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Luxury sedans have a way of making even a grocery run feel like an event, with hushed cabins, indulgent touches, and tech that quietly does its thing in the background. In 2025, two names still dominate that conversation: the Lexus LS and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The best streaming deals to watch 'One Battle After Another' at home: Watch now Rent or Buy "One Battle After Another" on Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Watch now Rent or buy on Apple TV $19.99 or $24.99 Shop Now Watch as of Dec. 19 HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 19 Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 19 HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 19 HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 19 HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers through Dec. 16 (save $10.99 per month) Get Deal Watch as of Dec. 19 Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 41%) Get Deal

Paul Thomas Anderson, 11-time Academy Award nominee, returned to theaters this fall with an epic father-daughter story dubbed One Battle After Another. It stars some big names, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Regina Hall, Benicio del Toro, Sean Penn, and Teyana Taylor, as well as newcomer Chase Infiniti in her feature film debut.

Mashable's reviewer called it "ferocious, funny, and jam-packed with provocation," and with all the wild praise, it's a clear frontrunner for the 2026 awards season. If you missed it in theaters, you can now get in on the action at home. Here's what you need to know to watch One Battle After Another — including it's official streaming debut date.

What is One Battle After Another about?

Inspired by Thomas Pynchon's novel Vineland, One Battle After Another follows Bob Ferguson (DiCaprio) as an ex-revolutionary who's living off the grid with his teen daughter Willa (Infiniti). When his former nemesis and military antagonist Col. Steven J. Lockjaw (Penn) resurfaces and Willa goes missing, Bob must jump into action to find and protect her.

It's part political thriller, part parenthood comedy in the best way. "Action scenes that are truly dizzying are followed by slapstick and almost vaudevillian banter," Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writes, adding that "Whatever you're anticipating from Anderson's latest, this movie is more."

Check out the official trailer for a glimpse at One Battle After Another:

Is One Battle After Another worth watching?

Already the most nominated movie for the 2026 Golden Globes and Critics' Choice Awards, One Battle After Another is poised to win big this awards season. As Puchko writes in her review, "It will undoubtedly be declared one of the best films of the year, not only for what it brings to cinema in terms of spectacle and spirit, but also what it has to say about America today."

Even at nearly three hours long, Puchko says the movie flies by like a thriller should. "Rarely has a movie with so much to say been so damned entertaining," she writes.

Other critics largely agree, as the film holds a 95 percent on Rotten Tomatoes with over 400 critic reviews. Even Taylor Swift couldn't help but gush over it.

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Check out Mashable's full review of One Battle After Another.

SEE ALSO: Golden Globes nominations 2026: 'One Battle After Another' and 'Sentimental Value' lead the pack How to watch One Battle After Another at home Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Warner Bros. Pictures has officially announced a streaming date for One Battle After Another, so you have a few different options for tuning in at home. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

As of Nov. 14, One Battle After Another is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms. You can buy the movie for your digital library and watch it whenever you want or rent it, which gives you 30 days to watch and only 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.

You can purchase and rent the film at the following retailers:

• Prime Video — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Apple TV — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• YouTube — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

• Google Play — buy for $24.99, rent for $19.99

Opens in a new window Credit: Prime Video Rent or Buy 'One Battle After Another' at Prime Video $19.99 or $24.99 Get Deal Stream it on HBO Max

One Battle After Another will officially make its streaming debut on HBO Max as of Dec. 19, 2025. This comes as no surprise as it's a Warner Bros. Pictures film and followed the same 2 to 2.5-month theater-to-streaming window as the studio's other recent releases — like Superman and Weapons.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month (thanks to a recent price hike), but there are some ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

SEE ALSO: What does Netflix's purchase of Warner Bros. mean for theatrical releases? The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save 16% on HBO Max Basic annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal

The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year up front, that price drops down to just $9.17. You'll pay $109.99 total for the year, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Best deal with no ads: Save up to 16% on HBO Max Standard annual subscription Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal

Rather go ad-free? The annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly counterparts. The Standard tier costs either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (about $15.42 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both tiers will give you access to ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier also features 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos immersive audio, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

Want to get HBO Max for free? Switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free — a $10.99 per month value. When you open up the HBO Max app or website, you'll just select Cricket as your provider and use your credentials to log in.

