Blogroll

OpenAI denies allegations in teen death lawsuit

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 21:07

OpenAI vigorously denied allegations against the company that it was responsible for the suicide death of Adam Raine, according to a new response filed in court Tuesday.

Raine died in April 2025, following heavy engagement with ChatGPT that included detailed discussions of his suicidal thinking. The 16-year-old's family sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in August, alleging that ChatGPT validated his suicidal thinking and provided him explicit instructions on how he could die. It even proposed writing a suicide note for Raine, his parents claim.

In its first answer to the Raine family's allegations, OpenAI argues that ChatGPT didn't contribute to Adam's death. Instead, the company pinpoints his behavior, along with his mental health history, as the driving force in his death, which is described in the filing as a "tragedy."

SEE ALSO: Experts: AI chatbots unsafe for teen mental health

OpenAI claims that Raine's complete chat history indicated that ChatGPT directed him more than 100 times to seek help for his suicidal feelings, and that he failed to "heed warnings, obtain help, or otherwise exercise reasonable care." The company also argues that people around Raine didn't "respond to his obvious signs of distress."

Additionally, Raine allegedly told ChatGPT that a new depression medication heightened his suicidal thinking. The unnamed drug has a black box warning for increasing suicidal ideation amongst teens, according to the filing.

OpenAI alleges that Raine searched for and found detailed information about suicide elsewhere online, including from another AI platform. The company also faults Raine for talking to ChatGPT about suicide, a violation of the platform's usage policies, and for trying to circumvent guardrails to obtain information about suicide methods. OpenAI, however, does not shut down conversations about suicide.

"To the extent that any 'cause' can be attributed to this tragic event, Plaintiffs' alleged injuries and harm were caused or contributed to, directly and proximately, in whole or in part, by Adam Raine’s misuse, unauthorized use, unintended use, unforeseeable use, and/or improper use of ChatGPT."

Jay Edelson, the lead attorney in the Raines' wrongful death lawsuit, described OpenAI's response as "disturbing."

"[O]penAI tries to find fault in everyone else, including, amazingly, by arguing that Adam himself violated its terms and conditions by engaging with ChatGPT in the very way it was programmed to act," Edelson said in a statement.

He noted that the company's response doesn't address various claims in the lawsuit, including that the previous GPT-4o model, which Raine used, was allegedly released to the public "without full testing" for market competition reasons, and that the company altered its guidelines to allow ChatGPT to engage in discussions about self-harm.

The company has also admitted that it needed to improve ChatGPT's response to sensitive conversations, including those about mental health. Altman publicly acknowledged that the GPT-4o model was too "sycophantic."

Some of the safety measures OpenAI cites in its filings, including parental controls and an expert-staffed well-being advisory council, were introduced after Raine's death.

In a blog post published Tuesday, OpenAI said it aimed to respond to lawsuits involving mental health with care, transparency, and respect.

The company added that it was reviewing new legal filings, which include seven lawsuits against it alleging ChatGPT use led to wrongful death, assisted suicide, and involuntary manslaughter, among other liability and negligence claims. The complaints were filed in November by the Tech Justice Law Project and Social Media Victims Law Center.

Six of the cases involve adults. The seventh case centers on 17-year-old Amaurie Lacey, who originally used ChatGPT as a homework helper. Lacey eventually shared suicidal thoughts with the chatbot, which allegedly provided detailed information that Lacey used to kill himself.

A recent review of major AI chatbots, including ChatGPT, conducted by adolescent mental health experts found that none of them were safe enough to use for discussing mental health concerns. The experts called on the makers of those chatbots — Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google — to disable the functionality for mental health support until the chatbot technology is redesigned to fix the safety problems identified by its researchers.

If you're feeling suicidal or experiencing a mental health crisis, please talk to somebody. You can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. You can reach the Trans Lifeline by calling 877-565-8860 or the Trevor Project at 866-488-7386. Text "START" to Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. ET, or email info@nami.org. If you don't like the phone, consider using the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Chat. Here is a list of international resources.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Don't go to the airport without this simple AV travel kit

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 21:00

We’ve all been there, at the airport, waiting at the gate ready to board, when that dreaded announcement comes that your flight has been delayed. If you’re lucky, it’s a short wait. If not, it could mean hours in the airport or even an overnight stay—preferably in a hotel, but we’ve all done the four-seat stretch, am I right?

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best early Black Friday Samsung deals: The Frame TV, Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy S25 Ultra, and more

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:53
The best October Prime Day Samsung deals at a glance: Best tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ (256GB, WiFi) $569.99 (save $180) Get Deal Best monitor deal Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor $749.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 65-inch The Frame Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV $1,597.99 (save $500) Get Deal Best wearable deal Samsung Galaxy Ring $249.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best phone deal Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, unlocked) $1,019.99 (save $400) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, Bluetooth) $279.99 (save $70) Get Deal

Black Friday is in full swing. While the annual shopping event doesn't technically start until Nov. 28, plenty of retailers like Amazon and Best Buy's sales kicked off the savings early in 2025 and have already delivered the lowest prices of the year. Samsung deals are particularly delivering, with all-time lows on several Galaxy phones, tablets, and watches, monitors, TVs, and more. This is hardly surprising, though, as Samsung is one of the brands we regularly see big discounts on during major shopping events.

