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TL;DR: Instead of paying for multiple AI apps every month, the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan gives you lifetime access to top models and pro-grade tools for a one-time $74.97.

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From the looks of things, AI isn’t going anywhere, and for most professionals, it’s becoming just as essential as email or Wi-Fi. The challenge? Keeping up with an ever-growing list of tools, subscriptions, and model upgrades.

The 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan is currently available as a lifetime subscription for just $74.97 (reg. $540), and solves that problem with one very appealing idea: put everything in one place and make it a one-time payment.

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Instead of hopping between apps for writing, image editing, video creation, document analysis, and chat assistants, 1min.AI centralizes your entire AI workflow. It includes many of the top models—GPT-4o, Claude 3, Gemini Pro, Llama 3, Mistral, Cohere, and more — so you always have the right engine for the job.

Writers can generate blog posts, research keywords, summarize documents, rewrite content, or maintain a consistent brand voice. Designers and marketers get powerful image tools like upscalers, face swaps, background editors, 3D image generation, and sketch-to-image. Teams working with documents can translate, summarize, interact with PDFs, or collaborate across multiple files at once.

Audio and video creators aren’t left out, either — there’s text-to-speech, voice cloning, music generation, text-to-video, auto-captions, and even YouTube transcription and chat.

For a small business owner, this could replace five or six separate SaaS subscriptions. For a freelancer, it’s an all-in-one creative studio. For anyone who uses AI daily, it’s a huge upgrade — and a rare chance to lock in lifetime access without ongoing fees.

If your goal is to work smarter in 2026, this is one of the easiest wins available. Get lifetime access to the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan while it’s just $74.97 (reg. $540) for a limited time.

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TL;DR: Save some money on your next trip abroad with this $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

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Got big travel plans in store for 2026? If you’re heading abroad, make sure you can stay in touch without spending a fortune with aloSIM. This eSIM card keeps you connected in more than 200 countries and regions without roaming charges, and right now you can get a $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

Traveling internationally is not cheap. Fortunately, you can make it a little more affordable with this aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan. Instead of coming home to ridiculous roaming charges, this eSIM card gets you $150 of data for less than half the price. You can connect to a fast, local data connection on 5G and LTE networks easily — with no surprise charges that creep up later.

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With aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan, you just install a digital eSIM ahead of your travels and connect to data networks in over 200 countries. It’s prepaid and never expires, though the data package is only valid for the length of time stated at purchase, and unused data won’t roll over to your next trip.

This eSIM can be used on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, giving you flexible connection options once you land. You also have it for life, with no monthly charges. Just add a data plan next time you need to use it. You can also add more data as you go, with packages starting at $4.50 that last for 7 days.

Don’t leave home with this $150 credit to aloSIM Traveler’s Mobile Data Plan for just $69.99.

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I test new robot vacuums on a regular basis and compare them to the top performers from previous months, with all my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. As I test each robot vacuum and tweak its settings for optimal performance, I keep notes on its overall suction power and scrubbing efficacy (if it's a robot vacuum and mop combo), pet hair pickup, the convenience of its automatic emptying and self-washing mopping pads, accuracy of smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance, and the overall user experience. But the final boss here is cost efficiency — I'll be the first one to point out when a cheap robot vacuum actually works well for the price, or when a high-end robot vacuum is actually worth the splurge or not.

SEE ALSO: Your Roomba will still work despite iRobot's bankruptcy filing, but don't rule out unplanned obsolescence

Recent changes to this guide

December 2025: I added a disclaimer to the pick for best Roomba value in light of iRobot's bankruptcy news.

October 2025: I added the Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller as the best robot vacuum right now and shifted the Roborock Saros 10R (previously named the best robot vacuum right now) to the option for best corner cleaning.

July 2025: I removed the Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 robot vacuum from this guide. While it was a solid budget mopping robot vacuum for its first year or so on the market, it's now a little bit too basic compared to other newer budget robot vacuums.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I tested several other top robot vacuums in the past that didn't make the most recent cut for this list. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra, and various versions of the Roomba j7 were my top recommendations at one point, but have since been overshadowed by newer, more powerful models that are a better bang for your buck.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but ultimately aren't a top pick for me. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). A slew of new Dreame robot vacuums are slated to come out in fall 2025, among them a model with improved climbing abilities and a model whose self-empty dock can hold three sets of mopping pads. I'll be getting my hands on these as soon as possible and updating my top picks for this list accordingly.