Get HBO Max for free: Sign up for DashPass annual plan Opens in a new window Credit: Dashpass / HBO Max HBO Max (with ads) Free with DashPass annual plan ($8/month) Get Deal

Another way to get HBO Max for free in 2025 is to sign up for the DoorDash DashPass annual plan for $96 per year ($8 per month) — but you'll have to act fast. This deal is only around until Dec. 16, so activate your plan ASAP.

DashPass memberships include $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long, plus a complimentary HBO Max subscription (with ads). That means you'll pay just $8 per month for both DashPass and HBO Max, which is cheaper than a typical HBO Max with ads monthly subscription on its own. Activate the subscription through your DoorDash account by Dec. 16, 2025.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can watch One Battle After Another when it hits streaming by signing up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Verify your student status through UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $10.99 to just $5.49 per month.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 42% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

You'll get the most bang for your buck if you opt for the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $19.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $34.97 per month if you paid separately for each, so you'll keep an extra $15 in your pocket monthly. If you prefer an ad-free experience, the bundle will run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47. That's up to 42% in savings for unlimited access to all three streaming libraries.

Best add-on deal: Add HBO Max to Hulu for $1 off per month Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Hulu HBO Max (Hulu add-on) $9.99 per month (with ads), $16.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

Already have Hulu? You can add HBO Max's full library to your Hulu account for just $9.99 per month with ads. That's $1 off the usual price per month. Sure, it's not much, but it still beats paying full price. The ad-free add-on is also cheaper at $16.99 per month as opposed to the usual $18.49. I'm not sure if Hulu just missed the memo on HBO Max's latest price hike or is intentionally keeping the price low to score more subscribers, but it's a welcome discount nonetheless.

UPDATE: Dec. 15, 2025, 11:34 a.m. This article has been updated to include the official streaming details for "One Battler After Another."

Having tools readily available or in your pocket makes all sorts of little household tasks easier than ever. And while Milwaukee recently announced a neat new multi-function utility knife set to release in 2026, which has fans excited, you can already get nearly the same thing from Gerber. Better yet, the very similar "Prybrid" utility tool is up to 48% off this week on Amazon.

Google is shutting down its dark web report feature, which was intended to scan the dark web for your personal information. The company said it wasn't useful enough, and starting in February 2026, dark web reports will no longer be accessible.

SAVE $10.99/MONTH: As of Dec. 15, you can still get HBO Max (with ads) for free when you sign up for the DashPass annual plan. That benefit will disappear after Dec. 16, so be sure to activate your HBO Max account ASAP.

Opens in a new window Credit: DashPass / HBO Max HBO Max (with ads) free with DashPass annual plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal

Aside from Black Friday, the best way to score streaming deals is through third parties (see Walmart's Peacock and Paramount+ deal or T-Mobile's Hulu on Us deal). Last year, DoorDash announced a partnership with HBO Max (Max at the time), where you can get a free HBO Max subscription with ads when you sign up for an annual DashPass plan for $96/year. It quickly became one of our favorite evergreen streaming deals — especially when the cost of HBO Max went up an extra $1 this fall. But alas, all good things must come to an end. If you haven't signed up for DashPass or activated your free HBO Max subscription, this is the final call.

Dec. 16, 2025 is the last day to activate your free HBO Max benefit with DashPass annual plans. If you activate HBO Max by Dec. 16, you'll have access to free streaming through the end of your billing cycle. So, for example, if you sign up for DashPass today, Dec. 15, you'll have access to HBO Max for free through Dec. 2026. If you've already activated HBO Max through DashPass, you'll have access to it through the end of your current DashPass annual billing period. After that, HBO Max will no longer be included.