On Black Friday proper, we're still hoping for some larger price drops on Samsung's foldables and earbuds, most categories already have standout discounts on hot ticket items. For instance, the 2025 Frame and Frame Pro TVs are at record lows, as is every iteration of the Galaxy Watch 8, Galaxy Tab S10 Lite, S10 FE, and S10 FE+, and Galaxy Tab S11.

Read on for a rundown of the best Samsung deals live ahead of Black Friday, and stay tuned as the season unfolds. We'll update this list with any new discounts that pop up

Note: Deals with a 🔥 next to them have dropped to record-low prices.

Best early Black Friday Samsung Galaxy phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, unlocked) $1,019.99 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $400 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Why we like it

One of the top dogs of the Samsung Galaxy phone lineup, the S25 Ultra with 512GB of storage, has dropped to a new best price ever for Black Friday. If you're already sporting an S24 model, you probably can skip this upgrade, but if you're rocking an older handset and want to catch up with the times, this 2025 release is a great choice. It's a bit heavy on the AI, but it's got a lot of other perks, including a nearly 27-hour battery life that keeps you from being tethered to an outlet. It features an incredibly powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a new 50 MP ultra-wide lens, a fun "Now Brief" widget and other S25 Ultra-exclusive AI features, and new curved edges and a lighter build. Grabbing an unlocked model at Amazon saves you the trouble of coordinating a trade-in or data plan at a specific carrier. Plus, it's a lot cheaper at $1,057.91.

Best early Black Friday Samsung computing deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor $749.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $250 Lowest price ever 🔥 Get Deal Why we like it

Samsung released the new Odyssey G6 OLED monitor over the summer — the first-ever gaming monitor with a 500Hz refresh rate. And for Black Friday, you can get it for its best price yet. Besides its wildly fast refresh rate, it also features a QHD resolution (2,560 x 1440) with a 16:9 aspect ratio, an ultra-quick 0.03ms response time, a peak brightness of 1,000 nits, support for both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-Sync, and a QD-OLED panel that's glare-free and Pantone Validated. It also has plenty of ports for your peripherals, including two HDMI 2.1 ports, three USB ports, and a single DisplayPort 1.4 port. You can find the Black Friday deal on the 27-inch monitor (the only size it comes in) at both Amazon and Best Buy. At the time of writing, it's $50 more at Samsung's own website.

Samsung Galaxy phone dealsSamsung Galaxy tablet and laptop dealsSamsung monitor dealsSamsung TV dealsSamsung Galaxy watch dealsMore Samsung deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

2025 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Kohls, Target, Home Depot, and more

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:49

Black Friday is fast approaching, but the reality is that it's already here in a big way. You can find discounts on hot products like MacBooks, AirPods, Lego, Pokémon, and so much more. It's the single best time of the year to secure a deal, with heavy discounts on offer from all the leading retailers.

The biggest retailers are always looking to get ahead of the competition by launching early-access deals, with savings-packed Black Friday ads that include a snapshot of what shoppers can expect. We recommend that savvy shoppers take some time to check out everything that's showcased in these ads, but if that sounds like far too much work, we can help you out.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Black Friday 2025: Best early deals, sale dates, price matching, and more

We've checked out all the best deals from the Black Friday ads of leading retailers. We're talking about the likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, and Target. Amazon doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad, but we've still gone ahead and pulled the best deals that you can already shop. Aren't we helpful.

These are the best Black Friday deals from Black Friday ads that you can already buy online.

Best Black Friday deals from AmazonBest Black Friday Apple deals

AirTags

Apple Watch

iPads

iMacs

Mac Minis

Macbooks

Headphones

Best Black Friday Lego dealsBest Black Friday power station dealsBest Black Friday headphones dealsBest Black Friday smartwatch dealsBest Black Friday gaming dealsBest Black Friday robot vacuum dealsBest Black Friday deals from Best BuyBest Black Friday TV dealsBest Black Friday laptop dealsBest Black Friday earbuds dealsBest Black Friday portable speaker dealsBest Black Friday vacuum dealsBest Black Friday kitchen dealsBest Black Friday unlocked phone dealsBest Black Friday deals from Home DepotBest Black Friday cordless power tool dealsBest Black Friday tool dealsBest Black Friday home dealsBest Black Friday deals from Kohl'sBest Black Friday tech dealsBest Black Friday fitness tracker dealsBest Black Friday home dealsBest Black Friday robot vacuum dealsBest Black Friday headphone dealsBest Black Friday deals from Lowe'sBest Black Friday tool dealsBest Black Friday grills and outdoor cooking dealsBest Black Friday garden dealsBest Black Friday holiday decoration dealsBest Black Friday kitchen dealsBest Black Friday deals from TargetBest Black Friday gaming dealsBest Black Friday toy dealsBest Black Friday kitchen dealsBest Black Friday Lego dealsBest Black Friday floor care dealsBest Black Friday headphone and earbud dealsBest Black Friday speaker dealsBest Black Friday holiday prep dealsBest Black Friday holiday prep dealsBest Black Friday deals from WalmartBest Black Friday TV dealsBest Black Friday Apple dealsBest Black Friday fitness tracker dealsBest Black Friday gaming dealsBest Black Friday laptop dealsBest Black Friday robot vacuum deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich online for free

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:26

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

There are a number of really exciting Champions League matchups this week, including Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich. This fixture can claim to be the "game of the round." Both teams are top of their respective domestic leagues and tied at the top of the Champions League standings after winning every game. Something has got to give when they come together in London.

