Blogroll

The fanfiction is gone, but the fandom discourse is thriving.

It's been six days since Archive of Our Own (AO3), the internet's beloved fanfiction repository, went offline following a reported security incident. What was initially supposed to be routine maintenance has turned into a potentially weeks-long disruption, leaving millions of readers without their favorite stories and writers without a place to publish them. Naturally, the internet has responded with the kind of collective meltdown you'd expect from people suddenly deprived of their favorite fictional relationships.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

There have been memes, dramatic declarations of withdrawal, and even makeshift survival guides filled with downloaded fanfiction. Fans of Heated Rivalry, in particular, have been sharing Google Drive archives to ensure that the adventures of Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov remain accessible during these trying times.

Not all of these efforts have been welcomed, however. One since-deleted Google Drive containing more than 200 fanfics spanning multiple fandoms began circulating online, prompting some authors to question why their work was being redistributed without their knowledge or consent. While readers saw these collections as a way to keep fanfiction accessible during the outage, some writers saw their stories being shared without anyone bothering to ask permission.

Then there are the more blatant attempts to capitalize on AO3's absence, including vibe-coded clone sites attempting to profit from fanfiction originally published for free. One such site was reportedly hit with more than 2,000 takedown notices from authors in a single day.

And just like that, what began as a collective fandom crisis turned into a familiar argument about ownership, consent, and what readers owe the people who write the stories they love.

It's a debate that has been simmering within fandom communities for years, fueled by disagreements over reader expectations, unsolicited criticism, and the harassment of fan creators. But the AO3 outage has brought a new urgency to these conversations, exposing a fundamental tension within fanfiction culture: What happens when stories created and shared freely, out of love for a fandom, begin to be treated as content to which readers are entitled?

Fanfiction has always been a labor of love

To understand why this conversation matters, it's important to understand what makes AO3 different from most of the internet.

Founded by fans and operated by the nonprofit Organization for Transformative Works (OTW), AO3 was created to give fanworks a permanent home, free from commercial pressures and the threat of censorship. Today, it houses more than 18.8 million fanworks, according to the New York Times. There's no algorithm deciding which stories deserve attention, no advertising generating revenue from readers, and no financial compensation for the writers who collectively contribute millions of words to the archive.

SEE ALSO: Wattpad’s alleged smut ban sends fan-fiction readers running to AO3

Fanfiction has historically operated within what's often described as a gift economy. Writers create stories because they love the source material, the characters, and the communities that form around them. Readers reciprocate through comments, recommendations, fan art, and other forms of engagement. The exchange isn't financial, but that doesn't mean it lacks value.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

In many ways, that relationship is what makes fanfiction special. A writer can spend months crafting a 200,000-word slow-burn romance about two characters who barely interact in canon, publish it for free, and find an audience of people who are just as emotionally invested in those characters as they are.

There are no publishing contracts or sales targets. There is simply the pleasure of creating something and sharing it with people who understand why it matters.

But that relationship can become complicated when readers begin to treat freely shared creative work as a product they're entitled to receive.

When did reading fanfiction become consuming content?

The frustration some fanfiction writers express isn't necessarily about readers wanting more stories. Most writers want their work to be read, appreciated, and discussed. The debate emerges when enthusiasm turns into expectation.

I saw this firsthand recently when I posted a TikTok responding to a claim that the quality of fanfiction has declined. The comments quickly filled with writers expressing frustration over what they perceived as a growing sense of entitlement among readers. "The entitlement in complaining about the 'decline in quality' when reading free fiction is unreal omg," one commenter wrote.

The sentiment extends well beyond debates over writing quality. Anyone who has spent enough time in fandom has probably encountered some version of this dynamic — readers demanding updates on unfinished works, criticizing authors for abandoning stories, or leaving comments that read more like customer complaints than responses to something another person created for free.

Of course, readers are allowed to have opinions. Not every fanfiction is going to be well-written, and not every creative decision deserves universal praise. Criticism has always been part of fandom, too. But there's a difference between discussing a story and treating its author like a content provider who has failed to deliver.

