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The best memes of 2024

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 11:00

Memes are becoming an increasingly rare breed on the internet. (Thanks, Elon.)

You see, though Elon Musk — Tesla billionaire and head of X / Twitter — might consider himself a memelord, he's done more than anyone to kill the genre. Musk has fractured the user base from Twitter's halcyon posting days and has generally made the platform less usable, unreliable, more prone to conspiracy, and a less enjoyable place to hang out online. Bluesky, X's chief competition, has taken off in recent months but still hasn't reached Twitter's former ubiquity.

SEE ALSO: From yap to pookie, 2024's most viral internet slang defined

So, in turn, we get fewer good memes. Back in the day, Twitter was the source for all the memes that would eventually spread to Instagram and beyond. TikTok has filled that void to some degree, but it is, by definition, a less centralized platform because of its addictive and incredibly algorithmic FYP.

Still, there are good memes out there. We've collected some of the funniest, best, and most prevalent memes from the year — since we are somehow nearly through all of 2024.

The smoking duck

A duck smoking a joint? Sure, why not?

Yes, a cartoon duck smoking has been one of the biggest memes of 2024. As Mashable's Elena Cavender wrote, it has often been posted with resonant song lyrics or alongside moments of vindication. It makes sense. The duck looks, for lack of a better description, very chill and content. It's nodding and enjoying itself — as if it's saying, "I told you so."

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Of course, the meme only grew from there. But it has been a top-tier meme of 2024.

Dune: Part Two memes. Lots of them.

Dune: Part Two has been the year's biggest movie. Therefore, it has inspired lots of memes. Perhaps chief among them were the Lisan al Gaib jokes. This is a mild spoiler, but that was the term given to Paul Atreides in his...let's say, ill-conceived...quest to become a savior. Stilgar, the Fremen character played by Javier Bardem, would yell that out every time Paul did something impressive. And the internet quickly turned it into a meme.

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There were other Dune jokes, including lots about that (odd) popcorn bucket, but the Lisan Al Gaib meme stuck around.

SEE ALSO: The internet is just as obsessed with Lisan al Gaib as Stilgar is with Paul Atreides in 'Dune: Part Two' Remember Josh wine?

It might've been the most unlikely meme of the year: Josh Cellars wine. It was pretty simple, however. A guy on X bragged about buying Josh wine, and people found the name hilarious online.

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So, yes, that was a thing. And you know what...it is funny that there is a wine called Josh. It just is. And it was a good meme.

"Mama, kudos for saying that"

A meme emerged from a mantra from the latest season of RuPaul's Drag Race. That mantra (and meme) was, "Mama, kudos for saying that."

It was a perfect, flippant quip that became a meme.

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The quote got inserted into famous film and TV scenes because it's so silly and wonderful. It takes a big moment and makes it hilariously glib.

SEE ALSO: 'Mama, kudos for saying that' is the internet's new favorite reaction Tinashe gets nasty, and we're all matching freaks.

This is new, but Tinashe's catchy song "Nasty" has created great memes about folks finding (or wanting) a person who matches their freak.

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It's a great meme because it's hilarious to point out the people who've had their freak matched.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Hot dog yells! Yes, that was a thing.

There was a period on TikTok when folks would ask someone to share how they would yell out to sell hotdogs in a stadium. Honestly, it seems some people missed out on their true calling. It's as if a whole world of folks had been waiting to be asked that question.

Tweet may have been deleted Ayo Edebiri is Irish??

OK, no, the actress from The Bear is not Irish. But she is hilarious and did start a meme about herself by randomly claiming Irishness. The internet, and Ireland itself, ran with it.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: Is Ayo Edebiri Irish? A guide to the internet's best joke. A golfer got arrested, and the internet had jokes.

Scottie Scheffler is the best golfer in the world and is currently on a run of winning unseen since Tiger Woods' peak. At the PGA Championship in Louisville, however, he was arrested by a police officer seemingly overzealous in his pursuit of upholding traffic patterns. The internet responded with great memes because Scheffler is about the most milquetoast man in existence and the last person you'd expect to be embroiled in such a situation.

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By the way, the charges were dropped.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck became a meme, which could mean nothing.

It's a long-held internet tradition that folks would ship the famous actors and best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. TikTok got in on the action this year, primarily relying on the phrase "which could mean nothing." That phrase was lifted from an old Lainey Gossip headline about Damon not wearing his wedding ring while hanging out with Affleck. People now use "which could mean nothing" to suggest the two are in romantic love heavily. Fancams and compilations of the two A-listers have been accompanied by "which could mean nothing.

Those TikTok memes traveled elsewhere online, as these things tend to do.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Emptying your bank account for Oasis tickets

Liam and Noel Gallagher, the famously short-tempered brothers who make up Oasis, announced a reunion tour in 2025 after 15 years of feuding. It's a long-awaited tour that many folks thought would never happen. With the consistently staggering prices for stadium tours, many folks online joked about what it would cost to see Oasis before they inevitably break up again.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted So much Moo Deng

There was a stretch of time in 2024 where everything, everywhere, focused on a baby pygmy hippo. Moo Deng of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand captured the internet's heart.

