Blogroll
The Apple Watch Series 11 is $100 off in Walmarts early Black Friday sale
SAVE $100: As of Nov. 12, the Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for up to 25% off during Walmart's Black Friday sale. Get a GPS-only model for only $299 (normally $399) or the cellular-enabled version for $399 (typically $499).
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $299 at Walmart$399 Save $100 Get Deal at Walmart Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) $399 at Walmart
$499 Save $100 Get Deal at Walmart
Walmart's first Black Friday event just kicked off, and with it comes one of the best smartwatch deals of the holiday season (so far).
Last year's Apple Watch Series 11 is now $100 off at Walmart. Shoppers can snag a GPS-only base model with a jet black aluminum case and a black Sport Band for only $299, or 25% off. If you need one with a cellular connection, it'll cost you $399 (normally $499 — a 20% savings), and you can take your pick from four case and band combinations:
Jet black aluminum case with black Sport Band
Rose gold aluminum case with light blush Sport Band
Silver aluminum case with purple fog Sport Band
Space gray aluminum case with black Sport Band
The Series 11 earned a Mashable Choice Award for its big battery life upgrade. Compared to the Series 10 from 2024, it lasts up to six hours longer for a total of 24 hours. The brand-new Apple Watch Series 12 has the same battery life, though it charges a bit faster.
The Series 11 doesn't have the same upgraded optical and electrical sensors as the Series 12, and its processor is a generation behind. So, it doesn't support consistent heart rate readings or features like Readiness and Siri Recap. But their designs and core feature sets (via watchOS 27) are identical; the Series 11 offers hypertension notifications, a Sleep Score metric, and Workout Buddy support. It remains a good option for folks who aren't interested in the most cutting-edge health tracking tools — and those who are a little sketched out by Audio Intelligence.
How to watch Italy vs. France online for free
TL;DR: Watch Italy vs. France in the Nations League for free on TF1. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The UEFA Nations League is showcasing a number of interesting fixtures this week, but Italy vs. France is probably the pick of the bunch. There are only three points between these teams in the standings, and Italy could leapfrog France with a win at the San Siro.
If you're interested in watching Italy vs. France in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Italy vs. France?Italy vs. France in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. This fixture takes place at the San Siro.
How to watch Italy vs. France for freeItaly vs. France in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on TF1.
TF1 is geo-restricted to France, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can live stream Italy vs. France for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Italy vs. France for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in France
Visit TF1
Watch Italy vs. France for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Italy vs. France without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for TF1?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including France
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 Italy vs. France for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
How to watch Czechia vs. Spaina online for free
TL;DR: Watch Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League for free on RTVE. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The UEFA Nations League is back this week with a number of interesting fixtures, including Czechia vs. Spain. The World Cup winners are continuing their domination in this competition, winning every game. They'll expect to win this one too, but the hosts have the talent to produce a shock result.
If you're interested in watching Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Czechia vs. Spain?Czechia vs. Spain in the Nations League kicks off at 2.45 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. This fixture takes place at the Letná Stadium.
How to watch Czechia vs. Spain for freeCzechia vs. Spain in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on RTVE.
RTVE is geo-restricted to Spain, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Spain, meaning you can live stream Czechia vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Czechia vs. Spain for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in Spain
Visit RTVE
Watch Czechia vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Czechia vs. Spain without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for RTVE?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTVE, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Spain
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 Czechia vs. Spain for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
How to watch England vs. Croatia online for free
TL;DR: Watch England vs. Croatia in the Nations League for free on ITVX. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The UEFA Nations League is back this week. England could be forgiven for focusing on their upcoming clash with Spain, but first and foremost, there's the small matter of facing Croatia at Wembley Stadium. Last time these sides battled it out, England won 7-0 in a wild fixture. Surely Croatia will come out and show a little more fight this time.
If you're interested in watching England vs. Croatia in the Nations League from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is England vs. Croatia?England vs. Croatia in the Nations League kicks off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Nov. 12. This fixture takes place at Wembley Stadium.
