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It turns out the way to get me interested in a new Assassin's Creed (well, more interested than I already was) is to include features from the AC games I played 10 to 15 years ago.

To be a little more specific, Ubisoft's latest open-world stabbing simulator Assassin's Creed Shadows builds on the recent RPG-ish entries like Valhalla by incorporating mechanics and design philosophies from older entries like Brotherhood and Syndicate. From Brotherhood, it borrows the idea of training and deploying subordinate assassins on helpless, unsuspecting doofus guards in your time of need. From Syndicate, it takes and (from what I can tell) heavily improves on the two-protagonist setup, with one representing stealth and the other combat.

Crucially, it's also got the goods from the newer games, like a very pretty and naturalistic feudal Japan setting, and consequential dialogue choices. After playing Shadows for about three hours at a preview event, I came away fairly impressed not only at how Shadows assimilates abandoned ideas from older AC games, but also by how fun it is on its own merits thanks to greater depth in its stealth mechanics and a slightly harsher and less forgiving level of challenge than its predecessors.

SEE ALSO: PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: What are the differences? Yasuke just seems really cool Yasuke is a big dude with big appeal. Credit: Ubisoft

I'm not really at liberty to discuss the the overall narrative of Shadows because I haven't seen that much of it, but I'm very into one of the two protagonists.

That would be Yasuke, who is a bit of an oddity among AC protagonists in that he was a real person. Usually in these games, you play as a fictional assassin who has the good fortune to Forrest Gump their way through whatever historical period they live in, but Yasuke was an actual Black man from Africa who went from slave to bonafide samurai under the tutelage of Odu Nobunaga in the 16th century. He's a self-evidently fascinating figure and a fantastic choice for a protagonist.

I'm a little less sold on Naoe, the fictional female protagonist who will be the character of choice for players who want to be sneaky. However, that probably has more to with the nature of the demo I played than anything; I didn't get a great sense for her personality or motives, aside from a generic desire for revenge. I'm sure that will change as I play through the final game (after all, I prefer to play stealthily), but for now, I just don't know how to feel about her. It doesn't help that she's working alongside an exceedingly cool dude in Yasuke.

A squad of assassins await your command

The portion of the demo I'm allowed to talk about had all the trappings one would expect from a modern Assassin's Creed game: A big open zone full of main story quests, side activities, and gorgeous vistas to discover. I'll get into the finer details of how the moment-to-moment action feels a little later, but generally speaking, this is totally an Assassin's Creed game. They didn't set out to reinvent the wheel here, even though it's been more than four years since Valhalla came out.

However, where Shadows did surprise me a bit was in its deployment of awesome mechanics from older games in the series that have since been abandoned for one reason or another. Namely, Shadows brings back the thing from Brotherhood (and a few other games after that) where you have a cadre of NPC assassins at your disposal who you can recruit, train, upgrade, and then deploy how you see fit. This mostly manifests as aiming at an enemy guard and pressing a button to have your underling take them out, but I should note the demo also provided me with a summonable NPC who was built more for fighting than stealth kills, so there is seemingly some versatility to this system.

This is not only an inherently fun thing to do, but it also gives the player more solutions to the game's fairly challenging stealth sequences. Speaking of which...

Quiet is more fun, but going loud is more viable than ever You know you want to do it. Credit: Ubisoft/Steam

The dual-protagonist idea is borrowed from 2015's Assassin's Creed Syndicate, which similarly had a male assassin who was built for fights and a female assassin who was built for sneaking. The problem with that (other than the mild gender essentialism of it all) was that approximately 75 percent of Syndicate's main story forced you into playing as the dude, who wore a stupid top hat all the time and just wasn't as fun to play as the other character.

Shadows makes it a point to not repeat that mistake. All missions seem to be playable as both characters. In fact, the big finale to the main story thread I followed in the demo gave me three different opportunities to choose a character during the mission. It's nice that you don't have to commit to one character for an entire mission if you don't want to.

