversify your streaming lineup.

There's a bit of fine print, however, when it comes to Prime Day streaming deals. Typically, most of the deals you'll find during these shopping events are in the form of Prime Video add-ons. In other words, you need to be a Prime member or a Prime Video subscriber to take advantage of them. (Not a member? Sign up here.) Add-ons still give you full access to the streaming service you choose; they just happen to live inside the Prime Video app, keeping all of your content under one roof.

Lucky for us, some other streaming services outside of the Prime Video umbrella have also tossed their hats in the ring for October Prime Day, which officially runs Oct. 7 and 8. While we're not expecting Black Friday-level streaming deals, we'll certainly be keeping our eyes peeled for anything that pops up in the coming week.

Below, we've rounded up all the best options so far, but stay tuned as we get closer to the official shopping event.

Best early October Prime Day streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Starz Starz annual subscription $11.99/year for your first year (save $58) Get Deal Why we like it

While it may not be the most popular streaming service, Starz is still stacked with some excellent content, including originals like the female serial killer story Sweetpea, the historical drama Outlander, and the Lisa Taddeo book adaptation Three Women. It's also where you'll find Lionsgate films like From the World of John Wick: Ballerina and Americana right out of the theater. For an unspecified limited time, you can sign up for an entire year of the streamer for $1 per month. That's an outrageous 83% in savings — easily the best streaming deal this season. FWIW, that's less than a single month of ad-free streaming on Netflix, Hulu, Peacock, or HBO Max.

Best streaming deal for movie lovers Opens in a new window Credit: The Criterion Channel The Criterion Channel annual subscription $79.99/year for your first year (save $20) Get Deal Why we like it

The best streaming subscription for movie buffs, a Criterion Channel annual plan gives you access to the films in the Criterion Collection and Janus Films' library of more than 1,500 films. Instead of a fixed library with algorithmic programming, it hosts constantly rotating thematic programming, which ranges from mass-market to niche indie films. Subscribers can also enjoy over 500 shorts and 5,000 supplementary features, like trailers, introductions, behind-the-scenes documentaries, interviews, commentary, and rare archival footage. It's a cinephile's paradise, and it's typically just $100 for a full year. Through Oct. 5, however, you can sign up for your first year for just $79.99, saving you 20%.

Best Prime Video add-on streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: AMC+ / MGM+ MGM+ and AMC+ ad-free bundle (Prime Video add-on) $5.99/month for 2 months (save $12) Get Deal Why we like it

Two streaming services for less than the price of one? That's unheard of in the streaming world, but that's exactly what Amazon is offering with this Prime Video add-on deal. For a limited time (likely through the end of Prime Big Deal Days), you can sign up for two months of ad-free MGM+ and AMC+ for just $5.99 per month. That's a grand total of $11.98 for two months of streaming on two different platforms. Actually, since AMC+ includes the Shudder library, it's technically three streaming services.

MGM+ is home to lots of movies we love, like Challengers, Better Man, Blink Twice, and Nickel Boys, as well as its own original series, like Godfather of Harlem, From, and Hotel Cocaine. Meanwhile, AMC+ is home to The Walking Dead universe, as well as Mad Men, Killing Eve, and Portlandia. It also includes full access to the entire Shudder, Sundance Now, and IFC Films catalogs as well, making it a must-have for horror fanatics this fall.

More streaming dealsDigital movie deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Shark vs. Roomba: A detailed investigation of the robot vacuum rivalry

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 23:00
SEE ALSO: Robot vacuums vs. stick vacuums: Shopping advice from someone who has both The new 2025 Roombas shifted the tides

This comparison guide would have been a very different article to read had you clicked on it any time before March 2025. Before that, iRobot and Shark were both kind of plateauing in terms of the variety of their respective lineups. It was like a competition to see who could be the most mid.

But the lukewarm rivalry got interesting when iRobot went rogue and overhauled the whole Roomba fleet outside of its typical late summer schedule. The newest batch consists of eight new Roombas falling under four different umbrellas: the Roomba 105 or 205, or Roomba Plus 405 or 505, ranging in price from $299 to $999. The move may or may not have been a last-ditch effort to save the company from a reportedly bleak financial situation.

iRobot seems to have patched up many of its weak spots and prioritized budget friendliness without skimping on features that consumers really care about, like including smart mapping in even the cheapest models.

The 2025 Roombas all have LiDAR towers — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable Where Roomba wins: Small obstacle avoidance and more models to fit more needs

iRobot simply has more robot vacuums than Shark, and that variety alone will make it a more palatable brand to more people. More models to choose from means more opportunities to customize the features and budget to a shopper's main goals for automated cleaning.

Let's say you're willing to pay a little extra for a premium robot vacuum that achieves the most hands-off experience possible. Between Shark and iRobot, iRobot has more options with features that make a robot vacuum self-sufficient, including mopping pads that automatically lift when going over carpet, self-empty docks that also wash and dry the mopping pads, and small obstacle avoidance cameras.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

The coolest part about the Roomba lineup is that you can mix and match several of these features to stay within a certain budget. You can skip all of the other fancy features while still bringing home small obstacle avoidance with the standalone Roomba j7 for as little as $299 on sale, or try out the space-saving DustCompactor design with or without mopping for under $500. Even the cheapest 2025 Roombas guarantee LiDAR-powered smart mapping and 70 times (read that again) the suction power of the 600 series Roombas, which were the super popular cheap Roombas a few years ago.

The most significant expansion to the Roomba family has been to the self-sufficient mopping Roombas — great news for folks who have been avoiding robot vacuums with mops because they don't want to manually handle the soggy pads. While Shark only has one robot vacuum that maintains its own mopping pad, several Roombas do so at varying price points:

If your home's hard floors are perpetually covered in a layer of hair from various pets, self-rinsing mopping pads are a hallmark feature of the best robot vacuums and mops for pet hair. Otherwise, all of that fur will be clinging to the wet mopping pad until the next time you wash it by hand.

iRobot also diverted from the traditional flat mopping pad with its 2025 overhaul. Now, the Roomba Plus 405 and 505 Combo use dual spinning mopping pads — a design that the majority of iRobot customers prefer, iRobot told me in a press briefing. The Roomba Max 705 Combo upgrades even further to a roller mop, making it close competition to other new high-end releases like the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller.

But here's the thing with robot vacuum and mop combos: Not everyone is pro-combo. A lot of people simply don't want to deal with tanks or anything soggy at all, but finding a vac-only robot vacuum typically means settling for a super basic model — all of the most advanced robot vacuums are automatically hybrids nowadays. iRobot heard the cries of the anti-mop crowd on Reddit and released a vacuum-only version of one of the most powerful Roombas, the Max 705 Vac.

The Roomba Max 705 Combo has a paint roller-esque mop and a wooden dock. Credit: iRobot The new Roomba Plus 405 Combo has two spinning mopping pads — a first for iRobot. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

iRobot's mastery of small obstacle avoidance gives it serious leverage over Shark — it's actually the best small obstacle avoidance I've experienced from any brand I've tested at home. All j-series Roombas, the Roomba Combo 10 Max, the Roomba Plus 505 Combo, and both 705s have the special small obstacle detection camera system, which helps to avoid small obstacles that less-advanced robot vacuums would typically eat, like a phone charger, extension cord, rogue sock, or pet waste. In short, it solves the main gripe that many robot vacuum non-believers have: robot vacuums get stuck so often that they're more trouble than they're worth.

SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum

I first experienced this sense of relief when reviewing the Roomba j7+ and Combo j7+, and it was never easy to get back into the habit of pre-tidying when trying another robot vacuum that didn't have small obstacle avoidance. I'd easily sacrifice more intense cleaning for a robot vacuum to have the brain cells to do that.

