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Microsoft's taking a different tack with its next-generation of Xbox hardware, and it seems this might be putting it on a collision course with Valve and its Steam platform.

You've probably used top and htop for many years, and while they've served us well, it's 2025—modern software has moved on to more functional and visually appealing designs. Both top and htop feel outdated and could use a modern refresh, which is exactly what btop++ brings.

For too many years, I merely accepted YouTube's flaws—a feed plagued by Shorts, annoying automation, and a bloated UI. Now, thanks to one simple browser extension, I finally have the personalized video platform I always wanted.

There’s a lot you can do to design a resilient smart home, from choosing an open ecosystem like Home Assistant to avoiding devices that depend on the cloud to work. But sometimes, things just don’t go to plan.

This was another busy week for tech news, with Valve revealing its new Steam Machine console and Steam Frame headset, Mozilla overhauling Firefox, a new update for Visual Studio Code, and much more. Here are the biggest stories you might have missed.

If you're a fan of Ryobi's brightly colored tools found at Home Depot, or even own several, you've likely seen a few "Hybrid" tools from the brand. Ryobi tools are incredibly popular, fairly affordable, and constantly on sale. However, did you know that the brand also offers hybrid tools that you can continue using even when the battery runs out?

The git program supports so many sub-commands that it’s almost impossible to keep on top of them all. Most of them are quite low-level and carry out simple tasks like committing code changes or switching branch. But some of the most obscure offering surprising functionality that does way beyond the norm.

Lincoln is a classic American brand that somehow always feels current. Its current lineup leans heavily on SUVs, and the latest Navigator has reminded everyone why Lincoln still dominates the full-size segment.

For far too long, I struggled to find the perfect image without a distracting background for my PowerPoint slides. I used to think I needed complicated software to fix it, but I eventually discovered a tool that's built into the software itself: Remove Background.

You can't properly, safely store passwords without a password manager, and my choice for that on Linux is KeePassXC. There are many out there, but there's a reason I've stuck with this free and open source option for five years.

Perhaps it's not fair coming from a (nearly) 40-year-old man, but the opening sequences of modern cartoons just don't have the same zing it used to in the '80s and '90s. I guess the commerce-driven Saturday morning cartoon had more incentives to be attention-grabbing, and these classics are certified bangers in any era.

I gave up on the new Outlook six months ago, fed up with the clunky, buggy, featureless mess of a desktop app. Half a year on, I hoped its fundamental problems would be fixed—but they haven't. It's still a slow, under-tooled disappointment that sabotages my workflow.

Many of the super-inexpensive robot vacuums cut corners too close to the sun, quickly going from helpers around the house to agents of chaos. Let's say that their low price stems from basic bumper car navigation instead of smart mapping, or from outdated obstacle sensors that get confused by table legs. Your chances of coming home to a vacuum stuck under the couch are higher than the chance of coming home to a fully-swept floor plan.

It's also more likely than not that any old cheap robot vacuum caps suction power at 3,000 or 4,000 Pa. And that's simply not enough to challenge any remotely stubborn crumbs, dust, or pet hair baked into carpet. That mediocrity extends to many robot vacuum and mop combo models, which often don't "scrub" so much as feebly glide a damp cloth around. A few steps in your bare feet, and you're all but guaranteed to step on debris the vacuum left behind.

SEE ALSO: iRobot could be facing bankruptcy. But as a vacuum tester, I saw the Roomba flop era coming from a mile away.

Long story short: Buying a robot vacuum just because it's cheap puts that glorious hands-off cleaning experience in jeopardy. But not all super-affordable robot vacuums are disappointing. Compared to five years ago, the affordable end of the robot vacuum spectrum has experienced just as much of a glow-up as the premium end. Smart mapping and self-emptying docks are both common and affordable in 2025, especially when deals on robot vacuums happen year-round. All of the vacuums in this guide regularly go on sale for under $500.

