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Tired of LibreOffice? The Open Source ONLYOFFICE Just Got a Big Update
The open source office application ONLYOFFICE had its first point release since June on Wednesday, and it comes with a bevy of new features for its "Desktop Editors" suite of apps. They include a document recovery function, faster spreadsheet functions, and PDF annotation tools.
Are Venmo and PayPal down? Users report issues on October 16 for payment services
UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 2:08 p.m. PayPal acknowledged a Thursday outage in a statement to Mashable, but said the problem has been fixed. "PayPal and Venmo experienced a brief service disruption that has since been resolved," a spokesperson wrote in an email.
UPDATE: Oct. 16, 2025, 12:59 p.m. EDT The number of user-reported issues for PayPal and Venmo dropped off precipitously on Down Detector, indicating the problem had been resolved. The payment services' status page indicated all services were operational.
Both Venmo and PayPal saw a spike in user-reported issues on Down Detector on Thursday, Oct. 16. That signaled the payment services could be having issues.
(Disclosure: Down Detector is owned by Ziff Davis, which also owns Mashable.)
PayPal and Venmo are part of the same company, so it tracks that both might experience problems at the same time. I was able to access Venmo on my phone at about 12:25 p.m. ET, but there remained a number of complaints online from folks who could not do the same.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Users began reporting issues with the payment services on Down Detector at around 11 a.m. ET. PayPal's status page indicated all its services, including Venmo, were operational at about 12:30 p.m., but it remained unclear if all users' issues were actually resolved.
This story is developing and will be updated as necessary...
Tor Browser Says 'No Thanks' to Firefox's AI Features
Tor Browser 15.0a4, which is the latest alpha release, is available now, and one of the biggest changes is that it removes various AI features that Mozilla has been integrating into Firefox. This is a great change from the trend of AI chatbots and machine learning being baked into your browser.
The new Apple products are now live at Amazon — heres where to preorder
Just a month after Apple released its new iPhone and Apple Watch lineup, it has unveiled the new bombshell M5 chip — and with it, four new products.
The M5 chip features a 10-core CPU and GPU with a Neural Accelerator in every GPU core and is said to deliver 3.5 times faster AI performance than the M4 chip. If it wasn't clear before, Apple is going all in on AI. The powerful new chip can be found in a new 14-inch MacBook Pro, 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro, and Vision Pro.
Though the new products won't start shipping until next week, you can be among the first to secure the goods by pre-ordering. The MacBook Pro and iPad Pros are already available for pre-order at Amazon as of Oct. 16 (you'll have to head to the Apple Store to pre-order the Vision Pro). We've rounded up the details for your below.
14-inch M5 MacBook ProThe M5 MacBook Pro is a whole lot like its predecessor. It comes with the same 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, 24-hour battery life, black and silver color options, 12MP Center Stage camera, and six-speaker sound system. It's only big upgrade is, of course, the super-powered M5 chip, which is said to offer 1.6x faster graphics, and 2x faster SSD speeds compared to the M4. It can also be configured with up to 4TB of storage, while the previous generation only offered a max of 1TB.
The M5 MacBook Pro base model comes with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for a starting price of $1,599. Pre-orders are open at Amazon and they'll start shipping on Oct. 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-order Here M5 iPad ProThe new iPad Pro adds the M5 chip to make it the most laptop-like iPad to date. It's also the lightest and thinnest model yet, with an enhanced display, longer battery life, faster memory bandwidth, faster charging, and faster storage read and write speeds. It comes in 11-inch and 13-inch options in Space Black and Silver finishes and gives users the option to upgrade storage up to 2TB and RAM up to 16GB.
The M5 iPad Pro base models start at $999 for the 11-inch and $1,299 for the 13-inch and are available for pre-order at Amazon today, shipping on Oct. 22.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5) Starting at $999 Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5) Starting at $1,299 Pre-order HereApples AI executives keep leaving for Meta
There's no doubt about it. When compared with their competitors, Apple is behind in the AI race. Companies like Google and Microsoft have already established artificial intelligence into the core of many products and features. Apple, on the other hand, has struggled in getting its own Apple Intelligence into the hands of consumers, some of whom are now suing the company over false advertising of those AI features.
Apple's attempts to catch up in the AI space are hitting major roadblocks too. Case in point, yet another Apple AI executive has been poached by Meta, the parent company behind Facebook and Instagram.