If you want to watch Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich?

Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Nov. 26. This fixture takes place at the Emirates Stadium.

How to watch Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich for free

Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

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

Live stream Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

  4. Visit Virgin Media Player

  5. Watch Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Champions League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich (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 eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Live stream Arsenal vs. Bayern Munich in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Black Friday 2025: I review headphones, and Id shop these noise-cancelling headphone deals

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:22
Best noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds on sale: Best Flagship Headphones Deal Sony WH-1000XM6 Noise-Canceling Headphones $398 (save $61.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbus (2nd Gen) $216 (Save $83) Get Deal Past-Gen Sony Headphones Deal Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise-Cancelling Headphones $248 (Save $151.99) Get Deal Best for Audiophiles Bowers & Wilkins Px8 Over-Ear Headphones $510 (save $189) Get Deal Best Apple Deal Apple AirPods Max Headphones (USB-C) $399.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best Sports Earbuds Deal Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Sports Earbuds $199.95 (save $49.05) Get Deal

As Mashable's tech editor, I've covered a lot of cool headphone launches this year. The long-awaited Sony XM6 headphones finally came out this year, and we also got new flagship headphones from Nothing, Bowers & Wilkins, Bose, and Beats. If you need a new pair of noise-cancelling headphones, the Black Friday season is the best possible time to buy. All of the headphones I mentioned are currently sitting at record prices — all of them.

However, you won't find all of them in this guide, as not every Black Friday headphones deal is worth shopping. I've gathered the biggest discounts on the noise-cancelling headphones I'd actually recommend buying, whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for Christmas gifts for techies.

SEE ALSO: Everything to know about Black Friday 2025: Best early deals, sale dates, price matching, and more

Some of the best Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones deals have already earned a spot in our guide to the top deals. From audiophile-worthy headphones from Bowers & Wilkins to the latest Bose wireless earbuds, you'll find the best of the best here.

Best noise-cancelling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $248 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $151.99   Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.

I tested Sony's legendary XM5 headphones against the newer version, the XM6, as did Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard. And both of us found that they're far more alike than different. Unless you're a picky audiophile, I think most people should opt for the XM5 model while it's on sale, which is what Allard recommended in her comparison. These headphones have never been priced this low, and they still have all the features you really need: excellent audio quality, best-in-class active noise-cancellation, and an easy-to-use app to adjust EQ settings.

More noise-cancelling headphones dealsBest noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds (2nd gen) $216 at Amazon
$299 Save $83   Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) earbuds.

The second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds are the best noise-cancelling earbuds of 2025, full stop. The only buds that really come close? The first-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, which I'm wearing as I write this sentence. These earbuds are supremely comfortable, and they let you slip into a cone of silence on demand.

More noise-cancelling earbuds deals

Mashable contributor Matt Ford and Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard also assisted with this guide.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Plex’s remote streaming will cost you money starting this week

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:17

Media server Plex announced in March that it would put an end to free remote streaming, but hasn't yet put the new changes into effect. That changes this week as Plex plans to pull the plug on free remote streaming from the Roku app first, with the rest of its supported platforms coming in early 2026. 

The change impacts people who use the company’s personal media servers. Until now, a person could set up a server, set it to stream remotely, and access that server from anywhere. In addition, that person could give their credentials to friends and family members and they could stream from the remote server as well. This was all free of charge. 

SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Nov. 21, 2025)

Under the new system, people can still do all of the above, they just need to have a subscription in order to do it. Customers have two subscriptions to choose from. The first is the typical Plex Pass subscription, which just saw a price increase in April to $6.99 per month. Plex’s second option was made just for this occasion. It’s called the Remote Watch Pass, and it costs $2 per year.

For the Remote Watch Pass, each person who wants to access the remote server needs to have one. Thus, if you’re sharing your personal server with four people, each of those four people need a Remote Watch Pass. Remote streaming from within your home network is still free, so you can still set up a server on your PC and stream it to your phone from across the house. 

“This price increase will ensure that we can keep investing dedicated resources in developing new features, while supporting and growing your favorites,” Plex said in a blog post

The inclusion of a subscription may chase away some users who used Plex for the free personal media server. For those folks, your best bet at a replacement is Jellyfin. It’s a free, open-source media server that you can stream remotely, but it does take a little extra configuration than something like Plex. 