How to watch England vs. Croatia for freeEngland vs. Croatia in the Nations League is available to live stream for free on ITVX.
ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can live stream England vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream England vs. Croatia for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK
Visit ITVX
Watch England vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch England vs. Croatia without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for ITVX?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including the UK
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 England vs. Croatia for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Nintendo reveals Black Friday 2026 deals: Save $50 on the Switch 2 and select games start at $39.99
TL;DR: Nintendo has announced plans for Black Friday in 2026: From Nov. 22 through Dec. 5, the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World bundle will be available for $499.99 ($50 off).
Have you been holding off on upgrading your handheld setup after Nintendo’s painful September hardware price hikes? You're not alone. Times are tough right now in the world of tech, but Black Friday is finally giving you a clean window to strike back.
Nintendo has officially revealed its 2026 Black Friday lineup, locking in bundle discounts and $20 price cuts across flagship games. The headline deal is undoubtedly the Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World bundle. You can pick up this popular bundle for $499.99 from Nov. 22 through Dec. 5, saving you $50 on list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 and Mario Kart World Shop NowEarly digital game deals kick off on Nintendo starting Nov. 19, followed by physical game discounts at major retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and GameStop from Nov. 22-29.
Should you wait for Black Friday to shop?The short answer is yes.
After raising the standalone Switch 2 base price to $499.99 in September, Nintendo’s Black Friday promotion effectively gives you a launch title and online access for free. Buying the console, Mario Kart World ($79.99 value), and a three-month Nintendo Switch Online membership separately would easily push your cart close to $600. That makes this $499.99 bundle deal pretty appealing.
Nintendo is also knocking $20 off some of the year’s biggest first-party physical releases, including Super Mario Galaxy + Super Mario Galaxy 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond (both Switch 2 and original Switch editions), and Kirby Air Riders.
Patience, gamers. The time to shop is coming.
3 more Ryobi tools you should buy before winter
Winter is coming, and that means it's time to start preparing. Gear up for storms, gather some firewood, and get those winter tools ready. And if you don't have any winter tools, you'll be glad to hear that Ryobi has all sorts of practical tools you'll love when the temperatures plummet.
The Pokémon TCGs Delta Reign Booster Bundle is down to a new record low on Amazon — save almost $10
TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle is on sale for $49.94 at Amazon, down from its $58.50 list price.
Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Bundle $49.94 at Amazon$58.50 Save $8.56 Get Deal at Amazon
The Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign expansion has only been out since Nov. 6, but we've already seen the Mega Evolution expansion’s six-pack Booster Bundle get cheaper than ever on Amazon — just in time for Black Friday.
As of Nov. 12, the Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Bundle can be bought for as low as $49.94 at Amazon, with $8.56 knocked off its typical $58.50 price. With 15% off, the cost of each of its six booster packs comes to $8.32. That's a sizeable drop from the $57.95 price we covered on launch day. This is officially the lowest-ever price on Amazon, confirmed with price tracker camelcamelcamel.
This new offer means Amazon’s price is only $9.62 above its estimated $40.32 market price on TCGplayer.
SEE ALSO: Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections: Live restock updates at Amazon, Walmart, and Target (Nov. 12)This deal is coming from third-party seller TOYSandmore, with delivery times ranging from Nov. 19-25 at the time of writing. However, there are other listings with speedier delivery times for just a cent more at $49.95.
You’re getting six titular Pokémon TCG packs with 10 trading cards each, with a Basic Energy and Pokémon TCG Live code card. Some of the big pulls from Delta Reign's 135-plus-card expansion include Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex, and Mega Golisopod ex.
Ray Gunn trailer: The Incredibles director Brad Bird cooks up a wild sci-fi mystery
Grab your blaster and strap on your jet pack, because Ray Gunn's new trailer is taking us on a ride to the future.