Get a free year of streaming while you still can. Credit: HBO Max

Want to secure your free streaming subscription? Head over to the DoorDash website and sign up for a DashPass annual plan for $96/year. Once you enter your credit card information and sign up, you'll automatically be directed to the HBO Max website. You'll be prompted to enter your email address to secure your HBO Max account.

DashPass memberships include $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees on eligible DoorDash orders all year long. You'll also get access to member-exclusive deals. If you regularly get food delivery, it'll pay for itself with just a couple of orders.

SAVE 27%: As of Dec. 15, you can get the Sony Inzone M9 II 27-inch 4K gaming monitor for $698, down from $949.99, at Amazon. That's a 27% discount, or $251.99 in savings.

Sony Inzone M9 II 27-inch 4K gaming monitor $177.99 at Best Buy
$799.99 Save $622   Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking for a gaming monitor that can handle traditional console and PC games, this Sony deal is exactly what you need. It gives you the best of both worlds: high-speed performance for PC games and true 4K support for your PlayStation 5 or Xbox.

SEE ALSO: The 4 best premium gaming monitors instantly level up your desktop — for a price

Right now, you can get the Sony Inzone M9 II 27-inch 4K gaming monitor for $698, down from $949.99, at Amazon. That's a $251.99 price cut and the lowest price we've seen on this model since its release.

This 27-inch monitor runs at 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution and features Full Array Local Dimming (FALD) technology, so you'll be able to see what's going on in both bright and dark scenes. It's also VESA certified for DisplayHDR 600, so expect a step up in brightness and color intensity. Most importantly, it's fast: you get a 160Hz refresh rate and a rapid 1ms response time. It also features HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 2.1 (this just means that it supports the highest-performance specs for PCs and modern consoles).

SAVE $29.01: A four-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale at Amazon for $69.99, down from the normal price of $99. That's a 29% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-pack) $69.99 at Amazon
$99 Save $29.01   Get Deal

We're about to enter one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. If you'll be taking to the sky, there's a tiny item that you really don't want to forget to pack, and that's a Bluetooth tracker. These small devices help you keep tabs on your most important items. If you have a iPhone, check out this deal on AirTags.

As of Dec. 15, a four-pack of Apple AirTags is on sale for $69.99 at Amazon, marked down from the usual price of $99. That's a 29% discount that saves you $29.01. It brings the price of each AirTag down to just $17.50.

If you missed replenishing your supply of Apple AirTags during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there's still time. Plus, they're back on sale for a nice discount. It's not the record-low we saw right after Thanksgiving, but it's only a few dollar more and your peace-of-mind is well worth the extra $5.

SEE ALSO: Apple 'HomePad' specs revealed in new leak

Apple AirTags have become the gold-standard for Bluetooth tracking that work well for iPhone users. You get to tap into the extensive and highly global Find My network to check on your belongings' whereabouts. You can also put them into Lost Mode which enables an automatic notification once the device shows up on the Find My network. If desired, you can share the AirTag's location with a third party like the airline.

If you'll be traveling this holiday season, packing along a Bluetooth tracker is a must. The four-pack means you'll have enough for checked bags, carry-on luggage, and some for pets back at home.

Before the chaos of holiday travel takes hold, give yourself some peace-of mind with four Apple AirTags. They're on sale at Amazon for under $70 but the reward could be priceless.

Save $164: The first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones are on sale for $265 at Best Buy, netting a $38% discount on the usually $429 headphones. The flash deal is only on for Dec. 15, and only applies to the lunar blue colorway.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (1st Gen) $265 at Best Buy
$429 Save $164   Get Deal

What's better than one great post-Black Friday deal on Bose headphones? Two deals.

