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100TB of cloud space means no more stressing about digital storage
TL;DR: 100TB of ultra-secure, private Internxt cloud storage for life — no monthly fees, no storage stress, just massive space and peace of mind at 90% off for a limited time.
Opens in a new window Credit: Internxt Internxt Cloud Storage Lifetime Subscription: 100TB $974.97$9,900 Save $8,925.03 Get Deal
If you’ve ever found yourself deleting photos, moving files to random hard drives, or upgrading another monthly cloud plan just to keep things running, you already understand the quiet stress of running out of digital space.
Internxt’s 100TB lifetime cloud storage plan is designed to flip that experience entirely — offering enough room to stop worrying about storage altogether.
With a massive 100 terabytes at your disposal, this is cloud storage that feels genuinely future-proof. You can back up years of photos and videos, archive creative projects, save high-resolution work files, and still have plenty of space left over.
No more juggling subscriptions, no more “which folder can I sacrifice?” moments, and no more surprise renewal charges showing up on your bank statement.
What truly sets Internxt apart, though, is its privacy-first approach. This platform uses zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption, meaning only you can ever access your data — not Internxt, not third parties, and certainly not data trackers.
Files are securely fragmented and protected with post-quantum encryption, designed to stay safe even as technology evolves. It’s also fully open-source, GDPR-compliant, and independently audited, giving transparency-minded users added peace of mind.
Despite the advanced security, using Internxt feels refreshingly simple. The interface is intuitive, the syncing is seamless, and your files stay accessible across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, and web browsers. Whether you’re a creative professional, a small business owner, or just someone with an ever-growing digital life, everything stays organized and easy to retrieve.
During this Cyber Week sale, lifetime access to 100TB Internxt storage is available for a one-time $974.97 payment (MSRP: $9,900) — valid only through Dec. 14 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
How to watch North Texas vs. Tulane online for free
The stakes are high in this week's college football as North Texas Mean Green visit the Tulane Green Wave to decide the American Conference Championship.
This showdown will most likely also hand the winner an automatic College Football Playoff bid as both teams are currently ranked in the selection committee's top 25. It would mark the first time that either of these teams has played in the CFP. And North Texas, at 11-1, look like the favorites thanks to a six-game winning streak.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!If you want to watch North Texas vs. Tulane for free from anywhere in the world, here's everything you need to know.
When is North Texas vs. Tulane?North Texas vs. Tulane takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 5. This game takes place at the Yulman Stadium.
North Texas vs. Tulane is broadcast on ABC.
How to watch college football in 2025/26Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended platforms, some of which include free trials, allowing you to follow the action without actually spending anything.
ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year Shop NowChannels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you will find live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will cost you $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can also secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year Shop NowChannels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs just $19.99 per month, and you can also save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can kickoff with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
FuboTV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, which we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to Fubo's Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV certainly isn't cheap, but it does offer plenty of bang for your buck. You'll have to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Sling (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a wide range of benefits, but you will need to be careful when selecting your plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually want.
YouTube TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV gives you access to more than 100 live channels. That's a whole lotta content. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch North Texas vs. Tulane from anywhere in the worldIf you're outside the U.S. for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream North Texas vs. Tulane from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch North Texas vs. Tulane from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
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. That means 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. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (which includes a money-back guarantee).
Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get DealHow to watch Troy vs. James Madison online for free
One of the most exciting college football showdowns this week sees the Troy Trojans visiting the James Madison Dukes to decide the Sun Belt Conference Championship. Troy won Sun Belt West Division, finishing at 8-4 overall, while James Madison were the runaway winners of Sun Belt West Division at an impressive 11-1.
Even with that record — which saw them go undefeated in conference games — there's still an underdog story at play here. Currently ranked at 25 by the selection committee, James Madison are within reaching distance of an automatic CFP bid — hugely exciting for the Group of Six program. A win here could secure that auto bid, but only if Duke beat Virginia for the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship the next day.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!The implications could be huge if James Madison and Duke win their respective games. Because of the new field of 12 rules, which sees the five highest ranked championship winners get an automatic bid, James Madison would trump the unranked Duke. All of which means a Group of Six program taking a CFP spot over a Power Four program. James Madison would then join the winner of the American Conference Championship in representing the Group of Six on the CFP.
But even with their 11-1 record, James Madison will have their work cut out against Troy, who won Sun Belt titles in both 2022 and 2023.
If you want to watch Troy vs. James Madison for free from anywhere in the world, here's everything you need to know.
When is Troy vs. James Madison?Troy vs. James Madison takes place at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 5. This game takes place at the Bridgeforth Stadium.
Troy vs. James Madison is broadcast on ESPN.
How to watch college football in 2025/26Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.
ESPN Unlimited (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN ESPN Unlimited $29.99 per month for 1 year Shop NowChannels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Fox One Fox One 7-day free trial, then $199.99 per year Shop NowChannels: Fox, FS1, FS2, Big Ten Network
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
FuboTV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV 7-day free trial, then $54.99/month for 1 month Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Hulu + Live TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu + Live TV 3-day free trial, then $76.99/month Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Sling (no free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling Season Pass $329 for 5 months Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.
YouTube TV (free trial) Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV 7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months Shop NowChannels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch Troy vs. James Madison from anywhere in the worldIf you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Troy vs. James Madison from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Troy vs. James Madison from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
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).
Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get DealWhat would ethical age verification look like online?
Age-verification laws are sweeping the world. These mandates typically require websites that host explicit content — and some that don't — to obtain personal data from visitors to ensure they're over 18.
Lawmakers who put these laws forward say they do so to keep minors away from adult content. But experts have also warned Mashable about the privacy and security risks that could arise from these mandates. This year, multiple studies have suggested that these laws don't actually work to keep minors off porn sites.
SEE ALSO: Porn censorship is going to destroy the entire internetWith that in mind, is age verification, as it stands, ethical? And what would constitute ethical age-verification? Mashable spoke to several experts, and they all had a similar answer: device-level filters.
Current age-verification systemsIn most cases, from the majority of U.S. laws to the UK's Online Safety Act, age verification is platform-based. This means that it's the responsibility of websites to install these age checks — and it hasn't been going well.
"Age gating, especially the current technology that is available, is ineffective at achieving the goals it seeks to achieve, and minors can circumvent it," said senior policy counsel for ACLU, Cody Venzke.
A study published in November noted that when these laws took effect in different states, searches for VPNs (virtual private networks, which can mask someone's true location) have skyrocketed, suggesting that people are attempting (and succeeding) to circumvent the laws. Searches for porn sites also increase, which might indicate people searching for websites that don't comply with these laws.