Let's talk about Naoe. I actually spent most of the demo playing as her because I'm a stealthy guy, and I came away pretty satisfied with the additions to sneaky gameplay Ubisoft has made this time around. For starters, enemies seem to have better eyesight than before, as they regularly spotted me from pretty far away when I wasn't careful. Beyond that, you have to use light to your advantage; lanterns can (and should) be destroyed with throwing knives, and shadows provide enough cover for nearby guards to not notice you right away.

Expect to see this a lot. Credit: Ubisoft/Steam

The biggest change, though, is the ability to go prone and crawl around on the ground. It's the only way to get through certain grassy areas unnoticed, and genuinely saved my ass about half a dozen times during the demo. If an enemy spots you, you can quickly go prone and hope to God whatever is around you provides enough cover to get them off your trail. Anyone who has ever played a Metal Gear game will agree that crawling around on your stomach is a fun way to sneak around, not only because you feel super stealthy, but also because you're incredibly vulnerable in that state. When you do it right, you feel awesome. When you do it wrong, you die. That tension should add a lot to Shadows.

Naoe also has a grappling hook that she can use pretty freely to scale vertical structures, and the areas I snuck through were definitely built with that in mind. Trying to quickly climb a rope up to a roof before a nearby guard turns around and sees you is the exact kind of juice I want from a stealth game.

While both characters are clearly geared for a specific style of play, you can technically fight dudes one-on-one with Naoe, or sneak around as Yasuke. Both seem fairly inadvisable, though. Naoe is lithe and nimble, but she can die in just a couple of hits. Yasuke, meanwhile, is a burly, lumbering samurai who climbs slower and doesn't have all of Naoe's stealth tools (like the grappling hook) at his disposal.

Most of your time spent with Yasuke will probably look like this. Credit: Ubisoft/Steam

What he does have, however, are a katana and the willingness to use it. With Yasuke, I played the final mission like an action game, totally unconcerned with being stealthy. This was admittedly less compelling to me than the Naoe approach. Even basic enemies feel a bit like damage sponges who take a few too many hits to kill. I'll give Shadows the benefit of the doubt here and assume Yasuke will feel more powerful after dozens of hours of gameplay, but the demo didn't really give me the satisfaction of cutting through guys in one precise blow, like you see in so much other samurai fiction. Still, it wasn't bad by any means, and I did have some fun after figuring out how Yasuke's various abilities work.

Even with my gripe about enemy health, it's probably for the best that Shadows is a more challenging game than the ones that came before it. More broadly, it's great that people who don't like stealth (but find other aspects of these games appealing) can seemingly play the entire game as a big old tank.

I was always going to check out Assassin's Creed Shadows just because I've played almost all of these games since 2007 and it would be ridiculous to stop now. But I came away from this demo pretty pleased with what Ubisoft has put together. Between bringing back NPC assassins from Brotherhood and doing the whole two-character thing in a substantially more freeform way than Syndicate, Shadows has something to like for almost any AC fan.

We'll see if that's enough to make it fun for 50+ hours, though.

Assassin's Creed Shadows launches on March 20 for PS5, Xbox Series consoles, and PC.

SAVE $29.01: As of Jan. 23, get a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for $69.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $99. That's a discount of 29% and their lowest price yet.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $69.99 at Amazon
$99.00 Save $29.01 Get Deal

Are you the type of person who can't stop losing everything? Would you lose your hand if it wasn't attached to your arm? You could use a smart tracker. And if you're already using the iOS ecosystem, you should consider grabbing an AirTag or two. If you've been waiting to take the plunge for when you can get one or two for a great price, now's your chance.

As of Jan. 23, you can get a 4-pack of Apple AirTags at Amazon for just $69.99, down from their normal price of $99. That's $29.01 off and a discount of 29%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

AirTags are ridiculously useful. Just attach one to whatever item you don't want to lose. Toss it in a bag or a purse (or even your luggage) or put it in a keychain or holder (sold separately) and hang it from your keys or even your pet's collar. Once named and set up, you can track it via the Find My app.

Thanks to the AirTags' built-in speaker, you can track it visually or by sending a sound through Find My that can help you find it. Each AirTag lasts up to a year thanks to its coin cell battery (which you can replace), so you truly can put one of these bad boys anywhere and it's out of sight, out of mind until you need to find something.

