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Threads is testing a new way for users to manipulate their own recommendation algorithm.

The feature, aptly called "Dear algo," allows users to post a message to the algorithm with the note "dear algo" asking to see more or less of a certain thing. For instance, you might post "Dear algo, show me more book recommendations" or "Dear algo, stop showing me basketball updates my team is bad and it makes me sad."

Conor Hayes, the head of Threads, said in a post on the site on Dec. 3 that the platform is "testing a new AI feature to help you personalize your feed."

"When people add 'Dear Algo' to a post, it will tell your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days. If your profile is public, people can see your request, connect with you about it, or repost it," Hayes wrote. "This is just a test, so not everyone will have access now, but we're working on rolling it out more broadly soon."

Then, the feed responds by showing you what you asked for for the next three days. This won't change your feed entirely (or forever) but the temporary change will allow you to engage with content you like and that engagement will help refine your algorithm in the long term.

It's important to note that these posts are public — so it also informs all your friends and followers what you want to see more or less of.

Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, wrote that the new feature was "inspired" by people on the app "who started 'dear threads algo' requests."

Home Assistant is amazing because it’s free, but it’s not always the easiest platform in the world to use. Though you can choose to pay for remote access by signing up to Home Assistant Cloud or go it alone with VPN access, there’s actually another easy way to add remote access to your smart home.

Something smells delicious today. The pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving is gone and we haven't started on the Christmas baking just yet, but we're all in line for a sweet treat today because it's National Cookie Day.

Cookie Monster is celebrating today with friends on Sesame Street and here in the outside world, we have some sweet deals in store. Just like National Coffee Day, this cookie celebration means brands and popular cookie bakeries are serving up some excellent opportunities to snack on something sweet for free. Here are some of our favorite cookie deals on offer today.

Crumbl

Like it or not, Crumbl is paying homage to the "6-7" trend on Dec. 4. Order a six-pack of cookies in store and get a seventh item for free while supplies last. There's a sticky toffee pudding cookie on the menu this week if you need extra incentive to visit today.

Dairy Queen

Swing by Dairy Queen today where DQ Rewards members can save $3 on any small Blizzard through Dec. 7. The chain launched the December Blizzard of the month earlier this week and went all-in on the holiday theme with the Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard Treat. You can also score a free mini Frosted Sugar Cookie Blizzard Treat with purchase of a six-piece chicken strip basket or a Signature Stackburger combo.

Nestlé Toll House

Set an alarm because at 2 p.m. ET today, you can snag a free Nestlé Toll House Cookie Tacos kit while supplies last. The kit includes ingredients you'll need to bake up your own cookie taco at home to celebrate the day. We expect this deal to vanish quicker than homemade cookies fresh out of the oven, so be sure to have fast fingers come 2 p.m.

Panera Bread

Sign up for a frew MyPanera loyalty program account and then stop in to snag a free cookie with purchase of a cookie. Two cookies is always better than one.

Insomnia Cookies

Sign up for the Insomnia Cookies Rewards loyalty program and then be one of the first 100 members to visit any store today. You'll be rewarded with a free Snowball Classic cookie and you might be in for something extra sweet. One special Snowball cookie at each location is filled with purple buttercream. That signifies your golden ticket to free cookies for a year.

View this post on Instagram Jimmy John's

Get a free Holiday Magic Cookie, which is packed with red and green M&M's, today with any digital order of $5 or more. Be sure you're logged into your JJ Rewards account on mobile or the app before placing your purchase to be sure you're in line for a free cookie.

Milk Bar

If you're lucky enough to visit the Milk Bar flagship location in Los Angeles, New York, or the West Village location in New York or Logan Circle in D.C., you can score a free McCormick x Milk Bar Eggnog English Toffee Cookie. Each location will hand over this free offering to the first 50 to 100 customers, so get there early for this National Cookie Day celebration. If you're not able to snag a free cookie, you can order it online through the Milk Bar website or make them at home with the recipe listed at McCormick.

Pepperidge Farm

Early this morning, Pepperidge Farm offered to send a free Holiday Cookie Courier to anyone you love. The kit included a pack of Milano Mint Chocolate and a pack of Chessmen Butter Cookies in a lovely holiday box with a personalized note. The offering is currently sold out, but it's worth checking back later today in case Pepperidge Farms is feeling extra generous on this sweet day.

Deals for the home baker

Don't feel like heading out to take advantage of any of these free cookie deals? Today is a great excuse to bake up a few dozen cookies at home. In honor of National Cookie Day, check out these at-home baker deals that'll seriously up your baking game this holiday season.

