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How to Use the UNIQUE Function in Microsoft Excel

How-To Geek - 13 hours 34 min ago

Microsoft Excel's UNIQUE function does exactly as its name suggests—it extracts unique values from an array. In other words, you'll only see each value once in the result, even if it appears multiple times in the source. Let's look at how it works, how to use it, and how to avoid certain pitfalls.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Netflix alternative you’ve been waiting for, now $20 for life

Mashable - 13 hours 34 min ago

TL;DR: Save 86% on a lifetime subscription to BitMar’s content finder for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $19.99
$150 Save $130.01   Get Deal

Tired of paying monthly fees just to scroll past the same shows on Netflix? There’s finally a different way to watch what you want, when you want, without paying anything extra.

BitMar, a streaming service alternative, is a powerful search engine that helps you find free movies or TV shows already available online, except you don’t have to sift through bogus or dangerous websites. Pay $19.99 for lifelong access and discover millions of channels, episodes, movies, and songs for no additional cost (reg. $150).

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 17, 2025)

BitMar is powered by the Bing search engine, but it only has eyes for free streaming content. You’ll use a far more user-friendly interface to plug in a channel, genre, actor, or a specific movie or TV show you have in mind, then this content aggregator scours the web to find it.

Is it legal? Yes. BitMar is fully compliant with copyright laws — and it’s simply locating content already available on the web.

If you’re wondering why you wouldn’t just spend the time searching for it yourself, that’s the reason right there — it saves you time. BitMar also filters out the garbage to leave you with high-quality, ad-free content.

Enjoy no subscription streaming with a BitMar lifetime subscription at $19.99 (reg. $150).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Shudders best horror comedies to scare you AND make you laugh

Mashable - 13 hours 34 min ago

Horror and comedy are sometimes thought of as being at opposing ends of the genre spectrum — but it doesn't have to be that way.

Alongside its original movies and truly scary movies, horror streaming platform Shudder has a nice little section reserved for horror comedy. Think parodies, tongue-in-cheek gore fests, and the type of films that can make you laugh even while they're grossing you out or putting your nerves on edge.

SEE ALSO: The scariest horror movies on Shudder to keep you up at night

I've combed through the archives to track down the best horror comedies on Shudder, from Josh Ruben's highly entertaining Scare Me to Lee Min-jae's very silly Zombie for Sale...

Zombie for Sale Credit: Christine Rampage / AMC Networks

What's it about?

A family finds a way to profit from a zombie.

Why should you watch it?

What if zombie bites weren’t all bad? More specifically, what if a nip from the undead would give the impotent new life below the belt? That’s the preposterous premise that kicks off this gleefully bonkers South Korean comedy. The Park family is scraping by running a battered gas station when their fortunes are turned by a zombie (Jung Ga-ram) with a rejuvenating bite. That’s just the first act of director Lee Min-jae’s playful horror-comedy. Family hijinks, ghoulish action, gross-out gags, and absurdly earnest romance also pop up, making for a movie that is chaotically charming and pleasantly unpredictable.* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Zombie for Sale is now streaming on Shudder.

Nina Forever

What's it about?

A grief-stricken man starts up a relationship with his colleague only to be haunted by his dead ex-girlfriend whenever they have sex.

Why should you watch it?

Yearning for a dark comedy that’s bloody fun? You’ll fall hard for Nina Forever. Co-writers/co-directors Ben and Chris Blaine have dreamed up a truly deranged tale of love and letting go, and it all begins with a macabre crush. Grocery clerk Holly (Abigail Hardingham) hopes she can help mournful motorcyclist Rob (Cian Barry) forget his last girlfriend, who died in a grisly accident. But every time these new lovers crawl into bed, Nina (Fiona O'Shaughnessy) intrudes. Or more specifically, her broken and bloody corpse crashes the party with snarky one-liners and withering eye-rolls. Full of gore, sex, and jaw-droppingly outrageous gags, this horror-comedy earns its hard-R, yet delivers a surprisingly tender tale.* — K.P.

How to watch: Nina Forever is now streaming on Shudder.

Deadstream Credit: Shudder

What's it about?

A "cancelled" YouTube prankster livestreams a tour of a haunted house in an attempt to redeem himself.

Why should you watch it?

