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The Sheep Detectives trailer is shear audacity and Im all in

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:31

As Agatha Christie once wrote, "The impossible could not have happened, therefore the impossible must be possible in spite of appearances." Dear reader, in the trailer for The Sheep Detectives, the impossible jumps right over the fence and into my heart.

Adapted from Leonie Swann's 2005 novel Three Bags Full by Craig Mazin (The Last of Us, Chernobyl) and Minions director Kyle Balda, The Sheep Detectives is a frankly wild tale of mystery and animalian investigative practices, starring Hugh Jackman in full Australian farmer mode. The Sheep Detectives offers up a curious case of exactly that, a flock of sheep whose proud shepherd George (Jackman) reads to them nightly only the best whodunnit novels.

Not physically capable of having the wool pulled over their eyes, these attentive even-toed ungulates have been taking mental notes, because when there's a actual murder on the farm, no Hercule Poirot, Miss Marple, or Benoit Blanc could solve this crime — this is a job for SHEEP DETECTIVES. J'acc-ewes!

The cast (both appearing and voicing sheep) in this "herder mystery" is staggering, with Emma Thompson, Nicholas Braun, Nicholas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston, Chris O’Dowd, Regina Hall, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Brett Goldstein, and Rhys Darby.

The Sheep Detectives opens in cinemas May 8, 2026.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This creator-approved mic just reached its lowest price ever — shop at Amazon and save $90

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:26

SAVE $90: As of Dec. 18, get the DJI Mic Mini for just $79, officially its lowest price ever. Shop now at Amazon and save $90 for 53% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mic Mini $79 at Amazon
$169 Save $90   Get Deal

Got a budding influencer in your life? It might be you, looking to capture life in 4K. Anyone can get started as long as they have a phone, but a microphone levels up the content creation game. It provides clear, vibrant sound whether you're sitting and talking to the camera or on the go. And an influencer favorite mic is on sale now.

As of Dec. 18, the DJI Mic Mini just reached its lowest price ever, beating even its Black Friday discount. At Amazon, find the DJI Mic Mini for just $79, knocking $90 off its $169 list price. That brings the creator-favorite mic to 53% off, and according to Camelcamelcamel, the device's lowest price ever.

The DJI Mic Mini is one of the best mics out there that's specifically geared toward creators. It's compatible with iPhones, Androids, and cameras, so you can attach it to whatever you're recording on. It comes with two lavalier mics that either clip on or magnetically attach to whatever you're wearing. The mics come with a charging case that extends its battery life to 48 hours.

Get the DJI Mic Mini at Amazon now for just $79 and save $90.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Score a pair of Monster Persona headphones for their lowest price yet

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:21

SAVE $110: As of Dec. 18, get the Monster Persona headphones for $49.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $159.99. That's a discount of 69% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Monster Persona headphones $49.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $110   Get Deal

Looking for a new pair of headphones? The usual suspects from brands like Bose, Apple, and Samsung are great options, but have you ever considered Monster? This brand may not be top of mind when it comes to good audio, but there's a pair you should absolutely check out, especially with this significant discount we've found at Amazon.

As of Dec. 18, get the Monster Persona headphones for $49.99 at Amazon, down from their usual price of $159.99. That's a $110 off and discount of 69%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The Sony XM5 headphones now come with free earbuds at Amazon

These wireless Bluetooth headphones offer excellent audio as well as active noise cancellation with three different modes to choose from, including a transparency mode that lets you hear some sound to make sure you're aware of your surroundings. With up to 70 hours of playtime and quick charging, you'll be able to listen for quite some time without having to take off these headphones to charge them and come back, as well.

They connect via Bluetooth, and offer multi-point connectivity so you can swap between two devices or use two at the same time, so you can listen to music and connect to your phone for a call without dropping either one. If you prefer, they also support wired connections via 3.5mm audio adapter built-in.

For the price, the quality and feature set with this discounted pair of headphones really can't be beat. Grab a pair for yourself or as a gift and level up your listening for the new year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Best price ever alert: A 4-pack of Apple AirTags just dropped to under $65

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:17

SAVE $34.02: The Apple AirTag 4-pack is on sale at Amazon for only $64.98, down from the standard price of $99. That's a 34% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags 4-pack $64.98 at Amazon
$99 Save $34.02   Get Deal

If you're a last-minute kind of person and you've held off on holiday purchases, you're gonna be just fine. Black Friday and Cyber Monday were honestly impressive this year with major discounts, but if you didn't score those deals, there are a few return discounts that match those epic low prices. One such item is the modern day necessity of AirTags.