As 2025 comes to a close, we're taking a moment to look back at the hardware, gadgets, and tech that defined our year. Instead of a standard roundup, we asked our editors to select the gear they couldn't live without this year. Welcome to How-To Geek Wrapped 2025.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

An idiot.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

DUNCE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Danger.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 27, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

PERIL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Hoarse.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 27, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

RASPY

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Passionately

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 27 Hurdle Word 4 answer

HOTLY

Final Hurdle hint

To rehash.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

RECAP

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

It's a new lunar phase tonight, the First Quarter. This is when half of the moon is lit on the right side.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Dec. 27, the moon phase is First Quarter. According to NASA's Daily Moon Observation, 47% of the moon will be lit up tonight.

Without any visual aids, you can spot the Mares Crisium, Fecunditatis, and Serenitatis tonight. If you add binoculars, you'll also see the Endymion Crater and the Posidonius Crater. With a telescope, you'll also see the Apollo 17 landing spot, the Caucasus Mountains, and the Rima Hyginus.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3. The last full moon was on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

According to NASA, the Moon takes around 29.5 days to complete one full cycle. This is known as the lunar cycle. Throughout this time, it passes through a series of phases as it orbits Earth. Although the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight reflecting off its surface changes, which is why it can appear fully illuminated, partly lit, or completely invisible at different points in the cycle. This process is divided into eight main lunar phases:

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. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last 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.

TL;DR: Live stream Nigeria vs. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues to deliver exactly what we wanted — exciting football from some of the best players in the world. Next up is Nigeria vs. Tunisia, probably one of the biggest group stage fixtures on the schedule. We can't wait.

If you want to watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Nigeria vs. Tunisia?

Nigeria vs. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Dec. 27. This fixture takes place at the Fez Stadium.

How to watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia for free

Nigeria vs. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Nigeria vs. Tunisia 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 Channel 4

5. Watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Nigeria vs. Tunisia (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Nigeria vs. Tunisia in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Senegal vs. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has already delivered a huge number of exciting fixtures, but there's plenty more where that came from. Next is Senegal vs. DR Congo in Group D. Morocco are favorites to win this competition, but you have to consider Senegal as contenders.

If you want to watch Senegal vs. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Senegal vs. DR Congo?

Senegal vs. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off at 10 a.m. ET on Dec. 27. This fixture takes place at the Tangier Grand Stadium.

How to watch Senegal vs. DR Congo for free

Senegal vs. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, 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 the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 4 to stream AFCON for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Senegal vs. DR Congo 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 Channel 4

5. Watch Senegal vs. DR Congo for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of AFCON without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Senegal vs. DR Congo (plus more 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 4, 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 one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Senegal vs. DR Congo in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love a good drink.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 27, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Plane tiers

• Green: To ascribe

• Blue: Life's work

• Purple: Boozy drinks

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Airline classes

• Green: Attribute

• Blue: Vocation

• Purple: Ending with alcoholic beverages

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #930 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Airline classes: BUSINESS, ECONOMY, FIRST, PREMIUM

• Attribute: CITE, CREDIT, NAME, REFERENCE

• Vocation: CALLING, CRAFT, LINE, TRADE

• Ending with alcoholic beverages: DECIDER, NAMESAKE, REPORT, VILLAGER

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love adding your input.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 27, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 27, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: If you ask me...

The words are related to input.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe a frame of mind.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is My Two Cents.

NYT Strands word list for December 27

• Opinion

• Perspective

• My Two Cents

• Take

• Viewpoint

• Outlook

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love baking cookies.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 27, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 27, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A pack.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

BATCH

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 27, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

TL;DR: This tiny NanoPhone is a 4G smartphone with Dual SIM and essential apps that’s on sale for $84.97 (reg. $199.99) with free shipping.

Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone - A Mini 4G Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $84.97
$199.99 Save $115.02   Get Deal

One of the most popular goals for the new year is to rely less on your phone. If you are in that camp, the NanoPhone Mini 4G Smartphone offers a surprisingly practical way to get there.

For just $84.97 (reg. $199.99) with free shipping, you get a fully functional smartphone that’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand — and discreet enough that it won’t dominate your day.

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This credit-card-sized device delivers the core features most people actually use: Dual SIM support, 4G + Wi-Fi connectivity, clear voice calls, video chats, and access to popular essentials like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. It’s a lightweight, clutter-free option designed for staying reachable without the constant pull of a large, app-loaded phone.

The NanoPhone shines as a travel companion, gym-friendly device, emergency backup, or dedicated “focus phone” for days when you want to unplug but can’t be totally off the grid.