• Gorilla Grip Stainless Steel Cookie Scoop — $14.99 $19.99 (save $5)

• Nordic Ware Holiday Cookie Stamps (Set of 3) — $22.50 $33 (save $10.50)

• Nordic Ware Naturals Sheet Pan (3 Piece Set) — $30 $41 (save $11)

• KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer — $254.99 $399.99 (save $145)

Microsoft is currently investigating a serious service issue preventing customers from downloading Microsoft 365 desktop applications directly from the service homepage. The company has tagged the problem as an "Incident," which means it’s a critical service issue with noticeable user impact.

I've been using Raspberry Pi devices and similar single-board computers for years. They all have in common their ARM processors, just like most desktop computers are x86-64 processors, but I'm getting an SBC with a RISC-V chip.

Google is rolling out its Android 16 Quarterly Platform Release (QPR) 2, meaning your device could be due for an update.

The Android 16 QPR2 update comes with a number of new features that should improve performance, ease of use, and more. Here are three new features to check out.

Add widgets to your lock screen

The updated Android 16 allows you to add widgets that appear on your lock screen when you swipe left. Tech site 9to5Google notes you can enable the feature by navigating to "Settings > Display & touch > Lock screen > Widgets on lock screen."

That means you'll be able to easily access things like your calendar, camera, and more.

SEE ALSO: Android 16 is out now. Here are the new features. Notification organizer and summaries

Listen, we all get overwhelmed with notifications. Android 16 QPR2 promises to leverage AI capabilities to keep those pesky notifications in check. The updated software will summarize notifications — a long message in a group chat, for instance — and automatically prioritize more important notifications.

"Notification organizer automatically groups and silences your lower-priority notifications (such as promotions, news, and social alerts), making it easier for you to stay focused on what matters with fewer distractions. Notification organizer is rolling out in stages and will be available in the coming weeks," wrote Google.

Improved parental controls

Android 16 QPR2 introduces a "parental controls" option within settings, which means parents can keep tabs on their kids' devices from a single location. It'll allow parents to remotely set screen-time limits, control app usage, and set a schedule for when a kid's device locks.

If you want further details on updates with Android 16 QPR2 you can head over to Google's blog.

SAVE $100.99: As of Dec. 4, get the Ninja Luxe Café for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's a discount of 17%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ninja Luxe Café $499 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.99   Get Deal

If you spend too much for baristas to whip up hot coffee drinks for you on the daily, there's a solution: a home espresso maker. Yes, you can get absolutely fantastic coffee at home without paying an arm and a leg. Or if you do have the initial arm and leg payment, additional savings will pay for itself when you find a machine that you love. We've found one to help you out so you can start saving and cutting back on those pricey morning drinks.

As of Dec. 4, get the Ninja Luxe Café for $499 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $599.99. That's $100.99 off and a discount of 17%.

SEE ALSO: Our favorite Ninja gifts are still on sale for Cyber Week — save 43% on blenders, air fryers, and ice cream makers

Ninja is a brand you likely already recognize from its line of air fryers and other countertop appliances, but they handle espresso makers, too. This triple threat can do it all, too: espresso, drip coffee, cold brew, and more. Specifically, it can handle two different kinds of espresso, three kinds of drip coffee, and two cold brews.

It features additional options that you can use to customize your drink further as well. You can alter the grind, pressure, temperature, and flavor of each brew, so if you want to make something as close to what a barista might, you've got the option. You can even add milk with the included milk frother and steam wand, to lend to the overall cafe drink authenticity.

There's plenty of reasons to grab the machine for yourself or get it as a gift for the coffee lover in your life, but you'll mainly want to because of easy it is to use and all the savings you'll rack up. Grab yours before this deal grows cold.

Apple's recent iOS 26 overhaul included a plethora of major additions and complete system makeovers, but there were even more tweaks, settings, and customization settings that flew under the radar for many users.

One of those was a subtle update to a feature known as Vehicle Motion Cues, launched last year as part of a new suite of accessibility tools, including eye-tracking powered by machine learning, music haptics, and vocal shortcuts controlled using not just whole words, but sounds and utterances as well.

SEE ALSO: Apple iOS 27: Everything we know so far

Using on-device sensors, Vehicle Motion Cues battle the kind of motion sickness commonly experienced by people staring at their screens while in cars, buses, and trains. When turned on, users will see an animated border of dots along the edge of your iPhone, iPad, or (in an update released earlier this year) MacBook screen. The dots move according to the movement of the vehicle, lessening the sensory conflict that leads to motion sickness.