The ethics behind these systems are murky at best, Mike Stabile, director of public policy at adult industry trade organization, the Free Speech Coalition, told Mashable. "In practice, they've so far functioned as a form of censorship."
Because of the fear around exposure and data processing — and already we're seeing IDs being exposed, like in October's Discord hack — adults are dissuaded from accessing porn sites. That same November study suggested that the cost of impeding on adults' First Amendment rights (the right to free speech and free expression) doesn't outweigh the benefit of limiting minors' access to porn.
"Unfortunately, we've heard many of the advocates behind these laws say that this chilling effect is, in fact, good. They don't want adults accessing porn," Stabile said.
Indeed, some lawmakers believe that porn shouldn't be accessible to anyone. Project 2025, the blueprint for President Trump's second term, calls for an outright porn ban and the imprisonment of creators. A Project 2025 co-writer, Russell Vought (who heads the Office of Management and Budget) was caught on a secret recording in 2024, reportedly calling age-verification laws a porn ban from the "back door."
But there is another solution: Device-level filters.
An ethical age assurance method?"Storing people's actual birth dates on company servers is probably not a good way to approach this, especially for minors... you can't change your birth date if it gets leaked," senior director of AI programs at nonprofit Common Sense Media, Robbie Torney, told Mashable.
"But there are approaches that are privacy-preserving and are already established in the industry that could go a long way towards making it safer for kids to interact across a wide range of digital services."
We can also distinguish between age verification and assurance. While some people use this interchangeably, the difference is that "age assurance" is more of an umbrella term that includes all the methods you could use to determine age without being prescriptive as to how, while verification typically applies to confirming exact age, like checking ID, Torney said.
One real age assurance approach that's more privacy-preserving, according to Torney, is outlined in California's law AB 1043, which will take effect in 2027.
AB 1043 requires operating systems — the software that powers phones, tablets, and computers — to request an age or birthday during setup. Then, it creates an age bracket signal (not your exact age, but a range) on the device, and that signal will be sent to applications, blocking someone if they're underage.
The law, therefore, requires a device-level filter, something that Aylo (Pornhub's parent company) and free speech experts have recommended for years.
"Any solution should be easy to use, privacy-preserving, and consumer-friendly. In most cases, that means the verification is going to happen once, on the device," Stabile said.
Founder and CEO of child safety nonprofit Heat Initiative, Sarah Gardner, told Mashable the same. "Device-level verification is the best way to do age verification because you're limiting the amount of data that you give to the apps. And many of the devices already know the age of the users," she said.
Apple already implements different safeguards at the device level, she explained. The Communication Safety feature, for example, warns children when they receive or send media containing nudity through iMessage and allows them to get help. Apple recently expanded age-appropriate protections to kids aged 13-17, which includes web content filters.
So it's possible for tech giants like Apple to implement this (and in 2027, they will have to, given the California law).
But AB 1043 doesn't apply to websites, including adult websites. It only applies to device makers and app stores, allowing apps to restrict age.
"Frankly, we want AB 1043 to apply to adult sites," Stabile said. "We want a signal that tells us when someone is a minor. It's the easiest, most effective way to block minors and doesn't force adults to submit to biometrics every time they visit a website."
SEE ALSO: All the states Pornhub is blocked in nowLast month, Pornhub sent Apple, Google, and Microsoft letters urging them to enable device-level age assurance for web platforms. Each of the letters, which were shared with Mashable, mentions AB 1043.
Venzke told Mashable that the ACLU is watching the conversations on device-based verification closely and questioning whether they protect people's privacy.
Will device-level age assurance be adopted more broadly?Whether the tech giants will go for Pornhub's proposal is a different story. Microsoft declined to comment to Mashable, while an Apple spokesperson linked to a Newsroom update regarding the changes to under-18 accounts. The spokesperson also linked to a child online safety white paper that states, "The right place to address the dangers of age-restricted content online is the limited set of websites and apps that host that kind of content."
Regarding the letter, Google told Mashable that it's "committed to protecting kids online, including by developing and deploying new age assurance tools like our Credential Manager API [application programming interface] that can be used by websites. We don't allow adult entertainment apps on Google Play, and certain high-risk services like Aylo will always need to invest in specific tools to meet their own legal and responsibility obligations."
Torney said that a layered approach to age assurance will likely be necessary in many cases, and Common Sense's stance is that the responsibility lies on both sites, like Pornhub and operating systems. "This has been a little bit like hot potato" between the two, he said.
Despite all these efforts, no age assurance method will be 100 percent effective, Torney said. "But if you're operating from a vantage point of wanting to reduce harm, to increase appropriateness, and to increase youth wellbeing, a more robust age assurance system is going to go much farther to keep the majority of teens safe."
The tiny smartphone that somehow does it all is on sale for $85
TL;DR: The NanoPhone is a credit-card-sized smartphone that’s surprisingly practical and undeniably fun — perfect as a quirky tech gift while the limited-time $84.97 offer lasts.
Opens in a new window Credit: NanoPhone NanoPhone $84.97$199.99 Save $115.02 Get Deal
Shopping for someone who loves quirky tech and clever gadgets? Or maybe you’re just craving something delightfully different for yourself. Either way, the NanoPhone might be one of the most unexpectedly fun finds of this holiday season.
At first glance, it looks almost impossible: a fully functional smartphone that’s about the size of a credit card. But NanoPhone isn’t just a novelty — it’s a surprisingly capable mini device that handles calls, texts, apps, video chats, and browsing, all while fitting comfortably in the smallest pockets, bags, or even your palm.
Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!Running on Android 10, this tiny powerhouse supports Dual SIM, 4G connectivity, and Wi-Fi, allowing users to stay connected on the go without relying on bulky devices.
You can scroll Instagram, check WhatsApp, watch YouTube videos, or hop on a quick video call — all from a phone that weighs just 2.8 ounces.
Where NanoPhone really shines is in real-life convenience. It makes an excellent emergency backup phone for travel, festivals, or outdoor adventures where carrying a full-sized smartphone feels unnecessary or risky.
It’s also perfect for parents who want a basic connected device for kids, or for anyone who loves the idea of a secondary phone that doesn’t dominate their pocket or attention.
Despite its miniature build, it includes front and rear cameras for capturing quick moments.
And yes — it’s genuinely fun. The kind of gadget people want to pick up, inspect, and immediately say, “Wait, this is real?”