Its small build and surprisingly crisp 3-inch HD touchscreen make navigating apps easy, while the front and rear cameras let you capture quick moments without hauling around your usual tech loaded with distractions. And because it supports two SIM cards, you can keep personal and work numbers separate — or use it internationally without swapping your main device.

If you’re ready to reclaim some screen-free space in your life, this tiny-but-mighty smartphone is a good place to start. Get the NanoPhone Mini 4G Smartphone while it’s on sale for $84.97 (reg. $199.99) with free shipping for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

If you're thinking about buying a new laptop or desktop, a GPU, a phone, or building a PC, I recommend doing it sooner rather than later. Thanks to AI, the price of memory has spiked, and it's only a matter of time before every device that packs a lot of memory (or storage) is affected.

LG is set to show off the future of home robotics at CES 2026.

The Korean tech conglomerate stated in a press release that it will unveil its newest domestic helper bot at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January. Named "CLOiD," the robot is "designed to perform a wide range of indoor household tasks, enhancing everyday convenience and improving quality of life by making home management more efficient and intuitive."

SEE ALSO: Chinese demonstration shows how dangerous commercial robot hacks can be

It will theoretically do so with the help of two articulated arms, each with five finger-like digits on the end that are said to help it perform delicate tasks. The arms themselves have seven degrees of freedom. There's a chip in its head that acts like a brain, complemented by a camera, a display, a speaker, and other sensors that it will use to navigate the environment and communicate with its owners. It's powered by LG AI and, according to the company, will refine its responses over time to become more personalized to the needs of whoever it interacts with on a regular basis.

Unfortunately, that's about all we've got on CLOiD right now. LG didn't share any real photos of the robot or disclose its cost or release date. Given that this is at CES, there's a real possibility that CLOiD is designed to come to mass market a very long time from now, or maybe even never. We'll all find out together in just a week or two.

So you just installed Linux on an old laptop for the first time. Or maybe you did months ago and it's just been sitting unused in your office since. Now what? Is there anything to do besides surf the web?

Got any broken RAM sticks in your drawer? Perhaps your RAM stopped working right smack in the middle of the RAM-pocalypse? Worry not, because many memory vendors offer lifetime warranties on their products.

The mid-size SUV segment is packed with great options, from the ever-popular Honda CR-V and Toyota Highlander to the stylish Hyundai Santa Fe. Then there are the under-the-radar choices, like the Volkswagen Atlas, quietly doing their thing.

Browser extensions really make the sky the limit when it comes to customizing your browsing experience, and I'm sure there are some extensions where you just can't imagine living without them. However, browser extensions that promise to improve your privacy are a bit of an oxymoron. Why? Because extensions, any extensions, are inherently damaging to your privacy.

There are all sorts of benefits to setting up a NAS network. All of your media and files will be backed up in one place, making everything easier to access. Of course, this also makes a NAS server an ideal way to use Plex, a service that allows you to stream all your own media.

The Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) viewers meet in Stranger Things Season 5 doesn't feel like the same Dustin we've known since Season 1.

Gone is Hawkins' resident ball of sunshine, replaced with a sulking, angry young man who would sooner graffiti a bully's locker than belt "Never Ending Story" over walkie-talkie. Yet this transformation didn't come out of nowhere. Instead, it stems from a clear point of trauma for Dustin: witnessing the tragic death of Eddie (Joseph Quinn) at the end of Season 4.

SEE ALSO: Gaten Matarazzo on 'Stranger Things' 'SNL' shoutout, Dustin and Steve's big fight, and why AI is 'lame'

Since then, Dustin has channeled his inner Eddie, growing out his hair, donning handfuls of rings, and rocking his Hellfire Club shirt no matter how much abuse it gets him from bullies. But while Dustin pays tribute to Eddie, he's been pushing away his other close friends, especially Steve (Joe Keery).

"He's actively trying to cut himself off from the person he's scared of losing the most," Matarazzo told Mashable during a Say More interview.

Dustin's grief causes serious tension in Stranger Things Season 5. Gaten Matarazzo in "Stranger Things." Credit: Netflix

Matarazzo knew the strained dynamic between Dustin and Steve would be polarizing, as the two had been basically inseparable since Season 2. He also knew the same would be true of Dustin's emotional arc as a whole.

"I was kind of hoping there would be a bit of a conflicted feeling around it," Matarazzo said. "I didn't want it to come across as like, 'Oh, poor him.' Because as much as that's true, and I think a lot of people can clearly see he's going through a lot, he's also being a dick. And I think, no matter how much one is grieving, it doesn't excuse your behavior towards other people, especially those who are in your corner, people who are there supporting you."