SEE ALSO: Why we’re all in love with a little hippo named Moo Deng

She's adorable, always damp, and a bit naughty. The memes were immediate.

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Moo Deng got so big that Bowen Yang played her on SNL.

"In da club, we all fam"

TikTok seemingly discovered just how ridiculous and funny (and ridiculously funny, for that matter) Broad City was. A strange, specific quote from Ilana Glazer in the show — "In da club, we all fam" — went viral on TikTok and birthed a meme.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted "Very demure, very mindful"

TikTokker Jools LeBron had the world using the word "demure" for a lot of the year. She went mega-viral for her hilarious, creative way of using the phrase to describe her life. Did the word demure then become meme'd and overused into oblivion? Of course. But it was certainly one of the top memes of 2024.

SEE ALSO: 'Very demure' demonstrates TikTok's ability to shape modern language Tweet may have been deleted Hawk Tuah

It's unclear if Hawk Tuah is a meme. But it was such a thing that we included it regardless. In case you were living under a rock, hawk tuah is the phrase viral sensation Haliey Welch used to describe well...spittin' on that thang...during a sexually suggestive street interview in Nashville.

Since then, she's sold merch, launched a podcast (Talk Tuah), and inspired countless jokes and memes.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Holding space...

One final, popular meme surfaced just before 2024 wrapped up. The press tour for Wicked was expansive and produced a funny little meme just as the musical hit theaters. Tracy E. Gilchrist of Out Magazine told stars Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo that "people are taking the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity' and really holding space with that and holding power in that."

Tweet may have been deleted SEE ALSO: Are you holding space for the lyrics of 'Defying Gravity?'

Gilchrist's tone was so sincere, and the phrasing so particular, that it became a meme.

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Sure, 2024 hasn't been the best year for memes. But it has been pretty good — and there's always the hope that 2025 produces meme excellence.

Want more of the best of 2024? Join Mashable as we look back at all the viral TikTok songs, internet slang, movies, hyped-up hardware, video games, scientific discoveries, dating trends, social media apps, and more that have delighted and amazed us this year.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 3

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 10:53

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for December 3 Here's a hint for today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Sin

  • Green: Crummy

  • Blue: Hoops no more here

  • Purple: Horses

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

  • Yellow: Transgression

  • Green: Not at One’s Best

  • Blue: Former NBA Cities

  • Purple: Triple Crown Winners

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections Sports Edition #68 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today
  • Transgression - FOUL, INFRACTION, PENALTY, VIOLATION

  • Not at One’s Best - COLD, OFF, OUT OF FORM, RUSTY

  • Former NBA Cities - BUFFALO, KANSAS CITY, SEATTLE, VANCOUVER

  • Triple Crown Winners - CITATION, JUSTIFY, OMAHA, SECRETARIAT

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

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

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for December 3

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 10:53

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Lead the way

These words are used to light the way.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are what you'd hold at the front of a dark path.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Illumination.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 3
  • Torch

  • Candle

  • Headlamp

  • Lantern

  • Flashlight

  • Illumination

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jon Stewart shares his honest thoughts about Biden pardoning Hunter

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 10:52

The Thanksgiving weekend has been dominated by news of President Joe Biden pardoning his son Hunter — who was due to face imminent sentencing for federal gun violations and tax charges — after saying repeatedly that he wouldn't do it. Needless to say, Jon Stewart had thoughts.

"Look man, the Democrats made this case an example of why Americans should believe in our system," the Daily Show host says in the monologue above. "And it's hard — Democrats have the tougher road of defending our institutions and systems as being flawed but still valuable; Republicans just run on blowing this shit up. But at every turn, Democrats keep getting caught creating a purity test for a system they can't seem to pass themselves."

Stewart goes on to run through some quick examples of this, from Biden having classified documents in his garage after condemning Donald Trump for doing something similar to Biden fist-bumping Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after condemning him over the killing of journalist Jamal Kashoggi.

"Rules, loopholes, and norms — the difference between the systems Democrats say they are revering and the one that they're using when they need to is why people think it's rigged," says Stewart. "Use the rules, use the loopholes, f*** the norms, but also use it to help the people. Not just those people related to you."

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for December 3, 2024

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 10:51

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Tuesday, December 3, 2024:

AcrossPhysicians' degrees
  • The answer is MDs.

Good name for a theology professor
  • The answer is Faith.

Space-related prefix
  • The answer is Astro.

Still in bed
  • The answer is NotUp.

Garden figurine in a pointy hat
  • The answer is Gnome.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 3 DownWorker with bricks and mortar
  • The answer is Mason.

"Me, too!"
  • The answer is Ditto.

Play, as a mandolin
  • The answer is Strum.

One of two in a king cobra's mouth
  • The answer is Fang.

Good name for an optimist
  • The answer is Hope.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Categories: IT General, Technology

13 best websites to analyze your Spotify data

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 10:44

Mining your own Spotify data is like accessing a musical window into your soul. What genre do you listen to the most? How obscure are your favorite artists? And, wait, you listened to "Alone" by Heart how many times!?

We've scoured the corners of the internet and collected our 13 favorite websites that analyze your Spotify data. So if you're the type of person who spends your days counting down to Spotify Wrapped or who regularly analyzes your listening habits to understand yourself better, you'll love these clever tools.