On iOS 26, those features have gotten even better. Now, users can choose between a regular or "dynamic" pattern for those moving dots. The former displays consistent, repeating animations, while "dynamic" turns the dots into a more free-form, sensory-specific spectacle. Users can also now adjust the color and size of the on-screen dots, making it more adaptable to the user's vision needs and the way they use their device while on the move.

Vehicle Motion Cues can be added to the device's control center and automatically sense when in motion, so it's easy to activate as soon as you get in the car.

And it's super simple to turn on.

Power banks are the easiest gadget to neglect. You charge them, stick them in a drawer and then only pull them out when you need to travel or when the power's out. Which is why it's easy to miss when your power banks are outdated or no longer suitable to have your back when you need them most.

TL;DR: Live stream Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Thursday Night Football is back with a bang as the Dallas Cowboys clash with the Detroit Lions. It's been a fair season for both teams so far, with the Cowboys at 6-5 and the Lions at 6-5-1 — all of which means this looks like an evenly-matched game. On paper at least.

But Dallas has the momentum. They're coming off a three-game winning streak and a Thanksgiving Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Detroit, meanwhile, took a loss at the Green Bay Packers that same day. But don't count them out. With three losses in five, Detroit are looking to regain their footing and keep contending for a playoff spot.

If you want to watch Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.

When is Cowboys vs. Lions?

Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on Dec. 4. This game takes place at Ford Field.

How to watch Cowboys vs. Lions for free

Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia only, but anyone around the globe can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can help by hiding your real IP address (digital location) and connecting you to a secure server in Australia, allowing you to unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Cowboys vs. Lions 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 Australia

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Cowboys vs. Lions for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most VPN providers offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Cowboys vs. Lions in the NFL without committing any cash. While it's not a long-term solution, it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before claiming back your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like 7Plus, 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 currently on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free. That's 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 pick up a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

After years of obsessing over SUVs that take up more space and sip more gas, Americans are rediscovering the minivan.

The mid-size SUV world is packed with big names like the CR-V, Highlander, and the sharp-looking Santa Fe, plus solid picks like the Volkswagen Atlas. But while everyone’s been busy checking out the usual favorites, one underrated contender has quietly leveled up.

BEST PRICE: As of Dec. 4, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box is on sale for $123.99 on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Store Magic: The Gathering Marvel's Spider-Man Play Booster Box $123.99 at Amazon
$209.70 Save $85.71   Get Deal

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are long gone now, but the deals just keep coming. Unfortunately, we are seeing a significant drop in the number of deals on top tech items, but to make up for it, Amazon has dropped a number of impressive deals on trading cards.

As of Dec. 4, the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box is on sale for $123.99 on Amazon. That's the lowest-ever price for this popular box. So listen up collectors. It doesn't get better than this.

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This set contains 30 Play Boosters, each with 14 cards and at least one rare or mythic rare plus a foil card. This set features your favorite Spider-Man characters, villains, and thematic new game mechanics.

Score the best-ever price on the Magic: The Gathering Marvel’s Spider-Man Play Booster Box at Amazon.

SAVE $150: As of Dec. 4, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That's a discount of 35% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $279 at Amazon
$429 Save $150   Get Deal

There's a ton of great music out right now, and you deserve to enjoy it with a great pair of headphones. If it's high time for an upgrade, or you know someone you want to gift a pair to this year for the holidays, we've found an excellent option that you won't want to pass up at Amazon, even after the Cyber Monday kerfuffle has ended.

As of Dec. 4, get the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $429. That's $150 off and a discount of 35%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best headphones of 2025 — see the top contenders from Sony, Apple, Bose, and Beats

These comfortable headphones excel in terms of both audio and wear time. Not only do they feature plush ear cups and an adjustable band that doesn't dig into your head, but they sound fantastic so you'll relish keeping them on to enjoy music, podcasts, audiobooks, and more.

Their deep bass and crisp treble make them excellent candidates for your new go-to headphones, as do the way they offer noise cancellation that's rarely beaten. You can choose between three modes to tailor it to your unique listening preferences: Quiet, Aware, and Immersion. With a different level of noise blocking, they each let you hear what you want and ignore what you don't.

