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SAVE $160: As of Nov. 7 save $160 on the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3. That brings it down to $389.99, knocking 29% off its $549.99 price tag.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 $389.99 at Lenovo
$549.99 Save $160   Get Deal

When you think of tablets, you think of iPads, but that's not your only option out there. While testing a new batch for our guide on the best tablets, we got to try some new Android options that totally impressed us. One of which was the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3, a compact gaming tablet with some surprising power. Since testing, we've been watching the price on the tablet, trying to find a good deal. Luckily, one just dropped.

As of Nov. 7, the Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is down to $389.99. That saves you $160 off its usual MSRP of $549.99, for 29% savings.

The Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 3 is an impressive little tablet. It has a 8.8-inch screen with 2.5K resolution for a brilliant display. It's designed for gaming, with impressive refresh rates so you don't miss a second in your game or stream. But we liked this tablet even for non-gamers. It has 12GB of RAM and scored higher than the standard iPad on the Geekbench 6 score.

Shop this doorbuster deal at Lenovo and get the Legion Tab Gen 3 for just $389.99 and save $160.

SAVE $500: As of Nov. 7, the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) is on sale for just $899 at Amazon. Not only is that a savings of 36% or $500, but it's the best price we've ever seen on this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)   Get Deal

We're officially in peak season for buying a new laptop and this Microsoft Surface deal is living proof.

As of Nov. 7, the 13.8-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 with the Snapdragon X Elite chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage is on sale at Amazon for only $899 instead of its usual $1,399. That's $500 in savings, which brings it down to a new record low. Mashable's resident laptop expert Haley Henschel calls it a "crazy good deal" that's worthy of the Black Friday doorbuster label. Even the Microsoft Store and Best Buy (famous for excellent laptop deals) haven't matched this price drop.

The Surface Laptop 7 earned the title of Mashable's favorite Windows laptop for most people, thanks to its premium performance, ultra-long battery life, and stylish and sturdy aluminum design. "Apple must be sweating through its armpits with the launch of the Surface Laptop 7 because — holy cow — this is one hell of a laptop," wrote former Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon.

The Snapdragon X Elite chip is faster than 83 percent of the laptops in our testing database in Best Performance mode and is right on par with Apple's M4 MacBook Air in a Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark. It also outlasts most other laptops with a 23-hour battery life. Gedeon added, "From 'Paint' to 'Photos,' the jam-packed AI capabilities in the Surface Laptop 7 make Windows fun again.

It's not perfect, as certain specialty apps aren't compatible with the Surface Laptop 7. Just double-check before you commit that it works with your favorite apps and you'll be good to go. The premium price tag is usually hard to stomach, but at $500 off, we recommend adding it to your cart ASAP.

"Really, everyone is a creator," Amrapali (Ami) Gan, former CEO of OnlyFans, told Mashable in an interview. Think about how every audience member films the concert they're watching — or how everyone at a restaurant films their food. 

Gan and her co-founder, Kailey Magder, hope to harness our modern creator economy with Vylit, an upcoming 18+ platform where, apparently, anyone can build an audience and monetize their posts, including topless content.

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans

"Vylit is where sharing and earning collide, as thirst traps and everyday moments live side by side," Vylit's website claims. "Why? Because you're hot."

Gan, who was CEO of the adult platform OnlyFans from December 2021 to July 2023, said that we're just at the beginning of the creator economy, and it's going to become more and more normalized for anyone to sell content, subscriptions, and the like based on their personal interests.

"That's truly the future," she said.

Vylit launches in beta next month, with the goal of having a broader launch in March or April 2026. But while Vylit will allow bare breasts, don't expect it to be exactly like OnlyFans. 

Topless, but no nudes on Vylit

After Gan left OnlyFans, she started a marketing company called Hoxton Projects. She and Magder worked with other brands there — but they were both entrepreneurial-minded, Gan said, and they ideated on what their own business could look like. 

Left: Ami Gan. Right: Kailey Magder Credit: Vylit

They had other ideas, like a dog treat company or holistic cleaning products, but between people frequently reaching out to them with ideas for "the next OnlyFans" and their own frustrations with modern social media, the idea for Vylit formed.

"It truly addresses this white space that sits between traditional platforms like Instagram and TikTok, and these adult creator platforms," Gan said. "And that's where we see the opportunity to have an 18 and over platform where anyone can monetize content, build a community, and have true freedom of expression."