"Full of sick thrills and dark humor, it feels like a real find," wrote Mashable's Kristy Puchko in her review. "It doesn't need a big budget, an established horror franchise, or big names to stand out. Briskly paced, wildly fun, and surprisingly smart, Deadstream is a bloody terrific good time. So, keep an eye out for it."

How to watch: Deadstream is now streaming on Shudder.

Scare Me

What's it about?

Two writers take turns telling each other scary stories after the cabins they're staying in lose power.

Why should you watch it?

Scare Me is a great example of a very simple premise being executed perfectly. Josh Ruben's tale of an amateur writer growing increasingly jealous of his professional author cabin neighbor is brilliantly written and directed, splicing witty exchanges with cleverly conjured campfire vignettes that take on a life of their own when they're performed. And this one really is all about the performances — as well as writing and directing, Ruben also stars in Scare Me alongside The Boys' Aya Cash and Saturday Night Live's Chris Redd, and the focus on storytelling means the trio have to break out their full range of (very impressive) acting talents.

There's laughter, there's tension, and although the actual scares are few, there's a creeping sense of unease that twists into something more in the film's final act.

How to watch: Scare Me is now streaming on Shudder.

One Cut of the Dead

What's it about?

A film crew attempts to shoot a low-budget zombie movie in an abandoned factory.

Why should you watch it?

I can safely say that I've never seen a film quite like One Cut of the Dead. Shin'ichirô Ueda's (recently remade) comedy horror (which is far more heavy on the comedy than the horror) is essentially a movie within a movie within a movie — a Russian doll-style story about a crew making a shoestring zombie flick.

We spend the first half of the run time watching the zombie film itself, but things really get interesting in the movie's second half, when we zoom out (and back in time) to watch the director and the production crew putting the whole thing together.

If that explanation has left you feeling slightly confused, it might be for the best — One Cut of the Dead is the sort of film that's hard to explain in words, but is probably more entertaining the less you know going in.

How to watch: One Cut of the Dead is now streaming on Shudder.

Boar

What's it about?

A small town in Australia is stalked by a man-eating boar.

Why should you watch it?

Boar may not appear in the comedy category on Shudder, but let's be honest here — any film that features a hippo-sized monster pig going up against a former WWE wrestler has to be a little bit tongue-in-cheek.

Fortunately, Chris Sun's Boar is exactly that: a lighthearted popcorn-muncher that mixes some entertainingly crude dialogue with some truly ridiculous fight sequences.

The perfect film to watch with a group of friends and a few beers.

How to watch: Boar is now streaming on Shudder.

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Scare Package

What's it about?

A video store owner takes on a new staffer, who quickly gets an education in the fine art of horror movies.

Why should you watch it?

Scare Package is essentially seven miniature horror films for the price of one, an entertaining anthology from seven different directors that parodies every horror movie stereotype you can possibly imagine. Ridiculous gory deaths? Cheesy one-liners? The serial killer who won't stay dead? Each trope gets its own moment to shine in this delightful mishmash, which is as much Cabin in the Woods-style satire as it is a love letter to the genre.

How to watch: Scare Package is now streaming on Shudder.

Glorious Credit: Shudder

What's it about?

After separating from his partner, a troubled man stops at a rest stop and strikes up a conversation with an unseen figure in a bathroom stall who claims to be a god.

Why should you watch it?

You might think a movie set almost entirely in a rest-stop bathroom would be a hard sell, but the combination of a well-written script, Rebekah McKendry's creative direction and some top acting from Ryan Kwanten, J.K. Simmons, and André Lamar helps keep the pace of this one going. Extra points for the creativeness of the idea and the weird genre mishmash, which combines silly humour, tension, and Lovecraftian horror.

How to watch: Glorious is now streaming on Shudder.

*This blurb appeared on a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 2:30 p.m. UTC This list was first published on Sept. 7. 2023. It has since been updated to reflect current streaming options.

Do you like scary movies? Peruse our editor-chosen list of 100 of the best horror films and use the filters to narrow down your picks for which to watch tonight.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple's New M5 Chip Might Actually Be Pretty Good

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 23:35

Apple just unveiled the next generation of M-series chips, which will power the new MacBook Pro as well as the latest generation of the iPad Pro. And it's pretty good. So good, in fact, that it appears to even outperform Apple's very best chips from last generation.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Bulletproof Hybrid Proves Japanese Cars Still Rule Reliability in 2025

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 23:31

When someone asks what the most reliable Japanese car is, most people instantly say “Toyota.” Fair enough—they’ve earned that rep.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Australia's Made a House-Printing Robot—And of Course It's a Spider

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 22:00

If you haven't been following international news too closely, you might not be aware that our friends down-under have a massive housing crisis. Then again, who doesn't? However, what makes the Australian story a little different from the rest of the world is how one company aims to solve the issue—spiders.