As of Dec. 18, the Apple AirTag 4-pack is on sale at Amazon for only $64.98, down from the standard price of $99. That works out to a savings of $34.02 from a 34% discount. This is the same price we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

For those still shopping for holiday gifts, stocking stuffers, or for anyone traveling in the next few weeks, this is your chance to snag four Apple AirTags. These puppies have becomes the gold standard tracker for those with an iPhone. Thanks to this sale, each AirTag costs just $16.25. That's a great deal considering a single AirTag is on sale at Amazon for $24, down from the list price of $29.

SEE ALSO: Apple's 13-inch M4 MacBook Air is back on sale for just $749 ahead of the holidays

Each AirTag taps into Apple's expansive Find My network so you can easily keep tabs on your most important items like checked luggage, house keys, and pets. If you know your misplaced item is nearby, you can have the AirTag play a sound thanks to the built-in speaker.

For those who still need to shop for gifts, the 4-pack of AirTags is likely to arrive with next-day delivery for Prime Members, depending on your shipping address. That's also great news for anyone traveling within the next week.

If you need more AirTags, today's deal on the four-pack at Amazon is an easy buy. You'll be snagging them for the same low price we saw during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Categories: IT General, Technology

10 mistakes to avoid when setting up a Wi-Fi network

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:00

It only takes a few minutes to set up a safe, secure, and speedy Wi-Fi network. But it's also very easy to make mistakes along the way. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when setting up their home Wi-Fi network, plus some ways to avoid these mistakes.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to find and play Peacock's mobile games

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:00

Peacock has a diverse selection of movies and TV shows, but it also contains another form of media that you might not be aware of: games, playable from the mobile app. So, instead of clicking on the next episode of Law & Order: SVU or Love Island USA, you can play Peacock's games for a quick break.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How I used Android Studio and Antigravity to make my first app

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 15:30

Google recently released its own code editor, Antigravity. Based on Microsoft’s Visual Studio Code, Antigravity brings a lot to the table. I’ve been using it for the past few weeks, and here’s why I think it should be your IDE of choice.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Android's 2025 revolution: 5 game-changing updates

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 15:00

2025 is coming to a close, and it's shaping up to be Android's most pivotal year yet. While many of the updates might seem like surface-level polish, five fundamental shifts are elevating Android from its usual “powerful but rough” reputation to a more premium and polished platform.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Stop using these 5 apps that crash every time Cloudflare goes down

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:30

Cloudflare is used by a huge number of businesses to enhance the performance and security of their sites and services. It offers useful functions such as protecting sites from DDoS attacks and reducing latency. When Cloudflare stops working, however, many users can no longer access those sites and services. With two recent major global outages in recent months, you might want to consider ditching some apps that stop working when Cloudflare goes down.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't throw away your old webcam—here are 5 ways to repurpose it

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:15

If you own an old webcam you no longer use, don't throw it away. The old cammy still has life in it and can continue to be useful in one of the following roles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Sony XM5 headphones now come with free earbuds at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:04

SAVE OVER $200: As of Dec. 17, you can get a free pair of earbuds when you buy the Sony XM5 headphones at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 + Sony WF-C700N $248 at Amazon
$519.98 Save $271.98   Get Deal

If you're looking for a pair of headphones and earbuds, you might be prepared to spend a small fortune. Thankfully, with Amazon's latest Sony bundle, there's no need. When you purchase the Sony XM5 headphones, you'll also get a pair of the WF-C700N noise cancelling earbuds for free.

The Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones are an excellent choice. They use two processors and eight microphones to give impressive noise cancellation and clear call quality. They also benefit from a newly developed driver, along with DSEE Extreme and high-resolution audio support, to help maintain detail across all different types of audio, whether you’re listening to music, podcasts, or taking calls.

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And the earbuds are impressive too, boasting great noise cancellation, balanced sound, and a lightweight, ergonomic design.

This deal won't be around for long. In fact, the listing states it will run out on Dec. 31, so if you want to grab this bargain, don't wait around.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These are all the vehicles destined for extinction in 2026

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:01

The automotive market is changing faster than ever, and 2026 is shaping up to be a breaking point for dozens of familiar vehicles. Shifting consumer demand, stricter emissions regulations, and the industry’s rapid pivot toward electrification are forcing automakers to make hard decisions. As a result, a wide range of cars, trucks, and SUVs are quietly heading toward extinction, even if they still have loyal followings today.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Upgrade your streaming setup with the Fire TV Cube — save $30 at Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 14:00

SAVE $30: As of Dec. 18, the Fire TV Cube is on sale for $109.99 at Amazon. This is a 21% discount off its list price of $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Cube $109.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $30.00   Get Deal

If you're hoping to catch up on some of the best TV shows and films of this year, it's helpful to have a high-quality streaming setup to watch everything on. For those looking to invest in something new, Amazon is offering a discount at the moment on its Fire TV Cube, dropping its price to $109.99.