SEE ALSO: 'Ray Gunn' review: Brad Bird brings 'Incredibles' energy to his animated noir thrillerRay Gunn is the latest film from The Incredibles and Ratatouille director Brad Bird, who has been working on the story since the '90s, even before the release of his debut feature, The Iron Giant. Now, his passion project comes to life, with a star-studded cast to boot.
Sam Rockwell voices Ray Gunn, the last private eye in the sprawling city of Metropia. He and his partner, alien Eyera (voiced by Tom Waits), are strapped for cash and desperate for a new mystery to solve. They get more than they bargained for in their next case: a murder with ties to megastar Venus Nova (voiced by Scarlett Johansson).
SEE ALSO: Brad Bird takes us behind the scenes of 'Ray Gunn's massive sci-fi cityAs Ray digs deeper into the case, he finds himself deep in the criminal underbelly of Metropia — and growing closer to Venus at every second. In this dizzying blend of sci-fi and noir, will Ray be able to find the truth?
Check out the full trailer above for a closer look at the dazzling skyscrapers of Metropia, as well as airborne chase sequences, alien smackdowns, and more.
Ray Gunn premieres in select theaters Dec. 4, and hits Netflix Dec. 18.
Jensen Huang officially resigns as Nvidia CEO
For the first time in its 33-year history, Nvidia has a new CEO. Jensen Huang, who co-founded the chipmaker in 1993 and led it through the AI boom, resigned Thursday. He also stepped down as president and gave up his seat on the board, effective immediately.
Nvidia gave no reason for his departure, though we can think of a few (namely, two).
SEE ALSO: Jensen Huang Nvidia affair scandal: What we know, what we don’tFor now, the job will go to CFO of Nvidia, Colette Kress, who has run Nvidia's finances since 2013. She'll stay on as chief financial officer while serving as interim CEO, and the board will look both inside and outside the company for a permanent replacement. The board also picked longtime director Harvey C. Jones to serve as its first chair.
The announcement came a day after Nvidia's board met to discuss Huang's future. Why? Earlier Nov. 11, the Times reported that Huang had an affair with Kimberly Powell, Nvidia's vice president of healthcare and one of his direct reports. Though that wasn't the only affair.
On Sunday, Huang told employees he had been "unfaithful to my wife" without naming the person involved...but the New York Times identified her as Alice Huang (no relation), an executive at Nvidia customer Megaspeed, whom U.S. intelligence officials reportedly suspected of spying for China. China denied the allegations, and Nvidia's board, and Donald Trump, said that it had no reason to believe U.S. national security or company secrets had been compromised.
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.
Huang's departure marks the first CEO change in Nvidia's history. The company built its name selling graphics chips for gaming. Those chips went on to become central to training AI models, and under Huang, Nvidia also invested in some of the companies that buy them.
Nvidia shares fell about 10 percent in premarket trading Nov. 12 after the resignation announcement. The company is scheduled to report quarterly earnings on Tuesday, Nov. 17.
This is a developing story...
Americas sex toy shopping habits are not what youd expect
I’ve seen enough election maps since last Tuesday. Personally, I’m a little more interested in the one that tells me where people are buying sex toys and which cities prefer birthday cake-flavored lube. Lovehoney’s 2026 U.S. Sex Map (based on 12 months of sales data across 1,216 locations) does exactly that, and I’ve pulled together a few highlights below.
SEE ALSO: Lovehoney just dropped its 2026 sex toy advent calendarsYou can also type your city into the interactive tool to see its overall ranking, how it ranks for purchases in categories like vibrators and bondage gear, and its customers’ favorite lube flavor. The tool has two search fields, so you can compare cities side by side. Naturally, I looked up Wilmington, NC (where I currently live). It ranks 171st out of 1,216 locations, and strawberry is the favorite lube flavor. Interesting...def keeping that info on the back burner.
Before anyone starts making assumptions about their neighbors, though, this is shopping data, not a survey of Americans’ sex lives. It tells us what customers bought from one retailer — not how often they have sex, how satisfied they are, or who they voted for.