These cheap robot vacuums get even more affordable during savings events like Black Friday. In fact, most robot vacuums drop to record-low prices during the holiday shopping season. This year, I wouldn't be surprised if several self-emptying, smart mapping options drop below $200 (or get close to $150).

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I have tested several other inexpensive robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. These include older models like the Eufy L60, Roomba 694, the Roomba Combo Essential 2, and Shark Matrix RV2300, which have simply been overshadowed by other (often newer) vacuums that offer more suction power and smarter features in the same budget price range.

One comparison that sticks out is the Roomba 205 DustCompactor versus the 3i G10+, which both "self-empty" without a self-emptying dock. However, I wasn't psyched on my experience with the Roomba 205 — it got stuck on rug corners and got lost too often. Plus, the 3i G10+ offers more advanced features like small obstacle and pet waste avoidance and a livestream pet camera, whereas the Roomba 205 doesn't.

Cards on the table, it’s been a gloriously slutty year. There’s no shame in hiding it. I’ve been single longer than one hand can tally, and I’d kill for a dual income to upgrade my lifestyle here in Chicago. On the plus side, I get to live shamelessly doing whatever I want, which lately includes testing gay dating apps for Mashable. But recently, the same old dating apps have become a bit choppy. 

Grindr ads are killing me; the gays on Hinge all lie about having boats; and thanks to a former stalker of mine, I’ve been banned from Tinder for almost a decade. But, that’s a different story. I’ve been looking for a new way to have casual sex, and I might be a little late to the game, but Jesus H. Christ, Sniffies — where the hell have you been hiding?

For the gays still blissfully unaware of the seedy circus that is Sniffies, just know it makes Grindr look like something your mom would pull up at Sunday brunch. In comparison to Sniffies, Grindr keeps your feed rather tame — faceless torsos, struggling actors’ headshots, blank profiles, and if you’re lucky, some muscle jock’s butt. Despite Grindr's NSFW reputation, it's nothing you couldn’t post on Instagram. 

Sniffies, on the other hand? Cocks. Everywhere. Hole. As far as the eye can see. All plastered on a blue map of your area. Face pics feel borderline illegal, because this is an app designed for sex and absolutely nothing else. And, you can find it in seconds. Even the best hookup apps could never work this fast. The first time I used the “app” (I’ll speak more on why that’s in quotes in a bit), I had a man over from around the corner and in my apartment in less than five minutes. It was almost too easy.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mashable Photo Composite Use Sniffies Anonymously   Learn More How does Sniffies work?

Alright, so, you can’t get Sniffies in the App Store anymore, thanks to Apple’s famously prudish guidelines. Bummer. I know. Instead, you have to use whatever browser you’ve got on your phone or laptop and head to the Sniffies website. You’re prompted with the option to either create a profile or cruise anonymously. If you make a profile, you can basically do everything you’d do on any gay dating app — set your preferences, drop a bio, broadcast your kinks, casually note your stance on fisting, you get the picture — only here the big question is, “How much nudity should I show in my profile?”

When your profile is complete, you’re graced with the Sniffies cruising map. Profiles appear in little circles, almost like pins. You can click on any profile and message any guy you’re interested in meeting IRL. You’ll also get access to popular cruising locations around town, which you may or may not have even known were cruising areas. (Editor’s note: In New York City, we’ve heard credible reports that the NYPD is using Sniffies to arrest gay men at popular cruising destinations, so cruise accordingly.) After using Sniffies, I’ll never look at my local home improvement store bathroom the same again.

Some of these locations are set in public parks, businesses, and the like. Obviously, cruising in places like this is not legal, and I definitely don't recommend breaking the law to meet guys. That's not me being coy, either. No matter how much you might want to, it’s probably not wise to meet up and get drilled by the 6’4” daddy asking you to meet somewhere you definitely shouldn’t.