Where Roomba loses: Cutting corners at the ultra-cheap and premium ends of the spectrum

Plummeting earnings one month, a random revamp of the entire Roomba line the next month — if we're trying to read between the lines, I'd say it became glaringly obvious that people were getting sick of Roombas costing a lot but not doing enough.

So while I'll give credit to Roomba for getting more practical with its prices, Shark still does budget-friendly better. For instance, I think that the perfect starter robot vacuum is one with smart mapping and self-emptying, with suction power being less of a priority as long as it's sufficient for light daily upkeep. In Roomba world, the cheapest option for this is the Roomba 105 + AutoEmpty Dock, going for $449.99 at full price or around $299.99 on sale. In Shark world, the same capabilities can be secured for as low as $199.99 on sale with the Shark IQ RV2302AE. And there are definitely more powerful cheap robot vacuums than both of them, namely from Roborock.

SEE ALSO: I found the most impressive robot vacuum under $500. You've never heard of it.

At the absolute most affordable end of the spectrum, iRobot's $150 to $250 assortment is comically Not Worth It. In April 2024, iRobot fumbled a low-hanging opportunity to fix the cheap Roomba situation by releasing even more cheap Roombas without smart mapping. I wouldn't recommend the Roomba Essential line to anyone — smart mapping is a feature I feel is ~Essential~ in any robot vacuum.

The Roomba Combo 2 Essential was more of a pain than a help in my apartment. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

In my experience, just hitting "go" and letting a robot vacuum clean aimlessly is a recipe for coming home to a robot vacuum lost under the bed. The zigzag pattern feels like a hit-or-miss guessing game made more annoying by getting stuck and missing spots on the floor that I'd rather just hit with my Dyson stick vacuum, anyway.

Sure, all of these base-tier Roombas do go on sale often. You could technically score the absolute cheapest Roomba for around $130 or a mopping, self-emptying Roomba for $280. But settling for no specific room cleaning just isn't worth it, especially when a similar wad of cash could get you way further if you were buying a Shark.

There's also some skimping afoot on the fancy end of the iRobot spectrum — the most powerful Roomba doesn't stand a chance against the most powerful contenders from other brands. On its face, the Roomba Max 705 Combo sounds like a beast: It has 175 times the suction power of a 600 Series Roomba and is coined as the most powerful 2-in-1 Roomba. But iRobot, who is quietly revealing Pa suction power measurements for the first time, has confirmed that the Roomba Max 705 Combo has 13,000 Pa suction power. That means that even the best Roomba for pet hair or carpet is significantly weaker than the other flagship robot vacuums out there: the Narwal Freo Z Ultra has 18,000 Pa, the Roborock Saros 10 and Z70 have 22,000 Pa, and the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller has 30,000 Pa. That's not a direct comparison to Shark, but definitely still relevant.

Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The curb appeal of the new self-emptying Roomba Combo models is lacking. The plasticky exposed water tank look doesn't exactly flow in an otherwise cozy, well-decorated home — this feels like the physical embodiment of cutting corners to keep prices down. I'm much more keen on the Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro's sleek self-emptying dock.

Where Shark wins: Spot cleaning and affordability

Shark has historically been in tune with what the average person is willing to spend on a robot vacuum. The brand consistently offers core capabilities like smart mapping and mopping at lower prices than its Roomba counterparts — a level of cost-effectiveness that should be particularly enticing to strict budget shoppers or first-time robot vacuum owners.

The Shark Matrix RV2310 is a reliable little vacuum. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Shark's more approachable price points don't necessarily mean it skimps on cleaning performance, though. Shark Matrix vacuums clean in a grid pattern, approaching the area several times from multiple angles to grab anything it may have missed in the first pass or two. According to Shark, Matrix mode dishes out 30 percent better carpet cleaning than the older RV Shark models. For Shark 2-in-1 robot vacuums, a mop in Matrix mode vibrates 100 times per minute to scrub at stains that likely wouldn't budge from a single pass of a cheaper robot mop or a paper towel. Matrix mopping always comes in clutch for keeping up with the constant layer of shoe prints by my front door.

While the brands themselves make it difficult to directly compare suction power on paper, in my experience, I found the low and mid-range Shark models to be less likely to leave a rogue crumb or pile of hair behind than a majority of budget Roombas.

SEE ALSO: After 3 months and visible results, the Shark LED mask is a staple in my skincare routine

Shark even extends the Matrix cleaning mechanism to most of its super-affordable models, making any of the RV2310 or RV2300 models a solid choice for a budget robot vacuum. I experienced no noteworthy navigational issues when sending either of those models to sweep specific spots in my apartment. Though the suction power is expectedly just OK, it was enough for surface-level daily upkeep of the big, visible debris. These two Sharks are also some of the most compact self-emptying robot vacuums I've seen — huge news for small spaces that don't have room for a huge dock.

Shark robot vacuums particularly shine when it comes to messes that need to be taken care of right now. Shark's spot cleaning has been such a straightforward, reliable feature in every Shark robot vacuum I tried. My ultimate spot cleaning test is the area outside either of my cats' litter boxes — even the cheap Shark robot vacuums always got to the right spot and cleared the kitty litter before I walked in there with bare feet.

In September 2024, Shark finally caught on to the whole "self-sustaining mopping pads" thing with the release of the Shark PowerDetect line. Even those premium Sharks debuted at $1,199.99 and $999.99 — far less than the asking price for flagship hybrids from other brands.

The Shark PowerDetect robot vacuum with NeverTouch Pro dock. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

This is the first mopping Shark that knows to stop mopping on carpeted areas without you having to specifically designate so. For good measure, the PowerDetect is also equipped with large wheels that hoist the vac over carpet to keep it dry during mopping mode. Those hydraulics also helped the PowerDetect to be one of the only robot vacs I've tested that's never gotten stuck on a rug corner or scrambled up my bath mats.

Where Shark loses: Small obstacle avoidance and variety

Shark's biggest shortcoming is that it takes forever to release new robot vacuums, and that staggered schedule often leaves it playing catch-up with other brands. Brands like Roborock and Dreame seem to drop new crops of robot vacuums twice in the time period that Shark introduces a single new model. The existing mid-tier Shark models are also a little more basic than the Roombas in the same price range.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's summer vacuum launch is the biggest vacuum drop of 2025 so far

Shark will also be at a huge disadvantage until its robot vacs can avoid cords and pet waste — it's the lone major robot vacuum brand that hasn't really invested in small obstacle avoidance. This is such a staple feature in my life, as I'm sure it is for anyone whose floor might be cluttered lived in from time to time.

Though I was satisfied with the floor coverage, thoroughness, and mapping accuracy when testing the Shark Detect Pro, it seems overpriced for the negligible differences between it and a regular old self-emptying Shark. "Detect" sounds like it should refer to the capability to detect phone chargers or socks, but alas, it's actually talking about a feature that increases suction when an edge, corner, or extra dirty spot is detected.

The Shark Detect Pro is fine. Just fine. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

Similarly, only one mopping Shark automatically stops mopping when carpet is sensed. This means vacuum and mop mode aren't possible at the same time in the other 2-in-1 Shark Matrix models, and a person needs to manually attach the water tank to switch to mopping mode. With Matrix Mopping being such a solid feature, it's a bummer that its usage is so dependent on human intervention.

Even the best Shark robot vacuum still only has a flat D-shaped mopping pad. It does press downward and vibrate for more tenacious scrubbing action than the lazy mopping done by cheap mopping robots, but the robot vacuum is kind of past that singular design now. Most people, myself included, seem to prefer dual spinning mopping pads, and now roller mops reminiscent of a paint roller are popping up — both mopping designs that iRobot offers. The PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro did a solid job of wiping up small spills and shoe stains on my apartment's hardwood, but it wasn't able to scrub in corners and along edges like iRobot's flexible spinning mops can.