The NanoPhone is available for just $84.97 (MSRP: $199.99), marking a 57% discount with free shipping — but only until Dec. 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
100 Nights of Hero review: A magnificent queer feminist fairy tale
In order to expose the patriarchy for the absurd and dangerous pantomime it is, Julia Jackman literally makes it one in 100 Nights of Hero. Based on Isabel Greenberg's graphic novel, the Bonus Track director's second feature is a playful, strange, and visually magnificent take on the preposterousness of not-so-medieval attitudes toward women and the courage it takes to demand more.
A hyper-coloured, queer, feminist fairy tale, 100 Nights of Hero draws from history through a fantastical lens. You'll recognise the marks of the age of witchcraft persecutions and the long, continuing history of men's institutional power over women and their bodies. They're real, topical elements — they just happen to be drenched in magenta lighting, meticulous production design, and sumptuous costumes.
SEE ALSO: 'Erupcja' review: Is Charli XCX charting her path to movie stardom?With touches of commedia dell'arte, sparkling performances from Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, and Nicholas Galitzine, and a hype-worthy appearance by Charli xcx, 100 Nights of Hero is one of the screen jewels of the year.
What is 100 Nights of Hero about? Maika Monroe and Emma Corrin as Cherry and Hero. Credit: BFI London Film FestivalA pastiche of historical periods that leans on the medieval, 100 Nights of Hero is set in an empire where the political context feels uncomfortably modern at times. Framed with Wes Anderson-worthy symmetrical shots and surreal starburst lenses by cinematographer Xenia Patricia, the film instantly feels like a fable, with stunning visual effects by Paul Rice and razor-sharp editing by Amélie Labrèche and Oona Flaherty.
Through captivating narration from Train Dreams' Felicity Jones over Oliver Coates' dreamy score, we learn the creation myth of Kiddo (Anemone's Safia Oakley-Green). Alas, the misogynist Bird Man (an always flawless Richard E. Grant) ruins Kiddo's joyful realm with rules, parameters enforced by future Beak Brothers, a league of chauvinists who honor their forefather with formidable bird masks. "So wishes Bird Man," they decree, upholding their ancestor's requirements of the ideal wife as "beautiful, obedient, good at chess and falconry." Thanks to the impeccable work of Rice and production designer Sofia Sacomani, majestic stained glass windows honour men and warn of sinful women — fertile, quiet, obedient women are venerated; all other forms of womanhood (including desires outside the heteronormative) are condemned.
Featured Video For You NYCC Recap, Good Boy's Oscar Plea, and Best Book Adaptations from BFI LFFIn this persecutory climate, we meet one of our protagonists, Cherry (Longlegs star Maika Monroe), a noblewoman whose arranged marriage to nobleman Jerome (Limbo's Amir El-Masry) has not been consummated. That would fly in a realm where producing an heir wasn’t the stuff of all-male council meeting agendas, but here the pair is given a rather one-sided ultimatum: Conceive in 100 nights or Cherry will face the executioner's block. Jerome? He's off the hook, couldn't be his fault.
Alas, Cherry waits unsatisfied for a glimmer of passion each night, the couple's castle bedrooms kept separate, her desire buried beneath pious white finery. Despite the literal deadline facing Cherry, Jerome suddenly decides to go away on business (seriously, now!?), but not before a dastardly bet with roguish lord Manfred (The Idea of You's Nicholas Galitzine) that his friend cannot seduce his wife in his absence. Cherry is doomed in either scenario: Face death for adultery or lack of conception.
Luckily, Cherry has a fierce protector in her maid and "best friend" (for the bigots in the back, I SAID "BEST FRIEND") Hero (Nosferatu and Lady Chatterley's Lover star Emma Corrin), the film's titular co-protagonist, who has more than a few secrets hidden away in the floorboards. They're not named Hero for nothing.
100 Nights of Hero is a trove of sparkling performances. Nicholas Galitzine's Manfred insists he's "not like other lords." Credit: BFI London Film FestivalSwathed in the finery of costume designer Susie Coulthard's creations (we'll get to those), the cast of 100 Nights of Hero make for one formidable ensemble.
A walking red flag cloaked in "not like other lords" chicanery, Galitzine's Manfred is the stuff of paperback romance dreams and modern dating nightmares. With aim set for swoon, he's perpetually leaning in doorways, suggestively eating blackberries, strutting through the grounds shirtless and covered in deer blood declaring "LUNCH!" But he's also a narcissistic bastard by every count, who shamelessly damns decorum and flaunts his virility in every scene.
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However, despite the male power swamping every hall, the tale's two heroes are its shining stars. Monroe's Cherry is outwardly a melancholy marble statue, the "paragon of virtue" her husband so describes her as, overwhelmingly finding herself at the mercy of men's decisions. Almost robotic in her movements, Monroe presents a wonderfully absurd idea of pious, decorative womanhood, leaving her only moments of freedom, vulnerability, and burgeoning passion for private scenes with her beloved Hero. And it's these scenes between Monroe and Corrin that prove the most quietly butterfly-inducing of the film.
Corrin plays an outstanding Hero, a twinkle-eyed storyteller and fearless bullshit detector. Clocking Manfred's flagrant attempts to seduce Cherry immediately, Hero fires silent insults with a look while offering Cherry a social escape route: a continually-orated tale of three sisters. Portrayed in dreamy, frost-lit sequences, Hero's Story of the Dancing Stones is a golden thread woven into each scene, as Cherry metaphorically hits the panic button whenever Manfred becomes Too Much. In the tale, we meet three raven-haired sisters (a wonderful Charli xcx, Kerena Jagpal, and Olivia D'Lima) who quite frankly deserve their own movie. They've been "trained for marriage," by their father, but the sisters share a secret talent, one deemed "sinful, wicked, and forbidden for women." Every time Corrin picks up where we left off with the story, I settled further into my chair, the actor's talent for storytelling on full display.
But here, as in the main storyline, there are total champions behind the camera.
100 Nights of Hero is a surreal triumph of design Felicity Jones not only narrates but shows up in this incredible costume. Credit: BFI London Film FestivalRaise a gilded goblet for 100 Nights of Hero production designer Sofia Sacomani, visual effects supervisor Paul Rice, art director Naomi Bailey, costume designer Susie Coulthard, and set decorator Tatyana Jinto Rutherston, for their artistry makes this film shimmer. A cornucopia of neon-hued hallways, remarkable stained glass, absurdly thin dining chairs, and gleaming bird-shaped suits of armour, the film's meticulous design is a total knockout. Every scene looks good enough to eat, each a violaceous stage for Coulthard's resplendent costumes.