Boston has entered the chatBoston takes first place in Lovehoney’s overall city rankings (by product purchases), followed by Somerville, Massachusetts; Reston, Virginia; Bozeman, Montana; and Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The rest of the top 10 includes Blacksburg, Virginia; Royal Oak, Michigan; Fairbanks, Alaska; Boulder, Colorado; and State College, Pennsylvania.
Massachusetts also shows up multiple times in the category awards. Somerville wins for dildo purchases, Boston for strap-ons, and Cambridge for both male sex toys and condoms. All four nominees in the dildo category (Boston, Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville) are in Massachusetts. You know what, good for them.
Charleston outranks Vegas by a long shotCharleston ranks 143rd overall, while Las Vegas comes in at 891st. This surprised me. I would’ve expected a place called Sin City to rank a little higher, but once I thought about it, Vegas does have more sex toy shops than Charleston, so maybe people are just buying local. Again, good for them.
Lube deserves its own mapStrawberry is the most popular lubricant flavor nationally, followed by bubblegum, cherry, peach, and birthday cake. At the city level, bubblegum is Wichita's favorite, while Des Moines prefers birthday cake. Strawberry is a fave in Atlanta, Charleston, Charlotte, Columbus, Las Vegas, and Houston.
I’m not sure what I expected from a regional breakdown of lubricant flavors, but Des Moines choosing birthday cake wasn’t it.
Vermont is buying smaller dildosVermont takes Lovehoney’s “Sexiest State” title (the one that buys the most products of all), but it also has the smallest average dildo length in the 2026 state table, at 6.56 inches. Montana has the largest average at 6.98 inches, compared with the reported national average of 6.71 inches. No state’s average exceeds seven inches this year.
Virginia’s shopping list includes bondage gear and nipple clampsArlington, Virginia, wins Lovehoney’s bondage-purchasing category, while Fairfax takes the lingerie title and Reston leads for nipple clamps. Reston also ranks third overall among cities. Virginia, it turns out, appears in several very different parts of the shopping report.
There's a lot more in the map than I can reasonably get into here, so go ahead and look up your city. Then your hometown. Then wherever your ex moved to. Just remember that a shopping cart doesn’t tell you everything about a person, let alone an entire city.
3 good reasons to replace Bash with Zsh
If you use the terminal a lot, you can probably understand the frequent pain of typing out long commands. Bash's tab completion is ineffective, file paths are tedious to write, and typos are a persistent annoyance. I have three good reasons why Zsh addresses these and boosts your terminal workflow.
You can still get unlimited Google Photos storage with a $100 original Pixel
If you take a lot of photos on your phone, there's a good chance you also pay for cloud storage to keep them safe. After all, having all those memories automatically backed up to Google Photos or some other service is worth a few bucks a month for the peace of mind.
Hands-on: The Apple HomeView is gorgeous, costs $299, and has no App Store
The Apple HomeView finally arrives on doorsteps (and in Apple Stores) on Friday, and I think this gorgeous little smart display is about to become a common sight in homes around the world. I've been testing the HomeView ahead of its release, and I would definitely recommend it to homeowners, parents, and anyone looking for Christmas gift ideas.
From the moment I saw the HomeView up close, I've had a premonition: Apple is going to sell a million of these things. And after adding it to my own home, I'm even more confident in that prediction.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple HomeView smart display $289.99 at Amazon$299.99 Save $10 Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple HomeView smart display (wall-mounted) $299 at Amazon
Shop Now at Amazon
As a product reviewer, you get a sixth sense for this. The last time I felt this way about a product? Back in March, when Apple debuted the MacBook Neo, which proved to be extremely popular.
Is the Apple HomeView really worth $300? Good for fans of Apple Music, bad for Spotify users. Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableFor someone like me, who lives in a one-bedroom New York City apartment and tries not to think about whether or not I'll ever be able to afford a down payment, the Apple HomeView is an awesomely unnecessary sidekick. Personally, I'd buy an iPad stand before a HomeView, but YMMV. However, for my parents, my big sister, and my better-off friends who do own their own homes, I would definitely recommend this device.