Now's a great time to go ahead and grab a few AirTags for you and the rest of your family or friends. Now you've got zero excuses for losing things.

GET A FREE $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD: Pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB or 256GB, unlocked) and get a free $100 Amazon gift card. Orders are expected to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB or 256GB, unlocked) + free $100 Amazon gift card Pre-Order Here

Earlier this month, we were treated to tons of new tech announcements at CES. Now we're focused on lots of new product announcements from this week's Samsung Unpacked. If you're eyeing the new Samsung S25, check out this preorder deal from Amazon.

Until Feb. 6, preorders for the Samsung Galaxy S25 (128GB or 256GB, unlocked) come with a free $100 Amazon gift card. The 128GB Samsung S25 comes in at $799.99, while the larger 256GB costs $859.99. Orders are set to begin shipping on Feb. 7, but the phone and gift card might ship at different times.

SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: The Sonos Arc soundbar is the cheapest it's ever been

When ordering from Amazon, your new Samsung Galaxy S25 comes with a free shopping spree in the form of a $100 Amazon gift card. Since the gift card never expires, you can choose to use it to get a snazzy case for your S25, save it for July's Prime Day sale, or even gift it to a good friend.

Regardless of what you plan to use the gift card for, this deal offers you the brand new Samsung Galaxy S25 in either the 128GB or 256GB storage options.

Compared to last year's S24 model, the updated S25 comes with some benefits like the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and larger RAM. While the S24 came with 8GB RAM, the S25 increases that to 12GB RAM.

In terms of size, the S25 is ever so slightly smaller, thinner, and lighter.

Some of the most noticeable differences, however, come from the Galaxy S25's AI features. With better calendar integrations, you can now search for your favorite band's tour schedule, add it into your calendar, and send a text to your friends telling them about the upcoming show.

At full price, the Samsung Galaxy S24 and S25 come with identical price tags (starting at $799.99), which means you might as well grab the latest S25 model. And if you decide to pre-order with Amazon before Feb. 6, you'll also get a free $100 Amazon gift card.

Your Mac’s dictation feature is easy to miss but worth exploring, offering a big improvement to typing speed by letting you use your voice instead of your fingers. Here’s why (and how) you should be using it.

SAVE $75 ON SHARK BEAUTY: Celebrate Valentine's Day with a beauty upgrade. Get $75 off orders of $200 or more on select Shark Beauty products. Use code VDAY75 at checkout.

Shark Beauty deals Build your own Shark FlexStyle kit $204.99 at Shark with code VDAY75 Get Deal Build Your Own Shark FlexFusion $304.99 at Shark with code VDAY75 Get Deal Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex Hair Dryer System $154.99 at Shark with code VDAY75 Get Deal

With Valentine's Day on the horizon, it might be time to show yourself a little love. If you've been looking to upgrade your beauty tools, Shark is offering a sweet holiday discount. Ahead of the Valentine's, get $75 off orders of $200 or more on select Shark Beauty products.

If you want to enjoy air styling but don't want to spend Dyson prices, Shark makes our preferred dupes. We love the SharkFlexStyle for hot air styling and at its list price of $279.99, it's fair more affordable than the Airwrap's $599. But right now, you can build-your-own FlexStyle for just $204.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Build your own Shark FlexStyle kit $204.99 at Shark
$279.99 Save $75.00 Use code VDAY75 at checkout Get Deal

You can also find Shark's latest, the FlexFusion, on sale during their V-Day deals. Building off of the FlexStyle, the FlexFusion comes with the the hot air straightener, rivaling the Dyson Airstrait. This build your own bundle comes with the straightener tool as well as the wet or dry brush. Plus you can add-on one accessory to the bundle whether that be auto-wrap curlers or a diffuser head. Normally $379.99, with the $75, it brings the bundle down to $304.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Build Your Own Shark FlexFusion $304.99 at Shark
$379.99 Save $75.00 Use code VDAY75 at checkout Get Deal

Shop all the Shark Beauty products that are $75 off now, and use code VDAY75 at checkout.