Categories: IT General, Technology

HTC Is Not Dead Yet, Shows off a Bunch of New Phones

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 21:44

If there’s one brand that all long-time Android users know, it’s HTC. Technically, HTC never went away, but most people have forgotten about it. Seemingly out of nowhere, a whole new line of HTC Wildfire phones was just shown off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This ASUS NUC Tiny PC Has a Powerful AMD Ryzen Chip

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 20:51

A lot of high-powered mini PCs out there are powered by Intel chips. And while I'm not an Intel hater, I'm more of an AMD guy. Which is why I'm particularly happy to see that ASUS is launching a brand new ROG tiny PC—powered by one of the best mobile AMD chips out there.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Camera shootout: I compared iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17 Pro Max photos side-by-side

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 19:42

Apple’s iPhone lineup has never been this diverse. You have four new phones on offer — iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max — with very different designs, dimensions, colors, battery sizes, and camera systems.

And yet, it feels like the iPhone 17 has been upgraded to the point of being a very good option for a lot of buyers; it finally has a 120Hz display, its battery life has been significantly improved, and, just like the other devices, it starts with 256GB of storage. The iPhone Air, on the other hand, has the same chip and display size as the iPhone 17 Pro, but only one camera on the back.

This is why, for a lot of potential buyers, the choice will fall down to the cameras. Apple hyped up the iPhone Air’s single camera as a many-cameras-in-one system, but is it really up to par with the other iPhones, let alone camera powerhouses like the Google Pixel 10 Pro? And is the iPhone 17’s camera system just as good as the one on the Pro models, only without the zoom, or is it noticeably weaker in other areas, too?

Let's go hands-on and compare some photos to answer all of your questions.

Camera shootout: Daylight Left to right: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air. In daylight, at maxed out resolution, the differences between the three phones are almost non-existent. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I'm happy to report that all three cameras take wonderfully detailed daylight shots with accurate colors. Turn up the megapixel count to 48 if you want more details, but only do so when the light conditions are just right.

TL:DR: A three-way tie.

Camera shootout: Zoom Left to right: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air. Again, without zooming in, you'll get very similar photos across the three devices. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

There’s no real competition here: The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a telephoto camera capable of 4x optical zoom, while the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air simply do not have that lens. Still, you can zoom in on all three phones (yes, even past the default 2x) as Apple will take the zoomed-out photo out of the larger, 48-megapixel capture.

Left to right: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air. The level of detail and sharpness you get on the Pro Max is vastly better than the digital zoom on the other two phones. Still, the iPhone Air consistently performed a little better than the iPhone 17. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

As you can see above, the photos without the dedicated telephoto camera simply cannot measure up to the level of detail you get on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, especially at 8x magnification. Interestingly, I’ve gotten slightly better results with the iPhone Air than with the iPhone 17. This was quite consistent over various set-ups and zoom levels, indicating that the Air has a better overall main camera than the iPhone 17.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 Pro Max wins in this category, which is no surprise. What is a surprise? The iPhone Air beat the iPhone 17.

Camera shootout: Ultra-wide Left: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: Left: iPhone 17 Pro Max, Right: iPhone 17. Sometimes the scenery demands an ultra-wide photo, and the iPhone Air just doesn't have the option. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Only the iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 17 have the ultra-wide camera; the iPhone Air doesn’t even have the option to zoom out past the default, 1x setting. On both the iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max, the ultra-wide yields significantly blurrier photos than the wonderfully sharp main shooter, so I recommend avoiding it. However, sometimes you just have to use it — typically, when you need to place a large group of people within the frame — and that’s where the option is great to have, photo quality be damned.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max have a decent but not great ultra-wide camera; the Air lacks this altogether.

Camera shootout: Low light Left to right: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air. This nocturnal scene was captured beautifully by all three phones. The one taken with the iPhone Air has the most accurate colors, but differences are minute. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

I was particularly interested in low-light performance, as this is where you really see whether the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air can hold their own against the Pro Max's powerful main camera. I'm happy to report that nighttime photos turned out roughly the same, no matter if I used the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, or iPhone 17 Pro Max.