Categories: IT General, Technology

Most EVs get artificial sound wrong, but these brands nailed it

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:00

If you’ve ever spoken to an older car enthusiast, you’ve probably heard all the classic complaints about electric vehicles. They’re boring, soulless, and most of all, too quiet. Most car enthusiasts want to hear their sports car; they crave that visceral experience. But EVs, despite their superior performance and speed over internal combustion, just don’t provide it—so automakers turned to trickery.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch college football for $1 over Thanksgiving weekend: $1 day passes from Sling TV

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 20:00

PAY $1 FOR A DAY OF ESPN, FREEFORM, OTHER CHANNELS WITHOUT CABLE: For Black Friday, Sling TV has slashed the price of its Orange package day passes from $5 to $1 between Friday, Nov. 28 and Sunday, Nov. 30.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling TV Orange Day Pass $1
$5 Save $4   Get Deal

YouTube TV and Disney may have squashed their beef, but it's no secret that a decent number of frustrated YouTube TV subscribers ditched their subscriptions when Disney-owned channels went missing. If you're one of those people — or you just don't care to pay for many streaming services in general — we have a really cheap Black Friday streaming deal for you: Sling TV day passes are $1 instead of $5 for Friday through Sunday of Cyber Weekend.

SEE ALSO: 50+ of the best Black Friday TV deals in 2025: Score huge savings on Samsung, TCL, and Hisense

The humble Sling TV daily pass went a little viral as an affordable way to watch Monday Night Football on ESPN during the Disney blackout on YouTube TV. The $1 Sling pass isn't helpful for MNF on Dec. 1, as the deal expires on Dec. 1 at 1 a.m. MT. However, there's still some major live college football streaming and holiday movie watching to be done through the 30+ Sling TV Orange package channels like ESPN, TBS, TNT, AMC, and Freeform. The $1 Sling day pass covers all Orange channels for the full 24 hours.

College football games to watch with a $1 Sling TV day pass this weekend
  • Utah @ Kansas — 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28, ESPN

  • Temple @ North Texas — 3:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28, ESPN

  • Texas Tech @ West Virginia — 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN

  • Houston @ Baylor 12 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, TNT

  • UCF @ BYU — 1 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN2

  • Vanderbilt @ Tennessee — 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN

  • Florida State @ Florida — 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN2

  • Virginia Tech @ Virginia — 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN

  • SMU @ California — 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN2

  • Notre Dame @ Stanford — 10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, ESPN

Movies to watch with a $1 Sling TV day pass this weekend

Aside from football, channels like TBS, AMC, and Freefrom have a solid lineup of classic movies slated for the weekend. Let's say you've been itching to watch Elf, but don't have an HBO Max subscription — you can pay $1 to watch it on TNT on Saturday. Here are a few upcoming holiday or generally cozy options:

  • Four Christmases — 4 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28, TBS

  • The Polar Express — 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, TNT

  • Elf — 8 and 10 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28, TBS

  • Cars, Cars 2, and Cars 3 — starting at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, Nov. 28, Freeform

  • Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas — 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday. Nov 28, Freeform

  • A Christmas Story — 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, TNT

  • Wonka — 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, TBS

  • Finding Nemo — 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, Freeform

  • National Lampoon Christmas Vacation — 8 p.m. ET on Saturday, Nov. 29, TNT

  • Christmas with the Kranks — 5, 7, and 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 30, AMC

  • Coco — 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 30, Freeform

Categories: IT General, Technology

Thanksgiving air travel: Track flight statuses, delays, and cancellation trends online

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 19:39

Well, folks, it's that time of year. Holiday cheer, a big ol' bird on the table, walking the tightrope of polite conversation, and, most horrifyingly, praying to high heavens that your Thanksgiving air travel plans go off without a hitch.

If you're one of the projected 82 million Americans traveling domestically this week, you're in luck. So far, according to USA Today, flight cancellations are low this week, despite general fears that the recent government shutdown would lead to travel woes. This comes a few weeks after the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered a 10 percent cut in flights at 40 U.S. airports due to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Thousands of air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents went to work without pay for over a month, Reuters reported at the time. But thankfully, after 43 long days, the shutdown ended just in time for Thanksgiving travel.

But the government shutdown isn't the only thing that might cause a bump in your holiday travel. The FAA expects this to be the busiest Thanksgiving travel week in 15 years, and typical weather and mechanical issues are sure to arise, particularly with winter storms moving into the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region — sorry, Chicago travelers.

How to check your flight status online

This is something you should absolutely do before you leave for the airport. There's not much worse than zipping up your suitcase, locking up your house, making the trek to the airport, and finding your way through security and to your gate only to find out you could have stayed in pajamas the whole time. Before you head to the airport, always check the airport website or your airline's website.

We also recommend downloading your airline's app, which makes it easy to check for updates on the fly. Finally, to check on a specific flight or route, you can use sites like Flight Aware and Flight Tracker. If the plane you're taking to Wichita is delayed on its way into Atlanta, these tools can help you anticipate likely delays.

Thanksgiving flight cancellation trends so far

Overall, flight cancellations are on the low side this year, according to a CNN report, but that can change fast.