A lot of people like the Vivaldi browser, and there's a few reasons for that. It's not just another Chromium reskin, and it actually tries to stand out with new, unique features. The new Vivaldi 7.1 update adds a few more helpful options.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 is here. With a compact form factor, an octa-core chipset, and a telephoto camera, the phone, through no fault of its own, competes with the Pixel 9 Pro. If you're having trouble deciding between the two, here's a detailed comparison to help you.

SAVE 10%: As of Jan. 23, save 10% on your purchases at Woot with promo code SAVETEN. This code is only valid today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Woot 10% off Woot purchase with promo code SAVETEN Get Deal

If you're a deal hunter, you probably already visit Woot often. You can find some seriously great deals there, and often discounted and refurbished tech that can save you some real cash. You've got to lock in your purchases fast over there if you want to save big since many of the deals sell out quickly, but it's a great retailer to check if you're looking for something good for a low price. And you can save even more on your Woot purchase right now thanks to a special deal.

As of Jan. 23, you can save 10% on your purchase with promo code SAVETEN. Just add the promo code to your cart at checkout, and it will automatically be applied. But act quickly, because this code is only valid for today.

SEE ALSO: Grab the 27-inch ASUS TUF gaming monitor at its lowest price ever

You can find a wide variety of goodies at Woot, ranging from Apple Watch bands to refurbished smartphones. The key is checking back often to see what's been added. Acquired by Amazon in 2010, you'll find that many deals are based on the price of what's selling on the massive retailer. You can find everything from tools and household items to newer tech, so it's a good idea to come back and see what's on offer whenever you can.

Save 10% at Woot today only.

TL;DR: Live stream Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free on ServusTV. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Spurs might be struggling in the Premier League, but they've performed pretty well in the Europa League this season. They are firmly in the running to progress to the knockout rounds, but the next game against Hoffenheim will be challenging.

If you want to watch Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur?

Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur kicks off at 5:45 p.m. GMT on Jan. 23. This fixture takes place at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

How to watch Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free

Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur is available to live stream 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 bypass geo-restrictions to access ServusTV from anywhere in the world.

Unblock ServusTV 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 Austria

4. Visit ServusTV

5. Stream Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League for free

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to provide free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to ServusTV without committing with your cash. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you plenty of time to stream Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ServusTV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on ServusTV, 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

• 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 also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Stream Hoffenheim vs. Tottenham Hotspur for free with ExpressVPN.

It can be worrying when you have an elderly relative living out of town or even out of state. It's worth considering how smart home tech can make life easier and safer for them while providing you with peace of mind.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Jan. 23: OUR TOP PICK Sonos Arc soundbar $649 (save $250) Get Deal BEST PHONE DEAL Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra + $200 Amazon gift card $1,419.99 (save $200) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 $144 (save $55.99) Get Deal BEST KIDS DEAL Amazon Fire 7 Kids $59.99 (save $40) Get Deal BEST HOME DEAL Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum $139.99 (save $110) Get Deal

January may not be known for any major shopping holidays, but that doesn't mean you can't find deals. Amazon's daily deals page always has some gems floating around — you just need to sort through a bit of chaos to find them. Fortunately, we've done the sorting for you and handpicked a few of the best deals we think are worth your money.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Jan. 23. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to take a look at our picks from earlier this week. Many of those are still live, including $250 off the M3 MacBook Air.

Our top pick: Sonos Arc soundbar Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Arc soundbar $649.00 at Amazon
$899.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal

As our friends at PCMag (also owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis) noted in their review, "The impressive Sonos Arc takes the best parts of the company's other soundbars and combines them into one Dolby Atmos-compatible package." Its audio profile is fantastic, with crisp dialogue, thumping bass, and deep layers bolstered by Dolby Atmos. The main thing holding us back from recommending the Sonos Arc as one of our top soundbar picks is the $899 price tag. As of Jan. 23, however, Amazon has it on sale for a more approachable $649. That's 28% in savings and its best price ever.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra Cell Phone + $200 Amazon Gift Card Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra + $200 Amazon gift card $1,299.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

Just announced at Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, when you pre-order the brand-new Galaxy S25 Ultra (unlocked) with either 256GB or 512GB of storage, you'll get a free $200 Amazon gift card to spend on future purchases. Orders will start shipping on Feb. 7, so you'll get your gift card alongside your new phone. Compared to its predecessor, the S25 Ultra upgrades the camera and processor, is slightly larger, and features even more impressive AI features (of course). It won't look too much different than the S24 Ultra, but it'll wow you in terms of internal updates.

Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 $144.00 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $55.99 Get Deal

For a speaker of its size, the Ultimate Ears Megaboom 4 is pretty impressive. It offers 360-degree sound with punchy bass, balance, and clarity that lasts for up to 20 hours on a single charge. It's also virtually indestructible thanks to IP67 waterproofing. We haven't tested this specific speaker, but we did spend time with its pint-size sibling (the Wonderboom 4) and it's one of our top picks. Usually $199.99, it's on sale for just $144 at Amazon as of Jan. 23. That's 28% in savings and a record-low for the blue colorway.

Amazon Fire 7 Kids Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire 7 Kids $59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

Our favorite tablet for preschoolers, the Amazon Fire 7 Kids is a virtually indestructible device packed with parental controls and exciting kid-friendly apps. The rubbery case is built to withstand drops or spills, but even if your toddler manages to mess it up, Amazon will send you a new one anytime within two years. Parents can customize screen time limits, age filters, limited access to certain apps, and schedules. Plus, it comes with a free year of Amazon Kids+, which unlocks access to over 20,000 different apps. It may not have an HD screen, but we're pretty sure your 3-year-old won't be able to tell the difference. Snag it on sale for just $59.99 instead of the usual $99.99 as of Jan. 23. That's 40% in savings.

Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum $139.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

If you want to invest in hands-free cleaning on a budget, the Eufy 11S Max robot vacuum can get the job done for cheap — just $139.99 as of Jan. 23. That's 44% off its usual cost. It packs over 10 infrared sensors to keep it in touch with its surroundings, including anti-collision and anti-drop sensors. It also offers 2000Pa of suction power, a three-point cleaning system, and a remote control to help you set up schedules and pick cleaning patterns. It's not the best choice for high-pile carpets or for fancy features, but it can glide over just about any other floor type with ease and won't require you to dig into your savings account.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

GET A FREE $100 AMAZON GIFT CARD: Preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) and get a free $100 Amazon gift card.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) + free $100 Amazon gift card Get Deal

Samsung Unpacked brought on the announcement of the brands latest flagship models. If you're looking for a powerhouse Android device but don't want to spend over $1,000, the S25+ might be a great option. And if you preorder from Amazon, you'll be in for a nice surprise.

Until Feb. 6, preorders for the Samsung Galaxy S25+ (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) come with a free $100 Amazon gift card. The 256 Galaxy S25+ is priced at $999.99 while the 512GB model is $1,119.99. Orders are expected to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

The Samsung Galaxy S25+ is a step up compared to the base S25 model. Maybe the most noticeable difference is the larger screen size, with the S25+ coming with 6.7-inch display, compared to the 6.2-inch display on the S25 base model.

SEE ALSO: Rate your favorite smart home gear for a chance to win a $250 Amazon gift card

The S25+ also packs in a larger battery, which can be great if you're often away from a charger for longer periods of time.

Like the other Galaxy S25 phones, the S25+ uses the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy processor and comes with pretty fancy AI features like Circle to Search which allows you to circle anything on your phone screen and ask Google to search it.

If you're in line to upgrade to the new Samsung Galaxy S25+, preorder from Amazon to score a free $100 Amazon gift card. Not only will you be getting the newest Android device, you'll have some serious spending money at Amazon for a future purchase.

The nominations for the 97th Academy Awards dropped on Thursday, and as always, the list came with its fair share of snubs and surprises.

SEE ALSO: 2025 Oscar nominations: See the full list

Jacques Audiard's Emilia Pérez received 13 nominations, but Selena Gomez — who'd been nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for her performance — lost out on a Supporting Actress nod. Coralie Fargeat's The Substance earned five nominations, but Margaret Qualley's supporting turn, which earned Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods, was not among them. Elsewhere, movies like Babygirl, Challengers, and Queer came up totally empty, even after earning nominations at other major awards like the Golden Globes.

What where the biggest snubs of the Oscar nominations this year? Let's get into it.