SEE ALSO: The Roborock Saros 10R aces one thing that most other robot vacuums can't

Shark doesn't do itself any favors by refusing to list its vacuums' suction power in Pascals (Pa). Almost every other major robot vacuum brand measures suction power in Pa (even iRobot now), which makes comparing options easy. Shark still insists on keeping an air of mystery by solely comparing suction power to other vacuums in its own family tree. Shark has also been known to make claims like "50% better suction than the best-selling iRobot." Whatever that means.

Where iRobot and Shark both lose: Their apps suck

Ironically, two of the most longstanding names in the robot vacuum game have the two most outdated-feeling apps. The bare bones home maps in both the Roomba Home and Shark Clean apps are far less intricate than the color-coded maps that Roborock or Eufy offer. Pausing a clean or adding an extra room to the queue is similarly clunky on both.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple Vision Pro 2 rumors: Release date, upgrades, and more

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 21:59

Remember the Apple Vision Pro? Apple's AR/VR headset launched more than a year and a half ago in early 2024 to much fanfare. Since then, however, there appears to be waning interest in the Apple Vision Pro as sales have plunged for the $3,499 device.

However, Apple isn't giving up on the Apple Vision Pro quite yet.

In fact, the company has been hard at work on a new version of the AR/VR set, tentatively titled the Apple Vision Pro 2.

There are conflicting reports from two separate trustworthy sources regarding Apple's upgraded AR/VR headset. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new Vision Pro 2 would be powered by Apple's upcoming M5 chipset. However, Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman has previously reported that the upgraded Vision Pro 2 would use Apple's most current chipset, the M4. Either way, though, it will seemingly be a big upgrade from the M2 chip that powers the current Vision Pro model alongside the R1 chip.

In addition to the upgraded processor, Gurman reports that Apple is working on increasing the 16 cores in the neural engine of the current Vision Pro, which would make the Vision Pro 2 even more powerful at completing AI related tasks.

Another big upgrade to the Vision Pro 2 is a more practical one: The headstrap. Even the Vision Pro owners who like the headset have complained about how heavy the device is, especially when using it for a prolonged period of time. 

According to a report from Bloomberg's Gurman from over the summer, Apple is working on a new headstrap that will enable users to more easily wear the 1.4 pound device for longer time periods. The report says the new strap for the Vision Pro 2 would focus on reducing neck strain and head pain.

Apple appears to be aiming for a Vision Pro 2 release by Spring 2026 before moving towards a cheaper, lighter AR/VR headset to be released sometime in 2027 or later.

Categories: IT General, Technology

DoorDash unveils new delivery robots that yawn, wink, and travel 20 mph

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 21:49

DoorDash just unveiled new delivery service offerings, the most notable of which is an AI-powered anthropomorphic robot named Dot.

Dot is touted as both agile and fast — traveling up to 20 m.p.h. — and is already deployed in the greater Phoenix area. (Meanwhile, in L.A., a non-DoorDash delivery robot recently crashed into a disabled person in a wheelchair.) The robot is electric and one-tenth the size of a car, and DoorDash touts it as an environmentally friendly alternative to car-based deliveries. Dot's deftness means it can travel to the front doors of many homes, apartments, and office buildings, according to the company.

"You don’t always need a full-sized car to deliver a tube of toothpaste or pack of diapers," Stanley Tang, cofounder and head of DoorDash Labs, said in a statement. "The breakthrough wasn't just making it autonomous, but in making it reliable and efficient to serve the needs of local businesses and consumers ... It is small enough to navigate doorways and driveways, fast enough to maintain food quality, and smart enough to optimize the best routes for delivery."

Dot can carry up to 30 lbs. of cargo or six large pizza boxes. The robots are also designed with "eyes" that react to sounds and glance toward someone speaking or honking at them. When opened by customers, the robots (oddly) make a yawning sound.

Along with Dot, DoorDash also announced its new Autonomous Delivery Platform, an AI-powered dispatcher that determines the best way to deliver products to a customer — whether it's by Dot, drone, or driver.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Boses new QuietComfort Ultra earbuds just quietly got their first price drop

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 20:45

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2025, 3:45 p.m. EDT Since the initial writing of this story, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd Gen) have gone up in price to $279.99. This is still a savings of $20. Our original story follows.

Save $41.64: As of Sept. 30, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) are on sale for $257.36 at Amazon, marking their first-ever price cut just weeks after their release. Usually $299, this deal saves you 14% off the total price.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $257.36 at Amazon
$299 Save $41.64 Get Deal

The only thing better than a new product release is a new product release on sale.

That's exactly the case with the second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which just became available on Sept. 10, and are now on sale for $257.36 at Amazon, slashing $41.64 off their $299 price point. Admittedly, it's not the biggest price cut ever, but it is notable that these earbuds are getting any discount at all so shortly after their release. At the time of writing, the deal is only available on the black colorway.

I spent a couple of weeks testing out the earbuds, and was impressed by how well their noise cancellation performs — it's easily on par with over-ear models. As someone who doesn't love the sensation of wearing earbuds for longer periods of time, I found these comfortable enough to wear for hours at a time without any irritation. The sound quality is also well-rounded and full, and I appreciated the mic enhancements that made my voice much clearer on calls over the previous gen.

Honestly, the biggest flaws on these earbuds was that they aren't that different from the previous generation — there are some minor improvements in ANC and sound, with other upgrades in the form of wireless charging and an ear wax guard on the ear tips, but nothing that would make them a must-upgrade for first-gen users, even on sale.

However, if you don't already own premium ANC earbuds and have been looking for some of the best money can get, this discount makes them especially intriguing to check out. If you're willing to wait (and possibly miss out on savings — we don't know how long these deals will last) Amazon has teased that Bose products will be going on sale next week for October Prime Day.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Echos and the ANC Echo Buds are already beating their July Prime Day prices ahead of October Prime Day

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 20:28

An Amazon event wouldn't be an Amazon event without the brand pushing its own devices. While Amazon tends to stick strictly to the end of any Prime event's end cutoff time, it doesn't shy away from putting Amazon devices on sale early. So naturally, several Echo deals, Fire Tablet deals, and Blink camera deals are already live the week before Prime Big Deal Days kicks off on Oct. 7.

The best Prime Day Amazon device deals at a glance: BEST FIRE TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 10 (64GB) $79.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST FIRE TV DEAL Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $299.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST ECHO DEAL Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 (save $85) Get Deal BEST KINDLE DEAL Kindle Scribe (16GB) $299.99 (save $100) Get Deal BEST BLINK DEAL Blink Video Doorbell $34.99 (save $35) Get Deal

A few devices are even beating their Prime Day prices from July: Particularly of note are the Echo Show 8 dropping to $99.99 (compared to $109.99 in July) and the Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation dropping to $34.99 — a 71% discount only matched during Black Friday 2024. There are a ton of great Fire TV deals — they just happen to be on Fire TVs from non-Amazon brands, like Insignia and Hisense. There aren't a ton of great Kindle deals just yet, but we'll update this post immediately when more Kindles do go on sale at Amazon. But for now, you can prepare by signing up for three months of Kindle Unlimited for free if you've never subscribed before.

Before you buy, see if Amazon announced a new version of that device at its fall hardware event on Sept. 30 — maybe you'll want to wait for the refreshed model, or maybe the new prices are the justification you needed to grab a deal now.

SEE ALSO: What is Stuff Your Kindle Day? The best way to fill your e-reader with free books.