Flight Tracker has a tool called the Misery Map, which shows which airports are experiencing the most delays and cancellations. As of Wednesday, Nov. 26, Chicago O'Hare International Airport has far more issues than any other airport, per Flight Tracker. The airports with the most delays and cancellations so far include:

  • Chicago O'Hare (ORD)

  • Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)

  • Los Angeles (LAX)

  • Minneapolis–Saint Paul (MSP)

  • Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

  • Denver (DEN)

  • La Guardia New York City (LGA)

  • Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX)

  • George Bush Intercontinental Airport Houston (IAH)

  • Boston Logan (BOS)

So, your flight was canceled. Now what?

If your flight is canceled, congratulations: You now have the perfect complaint to make over Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone will agree with you when you say something like, "Traveling during the holidays, am I right?"

Now you need to get to work. If you're still at home when you find out your flight is canceled, head to the airport website or your airline's website. Check if you're owed a refund or other types of compensation. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Transportation has a dashboard that shows you exactly what airlines owe you in the event of a cancellation. Check the DOT's Airline Cancellation and Delay Dashboard to make sure you get everything you're entitled to.

Next, you've got to figure out your next move. Can you take a train to your destination, or rent a car? Is there another airline you can switch to? Or are you going to take your refund, head back home, and order dinner in lieu of navigating travel? Move quickly in situations like this, as rental cars and other flights can fill up quickly.

As always, no matter what travel issue ails you this holiday season, be nice to the people airline workers trying to get you across the country. And you just might want to show up at the airport a bit earlier than usual to wade your way through the inevitable lines.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Computer components like RAM are surging in price

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 19:32

Being a consumer has been challenging over the past few years. Between a global pandemic and sweeping tariffs, wallets have taken repeated hits — but for PC hobbyists right now, it might actually be the worst moment to start building a rig.

New reporting from Ars Technica lays out just how dire the situation has become, showing that prices for essential PC components, such as RAM and SSDs, have skyrocketed. The culprit is the ongoing AI boom, with data centers reportedly consuming the world’s supply of memory and storage hardware, driving prices straight into the stratosphere.

SEE ALSO: The best SSD for gaming

Take the Patriot Viper Venom 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR5-6000 kit, which increased from $49 to $110 — a 124.5 percent rise — between August and November 2025. Or the Team Delta RGB 64GB (2 x 32GB) DDR5-6400, which skyrocketed from $190 to $700, a staggering 268.4 percent spike. At the time of this writing, the Team Delta RAM kit priced has "dropped" with its highest recent retail price topping out at a jaw-dropping $1,049 just a week ago.

SSD prices have crept upward, too, though they haven’t entered panic territory yet. RAM, however, is a different story. If you’re eyeing an upgrade, you may want to sit tight for a bit.

As Ars Technica points out, memory and storage shortages are notoriously difficult to manage because chip manufacturing depends on years of advance planning. The supply we’re dealing with today is the result of production decisions made long before the current AI-driven surge in demand. That inherent lag makes the memory market especially prone to violent price swings.

The pandemic offered a perfect example. Manufacturers were blindsided by the sudden, massive spike in demand for PCs and consumer tech in 2020 and 2021, only to watch that demand crater once buying habits normalized. PC sales soared, plummeted, then stabilized — all within a few years. Volatility like that makes long-term planning almost impossible for memory suppliers.

Until the supply of RAM catches up to the appetite of data centers and AI developers, anyone looking to boost their RAM is probably best off waiting for the market to cool down rather than paying the current premium.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Claude Opus 4.5 arrives. Here’s whats new.

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 19:21

AI company Anthropic released its latest flagship AI model, Claude Opus 4.5, this week. Opus is considered one of the best AI models out there for developers looking to ramp up their coding output or to create AI agents.

So, what does the latest model, Opus 4.5, bring to the table?

As expected, Opus 4.5 performs exceptionally well on the various AI model benchmark tests. As TechCrunch points out, Opus 4.5 is the first model to score over 80 percent on SWE-Bench verified, which the outlet calls a "respected coding benchmark."

It seems like Opus 4.5 likely becomes the preferred AI model for vibe coders as well as experienced programmers with the way it performed on these tests. And Anthropic is further driving that by bringing additional upgrades to its Claude Code product. 

SEE ALSO: Streaming just got cheaper: Score Black Friday deals on HBO Max, Apple TV, Disney+, Hulu, and more

According to Anthropic, along with Opus 4.5, Claude Code will receive two more upgrades. Anthropic says that Claude Code's Plan Mode "now builds more precise plans and executes more thoroughly" and is now available in its desktop app, which allows users to run multiple sessions at once. Anthropic provides an example of having one AI agent fix a bug while another one researches GitHub.

SEE ALSO: 85+ Black Friday deals: We found record-low prices on AirPods, MacBooks, Samsung TVs, and Kindles

In addition, Anthropic is more broadly rolling out two other products, Claude for Chrome and Claude for Excel, to more subscribers. Opus 4.5 will be able to showcase its multitasking prowess in these products as users can provide AI agents with parallel tasks in their browser or in their spreadsheets.