Challengers gets blanked.

Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, one of Mashable's best movies of 2024, got completely shut out at the 2025 Oscar nominations, even after getting Golden Globe nominations for Best Picture — Musical/Comedy and for Zendaya's leading performance. While it missed out on nominations in those fields at this year's Oscars, the most surprising snub of all here is undoubtedly the lack of recognition for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross' pulsing techno score. Not only did their work turn a tense tennis mash into a full-on rave — it also won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score over four of the five Oscar nominees. (Somehow, Wicked got in instead.)

SEE ALSO: Still haven't seen 'Challengers?' Here's how to watch the steamy Zendaya flick now. Daniel Craig misses out on a nomination for Queer.

After earning Golden Globe, Critics Choice, and Screen Actors Guild nominations, Daniel Craig missed out on his first Oscar nomination for his performance in Luca Guadagnino's Queer. The rest of the movie came up empty-handed, but it's the lack of Craig that stings the most, because, as Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her review of Queer, "Craig is mesmerizing as Lee, swanning from catty gossip sessions to carnal encounters to body-rattling withdrawals and psychedelic splendors. It's easy to be beguiled by his charms, including a suave sex appeal made less intimidating by his tendency toward silliness."

SEE ALSO: How Daniel Craig and Drew Starkey filmed the ayahuasca scene in 'Queer' The Oscars fail to recognize Denis Villeneuve for Dune: Part Two.

In 2022, the Academy Awards snubbed Denis Villeneuve for his direction of Dune, and I thought, "Well, surely they won't do that again." But the Academy loves to surprise me, because they repeated their egregious mistake this year by failing to recognize Villeneuve's work on the arguably more challenging Dune: Part Two. That's the sci-fi equivalent of not nominating Peter Jackson for directing any of The Lord of the Rings installments!

SEE ALSO: Denis Villeneuve breaks down the evolution of sandworms in 'Dune: Part Two' Nicole Kidman, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Pamela Anderson, and Angelina Jolie lose out on Best Actress nominations.

The Best Actress race this year was a bloodbath (when is it not?), with Babygirl's Nicole Kidman, Hard Truths' Marianne Jean-Baptiste, The Last Showgirl's Pamela Anderson, and Maria's Angelina Jolie all losing out. Each snub was surprising in its own way. Kidman won the 2024 Volpi Cup for Best Actress at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, while also earning a Golden Globe nomination. Jean-Baptiste earned BAFTA and Critics Choice nominations, and was a repeated favorite with Critics Associations. Anderson picked up Golden Globe and SAG nods, and Jolie was recognized by the Golden Globes and Critics Choice. None of these accolades, however, translated to an Oscar nomination.

Denzel Washington gets snubbed for his Gladiator II performance.

Of the six actors nominated for Best Supporting Actor at this year's Golden Globes, the only actor not to make it into the category at the Oscars was Denzel Washington for his performance in Gladiator II. In her Mashable review, Puchko raved that, "Denzel Washington steals this movie," so it's a shame that his scene-stealing turn was denied an Oscar nod.

How to watch: The 97th Academy Awards will air on ABC and Hulu on Sunday, March 2, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET.

Toss out those old disposable battery-powered flashlights and stop using the LED light on your phone. The next time you have a power outage, rechargeable LED lanterns or inflatable solar-powered lights are a much better choice.

SAVE $130: As of Jan. 23, get a refurbished Dyson Supersonic hair dryer at Walmart for $219.99, down from the usual refurbished price of $349.99. That's a discount of 41%, and a full $210 less than a new model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer (Refurbished) $219.99 at Walmart
$349.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

Whether you have long, thick hair or a shorter style, drying your hair can feel like a chore. But you don't want to leave it wet and go out in the cold weather, or deal with stringy wet hair instead of a polished style. That's where a great hair dryer comes in. Our favorite professional hair dryer for a salon-quality blowout is the Dyson Supersonic, and you can get one for a great price at Walmart right now.

As of Jan. 23, get a refurbished Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in the Ceramic Pink/Rose Gold colorway at Walmart for just $219.99, which is $130 (or 41%) off its normal refurbished price of $349.99, and a full $210 less than springing for a brand-new model.

