Blogroll

The nation-wide grounding of American flights grabbed all the headlines yesterday, for good reason, but it wasn't the only anomalous event on Friday the 13th. 

Before the FAA mandate brought all air travel to a screeching halt, West Coast travelers experienced flight delays out of fear that falling debris from the recent SpaceX launch might damage a plane. 

The launch of Starship, SpaceX's largest interplantery rocket yet, capable of carrying up to 100 people on long-duration flights, involved incredible feats of engineering, but also necessitated shedding incredible amounts of debris to achieve escape velocity. Much of that debris ends up in orbit, as "space junk," but much also comes crashing down to Earth, and any problems in the launch would have likely also created significant danger, not only to air traffic but even pedestrians.

Thankfully no harm was done and after a short delay, primarily impacting flyers out of and into Hawaii, flights resumed until the larger, nation-wide shutdown. 

SpaceX's Starship test flight concludes later this afternoon, so if you want to watch the attempted catch of the mega-rocket, here's how you can live-stream it.

Waiting in line to pick up your kids from school can be excruciatingly dull. Many people spend the time scrolling through social media, but there is a ton of content out there that you could be watching that doesn't demand all of your attention or much of your time. Rather than doom-scrolling, these series are the perfect way to kill some time.

SpaceX is attempting rocketry history on Saturday, and you can watch it from the comfort of your home.

Elon Musk's spacefaring company launched a test flight of its Starship craft on Friday evening. There were multiple objectives for the mission, including the deployment of Starlink satellites, but two goals stood out above the rest: Guide the rocket booster to a pinpoint landing minutes after launch, and then do the same with the Starship itself a day later after it's done orbiting the Earth. That has never been done before.

SEE ALSO: Why tech stocks are down today, including Nvidia, SpaceX, AMD, more

The first goal failed, with the booster ultimately landing in the Gulf of Mexico, but the second objective is being livestreamed on X. According to Space.com, SpaceX will do a final point-of-no-return check at about 2 p.m. ET, where it will decide whether or not to go through with this objective or just splash down in the water. If the company decides to go for it, the landing will happen a couple of hours later, shortly after 4 p.m. ET.

If you don't have anything better happening on a Saturday afternoon, there are worse ways to spend that time.

I got fed up with OneDrive running out of room and Windows Backup not working well for me. So, I decided to try a new piece of software that completely changed how I backed up my computer: Duplicati.

The consumer 3D printer market is dominated by filament deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers that take spools of filament and turn them into objects by melting and reforming that material. Resin 3D printing works in a similar way, except objects are “grown” from a vat of liquid resin and hardened using light.

Save $30: The Nintendo Switch 2 is available for $469 at Woot. This deal is live through Nov. 30 or until sold out. The console rarely goes on sale and is usually listed for $499, making this a 6% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 $469 at Woot!
$499 Save $30   Get Deal at Woot!

Struggling to get your hands on the Zelda edition of the Switch 2? How about grabbing a discounted Switch 2 instead, weeks ahead of Black Friday?

Yes, you read that right. Nintendo's console rarely goes on sale — and even less so since its $50 price hike in September — yet Woot is offering a brand-new Nintendo Switch 2 for $469. That's a $30 price drop from the usual $499, bringing it closer to its former $449 list price. Admittedly, it's not a huge discount, but again, it's rare. The console has dropped in price a grand total of zero times since its price hike.

For comparison, the Switch 2 is holding firm at $499 on Amazon and Best Buy.

Going into my fifth year covering Black Friday at Mashable, I can confidently say that gaming console deals can be a tricky one during the shopping holiday. A lot of folks wait until sales kick off to grab deals, meaning if there is an impressive price drop, it sells out fast. I would expect this situation to be even more competitive during the year of RAMaggedon.

In other words, sneaking in and grabbing some savings ahead of time on a truly excellent console is a great way to go this holiday season. Just make sure to grab it while supplies last, or before Nov. 30 when the deal expires, if stock is still available.

Desk space is a limited and highly valuable resource. If you have a gaming PC, you know how quickly accessories, peripherals, and gadgets pile up. Fortunately, with a single accessory, I managed to move most of the clutter off my desk without sacrificing functionality or convenience.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Nintendo Shop Now Amazon Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Amazon Shop Now Walmart Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Walmart Shop Now Target Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Target Shop Now Best Buy Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at Best Buy Shop Now GameStop Nintendo Switch 2 — The Legend of Zelda — 40th Anniversary Edition $519.99 at GameStop Shop Now

If your current morning ritual involves violently hitting refresh on a dozen retail tabs, you already know the vibe: finding the Nintendo Switch 2: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Edition is turning into an Olympic sport.