TL;DR: All three phones took low-light photos of roughly the same quality.

Camera shootout: Macro Left to right: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air. The photos taken by the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro Max are almost identical. The iPhone Air simply cannot capture as many details up close. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

This test is perhaps unfair towards the iPhone Air, which doesn’t have a dedicated macro mode. But it’s still worth comparing the results, just to show how better the other two phones are when it comes to this specific photography type.

The iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max automatically switched to macro mode when I came in close to the flower, and both took a beautiful, detailed macro photo with vivid colors. With the iPhone Air, going in this close would only yield a blurry photo, so I used the 2x zoom option to get a bit more detail out of the flower. It’s not bad, but it's also nowhere near the quality of the other two photos when it comes to details. Also, the iPhone Air decided to blur the background, leaving me with a portrait photo; it’s not bad, but not exactly what I needed here.

TL;DR: The iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Max excel at macro photography; the iPhone Air doesn't even have a macro mode.

Camera shootout: Selfie Left to right: iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17, iPhone Air. In Croatia, we do not smile. Apparently. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

On paper, all three cameras should be the same, and judging by the selfies I took, they pretty much are. I've taken a number of selfies with all three phones and they're always true-to-life with accurate colors and tons of detail. Here, I've chosen a portrait selfie which turned out very similar across all three phones.

TL;DR: A three-way tie.

The iPhone 17 vs. the iPhone Air vs. the iPhone 17 Pro Max: Which is best for photography? They're all pretty good, but the iPhone 17 Pro Max has the most versatile camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The good news is that the main camera appears to be very similar across all three phones, and the iPhone Air performed much better than I expected. For your bread-and-butter daylight photos, as well as low-light shots, nature shots, and selfies, you can choose any of these phones and be happy.

Being able to zoom out and in (especially in) does make a difference in photography. Also, the video capabilities of the iPhone 17 Pro Max are truly pro-grade, compared to the more basic (yet still very good) video shooting you get on the other two phones. If you like to tinker with settings, need tons of storage for videos (the iPhone 17 Pro Max goes up to 2TB), and use zoom a lot, then the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a must.

How we tested

The rules of this contest were simple. I took photos in a multitude of scenarios with all three phones, doing my best to use similar settings and take the photo from the exact same position. Then, I uploaded the photos to my computer to see just how different they looked. In this article I’ve used cropped up details from each set of photos to highlight the differences between each phone.

This is not a perfect test. Sometimes you’ll get a bad (or a surprisingly good) photo for no apparent reason. I did take several sets of photos in each scenario to confirm the differences I saw were real, but I’ve only used a single set of photos for each scenario for the purposes of this article.

Categories: IT General, Technology

One airline is cutting economy class reclining seats

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 19:37

Travel-minded folks who find it rude when the people in front of them on an airplane recline their seats have a new ally.

That ally would be WestJet, a prominent Canadian airline that shuttles people all over the world. WestJet recently announced that all Economy class seats on its passenger jets will now have a "fixed recline" design. In other words, those who pay for the cheapest seats won't be able to recline anymore. There will still be some reclining seats in both the "extended comfort" section of the plane and in the premium cabin, but it seems like most passengers will now be on an even playing field when it comes to the angle of their seat-backs.

SEE ALSO: Delta and other airlines are working with an AI startup that 'personalizes' prices

According to WestJet, this means its Boeing 747 jets will now have an additional row of seats in them, and you can expect these to roll out by the end of the year. This could also reduce per-seat ticket prices, in theory.

On the flipside, the more rows there are in a plane, the less space there is for each person. It may also come across as problematic for customers who hate losing access to something that has been standard in airplanes for years. Still, those of us who find it a bit unbecoming when the person in front of us decides to recline probably won't mind.