And that relationship can feel particularly one-sided when readers consume stories without engaging with the people who create them. On AO3, leaving kudos or a comment is one of the simplest ways to show appreciation for a writer's work. Neither is required, of course, but those small interactions are part of what makes fanfiction feel like a community rather than just another endless library of content. Downloading a story to read offline isn't inherently a problem. But when the act of reading becomes entirely passive, something gets lost in the exchange.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

It raises a broader question about whether the habits we've developed as consumers of digital content are changing how we participate in fandom. We're accustomed to creators posting on schedules, streaming platforms offering endless entertainment, and algorithmic feeds serving up a constant stream of things to watch, read, and react to. There's always something new to consume, and notably, an expectation that there always will be.

But fanfiction doesn't operate on those same terms. At least, it was never intended to. A reader might spend hours immersed in a story without ever considering the person who spent weeks, months, or even years writing it. And when that story ends on a cliffhanger, it's easy to forget that the person responsible for the next chapter has a life outside the fictional universe they've created.

That doesn't make readers inherently entitled, nor does it mean writers are above criticism. But when we begin to approach fanfiction with the same expectations we bring to streaming services and social media, we risk losing sight of what makes it different in the first place. These stories aren't products commissioned by a platform or created to meet an audience's demand. They're personal expressions of creativity, shared freely by people who love something enough to imagine what else it could become.

And the relationship between writers and readers can be deeply rewarding. Most fanfiction writers are readers themselves, participating in the same fandoms and eagerly awaiting updates from their favorite authors. Writing and reading aren't opposing sides of fandom. They're interconnected parts of the same creative ecosystem.

In interviews with 404 Media following the outage, writers described how much AO3's comment sections mean to them. For some, comments provide encouragement during creative slumps. For others, they're a reminder that someone on the other side of the screen is connecting with a story they've poured so much of themselves into.

One writer even expressed hope that the outage would encourage readers to tell their favorite authors how much they'd missed their work once AO3 returned, saying, "I do kind of hope that the extended outage serves as a sort of wake-up call to anyone who's been taking AO3 for granted lately."

What happens when AO3 comes back?

For now, AO3 remains offline while OTW investigates the security incident. In its Oct. 30 update, the organization said that no works, bookmarks, or kudos had been deleted. However, it couldn't yet rule out the possibility that user account information had been compromised. The nonprofit expects restoration to take at least two weeks, possibly as long as four, with limited functionality possibly returning sooner.

In the meantime, fans are still finding ways to keep reading, writing, and connecting outside the archive.

AO3's absence has made its importance impossible to ignore. It's more than a place to find a 300,000-word enemies-to-lovers AU at two in the morning. It's an archive of fandom history and a community sustained by people who love these fictional worlds enough to keep expanding them.

And when AO3 eventually returns, perhaps readers will have a little more appreciation for the people who make those stories possible.

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.

Whether it's a romantic gift for Valentine's Day, a Hannukkah or Christmas gift she's been coveting for months, or a birthday or anniversary gift that she instantly dubs "the best present I've ever received," there is one thing that all these great gifts share in common: They came from you. Finding the best gifts for your wife all starts with thinking thoughtfully about the leading lady in your life. What are her hobbies? What gets her excited? What problem has she mentioned recently that could be solved with a practical gift? Sometimes the best gift is simply showing that you're paying attention. If you need a little inspiration to get the shopping juices flowing in your search for a thoughtful gift, we've got you covered. Take your time in scrolling this versatile list of this year's best gifts for wives that will further convince her that she married The One. And if you're still stumped, check out our guide on the best gifts for women and the best gifts under $50.

There's a lot of pressure when it comes to thinking up great gift ideas for your mom. She's done the hard wok of actually raising you, and it's time to throw some appreciation back her way. Part of our larger series dedicated to finding the best gifts for everyone, this list of gifts for your mom (or any mom or mother figure, for that matter, who all deserve something special) attempts to think outside of the same old generic suggestions that have plagued moms at major holidays for decades.

SEE ALSO: Best tech gifts, picked by professional gadget nerds

Does she have a unique interest or pastime that's a huge part of her life? You could look for hyper-specific items that speak directly to her passions, or pick up an item to finally nudge her towards getting started on that dream hobby. If she'd appreciate a more practical gift, rack your brain for a frustration that she's mentioned more than once — perhaps her coffee machine sucks or she's having trouble relaxing. You can't go wrong with gifting something that'll make her life easier.

Whether it's for Mother's Day, her birthday, Christmas, or Hanukkah, the best gifts will make her feel listened to, valued, or straight-up pampered. Consider what she does when she has no one putting demands on her time — then shop for those moments. And if you get stuck, or your budget's tight, visit our guide to the best gifts under $50 for even more winning ideas.