SEE ALSO: Got your Spotify Wrapped? Treat it like a shopping list.

A heads up that each of these websites requires you to log in to your Spotify and grant the website access to your Spotify data, and we've included directions at the bottom for how to remove each site's access once you've tried them out.

1. Stats for Spotify

Stats for Spotify is a classic Spotify data analyzer. It shows you your top tracks, artists, and genres organized by the previous four weeks, last six months, and all time. It also shows how your top tracks, artists, and genres have changed since the last time you used Stats for Spotify.

2. How Bad is Your Spotify

How Bad is Your Spotify is an AI tool that judges your music taste. It gained popularity in December 2020 for its snarky roasts of users' listening habits.

Don't judge me. Credit: Screenshot: How Bad Is Your Spotify 3. Instafest

Instafest generates a personalized music festival lineup of your most-listened artists on Spotify. The more you listen to an artist the larger their name will appear on your lineup. It was created by USC student Anshay Saboo. You can choose a festival based on your top artists from the past month, the past six months, or of all time. You can also switch up the aesthetics of the graphic, which is stylized to look like a festival poster. So, who are your headlining acts?

Who wouldn't buy a ticket. Credit: Screenshot: Instafest 4. Icebergify (aka the Spotify Iceberg)

Icebergify grabs the top 50 artists of your short-term, medium-term, and long-term listening trends and organizes them by their popularity or obscurity. If the artist is super popular (think Beyonce), they'll be at the tippy-top. But if you listen to a lot of Antichrist Siege Machine, they'll be closer to the bottom. The tool may also pull in musicians you haven't listened to in a few months, and if you don't listen to any artists in a certain level of popularity, the level will show up blank.

Three very brave staffers at Mashable (Christianna Silva, Crystal Bell, Tim Marcin) share their iceberg results. Credit: Credit: Screenshot / Icebergify / Christianna Silva, Crystal Bell, Tim Marcin 5. Obscurify

Like Icebergify, Obscurify tells you how obscure the music you listen to is compared to other Obscurify users. It'll also show you your top five obscure artists and will rate your music's happiness, danceability, and energy compared to other users.

6. Spotify Pie

"Bake your monthly genre pie" with this website created by UCLA student Darren Huang. Spotify Pie analyzes your Spotify listening and organizes it into a highly sharable pie chart of all the genres you've listened to in the last month. Below the chart, the website reveals your most-listened-to genres and your top artists of the month, too.

Credit: Spotify Pie Credit: Spotify Pie 7. Volt.fm

Volt.fm is a great tool for the music lovers who like to know all their stats. You can see your top artists, songs, and albums but also more nuanced data like number of players, most active hours for listening, and number of plays.

8. Discover Quickly

Discover Quickly sorts your playlists, top songs, and top artists by different criteria, like popularity and danceability. It also lists all of Spotify's wildly specific genres like "deep metalcore," "acid house," and "charred death." The tool will make you a playlist of that genre or can generate a playlist of songs of a random genre.

9. MusicScape

MusicScape generates a landscape based on the tracks you've recently listened to, taking their mood, mode, energy, and key into consideration to create something unique to your sonic palette.

What does your musicScape look like? Credit: Screenshot: musicscape 10. MusicTaste.Space

MusicTaste.Space is fun because it allows you to compare your listening with another Spotify user. Just send a friend the link on the homepage and it will show you all the overlap between your top songs and top artists.

11. Receiptify

Receiptify transforms your favorite songs into a cute little receipt of your musical taste. Choose your top tracks of the last month, last six months, or of all time.

Receiptify gives you an Insta Story ready list of your top songs. Credit: Screenshot: Receiptify 12. How NPRcore Are You

How NPRcore Are You analyzes how closely your music taste aligns with NPR music. Pick a time period and this tool will tell you what percent NPRcore you are or which of your top tracks and artists are most NPRcore.

13. Moodify

Moodify makes AI-generated playlists based on the mood of the song you're currently listening to.

How to unlink your Spotify

After you've had your fun poking around your data, you can easily unlink your account from each site by going to Spotify app settings and selecting "Remove Access."

Categories: IT General, Technology

Spotify Wrapped 2024: When it comes out, how to see yours

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 10:37

Spotify users look forward to their Wrapped all year long. And for those who can hardly wait, don't fret: Spotify Wrapped 2024 is nearly here.

What is Spotify Wrapped?

Started in 2016, Spotify Wrapped is exactly what it sounds like: your year in Spotify, neatly wrapped up in a colorful — and uniquely shareable — interactive experience.

Spotify combs through your data and tells you your top artists, songs, albums, and more. For instance, you might find out you were in the Top 1 percent of Selena Gomez listeners. Spotify also creates a playlist of your Top 100 songs of the year.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Spotify Wrapped 2024 Tweet may have been deleted When will Spotify Wrapped be released in 2024?

The short answer: The exact date is a surprise. Spotify has never confirmed it, and let's face it — they probably never will. But we do know Spotify Wrapped will likely arrive quite soon.