As always, just remember that the other people in the plane probably hate being there just as much as you do, and adjust your behavior accordingly.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 10 Crossovers Deliver More Sportiness Than You’d Think

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 19:30

Crossovers have long been seen as practical family haulers, but a new generation is proving they can be just as thrilling as they are versatile. Beneath their everyday-friendly designs lie powerful engines, sport-tuned suspensions, and responsive steering that make driving them genuinely fun.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurdle hints and answers for October 17, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 19:07

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A dot.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

SPECK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Nailing it.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

ACING

Hurdle Word 3 hint

More sensible.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

SANER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

One of the five senses.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

TOUCH

Final Hurdle hint

Shrubbery.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

BRIAR

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Categories: IT General, Technology

That Time When Mozilla Tried to Make a Mobile OS

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 19:00

Back in 2013, when the iPhone and Android had cornered the smartphone market, a plucky new mobile operating system showed up that promised to bring a new kind of smartphone. One that was entirely built on web technologies and web apps. It was from a familiar brand, but it never took off.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Weapons: Streaming just in time for Halloween

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:49
The best streaming deals to watch 'Weapons' at home: Best non-streaming option Rent or Buy on Prime Video $9.99 or $19.99 Get Deal Best HBO Max deal HBO Max (With Ads) $99.99/year (save $19.89) Get Deal Best deal with no ads Max Standard $169.99/year (save $33.89) Get Deal Best for students HBO Max Student $4.99 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Get HBO Max for free HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $9.99/month) Get Deal Get HBO Max for free HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for DashPass annual plan subscribers (save $9.99 per month) Get Deal Best bundle deal Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 43%) Get Deal

Weapons, Zach Cregger's follow-up to the 2022 cult horror hit Barbarian, is one of the year's biggest horror success stories. It's not surprising, given that the script alone had Hollywood so excited it sparked a multi-million-dollar bidding war.

Not only did Cregger write the script, but he also directed, produced, and co-composed the music. Josh Brolin, Julia Garner, Alden Ehrenreich, Austin Abrams, Cary Christopher, with Benedict Wong, and Amy Madigan star in the wild horror hit of the summer.

If you skipped the theaters or can't wait to watch it again, Weapons now officially has a streaming date. Here's what you need to know to tune in — including where to watch it and when.

What is Weapons about?

Weapons tells the story of a community left in crisis when all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish at the same time on the same night. The story splits its time between various non-linear viewpoints, including the missing kids' teacher Justine (Julia Garner) and Archer (Josh Brolin), father to one of the missing children.

Who or what is behind their disturbing disappearance into darkness? It's best that's all you know going into the film. As Mashable film critic Belen Edwards writes, "The best way to prepare for its thrills is to simply not prepare at all."

Get a glimpse at the mystery in the creepy trailer:

Is Weapons worth watching?

Strong test screenings led Warner Bros. to bump up the release date for Weapons from Jan. 2026 to Aug. 2025, and it definitely paid off. One of the biggest horror success stories of the year, the $38 million budget film has grossed $251M worldwide to date. Of course, box office totals only tell half of the story. Reviews tell the other.

With a 93 percent critic rating and 85 percent audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it's safe to say Weapons is worth watching. Even Stephen King gave it his nod of approval, calling it "confidently told and very scary."

Mashable's own reviewer writes, "The last thing I ever want to do is overhype a movie, but just trust me when I say: You are not ready for Weapons."

Check out Mashable's full review of Weapons.

How to watch Weapons at home Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Weapons hit theaters on Aug. 8, 2025. If you missed the mystery unfold on the big screen or you can't wait to watch it again, there are a couple of different ways to watch it at home come Oct. 24: purchasing via digital video-on-demand, renting via digital video-on-demand, or streaming on HBO Max. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

As of Sept. 9, Weapons is available to purchase or rent on digital video-on-demand platforms. You can buy the movie for your digital library or rent it for 30 days. If you choose to rent, just note that although you'll have 30 days to watch, you'll only have 48 hours to finish watching once you begin.

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

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

We originally predicted that Weapons would make its streaming debut on HBO Max just in time for spooky season and we're pleased to announce that is the case. It's following the same theater-to-streaming trajectory of other Warner Bros. titles like Final Destination: Bloodlines and Sinners. You can stream Weapons on HBO Max starting Oct. 24.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $9.99 per month, but there are some ways to save some money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

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 $99.99 per year (save $19.89) Get Deal

The HBO Max Basic plan with ads typically costs $9.99 per month, but if you pay for an entire year upfront, that price drops down to just $8.33. With the annual plan, you'll pay $99.99, which saves you about 16% compared to paying each month.