Below, we're keeping tabs on all of the best Amazon device deals before and throughout the end of October Prime Day on Oct. 8. The best Amazon device deals do tend to sell out toward the end of the sale, so if you see a good price drop now, hop on it. There's also a ton of stuff outside of Amazon devices on sale ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, so be sure to follow along with our carefully curated coverage of all of the best October Prime Day deals.

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to new record-low prices, while struck-through deals were sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Amazon device deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon Echo Buds with Active Noise Cancellation (newest model) 🔥 $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal Why we like it

There's no way around it: A shit ton of people are going to buy AirPods this October Prime Day. But for those who aren't married to Apple's earbuds (or how often they seem to break), just know that the latest version of Amazon's Echo Buds with ANC are just $34.99 after a 71% discount. That beats their Prime Day price from July by $10, and you could get five pairs of Echo Buds for less than the $199.99 sale price of the AirPods Pro 2.

Amazon's noise cancellation doesn't level with the effectiveness of those AirPods or other top noise-cancelling earbuds, but casual music or podcast listeners may not care at this price point.

Fire tablet dealsEcho dealsKindle dealsFire TV dealsFire TV deals from non-Amazon brandsBlink home security dealsOther Amazon device deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazons Echo Buds with ANC are the cheapest theyve ever been

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 20:20

SAVE $85: As of Sept. 30, Amazon's Echo Buds with ANC are down to an all-time low price of $34.99. That's 71% off their list price of $119.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85 Get Deal

Earlier this month, we highlighted Amazon's excellent deal on the Echo Buds with ANC. Little did we know, that deal was about to get even better.

As of Sept. 30, just a week before the Prime Big Deal Days event, the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC have dropped another $10 to just $34.99. That's a massive 71% or $85 off their list price of $119.99 and the lowest price on record. The buds have only reached this record-low once before on Black Friday 2024.

Since they're quite a few years old, originally launching in 2021, we probably wouldn't recommend the Echo Buds with ANC at full price. At less than $40, however, it's a whole different ball game. At that price, they're cheaper than any of the earbuds on our list of the best budget picks.

While they won't compare to something like the AirPods Pro or Bose QuietComfort earbuds, the Echo Buds are still solid noise-cancelling earbuds for anyone who doesn't want to spend a fortune. They offer a comfortable fit, decent sound quality, and acceptable battery life (about 15 hours with the charging case). As Mashable's Alex Perry wrote in his review, "Considering how much cheaper these are than other big-name ANC-enabled earbuds, it's pretty incredible that the ANC works as well as it does."

If you're in the market for some earbuds that'll go easy on your wallet, add these babies to your cart while they're sitting at their best price ever.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition review: Its great but is it worth $200?

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 18:35

Kindle users might be the most passionate sect of BookTok, coming up with hacks to maximize the device's potential, through page turners or Stuff Your Kindle Day events. And we get it, they're the best e-readers out there. In 2024, Amazon released a new line-up of Kindles that improved upon the previous generation, which we already loved.

I've tested the Kindle Paperwhite, and spoiler alert, I do think it's a better value than the Signature Edition. However, the SE isn't without its merits. Let's get into the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 12th generation, and if you should buy it over the basic Kindle or Kindle Paperwhite.

It has all the perks of the Paperwhite and more It's nearly impossible to tell the difference between the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

The Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition are essentially the same device; the Signature Edition just has the addition of a few special features. You can read all the in-depth details about why we like the Paperwhite in my review, but here's the TL;DR.

The 2024 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is lightning fast. In comparison to the 2021 edition, the difference is noticeable, with no hesitation when flipping through pages. However, the biggest improvement comes when switching between books in your library, as it zips through tasks.

With a 7-inch screen, the SE got a slight size increase, while the resolution of 300 ppi and maximum brightness of 94 nits remain the same between generations. That being said, the display on this generation looks higher contrast, making it sharper and easier to read. Plus, it remains waterproof, perfect for taking along to the bathtub, beach, or pool.

SEE ALSO: I've read hundreds of free Kindle books with this app. Here's how.

Not to mention it comes with 32GB of storage. If you're thinking in terms of phones or tablets, that amount of storage might seem small, but keep in mind that 32GB has the potential to hold up to 32,000 e-books.

You get all of these great features in both the Kindle Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition, so what makes the SE unique?

The same great battery life as the Kindle Paperwhite

Kindles are unbeatable on one front: battery life. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition boast the same battery life of up to 12 weeks. The Signature Edition can go months without charging, but it doesn't have a longer life than the standard Paperwhite. The only battery life bonus you get with the Signature Edition is its wireless charging capabilities.

The Paperwhite vs. Signature Edition: What does $40 extra get you?

The Paperwhite Signature Edition has several added features that come with its $40 increase in price. For $199.99, it comes with an ad-free lock screen, 32GB of storage, auto-adjusting brightness, and wireless charging. Plus it comes in metallic versions of the Kindle Paperwhite's black, jade, and raspberry.

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition offers a more vibrant twist on jade. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable No lockscreen ads

Among the added features, the lock screen is the biggest draw. On a standard Kindle, ads pop up on the lock screen, forcing Amazon's recommendations on you. Not necessarily a dealbreaker, but still plenty annoying. So the Signature Edition does away with the ads, freeing you from the chains of capitalism (sort of). However, this does come with one catch. The ad-free lock screen tends to unlock easily when tossing it into a bag since there's no 'swipe to unlock' mechanism that the ad-enabled devices have. So if you're going to get the Signature Edition, make sure to get a case with a cover.

Auto-adjusting brightness

In terms of the other features, I didn't think they were anything to write home about. The auto-adjusting brightness didn't work consistently, even when I went from reading next to a lamp to turning off the lights; the auto-adjustment didn't kick in, and I always had to manually turn the brightness down.

Wireless charging

The wireless charging, while nice, didn't feel like the most necessary addition since you need to charge the device every three months. Plus, with most devices using USB-C these days, I'm never in short supply of chargers.

Magsafe chargers even work on the Paperwhite Signature Edition. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable 32GB of storage — is it necessary?

Now let's address the 32GB in the room. For an e-reader, that is an exorbitant amount of storage. It's double the amount of the standard Kindle Paperwhite, and again, 32,000 books' worth of storage. That is a lot of books. Is that much necessary? In my professional opinion, no, especially when you can remove downloaded books from your device and redownload from the Kindle cloud at any time. So if you think you need all that storage, you probably don't, and it's not worth splurging an extra $40 on it.

Differences between the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 12th generation and 11th generation

If you already have the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 11th generation, you may be wondering if it's worth it to upgrade to the next generation. Short answer: Absolutely not. Unless your 11th-gen Signature Edition has kicked the bucket, the differences between the 11th generation and 12th generation are negligible. Both devices have all the premium features of 32GB of storage, wireless charging, auto-adjusting brightness, and no lockscreen ads.

The main differences between the two devices are faster processing and a slightly larger screen. Having used both devices, the processing speeds are extremely similar, but the 12th generation's extra speed is admittedly hard to notice. The larger screen size is nice, but it's only a difference of .2-inches.

All that to say, don't run to upgrade unless your old device is on its last leg.

Is the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition worth it? Is 32GB worth the $200 price tag? We're unconvinced. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For the average user, I don't think the Signature Edition is a worthy upgrade. The Kindle Paperwhite is far better bang for your buck, packed with everything you need for the ultimate reading experience. It might be worth the splurge if you do have storage concerns — maybe you've maxed out on 16GB on previous Kindle models. Otherwise, 16GB will be fine. And if you're really put off by lock screen ads, then the Signature Edition is going to be your preferred device.