A museum-worthy range of precise tailoring and theatrical spins on historical garb, Coulthard's designs inspire jaw drop after jaw drop. She hammers home the preposterous patriarchal roots of the film's all-powerful religious group, the Beak Brothers, adorning them with bird skull masks and deep red cardinal cloaks, and dresses Manfred in the billowing sleeves of a scoundrel.
Though Hero is limited to a maid's uniform, Coulthard elongates their collar and crowns them with a crisp, white hennin, an outfit that makes Corrin's character both practical and otherworldly. However, the most marvellous outfits are worn by Cherry, embodying her ornamental social role. Exaggerated leg of mutton sleeves, puffed and quilted off-shoulder drapery, delicate lace collars, and feathered neckpieces make up Coulthard's parade of ornate looks for Cherry, with Monroe exuding woe and constraint in each piece — an elegantly boned wooden girdle speaks volumes that Cherry cannot.
At its whimsical heart, 100 Nights of Hero is a story of women's courage and resilience, of pursuing knowledge and passion beyond the perilously high fences of patriarchy. It's a dazzling world of suppressed queer identity and desire, of male bravado and paranoia, and of the power of storytelling itself. Jackman has crafted us a topical treat, finely dressed in splendour and social commentary. It's nothing short of heroic.
100 Nights of Hero was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival. The film is out in select U.S. cinemas from Dec. 5, with a UK release set for Jan. 2026.
The Secret Agent review: Kleber Mendonça Filhos political crime thriller is a must-see
Aquarius and Bacurau director Kleber Mendonça Filho's The Secret Agent weaves a complex, time-jumping political crime thriller, focusing on one man's experience of persecution.
Mainly set in the late '70s in the Brazilian writer/director's hometown of Recife, Pernambuco, but moving fluidly between the past and present, the film predominantly takes place in the tumultuous years of Brazil's military dictatorship. It's a heavy topic explored with humanity, boasting such a compelling script, impeccable acting, and striking 1970s aesthetic that it's impossible to look away.
SEE ALSO: Alex Garland and Wagner Moura on creating an anti-war war film with 'Civil War'In the lead, Narcos and Civil War star Wagner Moura gives a tremendously interior performance as a man justifiably paranoid in his mission to escape his country's authoritarian regime. There's a reason Moura took Best Actor at Cannes, with Mendonça Filho snatching Best Director; The Secret Agent sees both dive headfirst into the complexities of rampant corruption and desperately searching for a way out.
The Secret Agent flicks between past and present to craft a complex narrative. Wagner Moura in "The Secret Agent." Credit: Victor JucaOver three acts superbly edited by Eduardo Serrano and Matheus Farias, Mendonça Filho's film runs on multiple timelines in the past and present. In 1977, we meet Armando (Moura), who's going by the alias Marcelo, a man newly arrived in a residential complex in Recife during the annual Carnival period. A small Kodak box fits all of his possessions, and he gives little away about himself. The apartments are run by vigilant matriarch Dona Sebastiana (Tânia Maria), and Armando is welcomed with open arms. Among omnipresent Carnival celebrations, Armando is warmly introduced by his septuagenarian guardian to his neighbours. They're also political refugees, though not all enjoy using the term. There's Thereza Vitória (Isabél Zuaa), who has fled the Angolan Civil War with her partner; there's single mother Claudia (Hermila Guedes) whose past beyond her dental profession remains her own mystery to bear. Many live under threat of death, like our protagonist.
Meanwhile, corruption runs rife through the city streets, as do careening cop vans full of crooked officials, hooting, hollering, and unabashedly lawless. The most prominent in The Secret Agent is police chief Euclides (Robério Diógenes) and his bodyguard-like sons Arlindo (Ítalo Martins) and Sergio (Igor de Araújo), who enter the story by being pulled out of Carnival when a man's severed leg is found in a dead shark — and this is by no means the limit of the violence ahead in The Secret Agent.
Featured Video For You Alex Garland and Wagner Moura on creating an anti-war war film with 'Civil War'Slowly, the film reveals the seriousness of Armando's situation: he's a widowed university professor, specialising in electrical engineering, who is fleeing persecution amid the country's military dictatorship. In his past, standing up to corporate greed and corrupt government bureaucracy has left him vulnerable and robbed him of his beloved wife Fátima (New Bandits' Alice Carvalho). Getting out is no easy feat, as corruption, surveillance, and sinister men orbit Armando at every turn — including two unnervingly unflappable hitmen, Bobbi (Ferrari's Gabriel Leone) and his stepfather Augusto (Roney Villela), on his trail.
As well as Dona Sebastiana, others work under the radar to help those persecuted escape the country, such as Elza (Vermelho Monet's Maria Fernanda Cândido), who offers a form of witness protection, promising passports in a few days. A placement within the city's Identification Institute is Armando's best chance of finding physical proof of his mother's identity before he leaves Brazil with his young son, who lives with his grandparents.
In the present, two young investigators in São Paulo listen to cassettes of recorded conversations from Armando's time, and we're left wondering where exactly their research is leading. Here, and through Mendonça Filho's use of archival photographs, the film becomes a fictional artifact in itself, a story worthy of study and examination. But it's the lived-in performances by the actors themselves that bring this unstable historical period to life, with Moura out front.
Wagner Moura gives a tremendous performance in The Secret Agent.Tasked with multiple roles across time periods, Moura earns every inch of his Cannes Best Actor award in The Secret Agent. The role was specifically written by Mendonça Filho for him, after all. A classic hero brave enough to challenge powerful, corrupt entities while rightly fearing for his life and his family, Armando predominantly internalises the level of serious threat constantly weighing on him. Moura's subtlety and frustration imbues our protagonist with a deeply human valiance, one that makes us as viewers want to protect him at all costs.
Embodying a true ensemble affair, The Secret Agent sees Moura surrounded by bold, outlandish performances, all the way from iconic German actor Udo Kier as expat tailor Hans to Greta star Diógenes as the city's corrupt chief of police. Notably, Armando finds sanctuary with his father-in-law Sr. Alexandre (a wonderful performance by Bacurau's Carlos Francisco) who owns the local Cinema São Luiz, showing Brazilian films alongside American horror films like Jaws and The Omen that cause outright hysteria in audiences. Here, and through Evgenia Alexandrova's exquisite cinematography, you can feel Mendonça Filho's reverence for cinema as a filmmaker, critic, and curator — and its importance in turbulent times. In fact, The Secret Agent is a perfect pairing with the director's 2023 documentary Pictures of Ghosts (Retratos Fantasmas), which traces cinema in his hometown of Recife.