It'll certainly come out the week after Thanksgiving. In 2023, it came out the Wednesday after Thanksgiving. So keep that in mind.

Tweet may have been deleted How to view your Spotify Wrapped

It's pretty simple to look at your Wrapped once it is released. All you have to do is open the app on your phone and click on the correct "Wrapped" icon. Typically speaking, it'll be a little button across a hard-to-miss banner. You can also go to the Wrapped section of the Spotify website.

And, of course, once you do view your Wrapped there's only one thing to do: share it with the internet, as has become obligatory.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew review: Star Wars meets Goonies proves a winning combination

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 09:01

How do you bring childlike wonder back to Star Wars, a franchise whose TV offerings are currently plagued with mindless fan service and unfortunate creative decisions? According to Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, the answer is quite simple: Put the focus on actual children.

SEE ALSO: All 12 Star Wars movies, ranked from worst to best

The latest Star Wars series, created by Spider-Man: Homecoming director Jon Watts and writer Chris Ford, meshes the wonders of the Galaxy Far, Far Away with the daring kids and treasure-hunting shenanigans of The Goonies. The formula, while simple, works wonders. Skeleton Crew proves charming as can be, with its classic adventure story feel setting it squarely apart from other Star Wars TV offerings.

What's Skeleton Crew about? Robert Timothy Smith and Ravi Cabot-Conyers in "Skeleton Crew." Credit: Matt Kennedy / Lucasfilm

Skeleton Crew takes place in the years following Return of the Jedi. The Empire is long gone, and piracy runs rampant across the galaxy. Thankfully, Skeleton Crew wastes no time in embracing the coolness of space pirates. The show's first episode treats us to Star Wars' take on a pirate attack, complete with laser cannon fire and massive harpoons that double as walkways for boarding an enemy ship.

From this rousing opening, we cut to the polar opposite of space pirates: well-ordered space suburbs, complete with manicured lawns, pavements, and street lamps. This is the planet At Attin, which initially seems like what you'd get if you spread a suburban American neighborhood across an entire planet. Still, there are enough sci-fi twists poking through this familiar facade to remind us that this is Star Wars. Hoverbikes are kids' rides of choice, holograms provide entertainment, and for some reason, all the adults on the planet are obsessed with completing "the Great Work."

SEE ALSO: 'The Acolyte's cancellation is a huge mistake for Star Wars

Emphasis on adults, because At Attin's kids have other problems on their minds. Daydreamer Wim (Ravi Cabot-Conyers) obsesses over the Jedi, to the point that it interferes with his schoolwork, including an important test that will decide his upcoming career. His best friend Neel (Robert Timothy Smith, Dear Santa) is much more studious, but that doesn't stop him from playing Jedi with Wim — or from helping him dig up what they think might be a hidden Jedi temple. However, Wim and Neel aren't the only kids looking to break into the temple. Headstrong Fern (Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Firestarter) and her cyborg-adjacent best friend KB (Kyriana Kratter) are also on the hunt.

The two pairs meet in a prickly boys-against-girls face-off that feels ripped straight from a playground argument. It's another surprisingly relatable detail to go with At Attin's suburbs, one performed with gusto by Skeleton Crew's delightful young cast. But when the kids realize that the temple is actually a starship, and that it's taking them to destinations unknown, they'll have to work together to find their way home.

Skeleton Crew presents a charming Star Wars adventure. Kyriana Kratter, Robert Timothy Smith, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, and Ravi Cabot-Conyers in "Skeleton Crew." Credit: Lucasfilm Ltd.

As soon as Wim, Neel, Fern, and KB leave At Attin, it's clear why Skeleton Crew started them off in the suburbs. Their prior lives, characterized by structured routines and suburban mundanity, are nothing compared to the hives of scum and villainy they'll find themselves in once their starship docks in a pirate haven. Similarly, by positioning the audience in a strangely familiar environment for Star Wars, we get to experience the kids' culture shock right alongside them.

Seeing the world of Star Wars through children's eyes winds up being one of the sweetest parts of Skeleton Crew. They marvel at the universe around them as they fly through space for the first time, their faces a mirror of mine (and millions of others) as I watched A New Hope for the first time as a kid. They're simultaneously terrified and awestruck by the many space pirates they encounter, most of which are brought to life by incredible, tactile animatronics. Honestly, their reactions are fairly similar to mine when I first saw Neel, whose blue, elephant-like head immediately sent me into orbit. What can I say, I love a good Star Wars creature — and boy oh boy, are there several in Skeleton Crew.

There's also a new Force user in the mix: the mysterious Jod Na Nawood (Jude Law, The Order), who helps the kids perform a daring escape. But while Jod is the only adult in the mix — unless you're also counting droid SM-33 (voiced by Nick Frost, Black Cab) — he's certainly not here to take on the role of wise babysitter. Instead, he's a shifty wild card who plays excellently off the kids, especially starry-eyed Wim, who's prepared to idolize Jod as a Jedi, and no-nonsense Fern, who will not hesitate to stand up to him if he gets in her way.