As of Dec. 15, that's exactly the case as the first generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra are on sale for a record low price of $265. The deal slashes $164 off their $429 list price, but it's only on for a limited time — as a Best Buy flash deal, it's only available through Dec. 15, and only on the lunar blue colorway.

The second generation QC Ultra headphones recently took the top spot as our favorite Bose headphones, but the first generation headphones are still nothing to scoff at. When I compared the two headphones head to head, I did notice the improvements in their comfort, quick connection, and sound quality (though none of the differences are too stark).

SEE ALSO: The 65 best tech gifts of the year, hand-picked by professional gadget nerds

However, I did recommend that for getting the best value possible, going for the older headphones might be the best choice, especially if you're on a budget. After all, the first gen headphones set the bar high for noise-cancelling headphones, and are still some of the best in comfort and noise cancellation.

At the time of writing, the second-generation QC Ultras are on sale for $399, making the first generation headphones an impressive $134 cheaper. As for first gen models not at Best Buy, the next best price you can grab them at is $279, then $299.

GET 4 PHONES FREE: During T-Mobile's holiday sales event, you can get four base Samsung Galaxy S25 phones for free, no trade-ins required. Here's all the details to qualify.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Get 4 Samsung Galaxy S25 phones for free When you switch to T-Mobile's Essentials promo plan Get Deal

Upgrading your phone doesn't have to be expensive — you just have to be strategic about it. For instance, instead of paying $799.99 out of pocket for a new Samsung Galaxy S25, you can bring your number to T-Mobile and get four for free.

There is a bit of fine print, so listen up. First of all, this offer is only valid for the base model Galaxy S25, which has 128GB of storage. Second of all, you must transfer your current number to the T-Mobile Essentials promo plan at $25 per month per line. You'll have to pay a $35 connection fee as well as any included taxes. You'll also need four lines minimum to score the phones for free, so this deal works best with family plans wanting to make the switch to T-Mobile. The good news is there are no trade-ins required and there's no current end date listed. That being said, we recommend jumping on the deal sooner rather than later to lock it in.

It's not as powerful as the S25 Ultra or Edge, but it's also a lot easier on your wallet at $799.99. Just shy of a year old, the S25 base model features the impressive Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM, upped from 8GB over the S24. It's also slightly thinner and lighter than the previous-generation, but otherwise pretty similar in terms of display, battery life, and camera setup. And of course, as with anything in 2025, it's also loaded with AI features.

Not a Samsung person? T-Mobile's holiday sales event also includes offers for a free iPhone 17 Pro (with eligible trade-in), four free iPhone 17s (when you switch to T-Mobile's Essentials plan), a free Motorola razr+ (with new line on eligible plans), or a free Google Pixel 10 (with eligible trade-in). Head over to T-Mobile to browse your options for a free device this season.

Fallout fans, your wait to return to the wasteland just got a little shorter.

Prime Video announced Monday that Fallout's highly anticipated second season will be premiering a day early. Originally slated for a Dec. 17 release, Fallout's Season 2 premiere will now hit Prime Video on Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET.

While Fallout's first season dropped all at once for binge viewing, Prime Video is opting for a weekly release for this season. That means only one episode will be available for streaming on Dec. 16. New episodes will air weekly until the season finale on Feb. 4, 2026.

SEE ALSO: Amazon pulls error-filled 'Fallout' AI video recaps from Prime Video

Fallout Season 2 is set to adapt elements of fav-favorite game Fallout: New Vegas. Hank MacLean (Kyle MacLachlan) fled to New Vegas at the end of Season 1, and now his daughter Lucy (Ella Purnell) and the Ghoul (Walton Goggins) are hot on his trail. She wants to bring Hank to justice, while the Ghoul wants to learn the location of his wife Barb (Frances Turner) and daughter Janey (Teagan Meredith). Along the way, they'll encounter New Vegas factions like the Kings and Caesar's Legion.