You’ll also see a number of men hosting sex parties, group jerkoff sessions, gloryholes, and more. These are typically planned in advance, and you’ll have to ask the group host if you can attend. He’ll probably say yes, and can you bring any friends?

Unlike most gay dating apps, even if you don’t make a profile, you can still access everything on Sniffies right away. While that can be convenient, please protect your privacy accordingly. However, as a free user, you’ll only be able to send photos of yourself in the chat. This is great for all you DL men with wives. And, yes, I am judging you.

Should I get Sniffies?

Hey, that’s up to you — but here’s what you need to do. Be careful. People on Sniffies are on Sniffies for one thing and one thing only: to have sex with you. You will find sex as a gay man (or trans person, y’all can hop on, too!) through Sniffies, just make sure you’re doing so safely and not getting yourself into any trouble. Fun is fun when it’s fun, just use your brain, even as all your blood rushes elsewhere. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. And, for the love of God — get tested regularly.

If you do want to give it a shot, just head to the Sniffies website.

How to choose the best Bose headphones

Overall, Bose's headphones prioritize comfort and audio quality, and you really can't go wrong with any model. There are truly no bad products here. Having tested every product in this guide (and plenty more high-end audio products), we can verify that they're all high-performing options. And with Black Friday and the holiday season just around the corner, it's good to get a sense of which might best suit your needs before you add a pair to your cart simply because it's on sale.

So, the bulk of your decision comes down to your personal preferences and budget. If you care deeply about audio quality and want a personalized experience, you'll want a pair of headphones that offers adaptive noise cancellation and spatial audio. For athletes or commuters who need to be aware of their surroundings, a pair of open earbuds that provide rich audio while letting you hear the world around you is great. And if you don't want to spend $450 on flagship headphones, Bose still has a few great options for a lot less.

So, here are the best Bose headphones of 2025, hands-on tested by Mashable staff:

SEE ALSO: The 7 best Sony headphones, tested for noise cancellation, sound, and cool factor

NASA’s Perseverance rover has identified an exotic rock on Mars that may be an iron-nickel meteorite, according to scientists on the mission team.

The oddly sculpted rock, nicknamed Phippsaksla, measures more than 2.5 feet across and drew researchers’ attention because it jutted above the surrounding flat, fractured terrain. Perseverance targeted the object for closer study while working outside Jezero crater, the river-carved basin the rover has explored since landing in 2021.

The rover, a car-size mobile laboratory, photographed Phippsaksla on Sept. 2 and Sept. 19. But the public is only now learning of the find. A prolonged federal government shutdown delayed routine communications from the U.S. space agency, and NASA did not post details of the detection — along with other mission updates — until Nov. 13.

If confirmed as a meteorite, Phippsaksla would be the first such discovery for Perseverance. The Curiosity rover has cataloged several metal-rich meteorites during its exploration of Gale Crater roughly 2,000 miles away, and earlier rovers, Opportunity and Spirit, found these foreign rocks as well. Their absence along Perseverance’s route has puzzled mission scientists.

"It has been somewhat unexpected that Perseverance had not seen iron-nickel meteorites within Jezero crater," said Candice Bedford, a Purdue University research scientist, in a delayed Oct. 1 mission update, "particularly given its similar age to Gale crater and number of smaller impact craters suggesting that meteorites did fall on the crater floor, delta, and crater rim throughout time."

SEE ALSO: NASA has a broken giant antenna that could upend its 2026 plans

Initial readings from Perseverance’s SuperCam, an instrument that fires a laser to analyze a rock’s composition, revealed high levels of iron and nickel, a combination commonly found in meteorites that originate deep inside large asteroids. The chemistry suggests the rock formed elsewhere before landing on Mars.

Meteorites are common in the solar system, but harder to spot on Earth. Scientists estimate that about 48.5 tons of this debris reach the planet each day, most of it burning up in the atmosphere or falling into oceans. Only about 60,000 meteorites have been identified on Earth to date.