The kids' ever-evolving relationship with Jod makes Skeleton Crew's already enjoyable journey through space even better. But it's the fact that there are no gratuitous plot tie-ins to other Star Wars shows (at least, not in the first three episodes sent to critics) that really allows Skeleton Crew to chart its own path. Without these ties, Skeleton Crew can focus on delivering what it does best: adventure, plain and simple. And wouldn't you know, it's an absolute blast.

Skeleton Crew is now streaming on Disney+.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Is a Big Career Change Really Necessary?

Havard Management Tip of the Day - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 06:01

It’s tempting to think a career overhaul is the solution to feeling stuck at work. But before you make the leap, pause. A radical change is a significant investment of time and energy—and often, it’s not even necessary. Here’s how to figure out your next step. Understand your context. Life’s upheavals, like personal challenges and […]

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Categories: Management

Get Microsoft Office on your Mac forever for £32

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: For a limited time, Mashable readers can up their productivity with a lifetime device license for Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac, on sale for a one-time payment of just £31.63 (reg. £181.11).

As the most-recognised office software, a Microsoft Office suite comes in handy for professionals and students alike. If you aren't running it on your Mac, this might be a good time to install it. In this Mashable Shop deal, you can get lifetime access to the 2019 version of MS Office for your Mac computer. While this deal lasts, the entire MS productivity suite can be yours on sale for £31.63 (reg. £181.11).

Office 2019 for Mac has been specifically designed to take advantage of the unique features of the Mac OS. Whether you're drafting a proposal in Word, analysing data in Excel, or creating a presentation in PowerPoint, the software is tailored to help you accomplish your tasks efficiently.

In addition to the three core apps, you also get Outlook to manage your emails and Teams Classic 2019 to stay connected with your team at work. You will also have access to OneNote, a digital note-taking app.

One of the bigger advantages of Office Home & Business 2019 is that it only requires a one-time purchase. This means no recurring subscription fees. You will have access to Office on one Mac for life and free customer service. What's the catch? The device license never expires, which means it will last for the rest of your device's life, not yours.

While this isn't the most current version of Office, this 2019 version has had several updates since its prior 2016 version. It is supported by the three most recent Mac operating systems.

For Mac users, this is a comprehensive, all-in-one suite of productivity tools that combines classic features with some newer upgrades at an affordable price.

A lifetime license to Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac is on sale for just £31.63 (reg. £181.11).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac £31.63 at the Mashable Shop
£181.11 Save £149.48 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

This massive ethical hacking training bundle is on sale for £27.66

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 06:00

TL;DR: As of 03 December, you can get The All-In-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Course Bundle for just £27.66 (reg. £868.36) at the Mashable Shop — that's 96% off for a limited time.

There are tons of high-paying IT skills you could chase, but few have more potential than cybersecurity. Whether you’re looking to change fields completely or simply add some new tools to your toolbox, the cybersecurity field is worth a closer look. It’s poised to be one of the fastest-growing and best-paid careers in the coming years.

At the Mashable Shop, the All-in-One Super-Size Ethical Hacking Bundle is less than £28 in December 2024. When you enroll in this 18-course online learning bundle, you'll get an introduction to the world of ethical hacking. This bundle packs 18 courses taught by IT professionals with decades of combined experience and a variety of disciplines under their belts. And with just over 130 hours of lessons, they’ll cover every corner of the cybersecurity world.

You’ll begin with a course on Python, where you’ll learn to code your own penetration testing tools and create other projects from scratch. Then you’ll dive into more hacking courses to put your skills into practice. Each course is hands-on, so you’ll actually learn while doing things yourself, not just watching someone else. From BitNinja to Metasploit, you’ll touch on every weapon an ethical hacker should have in their toolbox. And top-rated instructors like penetration tester Aleksa Tamburkovski and senior information security consultant Gabriel Avramescu make the material accessible for beginners.

With lifetime access to all 18 courses, and both desktop and mobile access available, you’re free to work through the content completely on your own time. This massive bundle is valued at £868, but for a limited time you can sign up for only £27.66.

Prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: IT Security Company The All-In-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle £27.66 at the Mashable Shop
£868.36 Save £840.70 Get Deal
Categories: IT General, Technology

Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for December 2 (#540)

How-To Geek - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 04:45

Connections is a game from the New York Times that challenges you to find the association between words. It sounds easy, but it isn't—Connections categories can be almost anything, and they're usually quite specific. If you need a hand getting the answers, we've got you covered.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Cyber Monday deals in 2024 — new low prices are live

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 04:14
A quick glance at the best Cyber Monday deals: Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $379.99 at Best Buy (Save $170) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 at Amazon (Save $250) Get Deal Best headphone deal Bose QuietComfort headphones $199 at Amazon (Save $150) Get Deal Best laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499 at Amazon and the Microsoft Store (Save $500.99) Get Deal Best tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus $149 at Amazon (Save $70.99) Get Deal Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 75-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $449.99 at Best Buy (Save $250) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) $349 at Best Buy (Save $100) Get Deal Best kitchen deal KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target (Save $170) Get Deal

Black Friday may have come and gone, but the best deals live to see another day — and that day is Cyber Monday. All of the top retailers have launched their official Cyber Monday sales, and you can find tons of new savings at Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon.