Between automated bot armies scooping digital drops, surprise order cancellations at Walmart, and inventory vanishing in seconds on Amazon, this custom black-and-gold console feels like a myth. But while digital storefronts look completely barren, stock is actively circulating behind the scenes.

Where to check for Zelda Switch 2 stock right now

Before getting into the restock details, bookmark these retailer pages to check for surprise drops:

• Nintendo Store — Out of stock right now, but you can add it to your wishlist to get pinged the second a restock hits.

• Amazon — Dropping tiny batches of consoles randomly throughout the day.

• Walmart — Stock exists but only for third-party listings selling at way over market price, so make sure your in-stock email alerts are turned on.

• Target — Sold out online, but periodic drops have taken place in-store.

• Best Buy — Sold out online, but select stores ran midnight openings on Nov. 5 with walk-in stock.

• GameStop — Online orders are off; you will have to walk into a store to find one.

Why is the console selling out so fast?

The feeding frenzy is being supercharged by Nintendo’s staggered release calendar. While the custom Zelda 40th Anniversary hardware dropped first on Oct. 29, the flagship game driving demand — The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 — arrived on Thursday, Nov. 5.

The remake rebuilds the 1998 classic from the ground up with modernized controls, a fully orchestrated soundtrack, reworked dungeon puzzles, and expanded Hyrule environments. Since the $520 console doesn’t include the game, everyone is rushing to lock down a system before launch day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon What comes with the Zelda 40th anniversary Switch 2?

The package includes the special-edition Switch 2 system sporting a custom black-and-gold finish, themed Joy-Con 2 controllers, and a matching dock decorated with the gold Triforce emblem. It retains the platform's signature flexibility, letting you switch between TV, Tabletop, and Handheld modes whenever you want.

Inside the themed chassis, you get 256GB of built-in storage (expandable with microSD Express cards), a vivid display in handheld mode, faster load times, and support for up to 4K resolution on compatible TVs when the console sits in the dock.

The magnetic Joy-Con 2 controllers add mouse-style tracking in supported games, while the new GameChat hub lets you voice chat and share your screen directly as you play. It also plays your older Switch games and supports standard multiplayer options.

How can you improve your chances of finding stock?

Landing limited-edition Nintendo hardware takes a little prep work, but these battle-tested habits will give you a real edge over the bots:

• Save your checkout details everywhere — Log in to Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and the Nintendo Store to save your shipping address and default card. Stopping to type a card number or billing zip code during a live drop is how you lose an order.

• Hands off the refresh button in Best Buy's queue — When an online drop goes live, Best Buy puts shoppers into a randomized waiting line to filter out scrapers. Touching the reload button resets your spot and boots you straight to the back.

• Watch for Walmart+ early-access paywalls — Walmart frequently locks headline console drops behind paid Walmart+ subscriptions for the first 30 to 60 minutes. If you have a membership, keep that tab signed in; if not, wait for the general public window to unlock.

• Dodge third-party sellers — Double-check the seller before buying. Marketplace scalpers frequently list units for jacked-up prices; make sure it says "Sold and shipped by [Retailer]" at the standard price.

• Skip the web wars and head to physical stores — Online checkout bots grab website stock in under 15 seconds. Showing up in person is easily your most reliable path to securing one without paying scalper markups.

Will the Zelda Switch 2 be restocked on Black Friday?

Most likely, yes.

Stores like Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy often hold onto popular gaming hardware to use as headline deals during Black Friday and Cyber Monday week.

With that said, Black Friday restocks are usually the hardest ones to catch. You will be fighting website crashes, gift shoppers, and automated bots all at once. If you can grab a console whenever stock appears, take it. Think of Black Friday as a backup plan, not your main bet.

Console hunting sucks right now, period. But between the surprise micro-drops and physical store restocks, you still have real shots at retail price — just be ready to move the second that stock goes live.

It took some time, but One UI 9 has finally started to roll out to a swath of older devices. You don't have to have a brand-new flagship Galaxy device to get the update anymore, which is good news for me and my S24 FE. Even mid-range A-series devices and some tablets are now gaining access to the swath of new features.