Opus 4.5 also brings some memory upgrades to the AI model which will now give users the ability to chat without limits. Clause will now summarize earlier conversations and will allow users to continue a single chat thread for as long as they'd like.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Rocky Linux 10.1 release brings soft reboots and new toolchains

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 19:06

Rocky Linux 10.1 is officially available for general use, bringing key features like systemd soft reboots and a massive refresh of developer toolchains. This release comes with updated installation media, cloud images, and live images.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Everything leaving Netflix in December 2025

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 19:00

Netflix giveth and Netflix taketh away. Yes, it's the end of November and that means the world's biggest streaming giant must shed some movies and TV shows to make way for all the new good stuff coming in December. That means now's the time for you to check your watchlist for any of the titles below to make sure to get them in before they're gone.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven online for free

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 19:00

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League group stage is taking shape, with Liverpool looking strong after winning three of their opening four games. They've really struggled for form of late however, so PSV Eindhoven will come into this fixture with a lot of confidence.

If you want to watch Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven?

Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Nov. 26. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven for free

Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

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

Live stream Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Ireland

  4. Visit RTÉ Player

  5. Watch Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTÉ 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 eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Liverpool vs. PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Home Depot has two viral Black Friday hits: Meet holiday R2-D2 and the Grand Duchess Christmas Tree

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 18:31

Even if it's not the most popular opinion, once Halloween is over, the Christmas season begins. The internet has already taken to showing off their holiday decor, and two Christmas items at The Home Depot have already gone viral, and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. Ahead of Black Friday 2025, the internet is buzzing about the Home Depot's Grand Duchess Twinkling Balsam Fir Christmas tree and a festive R2-D2.

Sadly, both are already sold out, as the Home Depot Black Friday sale has been going strong all week.

All hope is not lost, however. On The Home Depot's website, you can sign up for restock notifications so you can get alerts about the most sought-after Christmas decor. Here's everything to know about The Home Depot's Grand Duchess Twinkling Balsam Fir and Christmas R2-D2.

What is the viral Home Depot Christmas tree? Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot The Home Depot Grand Duchess 7.5-foot Twinkling Balsam Fir $347 at The Home Depot
  Learn More

Among artificial Christmas Trees, the gold standard are Balsam Hill trees, which are exceptional models with full statures that will make you believe they're the real thing. But here's the thing — they cost over $1,000. The Home Depot is coming for Balsam Hill's crown with its far more affordable Grand Duchess tree.

The internet is going crazy for The Home Depot Grand Duchess Twinkling Balsam Fir 7.5-foot tree. It comes with built-in lights for a round-the-clock light show that changes color at your command. It's no wonder the Grand Duchess went viral; its full boughs emulate the grandeur of Balsam Hill's trees but at a fraction of the cost. When it's available, this tree is priced at just $347.

TikTokers are excitedly convincing each other to swing for the Grand Duchess this holiday season, but I've seen some people saying even this tree is too expensive.

I know $347 may seem like a lot to spend on a Christmas Tree, but it's actually a steal if you care about quality. In another life, I tested artificial Christmas trees, and I learned that you get what you pay for. The more you spend, the more realistic the trees look — that's how Balsam Hill has stayed so successful despite their expensive trees.

So, for a tree that measures up to the best-of-the-best, the 7.5-foot-tall Grand Duchess tree is actually a holiday bargain. Unfortunately, many people have already realized that, which is why the tree is now sold out. However, you can sign up for restocks on the tree, which will hopefully be back in stock before Christmas.

What's the best alternative to the viral Grand Duchess Christmas tree? The Home Depot has a similar 7.5-foot tree in the same Home Decorator's Collection, which is still in stock in-store and online — the

Opens in a new window Credit: Home Depot The Home Depot Elegant Twinkling Grand Fir 7.5-foot Christmas Tree $399 at Home Depot
Selling fast! Get Deal The Home Depot Animated Christmas R2-D2 Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot The Home Depot Animated Christmas R2-D2 $299 at The Home Depot
  Learn More

The other viral Christmas decor from The Home Depot is for the nerds (complimentary, of course.) Star Wars fans can live out their dreams of meeting R2-D2 with this fully animated Christmas-themed model. It's an indoor decoration with five different sound effects, an LED head, and head movements to bring it to life.

This Christmas, R2-D2 is part of The Home Depot's Star Wars Christmas collection, but it's maybe the most sought-after piece in the line-up. In a viral video from Pixelated Erica, she had to travel all over to find the Christmas R2-D2 in stock, and unfortunately, it's still sold out in most places. All that to say, you can sign up for a restock notification so you can one day get your hands on the Christmas R2-D2.

And, if you have your heart set on a Star Wars Christmas decoration, the giant animatronic Christmas Chewbacca is still in stock.