That freedom has its limits, though. "As we say, we're going to free the nipple, but not the rest," Gan said. Meaning, only the top half will be allowed Vylit. No genitalia, no explicit content. (Gan led marketing at OnlyFans at the time when it tried to ban explicit content in August 2021; the platform soon reversed course after a horde of backlash.)

While X and Bluesky allow adult content, Meta platforms (Facebook and Instagram) and TikTok don't.

The reason behind Vylit's line, Gan explained, is to appeal to a mass market audience. "These days you can turn on HBO or whatever and see all kinds of stuff, so we feel that it's a lot more acceptable while still keeping that broader appeal to anyone who wants that safe space to share content," she said, while not opening an app first thing in the morning and seeing nudes.

18+ in the age of age verification

"To us, the future of social media is very much 18 and over," Gan said.

It seems that more and more legislatures believe this, too, with the increased adoption of age-verification laws, which require personal data like a government ID or biometric scans to prove you're of age. This goes for explicit sites, but more and more non-explicit sites are installing age-verification measures like Spotify and YouTube. Free speech and internet experts told Mashable earlier this year that increased age verification would fundamentally change the internet, including curtailing minors' access. 

At Vylit, the team had these conversations earlier on, Gan said. All users will go through an age verification process in the form of a facial age check. If you want to upload content onto Vylit, you'll have to submit an ID as well. 

All content will be reviewed by AI before it's published on Vylit — including text. (Vylit is partnering with Unitary AI around content moderation). Everything that gets flagged will be reviewed by a human, Gan said. 

Tools for creators — beyond what OnlyFans has

AI also shapes the tools for creators on the platform. One is image-generation, Magder said. Vylit can create an "AI twin," so creators can input images of themselves and it will generate content with that "twin."

Then there's AI chat, created in the likeness of the creator. Fans (or "members") will be able to speak either with the creator themselves or their AI, and there will be transparency around that. (Meanwhile, on OnlyFans, creators are using controversial messaging tools, where fans think they're speaking to creators when actually they're chatting with AI bots — or other humans called "chatters.")

The Vylit team is also developing stronger search and discovery tools to easily find creators you're interested in. Not just based on aesthetic preferences but hobbies and interests, Gan said. This will help foster community as well as engagement, as fans will have connection with a creator beyond what they look like. 

While OnlyFans didn't come up, the platform is known for its lack of search function, so much so that users have taken to creating their own.

How Vylit is different than other creator platforms

Gan and Magder made these features, and Vylit as a whole, with creators in mind. Creator jobs grew 7x in recent years, according to a study released earlier this year, and Goldman Sachs estimated that the creator economy could hit $480 billion by 2027. 

But with platforms like FanHouse — and let's face it, OnlyFans — already out there, where does Vylit fit in?

Gan said that Vylit is a platform that's made for everyone, whether you want to monetize content or build a community. She claimed that users will be able to build a community on Vylit, whereas other platforms are typically for those who had an existing audience. 

Magder concurred, saying, "These existing platforms are really focused on the top one percent of creators, and expecting those creators to do marketing in order to build their following." But the marketing has to happen on other platforms — whereas you can join Vylit and create an audience. 

"We really think about what's stopping people from becoming creators, and it's like, well, they don't feel like they have a big enough following to monetize," she continued. So, they're building Vylit to allow creators of any size to thrive.

And there will be monetization tools. Vylit creators will be able to offer subscriptions, content pay-per-view, and tips. Magder said they thought about creator pain points and how they can reverse engineer the platform to support everyday creators — whether they're small and trying to become a creator or they're a big creator who's been in the space a long time.

This month, though, most creators will have to watch Vylit develop from afar, as it's invite-only.

Manny Jacinto broke through as dopey and lovable Jason Mendoza on The Good Place. Then he took that expectation to Star Wars: The Acolyte, playing a curious apothecary called Qimir. But midway through this gone-before-its time spinoff, a reveal flipped fans' expectations and thrust a new Sith icon into the galaxy far, far away. So, how do you follow that up? By walking in the dance shoes of Patrick Swayze in the much-anticipated and nostalgia-rich sequel Freakier Friday.

