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Apple's rumored "anniversary iPhone" might not have an uninterrupted display after all.

The "iPhone 20" is allegedly slated to launch in 2027, with Apple skipping the iPhone 19 altogether to mark the iPhone's 20th birthday. Old rumors claimed that this will be the first iPhone with a completely uninterrupted display, with no bezels, no camera cutouts, just a perfect slab of glass on the front.

Now, leaker Digital Chat Station, in a sort of Q&A session underneath a Weibo post on iPhone 18, said that the display on the anniversary iPhone will definitely have holes.

This isn't new. We've heard it from Digital Chat Station and Ice Universe before, and by now, we mostly expect the anniversary iPhone to have a new type of bezel-less, "quad-curved" display but with a small dynamic island on top.

But the rumor is worth revisiting in light of iPhone Duo, which actually already has a fully uninterrupted inner display, with the FaceTime camera hidden underneath it. Having tested the iPhone Duo, I can say that having such a display is pretty great. But it comes with two major caveats: There's no Face ID (the iPhone Duo instead has a Touch ID on the side), and the FaceTime camera has low, 4-megapixel resolution and cannot take great selfies.

While it's possible (indeed, probable) that Apple is already working on upgrading that camera, it's hard to imagine the company making it as good as the "regular" selfie camera on its recent phones. It just doesn't seem likely that Apple could achieve such a drastic leap by next year; not to mention the separate issue of hiding Face ID sensors under the display as well.

SEE ALSO: Apple Q4 2026 earnings call: CEO John Ternus addresses iPhone Duo availability and increasing prices

In his post, Digital Chat Station also addressed the iPhone 18e, iPhone 18, and iPhone Air 2, which he says are coming in the first half of next year.

The iPhone 18 will reportedly have a 6.3-inch 1.5K 120Hz OLED display with a Dynamic Island, Apple's 2nm A20 chip, Face ID, a dual 48-megapixel camera setup, and a larger battery. Unfortunately, the price of the phone will also increase, though we don't know by how much.

Starbucks announced plans for its holiday merch weeks ago. That was a blessing and a curse. It's good to get an insight into what's to come, but the wait is painful. We want that Bearista merch without delay.

We've all had to be incredibly patient, but the wait is over: Starbucks is launching the first wave of its holiday merch from Nov. 5.

Credit: Starbucks

The lineup spans seven core drinkware and lifestyle items priced between $14.95 and $29.95. And in a major brand win for Mashable readers, it includes a limited-edition 24-ounce Owala FreeSip bottle for under $20 (we know you absolutely love these viral bottles).

Starbucks could print some standard red-and-green stripes on generic plastic cups and sell out by the early hours of launch day. Fortunately, they've gone incredibly hard with this initial drop. This year’s capsule features genuine design standouts that work surprisingly well for home offices and seasonal gifting:

• Owala Bearista FreeSip ($19.95): The undisputed hero of the entire drop, and something we expect to sell out quickly. Why? A standard 24-ounce Owala FreeSip retails for somewhere between $25 and $30 at Amazon, so scoring an official co-branded Starbucks edition for $19.95 is a wild promo.

• Bearista Bow Tumbler ($29.95): An insulated stainless-steel travel cup crowned with a sculpted dimensional gift bow lid.

• Double-Wall Bearista Glass Mug ($16.95): Clear borosilicate glass with an insulated interior silhouette.

• Bearista Espresso Mug and Snowglobe Gift Set ($22.95): A bundle that includes a miniature espresso demitasse cup and a matching Bearista desktop snow globe.

• Bearista Holiday Ceramic Mug ($19.95): A classic mug featuring the mascot dressed in winter gear.

• Glass Bearista Ornament ($16.95): A miniature glass ornament modeled after the iconic Glass Bearista Cold Cup.

• Plush Bag Charm ($14.95): A mini plush Bearista donning the signature Starbucks green apron.

Credit: Starbucks

This Nov. 5 drop is substantial, but Starbucks is holding back the Glass Bearista Cold Cup (Surprise Box Edition) until Nov. 10. That's followed by the Red Cup Day free reusable cup giveaway on Nov. 17.