However, if you are going to swing for the Amazon Kindle Signature Edition, look for it on sale. During Black Friday 2024, the Signature Edition was down to $154.99, cheaper than the listing price of the standard Paperwhite.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (2024 model, 12th generation) $199.99 at Amazon
Shop Now Mashable's reviews of the current Kindle line-up
Categories: IT General, Technology

Government shutdown looms. Will online services be disrupted?

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 18:33

The federal government is preparing for what appears to be an imminent shutdown after President Donald Trump and congressional leaders failed to find budgetary compromise in meetings convened on Monday (Sept. 29).

The funding lapse would be the first under Trump's second term (but certainly not the first in the country's history). Under Trump's first term, the federal government experienced its longest shutdown ever (35 days) as leaders debated funding for Trump's plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the pause resulted in a $3 billion hit to the U.S. economy.  

SEE ALSO: President Trump finally inked a $14 billion TikTok deal to keep the app alive

This year's budget hinges on the two parties agreeing to terms on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, something the Trump administration has taken a hard line on in its One Big Beautiful Bill. Senate Democrats have already once rejected a Republican-led temporary funding plan that would extend the current budget for another seven weeks, choosing to stand their ground on Medicaid.

Republican leaders, which hold a majority in the House and Senate, have plastered some government pages with claims that Democrats are holding the budget hostage. The homepage for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, for example, reads: "The Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands."

If the pattern continues until the deadline (Sept. 30 at midnight), federal spending streams will be halted and services will have to operate with limited staff and funding.

What a shutdown means for federal agencies

In a departure from previous government shutdowns, the White House has also threatened to slash the federal workforce should the lapse occur, with Trump saying thousands of permanent jobs could be on the line if the two parties can't come to an agreement. The administration has already cut thousands of workers, including another 100,000 expected to resign today.

But most employees, barring lawmakers on Capitol Hill, will be furloughed or forced to work without pay. The paychecks of around 4 million federal employees, including millions of active service members and currently deployed National Guard troops, will be held in limbo until the new budget passes. Hundreds of thousands of employees will continue to work as unpaid essential staff — more than 300,000 government workers were furloughed during the last shutdown in early 2019. 

Essential services, like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, will continue to be doled out in the event of a shutdown, although individuals can expect slower turnarounds and potential application pauses. Regulatory agencies, including the health and safety operations of the FDA and CDC, will have to pause some of their work, as they reduce necessary staff. TSA and air traffic users will also be forced to work without pay. The U.S. Postal Service, border patrol, and law enforcement shouldn't be affected. 

Federal employee unions, including the AFGE, have warned that such a pause would put federal employees at risk of financial, medical, and food insecurity, and called the proposed mass firings an illegal tactic by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 

How a shutdown may impact individuals and online users

For the average citizen, a brief government shutdown will be more like a blip than a pressing worry. But an extended funding lapse — like that in 2019 — could have further-reaching repercussions. 

Most online services will continue to operate, including filing options for federal benefits, forms, and documents, like travel visas. But whether or not you'll receive those requests on time is another matter. SNAP and WIC recipients, for example, could have their benefits delayed if the USDA is slow to process new forms. Non-automated collections and refunds for the IRS would also be impacted, as the agency works with limited staff. Immigration and travel services, like the E-Verify process for new employees, could be shut down, as well. 

Other human services, like call centers and hotlines, could be put on pause, too. Offline, conservation groups have called to close National Parks if employees are furloughed following widespread vandalism during the 2019 shutdown. In the past, this has threatened the ever-popular Fat Bear Week, held at Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Agencies like the National Park Service historically stop updating social media during a shutdown.

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In addition to beleaguered services and hits to federally subsidized programs, federal websites and national cyber security could also be strained by the lack of staff and funding. In 2019, security company Netcraft alleged that the lapse led to dozens of expired security certificates for .gov websites, rendering them "insecure or inaccessible." The Department of Homeland Security's cyber-security and infrastructure security agency was reduced to half staff, and cyber security experts warned that continued understaffing could pose risks to the general public, unable to verify federal websites. Previous lapses have also delayed election system security scans and cybersecurity research. 

This time around, the DHS's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) may be reduced even more, down to 35 percent of its current staff. Also on the chopping block for budget lawmakers is the 2015 Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act, a law that facilitates cyber threat sharing between private companies and the government, which is set to expire. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

I dug up the best early October Prime Day laptop deals: These 2 models are worth buying already

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 18:08
The best early October Prime Day laptop deals at a glance: Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 (save $200) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99 (save $400) Get Deal

Black Friday is the absolute best time to buy a laptop if you want a great deal. Retailers typically reserve their year-round lows for October through December to entice holiday shoppers, and to clear their shelves ahead of next-gen hardware launches in January. It's the perfect storm for PC bargain-hunting.

For its part, Amazon unofficially kicks off its Black Friday festivities well ahead of time with a Prime Big Deal Days sale in early fall. This "October Prime Day" event is scheduled for Oct. 7 and 8 this year, so I'm expecting a bunch of deep markdowns to pop up there in the very near future.

SEE ALSO: What is Prime Big Deal Days? Everything you need to know and what deals to expect.

You may have noticed that several Apple MacBooks and Microsoft Surface Copilot+ PCs are already discounted in the lead-up to Prime Big Deal Days, but I think the bulk of them are passable for now. Once the event begins, Amazon will probably put way more options on sale and lower the prices of the already-on-sale models even further. I saw this happen around the retailer's flagship Prime Day shindig in July — early birds had slim pickings compared to day-of shoppers.

My advice for most people is to keep your cart empty until Oct. 7 to make sure you lock in the best deal possible. That said, there are two early October Prime Day laptop deals that I think are worth considering because they're already at or very close to their all-time lows.

Best MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

Apple's M4 MacBook Air is a sleek speed demon: In our CPU benchmark, it outperformed 89% of the models in our laptop testing database. (Compared to the last-gen M3 model, it's 24% faster.) It doesn't look all that different from older MacBooks with M-something chips, but its upgraded 12MP Center Stage camera was a welcome upgrade to our reviewer. We think the 13-inch model is the best MacBook for students and other users who value portability, and right now, Amazon has an upgraded configuration with 512GB of storage on sale for $999 — its lowest price on record. (Doubling its 256GB base capacity means you'll probably never need an external hard drive.) No other MacBook was on sale for an all-time low at the time of writing.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook Air dealsMacBook Pro dealsBest Windows laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13.8-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $999.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $400 Get Deal Why we like it

The 13.8-inch Surface Laptop 7 with a Snapdragon X Elite chip is our favorite Windows laptop for most people. It's beautiful, it's about as fast as an M4 MacBook Air, and it lasts for nearly 23 hours on a single charge — that's two longer than the M4 Pro-powered MacBook Pro, the longest-lasting MacBook we've tried. (Before you buy it, just double check that its powerful ARM-based CPU is compatible with your go-to apps.) The black variant with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is marked down to $999.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, which is a 29% discount on its $1,399.99 MSRP. It very briefly fell to $918.47 in late September, but this current offer beats its Prime Day deal in July.

Read Mashable's full review of the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

More Windows laptop deals2-in-1 laptop dealsGaming laptop deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

There’s a Kindle Scribe with color, but you won’t like how much it costs

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 18:00

Amazon is rounding out its Colorsoft collection with a new e-reader. The Kindle Scribe, the only Kindle e-reader with writing abilities, is finally getting a color display. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft was unveiled at Amazon's Devices & Services event on Tuesday, Sept. 30, in New York City. While we can't wait to get our hands on the device, the price is... nuts.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft $629.99 at Amazon
The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is not available for purchase yet, but is coming soon. Learn More

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft follows the release of the Colorsoft Signature Edition, Colorsoft, and Colorsoft Essentials Kids, making it the fourth device in the lineup, but the first with writing abilities. It'll be a thin device, just 5.4 millimeters thick, with a precision-machined aluminum frame.