The oddly sculpted rock, nicknamed Phippsaksla, measures more than 2.5 feet across and drew researchers’ attention because it jutted above the surrounding flat, fractured terrain. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU

Most known meteorites come from asteroids, though a small number originate from the moon or Mars. At least 175 Martian meteorites have been found on Earth — all igneous rocks that once crystallized from magma.

On Mars itself, iron-nickel meteorites tend to survive well in the thin atmosphere and harsh environment. Since 2005, The Meteoritical Society, an international organization that tracks such finds, has formally recognized 15 Martian meteorites spotted by rovers. Curiosity’s 2023 discovery of a foot-wide rock nicknamed Cacao, also believed to be metal-rich, is not yet among them.

Phippsaksla, possibly a meteorite, sits on Martian terrain outside the Jezero crater rim in the upper left corner of this image. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU

Scientists suspect iron meteorites might be able to resist erosion on Mars, which may explain why some appear perched on flat ground rather than embedded in craters. In other cases, a crater may have weathered away long ago, leaving only the rock behind.

Perseverance is now operating on older bedrock mottled by past impacts outside Jezero crater, a setting where meteorites may be more likely. Mission researchers are planning further analysis to determine Phippsaksla’s origin.

"If this rock is deemed to be a meteorite," Bedford wrote, "Perseverance can at long last add itself to the list of Mars rovers who have investigated the fragments of rocky visitors to Mars." 

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows on sale for $39.97 through Nov. 16 — a one-time purchase for lifelong access (reg. $219.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $39.97
$219.99 Save $180.02   Get Deal

This is your last chance to ditch Microsoft 365’s subscription fees for good. Until tomorrow, Nov. 16, at midnight, you can grab a lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2021 for 81% less than its usual retail price. Simply pay once, download the full software suite, and never worry about renewals again.

We know what you’re thinking, but rest assured, this isn’t some stripped-down lite version either. It’s the real deal. Whether you’re writing reports, crunching numbers, building presentations, managing emails, or wrangling databases, the lifetime version of Microsoft Office has you covered.

SEE ALSO: Get Microsoft Office for life at $60, so you don’t need Microsoft 365

It’s a one-time download for one Windows PC, so once it’s yours, it’s yours. The full pro-level toolkit, minus the stress of a subscription. Plus, with instant license delivery and free customer support, getting started is as painless as your new spreadsheet workflow.

No more “trial expired” pop-ups. No more surprise charges. Just the latest versions of Microsoft’s best apps, ready to support all of your work and personal needs.

Download Microsoft Office for Windows while it’s on sale for $39.97 until Nov. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $219.99). No coupon is needed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Through Nov. 20, get an AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription for $18.97 with code FAMPLAN at checkout (reg. $169.99). Block ads on nine mobile and desktop devices forever.

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $18.97
$169.99 Save $151.02   Get Deal

Imagine an internet without interruptions — no video ads, no pop-ups, no trackers monitoring what you click. AdGuard makes that possible, blocking ads and protecting your data across nine of your devices with a single lifetime subscription. Act before Nov. 20 to get a steep discount with code FAMPLAN at checkout.

Want to browse the web without the jump scare of pop-up ads? Wouldn’t it be nice to watch a YouTube video without having to sit through a boring video ad beforehand? AdGuard rids your internet experience of both of these things, easily blocking ads from your internet experience for good.

SEE ALSO: Score £15 off this streaming-friendly VPN for Black Friday

Aside from blocking ads, AdGuard also doubles as a privacy protection tool. It can protect you from cyberattacks, like malware and phishing sites, while also keeping your information hidden from trackers and activity analyzers.

This AdGuard Family Plan lets you protect up to nine devices, allowing them to enjoy an ad-free, safer internet experience. It works seamlessly on both Android and iOS, so you can cover smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

If you have kids at home, the parental control feature can also come in handy. It restricts children’s access to inappropriate online content, serving as their own internet babysitter.