There's a lot to come from Starbucks this season.

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.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

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

Go get it!

Hurdle Word 1 answer

FETCH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

There's a possibility.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 5, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

MIGHT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Bring it down.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 5, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Nov. 4, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

LOWER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Vapor.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

STEAM

Final Hurdle hint

Growl.

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

GRUNT

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

The Moon is now approaching the end of its current lunar cycle, with less than 20% of its surface illuminated. This puts it near the end of the Waning Crescent phase, when just a thin sliver of the Moon remains visible before the New Moon.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Friday, Nov. 5, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waning Crescent phase, with 16% of its surface visible.

Tonight, without the use of visual aids you should be able to spot the Aristarchus Plateau and that's all. With binoculars or a telescope, you'll be able to see this and the Grimaldi Basin.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on November 24.

What are Moon phases?

It takes the Moon around 29.5 days to pass through a complete lunar cycle. As it travels around Earth, the angle at which sunlight reaches its surface changes what we can see from here, producing the different phases, from the New Moon through to the Full Moon and back again. The cycle then starts over, as explained by NASA.

The eight phases are:

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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for college basketball fans.

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. The sports 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 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 before 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 categories

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

• Yellow: Coming soon

• Green: Minor leagues

• Blue: Related to one player

• Purple: Hockey leaders

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Future Olympic hosts

• Green: Triple-A baseball teams

• Blue: Associated with Nikola Jokić

• Purple: NHL head coaches

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 #773 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Future Olympic hosts: BRISBANE, FRENCH ALPS, LOS ANGELES, UTAH

• Triple-A Baseball Teams: CHIHUAHUAS, MUD HENS, SPACE COWBOYS, TIDES

• Associated with Nikola Jokić: JOKER, MVP, NUGGETS, SERBIA

• NHL head coaches: BRUNETTE, MAURICE, MUSE, ST. LOUIS

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 yesterday's Connections.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 5, 2026 Raindrop meaning

A singular example of precipitation.

Rose meaning

A type of flower that can be a variety of colors.

Whisker meaning

Hairs on the faces of some animals, including cats.

Kitten meaning

An adolescent cat.

Gig meaning

A task or job of varying size.

Pear meaning

A type of fruit.

Spike meaning

To drive something into the ground, like a football.

Wedge meaning

A tool used for a variety of purposes to improve access or leverage.

Run meaning

To move at a rapid pace.

Lotus meaning

A type of flower.

Uvula meaning

A small, teardrop-shaped piece of dangling flesh at the back of the mouth

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Brando meaning

Possibly the last name of a famous actor.

Anemone meaning

A sea creature or a flower.

Speedbag meaning

Gym equipment used by boxers.

Platform meaning

A foundation from which to build or communicate.

Narcissus meaning

A type of flower.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you like shoes.

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

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

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

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

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: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 5, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Shoe-related

• Green: Floral

• Blue: Similar shapes

• Purple: Nearly alcohol

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Kinds of heels

• Green: Flowers

• Blue: Teardrop-shaped things

• Purple: Liquors with last letters changed

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 #1243 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of heels: KITTEN, PLATFORM, SPIKE, WEDGE

• Flowers: ANEMONE, LOTUS, NARCISSUS, ROSE

• Teardrop-shaped things: PEAR, RAINDROP, SPEEDBAG UVULA

• Liquors with last letters changed: BRANDO, GIG, RUN, WHISKER

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you work like wordplay.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 5, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Handle with care

The words are connected by a word.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are parts of expressions that use the word "break."

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Give me a break.

NYT Strands word list for November 5

• Faith

• Ground

• Bread

• Wind

• Dancing

• Give me a break

• Character

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you've ever seen a drought.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 5, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

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

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

What's the best Wordle starting word?

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

What happened to the Wordle archive?

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

Is Wordle getting harder?

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

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Dry.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

No letters appear twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

The Wordle answer today is...

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

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PARCH

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

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

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Wordle.