SEE ALSO: I tried 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype

This famous hair dryer is usually prohibitively expensive, but as it's refurbished, you're saving a nice little bundle. We named it the best professional hair dryer in the world, and for good reason. It dries quickly with less intense heat thanks to its digital V9 motor, and its design makes it more comfortable to hold for longer periods of time.

It's bladeless, and it uses power and precision for three different speed settings and four heat settings to get your hair dry but smooth and polished all in one go. Plus, it comes with multiple attachments for working on different kinds of style. And this colorway is so chic.

If you're interested in trying out a hair dryer we absolutely love for decidedly less than it usual price, head over to Walmart and snag your own.

With TikTok getting in trouble with the US government, it seems everyone wants to try and take over the short video format for themselves. Instagram is suspiciously trying to push its Reels feature more aggressively now, with rewards to creators and other changes to the app. Now, even Tumblr is getting into the action.

SAVE $130: Get the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro for their new lowest price ever of $99.99. Normally $229.99, these earbuds are now $130 off for 56% in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro $99.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $130.00 Get Deal

If you've been hanging onto the hype out of Samsung's Galaxy Unpacked, and are getting ready to upgrade to a new Samsung Galaxy S25 series phone, we're right there with you. Whether you're new to the Samsung ecosystem or are well acquainted, you can fully dive in with a pair of Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro.

As of Jan. 23, you can grab the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro on sale for $99.99, down from $229.99. That's $130 off, or a 56% discount, and their lowest price ever. There's an $80 discount now automatically being applied at checkout — no coupon necessary.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best earbuds to buy in 2025

Despite being pleased by their performance in our tests (our reviewer said they're "a no-brainer for Samsung fans"), we don't love their list price, but this serious discount makes them an easy buy.

Just like Apple has AirPods that are built to work within the iOS ecosystem, the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro are built to work with Samsung phones. They have excellent audio quality with fantastic active noise cancellation, too. When used with Samsung phones, you can set up touch settings on the earbuds so you can control playback. However, this is only available on Samsung devices; when used with iPhones, you lose that customization.

GET A FREE $200 GIFT CARD: Preorder the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) and get a free $200 Amazon gift card. Orders are set to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung / Amazon Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB, unlocked) + free $200 Amazon gift card Get Deal

For those who like to keep up with the latest phone trends, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Ultra aims to impress, and it comes with some of the most advanced AI features around. We still have a few weeks until consumers can get their hands on the new phone, but if your preorder from Amazon, you'll be in for a special treat.

As of Jan. 23, preorders at Amazon for the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (256GB or 512GB) come with a free $200 Amazon gift card. The 256GB version costs $1,299.99 while the larger 512 model comes in at $1,419.99. The phone and gift card are set to begin shipping on Feb. 7.

The recently announced Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra spells the cutting edge of Android smartphones. Compared to the S24 Ultra, the S25 Ultra comes with upgrades to the camera, size, and snazzier AI features.

It's also worth mentioning we didn't see an uptick in price with the S25 Ultra, compared to the S24 Ultra. Both models cost $1,299.99 for the 256GB version and $1,419.99 for the 512GB version. That means, when not on sale, you might as well go for the newest model.

The Samsung Ultra S25 is ever so slightly larger than the S24 Ultra, measuring 6.9 inches and 6.8 inches, respectively. It's also using the new Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy.

Of course, the Ultra S25 comes with an S Pen and all its handy features. In terms of AI, the phone adds some fun features, like the ability to ask Google to search for a Thai restaurant near you and then text the address to a friend, for a truly hands-off experience.

If you have plans to snag the new Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and you're looking to buy the unlocked model, preorder today from Amazon and you'll be rewarded with a free $200 Amazon gift card. Since the gift card never expires, you'll be able to cash in on the savings on any future order.

When you don't need to run the latest games at max settings or just need a competent workhorse, budget laptops can offer the best price-to-performance by cutting away some unnecessary features or shrinking the form factor.

Finding and installing software on Ubuntu Linux can be confusing at first. This guide will show you how to install, update, and remove any application you may need on your Ubuntu system!