For upper-income homeowners, the HomeView is a beautiful digital butler for the modern smart abode. (Side note: Apple products have always been high-end, but after the latest price increases, it feels more and more like a luxury brand to me.) If you plan on investing in Apple's other new smart home gadgets — the new Apple TV 4K, HomePod Mini 2, new home security cameras, and video doorbells — I'd even say the HomeView is a necessity.
Thanks to the Apple Home app, you can use the HomeView to adjust smart thermostats, view live security camera footage, dim the lights, and turn connected devices on or off. An intercom function lets you use connected speakers to send messages around the house. For this type of user, the wall-mounted model is ideal, though the mount is sold separately and brings the total to $378.99. For those of you who can afford all those smart home gadgets, why not get a HomeView for your entryway and your kitchen? I suspect many wealthy homeowners will do exactly that.
The HomeView doesn't just act as a smart home hub. You can also listen to Apple Music, watch Apple TV, FaceTime with family, browse for recipes in Safari, and check your Apple calendar. The App Store is conspicuously missing, so Safari is your only option for services like YouTube, Gmail, TikTok, and Disney+. (The HomeView runs on its own custom OS that Apple calls HomeView software.) That lack of apps is the biggest problem with the HomeView so far.
But if you're already a happy little pea in the iOS pod, you can get a lot done with Apple's own apps and widgets, and I think the HomeView justifies its $299 price for the right user.
The Apple HomeView has a near-perfect design The Apple HomeView has a ton of clockfaces to appreciate. Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableAfter Apple announced the HomeView, I said on Mashable's Instagram that this was a 10/10 product design. I might revise that down to 9.5/10, as it does have larger bezels than most modern displays. But I'm still enamored with the design.
View this post on InstagramThe HomeView actually comes in two models: one with a domed speaker base and an adjustable hinge for the display, and a wall-mounted version. Whether you set it on your kitchen counter or mount it in your entryway, it looks beautiful. For this review in progress, I'm going to focus on the speaker version I tested, which I also think will have a wider appeal.
The HomeView has no internal battery and and must be connected to a power adapter. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Wall-mounted Apple HomeView on display. Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableThe HomeView has a premium design, with a recycled aluminum body and a stainless steel adjustable hinge for the display. It has perforations on the bottom of the display and speaker base for audio, and a camera and sensor in the upper bezel. The 7-inch Liquid Retina display looks clear and bright whether you're catching up on the latest Silo cliffhanger on Apple TV or admiring the lava lamp-inspired home screen.
The Apple HomeView with my latest origami friends. Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableThe HomeView defaults to a swirling abstract clock face that responds to light and movement. The shapes on the display will darken in low light and track your movements. Like the opening/closing animation on the iPhone Duo, it's the kind of subtle design flex that reminds you Apple does consumer tech design better than anyone. You can also cycle through a variety of widgets and clock faces at your leisure.
The Apple HomeView has some cool tricks (plus Siri AI) The recipe tool on the Apple HomeView smart display. Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableApple's new smart display may lack third-party apps, but Apple taught it some pretty cool tricks. The HomeView recognizes up to six people in your household by face and voice (if they have a connected iPad or iPhone running iOS 27.2). So, when you step up to the HomeView, it instantly pulls up your messages, your calendar, and your preferences. But if your husband or wife walks up to it, they'll see their own information, or personal context, as Apple calls it.
What about visitors? Settings for unrecognized visitors let you toggle off explicit content, device control, and sensitive data, protecting the family's privacy.
The HomeView also has a custom recipe experience, which recognizes a recipe on Safari and breaks it down into simple lists of ingredients and steps. (I'm not sure how recipe writers will feel about this feature, but it's undeniably useful.) And if you don't have a smart thermostat, the HomeView has its own temperature and humidity sensors.