Buying gifts for the special woman in your life can be tricky. What do you buy a person who has everything? What should you gift to someone who's picky about their products? Our advice is to curate a gift according to her interests and personality.

A gift for the lady in your life should be just that: A gift for her. Part of our bigger series on the Best Gifts For Everyone, we’ve put together this comprehensive list to guide you on your important mission. And if it happens to be a teen girl you're shopping for, then we have a list for that, too.

So whether she's a techie, runner, or pet owner, these are the best gifts for her.

Google Photos is an excellent gallery app for Android, and it's been my go-to photo viewer for nearly a decade now. I use a Pixel 10 Pro, so I enjoy the extra perks of using Google's suite of apps on my device. Despite all of its add-ons and upsides, Google Photos is missing a feature that could take the app to a whole new level: an interactive map.

For those of us who are devout users of Google Photos, the "Collections" page is a mess. It contains albums, on-device folders, people from photos, and more — and they're always moving around. Thankfully, a new feature brings some much-needed order to the chaos.

The Linux ecosystem has had a busy few months, with Linux 7.4 development getting attention for its unusually active testing cycle, growing use of AI-generated contributions, and continued hardware support improvements. Meanwhile, desktop Linux distributions have been pushing ahead with Wayland adoption, stronger security, and more modern desktop experiences. Fedora Linux 45 is the latest chapter in that evolution.

An aging laptop does not necessarily need a hardware upgrade to feel faster. Sometimes, changing the operating system can make a noticeable difference, particularly when you are running a machine with an older processor and integrated graphics. Linux distros have different desktop environments, background services, and system requirements, all of which can affect everyday performance.

The best early Black Friday drone deals Best Early Black Friday DJI Drone Deal DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $620 (Save $99) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Ruko Drone Deal Ruko F11PRO 2 $239.98 (Save $110.01) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Antigravity Drone deal Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle $1251.74 (Save $507.25) Get Deal

Black Friday is still a few weeks out, but if you're looking to buy a new drone, you don't have to wait to shop a selection of great deals. If one of the diminutive flyers is on your holiday list, you can snap up some excellent models for even better prices.

A decent drone can be an expensive purchase, we're well aware, so this is the perfect time to upgrade one you already have or snap up a new one at a much more reasonable price. We're already seeing discounts on big-name brands like DJI, Antigravity, Ruko, and more. This is just the tip of the iceberg though, so expect to see additional deals sprouting up as the days go on.

SEE ALSO: DJI's early Black Friday deals are live — save on 15+ top-rated drones and creator gear

Prices on these move around a lot, and a deal that’s live today can be gone by the weekend, so we’ll keep checking and swapping in new ones as they show up. For now, these are the best early Black Friday drone deals we’ve found.

Best early Black Friday DJI drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 3 Fly More Combo $620 at Amazon
$719 Save $99   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

You don't get much better for first-time drone owners. Th DJI Mini 3 clocks in at just 249 grams, so you can skip FAA registration, but it has all the bells and whistles you'd expect from other comparable drones. It shoots 4K HDR video from a 1/1.3-inch sensor and has a rotating gimbal for true vertical shooting. This kit also comes with three batteries that net you up to 38 minutes of power each, a two-way charging hub, spare propellers, and a shoulder bag that holds it all so you can tote it around to use whenever and wherever you see fit.

Best early Black Friday Ruko drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Ruko F11PRO 2 $239.98 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $110.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Ruko offers excellent drones for great prices, and the F11PRO2 is no slouch. It shoots 4K video at 30fps and 6K stills through a 3-axis brushless gimbal. Plus, it has two subject-tracking mode for anyone who wants to film themselves on a bike or a trail without a second person around to handle additional camera work. It's great for beginners as well, as it uses GPS to handle positioning with its Return to Home option. The drone flies itself back if the signal drops or the battery gets low. It includes two batteries for about 70 minutes of combined flight time, plus a controller with a built-in info screen, spare propeller, and a case to hold everything.