A trained dancer who turned his passion for performing to acting, Jacinto makes these leaps look easy. He visited Mashable's Say More couch to reveal what it was like for him behind the scenes. Sitting down with Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, Jacinto delves into what it felt like to take big swings on The Good Place, the skill of combining dance and character, and the unexpected challenges on Freakier Friday's homage to Dirty Dancing. Plus, he shares his secret to doing justice to the role of the himbo.

"I've always gravitated toward those dummies," Jacinto said, looking back on classic TV himbos like Matt LeBlanc on Friends and Chris Pratt on Parks and Recreation. "I just found these guys so funny. But in the back of my head, I'm like, 'These guys must be incredibly smart, because you play a dumb character and you play it to be dumb ... you really got to find this nonconformist viewpoint of why this character would be this way.'"

For more from Jacinto on his time on The Acolyte, Star Wars fans, and what he hopes for the future — even if the series was canceled — check out the full Say More interview on YouTube.

Freakier Friday comes to Disney+ on Nov. 12.

MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 7, the Pokémon TCG White Flare Binder Collection is $47.94 at Amazon, which is market value at TCGPlayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG White Flare Binder Collection $47.94
$54.09 Save $6.15   Shop Now

Mega Evolution and Phantasmal Flames is going off right now in the Pokémon community. With all the hype of Pokémon Legends: ZA, the return of old and the introduction of new Mega Evolutions is the perfect concoction of fan service and synergy with Pokémon games and the TCG. You absolutely love to see it.

Amazon has dropped the price of their White Flare Binder Collection listing, now rocking a $47.94 price tag. That's 11% cheaper than last week and puts it in line with current secondary market values.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

You're getting five White Flare boosters and a Reshiram-themed soft binder to keep your collection safe, and good luck if you're going for a master set with this. Every Unovan Pokémon has its own Illustration Rare, Secret Art Rare, Black White Rare, and the Pokéball/Masterball rares. It's a crazy set, but what a brilliant way to cap off the Scarlet and Violet era of Pokémon TCG.

Most valuable Black Bolt and White Flare Pokémon cards Credit: The Pokémon Company

It's hard work getting top chase cards in any Pokémon TCG set, but even more so with the size of Black Bolt and White Flare. Here's where to buy them right now alongside up-to-date value data so you can make an informed investment:

1. Victini – 171/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $445.98
   Market price: $479.01
   Most recent sale: $440

2. Victini – 172/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $435.05
   Market price: $232.27
   Most recent sale: $449.99

3. Zekrom ex – 172/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $435
   Market price: $447.67
   Most recent sale: $483.91

4. Reshiram ex – 173/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $370.08
   Market price: $370.55
   Most recent sale: $373.50

5. Zekrom ex – 166/086 – SV: Black Bolt
   Near Mint Holofoil: $224.90
   Market price: $241.32
   Most recent sale: $226.50

6. Reshiram ex – 166/086 – SV: White Flare
   Near Mint Holofoil: $187
   Market price: $190.88
   Most recent sale: $179.99

TL;DR: Live stream Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Bundesliga is already looking settled at the top, but there are a lot of positions to fight for under Bayern Munich. Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg are battling it out in the middle of the standings, with four points separating them as they face each other at the Weserstadion.

If you want to watch Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg?

Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga kicks off at 7:30 p.m. GMT on Nov. 7. This fixture takes place at the Weserstadion.

How to watch Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg for free

Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

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

Live stream Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg 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 the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg 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 watch Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the Bundesliga before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $40: As of Nov. 7, the Fire TV Cube has dropped to $99.99 at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. This is $40 off its list price of $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal

Early Black Friday deals are already starting to drop at select retailers, and if you've been hoping to upgrade your streaming setup ahead of the holiday season, Amazon's streaming devices have seen some nice discounts lately. In particular, the Fire TV Cube has dropped to $99.99 for a limited time.

Score $40 off the Fire TV Cube's retail price of $139.99. This is a great offer if you're looking for a 4K boost in streaming quality for your favorite shows and movies over the holidays.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

The Fire TV Cube supports 4K Ultra HD resolution alongside Dolby Vision and HDR so you can experience crisp picture quality, no matter if you're settling in for a movie night or starting up a new show. It also supports Dolby Atmos audio so you can feel completely immersed in what you're watching with great sound, too.