SEE ALSO: Apple is reportedly tapping Google to help with an AI search tool to rival OpenAIAccording to a new report from Bloomberg, Ke Yang, Apple's newly-appointed head of Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) is leaving the company for Meta. Yang had just recently been promoted into the role as of a few weeks ago, according to the report.
Apple's AKI team is working on the company's new ChatGPT-esque AI search product, including the long-awaited AI-upgrade to the iPhone's Siri voice assistant. The AI search feature will allow Siri to search for real-time information from the web and incorporate that into its responses to users.
Yang was promoted to the head of AKI after Apple's previous senior director of the team, Robby Walker, announced he was leaving the company just last month.
While it's unclear where Walker is headed at this time, he's far from the first Apple AI executive to depart the company. And, much like Yang, many of those departing are headed to Meta.
As 9to5Mac points out, Apple’s former Lead AI Researcher for Robotics Jian Zhang, Apple's former AI models head Ruoming Pang, and Apple's AI lead on cloud infrastructure, training and search Frank Chu have all left for Meta over the past few months.
Apple is hoping its upcoming Apple Intelligence features, along with the upgraded Siri, will catch the company up when it comes to AI. If not, we may see even more departures from Apple's AI team.
Use this exclusive promo code to save 30% on a Nomad eSIM
SAVE 30%: Use discount code MASH30 to save 30% on a Nomad eSIM between now and the end of 2025.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad Nomad eSIM use code MASH30 to save 30% Get DealI'm old enough to remember leaving home for a trip to Thailand with an international calling card in my backpack. I kept in touch with my family by popping into Internet cafes to send an email or chat over Skype (RIP). Thankfully, those days are long gone and now you can take off for an international trip with an eSIM already installed on your phone. If you plan to travel to a new country in 2025, check out this deal on an eSIM.
Until the end of 2025, use promo code MASH30 at checkout to save 30% on a Nomad eSIM plan.
We have plenty of travel hacks these days like noise-cancelling headphones and a Bluetooth dongle that allows you to watch the seat-back screen with said noise-cancelling headphones. But once you arrive at your destination, you'll want to tap into the convenience of an eSIM (stands for embedded SIM, btw) and Nomad covers over 200 countries and regions.
Instead of wandering around the airport trying to not get scammed when buying a local SIM card, the Nomad eSIM allows you to download the app and install the eSIM on your phone digitally with no need to mess with a physical card. Nomad eSIMs work on both Android phones and iPhones, so long as your phone is unlocked. Check out Nomad's list of compatible devices here.
Nomad offers both country-specific and region plans. Heading to Japan? Snag a 3GB plan that's good for 3 days for only $8 or go with unlimited data in Japan for ten days for just $31. That's $3 per day for knowing you have unlimited access to Google Maps for train navigation and restaurant reviews.
SEE ALSO: The Kindle is my ultimate travel essential — here's whyRegional plans are the way to go if your trip takes you to several countries. The Nomad Europe travel eSIM works in 35 countries, so you won't need to switch to a new eSIM every time you cross a border. The Nomad Europe plans start at just $5.50.
Add "get eSIM" to your to-do list before you head out on your next international adventure. Use code MASH30 at checkout with Nomad eSIM to score a sweet 30% discount. This code is valid until the end of 2025, but it'll still work for trips in January or February of 2026. Once you buy a Nomad eSIM you have 60 days to activate the plan. It won't start automatically on purchase, so you're in great shape for any trips between now and February. Bon voyage!
Scoop up this DJI Mic Mini bundle for $40 off before it goes out of stock
SAVE $40: As of Oct. 16, get the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX) for $79, down from its usual price of $119 at Amazon. That's a discount of 34%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mic Mini $79 at Amazon$119 Save $40 Get Deal
Whether you're a creator or someone who casually shoots video or other multimedia content for your own purposes, a good mic can be important. It can also be hard to find. The perfectly portable DJI Mic Mini, part of several DJI products that are becoming hard to find, is a TikTok-approved favorite for a reason, and it's finally back in stock at Amazon for a great price.
As of Oct. 16, get the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX + 1 RX) for $79, down from its usual price of $119 at Amazon. That's $40 off and a discount of 34%.