Best early Black Friday Antigravity drone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Antigravity A1 Infinity Bundle $1,521.74 at Amazon
$2,028.99 Save $507.25   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

This Antigravity bundle may be a splurge, but it's a must if you want to shoot true 360-degree video. It records 8K, and the bundle comes with everything you need for some truly gorgoeus footage, including vision goggles for a head-tracked cockpit view and the Grip motion controller, which lets you steer by pointing your hand where you want the drone to go. It also comes with three high-capacity batteries that add up to 39 minutes to your flight time each, with a charging hub, a microSD quick reader, a carry case, and a sling bag for carrying. This is a complete kit that'll have you filming fantasic video right out of the box, with all the bells and whistles and then some.

More drone deals

• DJI Neo — $169 $199 (save $30)

• Ruko U11MINI — $239.97 $349.98 (save $110.01)

• Skyrover S1 Mini Drone Camera Combo — $549 $699.99 (save $150)

Early Black Friday MacBook deals at a glance Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 (save $200) Get Deal Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $2,822 (save $377) Get Deal Best MacBook alternative deal HP OmniBook Ultra 14-kg000 $1,749.99 (save $500) Get Deal

It's tough out there if you're shopping for a new laptop. Thanks to the worsening memory shortage, tech prices have gone a bit wild. Apple raised prices on the MacBook lineup over the summer, and we've been hunting for deals every since.

Fortunately, some MacBooks are on sale well before Black Friday. And in even better news, the MacBook Air is sitting at the same sale price we saw during October Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Black Friday 2026: Best deals, sale dates, how to shop smart, and more

Other deals, however, like the MacBook Pro, aren't as good as they were during the last Prime Day. If you're in a position to wait on upgrading to the Pro, we're hopeful it'll drop lower in the coming weeks.

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,099 at Amazon
$1,299 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,299 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $200   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M5).

The 15-inch M5 MacBook Air earns the award of Mashable's top pick for most people in the market for a MacBook. As an early Black Friday treat, both the 15-inch and the smaller 13-inch are both on sale for $200 off.

Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth reviewed the M5 MacBook Air and found the M5 chip to be beyond impressive for performance while the laptop remains highly portable. If you're taking the laptop to lectures on campus or it gets packed into a work tote, the smaller 13-inch model might be ideal.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro with 18-core CPU/20-core GPU, 24GB RAM, 2TB SSD) $2,822
$3,199 Save $377   Get Deal Why we like it

The sale price on this MacBook Pro with the M5 chip isn't as good as the deal we saw during October Prime Day, but it could be a good buy if you're dealing with a dead laptop and can't wait longer for a replacement. During Prime Day, we saw this configuration drop to $2,699, and it's possible we'll get that low again soon. For now, rest assured you're getting upgraded CPU for those who need big power for processing complex tasks.

Best MacBook alternative deal Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP OmniBook Ultra 14-kg000 $1,749.99 at Best Buy
$2,249.99 Save $500.00   Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

Mashable laptop expert and Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel ranked the HP OmenBook Ultra 14-kg000 as her top pick for a more stylish alternative to the MacBook Air. The HP machine outperformed the not only the MacBook Air but also the MacBook Pro in multi-core tasks. Plus, the 120Hz OLED touchscreen is a treat.

How to watch 'Musk' at home: Preorder now Buy 'Musk' on Prime Video $19.99 Shop Now Preorder now Buy 'Musk' on Apple TV $19.99 Get Deal Preorder now Buy 'Musk' on Fandango at Home $19.99 Get Deal Watch later HBO Max (With Ads) $109.99/year (save $21.89) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Standard $184.99/year (save $36.89) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months (save 50%) Get Deal Watch later HBO Max Basic With Ads Free for Cricket customers on the $60/month unlimited plan (save $10.99/month) Get Deal Watch later Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle $21.99 per month (with ads), $34.99 per month (no ads) (save up to 43%) Get Deal Watch later Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) $10/month with Verizon myPlan (save $9.98/month) Get Deal Watch later Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max (with ads) $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $10.97/month) Get Deal

If you missed its incredibly brief theatrical run, you can watch the Musk documentary at home starting this week. Oscar winner Alex Gibney's nearly four-hour examination of the world's richest man was pulled from theaters after just two weeks, leading many to speculate about either low ticket sales or some sort of conspiracy.

For what it's worth, the film was mostly a box office flop, though it's received mostly high praise from critics. With a limited release its first week in just four theaters, and an abbreviated wide release its second week, it's hard to say whether the documentary had enough time to really take off. Nevertheless, with a run time of 3 hours and 52 minutes, it might be better for you to watch it from the comfort of your couch anyways.