Use code FAMPLAN at checkout to get your AdGuard lifetime subscription for $18.97 through Nov. 20 at 11:59 p.m. PT (reg. $169.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Watch the 2025 MotoGP World Championship for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Are you looking for thrilling and unpredictable racing? No we're not talking about F1, unless you like regular pit stops, safety cars, and the same driver winning almost every week. We're talking about a form of two-wheel racing where anything could happen.

MotoGP is where the real action can be found. Every week you see the best riders in the world go wheel to wheel with their rivals, throwing their bikes into corners with absolutely no sense of self preservation. It's an awesome spectacle, and it doesn't need to cost you anything to watch.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Want to watch the 2025 MotoGP World Championship for free from anywhere in the world? We have all the information you need.

What is MotoGP?

MotoGP is the oldest established motorsport world championship, with the inaugural season taking place in 1949. Races last approximately 45 minutes, without pitting for fuel or fresh tires.

The likes of Ducati, Honda, and Yamaha do battle for the constructors' championship. Jorge Martín is the defending champion.

When is the 2025 MotoGP World Championship?

The 2025 MotoGP World Championship features 22 races held all over the world between March and November:

1. Thai MotoGP — March 2

2. Argentine MotoGP — March 16

3. Americas MotoGP — March 30

4. Qatar MotoGP — April 13

5. Spanish MotoGP — April 27

6. French MotoGP — May 11

7. British MotoGP — May 25

8. Aragon MotoGP — June 8

9. Italian MotoGP — June 22

10. Dutch MotoGP — June 29

11. German MotoGP — July 13

12. Czech MotoGP — July 20

13. Austrian MotoGP — Aug. 17

14. Hungarian MotoGP — Aug. 24

15. Catalunya MotoGP — Sept. 7

16. San Marino MotoGP — Sept. 14

17. Japanese MotoGP — Sept. 28

18. Indonesian MotoGP — Oct. 5

19. Australian MotoGP — Oct. 19

20. Malaysian MotoGP — Oct. 26

21. Portuguese MotoGP — Nov. 9

22. Valencia MotoGP — Nov. 16

The good news for fans is that it's possible to live stream the MotoGP World Championship for free in 2025.

How to watch the 2025 MotoGP World Championship for free

You can stream the 2025 MotoGP World Championship for free on ServusTV.

ServusTV is geo-restricted to Austria, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Austria, meaning you can access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV by following this quick and easy process:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Watch MotoGP races for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees. By using these money-back guarantees, you can watch MotoGP live streams without fully committing with your cash. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select races without actually spending anything.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is tough to beat when it comes to streaming live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Austria

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Impressive streaming speeds without buffering

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream the 2025 MotoGP World Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Italy vs. South Africa in the Autumn Internationals for free on RaiPlay. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Autumn Internationals have already produced some surprising results, most notably Italy's victory over Australia. Surely the Italians couldn't produce a result against the might of South Africa? It's probably a step too far, but we're excited to watch them try.

If you want to watch Italy vs. South Africa in the Autumn Internationals from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Italy vs. South Africa?

Italy vs. South Africa in the 2025 Autumn Internationals kicks off at 12:40 p.m. GMT on Nov. 15. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Stadium.

How to watch Italy vs. South Africa for free

Italy vs. South Africa in the 2025 Autumn Internationals is available to live stream for free on RaiPlay.

RaiPlay is geo-restricted to Italy, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Italy, meaning you can unblock RaiPlay to stream the Autumn Internationals for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Italy vs. South Africa for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Italy

4. Visit RaiPlay

5. Watch Italy vs. South Africa for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Internationals without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream all of Italy's Autumn Internationals before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for RaiPlay?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RaiPlay, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Italy

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Italy vs. South Africa in the Autumn Internationals for free with ExpressVPN.