Thanks to support for WiFi 6E, you'll get to enjoy smooth streaming quality. And its octa-core 2.0 GHz processor makes booting up and looking through different apps hassle free.

Amazon currently has it listed as a limited-time deal, so act fast to save on the Fire TV Cube ahead of Black Friday. And if you don't feel like dropping this much cash on a streaming upgrade, Amazon's Fire TV Sticks are also on sale right now, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Plus and Fire TV Stick 4K Max.

UNDER MARKET VALUE: Phantasmal Flames, the first expansion for the well-received Mega Evolution generation of Pokémon TCG, has dropped its preorder allocation at Amazon and product is selling past. Booster Bundles are still available though, and they're under market value right now.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Phantasmal Flames Booster Bundle $59.99
$74.45 Save $14.46   Pre-order Here

After Black Bolt, White Flare, and Mega Evolution double ETB sets released at the same time, it's nice to see a concentrated expansion release in Phantasmal Flames. And it's an absolute banger.

The Dragon-type Mega evolution of fan-favorite Pokémon Charizard is front and center, and here's what else is packed into Phantasmal flames:

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

• Five Special Illustration Rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex and Supporter cards

• Six Mega Evolution Pokémon ex

• Four Pokémon ex

• 12 Illustration Rare Pokémon

• 17 Ultra rare Mega Evolution Pokémon ex, Trainer and Energy Cards

The hype is real for the Mega Evolution era of Pokémon TCG, and it's simply nice playing Legends: Z-A whilst looking at my card collections and decks full of Mega Evolved Pokémon. And with Hyperspace Luminoise City coming in the Mega Dimension DLC, Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution is going to get crazy.

Phantasmal Flame product lineup and MSRP

Unfortunately, it's not just scalpers getting in on inflating Pokémon TCG sealed product. Big box retailers like Amazon and Target are doing it too.

It pays to make sure you know what these sealed products should be going for at retail, although you'll usually find retailers over or just under secondary market value these days rather than MSRP. Here's what the prices should be off the shelf:

• Booster Box — 36 packs, MSRP around $129.99

• Booster Packs — MSRP $4.49

• Booster Bundle (6 packs) — MSRP $26.94

• Elite Trainer Box (ETB) — MSRP $49.99

• Ultra-Premium Collection (UPC) — MSRP $119.99

• Mega Gengar ex & Mega Diancie ex decks — Releases slightly earlier on Oct. 24, MSRP $14.99–$19.99

Save $230: As of Nov. 7, the Dyson V11 cordless vacuum is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's a 37% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V11 $399.99 at Amazon
$629.99 Save $230   Get Deal

Dyson is famed for its high-quality vacuums, and if you’ve been thinking about treating yourself to one, now might be the perfect time because the Dyson V11 is down to its lowest price in 2025. As of Nov. 7, it is currently priced at $399.99, a saving of $230 on list price. It was last priced this low at the end of December 2024, so you know you're getting a great deal.

This vacuum is perfect for all kinds of cleaning thanks to its many attachments. It comes with a wand, docking station, charger, and several cleaning tools, including a mini soft dusting brush, crevice tool, hair screw tool, and Motorbar cleaner head. It's wireless too, but you won't have to keep stopping to charge. You'll get up to 60 minutes of run time, and your three power modes (auto, eco, and boost) let you adjust performance to suit different cleaning jobs.

SEE ALSO: Save $50 on the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 — one of the best valued robot vacuums and mops

Do you have a furry friend at home? The V11 can cope. The Motorbar head helps remove hair and pet hair, while the hair screw tool is designed specifically for long hair and pet hair on stairs, upholstery, and pet beds. It even has an LCD screen that shows the power mode, any maintenance alerts, and remaining battery life.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

SAVE $40: As of Nov. 7, the Amazon Fire TV 2-Series is on sale for $109.99 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV 2 Series $109.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal

It's the season for festive movie nights on the couch, and if you've been on the hunt for a new TV to make the cozy season even more special, you'll love this new deal on the Amazon Fire TV 2-Series. Currently at its lowest price this year, the 32-inch model of this TV is currently down to only $109.99. If you want something a little bigger, the 40-inch version is on sale too, down from $249.99 to $129.99.

This is a great TV, even without the sale price. It has a HD 720p resolution with support for HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio, so games, movies, and Netflix shows all come through in great quality. It also provides access to live TV, games, music, and over one million movies and TV episodes through all your favorite streaming services like Prime Video and Disney+.