It'll have a new, more functional home screen, and while it will still have all the great benefits of a Kindle e-reader. It's also focused on drawing and writing capabilities. Using Microsoft OneDrive or Google Drive, users will be able to import and export files to the Kindle Scribe, plus a new Kindle Workspace tool works on PDFs, files, notes, and textbooks.

We can't wait to get our hands on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft and see if its lives up to its price tag. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

But we need to talk about the Scribe Colorsoft's price. When rumors were swirling about color coming to the Scribe, we expected it might be priced over $500, but Amazon shocked us with its actual price tag. The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is priced at $629.99, making it the most expensive Kindle yet. As my colleague put it, the price is uncalled for.

Other color e-readers on the market — with annotating abilities — cost much less than the Scribe Colorsoft. The Kobo Libra Colour, which does have a smaller screen than the Scribe but still has color and writing abilities, only costs $229.99. That's $400 less than Kindle's Scribe. It's even more expensive than an iPad, which start at $349. Even if you were to add on an Apple Pencil for $129, the combo is still $151.99 cheaper than the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft.

The new cases for the Kindle Scribe look luxe. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Despite its flagrant price, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft could be a great value — we'll only know once we get our hands on a model and try it ourselves.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Chad Powers features a cameo from 2024s most infamous meme

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:47

Hulu's sports comedy Chad Powers is chock-full of cameos from the football world.

Episode 1 kicks off with appearances by sports commentators Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler. Chad Powers' trailer confirms that former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning is also slated to make an appearance. Manning is an executive producer on Chad Powers, alongside his brother Peyton Manning. The entire show is based on a segment from Manning's Eli's Places series, in which Manning joins walk-on football tryouts at Penn State in disguise.

SEE ALSO: 'Chad Powers' review: Glen Powell, the comedy star you are

However, Chad Powers' premiere episode also features an off-the-wall cameo not from the world of sports, but from the world of internet infamy. That cameo comes from none other than Haliey Welch, aka the "Hawk Tuah Girl."

Welch skyrocketed to fame over the summer of 2024, when her advice to "spit on that thang" in a Tim & Dee TV man-on-the-street interview went mega-viral. Welch spun that virality into a career, hawking merch, starting her podcast Talk Tuah, and securing a Chad Powers cameo spot that, by virtue of the speed of internet meme cycles, already feels a tad dated.

Welch appears less than five minutes into Chad Powers, when disgraced quarterback Russ Holliday (Glen Powell) runs into her in a club. He's stoked to meet her, howling, "Hawk tuah, spit on that thing!" with glee. Welch, on the other hand, is less than impressed, telling Russ, "Please don't tell people we met."

Welch's annoyance at Russ for yelling her catchphrase at her and not even knowing her actual name mirrors Russ' own experience with internet notoriety. After his championship loss meltdown went viral, Russ got labeled "scumbag quarterback" for all eternity. Similarly, Welch will forever be known as the "Hawk Tuah Girl."

Welch has also had a Russ Holliday-esque downfall of her own. In Dec. 2024, Welch launched her own cryptocurrency memecoin, $HAWK. While initially highly valuable, the coin quickly plummeted, leading people to accuse Welch and her team of a rug pull. Welch disappeared from the public eye after the controversy. When she did issue a statement about the rug pull, the internet lambasted her. The most recent episode of Talk Tuah, dated May 20, 2025, is titled, "Haliey Welch Tells All - Crypto Incident."

Welch also addressed $HAWK's crash at a live taping of Talk Tuah at VidCon 2025, saying that if a man had been behind the crypto rug pull, he "probably would have been promoted."

Between walkouts from the VidCon taping and the internet's roast of her crypto scandal, it's clear Welch has gone from unlikely internet star to viral disgrace. Clearly she's not disgraced enough to avoid making cameos in buzzy shows, though. While Chad Powers was mostly filmed between Aug. and Oct. of 2024, Welch reportedly filmed her cameo in Apr. of 2025, months after her crypto crash, according to TMZ.

Chad Powers is now streaming on Hulu.

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2025, 12:46 p.m. EDT Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Welch filmed her cameo in 2024.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE for its Prime Day price at Amazon

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:35

SAVE $70: As of Sept. 30, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE for $429.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's a discount of 14% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE $429.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $70 Get Deal

If you're looking to buy a new tablet but aren't interested in the iOS ecosystem, Samsung has a line of great options to choose from. And if you want the best you can get for the money, you can check out this deal at Amazon that gives you the lowest price we've seen on a formidable Samsung Galaxy Tab right now.

As of Sept. 30, get the Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE for $429.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $479.99. That's $70 off and a discount of 14%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best tablets in 2025

This tablet can handle just about anything you throw at it. It boasts an Exynos 1580 processor, a large, luscious screen with a 90 Hz refresh rate, and 128 GB of expandable storage, so if you happen to run out you can always get some more.

Its dual speakers mean you get great audio, and its water resistance makes it a good option to take wherever you go without having to worry about dropping it into a puddle. Plus, it comes with an S Pen so you can take notes or doodle while on the go.

All of this, plus a suite of AI features, including Circle to Search, make it a viable contender for your favorite piece of tech to get things done on.

If it's time to go ahead and lock in a tablet, be sure to grab this one before it's no longer on sale while you can still seal the deal at its lowest price yet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Get your best look yet at Jacob Elordi as the Creature in Guillermo del Toros Frankenstein

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:29

Throughout the promotion for Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein, Netflix has kept Jacob Elordi's appearance as the Creature a mystery.

The clearest look we've had yet is one promotional still, which shows the Creature standing in snowy darkness, wrapped almost completely in furs. Only the top half of his face is visible, revealing deathly pale skin crisscrossed by scars.

SEE ALSO: 'Frankenstein' review: Guillermo del Toro delivers a moving masterpiece of horror and romance

Now, though, Netflix has granted eager Frankenstein fans with a new Creature character poster for the film, giving us our best look yet at what to expect from del Toro's take on Frankenstein's monster.

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The poster shows the Creature's full face, which actually appears to be multiple faces sewn together. Adding to the medical gore of the Creature's look is his hand, which is mostly skinless, leaving his bones and muscles exposed. You can also catch a red eye peeking out from between strands of the Creature's long hair. The hair calls to mind not a monster, but a gothic, romantic hero, one you'd expect to find striding across the windswept moors. (Or maybe I'm just thinking of Elordi's role in Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights adaptation.)

If that poster wasn't enough to get you excited about Frankenstein, look no further than the positive critical response out of the film's world premiere at 2025's Venice International Film Festival, and its subsequent showing at the Toronto International Film Festival. Mashable's Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called Frankenstein "a masterpiece" in her review.

Puchko also highlighted Elordi's performance, writing, "He wears a full body of prosthetic scars and putridly pale skin, but he suffuses every movement, every glance with purpose and emotion. Escaping his well-recognized handsomeness and the expectations that come with being a dashing leading man, Elordi is del Toro's perfect monster, wretched and wondrous."

Frankenstein opens in select theaters Oct. 17 and hits Netflix Nov. 7.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Level up your audio with $40 off the DJI Mic 2 at Amazon

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:15

SAVE $40: As of Sept. 30, get the DJI Mic 2 for $179 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $219. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mic 2 $179 at Amazon
$219 Save $40 Get Deal

If you thought DJI was solely for drones, you haven't met the company as of late. The brand has quickly transformed into a go-to name for creators seeking affordable gear, like microphones. But it can be tough to find DJI products in stock at the moment, especially as a potential ban looms as early as December. If you're looking for a DJI mic that's both affordable and in stock right now, Amazon is your best bet.