Smart home gadgets can make your life easier, but it’s easy to end up with a home full of gadgets that all do different jobs. Using Home Assistant, I’ve managed to replace several gadgets with tech that I already own.

Apart from the physical ownership and preservation aspects, one of the big reasons I love to collect DVDs and Blu-ray discs is the inclusion of extra features. I'm a sucker for "making of" segments, bloopers, and who doesn't love a nice documentary-style featurette?

Let's be honest: even though 3D printing is awesome and you can use it to print repair parts or make useful objects, we don't generally think of what these machines spit out as "expensive."

For most of us, Gigabit Ethernet is more than enough for our needs. Even if you have a NAS or a home server, you’ll likely max out gigabit bandwidth only when copying large files. Those of us who do need something faster can go up to 10G Ethernet via good old RJ45, which tops out at about 1.25GBps. That more or less covers every type of home setup.

Back at the start of the century, you could play a game just by entering two words into Google Search. Like seemingly all things, it was soon completely ruined by Google changing its search algorithms. A quarter of a century later, I managed to recreate my own small version of Googlewhacking.

I’ve been very critical of Google’s automation tools on Pixel phones. It’s one area where Samsung Galaxy devices blow them out of the water. Thankfully, an incredible suite of tools called “Essentials” is the cure I’ve been looking for.

Most 3D printer owners are probably familiar with the constant desire to design, download, and print anything and everything you can. While this shows an admirable commitment to the hobby, it’s not always the right call.

For seven years, a NASA telescope watched a planet the size of Jupiter cross in front of its star again and again — until one day it didn't.

The planet, TOI-2535 b, had been acting a little weird for a while. Each time it passed, which astronomers call a transit, it arrived as much as six hours early or late. The crossings also grew shorter and fainter. 

Then, earlier this year, the planet just stopped showing up.

Astronomers knew an exoplanet could drift out of view like this, but they figured it would take decades or even centuries to happen. Imagine their surprise. 

"The planet's orbit is tilting so quickly that its transit disappeared while we were watching," said Samuel Yee, a UCLA postdoctoral fellow and the study's corresponding author, in a statement.

The findings reveal the most extreme case yet of two worlds yanking on each other's orbits. The research also offers a rare clue to how giant planets could end up sidling so close to their stars. Scientists think most of these snuggly planets got there in some violent way. Perhaps a close encounter with another object, for example, knocked them onto a stretched-out orbit, and then their star reeled them in. But this pair likely took a gentler route and spiraled in slowly together, according to the new paper, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

SEE ALSO: Watch SpaceX's wildest test yet: A 22-hour flight and a historic return

Planet TOI-2535 b sits about 1,000 light-years from Earth. It's what's known as a "hot Jupiter," a gas giant that orbits so close to its star that it finishes a lap in about eight days. By contrast, Mercury, our solar system's closest world to the sun, needs 88 days to make a revolution.

To be clear, NASA's TESS, short for Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, never saw the planet directly. It infers the presence of a planet by catching the tiny decrease in starlight when one passes in front of its star. One day, TESS could no longer track those fluctuations. 

But planets don't normally just disappear into thin space. Astronomers knew something else was going on. 

Those fading crossings told the team that the planet's path was sliding from the middle of the star toward its edge until it was no longer traceable. The planet still circles its star, but from Earth it now passes above or below it.

UCLA astrophysicist and co-author Erik Petigura compares it to eclipses. 

"If the moon's orbit around the Earth was perfectly aligned with the Earth's orbit around the sun, we would see an eclipse every month," he said. "But because the moon's orbit is tilted, eclipses are less common. The tilt of the moon's orbit is a relic of its violent formation history, which resulted from a collision with the early Earth."

So-called 'hot Jupiters' are gas giant exoplanets similar to Jupiter but orbit extremely close to their host stars. Credit: NASA / ESA illustration

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

That raised a bigger question. What tipped TOI-2535 b's orbit?

Timing (or the lack of it) gave it away. A planet on its own crosses its star on a steady schedule. TOI-2535 b's early and late arrivals told the team that something unseen was tugging on it.

The researchers combined those timing clues with measurements of how the star wobbles as its planets pull on it. Everything pointed to a second planet, likely at least as massive as Saturn, circling nearby and also on a tilted orbit.

Nobody has seen that world, and for the same reason TOI-2535 b has gone AWOL. Its tilted path carries it above or below the star from our space telescope's vantage point, so the mystery planet never blocks any starlight that TESS can detect. But astronomers know it's there because of how hard it pulls on TOI-2535 b.