The HomeView also makes good use of the new Siri AI beta. When you say, "Hey, Siri...," the new Siri logo drops from the top bezel with a nifty teardrop animation. But if you've tried the new Siri AI, then you know it's still not done cooking. Siri sometimes makes stupid mistakes, though in general, the combination of broad world knowledge and personal context results in useful answers to my questions.
The Siri AI teardrop animation on Apple HomeView. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable ...almost there Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableSiri AI has been improving with each OS update, and hopefully that continues to be true.
The Apple HomeView speakers and camera are fineLike most new Apple products, the HomeView has a 12MP Center Stage camera for video calls. It works well enough for FaceTime calls, which is good, because that's its main job.
The Liquid Retina display angle can be adjusted. Credit: Timothy Werth / MashableI did find the speakers a little disappointing. Because the HomeView is more speaker-shaped than a MacBook, I expected more from it. The new MacBook Pro PROLED has much better speakers, for instance. I found the bass disappointing, not in terms of volume, but in depth and mix.
The speaker system isn't bad exactly. It's just not quite as good as I expected. But for jamming out to music while you work or cook, it's just like the Center Stage camera: good enough.
What about privacy?Look, there's no way around this fact: If you're a privacy-sensitive person, adding another camera and microphone to your home isn't a good idea. Not because Apple is using your data or accessing the camera in inappropriate ways, but purely on principle. The HomeView would benefit from a physical switch that blocks the camera and shuts off the microphone, however.
Unfortunately for our privacy, most of us already have plenty of devices with cameras and microphones planted all over our homes. So, it comes down to personal preference.
The top bezel hides the Center Stage camera. Credit: Timothy Werth / Mashable Apple HomeView smart display: Just the specsProcessor: Apple A18 chip
Colors: Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink, and Space Gray
Memory: 8GB RAM
Display Panel: 7-inch Liquid Retina display
Resolution: 1,088 x 1,088 at 220 ppi
Display Brightness: Up to 500 nits (0.3 nits minimum brightness)
Power: Wired USB-C 30W power adapter (wall-mounted model comes with 20W power adapter)
Connectivity: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0, Thread
Camera: 12MP Center Stage camera
Microphones: 4-microphone array
Audio: 2 full-range drivers, 1 down-firing woofer, and 2 passive radiators (wall-mounted model has two custom full-range drivers)
Spatial Audio: Yes
Dolby Atmos: Yes
Sensors: Temperature, humidity, ambient light, and accelerometer
System Requirements: Setup requires an iPhone running iOS 27.2 or an iPad running iPadOS 27.2
Dimensions: 5.73 inches × 6.82 inches × 5.13 inches (wall-mounted model is 5.73 × 5.73 × 0.39 inches)
Weight: 2.1 pounds (wall-mounted model weighs 0.63 pounds)
Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today.
Tesla to keep producing Cybertrucks until the end of next summer
The Cybertruck saga continues. Days after Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the company would wind down production of its electric pickup, he's backtracking that decision, but not by much.
Last week, Musk said Tesla will stop producing Cybertrucks at Gigafactory Texas "around the middle of next year." Given that it's the only factory where Cybertrucks are manufactured, that meant the end of the road for the Cybertruck, with the company using the production capacity for its autonomous taxi car, the Cybercab.
Musk quickly followed up by saying that the demand for Cybertruck is strong and that the order rate "far exceeds" the company's production rate. "We will try to make as many as possible before shutting down the line in about 8 months," he wrote on X.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Counting from the day he said it (early November 2026), that would mean ending production in early June 2027.
Now, however, Musk says Tesla will extend that deadline by a couple of months.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."In order to work through more of the Cybertruck order backlog, production will be extended through the end of summer 2027," he wrote on X.
"This is not the smartest move from a profit-maximizing standpoint btw, but there must be some room in this world for sentimentality or what’s the point," he added.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk insists Cybertruck demand is strong as Tesla scraps itIt's odd to call the move "working through the backlog," as Cybertruck can still be ordered on Tesla's U.S. website, though only in select configurations. Moreover, the company actually raised prices of the Cybertruck on the day Musk announced it would be winding down production.