Elsewhere, Maximus (Aaron Moten) has found himself back in the Brotherhood of Steel, where civil war is brewing and the discovery of cold fusion is a ticking time bomb. With all these moving pieces on the board, what's next for the wasteland?

Fallout Season 2 premieres Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on Prime Video, with a new episode every week.

Save 51%: The Bose QuietComfort headphones in the sandstone and moonlight grey colorways are on sale for $170.05 at Amazon as of Dec. 15. That's $178.95 less than their $349.99 list price, marking the lowest price ever for these colorways and putting them just over $10 away from the overall record-low price of these headphones.

Bose QuietComfort headphones $170.05 at Amazon
$349 Save $178.95   See It at Amazon See It at Best Buy

Just because Black Friday is over doesn't mean some of the best headphones deals of the holiday season are, too.

While Cyber Monday did bring us the lowest price ever on the Bose QuietComfort headphones — $159.99 — the deal was short-lived, dipping down and jumping back up within a matter of hours. The good news? As of Dec. 15, the QuietComfort headphones are back down to an impressively low price of $170.05 at Amazon, slashing over 50% off their $349.99 list price.

At the time of writing, the deal is available in the sandstone and moonlight grey colorways, and beats the $199 markdown at Best Buy and Bose's website.

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

The QuietComfort headphones are one of the best mid-range noise-cancelling headphones available, and one of our favorite options from the brand overall — especially if you're not dead set on having spatial audio. Their comfort lends them to easy all-day wear, and their noise cancellation is excellent. At $170, they're less than half the price and over $200 cheaper than the QC Ultra headphones on sale.

With Amazon's ship times, these headphones are also expected to arrive before Christmas, making them a solid last-minute gift.

SAVE 56%: As of Dec. 15, the 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is $199.99, down from $449.99. That's a 56% discount or $250 in savings.

3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo $199.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon

If you've been holding out on buying a robot vacuum because you couldn't stomach the $500+ price tag, this deal is for you. I found a top-notch vacuum-mop combo that our Senior Shopping Reporter (and vacuum expert!), Leah Stodart, calls the "most impressive robot vacuum under $500," for 56% off.

SEE ALSO: I tested 25 robot vacuum and mop combos and found 6 that actually scrub

Right now, the 3i G10+ robot vacuum and mop combo is on sale for $199.99, down from $449.99. That's a 56% discount or $250 in savings. It's also a Black-Friday-level price.

The reason this one is a must-buy is the features you get for the price. The 3i G10+ uses patented debris compression that packs dirt quietly into the 1L dustbin, so you'll get 60 days of hands-free cleaning without a huge, bulky self-empty dock. (You can store the unit under your bed, a chair, or wherever else, which is a big win for small apartments.)

It also has 18,000 Pa of suction power, which is only 2,000 Pa less than a $1,600 Roborock model — that's seriously high suction for this price range. Plus, you get a full suite of flagship-level tech: smart mapping with LiDAR, obstacle avoidance that steers around socks and pet messes, and even a livestream camera for checking on pets (a feature usually seen on vacuums over $1,000).

Waze is great for shaving minutes off your commute and avoiding those pesky speed traps, but it’s always been just a few steps behind Google Maps. One small feature that can be surprisingly helpful is traffic light icons along your route. Waze may finally be getting this feature, too.

The fall from grace is now legally binding: iRobot has finally filed for bankruptcy after years of tanking revenue. Current Roomba owners, who once thought that they owned the pinnacle of robot vacuum, probably have one unanimous follow-up question: Will my Roomba still work?

The short answer is yes, but I'd tack "for now" onto the end of that.

Usability of the app, future bug fixes, and customer service were all concerns I had in the fall, when it was revealed that Roomba's parent company was in danger due to the lack of buyout interest. An acquisition was pretty desperately needed for iRobot to avoid going under — but instead, iRobot's only option was to surrender ownership to Picea, the company that currently manufactures Roombas. But in its Dec. 15 press release, iRobot assured that it does not expect the company's restructuring to disrupt app functionality, customer programs, or ongoing product support.