The two planets continue to pull on each other, so their orbits wobble slowly like spinning tops. The researchers expect TOI-2535 b to swing back into view in 30 to 50 years. But its hidden neighbor may show up sooner.

The pair also tells a story about the past. Astronomers have found hundreds of hot Jupiters, but these planets rarely have a massive neighbor close enough to tug on them. A violent fling couldn't have left two giant planets this close together, according to the research, so this pair likely took the scenic route.

But a gentler journey should have left the two orbits lying flat. Something had to have later tipped them, though the team doesn't yet know what. This star system may reveal a rare way of forming planets.

The discovery took patience. TESS's first four years of data wouldn't have been enough to reliably catch the change. As the telescope keeps watching, the researchers expect to find more planets slipping in and out of sight.

"We think of the universe as resembling clockwork, where everything is regular," Yee said, "but that's not true."

The best early Black Friday iPad deals: Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 (save $100) Get Deal Best budget iPad deal Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399.99 (save $49.01) Get Deal Best iPad mini deal Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $569 (save $30) Get Deal

Now that we're just a couple of weeks away from Black Friday, the savings are in full swing. So if you want to get your Christmas shopping done before the turkey is even in the oven — we've got you.

Since everything feels more expensive these days, shopping sales can help ease the pain. Apple products (including the iPad lineup) saw price increases this summer, in part thanks to RAMageddon, but some deals are making iPads more reasonable.

Comparing these early Black Friday deals to what we saw during October Prime Day helps us decide what's actually worth buying. We have the green light on the standard iPad with the A16 chip, which is sitting at about the same sale price we saw during Prime Day. But our favorite deal is on the iPad Air which is back down to its October Prime Day Price of $649.

For a full rundown of iPad prices, we've rounded up the devices' price history so you know exactly how current sale prices compare to previous lows.

As we get even closer to this sale, we'll keep this page updated if we see better price drops in iPads.

Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) $649 at Amazon
$749 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The very best deal on iPads to shop ahead of Black Friday is on the 11-inch iPad Air with M4. It's now down to $649, saving you $100 off of its $749 price tag. The iPad Air is the best iPad — and tablet — that you can buy. It's incredibly powerful for a tablet, with more computing power than many laptops.

$649 isn't technically the lowest price ever on the device. But given that iPad prices have increased so dramatically over the past year, these are still savings worth shopping for. That being said, we hope to see even bigger savings come Black Friday.

Best budget iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (A16, WiFi, 128GB) $399.99 at Amazon
$449 Save $49.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Mashable's favorite iPad for budget shoppers is the iPad with an A16 chip, which is on sale for $399.99, just $0.99 more than its October Prime Day price. Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino wrote, "It's great for someone who wants a portable screen for streaming, playing games, and reading." Given its lower price point, it's also a nice option for kids.

Best iPad mini deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) $569 at Amazon
$599 Save $30   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Apple just announced the 8th Gen iPad mini with big upgrades, but if you're interested in an older (and less expensive) model, the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip is already on sale. The 7th Gen iPad mini is a great option if you're looking for a versatile tablet that's great for streaming shows and catching up on emails. It's also the best iPad if you're looking for a model that'll double as an e-reader, thanks to its compact size.

It's worth mentioning we saw this model drop to $499 during October Prime Day, so you're better off waiting until Black Friday actually kicks off to shop.

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 18 Pro is free when you switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan. You can also get the iPhone 18 Pro for free if you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on a T-Mix plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free   Shop Now

Black Friday deals don't actually drop on Black Friday. Instead, we get heaps of early deals throughout November and even earlier. That's good news for anyone who desperately needs a tech upgrade without wanting the stress of the main event.

Why wait when T-Mobile is offering a stunning early Black Friday iPhone deal? We've rounded up all the best Black Friday deals from T-Mobile, but the standout option is probably the free Apple iPhone 18 Pro.

For a limited time, you can get your hands on the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free with T-Mobile. To qualify for this deal, you need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on a qualifying T-Mix plan. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 18 Pro for free if you trade in an eligible phone in any condition on a T-Mix plan. It's that simple, folks.

The full savings are distributed as monthly credits over a 36-month payment plan. If you leave T-Mobile before the end of the three-year contract, you will be charged the remaining balance. You also need to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, plus a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. You can't escape those charges, even with these "free" deals.