Still, this should mean that more people who have already ordered the Cybertruck will actually get their car. That's a good thing, right?
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.
Featured Video For You How F1 became a global obsessionPut Michael B. Jordans The Thomas Crown Affair trailer in the Louvre to be stolen
The Thomas Crown Affair has always sat heavy atop my art heist film list, both the 1968 Steve McQueen/Faye Dunaway version and the 1999 Pierce Brosnan version. And if Michael B. Jordan wants to rekindle this affair, directing his own version with a screenplay by Drew Pearce and Jason Hall, put it in the Louvre to be stolen (too soon? too late?).
The Oscar-winning Sinners star leads the chase as the titular global art thief, alongside Adria Arjona, Lily Gladstone, Danai Gurira, Kenneth Branagh, and Pilou Asbæk. Sure, masterpieces are a steal, but there's more on the line for Thomas Crown: REVENGE! No ceiling is safe from the furious air-punching I'm about to execute.
If anyone needs me I'll be flirting over espresso and waiting for this movie to get here.
The Thomas Crown Affair hits cinemas March 5, 2027.
Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts.
3 Home Assistant projects to build tiny dashboards this weekend (Nov 13–15)
I'm not a fan of wall-mounted tablets as Home Assistant dashboards. While they might look pretty, in order to use them, you have to be standing right in front of them, which isn't always ideal. An alternative is to build small dashboards using cheap touchscreen panels, which you can then place around your home where you actually need them.
Windows 11's new photo search is making me stop organizing my photos
For years, I thought good photo management meant good organization. The larger my photo library became, the more time I spent creating folders, albums, and filing systems that I assumed I'd eventually need.
Legos Pikachu and Poké Ball has dropped to a new low price at Amazon — save $40.04 before Black Friday
SAVE OVER $40: As of Nov. 12, the Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball set has dropped to its lowest-ever price of $159.95 at Amazon. That's $40.04 off its full price of $199.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Pokémon Pikachu and Poké Ball $159.95 at Amazon$199.99 Save $40.04 Get Deal at Amazon
Early Black Friday deals are already trickling in for Pokémon fans, including a few price cuts on select Lego sets.
If your eyes have been set on the delightful Pikachu and Poké Ball set as a must-have build for your collection, you'll want to grab your wallet: Amazon's knocked it down to a new low price ahead of its Black Friday sale.
As of Nov. 12, this set is available to shop for $159.95, just over $40 off its usual cost of $199.99. For a build that launched earlier this year, a deal like this is rare.
SEE ALSO: The Black Friday 2026 countdown is on: Our top 7 hacks for finding the best dealsThis Pikachu and Poké Ball set comes with a total of 2,050 bricks that create the iconic Electric-type Pokémon leaping from a Poké Ball atop a lightning bolt-shaped base. That's just one way you can have it modeled, though. Pikachu can also be set up in a resting pose with the Poké Ball closed, if you want to change it up. Plus, the Pikachu figure's ears and limbs are posable.
The display base also features a little nod to Pikachu's Pokédex number, with the number "25" formed from Lego studs. Keep in mind its age rating is 18+, meaning it's geared towards adults. Kids can still get in on the fun with help.
There's no need to wait for Black Friday to save on this build. Act fast to score the Lego Pikachu and Poké Ball set at its lowest-ever price on Amazon.
PS5 and PS5 Pro Black Friday deals 2026: What to realistically expect
TL;DR: Standalone PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro discounts look unlikely for Black Friday 2026. Expect Sony's real savings to center on game-bundled consoles, DualSense controllers, and PlayStation Store deals.
If you are holding out for Black Friday on Nov. 27 to finally buy a PlayStation 5, it is time to set some realistic expectations.
Last year's Black Friday sale was a banner event for Sony shoppers, bringing $100+ markdowns and free pack-in games across almost the entire lineup. This year, however, the gaming market looks completely different, and expecting a repeat of 2025's record-low prices will set you up for disappointment.