ChatGPT will now allow users to make GIFs from text prompts or uploaded images. The new feature is powered by Images 2.6, OpenAI's latest AI image generation model, unveiled on Wednesday.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI is making a major change to ChatGPT interface

Rolling out globally to ChatGPT and coding tool Codex today, Images 2.6 enables users to either describe the GIF they would like it to generate or upload an image to be animated. Users can also upload a rough drawing, and have the AI model to generate a more complete version to animate.

Once generated, The Verge reports that ChatGPT's new feature will allow users to adjust the GIF's animation speed, as well as view and edit individual frames. OpenAI stated in a since-deleted X post that users can also have Images 2.6 save their uploaded pictures to be reused as prompts in the future.

Credit: Mashable screenshot: @ChatGPT via X

Significantly, Images 2.6's GIF-generating capability is not an AI video generator. Instead, OpenAI suggested that Images 2.6 can be used to create animated storyboards or to "explore character movement before video production." OpenAI discontinued its AI video generation app Sora earlier this year. The Wall Street Journal reported that it had few users and lost the company approximately $1 million per day.

OpenAI appears to have largely focused its visual AI generation models on still images since then. However, the launch of Images 2.6 suggests it may be flirting with moving pictures once more. Last month, OpenAI launched Intelligent UI, a new ChatGPT feature that allows users to generate interactive visual interfaces.

Credit: OpenAI

According to OpenAI, Images 2.6 also generates images 50 percent faster than its previous model, Images 2.5. Generation is still likely to take a moment, though. The company says that its speed-focused GPT‑Image‑2.6 Flare model can generate an image in about six seconds, provided its quality is set to low. OpenAI's GPT‑Image‑2.6 Flare and GPT‑Image‑2.6 Sunburst models are rolling out in the company's API.

Images 2.6 is available now across all of ChatGPT and Codex's subscription tiers.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Bluetti is making 2026 one of their best years yet. On top of launching the compact Elite 100 mini, the brand new Apex 200 is something special. It's both a powerful model for at-home backup during a storm, and also worth taking on RV trips. And if you're feeling strong, it could be awesome at the campground.

Credit: Bluetti

The Bluetti Apex 200 just launched on Nov. 4, but the brand is already offering a $300 discount that can be combined with an extra 5% off with code MASHABLE5OFF. That brings the price down from the standard $1,399 to a more comfortable $1,044. Keep in mind the sale with additional 5% discount is set to expire on Nov. 18.

Features of the Bluetti Apex 200

In my ranking of the best portable power stations, I mentioned the Bluetti Apex 300 as a great model for whole-home backup. That's still true, but the versatility of the Apex 200 is exception, and that might make it a better option for some homes.

One of the largest differences between the 300 and the new Apex 200 is battery capacity. The Apex 200 has a smaller capacity of 2,560Wh, but that also means it's lightweight, smaller, and easier to carry.

Credit: Bluetti

On top of this, the Apex 200 has more port versatility. It comes with three standard AC ports, two USB-C, two USB-A, and a 30A. Those ports will be ideal during an outage to keep the refrigerator running, lights on, and phones charged up — all from the same power station.

But if you're thinking you might need more power, rest assured the Apex 200 has major expansion ability. You can combine it with up to six B500K expansion batteries to max out at a major 33.28kWh. Keep in mind Bluetti says the Apex 200 with two B500K expansion batteries should keep most homes charged up with essentials for about two to three days.

Credit: Bluetti

Bluetti also made it possible to recharge the Apex 200 giant solar power. It can handle up to 3,000W of solar input. If you're able to capture 3,000W from solar, the Apex 200 can recharge in about 1.7 hours. Of course, you can also go with standard AC recharging, a gas generator, or the car.