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Nov. 7, 2025)

You also get the use of free streaming options like YouTube, Tubi, and Pluto TV. And if you have a few Fire devices (another TV or a Fire Stick), your content will stay synced across all the devices for consistent viewing between rooms. Pick up your show exactly where you left off.

As it's an Amazon device, you'll also benefit from Alexa voice control and smart home integration. Use it to search through different streaming platforms or control your smart home devices like a robot vacuum.

Don't miss out on this low price — pick up this TV deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $70: As of Nov. 7, the Fitbit Sense 2 is on sale for $179.95 at Amazon. This is 28% off its list price of $249.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Sense 2 $179.95 at Amazon
$249.95 Save $70   Get Deal

The Black Friday shopping season is officially upon us, and if you're looking for good deals to scoop up, quite a few retailers have already launched strong discounts. In the realm of smartwatches and fitness trackers, the Fitbit Sense 2 is currently down to $179.95 at Amazon.

As of Nov. 7, you can save $70 on the Fitbit Sense 2. Ahead of Black Friday, that's quite a nice deal to jump on. All available colors are discounted to this price as well, so you can choose between the shadow grey/graphite model, lunar white/platinum, or blue mist/pale gold.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

Whether you want it for keeping an eye on your overall health or for workouts, the Fitbit Sense 2 is packed with features to help you out. For those with a love of fitness, some of these include all-day activity tracking, 24/7 heart rate, a built-in GPS, and 40+ exercise modes. When it comes to general health and wellbeing, it also features all-day stress detection, irregular heart rhythm notifications, daily sleep stages, and a Sleep Score, just to name a few helpful features.

If you've been looking for a new smartwatch to carry you into the new year, don't miss out on this deal on the Fitbit Sense 2 at Amazon. There's a few more Fitbit deals worth checking out at Amazon. At the moment, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is also discounted ahead of Black Friday.

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is almost here, with trailers and featurettes giving us a worrying glimpse at what fate awaits the town of Hawkins.

And now, Netflix is just straight up giving you the first five minutes — and it connects all the way to Season 1.

We're back in Castle Byers, when a young Will (Noah Schnapp) was pulled into the Upside Down in Stranger Things' very first season. He's hiding in his DIY fort from the dreaded Demogorgon, quietly singing The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go?" (the track that saved him), before he's attacked, pursued, gives the Demogorgon a right royal smacking, then is hauled into none other than Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) lair in the Creel House. There, he endures Vecna's soul sucking wrath — a fate he was saved from by his mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) in the first season.

But from the prickling sensation on the back of our necks (and the trailer), we know it ain't over.

From the glimpses we've had so far, we know we'll probably head back to the show's present after this, to fall 1987, a year after the Season 4 finale, where Hawkins has been ripped apart by the Upside Down rifts. WE'RE NOT READY (but we very much are).

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 premieres Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 26, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31.

I love my old and beat-up Toyota Tacoma truck, but the upgraded stereo still doesn't support wireless Android Auto. Unless you have a newer vehicle, yours probably doesn't, either. After trying multiple different dongles to convert it into a wireless experience, I can confidently say the AAWireless TWO is the only one worth buying.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Nov. 7, 2025:

AcrossToddler's go-to question

• The answer is Why.

Sound heard during cold season

• The answer is Achoo.

Move stealthily, like a cat

• The answer is Slink.

Breadcrumb coating in Japanese cuisine

• The answer is Panko.

Conduct surveillance

• The answer is Spy.

DownProne to complaining

• The answer is Whiny.

Sound heard during cold season

• The answer is Honk.

Artist/musician Ono

• The answer is Yoko.

Egyptian vipers

• The answer is Asps.

Show appreciation for a performance

• The answer is Clap.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

A space rock slammed into the moon just days ago, lighting up at the surface so brightly, it was briefly visible from Earth through telescopes. 

Daichi Fujii, curator at Hiratsuka City Museum in Japan, recorded the impact. Fujii, who started looking for lunar impact flashes in 2011, keeps an eye fixed on the moon through several 8-inch aperture telescopes, mostly based in Hiratsuka, about midway between Tokyo and Mount Fuji. What makes this new sighting astounding is that it was the second flash he had captured hitting the moon since last Thursday. 