Truly, the sheer volume of deals is dizzying. You're in luck though, as we've done the leg work for you. We've been tracking the best Black Friday deals for weeks, finding the lowest prices on all the big names: Apple, Bose, Sony, iRobot, Dyson, Samsung, and more. And now is your last chance to save big.

We'll be updating this shopping guide hourly with the latest pricing and opportunities to save. So, now that Cyber Monday has kicked off on Dec. 2, here are the top deals you can shop.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a , while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max (Lightning) $379.99 at Best Buy
$549.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the AirPods Max (Lightning).

"Best Buy has an eleventh-hour contender for the best overall Apple deal of Cyber Weekend, bringing the space gray AirPods Max with Lightning charging down to a new record low of $379.99, or 31% off their $549 MSRP. (The other colors are priced at $399.99.)

These premium over-ear ANC headphones from 2020 'have excellent audio quality, easy-to-use controls, and good battery life,' wrote former Mashable Tech Reporter Brenda Stolyar. They've mainly stayed off our guide to the best noise-cancelling headphones because their list price is so gosh-darn high. (Glasses-wearers and those with smaller heads may also find them uncomfy for long-term wear, but that's a more minor nitpick in the grand scheme of things.) They feel much more reasonable well under the $400 mark.

If you'd prefer the 2024 version of the AirPods Max, which have USB-C charging and come in different hues, you'll have to spend $120 more. For what it's worth, Apple's USB-C to Lightning adapter is $29.99." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Apple dealsMacBook Air (13-inch)MacBook Air (15-inch)MacBook ProMaciPadiPad AiriPad miniiPad ProApple WatchesAirPodsAirTags and Apple PenciliMac and Mac miniBest robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Eufy Eufy X10 Pro Omni $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Eufy's most all-encompassing hybrid vacuum is a rare option with a full self-cleaning station that actually performs almost every task sufficiently. There are some quirks to get used to, but it's way more hands-off than most robot vacuums in the same price range — especially if you can find it on sale." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum dealsRobot vacuum and mop combosBest headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Bose makes some of the best headphones we've tested. The brand's QuietComfort line-up strikes the genius balance of sound quality and comfort. While the QuietComfort Ultra headphones and earbuds are the most elevated Bose models, the basic QuietComforts are still great.

If you don't need spatial audio, but you do want sound that will make your music sound better, elevating drop beats and sick synth, go for the Bose QuietComfort headphones. The power button on the side is responsive, and the battery is insanely long. I wore these while taking the train from Boston to New York and by the time I reached my destination, they still had 50% battery life.

Normally, $349, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to $199. That saves you $150 for 43% savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More headphone and speaker dealsHeadphonesEarbudsBone conduction headphonesSpeakersBest laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499.00 at Amazon and the Microsoft Store
$1,999.99 Save $500.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

"Microsoft's Copilot+ PC has an even longer battery life than the new M4 MacBook Pros — it lasted nearly 23 hours in our testing — and it comes with AI features that 'make Windows fun again,' Gedeon wrote. She gave it a 4.8/5; it's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our current favorite laptop for most people, barring any app compatibility issues.

The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested is a 13-inch model featuring a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. It usually retails for $1,999.99, but Amazon and the Microsoft Store both have it listed for $1,499.99, or 25% off. That's its biggest discount to date." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More laptop and computer deals

For MacBook and Mac deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Windows laptopsChromebooksGaming laptopsBest tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus $149.00 at Best Buy
$219.99 Save $70.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"iPads are flying out of stock post-Black Friday. The tablet deals taking centerstage on Cyber Monday, are from Samsung and Google. The best Android tablet to snag is the Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ Plus, which is down to $149, knocking $70.99 off the price.

With an 11-inch screen and Dolby Atmos speakers, it's made for entertainment, streaming all your favorite shows. It comes with 128GB of storage and comes with Samsung's Quick Share, similar to Apple's AirDrop, except it works on both Android and iOS devices.

Grab it now, and save 32%." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More tablet deals

For Apple iPad deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $154.99 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The new batch of 2024 Kindles are the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can't beat the SE's Black Friday price.

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That's some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that's usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite, lightweight and waterproof design, with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Kindle dealsMore e-reader dealsBest Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. We expect this price to hang around through Black Friday weekend." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Echo dealsBest TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 75-inch QD6 QLED 4K TV $449.99 at Best Buy
$699.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"Cyber Weekend is all about huge discounts on huge TVs, and this 75-inch Hisense model is a perfect case in point: At just $450, it's far cheaper than any other TV of its size right now. (Walmart had a 75-incher listed for $378 during its first Black Friday Deals event, but it's long sold out.) The fact that it has a bright and vibrant QLED display, not a standard 4K screen, sweetens the deal even further.

At the time of writing, Mashable staffers were seeing different availability depending on their location. If it's out of stock near you by the time you read this, note that Best Buy also has a 75-inch Samsung 4K TV on sale for $549.99 (normally $749.99), a lingering doorbuster from its Black Friday sale — though it's not a QLED model." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More TV deals

TV deals are sorted by size, then price.

43- to 50-inch TVs55-inch TVs65-inch TVs75-inch to 77-inch TVs85-inch TVs and upStreaming devices and media playersBest fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring Gen3 (Horizon, Gold) $349.00 at Best Buy
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Oura Ring Gen3.