Here's everything you need to know about how to watch Musk, including when and where it'll be streaming.

What is Musk about?

The buzzy Musk documentary thoroughly examines Elon Musk through extensive archival footage, past recorded interviews, public appearances, and other material, though Musk himself is not actually interviewed for the film. As Mashable's reviewer Matt Binder writes, "Elon Musk may hate it, but the most brutal scenes are comprised of Musk's own actions and words."

Check out the official trailer for Musk:

How to watch Musk at home

As of Nov. 6, you can officially watch the Musk documentary at home, but it'll cost you. You can also wait for a cheaper rental option via digital-on-demand retailers or a streaming option still to come. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Musk makes its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on Nov. 6, 2026. It costs $19.99 to purchase it and you can pre-order in advance if you'd like. While a rental option is not yet available, it is likely to come and will cost $5 to $10 less. Pro tip: digital prices will drop significantly if you wait a few weeks.

Quick links to buy Musk on digital:

• Apple TV —  buy for $19.99

• Fandango at Home — buy for $19.99

• Prime Video —  buy for $19.99

Stream it on HBO Max

There's no official date yet, but as a HBO Documentary Film, we can only assume that Musk will make its streaming debut on HBO Max. If it follows a similar schedule to other Warner Bros. releases, we expect a January streaming release. Stay tuned.

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month, but there are a few ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

SEE ALSO: HBO Max and Paramount+ are combining into one streaming service The best HBO Max streaming dealsBest for most people: Save up to $45 on HBO Max annual subscriptions Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Basic with ads annual subscription $109.99 per year (save $21.89) Get Deal at HBO Max Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Standard annual subscription $184.99 per year (save $36.89) Get Deal at HBO Max

The best way to save some cash on HBO Max on any given day is by committing to an annual plan. Yes, it'll cost you more up front, but you'll save about 16% over the course of a year — or up to $45.89 in savings.

A monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but a full year costs $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to only $9.17. Annual ad-free plans, which include HBO Max Standard or Premium, will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents. Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). While both are ad-free plans, the Premium option also unlocks 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.

Get HBO Max for free: Switch to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max / Cricket HBO Max (with ads) Free for Cricket customers on the Supreme Unlimited plan Get Deal

While it's not the most convenient option, switching your phone plan to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month will get you HBO Max with ads for free. Once you're a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.

Best HBO Max deal for students: Save 50% on HBO Max Basic with ads Opens in a new window Credit: HBO Max HBO Max Student $5.49 per month for 12 months Get Deal

College students can sign up for a whole year of HBO Max with ads for 50% off. Prove your student status via UNiDAYS and you'll receive a unique discount code to slash the cost per month down from $10.99 to $5.49. The price will jump back up to $10.99 after 12 months unless you cancel.

Best bundle deal: Get HBO Max, Disney+, and Hulu for up to 43% off Opens in a new window Credit: Disney / Hulu / HBO Max Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max $19.99 per month (with ads), $32.99 per month (no ads) Get Deal

The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, remains one of the best streaming deals around — even with its latest price increase. For just $21.99 per month, you'll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $14 cheaper than paying for each one separately. If you prefer to go ad-free, it'll run you $34.99 per month as opposed to $61.47 for all three. That's $26.48 in savings.

Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $13/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max HBO Max and Netflix (with ads) $13 per month for Verizon customers with myPlan (save $6.98 per month) Get Deal

If you're a Verizon customer on the Simplicity, Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle perk (with ads) to your plan for only $13 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that's about $7 in savings each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon's support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs. You can also upgrade to the ad-free bundle for $7.50 more per month.

Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and HBO Max $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $10.97/month) Get Deal

Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action, thanks to Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package that includes Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($12.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $32.97 for all three, so that's about $11 in savings monthly.

If there's one thing Uncle Roger can't abide, it's subpar egg fried rice (Jamie Oliver would know). Same goes for the man behind the beloved internet character, creator Nigel Ng, whose own restaurants across Malaysia and London serve it up daily — and yes, Uncle Roger himself has "tested" it.

On Tuesday, Ng joined Mythical Kitchen's Josh Scherer — both as himself and as Uncle Roger in a fitting judge role — to test expensive and cheap versions of fried rice, from Panda Express ("it kind of tastes like the box," Ng says) to the pricey lobster fried rice from Tao (a "rip-off according to Uncle Roger). And there's cooking afoot, as the two put their own spins on the dish — Ng's cookbook is quite literally titled Don't Mess Up Your Rice, so pay attention.