Best Max 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 $169.99 per year (save $33.89) Get Deal

Rather go ad-free? The annual Max Standard or Premium plans will also save about 16% over the monthly plans. The Standard tier costs either $16.99 per month or $169.99 per year (about $14.16 per month), while the Premium tier costs either $20.99 per month or $209.99 per year (about $17.50 per month). Both tiers offer ad-free viewing, but the Premium tier goes a step further with 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

Looking for a way to get HBO Max for free in 2025? Switch your phone plan to Cricket's $60 per month Supreme Unlimited plan. It includes HBO Max Basic with ads for free. 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). 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). Activate the subscription through your DoorDash account to get started. Rather watch ad-free? You can upgrade for a discounted rate.

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 $4.99 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can watch Weapons when it hits streaming by signing up for an entire year of HBO Max with ads for half price. Just verify your student status with UNiDAYS and retrieve the unique discount code to drop the price from $9.99 to $4.99 per month.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 43% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $16.99 per month (with ads), $29.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

For the most bang for your buck, check out the Disney+ bundle deal that includes Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max for just $16.99 per month with ads. That lineup of streamers would usually cost you $29.97 per month, so you'll keep an extra $13 in your pocket monthly. If you prefer an ad-less experience, the bundle will run you $29.99 per month as opposed to $50.97. That's up to 43% in savings for access to all three streaming libraries.

UPDATE: Oct. 17, 2025, 11:39 a.m. This article has been updated with the latest streaming information and pricing for "Weapons."

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Jackery generator is basically a home power plant, and its $1,300 off

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:44

SAVE 30%: As of Oct. 17, the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus portable power station is on sale for $2,998.95, down from its list price of $4,299, at Amazon. That's a 30% discount and $1,300.05 in savings.

Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus $2,998.95 at Amazon
$4,299 Save $1,300.05   Get Deal at Amazon

When a big storm rolls through and knocks out the power, those little portable battery packs aren't going to cut it for long. If you're serious about keeping your whole house running, or planning an off-grid adventure, you need something with real power.

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

As of Oct. 17, the Jackery Solar Generator 5000 Plus portable power station is on sale for $2,998.95 at Amazon, down from its list price of $4,299. That's a 30% discount and $1,300.05 in savings.

The base model holds 5kWh of power, but you can stack extra battery packs to expand it to 60kWh. Jackery says that's potentially enough to power an average home for up to 15 days during an outage. With a 7200W output (expandable up to 14400W) and both 120V and 240V outlets, it can handle pretty much anything you throw at it — from your fridge and lights to heavy-duty appliances like electric dryers, ovens, or even an RV hookup.

It's got some smart features, too. The 0ms UPS mode means it switches to battery power instantly during an outage, so sensitive electronics like computers or WiFi routers won't even flicker. Plus, you can manage everything through the Jackery app, like monitoring power usage or setting it to charge during off-peak hours to save on your electricity bill.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apple TV Snags Exclusive Rights to Formula 1 in the U.S., Starting Next Year

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:42

It's lights out for Apple TV, as today the streaming giant announced that starting in 2026 it will become the exclusive broadcast partner of Formula 1 motor racing in the United States.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The AirPods Pro 2 are back down to their $169.99 Prime Day price

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:40

SAVE $79: As of Oct. 17, the Apple AirPods Pro 2 are back down to $169.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 32% and matches their price from October Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $169.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $79.01   Get Deal

If you missed out on grabbing the Apple AirPods Pro 2 at their Prime Day price, it's your lucky day. As of Oct. 17, the second-generation earbuds are back on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. That's 32% off their list price and the same price we saw a couple of weeks ago for October's Prime Big Deal Days event.

Sure, there's a new pair of premium Apple earbuds in town — the AirPods Pro 3 — but we still think the AirPods Pro 2 are worth grabbing. They've been our favorite earbuds for Apple users and topped our lists of the best headphones for a few years now, thanks to rich and balanced sound, superb noise cancellation, and seamless integration in the Apple ecosystem. "For portability, active noise cancellation, and balanced sound, your search ends with the AirPods Pro," our reviewer writes. The newest generation improves the ANC even more and boosts battery life, but since they're so new, you'll have to pay full price.

We don't expect the Pro 2s to stay in stock for that much longer now that there's a new pair on the block, so if you're looking for solid noise-cancellers that won't break the bank, pick up the Pro 2s on sale for just $169.99 while you can.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Protect yourself with up to 77% off NordVPN with this Black Friday sale

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:37

SAVE UP TO 77%: As of Oct. 17, save up to 77% on NordVPN subscription plans, including Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime as part of its Black Friday sale.