SEE ALSO: DJI fights U.S. government classification as 'Chinese military company,' appeals rulingThis diminutive setup comes with two transceivers and one receiver that boast up to 10 hours of battery life, so you can create as long as you need without having to stop to recharge. The mics weight just 10g and be attached to your subjects via lanyard, clip on to a collar or shirt, or stay put as a magnetic attachment.
Despite being ultra small, however, the mics produce big sound with high-quality audio. They have a 400m max transmission range and use DJI's OsmoAudio for better connectivity with the DJI ecosystem, should you be using products from the DJI Osmo line. You also get powerful noise cancellation with two levels available: Basic and Strong so you can tweak to what works best.
Given the mic bundle's sale price, you'll likely see these go out of stock again soon, so if you're interested in a serious audio upgrade, it's a good idea to grab these while you still can.
Even Google Messages could get Nano Banana
Google seems to be dead-set on adding Nano Banana — aka its Gemini 2.5 Flash Image-powered AI tool — into nearly all of its products.
Android Authority reported that it discovered a version of Google Messages that "includes code that points to the introduction of Nano Banana functionality in the messaging app." The tech-focused site wrote that it found a banana icon in Google Messages that did not yet do anything. But given the finding, it doesn't seem like a stretch that Nano Banana would soon be integrated into Google Messages.
SEE ALSO: 6 Google Gemini AI photo prompts to tryTo wit, the AI image tool has already been added to many of Google's products, including Google Search, NotebookLM, and, soon enough, Photos. Nano Banana functions like most other AI image tools — you deliver a text prompt, perhaps upload an image, and it spits out results. Folks have been especially impressed with its ability to edit or work with photos.
If you use Google products, hopefully you're a fan of the AI image tool, because it appears it will soon be integrated into just about everything the company does.
Windows 11 can now automatically switch between light and dark modes. How to do it
There's a new Windows utility that might make using the Microsoft operating system easier on the eyes.
Meet Light Switch, the newest member of the Microsoft "PowerToys" portfolio. In case you're not familiar, PowerToys is an app you can download that features an expanding set of tools for, well, Windows power users. Light Switch is a new one packaged with PowerToys 0.95, as outlined in a Microsoft blog post. The way it works is that it switches your OS from light mode to dark mode, and back again, depending on the time of day. When the sun sets, light mode switches to dark, but you can also set custom times, if you'd like.
SEE ALSO: Windows 10 life support ends Oct. 14. Here’s what will happen.You can use Light Switch by downloading PowerToys from Microsoft and making sure it's updated to the latest build. Once you have it installed, you have some options at your disposal. Aside from the custom time option mentioned previously, you can also choose which elements of the OS switch modes; you can make everything do it, or just the shell, or just apps. The world is your oyster.
Have fun embracing the darkness, folks.
Get the MacBook Pro with M4 chip for $200 off ahead of the new MacBook drop
SAVE $200: As of Oct. 16, get the Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $1,399. That saves $200 off its list price of $1,599 for 13% savings. Not quite its lowest price ever, but still a good deal.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 at Amazon$1,599 Save $200 Get Deal
A new product drop can only mean one thing — a price cut. On Oct. 15, Apple dropped three new products all loaded with the latest silicon, the M5 chip. Among the latest includes a MacBook Pro with M5 chip, a laptop that's sure to be one of the fastest, most advanced yet. But until we get our hands-on the new MacBook, we're still looking to the M4 model, which conveniently got a price cut.
As of Oct. 16, the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro with M4 chip, 16GB RAM, and 512GB SSD, is down to $1,399.99. That saves $200 off its list price of $1,599.99. Those 13% savings are pretty good, though admittedly not its lowest price ever.
The MacBook Pro with M4 chip, is the most advanced MacBook we've tested. It has a higher-res display, a mix of ports, better ports, and more efficient performance than the MacBook Air. Sure, it's a little more expensive, but it's a laptop made for professionals. Earning a 15,199 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core test, it's the sixth-fastest laptop we've ever tested, so if you're cautious about making the investment, just know it lives up to its price.
Get the Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for just $1,399 at Amazon.
The Hidden Chevy SUV Gem That’s Way More Premium Than You Think
If you’ve been scrolling past the 2025 Chevy Trax because flashier SUVs caught your eye, it’s time to stop and pay attention. This little crossover has more personality and perks than you might expect.
The Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station just got $800 cheaper
SAVE $800: As of Oct. 16, the Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station is on sale for $1,599 instead of its usual $2,399 at Amazon. That's a savings of 33% or $800.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 300 portable power station $1,599 at Amazon$2,399 Save $800 Get Deal
In the golden age of camping and a time when extreme weather is becoming more prevalent, our need for power sources is becoming more complex. That's why portable power stations are having a moment. And as of Oct. 16, one of our favorites — the Bluetti Apex 300 — is on sale for $800 less than usual.
If you're in the market for a portable power station that can do more than just charge your phone or LED lights, the Bluetti Apex 300 is a beast that's down to just $1,599 at Amazon today. That's 33% off its usual cost of $2,399 and just a few bucks shy of its best price ever.
Recently named one of Time Magazine's best inventions of 2025, the Apex 300 offers 2,764.8Wh of power storage with 3,840W output, which is enough to power full-size refrigerators, AC units, and entire RVs. It packs four typical AC outlets and two more robust AC outlets (NEMA TT-30R and NEMA 14-50R output ports) and has a voltage switch to toggle between 120V and 240V depending on your needs. It's also designed to be expandable, so you can add to it to build a system to run your entire household.
It weighs almost 84 pounds on its own, so it's not exactly the most portable of power stations. As Mashable's reviewer states, "It’s certainly not something you want to move around often, honing in that the Apex 300 is ideal for RV trips, van life, off-grid homes, or for whole-home backup." For a quick weekend camping trip, it might be a bit of overkill, depending on what kind of shenanigans you see yourself getting into. But if you're into longer jaunts, it's probably the right call.
Home Assistant Just Discontinued Its 'Yellow' Smart Hub
Home Assistant has officially discontinued the production of the Home Assistant Yellow, its general-purpose smart hub. If you've been thinking about picking one up, you'll need to act fast because once the current stock is gone, it won't be replenished.
Hand off cleaning duties to the robots with $500 off the Dreame X50 Ultra
SAVE $500: As of Oct. 16, get the Dreame X50 Ultra for $1,099.99, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's a discount of 31%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Dreame X50 Ultra $1,099.99 at Amazon$1,599.99 Save $500 Get Deal
Tired of spending all your time manually cleaning your home and keeping it tidy? You might want to go ahead and invest in a robot vacuum. You don't have to worry about doing absolutely everything when you have one, instead you can sit back, relax, and let it handle all the nitty-gritty of cleaning.
As of Oct. 16, get the Dreame X50 Ultra for $1,099.99, down from its usual price of $1,599.99. That's $500 off and a discount of 31%.
SEE ALSO: The best robot vacuums in 2025The Dreame X50 Ultra just launched earlier this year after its initial announcement at CES. It's already on sale again, which means you can get this feature-rich robot vacuum for a great price. Not only can it use its lifting wheels to boost it off the ground for dealing with thicker carpeting and other obstacles of up to 2.36 inches, but it can handle getting over bigger thresholds as well.
It can also lower its height to 3.5 inches, which lets is clean under furniture. It uses an AI camera with LED lights and LiDAR to make sure it's not hitting obstacles and properly navigating through your home.
It's not just a vacuum, either. It's also a mop that can clean up messy hard floors when the vacuuming is all done, with special tailored modes to get through each cleaning task in the most efficient manner. And when it's done, it can return to its base to self-empty and clean itself up so you can get back to your cleaning schedule.
If you're ready for a quick and easy way to clean house, splurge on this robot vacuum and mop combo for an efficient setup.
Apples new 14-inch M5 MacBook Pro is up for preorder
This week, Apple unveiled a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the all-new M5 chip. Just like the preceding M4 model, it starts at $1,599 with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage. Most of its specs are M4 holdovers, actually, but we'll get to that in a minute.
The M5 MacBook Pro is now available for preorder at Amazon, Best Buy, and in the Apple Store ahead of its formal launch on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Everywhere you can preorder the 14-inch M5 Apple MacBook Pro: Amazon Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order Here Best Buy Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order Here The Apple Store Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5) Starting at $1,599 Pre-Order HereThe new MacBook Pro offers "3.5x the AI performance and up to 1.6x faster graphics than the previous generation" thanks to that M5 chip, Apple said in a press release. Its CPU is also faster, though the company didn't specify by how much.
The M5 MacBook Pro can be configured with up to 4TB of storage, up from a max of 1TB in the M4 model.