You might want to valiantly try making your own fried rice after watching this delightful collab, with all the Uncle Roger judgment stress that comes with it. Make him proud.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters, or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices.

A new Windows 11 update is beginning to roll out to users across the globe, but this update isn't adding flashy new AI features or mindlessly moving things around. Microsoft is delivering on its prior commitments and plenty of insider testing to bring real performance improvements to Windows 11, especially for computers working with only 8GB of memory. In a world where computers and memory have gotten more expensive, these are the updates that make an impact.

I'm a firm believer that the perfect smart home should work almost completely automatically, without any need for pushing buttons, tapping dashboards, or giving voice commands. Sometimes, however, even the best automations can fire when you don't want them to, so I gave Home Assistant a snooze button to solve the problem.

Ever since I was a small Who, I have loved Dr. Seuss. 

His Sneetches, the Lorax, Horton — the joy they induce!

I gobbled up books, shorts, and feature films, too. 

I giggled, sang along, and even cried a boo-hoo! 

But one of his heroes had a movie fall flat, 

That rascally sharp dresser, the Cat in the Hat. 

In 2003, Mike Myers tried in live-action.

Audiences marveled at what the duck happened.  

Now comes an animated The Cat in the Hat. 

What am I, a critic, to say about that? 

Voiced by Bill Hader, this feline is fun. 

Lively and silly, with shenanigans. 

He brings with him his Things One, Two, and beyond, 

Plus a goldfish who wags a fin at things done wrong. 

But the focus of this kid's movie is odd: 

The Cat in the Hat might lose his job.

He works in the business of bringing kids joy, 

And is assigned to a girl and a boy. 

They've just moved and are feeling quite sad, 

But it's not enough to make them feel glad. 

The Cat must appease his bullying boss, 

Who worries about the collateral costs 

Of how the Cat brings mirth to kids near and far. 

The Cat's only ally is Sherri from HR. 

If that sounds convoluted, oh, just you wait. 

This story gets overcrowded to a terrible state. 

A mother-daughter squabble kicks off the action, 

Then a MacGuffin makes for a time-travel distraction. 

There's also a monster in hot pursuit, 

And a pesky landlady to boot! 

Erica Rivinoja and Alessandro Carloni direct and write. 

Their animation is warm, delicately textured, and bright. 

The voice cast has performers spirited and merry, 

Like Quinta Brunson, Xochitl Gomez, and Matt Berry. 

Sure, there's fun to be had in this Cat's appearance, 

But too many fart jokes hurt the experience. 

Dr. Seuss got silly and kooky indeed. 

But such potty humor is not his speed. 

With an overstuffed plot and action chaotic,

The movie's message feels half-assed and quixotic.

Hader's The Cat In The Hat is certainly better than Myers'. 

But so is plucking out my nose hairs with needle-nose pliers. 

In the end, I can't cheer this cartoon's feline joker. 

Best I can say is that this movie is mediocre.

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

The Cat in the Hat opens in theaters on Nov. 6.

TL;DR: Live stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League is back with a string of high-profile matchups this week, including Barcelona vs. Aston Villa. The visitors have made a perfect start to this campaign, but Barcelona at the Nou Camp will be their toughest test by far. Can the Premier League side stop the likes of Lamine Yamal and Raphinha from running wild?

We're expecting an entertaining tussle between two sides that play positive football.

If you want to watch Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Barcelona vs. Aston Villa?

Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on Nov. 3. This fixture takes place at the Camp Nou.

How to watch Barcelona vs. Aston Villa for free

Barcelona vs. Aston Villa is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media Player is geo-restricted to Ireland, but anyone can access it for free with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Ireland, meaning you can unblock Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Ireland

4. Visit Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Barcelona vs. Aston Villa for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

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

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media Player, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Ireland

• 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 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Barcelona vs. Aston Villa in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Best early Black Friday Apple Watch deals Best Apple Watch Ultra 3 Deal Apple Watch Ultra 3 (49mm, GPS+Cellular) $649 (save $150) Get Deal Best Apple Watch Ultra 4 Deal Apple Watch Ultra 4 (49mm, GPS+Cellular) $699.99 (save $99.01) Get Deal

Leading up to Black Friday, more deals are popping up than we expected. We're tracking the best prices so you can get a head start on holiday shopping. The savings aren't blowing us away yet, but there are some hidden gems. That's how we found two great Apple Watch deals ahead of Black Friday.