The Secret Agent runs on a striking '70s aesthetic. Ítalo Martins, Robério Diógenes, Wagner Moura, and Igor de Araújo in "The Secret Agent." Credit: Victor JucaDespite the paranoia and corruption that pervades the narrative, Mendonça Filho's film is a stunning '70s affair. Shot in anamorphic Panavision, it's nothing short of a feast for the eyes (before it's not). Each scene comes awash with the decade's signature oranges, browns, and yellows, with production designer Thales Junqueira's meticulous work on full display. Architect Chu Ming Silveira's iconic, egg-shaped, yellow public phone booths known as Orelhões (or "Big Ears") form a vital part of both the storyline and city landscape, while costume designer Rita Azevedo finds glorious authenticity in period-specific outfits.
Despite the political upheaval on the ground, Mendonça Filho also reverently and accurately captures the visuals of Recife, with Armando taking in gorgeous cityscapes from the Cinema São Luiz projection room, bathed in sunlight, and the street scenes often focusing on the members of the community caught up in the chaos. There's also a little magical realism thrown in for unexpected measure, and composers Mateus Alves and Tomaz Alves Souza pull everything together with an immersive, atmospheric score.
Ultimately, Mendonça Filho's film explores a time of political corruption, violence, and warranted paranoia through a human lens, with the director saying in a press statement, "The challenge was to make a film about the logic of that time without ticking all the boxes of the dictatorship movie." With Moura's powerful performance framed by a reverent, authentic aesthetic, The Secret Agent is a deeply humanised look at a historical moment of authoritarianism and government corruption. It's a must-see.
UPDATE: Nov. 20, 2025, 6:14 p.m. EST "The Secret Agent" was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival. This article was originally published on Oct. 11, 2025.
The Secret Agent hits cinemas in New York on Nov. 26 and Los Angeles Dec. 5, with nationwide release to follow. The film will be released in the UK and Ireland Feb. 20, 2026.
Jay Kelly review: George Clooney charms in showbiz comedy about how stars arent just like us
George Clooney delivers one of the best comedic performances of his career in Jay Kelly. As a long-time devotee of his Coen Bros' comedy O Brother, Where Art Thou?, I don't say that lightly. However, Noah Baumbach has created a role that feels tailored to Clooney's particular brand of star power. And Clooney struts, takes pratfalls, and soars with grace, goofiness, and pathos.
Clooney has built a career on his ability to pivot from swaggering dreamboat (Out of Sight, Ocean's Eleven through Thirteen) to rugged action star (From Dusk Till Dawn, The Peacemaker, Three Kings) to arrogant buffoon (O Brother, Burn After Reading, Hail, Caesar!). In Jay Kelly, he does all three. But more than that, he does all three to interrogate what it means to be a movie star. When you're a public figure known for playing larger-than-life action heroes, what's reality to you? Who are you to your family and friends when your career is dependent on presentation, and you're more focused on that than parenting or loyalty?
Directed and co-written by Baumbach, who previously channeled his own life into the explosive divorce drama Marriage Story, Jay Kelly is more cutting than its bouncy name and beguiling leading man might suggest. With a supporting cast that includes Adam Sandler, Laura Dern, Billy Crudup, Patrick Wilson, Riley Keough, and Jay Kelly co-writer Emily Mortimer, this showbiz comedy brilliantly displays the highs and lows of working in movies, without losing sight of exactly how high those highs are.
Far from a woe-is-me movie, Jay Kelly is a shrewdly winsome affair that shows many of the ways stars aren't just like us — and several crucial ways they are.
Jay Kelly is all about that work-life balance, puppy.For decades, Jay Kelly (Clooney) has been a star, collecting fans, building his filmography, growing his entourage, and even having a couple of daughters and ex-wives along the way. You might think that with all the success and wealth he's attained, he'd welcome some time away from the sets and shooting schedules. But what would he do with that?
Let alone, Jay must face that he's estranged from his eldest, Jessica (Keough), while his college-bound youngest, Daisy (Grace Edwards), is eager to bounce from his house to be on her own. He has no wife. His friends — including his manager, Ron (Sandler), and his publicist, Liz (Dern) — are all on his payroll. So when a run-in with an old friend (Crudup) sends him into an identity crisis, Jay joyously bullies his whole entourage into an impromptu trip across Europe, starting in Paris and ending up in an Italian film festival, where he'll get a lifetime achievement honor.
Along the way, he'll encounter awestruck fans, ride in transit that has no first class, and be forced to look back on his life, whether he likes it or not.
George Clooney is absolutely excellent as Jay Kelly.The film begins onset, with Jay playing out a death scene that naturally involves a mournful monologue, a fatal gunshot wound, and an adorable dog actor. Immediately, Mortimer and Baumbach gives us a taste of Jay's talent, onscreen and off. As soon as the camera cuts, he's quick to glad-hand and cheer individual members of the crew by name, and they all light up as he looks at them. He's that kind of star.
Back home; however, he's a doofy dad to Daisy, who eye rolls as he whines he's lonely. "You're never alone," she chides as his security guard hands him a fresh, icy beverage.
Even in accepting the glass, Clooney has a keen sense of comedic timing. He's long been brilliant at playing the dope. Here, he plays a man who's never been deep, but who has been able to fake it onscreen. So, when he's actually having this crisis of self-reflection, he throws himself into action — including being involved in a chaotic and comedic chase scene. However, nothing in this movie will unfold like the movies. Jay's sweeping gestures, carried off with Clooney's booming charisma, fall flat to those closest to him because they are all show, no substance. And in this, he's forced to face how he pursued his work — which is very image-oriented — over his family and friends, failing to foster deep bonds. And he's not alone in this.
Adam Sandler and Laura Dern are shockingly well-matched in Jay Kelly.Having to wrangle Jay like he's a child (or a swarm of cats), Ron and Liz take on near-parental roles as they prep everything to guide and protect him. Where Ron's the gentle father, always cajoling and calling Jay by the loving nickname "puppy," Liz is the tough-love mom, forced to be frank because someone has got to be when the tabloids are circling. Far from archetypes, however, these characters exhibit complexity in scenes beyond their interactions with Jay.