This saves you $30 off the Fire TV Cube's usual list price of $139.99. Not to mention, if you're looking to gift it this year, Amazon even has a note on the sale page that says it'll arrive before Christmas.

SEE ALSO: The 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025: Find unique gift ideas you'd never think of on your own

Catching up on the best of TV and movies from this year on different streaming services will look good coming from the Fire TV Cube. This device supports 4K Ultra HD resolution alongside Dolby Vision and HDR so you can admire every color and detail on your screen. Streaming quality will come through smoothly as well, since it also supports WiFi 6E.

On top of all that, your ears will get to enjoy every little sound coming through the speakers thanks to the Fire TV Cube's support for Dolby Atmos audio. If it sounds like the upgrade you've been searching for, now is a great time to save on the Fire TV Cube at Amazon.

There are plenty more items like this we think are worth gifting for the holidays. Our roundup of the 65 best tech gifts of the year can point you in the direction of more options we'd recommend grabbing before Christmas.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Magic: The Gathering Commander Masters Play Booster Box is now almost $70 below market value on Amazon

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 13:54

SAVE $68.29: As of Dec. 18, the Magic: The Gathering Commander Master Play Booster Box is $456.49 at Amazon. That's below market value compared to TCGplayer's price of $524.78.

Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering Commander Master Play Booster Box $456.49 at Amazon
$489.70 Save $33.21   Get Deal

If you’re a big fan of playing the Commander format in Magic: The Gathering, this is the set for you.

Commander Masters is the first Masters set created specifically for Commander, featuring iconic reprints alongside cards that were previously exclusive to Commander preconstructed decks. The goal is simple: make ridiculously rare and expensive legacy cards accessible for regular Commander play without having to sell a lung.

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Every booster has the following inside:

  • 15 cards

  • 1 Art Card

  • 1 token/ad card or card from “The List” (a special card from Magic's history—found in 25% of packs)

  • 2–6 cards of rarity Rare or higher (2: 34%; 3: 48%; 4: 15%; 5: 2%; 6:

  • 3–8 Uncommon

  • 4–8 Common

  • 1 Land

  • 1 Traditional Foil card of any rarity

While the set is predominantly made up of reprints, brand-new Commander Masters cards can be found in the preconstructed Commander decks. Each deck includes 10 new cards, for a total of 40 new cards across Eldrazi Unbound, Enduring Enchantments, Planeswalker Party, and Sliver Swarm.

Most valuable Magic: The Gathering Commander Master cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / Wizards of the Coast

The same rules apply here as they usually do. While there’s nothing quite like cracking a pack and pulling your grail, I’ve gone through entire booster boxes without hitting that chase card, and it can get ridiculously expensive very quickly. Take Jeweled Lotus (Textured Foil) as a prime example: the main chase card of the set is currently over $100 cheaper than the price of a booster box. If you’re chasing the top-end cards, buying singles is often the smarter move and can save you a serious amount of money.

Here are the top chase cards in Commander Masters right now, many of which have dipped in value over the past couple of months:

  1. Jeweled Lotus (Textured Foil) #1066
    Near Mint Holofoil: $325
    Market price: $344.78
    Most recent sale: $329.99

  2. The Ur-Dragon (Textured Foil) #1065
    Near Mint Holofoil: $114.99
    Market price: $115.93
    Most recent sale: $111.14

  3. Deflecting Swat (Foil Etched) #532
    Near Mint Holofoil: $102.94
    Market price: $103.43
    Most recent sale: $100

  4. Fierce Guardianship (Foil Etched) #489
    Near Mint Holofoil: $101.99
    Market price: $102.53
    Most recent sale: $102

  5. The Great Henge (Foil Etched) #562
    Near Mint Holofoil: $79.99
    Market price: $84.53
    Most recent sale: $79.99

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't trust Excel's COUNTA function to count non-blank cells—here's a better method

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 13:30

In most counting scenarios in Excel, COUNTBLANK reliably counts blank cells, and COUNTA reliably counts populated cells. However, with these functions comes a problematic paradox: an empty string from a formula is counted as "blank" by COUNTBLANK but as "populated" by COUNTA.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Apples new iOS feature is huge for people with non-Apple smartwatches

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 13:27

Apple's iPhone is a great smartphone, but it's strangely hostile towards people who own smartwatches that aren't called Apple Watch.