SEE ALSO: Beat the looming DJI drone ban: Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for $249 at Amazon

As of Sept. 30, get the DJI Mic 2 for $179 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $219. That's $40 off and a discount of 18%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

The DJI Mic 2 bundle comes with one transmitter, one receiver, a clip magnet, windscreen, and a carrying pouch as well as a few other goodies. According to DJI, you get "pro-level audio" with this model. It boasts up to 18 hours of battery life, and it's lightweight and portable at just 28 grams. It also features noise-cancelling features so you can cut down on outside noise.

With a range of 820 feet and 8GB of internal storage, it can hold up to 14 hours of uncompressed audio, so even if you've got several videos' worth of narration to edit or record, you know you're covered.

Categories: IT General, Technology

All the big takeaways from Amazons fall hardware event: The Kindle Scribe is getting color

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:11

Amazon kicked off a round of new hardware at its Devices & Services event on Tuesday, Sept. 30, at 10 a.m. in New York City. Based on the invite for the event, there was plenty of speculation around what Amazon would actually be announcing. We expected to see a new device in the Kindle Colorsoft lineup, a relaunched Echo Studio, and a new Fire TV — but did any of those devices actually make their debut?

Amazon is currently gearing up for Prime Big Deal Days, the brand's October Prime Day event. But ahead of the holiday season, Amazon is refreshing its lineup. Here's everything we learned at Amazon's fall hardware event.

Color is coming to the Kindle Scribe Color has finally come to the Kindle Scribe — but its $600+ price tag is tough. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

As we suspected, color is coming to the Kindle Scribe. Amazon says that 60 percent of Kindle sales are to brand-new customers, meaning that more and more are converting to the e-reader lifestyle.

The Kindle Scribe is getting a revamp, less than a year after its previous update. The new Kindle Scribe is ultra-thin and ultra-light, and it's just 5.4 mm thick and weighs 400 grams. It's priced at $429.99, or $499.99 with a front light. Not only is it lighter and thinner than the original model, but it comes with a new chip to make the device 40 percent faster — a much-needed upgrade since it was one of the slowest Kindles.

But the showstopper here is the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. It's designed as a notetaker, edging closer to a ReMarkable Paper Pro than an iPad. It features a new, more functional home screen and a new digital scratchpad called Quick Notes. Plus, it has a Kindle Workspace tool for PDFs, files, notes, and textbooks. All of these upgraded features come with the addition of the color e-ink currently found in the Kindle Colorsoft.

The big downer here is the price. The new Kindle Colorsoft is priced at $629.99, the most expensive Kindle yet, and almost $300 more than the cheapest iPad.

Updates to Ring devices Ring's new era is focused on protecting your family and neighborhood. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

At the event, Amazon introduced a ton of new Ring cameras:

  • Wired Doorbell Plus 2K - $179.99

  • Indoor Cam Plus 2K - $59.99

  • Outdoor Cam Pro 4K - $179.99

  • Spotlight Cam Pro 4K - $249.99

  • Wired Doorbell Pro 4K - $249.99

  • Floodlight Pro 4K - $279.99

Ring, which was acquired by Amazon in 2018, is going back to its roots. Founder Jamie Siminoff has rejoined the team to lead the brand's next chapter. The presentation was focused on families and neighborhoods, and Siminoff said this is “a new era in neighborhood security, and a new era for Ring.”

Amazon is also bringing new AI-powered features and camera improvements to the new Ring devices. All the new cameras will feature "Retinal Vision," which Amazon said will provide improved video quality in all conditions. Ring will also introduce a new "Familiar Faces" feature, which identifies your friends, family, and neighbors and can include their names in notifications when they're approaching the door. Plus, Alexa+ is joining the Ring party with Alexa+ Greetings, an intelligent tool that can provide specific instructions to visitors, such as "Leave the package at the side of the house."

Both Familiar Faces and Alexa+ Greetings will be available on the 2K and 4K cameras starting in December.

Plus, Ring introduced Search Party, a feature designed to find lost pets. Using multiple cameras throughout the neighborhood, Ring cameras can work together to identify a lost dog and help reunite it with its family.

Three new Blink cameras are coming Blink debuted three new cameras at the fall hardware event. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

Amy Wiedemann, the Head of Marketing for Home Security, took to the stage to introduce three new cameras. First, the Blink Mini 2K+ ($49.99) and Blink Outdoor 2K+ ($89.99) have crystal-clear audio and two-way communication, as well as improved picture quality and a long-lasting battery.

Another camera is coming, too: the Blink Arc, priced at $99.99. It has two cameras, providing 180 degrees of coverage, and stitches two high-resolution video feeds into a single seamless view. The camera can be mounted in corners and eliminates blind spots.

The new Blink Arc combines two camera views into a single high-res feed to eliminate blind spots. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth

All three cameras are available for preorder today.

A refreshed line of Amazon Fire TVs Will the Amazon Fire TV 4K Select Streaming Stick improve its previously slow OS? Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

As expected, a new lineup of Amazon TVs is coming and available for preorder today. The new collection includes a Fire TV 4 series, Fire TV Omni QLED series, and Fire TV 2 series. The Fire TV Omni QLED starts at $479.99 for a 50-inch model and brightness that adjusts based on the room.

The Fire TV 4 series will feature 43-, 50-, and 55-inch models and start at $329.99. The 2 series will feature a 32- and 40-inch model and start at $259.99.

In addition to the new TVs, Amazon is offering a new Fire TV 4K Select Streaming Stick, priced at $39.99, which it claims will be the fastest 4K streaming stick under $40.

All of the new Fire TVs — and Echos, but we'll get to those later — will be powered by Amazon's new Vega OS.

New Echo devices built for Alexa+ The new Amazon Echo Studio is giving Death Star, no? Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

With Amazon launching Alexa+ last year, it's no surprise that the new Echo devices are built for it. The new Echos include:

  • Echo Studio - $219.99

  • Echo Dot Max - $99.99

  • Echo Show 8 - $179.99

  • Echo Show 11 - $219.99

The new Echo Show devices. Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

All of the new Echos feature a new 3D knit fabric, which calls to mind the fabric on the AirPods Max headphones. The devices are now powered by two new chips, the AZ3 and AZ3 Pro. Amazon said the Echo Studio will be the most advanced and best-sounding Echo ever, according to Amazon, with three full-range drivers, a custom woofer to maximize bass, spatial audio, and Dolby Atmos.

All of the new Echo devices are available for preorder today.

Amazon is investing in Alexa+

The through line with most of Amazon's new devices is the incorporation of Alexa+, available on every product. It's designed to be "Ambient AI," a screen-free technology, so you can stay present.

The Alexa Home Theater is also coming, which uses a combination of Echo speakers to create a surround sound experience. This feature will be included on all of the Echo devices announced today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Alexa announces four new Echo devices, built specifically for Alexa+

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 17:03

Earlier this year, Amazon pulled the veil off of Alexa+, a new, AI-powered version of its voice assistant. Now, we have some devices that were purpose-built for Alexa+.

At an event in New York City on Tuesday, Amazon showed off four new Echo speakers. We'll get to the specifics of each speaker in a second, but the main thing to know is that they all use new in-house AZ3 chips (there's a regular AZ3 and an AZ3 Pro) to run their AI models. These devices also use Amazon's sensor platform Omnisense, which allows the Echo units to proactively respond to events occurring in your home. Examples given included alerts that a specific person has entered a room or that your garage door is unlocked at night.