The latest impact happened Nov. 1 near Oceanus Procellarum, a large, dark lava plain whose name means Ocean of Storms. The event followed a bright burst just two days earlier near the Gassendi Crater. Each blink of light lasted a mere fraction of a second, but they punctuated strikes from rocks whizzing at about 60,000 mph, according to Fujii, who posted videos of the flashes on X. 

These events, which can be watched below, serve as a reminder that though the moon may seem immutable from a 240,000-mile distance, its surface is frequently changing, pocked by countless craters. 

"In the near future, the lunar environment will change significantly due to private space business, including an increase in space debris and artificial impact flashes in cislunar space," Fujii told Mashable. "I wish to document the current, natural lunar environment before these changes occur."

SEE ALSO: NASA's prospective boss posts 2,000 words on X. It's damage control. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

On Earth, about 73,000 pounds of space dust and rock rain down on the planet every day. Almost all of that debris burns up harmlessly in the atmosphere. But the moon, with a barely there exosphere, has no such protection. Even pebbles hit its surface at ultra-high speeds, from 45,000 to 160,000 mph. At that speed, a 10-pound rock, about the weight of a light bowling ball, could blast out a crater 30 feet wide and lift more than 80 tons of moondust.

Even chunks just a few feet wide can cause immense damage when they fall to Earth. NASA has previously estimated that a 100 to 170-foot-wide asteroid could level a small city. In 2013, a 60-foot meteor exploded over Chelyabinsk, Russia, injuring 1,600 people.

Astronomers watch these lunar impacts to learn how often — and how hard — space rocks hit. This helps scientists predict risks to spacecraft because large meteors could destroy satellites or, perhaps in the future, lunar outposts. Though Earth's atmosphere lets researchers measure small meteors with radar, they need a giant target area, like the moon's surface, to study the bigger ones. Fujii calls the moon an efficient "meteoroid detector." 

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The Earth and moon are both subject to comet debris, which result in meteor showers, but how these events affect the two bodies differs.

"On Earth these showers are capable of producing spectacular celestial fireworks displays, delighting the public," according to NASA. "On the airless moon, however, these showers are swarms of high energy projectiles, producing fireworks only when they strike the surface with tremendous force." 

Other telescopes in Japan observed the same bursts as Fujii from different angles, which supports that these were indeed meteoroid impacts rather than other occurrences, such as optical artifacts or cosmic ray interference, that also can cause quick flashes. 

Daichi Fujii's observation setup includes several 8-inch aperture telescopes, mostly based in Hiratsuka, Japan. Credit: Daichi Fujii

The origins of these two space rocks are unknown, but their timing coincides with the annual Northern and Southern Taurids meteor showers, which both peak in November. The Taurids, a group of pebble-sized fragments from the Comet Encke, are having a so-called "swarm year," meaning Earth is passing through a region of space with a particularly high volume of comet debris. 

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Even with continuous monitoring, which Fujii began doing five years ago, he still only records one lunar impact flash every few dozen hours of observations. The thin crescent moon, which provides the large dark area needed for these observations, is only visible during dusk or dawn, he said. 

To date, he's only seen about 60, so, even after all this time, he still gets a thrill out of finding one — or, in this case, two. 

"Capturing a bright flash always brings a huge sense of excitement," he said.

TL;DR: Live stream Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are a number of really interesting NBA Cup games taking place this week, including Denver Nuggets vs. Golden State Warriors. Both teams will have their sight's set on greater success this season, so it'll be fascinating to see how they approach this competition. Will we see veteran stars giver everything to progress?

If you want to watch Nuggets vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nuggets vs. Warriors?

Nuggets vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup starts at 10 p.m. ET on Nov. 7. This game takes place at the Ball Arena.

How to watch Nuggets vs. Warriors for free

Nuggets vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

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TL;DR: Live stream San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA Cup has started with a number of really interesting group stage matchups, and we're expecting big things from San Antonio Spurs vs. Houston Rockets. Winning the NBA is really difficult, especially for young teams like the Spurs. So could this tournament represent the best opportunity for Victor Wembanyama to earn some silverware?

If you want to watch Spurs vs. Rockets in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spurs vs. Rockets?

Spurs vs. Rockets in the NBA Cup starts at 7:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 7. This game takes place at the Frost Bank Center.