While most Bluetooth smartwatches can connect to the iPhone, even the most basic functions aren't supported, including the ability to see iPhone notifications on your watch (on the Apple Watch, of course, this works flawlessly).

Now, this is finally changing, but with a big caveat.

SEE ALSO: The 7 best smartwatches of 2025 include some surprises

The new beta version of iOS, 26.3, brings a new feature called Notification Forwarding. First spied in September, it allows notifications to be forwarded to "one accessory at a time," which can be a third-party smartwatch.

Apple does warn that if Notification Forwarding is turned on, notifications "will not appear on Apple Watch."

If you happen to own an iPhone but want to use any smartwatch that isn't an Apple Watch, such as a sports watch from Suunto or Garmin, or a watch from Google or Samsung, it finally makes some sense to do so. Of course, this still doesn't mean your smartwatch will be able to do everything that Apple Watch can, but at least you get notifications, which is as basic a feature as they come.

The very big caveat is that Notification Forwarding only works in the 27 countries of the European Union, where the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is forcing Apple to add the feature. That means you'll need to be in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, or Sweden.

Featured Video For You Pixel Watch 4 deep dive: what really matters when making your pick

Apple isn't very happy about it — the company says it's a privacy problem, as it reveals notification content to third-party companies – but we still think some users might benefit from it.

The feature can be enabled in Settings - Notifications - Notification Forwarding. It will only be there if you have the iOS 26.3 beta installed and are located in the European Union.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This USB gadget will pay for itself by the new year

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 13:00

I’ve been a bit late with the Christmas decorations this year, and that’s partly because I’ve been waiting for something to arrive in the mail. Rather than spending a fortune on AA batteries to power my favorite Christmas lights, I’m switching to a battery eliminator this year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Rams vs. Seahawks in the NFL online for free

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 12:48

TL;DR: Live stream Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Thursday Night Football has rolled around again, this time with a game to decide the top spot of NFC West — the Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks. Both franchises are at 11-3 though Seattle, who have the home advantage, are on a more impressive streak of four wins vs. Los Angeles' two-game streak. Los Angeles, however, scored a narrow win at their last meeting in November.

Just to add some intrigue, the Rams and Seahawks are tied for all-time games at 28-28. Whatever happens, these are two of the very best teams of the 2025 season and it should be a hell of a game.

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

When is Rams vs. Seahawks?

Los Angeles Rams vs. Seattle Seahawks takes place at 8.15 p.m. ET on Dec. 18. This fixture will be played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

How to watch Rams vs. Seahawks for free

Rams vs. Seahawks in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

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

Access free live streams of the NFL 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 a location with free coverage of the NFL

  4. Register with 7Plus

  5. Watch the NFL for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming do require a subscription, but the leading VPN services also offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these deals to get access to live streams of the NFL without committing any cash in the long run. This is obviously a short-term fix, but it will give you time to watch Rams vs. Seahawks and other NFL fixtures before you reclaim any upfront investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 — a saving of 49% — which includes a bonus three months usage at no extra cost. This plan also includes a year of unlimited cloud backup and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (also with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

A beginner's introduction to Bash parameter expansions

How-To Geek - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 12:30

Have you ever stared at a large directory of file names and dreaded the idea of renaming them all? Or perhaps your scripts are littered with conditional statements checking to see if an environment variable exists. Bash provides a concise syntax for changing strings that makes life easier. They're called parameter expansions, and I'll show you how to use them.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Duffer Brothers use Stranger Things Funko dolls to hint at how the show ends

Mashable - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 12:27

The Duffer Brothers were never going to drop any major Stranger Things spoilers during their appearance on The Tonight Show, but they may have given us a hint or two.

In the clip above the twins arrange Stranger Things Funko dolls on Jimmy Fallon's desk, supposedly in a pattern that points to how it's all going to end.

SEE ALSO: Finn Wolfhard teases the final 4 'Stranger Things' episodes with a word each

The key takeaways? Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is submerged in water, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) is teetering right on the edge (he eventually gets knocked off), and Will (Noah Schnapp) is stacked between Henry and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Intriguing! (Although it could also be a complete red herring).

Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. Volume 2 premieres Dec. 25, and the series finale premieres Dec. 31, both at 8 p.m. ET.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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