How to buy the Bluetti Apex 200

The Bluetti Apex 200 is already available to buy on the Bluetti site. Order before Nov. 19 and use code MASHABLE5OFF to get the power station for $1,044, down from the list price of $1,399. We'll keep an eye on Amazon availability and potential sale prices.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Apex 200 $1,044 at Bluetti
$1,399 Save $355 use code MASHABLE5OFF Get Deal at Bluetti

Microsoft has bloated Windows with so many features, yet I probably don't use half of them. On the one hand, they are of no use. On the other hand, these features take up my PC resources and, even worse, can be a threat to my privacy. Windows' OneDrive Folder Backup is one such feature I recently uncovered.

If you're an Android user, there's a good chance you're reading this in Chrome. It comes preinstalled, and most people don't have a reason to switch. But Chrome for Android actually comes in four flavors, and the other three have specific purposes. You can even run them all together.

Most people print using PLA filament, and some like to use ABS for its strength properties, but you don't hear much about the use of PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified.) Yet, this material has many excellent qualities to recommend it.

With a heavy dose of 2000s nostalgia and a premise that feels like a Total Request Live parody, MP3 has dropped on Dropout, bringing with it a trio of wacky music videos each week. While the show is being touted as Dropout's first scripted show in seven years, Paul F. Tompkins assures fans of the streaming comedy platform that there's still plenty of improv in the mix. 

"We shot it sort of Curb Your Enthusiasm style," said the comedian, who's previously appeared on Dropout shows like Game Changer and Very Important People. He explained that show creators Zach Reino and Jess McKenna gave Tompkins and co-stars Jeremy Culhane, Aparna Nancherla, and Skye Townsend an outline of each episode. "It's like: Here are the scenes. Here's what we want to get to, and then we have so much room to play within that. It's nice to have that. Like, improv is fun, but it is nice to have that sort of safety net underneath you."

In a Zoom interview with Tompkins, Nancherla, and Townsend, Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko learned the origins of MP3's goofy VJs, and how Culhane got kisses from a comedy icon. 

MP3 lets its cast build their characters. 

MP3 centers around an unusual father-son team of former boy band member Dane Cartel (Culhane), who's hosted Music Presentation 3 for years, and his father, MP3 director Thomas Cartel (Tompkins). But recently Thomas has brought in two new co-hosts, the dryly odd Chia (Nancherla), and the ever-chipper Dr. Muse-Tina (Townsend), which is causing on-set tensions and shenanigans.

Townsend (Black Lady Sketch Show) explained how Reino and McKenna allowed her a lot of creative input into Dr. Muse-Tina's look. 

The origin of Dr. Muse-Tina, from her baby bangs to her bleached eyebrows, braces, and beyond. Skye Townsend plays Dr. Muse-Tina in Dropout's new show, "MP3." Credit: Shadae Lamar Smith

"Everybody brought on board was brought on board with trust, and they just let us play," she said of the production. "The name was established and her origin story, that she has lived a life that's unbelievable, but possibly she did everything she said," Townsend explained. 

From there, Townsend offered a look into her vision of the character with a visual aid. "I love to do mood boards," she shared, "And so coming in, I just did a full mood board with, like, a bio and like — what do her teeth look like? Here are three different options for her mouth. Can she get rid of her eyebrows? And if not, can they be bleach blonde?... Then, the first day of work, when we tested hair and makeup, I saw the mood board sitting there. And I was like, 'Oh my God, we're doing it!' They put on the wig and they cut the [baby] bangs, and they just kept getting shorter… I was blown away by the fact that they were like, 'Hey, if this is how you envisioned her, go crazy.'"

But what does Dr. Muse-Tina's big, bold look mean to Townsend? She said, "This is a person where her confidence and her excitement for life, she just wants to rock it. And so I think, like, there was just never too much for this character… It just makes her so chaotic, because she's supposed to be this person who has lived the wildest life ever, and it shows on the aesthetic."

Aparna Nancherla pulled personal inspiration into Chia.  Skye Townsend, Aparna Nancherla, and Jeremy Culhane co-host Dropout's new show, "MP3." Credit: Shadae Lamar Smith

Puchko pointed out that the workman's jumpsuit Nancherla wears in the first episode of MP3 is similar to the one the comedian wore in her Dropout stand-up special, Hopeful Potato. Nancherla confirmed, "A lot of the wardrobe was, like, from my own wardrobe. So, for Chia, [it] was kind of like, where does Aparna end and Chia begin? And there is some overlap, but there's also a lot about Chia that I think is a question mark, and that was kind of fun to explore. Like, I feel like I discovered a lot as we were shooting of, like, who is this person? How did she end up here? I think that was a really fun thing, because that really leans into the improv of it all — just, like, kind of figuring it out as you go."