Still, I'm not yet convinced that there's no unplanned obsolescence afoot for the current wave of Roombas.

Are they going to stop selling Roombas?

No, bankruptcy for iRobot doesn't mean that Roombas will stop being made. iRobot just isn't the sole governor of Roomba manufacturing anymore. "iRobot expects to be better positioned to execute on its long-term innovation strategy under Picea's ownership," the press release says. It's all business as usual on iRobot's website, where the whole Roomba lineup is severely discounted for the holiday sale.

SEE ALSO: How long should a vacuum last? The lifespan to expect from corded, cordless, and robot vacuums.

While you will still be able to buy a Roomba, that doesn't mean that you should. The newest Roombas haven't been selling well since they were released in March 2025, when iRobot overhauled the entire lineup in an (unspoken) attempt to get people excited about Roombas again. I tested several of them and didn't have any major complaints — there are just better robot vacuums out there at better prices. (For instance, I'd tell anyone to buy the budget 3i G10+ robot vacuum over any cheap Roomba. 3i happens to be owned by Picea as well.)

This steep competition is exactly why I advised to think twice before buying a Roomba on Black Friday, and why you probably shouldn't gift anyone a Roomba this year.

But iRobot is apparently still planning to "innovate" under Picea, so it's possible that we could see more worthwhile iRobot vacuums released down the line. For a Roomba revival to stick, iRobot and Picea would need to really focus on pricing. For years, Roombas have been way too expensive for the features they offer — competing robot vacuum brands like Roborock and Eufy were undercutting iRobot left and right, and recent U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods definitely didn't help matters. But until we see what new offerings Picea and iRobot may have, Roombas aren't worth it.

iRobot, maker of Roomba robot vacuums, is making some big changes to stay in business. The company has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, and it plans to be fully acquired by Picea Robotics.

It’s easy to forget that Nissan was an early trailblazer in both EVs and advanced driver-assist systems. The original Leaf hit the market in 2011 as one of the first affordable, mass-produced electric cars, and ProPilot Assist arrived in 2016 as one of the earliest widely available auto-steering systems.

Users who have switched from Google Assistant to Gemini have a lost a pretty important feature on smart home devices, and they aren't happy about it.

As detailed in this Reddit thread, if you're using Gemini on a smart home device such as a smart speaker or display, Continued Conversations no longer work — unless you upgrade to Gemini Home Premium.

SEE ALSO: Google is bringing Gemini live translation to your headphones (unless you're using an iPhone, of course)

That means you can't just keep talking to Gemini via a smart speaker in your home. Instead, you need to utter the "Hey Google" phrase before each inquiry.

The Continued Conversation features is now called Gemini Live, and is only available to Google Home Premium subscribers — a plan that starts at $10 per month. To add insult to injury, this feature was previously free with Google Assistant, and reverting back to the old Google Assistant isn't possible.

This seemed to be one of those rare instances in which it made sense to query Gemini for the purpose of a news article, so I asked it about it.

"No, the traditional "Continued Conversation" feature is currently not available for free users who have switched from Google Assistant to Gemini," it wrote. But the "catch," according to Google's AI, is that "even with the paid version, 'Live' mode on speakers is mostly for chatting and information. It often cannot perform smart home actions (like 'turn off the lights') while in that active chat mode."

Fortunately, as Gemini pointed out, Continued Conversations are still available for free on mobile and on the Gemini web app.

The AI downplayed the importance of the feature, but a lot of folks in that Reddit thread disagree. "So annoyed," said one Redditor. "Stopped working after the gemini update, need to say hey google all the time and its slow too, hate it so far," said another.

PCWorld's Ben Patterson also highlighted the lack of this feature, saying that for him it wasn't a dealbreaker, but it's feeling "like a step backward rather than forward."