Anyway, here are the four new devices and how much they cost. The first two launch on Oct. 29, and the latter two on Nov. 12:

  • Echo Dot Max - $99.99

  • Echo Studio - $219.99

  • Echo Show 8 - $179.99

  • Echo Show 11 - $219.99

The Echo Dot Max is the smallest and cheapest of the bunch, resembling a sphere but with a little indent with button controls on the front. Amazon says it has 3x the bass of the 5th gen Echo Dot, and was built with two speakers for the first time. The point is that this is a small, relatively affordable smart speaker that, according to Amazon, has big sound where it counts. Of course, you can also have conversations with Alexa+ on it, as is the case with the other three devices.

It's like a really advanced baby monitor. Credit: Amazon

Echo Studio visually looks like a bigger version of Echo Dot Max, though it's apparently 40 percent smaller than the last Echo Studio model. This one has Dolby Atmos and spatial audio support. It should be noted that up to five Echo Dot Max or Studio devices can be linked to Fire TV Sticks for something resembling a home theater audio setup.

SEE ALSO: The Amazon Halloween store is packed with spooky and haunted delights

Beyond that, the two Echo Show devices are similar in theory, though they both have touchscreens and cameras on them. The 8 and 11 refer to display sizes, presumably, in case you were confused as to why devices with those two numbers would launch simultaneously. Amazon says the new displays are better than previous models, and the camera can use AI to recognize whoever walks up to it and proactively show information they might want to see.

Needless to say, the Echo Show devices can also act as smart home hubs for all your devices, as well as small entertainment centers for listening to podcasts or audiobooks or what have you. You can even connect an Oura account and get health and wellness tips from the Echo Show.

Just don't get too caught up in conversation with Alexa+.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 2025 Roombas are the best ones in a long time. Almost all are on sale early for October Prime Day.

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 16:43

Roombas are more practically priced now than they have been in years. And that’s before discounts — during Prime Big Deal Days, many 2025 Roombas are already up to 44% off at Amazon for Prime Big Deal Days, making this a great year to invest.

October Prime Day (officially starting Tuesday, Oct. 7) is now the second Prime event we've experienced after iRobot's epiphany in March 2025. For years before that, Roombas were simply way too expensive for their own good. The other top robot vacuums out there were offering the same features, like smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, at much lower prices. But that all changed when iRobot released a fleet of new Roombas that kept those same core robot vacuum features at more realistic prices.

Best early October Prime Day deals on Roombas Best cheap Roomba deal iRobot Roomba 104 Combo with AutoEmpty dock $249.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best Roomba with self-washing mopping pads deal iRobot Roomba 405 Combo with AutoWash Dock $399.99 (save $269.96) Get Deal

But we still love to see them get even cheaper during an Amazon sale event. You can squeeze so much more out of a few hundred bucks when Roomba shopping now than you could a few years ago. Back in the day, the sale price for a mopping Roomba that could self-wash its mopping pads was $999 — now, that kind of mopping Roomba is less than $500. There's even a Roomba with smart mapping on sale for $149.99 that wasn't present during Prime Day in July. The old cheap Roombas didn't do much more than bump around aimlessly, and they barely ever dipped below $200. With this intel in mind, feel free to rule out any i Series or Essential Series Roombas — they're not bangs for your buck like the others in this list.

I'm keeping track of the best Roomba deals at Amazon for Prime Big Deal Days below. But for comparison's sake, skim over my guide on how to choose a robot vacuum, then take a peek at the other great Prime Big Deal Days robot vacuum deals that I'm eyeing.

Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon.

Best budget Roomba deal ahead of October Prime Day Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba 104 Combo with AutoEmpty dock $249.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

I wasn't sold on the idea of getting a Roomba as your budget-friendly robot vacuum until this year. The older entry-level Roombas, like the Roomba 694 and Essential series, completely skipped smart mapping — a feature that can make or break your robot vacuum experience. But now, several budget Roombas under $200 can remember a map of your home and clean specific rooms or zones on command. I'm highlighting the Roomba 104 Combo here, which is nearly identical to the Roomba Combo 105 that I tested at home.

The Roomba 105 cleaning my bedroom floor. Credit: Leah Stodart / Mashable

The Roomba 104 sweeps with 7,000 Pa of suction power, which is actually a quite commendable number compared to the 5,500 Pa seen on many cheap Roborock models. Not only is this a robot vacuum and mop combo, but its smart mapping capabilities help it to recognize carpet and keep it dry when mopping.

Up until the latest round of Roombas that hit the scene in spring 2025, I'd often actively advise against getting a Roomba. They didn't even have smart mapping, whereas the entry-level Shark robot vacuums did — often at a lower price point than the cheap Roombas. But after testing the new base-tier Roomba 105, I can finally give iRobot credit for actually putting effort into a cheap Roomba. The Roomba 104 Combo featured here is nearly identical to the 105, but also mops.

More Roomba deals at Amazon
Categories: IT General, Technology

Dating app Breeze launches sign language matching feature

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 16:25

The dating app Breeze has added sign languages as an option to its "Date Languages."

Breeze removes the chat function of the app experience. If you match, you fill out a plan for a date, and then the app organizes it for you. The app has arranged over 400,000 dates in the U.S. and Europe since its launch in 2020.

SEE ALSO: Single after 40? These are the dating apps you need to be on in 2025.

As matches don't chit-chat before meeting in person, knowing you share a common means of communication is crucial — especially for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Breeze states in its press release that the sign language matching feature is baked into its matching algorithm, so that it prioritizes matches with overlapping languages.

Sign languages on Breeze. Credit: Breeze

Breeze users can add sign languages both when they create their initial profile and within the app's "Date Preferences" tab. It'll be featured at the top of profiles.

"Our 'no-chat' model is about creating genuine, in-person connections. This feature is a vital part of that mission, ensuring that a user's language preference and ability to communicate is established and matched before the date is even arranged," Breeze's head of business development, Marco van der Woude, stated in the press release. "Focusing only on the 'average' user means eventually our product won't work for anyone, because everyone is unique."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Lego is giving away free Halloween-themed Luminous Ghost sets — here’s how to get yours

Tue, 09/30/2025 - 16:14

SAVE $19.99: Spend $120+ at Lego until Oct. 7 and get a free Lego Luminous Ghost set which ordinarily costs $19.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Luminous Ghost set $0 at Lego
$19.99 Save $19.99 free with $120+ purchase Get Deal

It's getting scary out there. We're talking about the Halloween season, of course. Neighborhoods are now filled with 12-foot tall skeletons and porches have decorative gourds. But when the temps drop and we head inside, it's time to build some Lego sets. If you've been eyeing a set, now is a great time to buy because Lego is adding on a free Halloween-themed set that you don't want to miss out on.

Until Oct. 7 or stock sells out, spend $120 or more at Lego and receive a free Luminous Ghost build, which ordinarily sells for $19.99. Free shipping kicks in on order over $35, so you're also in for no shipping fees. The $120 order can't be used to pre-order sets if you want to score the free ghost.

As a shock to no one, Lego has irresistible Halloween builds on offer. And as a little treat, the Danish brand is offering everyone a free Luminous Ghost build, so long as you spend $120 or more. The Luminous Ghost build features a ghost with illuminated red eyes (battery included) and it appears the little fella has a pet bat that tags along on the journey. There's also an adorable pumpkin in the build, too.

SEE ALSO: There are already some great Lego deals to check out ahead of October Prime Day

Spending $120 is easy to do at Lego when browsing the site. Halloween builds include the excellent Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas which would put you over the $120 threshold. We also have to point out the new Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory set which has a chocolate waterfall, Oompa Loompas, and snozzberries that probably taste like Lego bricks and not snozzberries.

Whatever your Lego preference, there's a set just for you to score the free Luminous Ghost. Lego mentions this deal is good until Oct. 7 or supplies last, so it's best to hop to the buying and building soon. Just don't hop on the Lego bricks themselves.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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