"The previous-gen Oura Ring is an excellent fitness wearable with heart-rate and blood oxygen monitoring, temperature and activity tracking, and a multi-day battery life — all wrapped up in a sleek, durable titanium design. It's on sale at Best Buy this Black Friday for $50 to $200 off, depending on the style and finish (starting from $249.99)." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More fitness tracker deals

For Apple Watch deals, scroll back up to the Apple deals section.

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 at Target
$449.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"If you're getting ready to whip up dozens of Christmas cookies, don't even think about doing it all by hand. Sure, it will be a great arm workout, but at what cost? Upgrade your kitchen tools ahead of the holiday season with the KitchenAid 5.5-quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. It has twice the power of KitchenAid's standard tilt-head mixer and can mix batches of 11 dozen cookies at a time. This mixer is no joke.

For Black Friday, it's marked down to $279.99, saving you $170 for 38% off." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More kitchen deals

Multi cookers, air fryers, and ovens

Mixers, blenders, and ice cream makers

Coffee makers and drink makers

Miscellaneous kitchen deals

Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V12 Detect Slim $399.99 at Walmart
$649.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"I crowned the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Dyson's best bang for your buck when it was full price. Let that sink in while reading that the V12 Detect Slim is now $250 cheaper — up for grabs for less than $400 now — thanks to the Black Friday sale happening at Dyson's website.

For just $50 more than the Dyson V11's Black Friday price, the V12 Detect Slim brings aboard Dyson's absolute best feature: a green laser that highlights all the dust on the floor that you definitely would have missed otherwise. That's a no-brainer in my eyes. For plush carpeting, a motorized cleaning head is also included, and all debris collected is sent through a HEPA filter." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More home deals

Cordless stick vacuums

Rugs, air care, bedding, and more

Cordless tools

Best mattress deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nectar Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) $949.00 at Nectar
$2,286.00 Save $1,337.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"We’re shocked by how many mattress deals are popping off this year. While there are great discounts across the board, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) has our vote as the best deal on Black Friday.

This 13-inch-thick mattress has twice as much pressure-relieving memory foam as the Nectar Classic, 60 percent more cooling, and is currently 50% off. With five layers of premium OEKO-TEX-certified materials, this mattress will provide an incredibly comfortable and supportive night's sleep. There’s also a 365-day trial and forever warranty, so if you don’t absolutely love it, you can return it." — Tabitha Britt, Mashable Contributor

More mattress dealsBest Travel deals Opens in a new window Credit: Sandals and Beaches Sandals Black Friday Sale Save up to 65% when booking. Plus get one free night and a $1,500 credit. Get Deal Why we like it

Rather than opening your wallet for things you probably don't need this Cyber Monday, put your money toward experiences. Beaches and Sandals resorts are offering major savings on stays booked by Dec. 3. Get up to 65% off your stays, plus one free nights stay, in addition to receiving up to a $1,500 credit for a future stay — no code needed!

More hotel dealsCruise deals
  • Carnival Cruises: Black Friday + Cyber Monday sale. Save up to $900 per from. Plus, deposits just $50 per person and free room upgrades available.

  • Norwegian Cruise Lines: Black Friday Sale, 50% off cruises. Plus with the purchase of an airline ticket, your second guest flies for free. Use code CRUISEFIRST, and receive $250 free.

  • Princess Cruises: Cyber Weekend savings, get an up to $500 onboard credit and up to 50% off. Plus get your third and fourth guests free and 50% off deposits through Dec. 1.

  • Royal Caribbean Cruises: Black Friday Sale, up to $800 off cruises, end Dec. 1.

  • Viking Cruises: Holiday Sale, get free roundtrip airfare. Plus enjoy reduced fares and $25 deposits, through Dec. 31.

  • Virgin Voyages: Cyber Weekend deal, bookings as low as $99 per person per night.

Flight dealsBest streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Hulu with ads monthly subscription 99 cents/month for one year (save $108) Get Deal Why we like it

"Hulu remains the top dog when it comes to Black Friday deals. For the second year in a row, the streamer is offering an entire year of Hulu with ads for just $0.99 per month. That's less than $12 total for an entire year of streaming. It's a bit surprising, honestly, as Hulu upped the cost of its basic plan just last month from $7.99 per month to $9.99 per month. In other words, the savings this year are even more impressive — 90% or $108 in total over 12 months.

Hulu is the streaming home for three of our favorite shows of 2023, The Bear, Abbott Elementary, and Reservation Dogs, as well as our top favorite show of 2024, Shōgun. It's also where you'll find episodes of ABC shows the day after they air, like Dancing with the Stars, and Neon movies fresh out of the theaters, like Cuckoo (coming Dec. 17)." — Christina Buff, Mashable Contributor

More streaming dealsBest book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart 'Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West' by Gregory Maguire $10.00 at Walmart
$19.99 Save $9.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"It's safe to say that the Wicked craze is in full swing. Whether you're holding space for all the memes the press tour is delivering or already ready for your second in-theater watch, have you considered reading the source material? And we're not talking about The Wizard of Oz.