And that's pretty much it in the updates department. The M5 MacBook Pro is a carbon copy of its predecessor: It has the same 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (with an optional nano-texture upgrade), 12MP Center Stage camera, six-speaker sound system, port setup, and 24-hour battery life rating. It comes in the same space black and silver colorways, too.
SEE ALSO: A $599 MacBook could land in 2025, report saysIn the M5 model's defense, the MacBook Pro line hasn't seen a proper redesign since 2021, when Apple got rid of the Touch Bar, brought back MagSafe charging, and swapped its 13-inch model for a 14-incher. The next-generation M6 model will probably be a little more exciting — it's rumored to have an OLED display — but it's still a year away.
The M5 chip isn't available on the 16-inch MacBook Pro just yet. That bigger variant still comes with the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips.
The MacBook Air in Sky Blue is back down to $999 at Amazon
SAVE $200: The 13-inch MacBook Air (512GB, Sky Blue) is on sale for $999 at Amazon. That's a 17% discount compared to the normal price of $1,199.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 512GB, Sky Blue) $999 at Amazon$1,199 Save $200 Get Deal
Now that we're almost to Halloween, we can hardly say it's still back-to-school season. Despite that, you might be noticing that some of your intended tech for the school year isn't pulling its weight. If you've been dealing with a slow laptop at work, school, or for projects at home, it's likely time for an upgrade. There's a nice deal in store at Amazon today.
As of Oct. 16, the 13-inch MacBook Air (512GB, Sky Blue) is $999 at Amazon. That slices a solid $200 off the normal price from of $1,199 from a 17% discount.
Sure, the Sky Blue colorway is a bit subtle, but it's still a great option, especially with the sale. On Mashable's list of the best MacBooks, the Air earns the top spot. In part that's thanks to the powerful and zippy M4 chip. Mashable mentions the 15-inch version of this machine is great, but the 13-inch model could be even better for students or those who travel often: it's both smaller and lighter, coming in at just 2.7 pounds. If you're not absolutely sold on the 13-inch size, take into account the MacBook Air's ability to support two external displays.
SEE ALSO: Apple unveils the new 14‑inch MacBook Pro with the M5 chip and 24-hour battery lifeToday's sale price of $999 applies to the 512GB version. Considering the 256GB version is on sale for $899, spending an extra $100 to double the storage is a no-brainer. Apple says this MacBook can get up to 18 hours of battery life before it'll need a recharge, making it even better for spending all day on campus or long travel days for work.
While it's down to under $1,000, snag the Sky Blue MacBook Air. Consider it a nice treat for hurdling over the transition into fall.
These 6 Tweaks Make the GNOME File Manager More Useful
GNOME’s file manager, known as Files (or Nautilus), is solid out of the box, but a few smart adjustments can make it feel like an entirely new tool. With just a handful of tweaks, you can turn Nautilus into a faster, cleaner, and more capable workspace for managing your files.
These Photos Show 4 Years of iPhone Camera Progress, but Can You Tell?
You probably don’t upgrade your iPhone every year or even every other year. But when you’re moving from a four-year-old device to the latest and greatest, it’s natural to expect some big improvements in certain departments.
Why Dracula Will Never Die
Did you know that Dracula is the most portrayed character in popular culture? His pale, blood-thirsty mug has appeared in over 540 films, countless books, comics, stage plays and tv series? Inspiring countless other vampire stories and franchises. No matter how many times we kill him off, he keeps coming back from the dead, stronger and more popular than ever. We’re here to tell you why.
Despite Dracula reaching only moderate success in Stoker’s time, his themes of the societal fear of “The Foreign Other” (someone noticeably different than us) and female autonomy end up being a through-line across all the iterations to follow.
No matter how much our society has evolved over the last 130 years, so have our fears. It's how Dracula embodies these fears that I believe to be the most alluring aspects of the modern vampire, and what keeps him coming back over and over again in his various forms. For us humans, struggling with the daily existential crisis of our mortality, what’s more alluring than the option to cheat death and cash in on the promise of an eternal life of decadence and pleasure?
How to Install Notepad++ on Linux (and 6 Alternatives to Try)
Notepad++ is a popular editor on Windows, but it doesn't have official Linux support. However, running Notepad++ on Linux isn't impossible either, and we'll show you how. We'll also show you some noteworthy alternatives to consider in case our workarounds don't suit you.