Ubuntu Studio, a Linux distribution meant for creative work, is showing off a new layout for its desktop experience and also asking whether the default layout should be changed. The poll results will affect how the upcoming Ubuntu Studio 26.04 LTS release will look when you first install it.

In the evening of Dec. 14, a large crowd of people gathered on Australia's Bondi Beach to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah, and were instead met with violence, as two gunmen opened fire on the group. As of today, 15 people have been killed.

One of the assailants was taken down by bystander Ahmed Al Ahmed, whose brave decision to grapple with the shooter and take over his weapon was captured on video and shared widely across social media platforms. Informed by an epidemic of gun violence that has turned many bystanders into heroes, it's clear on camera that the man in the white shirt is potentially saving dozens of lives. The long-barreled gun is in clear view as he wrests it from the hand of a man clad in black, who then topples over and ambles away.

SEE ALSO: Los Angeles woman discovers man hiding in Waymo trunk

But X's Grok, the AI chatbot designed by Elon Musk's AI venture xAI, didn't see it as such.

As users stumbled across the harrowing video of Ahmed the following morning and asked the chatbot to explain, Grok described the scene as "an old viral video of a man climbing a palm tree in a parking lot, possibly to trim it." X users have since added a fact-check to the bot's reply. In another response, Grok mislabeled the video as footage from the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, and credited it to the Tropical Cyclone Alfred in another, Gizmodo reported.

X hasn't yet explained why this glitch occurred, or why Grok has made similar fumbles beyond queries about Bondi Beach.

But watchdogs know why, and it's very simple. Chatbots are bad at breaking news. In the wake of the killing of far-right commentator Charlie Kirk, Grok exacerbated conspiracy theories about the shooter and Kirk's own bodyguards, telling some users that a graphic video clearly showing Kirk's death was just a meme. Other AI-powered search sources, including Google AI Overview, also gave false information in the immediate aftermath of Kirk's death.

"Instead of declining to answer, models now pull from whatever information is available online at the given moment, including low-engagement websites, social posts, and AI-generated content farms seeded by malign actors. As a result, chatbots repeat and validate false claims during high-risk, fast-moving events," NewsGuard researcher McKenzie Sadeghi told Mashable at the time.

Social media platforms have also scaled back human fact-checking across the board, and chatbots may instead prioritize frequency over accuracy in real-time news responses.

AI companies know this is a glaring gap for their bots, and it's why they've courted news publications into larger and larger licensing deals to better their products. Earlier this month, Meta signed multiple commercial AI agreements with news publishers, including CNN, Fox News, and international publication Le Monde, adding to its existing partnership with Reuters. Google is running a pilot program with participating news publishers to expand AI-powered features, including article summaries, to Google News.

Hallucinations and accuracy also remain a big problem for large-language models and AI chatbots in general, which often confidently provide false information to users.

SAVE 31%: As of Dec. 15, you can get the ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM) 32-inch gaming monitor for $899, down from $1,299, at Amazon. That's a 31% discount or a $400 price cut.

ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM) 32-inch gaming monitor $899 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $400   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Newegg

If you're on a quest to level up your gaming setup, I just found a deal that's too good not to check into.

Right now, you can grab the ASUS ROG Swift OLED (PG32UCDM) 32-inch gaming monitor for $899, down from $1,299, at Amazon. That's a 31% discount or a $400 price cut (it's also the lowest price we've ever tracked for this model), but you'll need to hurry. Amazon's got this one listed as "selling fast."

SEE ALSO: Asus ROG Ally X review: 3 ways it beats the Steam Deck

This monitor runs at 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) with a 32-inch QD-OLED panel. It also has a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. ASUS was smart about this build, too. It uses a custom heatsink and graphene film to manage heat, reduce the risk of burn-in, and improve the panel's longevity. You can even charge your gaming laptop directly using the USB-C port, which provides 90W Power Delivery. Plus, the ergonomic stand is specially designed to tilt, swivel, and adjust in height so you can see the game from every angle.