To that end, when asked what Nancherla makes of Chia describing herself as a "noise professor," the comedian offered, "I think it's someone who is just very completely, like, enamored and at the same time flummoxed by the idea of sound."

Paul F. Tompkins plays against expectations in MP3.  Paul F. Tompkins plays Thomas Cartel in "MP3." Credit: Shadae Lamar Smith

In the first episode of MP3, Thomas Cartel is established as a loving but stern father to a nepo baby ex-boy bander, and a director who makes casting decisions on Hinge dates. His look, which includes a Kangol hat and a soul patch, reads skeevy, but there's more to Thomas than meets the eye. 

"What's interesting to me about this character," Tompkins said, "is that he absolutely looks like the most disgusting person, an overaged club guy who still thinks he's very cool-looking. But there's nothing in his personality that suggests he was in any way problematic. That he was just in a boy band, and that was fun. And then he decided to start a record label, and now it's a TV show, and isn't that fun too? And now his son's doing it. So, he's like this kind of sweet middle-aged dad who looks like a guy you would cross the street from if you saw him walking towards [you]." 

Tompkins reveals how Culhane brought "kisses" into MP3.  Jeremy Culhane plays Dane Cartel in "MP3." Credit: Shadae Lamar Smith

One sign of Thomas' non-toxic masculinity is his unreserved affection for Dane. Sure, the two quarrel on set. But they make up when Dane requests kisses, and Thomas delivers a concentrated flurry on his son's forehead.  

"I gotta say, that got established so early on," Tompkins recalled. "It was one of the first exchanges that Jeremy and I had. He just went 'Kisses,' and I was like, 'Yes, kisses.' And then he leaned forward, and I just I decided, Okay, yes, it's got to be one million rapid-fire kisses on his forehead, and this is something that they do all the time to reset their relationship."

For more on MP3, look for Mashable's full Say More interview with Tompkins, Nancherla, and Townsend on Friday. Plus, we've got an upcoming interview with MP3 creators Zach Reino and Jess McKenna coming your way. 

How to watch: The first episode of MP3 is now streaming on Dropout. New episodes will roll out every two weeks through the season finale on Dec. 2.

As Home Assistant users, we’re spoiled by the project’s clockwork release cycle that sees a new major release arrive every month without fail. But not all updates are built equal, and November 2026 brings a very special community effort into the core release.

Binance is now sharing more information about the major hack that resulted in $6.3 billion being stolen from the crypto exchange last week.

The cryptocurrency company previously called the incident a "security issue" and a third-party research firm traced the crime back to a nefarious North Korean hacking group.

Now, we know more about the security issue from a recent public statement from Binance detailing what happened. What led to more than $6 billion being stolen? Hackers utilized social engineering tactics on a Binance employee by pretending to interview them for a fake job at another company.

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According to Binance, the company had "detected and prevented" dozens of attacks from North Korean actors throughout 2026. One such attack occurred when a Binance engineer downloaded a malicious Homebrew installer while attempting to install a popular AI coding tool they had found through a search engine. While the Binance team prevented this attack from succeeding, the incident revealed the engineer's role and the identities of their colleagues on Binance's wallet infrastructure team to the hackers.

In September, a different Binance engineer was contacted through a job-hunting platform and went through multiple interview rounds for a company that turned out to be nonexistent. After building trust with the engineer, the hacker posing as an employee at the fake company asked the Binance engineer to download an assignment as part of the interview process. This download included malicious code.

SEE ALSO: Binance hack update: How the $6.3 billion crypto hack happened

The hacker took control of the Binance engineer's computer and used it to access the first engineer's system as well as a third Binance employee's computer. Days before Halloween, the attacker accessed the third engineer's computer using credentials stolen from the first engineer to launch the attack that led to the theft of more than $6 billion.