Beyond that, they also offer spatial audio support to help raise the immersion level so that you feel like you're actually in the middle of your favorite artist's concert when listening. Tack on a 15-minute charge time when you've ran out the battery, and these headphones are nothing if not a no-brainer for anyone who takes music seriously. Grab yours while they're still on sale for Cyber Week.

Have you ever seen "NaN" appear on a badly coded website? Or been perplexed by a persistent bug, only to find out that it's some quirk with the language? The problem is partly to do with your assumptions and probably an incomplete test suite. I will explain what property-based testing (PBT) is and how it solves these problems.

SAVE $465: The 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $834.99, down from the standard price of $1,299.99. That's a 36% discount and the lowest price on record at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor (G81SF) $834.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $465   Get Deal

A good monitor can make a major difference in your gaming experience. That's true whether your preferred game is Animal Crossing, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, or Assassin's Creed Shadows. If you've been limping along with a lame gaming monitor and want an upgrade, there's a top-tier Samsung model on sale today.

As of Dec. 4, the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor is on sale at Amazon for $834.99, marked down from the list price of $1,299.99. That works out to a savings of $465 from a 36% discount. It's also the lowest price on record at Amazon.

Now that we're almost to December holidays, the dark nights are here. By 4 p.m., it feels like it's time for pajamas and staying indoors. One of winter's greatest activities is catching up on top gaming titles you might have missed earlier in the year. If that's the case at your home, this Samsung monitor could be worth the upgrade.

SEE ALSO: The Toshiba 55-inch Class C350 Series TV is still at its low Cyber Monday price — save $200 right now

One brag-worthy spec is the massive 240Hz refresh rate. Pair that with the GtG response time of 0.03 milliseconds and you're in line for fast action without tearing or screen lag. Samsung uses glare-free technology on this monitor so you won't be dealing with distracting interference from your background.

The Samsung G8 is also designed to shine with showing deep blacks and great color contrast. Plus, Samsung used a dynamic cooling system on this model which is said to diffuse heat five time faster than graphite sheet, spelling a lower likelihood of burn in.

As a nice treat for you and your gaming setup in 2025, consider an upgrade to the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G8 gaming monitor while it's on sale at Amazon for $834.99. It'll also be ideal for work tasks when those arise.

It's the last full Moon of the year, and it's not just any full Moon, it's a supermoon. The third of three consecutive supermoons to round out the year, so if you missed November and October's, make sure you head out for this one. Supermoons are what the name suggests, a full Moon that appears bigger and brighter in the sky than usual, perfect for late-night stargazing.

There's lots to know about this Moon, so keep reading to find out when it is, and what it means.

When is the December Full Moon?

December's full Moon will occur on Thursday, Dec. 4. Time and Date estimates it will peak at 6:14 p.m. ET.

What is the December full Moon called?

Full Moons all have their own names, and December's is traditionally known as the 'Cold Moon'. As you might imagine, this name has something to do with the arrival of winter, and the drop in the temperature.

December's Full Moon is also a supermoon, which means it appears larger and brighter than usual because it’s closer to Earth in its orbit. This happens when the Full Moon occurs near its closest point to our planet, called lunar perigee, giving us a fuller, more prominent view in the night sky, Royal Museums Greenwich tells us.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to occur on Jan. 3, 2026.

What are the lunar phases?

The Full Moon is just one phase in the Moon’s 29.5-day orbit around Earth. The different phases show how much of its surface is lit up from our point of view. We always see the same side of the Moon, but as it circles Earth, the sunlight falls on it differently. That’s why sometimes it appears full, sometimes half, and at other times seems to disappear entirely.

There are eight main Moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

• New Moon — The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

• Waxing Crescent — A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

• First Quarter — Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

• Waxing Gibbous — More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

• Full Moon — The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

• Waning Gibbous — The moon starts losing light on the right side.

• Last Quarter (or Third Quarter) — Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

• Waning Crescent — A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

As more AI (artificial intelligence) technologies emerge, competition among them will intensify, and rankings of the best to worst may shift. Currently, the most significant AI models are Google Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot, OpenAI ChatGPT, and Apple Intelligence.

Let me be upfront: I genuinely love Obsidian. It's an incredible application with all the features you would need for note-taking. But, despite all the amazing things Obsidian offers, it had one big, persistent flaw that created a major roadblock in my daily workflow: the way it handles file navigation.

The more programs set to auto-launch on startup, the longer your computer takes to boot. That's doubly true for machines with older hardware. Allow me to show you different ways to identify and disable startup apps and speed up your PC's boot time.