As the trip through Europe goes increasingly off the rails, Jay's entourage sheds one member after another as they make choices that aren't him — a bigger client, a sick dog, a child back home, and so on. There's a sense of a party coming to a close, and a question about who will be the last one standing.
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Dern vibrates with frustration at every bump in the road, while Sandler is her foil, ever jovial, maybe even delusionally optimistic. They're a comedic duo who bounce off each other with an ardent emotional understanding. For all Academy Award winner Dern's drama chops, Emmy nominee Sandler's able to keep pace in a role that could get him some Best Supporting nominations. Imagine Uncut Gems with the intensity turned down and the facade of jolly calm cranked way up. Ron is a man desperate to make everything OK, even to the point where he himself is deeply not. And in that, Baumbach grows comedy and agony. Dern is the cherry on top, giving a cool sense of regret that lingers even after her character has gone.
Jay Kelly is a showbiz comedy with heart.Incredibly, Jay Kelly becomes an odd love letter to the industry, one that recognizes its warts and still declares devotion. Through this story, Baumbach explores how everyone involved, from movie stars to make-up artists and security guards, struggles to draw the line between their professional and personal lives. Sure, you love your family, but what if you love your job and the people who are a part of it? The line gets blurrier and blurrier. And what kind of life does that build?
The answer Jay Kelly gives is unexpected and heartwarming rather than pat and sentimental. Clooney, Sandler, and Baumbach come to a conclusion that is both deeply Hollywood and yet sincere. In the end, Jay Kelly is a clever crowd-pleaser, guaranteed to amuse and make you think.
Jay Kelly was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival and is now streaming on Netflix.
NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 5, 2025
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know your Joes.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Game locations
Green: National teams
Blue: Teammates
Purple: Different names, same sport
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: 2026 World Cup host cities
Green: Countries qualified for their first World Cup in 2026
Blue: English men's soccer players
Purple:" The beautiful game, in different countries
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: Sports Edition #438 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?2026 World Cup host cities - ATLANTA, EAST RUTHERFORD, MEXICO CITY, TORONTO
Countries qualified for their first World Cup in 2026 - CAPE VERDE, CURAÇAO, JORDAN, UZBEKISTAN
English men's soccer players - FODEN, KANE, RICE, SAKA
The beautiful game, in different countries - CALCIO, FOOTBALL, FÚTBOL, SOCCER
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.
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 the latest Connections.
NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for December 5, 2025
The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.
With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.
So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT gameHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Dec. 5, 2025:
AcrossBeaver's building projectThe answer is Dam.
The answer is Mile.
The answer is Seven.
The answer is Imax.
The answer is Xes.
The answer is Divas
The answer is Alex.
The answer is Men.
The answer is Meme.
The answer is Six.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.
The 7 best e-readers to buy: Testing Kindles, Kobos, iPads, and more
So, what is the best e-reader for 2025? I'm regularly testing new e-readers (and tablets) and cycling through different models to stay up to date on the best options available. So, if you're gearing up to read more books this summer or fall, I can recommend a model you'll love.
Featured Video For You Other e-readers we've tested From left to right: Kindle Paperwhite, Nook GlowLight 4 Plus, Kindle Scribe Credit: Samantha Mangino / MashableMost recently, we've tested the Remarkable PaperPro and Onyx Boox Go 7 as contenders for this list. After several weeks of testing, both devices proved to be pretty good but not quite list-worthy.
Whenever you search for e-readers, Remarkable's tablets will always pop up in the search results, but unfortunately, it's hard to obtain ePUB files on the Remarkable. With Remarkable, you can access files within Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive. If you have any locked ePUB files — like from Libby — you won't be able to access them on a Remarkable tablet. So, after testing the Remarkable tablet myself, it proved to be a better document reader or digital journal than an e-reader.
The Onyx Boox Go 7 is a better e-reader option than the Remarkable. It's the same size as the Kobo Libra or Amazon Kindle, but it really lags on processing speed. To read ePUB files from Libby required downloading the Adobe Digital Editions app onto the Boox Go 7, and there was so much lag while opening and closing the app. While it was an easier process than getting library books on a Nook, it was still a major pain compared to Kindle or Kobo's integrations. The Boox Go 7 lagged and took ages to load files. I was most looking forward to testing this Boox because of its page-turning buttons, but unfortunately, I found that they didn't work on my device.
An e-reader we haven't gotten around to testing is the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, which just debuted on Sept. 30, 2025. As of Nov. 2025, it's not available for preorder yet, but once we get a model to test, we'll update this guide with our recommendations.
What about the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition?If you're familiar with the Kindle lineup, it may come as a surprise that the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition isn't on this list. Don't get me wrong, it's great, but I think there are better options. The Signature Edition is an upgraded version of the Paperwhite, and we've compared the devices head-to-head. The short version? The Paperwhite is a better value, even with the SE's added features like auto-adjusting brightness and 32GB of storage.
If you are prepared to spend $200 on an e-reader, though, I say skip the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition and go for the Kobo Libra Colour.
Where's the Nook on this list?In terms of big-name e-readers, you might notice one omission from this list: the Barnes & Noble Nook. I have tested this e-reader, and it was previously featured on this list. However, after testing more devices, it no longer makes the cut. In comparison to any of the Kindles or the Kobo Libra, the Nook has sloth-like performance, making it frustrating to use.
Plus, getting my library books onto the Nook was a nightmare, as it was a multi-step process that required downloading to a computer before uploading to a Nook. Its only redeeming quality was the buttons on either side of the device, which made page turning a breeze. However, unless you are a loyal buyer of Barnes & Noble books, I recommend steering clear of the Nook.
Where to get e-reader books for freeOnce you get an e-reader, it's time to fill it up with books, and that doesn't necessarily mean spending money. In fact, you can load up your e-reader without spending a dime; you just need to be a bit resourceful.
The best way to read nearly any book — a classic or hot new release — is with Libby. I have read hundreds of free books with the Libby app — I wouldn't have been able to test for this guide without it. It connects with your library card, allowing you to borrow from your local library's digital collection. Plus, both Kobo and Kindle have exceptional Libby integrations.
Another way to build your library is through Stuff Your Kindle Day events. These are 24-hour opportunities led by authors that make books discounted or free.
If you're a fan of the classics or looking to discover a treasure lost to time, an online resource like Project Gutenberg has more than 75,000 books in the public domain that you can download and read on an e-reader.
Yep, Cloudflare died again. Heres what happened.
Cloudflare is down again, and the internet is affected — but unlike last time, this outage seems to have been quickly fixed.