Black Friday holiday decor deals from the Home Depot Opens in a new window Credit: Home Depot 7.5-foot Animated Chewbacca Christmas decoration $349 at Home Depot
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Home Depot The Home Depot Grand Duchess 9-foot Twinkling Balsam Fir $549
Almost sold out! Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Home Depot 6-foot Animatronic Christmas Stormtrooper $299 at Home Depot
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Home Depot 4-foot Inflatable Grinch in Ugly Christmas Sweater $44.98 at Home Depot
  Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Home Depot 7.5-foot Jackson Noble Fir LED Pre-Lit Artificial Christmas Tree $299 at Home Depot
  Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Photos' Archive: The misunderstood feature revealed

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 18:30

There's a common misconception about what the Archive feature in Google Photos actually does. It isn't a delete button, it doesn't recover space in your Google account, and it doesn't make images private. It's purely a way of decluttering your main Photos timeline, and it's actually pretty useful.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best $61 you can spend on a gaming keyboard this Black Friday

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 18:15

When it comes to gaming keyboards, Hall Effect and TMR are the ultimate choice. They offer the lowest latency, let you adjust the actuation point, and include a range of gaming-focused features that give you a real edge in games. Hall Effect keyboards are often expensive, with many models costing over $100.

Categories: IT General, Technology

150+ Amazon Black Friday deals: Score the best live deals on AirPods, Kindles, Legos, and TVs

Mashable - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 18:07
A glance at the best Black Friday deals at Amazon Best Apple deal Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $479 (save $120) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars: 'The Phantom Menace' Mos Espa Podrace Dioarma 75380 $50.99 at Amazon (save $19.90) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Kindle Paperwhite (16GB) $124.99 (save $35) Get Deal Best portable power station deal Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 (save $450) Get Deal Best headphones deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $298 (save $131) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199 (save $50) Get Deal Best Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 (save $18) Get Deal Best TV deal Insignia 75-inch QF QLED 4K Fire TV $399.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon (save $600) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Slushi $421.68 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

Black Friday falls on Nov. 28 this year, but that doesn't mean you need to wait until after pumpkin pie to shop. Amazon's official Black Friday sale has been underway since Nov. 20, and we're seeing a bunch of epic deals. Some of our favorite products from Bose, Apple, Anker, and Lego are on sale, in addition to Amazon devices like Kindles and the Echo lineup, plus discounts on some of our favorite gifts for 2025.

A majority of Amazon Black Friday deals are record-low prices that match or beat the deals we saw during October Prime Day. See the evidence for yourself by plugging the URL into camelcamelcamel, the Mashable shopping team's secret weapon to finding the lowest prices at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: 20+ of the best Black Friday streaming deals live: HBO Max, Apple TV+, Spotify, and more

With speedy Prime shipping, shopping Amazon's sale early could get some of your items to your doorstep before Thanksgiving even starts.

We'll be updating this page with new Amazon Black Friday deals as they drop, so keep checking back through the end of Cyber Weekend. Of course, it's worth checking out the best deals from competing retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart to make sure you're getting the best deal (we curate our lists to only include deals that are the actual best ones across retailers). If you don't feel like scrolling through all of that, you can keep up with the utmost best deals across the internet with our live deals tracker or get them texted straight to your phone.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac mini (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $479 at Amazon
$599 Save $120   Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a desktop upgrade, this is hands-down the best value you can get right now. The new Mac mini packs the M4 chip into a tiny 5-inch box, and Apple finally upped the starting RAM to 16GB (instead of the stingy 8GB of the past). That means it can actually handle heavy multitasking right out of the box.

Honorable mention: Apple deals are going hard this Black Friday. The AirPods 4 with ANC just hit a record-low price of $99.99, but they're flying off the shelves. We've seen them sell out once at Amazon already, so if they're sold out for you, you can also grab them for $99.99 at Target. These give the entry-level AirPods (currently on sale for $69.99) the nice addition of ANC, which performed so well that it earned these buds a coveted Mashable Choice Award.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC.

More Black Friday Apple deals at Amazon

AirTags

Apple Pencil

MacBooks

iPads

AirPods

Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars: 'The Phantom Menace' Mos Espa Podrace Diorama 75380 $50.99 at Amazon
$79.99 Save $29.00   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

As the year comes to a close, another heartbreaking handful of Legos are set to retire. The Mos Espa Podrace diorama from The Phantom Menace is one of them, so now is your last chance not only to find it in stock at all, but for nearly $20 off its usual price. This set is a best-seller for a reason: You get the full canyon in Tatooine scene, models of both Anakin's Podracer and Subulba's Podracer, and a special 25th anniversary plaque with a quote from Qui-Gon Jinn. It's nostalgia in brick form that any Star Wars fan should have in their collection.

More Black Friday Lego dealsBest Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124 at Amazon
$159 Save $35   Get Deal Why we like it

Down at a record-low price, the Amazon Kindle Paperwhite is Mashable's favorite Kindle. It can get up to 12 weeks of battery life before you'll need to recharge, and the 16GB storage gives plenty of room for downloaded books. Gift it to the reader in your life or snag one for yourself to stay entertained during holiday travel. It's also fully waterproof, so you can take it along to the pool or on your tropical winter vacation.

More Kindle dealsBest Amazon device deal Amazon Echo Pop $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Echo Pop.

It’s a known fact of the universe that Amazon devices get serious discounts on Black Friday (and Prime Day, for that matter). If you haven't picked up a smart speaker yet, or just need one for a random room like the laundry room or guest bath, we recommend the Echo Pop. It’s currently $21.99, which is 45% off its regular price. Unlike the spherical Echo Dot, the Pop has a flat front that makes it fit way better on shallow shelves or crowded nightstands. It’s the perfect low-stakes way to add Alexa to another corner of your house without spending "real" money.