Not all Apple smartwatches are on sale ahead of Black Friday, but surprisingly, the rarely on sale Apple Watch Ultra is majorly marked down. We found two great deals to shop now, bringing these watches down to their lowest prices ever.

Save on the Apple Watch Ultra ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 3 (49mm, GPS+Cellular) $649 at Best Buy
$799 Save $150   Get Deal at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 4 (49mm, GPS+Cellular) $699.99 at Amazon
$799 Save $99.01   Get Deal at Amazon Why we picked this

In looking for early Black Friday Apple Watch deals, we found savings on the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Ultra 4. Apple's Ultra watches are designed for the rugged outdoors and performance athletes. It has astounding battery life, lasting up to three days on low battery mode.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3, usually $799, is now $150 off at Best Buy. Get the smartwatch for just $649 ahead of Black Friday. The watch is the 49mm model and comes with both GPS and cellular. The Ultra 3 is the previous model so if you want the newest tech, go for the Ultra 4.

At Amazon, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is on sale for $699.99, which according to Camelcamelcamel, is the lowest price ever on the advanced smartwatch. Like the Ultra 3, it comes with with a 49mm face and GPS and cellular.

The newest Apple Watch has even better battery life and more advanced health tracking. The Ultra 4 measures heart rate variability and delivers a readiness score so you know when to prioritize recovery and when to push it.

Get both of these watches on sale for all-time low prices ahead of Black Friday now and save up to $150.

Grand Theft Auto VI is mere weeks away, which means it's time for a trip down memory lane, courtesy of Kai Cenat.

The famed streamer and creator, who has just shy of 22 million Twitch followers at the time of publication, will take to the internet at 3 p.m. ET on Thursday, Nov. 5 for what should be a nostalgia-fueled journey through GTA's 3D era. Cenat said in a post on X that he will stream, in one sitting, GTA 3, Vice City, San Andreas, 4, and 5, AKA the entire mainline series output from the 21st century. The stream will be up on both Twitch and YouTube.

SEE ALSO: GTA 6: ‘Self-made millionaire’ shares how to save $5K playing the game This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The X post didn't say how long he'd be streaming or whether he planned to actually finish the story in each game, which could possibly take a very long time. Even if Cenat just messes around and jacks cars for several hours, though, it should still be a fun reminder of where the series has been before we all get a collective glimpse at its future on Nov. 19 when GTA 6 comes out.

GTA VI will be released Nov. 19 on PS5 and Xbox consoles.

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.

Starbucks and Dunkin' recently dropped plans to launch holiday menus. Did you think that McDonald's was going to sit back and let them get all the festive attention? No, McDonald’s has officially entered the seasonal caffeine wars.

Launching nationwide on Nov. 3, McDonald's has rolled out five limited-edition holiday drinks at participating U.S. restaurants. The lineup takes direct aim at Starbucks and Dunkin’ by dividing its menu between two distinct cravings: fruity, sparkling energy drinks topped with dairy cold foam, and dessert-heavy McCafé coffee drinks built around Cookie Butter.

The five-drink holiday lineup is as follows:

• Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite: Sprite infused with cranberry and orange syrups, topped with sweet cold foam and festive red cranberry sprinkles.

• Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer: A cranberry-orange flavor base, topped with cold foam and sprinkles, and an entire can of Red Bull.

• Cookie Butter Latte: Espresso blended with whole milk and spiced cookie butter syrup, finished with sweet vanilla whipped cream and crushed caramel cookie pieces.

• Cookie Butter Iced Coffee: Classic McCafé iced coffee steeped with cookie butter syrup, cream, and crunchy cookie crumbles.

• Cookie Butter Frappé: A blended coffee treat crowned with vanilla whip and speculoos cookie crumbs.

Credit: McDonald's

I'm all for festive vibes, but I'm going to be honest: putting cold foam on Red Bull doesn't sound particularly appetizing. Hey, maybe I'm in the minority. Maybe it will go completely viral for all the right reasons. Who am I to question McDonald's?

If you’re rocking a desktop PC, there’s a good chance the motherboard it’s built around is based on the ATX (Advanced Technology Extended) or mATX standard, the latter being basically a shorter ATX board.