Opens in a new window Credit: NordVPN NordVPN Black Friday Sale Save up to 77% off on NordVPN subscription plans. Get Deal

If you're looking for a reliable way to keep yourself safe while browsing online, a VPN is the way to go. Luckily, they aren't that expensive if you want to go ahead and subscribe to one. If you're interested in giving NordVPN a try, you can get it for a great price right now thanks to its annual Black Friday sale. It's that time again, which means you can save a significant amount on two-year plans.

As of Oct. 17, save up to 77% on NordVPN subscription plans, including Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime as part of its Black Friday sale.

SEE ALSO: I've tested a bunch of popular VPNs. This is the only one I recommend for streaming.

You can choose from the Basic, Plus, Complete, and Prime plans, which start at $2.99 per month and go up to $6.89 per month, with 3 extra months added on for each deal. That adds up to a savings of 77% with the Prime plan, and 74% off on the Basic plan.

NordVPN offers secure, fast VPN service with its Basic plan, but upgrade to the Plus plan and you'll get its traditional VPN performance with anti-malware and browsing protection, an ad tracker and blocker, and a password manager and breach scanner. The Complete plan nets you all of this and 1 TB of cloud storage, while the Prime plan also gets you all of this plus NordProtect, which works to guard you against cyber crimes with monitoring, alerts, and insurance coverage.

You can also opt for 1-year plans as well as other shorter subscription terms if you don't want to commit for the long haul. But if you're going to spend a lot of time online, you may as well stay anonymous while doing so. Grab this deal while it's available through the holidays.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I Gave The Linux cd Command Superpowers, Here's How

How-To Geek - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:30

You probably use the cd command on Linux every day. But did you know that there are some hacks that let you improve your experience while navigating different directories? After applying these tips, I'm able to change directories without worry of making mistakes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Notorious hacker group doxxes ICE and FBI officials in new leak, report says

Mashable - Fri, 10/17/2025 - 18:22

Hundreds of U.S. government officials with the FBI, ICE, and the DOJ have allegedly had their personal information doxxed by a notorious hacker group.

Members of the group known as the Com, a community of hackers with ties to another well-known hacking collective, Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters, are currently sharing the leaked data on private Telegram channels. As 404 Media reports, it's unclear how this leaked data was obtained, as it could be compiled from previous leaks, the result of a new yet-to-be-announced government breach, or other means

The hackers have already shared multiple spreadsheets full of private data purportedly belonging to 680 DHS officials, 170 FBI agents, and 190 DOJ officials. The doxxed information spans from government email addresses to personal names, phone numbers, and residential addresses, per 404 Media.

The hacking group behind the leak and their associates have been behind some high-profile data breaches in recent years. The group is believed to be responsible for the recent Salesforce data leak, the Ticketmaster data breach, the AT&T leak, breaches at major airlines, and even the Grand Theft Auto VI footage leak.

Many hackers connected to the Com come from various close-knit groups such as Scattered Spider, ShinyHunters, and Lapsus$. These threat actors have begun operating under the joint name Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters, and they're some of the most infamous English-speaking hacking groups operating today.

The Trump administration has gone to great lengths to stifle any speech regarding the identities and movements of ICE agents, many of whom now cover their faces with masks to hide their identities when making arrests.

The Trump administration has moved aggressively to deport undocumented immigrants, including those without criminal records. In fact, The Guardian recently reported that undocumented immigrants with no criminal record now make up the largest group of people in ICE detention. And in numerous cases, ICE has wrongly detained U.S. citizens in its sweeps.

As a result, ICE actions have faced protests in communities across the country. Activists created apps to help monitor ICE, which have since been banned from Apple's App Store after requests from the Trump administration. One such app, ICEBlock, a crowdsourced ICE tracker, was for a time one of the most downloaded apps on the App Store. Another banned app, Eyes Up, allowed users to log and archive videos of ICE activity in order to hold agents accountable.

As 404 Media reports, one user in the Scattered LAPSUS$ Hunters Telegram channel jokingly referenced recent unfounded claims from the DHS that drug cartels in Mexico were offering bounties for the doxxing of U.S. government agents.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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