Users started reporting issues with Cloudflare early on Friday, with Downdetector showing a spike in outage reports for the service (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.)
Let's hope this outage doesn't take half the internet down this time. Credit: MashableCloudflare's own system status dashboard says that the company is investigating "issues with Cloudflare Dashboard and related APIs." A fix has already been implemented, Cloudflare says.
The outage seems to have affected numerous online sites and services, including Fortnite, Doordash, Shopify, Claude, League of Legends, Zoom, and others.
A few weeks ago, a massive Cloudflare outage, caused by an error in the system that (ironically) protects websites from DDoS attacks, took out numerous popular internet sites and services. Company CEO Matthew Prince called it the worst outage that Cloudflare has experienced since 2019.
Update: Amazon comms reached out to Mashable saying that AWS is not down, and has been operating normally. Amazon's own status dashboard confirms this, listing no current issues. We've originally included AWS in the list of services that experienced an outage based on a spike in reports about an AWS outage on Downdetector, which you can see here.
Developing...
Discord Checkpoint is like Spotify Wrapped for your gaming habits. Heres how to see yours.
Discord has released its first personalised end-of-year wrap up, cataloguing just how many hours you spent chatting with friends this year. Called Discord Checkpoint, it's basically like Spotify Wrapped for your gaming habits.
SEE ALSO: Discord launches new safety features following lawsuits What is Discord Checkpoint?Rolling out from Dec. 4, Discord Checkpoint is the voice messaging app's first ever year-in-review feature. Discord hasn't committed to making this an annual event going forward, stating that Checkpoint was released to celebrate the app's 10th anniversary this year. However, it has stated that "plans for Checkpoint beyond 2025 are still unfolding."
Discord Checkpoint summarises statistics such as how many hours you've spent in voice chats, which friends you talked to the most, which servers seem to be your favourite, your most-used emojis, and your most frequently played games. (Apparently I played 139 sessions of Dota 2 this year.) Users can directly share their Checkpoints on Discord via a Share button on its final summary page, or screenshot their results to post elsewhere.
The wrap up is available to users who were active on Discord in 2025, and have allowed it to "use data to personalize [their] Discord experience" in the app's data and privacy settings. New users and those who weren't very active won't have a Discord Checkpoint, as they won't have enough statistics to compile.
How to get your Discord CheckpointA pop-up notification directing you to your Discord Checkpoint should automatically appear when you open the app, both on desktop and mobile. You can also access your Discord Checkpoint on your desktop by clicking the flag icon in the top right corner of the Discord app. On mobile, you'll have to tap the You icon on the bottom right first, then select the green Checkpoint banner.
If your Discord Checkpoint isn't showing up, double check that your Discord app is up to date. While the desktop Discord app should automatically update when you restart it, the mobile app may require a manual update via the app store.
Viewing your Discord Checkpoint will grant you a temporary decorative frame for your profile picture. Users will be able to display it until Jan. 15, at which time their Checkpoint will vanish as well. Those who didn't get a Checkpoint can still grab the frame by attempting to view it anyway.
Credit: DiscordDiscord has also released a wrap up of its wrap up, summarising the behaviour of its 200 million monthly active users across the globe. Multiplayer online battle arena League of Legends was the most popular game amongst Discord users despite turning 16 this year, while co-op survival horror R.E.P.O. was the biggest indie game. Discord's most used emoji was the red heart, used 2.18 billion times, followed by the sobbing emoji at 1.71 billion uses.
Pluribus episode 6: What did Carol find in the warehouse?
Pluribus episode 5 left viewers on a cliffhanger bigger than the Others' globe-spanning hive mind.
While investigating the Others' apparent love of milk, Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) discovered that the Others' primary food source was actually an oily amber-colored fluid, made of water and a suspicious white powder. Further detective work took her to a cold-storage warehouse filled with produce and unknown items wrapped in plastic bags. Upon snooping in one of the bags, Carol claps her hand over her mouth — the universal sign for "What the hell have I just witnessed?"
SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' fans, you can now read Carol's 'Bloodsong of Wycaro'Pluribus cut to black before we could get a response to that question, but thankfully, episode 6, titled "HDP," wastes no time in giving us the answer.
It's human bodies.
You might have guessed it, but that doesn't make seeing all the shrink-wrapped corpses any less disturbing. Adding to the horror? The massive meat grinders and cooking vats full of human body parts in the next room of the warehouse.
That's right: Just when you thought the Others couldn't get any scarier, turns out they're cannibals. Carol truly cannot catch a break.
The Others aren't hiding their cannibalism, though. When Carol heads to Las Vegas to tell Mr. Diabaté (Samba Schutte) about her discovery, he reveals he already knows. ("It is troubling," he acknowledges. But not troubling enough to stop LARPing his James Bond casino fantasy with them!)
The Others have prepared a video explanation for Carol, complete with a very special cameo. The video explains that since the Others can't harm or kill any form of life — including plant life — they're having a tough time finding food on Earth to feed all 7,348,292,411 members of the hive mind.
Yes, they can use the food that was already stockpiled by the time they so kindly infected everyone on Earth, but even that's not enough. To get those extra calories, they need to add Human-Derived Protein (HDP) to their diets. Each carton of the Others' mysterious liquid contains eight to 12 percent of that sweet, sweet HDP. Don't worry, they're not actually killing anyone to get that HDP. They can't! They can, however, harvest the bodies of people dying of natural causes. Following the Joining, which killed hundreds of millions of people, the Others already have quite the human corpse stockpile — and they can't let that go to waste, right?
However, the Others leave a key twist out of their video, one that Mr. Diabaté quickly reveals to Carol. Even with the HDP, the vast majority of the Others will starve to death within ten years. Mr. Diabaté and the other immune survivors want to save them from that fate. ("Maybe tell 'em to pick a fucking apple," Carol points out.) For now, though, Carol's goal remains the same: Reverse the Joining, and get the — confirmed cannibal! — hive mind away from Earth.
Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday
Pluribus episode 6 brings in a wild cameo to explain everything about the Others
If you had "John Cena calmly explains cannibalism" on your 2025 bingo card, congratulations! Pluribus has made all your hyper-specific dreams come true. (Side note: Are you okay?)
That's because Cena makes a cameo in Pluribus' sixth episode, titled "HDP." He plays himself... kind of. This version of Cena isn't really a wrestler or an actor. Instead, he's a member of the global hive mind that's taken over the world. He's lost all individuality, but on the bright side, this means everyone in the hive mind has Cena's memories of filming Peacemaker's opening dance intro, and that's fun, right?
SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' episode 6: What did Carol find in the warehouse?Cena appears in a video message to Carol (Rhea Seehorn) from the Others, bursting into Pluribus in such a surprising manner I wondered if I'd stumbled on an unexpected John Cena meme compilation from 2015. Seriously, I half expected to hear the trumpets from his entrance theme blaring once he started talking.
But there's no time for memes here. Pluribus' Cena has something serious to tell Carol about: cannibalism.
In Cena's video message, he explains why the Others have turned to cannibalism and are mashing human body parts into their little milk cartons. The answer? They need to in order to survive.
See, the Others are unable to harm or kill any form of life, including plants. That means their food sources on Earth are limited. They can use the millions of tons of food that were processed before their arrival, but even that's not enough to curb the caloric deficit facing the billions of members of the hive mind.
SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' episode 6 reveals something huge about the virusThe solution? Adding human corpses to their diet. For the Others, anyone who dies of natural causes becomes part of their food source. Why bury a body and waste all that meat?
Because of this, eight to 12 percent of the liquid in the Others' milk cartons is made up of Human-Derived Protein (HDP). Do the Others really want to eat this? No way, Hive Mind Cena tells Carol. They'll also never force Carol to partake in HDP under any circumstances. Reassuring!
The Others present the cannibalism as efficient and logical, with the video message featuring helpful charts, stock footage, and many, many wipe transitions. (Which member of the hive mind was Cena's video editor? Was it Cena himself, tapping into other members' memories of using iMovie?) But their affable spokesman can't deny the truth: This is monstrous, just like their invasion. The Others may try to treat it like it's just an unfortunate part of life, but the fact remains that they haven't just desecrated human minds by taking them over. Now, they're desecrating bodies, too. All because they can't, as Carol points out, "pick a fucking apple."
As harrowing as the HDP twist is, it's undeniably fun to watch Cena channel the cheery helpfulness of the Others. The line "We're John Cena" alone had me cackling, both because it's funny, and because I was so weirded out that cackling seemed like the best reaction.
With this appearance, Cena joins a crowded landscape of celebrities playing themselves on TV in 2025. Apple TV's own The Studio is crammed with actors and directors poking fun at themselves, while new comedies like Overcompensating, Adults, and I Love LA roped in the likes of Charli XCX, Julia Fox, Quenlin Blackwell, and Elijah Wood to play heightened versions of themselves.
But when it comes to sheer strangeness, you really can't top alien virus hive mind John Cena explaining why drinking processed human body parts from a milk carton isn't just okay, it's necessary. The bar's been set pretty high, so if your next celebrity cameo doesn't feature at least one Soylent Green reference, take it back to the drawing board!
Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday
Design Your AI Strategy for Human Behavior
To successfully implement AI in your organization, you need more than technical specs—you need a behavioral strategy. Here’s how to align AI with how people actually think and work. Design for real users, not ideal ones. Don’t just optimize for seamlessness. Sometimes a little friction leads to better outcomes, like making users slow down and […]
257257Stop waiting for the Steam Deck 2: The Legion Go S is here
Now that the Steam Deck is starting to show its age, gamers are searching for upgraded handhelds that can fill the void of a not-yet-realized "Steam Deck 2." For me, the Legion Go S is that handheld, and it's just generally a great platform for on-the-go PC gaming.
Hurdle hints and answers for December 5, 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 hintThrew.
SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerFLUNG
Hurdle Word 2 hintNoisy.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerROWDY
Hurdle Word 3 hintSilly.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answerGOOFY
Hurdle Word 4 hintTo gag.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 5 Hurdle Word 4 answerCHOKE
Final Hurdle hintJumped.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerLEAPT
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Moon phase today: What the moon will look like on December 5
The moon still looks pretty big and bright in the sky after last night's Full Moon. But now that it's passed, the moon will actually be getting less visible each night as we work through the lunar cycle and approach the New Moon phase. Until then, however, there's plenty to see on the surface, so keep reading to find out what you can spot.
What is today’s moon phase?As of Friday, Dec. 5, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 99% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.
If you're looking up with just your naked eye, there's lots to see, in particular the Humorum Mare, Endymion Crater, and Alphonsus Crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to spy the Alps Mountains, Clavius Crater and the Mare Humorum. And with a telescope, you can catch a glimpse of the Apollo 11 and 12 landing spots.
When is the next full moon?The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.
What are moon phases?NASA explains that the lunar cycle (which is about 29.5 days long) is made up of the Moon’s phases, which describe how the Moon looks from Earth as it travels around us. We view the same side of the Moon at all times, but the sunlight hitting its surface shifts as it moves through its orbit. That changing illumination is what makes the Moon appear full, half-lit, or not visible at all. The cycle includes eight distinct 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.
DJI to U.S. government: Dont ban us, answer us
Is the Trump administration about to be the Grinch that stole sales of most drones just before Christmas?
There's a Dec. 23 deadline looming for DJI, which makes 90 percent of the world's drones, to pass an audit from the U.S. government. Without an audit, U.S. law says DJI will go on the FCC's naughty list — sorry, Covered list — effectively a ban on further U.S. sales.
DJI has long said it is happy to schedule the new U.S. audit; after all, the company has years of independent audits (and a Department of the Interior audit) under its belt. But with no reply from anyone in the Trump administration three weeks before deadline, DJI drones look like they will be left high and dry.
That's why DJI just took the desperate step of sending open letters to Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, FBI boss Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Department of Defense (or is that War?) chief Pete Hegseth — whom they'd written to multiple times privately.
"In September you indicated through written communication the Department's willingness to work with DJI," the letter to Noem says. (Translation: we've got the receipts.) "We stand behind the security of our technology, and are keen to meet with you and ensure that this Congressionally-mandated security review takes place as soon as possible so you can fulfill your commitment."
SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the looming DJI drone ban in the United StatesAdam Welsh, DJI head of global policy, ticked off all the ways DJI drones are safe — flight logs don't go on servers, images and videos aren't backed up to servers unless the user wants, and there's a "local data" mode that cuts all connection between the drone and the internet.
With an eye to outraged consumers — especially farmers who use drone technology — Welsh wrote that a ban "would lead to widespread consumer confusion and deprive American drone users of due process — and of answers about the safety and security of the DJI products they use every day. Failing to undertake the review further goes against Congressional intent for a security review to be completed."
The administration hasn't commented on the open letters yet, but in the past, Hegseth's department has claimed — without evidence — that DJI is a Chinese military company.