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That tug-of-war between sympathy for and frustration at Dustin runs through much of Season 5, starting with Dustin missing episode's 1 crawl to the Upside Down after picking a fight with his tormentors. His absence jeopardizes the mission and further strains his relationship with his friends, many of whom have experienced their own losses since Season 1.

He's going through a lot. He's also being a dick. - Gaten Matarazzo

"Dustin's in a position where there's — it seems horrible to say — but there's almost bigger fish to fry than you losing your friend," Matarazzo said. "Everyone's lost people. Maybe it's the first time it felt so present to Dustin, because it's somebody so close to him, and it happens right in front of him."

Matarazzo contrasts Dustin's own grieving over Eddie with Lucas' (Caleb McLaughlin) grieving over Max (Sadie Sink) being in a coma for over a year.

"Lucas is clearly dealing with something very similar to Dustin, but also seems to be taking it in a route that's less selfish," he said, pointing to Lucas' continued involvement in the Season 5 crawl and the friend group overall.

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The differences in the two characters' grieving processes on screen highlights that there's no one way to deal with loss. Grief is not linear, and Dustin's own journey comes with no shortage of mess and tension. That's especially true of his relationship with Steve, which hits its lowest point in Season 5.

Dustin and Steve's more contentious relationship this season altered the way Matarazzo and Keery approached key scenes together, as the pair's friendlier, more fun dynamic as scene partners clashed with Dustin and Steve's conflict.

"Sometimes we'd be goofing off before takes and especially early on, they would yell, 'action,' and I'm like, 'Oh, I'm not centered in the slightest,' because I'm still just joking around with him," Matarazzo said. "That was a different approach. And so we would look at things and look at each other and be like, 'Man, this is really sad,' because we just want to have fun sometimes. That's the natural drive there."

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That's not to say there are no fun Dustin and Steve moments in Season 5. Matarazzo points to the scene in episode 4 when Steve drives his car through a rift into the Upside Down, with a terrified Dustin, Nancy (Natalia Dyer), and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) hanging on for dear life.

"[In that scene] there's the normal excitement of us screaming and yelling and insulting each other, but with playful banter, and I think it's one of those moments where in [Dustin's] weird, little pent-up rage, when all is said and done and when everything else goes crazy around him, he doesn't really have time to actively try to be mean to [Steve]," Matarazzo said.

Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 centers Dustin and Steve's relationship. Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Keery in "Stranger Things." Credit: Netflix

The Dustin and Steve drama comes to a head in Season 5, Volume 2, when the pair investigate Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down. There, the two fully have it out about Eddie's death, with their cutting words culminating in a physical altercation. In prior seasons, Matarazzo would have put a lot of pressure on himself the entire day leading up to shooting that scene.

"But that day, I remember I felt very normal until about 20 minutes before we started shooting," he recalled. "Sometimes I just wander around in a corner with headphones on, not really to build up any emotions or anything like that, but to just weirdly get the head fog out of it and just be at a neutral place, because then you can be open to discovering what happens. There are a lot of different takes. There are takes where we're crying before the fight, there are takes where we're even angrier, and there's takes where's it just at a neutral tone, where we're just saying these things to each other and then seeing how naturally it digs in, and they took a lot from each of them."

However, one scene that Matarazzo did put pressure on himself for was Dustin and Steve's eventual reconciliation, which led to a hug so deep I felt it in my bones.

"I was so scared of it the whole time," Matarazzo said. "I remember the whole season, I read it at the table read, and I was like, 'Oh great, it's one of those.'"

Much of Season 5 was shot chronologically, too, so Matarazzo and Keery came into the scene having already gone through much of the emotional build-up. That just makes the conversation all the more cathartic, as Stranger Things' fan-favorite duo finally lay all their emotions bare.

"I think one of the healthiest things to do in grief is unpacking it when you feel the need to do so and diving in and feeling everything that you possible can feel and that you're naturally inclined to feeling," Matarazzo said.

The reconciliation scene is that to a T, with Steve and especially Dustin dropping any facades and just allowing themselves to be open about how much they mean to one another. It's a stand-out Stranger Things moment in a season full of them, made all the sweeter by the complex twists and turns Steve and Dustin took to get there.

For more from Mashable's interview with Gaten Matarazzo, watch the full Say More episode on YouTube.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix. The series finale premieres Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET on Netflix and in theaters.