Between a global RAM shortage that pushed Sony to raise console prices and the Nov. 19 launch of GTA 6, deep standalone console discounts are largely off the table. That does not mean you cannot save money on PlayStation gear during Thanksgiving week — you just have to know where the real deals will show up.
SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' on PS5 vs. Xbox: What we knowDriven by rising memory costs from the AI boom and supply chain pressures, Sony officially raised U.S. retail prices across its entire console lineup on April 2. Today, the PS5 Slim Digital Edition starts at $599.99, the PS5 Slim Disc Edition sits at $649.99, and the flagship PS5 Pro retails for $899.99.
Even if Sony or major retailers like Walmart, Best Buy, and Target shave $50 to $100 off a PS5 Slim during Black Friday week, those sale prices will simply bring the console back down to what it used to cost before April. Meanwhile, standalone discounts on the PS5 Pro look practically nonexistent.
The Pro is already largely sold out across major U.S. stores ahead of GTA 6 launch day, so a realistic Black Friday "win" for Pro shoppers is simply catching an official restock at regular list price rather than paying third-party reseller markups.
Where you can save on PS5 hardwareIf Sony does anything for PS5 consoles during Black Friday week, expect game bundles rather than raw price cuts. Sony loves keeping the console at full sticker price while tossing in a free pack-in game voucher — which is nice if you wanted the game anyway, but not much help if you just want a cheaper console.
To actually pay less out of pocket, look at PlayStation Direct's certified refurbished lineup. Sony currently sells official refurbished PS5 Slim models for $100 less than new units ($499.99 for Digital, $549.99 for Disc), making them the most reliable way to dodge this year's price hikes without risking sketchy third-party sellers.
Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation 5 (Certified Refurbished) Shop Now at PlayStation Direct Early PlayStation Store deals are already liveWhile console hardware stays stubbornly expensive, Sony has already kicked off the digital side of its holiday promotion. The official PlayStation Store Black Friday sale launched on Nov. 4 and runs through Nov. 30, knocking up to 75% off thousands of PS5, PS4, and PS VR2 games, expansions, and DLC.
Sony is also scheduled to refresh the lineup with new titles on Nov. 16 (before select early offers wrap up on Nov. 20). Sony's initial Black Friday announcement made zero mention of hardware or console discounts, reinforcing that its biggest holiday push is centered on software rather than cutting console prices. If you want to browse the top digital markdowns live right now, check out our full roundup of the best early Black Friday PlayStation deals.
DualSense wireless controllers are also consistently Sony's most dependable Black Friday discount. Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and PlayStation Direct discount standard and colored DualSense gamepads during Black Friday week, offering decent savings on one of the few PlayStation essentials that reliably go on sale every November.
You can also expect price drops on physical copies of first-party PS5 exclusives, as well as Sony's annual discount on 12-month PlayStation Plus memberships.
Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller $74 at AmazonShop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Sony PlayStation Plus Shop Now at PlayStation Should you buy now or wait for Black Friday?
Let your gaming calendar decide when you buy. If you want a PS5 Pro or need a console hooked up to your TV for GTA 6 on Nov. 19, grab one at standard retail price the moment you spot legitimate inventory — waiting for a holiday discount will only leave you fighting empty shelves.
If you are hunting down stock right now, check out our guide to the best console deals ahead of GTA 6 to see which retailers still have units available at retail price.
On the other hand, if you are shopping for a December holiday gift, picking up extra DualSense controllers, or stocking up on games, waiting until Thanksgiving week to see what bundles and accessory markdowns drop is the smarter play.
Samsung P9 USB4 portable SSD review: 4GB/s speeds that hold up on long transfers
If you're a video editor, photographer, or other power user that needs ultra-fast portable storage, the options are relatively limited. Samsung's latest P9 USB4 External Solid-State Drive changes that, though, with up to 4,000MB/s transfer rates.