How to watch Spurs vs. Rockets for free

Spurs vs. Rockets in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• 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 two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also 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 the NBA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

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Opens in a new window Credit: Deeper Connect Deeper Connect Air Portable Decentralized VPN Travel Router $169
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Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Seeing Stephen King references pop up in Joe Hill's latest horror novel, King Sorrow, is a fun surprise for the reader — but in another sense it's not that surprising at all.

Hill, a successful horror writer and King's son, started out his career under a different surname from his father in order to remain anonymous.

"I didn't want to get published because I had a famous parent, and I was very insecure," he told Mashable. "I needed to know for my self worth, that when I sold something, I sold for the right reasons."

Hill's identity became public knowledge after the publication of his first book, and in the decades since he's become increasingly comfortable with the association. He's spoken about his father in author's notes and co-wrote two stories with him for his 2019 collection Full Throttle. Now, in his latest novel, there are references to at least three of his dad's most famous works.

"In a way, we are all the children of Stephen King."

"King Sorrow, even more than any of my other books, is in conversation with the work of Stephen King," Hill explained. "I love my dad's work, and I kind of love celebrating my dad. I'm a huge Stephen King fan, too. The other thing though that I realized, you know, I had a thought a while back, which is, I write horror fiction, and me and every other person who writes horror fiction, in a way, are all the children of Stephen King. We're all Stephen King's kids. But I might be the only one who can get away with actually sticking some of his stuff into my book."

We asked Hill to break down the different Stephen King references in King Sorrow, and why he decided to include them.

SEE ALSO: 10 of the best Stephen King book endings The Dead Zone Credit: Mashable / Hodder Paperback

Early on in the novel, the six main friends have a conversation that directly references Johnny Smith and Greg Stillson, two of the main characters in King's 1979 novel The Dead Zone — an exchange Hill described as "amusing but also highly functional."

"It's more than an Easter egg," said Hill, explaining that he wanted his novel to be about a cross-section of America and was looking for a way to position each of his characters on a different point on the political spectrum. A reference to Greg Stillson — a populist right wing politician in King's The Dead Zone who has been compared to Donald Trump — was the perfect vehicle for this.

"I saw in talking about the acts of John Smith from The Dead Zone an amusing opportunity to position them each very clearly for the reader about what are their views," Hill said. "And I feel like in a page, by the time that page is over, you're like, oh, I get where every single one of these characters is coming from."

The Dark Tower Credit: Mashable / Hodder Paperback

During the chapter of King Sorrow where the main characters first summon the novel's titular dragon, they each take part in their own ritual that forms part of a larger ceremony. Arthur Oakes, the driving character in this part of the book, pursues a ghost through the snow outside, and Hill's description — "The dark man fled across the snow and Arthur Oakes followed" — is a subtle altering of one of King's most famous lines of fiction from The Dark Tower series.

"I think the rhythms of the original line, 'The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed,' is the great opening line of any genre story," Hill said. "And there's some kind of music in it. There's some kind of thumpity-thumpity-thumpity-thumpity. I wouldn't be surprised if you studied it and it turned out to be iambic pentameter. [...] So I think it was just, oh, I like the music of that. I'm going to use that here. I'm going to borrow the music of that."

View this post on Instagram Pet Sematary Credit: Mashable / Hodder Paperback

Hill went on to say that later on in King Sorrow, during a section where two of the main characters are led into the lair of a troll, there's a callback to King's 1983 novel Pet Sematary that some readers don't catch — a line that echoes something Jud Crandall says to Louis Creed as he's leading him to the infamous cemetery.

"When Stuart Finger, the troll, leads Colin and Arthur down to Arthur's cave, he says something very similar," said Hill.

Ultimately, Hill views all of these references less as Easter eggs, and more as a conversation between stories.

"One of the great things about literature, as I understand it, is the way stories can respond to other stories," he said. "One of the powerful things stories can do is have conversations with other stories. And I feel like everything I've ever written has, in one way or another, been continuing a conversation that I had with some other writer when I was reading their book."

King Sorrow is available now in bookstores and online retailers.

Featured Video For You Cooper Hoffman and 'The Long Walk' cast compete for ultimate Stephen King film knowledge

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SEE ALSO: 10 Apple deals that prove Black Friday 2025 is starting earlier than ever

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