Fake job interview scams have flourished in recent years. This recent Binance hack is just the latest, and perhaps biggest, such incident.

With that said, it is a concerning cybersecurity failure on Binance's end. Hackers were able to steal billions by essentially compromising a single computer by tricking one employee.

In total, $6.34 billion in digital assets were affected. Binance says $2.85 billion in digital assets have been "frozen or intercepted."

Binance has said it will "absorb the financial impact" and reimburse its users for the stolen funds.

Imagine this scenario. You see a movie on Netflix and save it to your My List. One week later, the calendar changes, and the movie you saved is no longer available on Netflix. It's a common problem that many, including myself, have faced.

Nathan Fielder's Elizabeth Holmes documentary has found its next audience, and they have a pretty good excuse for missing a theatrical screening.

A24 says You Can See Everything, directed by Fielder and Lance Oppenheim, is heading to the International Space Station after NASA requested permission to show it there. The orbiting research station is home to astronauts who live and work roughly 250 miles above Earth.

The studio announced the news on social media on Wednesday, Nov. 4, posting an image from the film beneath a cropped email with the subject line "FWD: [EXTERNAL] NASA Request for Private Viewing." The caption? "Request granted. You Can See Everything coming soon to @ISS," A24 wrote. There's no screening date yet, but the astronauts' movie-night options appear to be expanding.

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For anyone still catching up here on Earth, the documentary opened in U.S. theaters on Oct. 16. It begins with Holmes inviting a film crew to follow her during the 34 days before she reported to prison in 2023, then expands into a three-year project. The Theranos founder was convicted of defrauding investors in 2022, after her blood-testing startup's promises unraveled. (Amanda Seyfried played her in Hulu's The Dropout if that rings a bell.)

The film has been a critical and commercial hit, earning over $64 million in North America as of Nov. 4.

SEE ALSO: Why you can't see 'You Can See Everything' (and when that might change)

Now, the film is preparing to reach viewers in orbit, all while audiences in some countries are still waiting for it to reach their local cinema.

"Got it in space before Europe" commented one user on A24's Instagram post, while another added, "Wow so literally sent the movie to space but not to Mexico." Others made a more direct appeal to the studio: "You can literally watch it in space before London, think of the Brits won't youuuuuuu." "and australia still has to wait," wrote a user on X. Another questioned the studio's priorities: "Bro what are you bragging about? You can't even cover 10% of the Earth yet..."

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The announcement also got people pitching Fielder’s next project. One Instagram user referenced The Rehearsal in which "Nathan recreates the moon landing by actually landing on the moon." Considering the logistics of this screening, perhaps A24 could put in a good word.

For everyone still waiting, A24's comments section is open. Its nearest screening, however, may require astronaut training.

TL;DR: Just $49.97 (reg. $249.99) gets you Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus. Offer ends Nov. 8.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
$249.99 Save $200.02   Get Deal

Your spreadsheets may be a recurring responsibility, but it doesn’t have to be a recurring payment. Through Nov. 8, Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows is $49.97 (reg. $249.99) for a lifetime license on one PC.

The suite includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access, covering documents, spreadsheets, presentations, email, notes, and databases. That means you can draft a proposal, organize the numbers behind it, and build the presentation without assembling a collection of separate tools.

Office 2024 Professional Plus emphasizes stable, consistent functionality rather than frequent feature changes. When you’ve finally figured out your workflow, there’s something appealing about software that lets you stick with it. That focus also makes it suited to organizations working in regulated industries or restricted environments.

A streamlined interface includes dark mode support, while advanced data analysis and database management tools help with more demanding business tasks. Built-in security and compliance capabilities round out a package designed for dependable everyday work.

Before buying, check the licensing details. This offer covers one Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC, and the license is tied to that device, not your Microsoft account. It does not work on Mac or macOS devices.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows for just $49.97 through Nov. 8.

StackSocial prices subject to change.