More Black Friday Amazon device deals Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 $349 at Amazon
$799 Save $450   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2.

The new Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is one of my favorite portable power stations to hit the market this year. Anker's new Gen 2 models focus on portability, and the C1000 Gen 2 is shockingly easy to carry around at 25 pounds. It's a great model for taking to the campground or keeping in the garage in case of power outages. Thanks to Amazon's Black Friday sale, this model is down to a new record low.

More Black Friday portable power station dealsBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra (Black or Smoke White) $299
$429 Save $130   Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones (2nd Gen).

If you're looking for the most comfortable noise-cancelling headphones on the market, you want the Bose QuietComfort Ultra. As long as you're cool with black or white, they're on sale for $298. Since we spend plenty of the day listening to music, podcasts, or streaming YouTube, there's good reason to invest in a super comfortable pair. Of course, they'll make for a special gift this holiday season, or consider it a gift of self-care to get yourself through holiday travel.

More Black Friday headphones dealsBlack Friday earbuds dealsBest smartwatch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) $199.99 at Amazon
$249 Save $49.01   Get Deal Why we like it

The Apple Watch SE 3 earns the top spot on Mashable's list of the best smartwatches. The SE 3 is the first SE model to come with an always-on display. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Beck Werth wrote, "In addition to its gorgeous OLED display, it has the same S10 chip inside the Ultra 3, the same water resistance as the Series 11, and all the necessary features you're looking for in a smartwatch." All of that now comes in at under $200 thanks to this Black Friday sale at Amazon.

More Black Friday smartwatch dealsBlack Friday TV deals at Amazon Insignia 75-inch QF QLED 4K Fire TV $399.99 at Amazon
$649.99 Save $250   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

When you think of TVs on sale at Amazon, you probably think of Amazon's own Fire TVs. You're half right: The best Fire TV deal at Amazon is a Fire TV, but it's actually an Insignia (a Best Buy brand). At just $399.99 after a 38% discount, this 75-inch Insignia QLED is the cheapest 75-inch QLED TV we've seen across all Black Friday TV deals so far — that's almost $200 cheaper than the non-QLED 75-inch version of Amazon's Omni TV. And why would you settle when you could bring home the boosted quantum dot brightness for watching in the daytime?

More Black Friday TV deals43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch TVs and up85-inch TVs and upBlack Friday robot vacuum deals at Amazon Roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

This Black Friday season marks the very first time the Roborock Saros 10R has dropped below $1,000, so senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart can't help but recommend it to people — considering the Saros 10R was her favorite robot vacuum that she's ever tested for most of 2025, and is still the best robot vacuum mop combo when it comes to corner and edge mopping. (In Reddit threads about which robot vacuum everyone is looking to buy this Black Friday, the Saros 10R is mentioned multiple times.)

At 22,000 Pa of suction power, the Saros 10R is also one of the most powerful robot vacs you'll find on sale this season. Plus, the livestream pet camera will quickly become a daily staple in the routines of busy pet parents.

More Black Friday robot vacuum deals

Robot vacuum and mop combos

Robot vacuums that don't mop

Black Friday kitchen deals Ninja Slushi professional frozen drink maker (88-ounce) $421.68 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

The Ninja Slushi is a blast in any season — frozen margs in any flavor you want when it's hot, apple cider slush or gingerbread frappé when it's chilly. (Mashable Senior Shopping Reporter Leah Stodart loves her Slushi, and so do all of her friends.) A year after the first Slushi came out, Ninja released two larger capacity versions in a few fun colors. The 88-ounce model on sale for $269.99 at Amazon can make a slightly bigger batch than the original 72-ounce model, which is on sale for $249.99 at Walmart. $20 more for extra beverages and a chic green build? Sold. (If you want the purple one, it's $269.99 at Target.)

More Black Friday kitchen dealsBest Black Friday outdoor deal LifeStraw $9.49 at Amazon
$19.95 Save $10.46   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If there's one thing Mashable readers love buying on Black Friday, it’s the LifeStraw. It’s a staple of every major sales event, and for good reason. Right now, it’s back down to its Prime Day price of $9.99, which is typically the lowest it goes all year (it's usually around $20). Even if you aren't an avid hiker, this is a must-have for your home emergency kit or bug-out bag. It filters out 99.999999 percent of waterborne bacteria and parasites, so you can drink directly from a stream (or a sketchy tap) safely. At $10, it’s the ultimate practical stocking stuffer.

More early Black Friday outdoor deals Drones and action camerasOther outdoor gearBeauty tech dealsBluetooth tracker deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Your old surge protectors aren't protecting anything—it's time for a replacement

How-To Geek - Wed, 11/26/2025 - 18:00

Surge protectors protect your devices from sudden spikes in voltage caused by electrical storms, power outages, or other power-hungry devices on the same circuit. Unfortunately, these safeguards don’t last forever.

Categories: IT General, Technology
Syndicate content

eXTReMe Tracker