Score the Apple iPhone 18 Pro for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

The best early Black Friday Nintedo Switch deals: Best Nintendo console deal Nintendo Switch 2 $469 (save $30) Get Deal Best Nintendo storage deal SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card $159.99 (save $40) Get Deal Best Nintendo game deal 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' $50.99 (save $19) Get Deal Best Nintendo case deal PowerA Slim Case for Nintendo Switch 2 (Pikachu Storm) $17.49 (save $2.50) Get Deal

We're still a couple of weeks away from Black Friday, but the deals aren't waiting. That's great news if you're a Nintendo fan or have a gamer on your holiday shopping list. From games to storage upgrades and accessories, we're already seeing sweet deals.

Some of the best Nintendo deals will likely arrive when Nintendo's Black Friday sale kicks off on Nov. 22. The company has announced $50 off the Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World Bundle, bringing it to $499.99 through Dec. 5. Select physical games will also be $20 off MSRP from Nov. 22 to 29, including Donkey Kong Bananza, Kirby Air Riders, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Super Mario Party Jamboree.

Nintendo's digital sale starts earlier, on Nov. 19, and runs through Dec. 2, though individual game prices haven't been announced yet.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2026 at Walmart: See the ad and early deals

If you'd rather get your holiday shopping started now, we've compiled the top Nintendo and Nintendo Switch deals already live below. We'll keep updating this list as more Black Friday offers arrive.

Best Nintendo console deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintedo Nintendo Switch 2 $469 at Woot
$499 Save $30   Get Deal at Woot Why we like it

While stock is tight on the new Zelda version of the Switch 2, you can snag the standard model already on sale before Black Friday. Head to Woot to get the Nintendo Switch 2 while it's in stock for $469. Amazon Prime members get free shipping with Woot, but keep in mind that Woot deals tend to sell out quickly, so don't wait on this one.

More Nintendo console deals

• Nintendo Switch (Renewed) — $199.99 $328.68 (save $128.69)

• Nintendo Switch OLED (Renewed) — $288 $389 (save $101)

• Nintendo Switch 2 System (Open Box) — $459.99 $499 (save $39.01)

Best Nintendo Switch 2 storage deal Opens in a new window Credit: SanDisk SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card $159.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $40   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Load up on all the games before winter break with a memory upgrade from the SanDisk 512GB microSD Express Card. It's designed with write speeds up to 650 MB/s and read speeds up to 880 MB/s. The SanDisk microSD is officially licensed by Nintendo for the Switch 2, so you'll be good to go for all your gaming needs. With memory in short supply and prices rising, snag this deal before it expires.

More Nintendo Switch 2 storage deals

• Samsung P9 Express 256GB microSDXC card — $47.99 $79.99 (save $32)

• Samsung P9 Express 512GB microSDXC card — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)

• SanDisk 512GB microSD Express card for Nintendo Switch 2 — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)

• Lexar PLAY PRO 512GB microSD Express card — $165.87 $249.99 (save $84.12)

Best Nintendo game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Pokémon Legends: Z-A' $49.94 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $20.05   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you already have a Switch 2 or you're looking for a great Christmas gift for a gamer, Pokémon Legends: Z-A is already on sale for under $50. Mashable Tech Reporter Alex Perry reviewed Pokémon Legends: Z-A and noted it's "enjoyably light and airy," which seems like the kind of game we need right now.

More Nintendo Switch 2 game deals

• Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — $46.45 $69.99 (save $23.54)

• Pokémon Legends: Z-A — $50.99 $69.99 (save $19)

• Mario Kart World (Switch 2, digital code) — $69.99 $79.99 (save $10)

• Pokémon Pokopia (Switch 2, digital code) — $62.99 $69.99 (save $7)

Best Nintendo Switch 2 accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: PowerA PowerA Slim Case for Nintendo Switch 2 (Pikachu Storm) $17.49 at Best Buy
$19.99 Save $2.50   Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

A Switch 2 is an expensive thing to leave loose in your bag. The PowerA Slim Case in Pikachu Storm is $17.49 at Best Buy, compared with its listed comparable value of $19.99. That’s $2.50 less — not a huge discount, but a reasonably priced way to protect your console. It has a molded interior with soft fabric lining, storage for up to 10 game cards, and a built-in stand for tabletop play. The stand also doubles as a padded screen protector when the console is packed away. Plus, having Pikachu on the front doesn't hurt.