The musical is based on Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, the novel by Gregory Maguire, and if you, or the biggest Wicked fan in your life, are eager to dive deeper into the world, now is a great time to pick up a copy. For Black Friday, Walmart is offering 50% off the novel, bringing it down to $10.

Wicked not your thing? Don't sweat because the Black Friday book deals are endless. Explore more deals on fiction, non-fiction, YA, and cookbooks below." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More book dealsKindle book dealsBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' $30.00 at Walmart
$69.99 Save $39.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

"The stunning sequel to Breath of the Wild was one of Mashable's favorite games of 2023, and it's never been this cheap before. It actually sold out once at Walmart earlier in the week because of this deal, but it's back in stock at the time of writing. Note that it's only available in digital form, so you won’t be able to wrap anything, but you (or a giftee) will be able to start playing right away." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More gaming deals

Under $50

Consoles

More gaming deals

Xbox

Nintendo Switch

Accessories

Best toy deal Opens in a new window Credit: Walmart Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle (75362) $45.00 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $34.99 Get Deal Why we like it

"The Office Lego Set may have sold out at Walmart within a day or so of dropping, but we still have another favorite Lego deal to highlight. Star Wars fans will get a huge kick out of the Lego Star Wars Ahsoka Tano’s T-6 Jedi Shuttle. With a rotating cockpit, signature red wings, and four figurines including bounty hunter and Sith, this is an action-packed set. Walmart's nearly 28% discount drops this set to $45, beating Best Buy's price by $13.99 on the same model number." — Gabriel Morgan, Mashable Contributor

More toys and games dealsLego dealsToy dealsBoard game dealsBest beauty tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the Shark FlexStyle here.

"We know the Dyson Airwrap is that girl, but the Shark FlexStyle gives it a run for its money. Our favorite Airwrap dupe is the Shark FlexStyle, providing the same experience for a fraction of the price.

During Black Friday, you can find the Shark FlexStyle for just $229.99, saving $70 for 24% savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More beauty tech dealsHair dryer dealsHot air styler dealsSkincare tech dealsHot tools dealsBest gift card deals Opens in a new window Credit: Instacart Instacart $100 gift card $85.00 at Best Buy
$100.00 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The deciding factor between going to the store to get groceries or getting them delivered is often the extra fees — even a few extra bucks can feel like enough of a roast to get you off the couch. Think of getting a $100 Instacart gift card for $85 like having a $15 tip or delivery fee covered for free.

More gift card deals

For more Black Friday coverage, check out our sister sites CNET, ZDNET, and PCMag.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Cyber Monday is live at Amazon — check out our top picks to grab on the final day of Cyber Week

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 04:12
Amazon's best Cyber Monday deals at a glance: Best Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) $154.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 (save $22) Get Deal Best Fire tablet deal Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) $74.99 (save $65) Get Deal Best robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299.99 (save $250.99) Get Deal Best TV deal TCL 65-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart Fire TV $349.99 (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,399 (save $200) Get Deal Best Windows laptop deal Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,499 (save $500.99) Get Deal Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 $298 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best fitness tracker deal Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) $279.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best beauty tech deal Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex $179 (Save $50) Get Deal

Amazon's Black Friday sale went live Nov. 21 (a full week before Thanksgiving), ushering in year-round low prices on robot vacuums, Apple products, and Fire TVs.

Now that Cyber Monday has arrived (and is quickly approaching its final hours), the Mashable Shopping team is tracking all of the remaining discounts so you don't have to. We're refreshing our picks on a regular basis, so keep checking back as we add deals throughout the final hours of Cyber Monday 2024.

SEE ALSO: The best Cyber Monday deals in 2024 — new low prices are live

Even if you're brand loyal to Amazon (and we don't blame you), definitely keep an eye on our coverage of the other big retailers — Walmart, Best Buy, and Target are going hard, and Amazon doesn't always have the lowest prices. Another smart shopping strategy: Use the Amazon-friendly price tracker CamelCamelCamel to see if the latest deal is a good one, or add the item to your wishlist to get notified as soon as it goes on sale.

Don't forget: the Amazon Cyber Monday sale officially ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on Dec. 2, so don't take these deals for granted. Amazon's extended holiday return window applies to most items bought between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31, but Apple products are a notable exception.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a , while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price. 

Best Cyber Monday Kindle deal Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) 🔥 $199.99 at Amazon
Get Deal Why we like it

"The new batch of 2024 Kindles is the fastest yet, turning pages quickly and with less delay when switching between books in your library. The Kindle Paperwhite and Signature Edition both have bright, high-contrast screens, so you can read in any environment. While I prefer the Kindle Paperwhite over the Signature Edition most of the time, right now you can't beat the SE's Black Friday price." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

The Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is 23% off, bringing it down to $154.99. That's some big savings ($45 to be exact) on a device that's usually $200. You get everything you love in the Paperwhite — a lightweight and waterproof design — with the added benefits of double the storage, wireless charging, and auto-adjusting brightness.

More Kindle deals at AmazonBest Cyber Monday Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop 🔥 $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For less than $20, why not add the convenience of being able to ask Alexa anything in any room of your home? Even if you can't see yourself being a full-screened Echo person, the Pop can subtly squeeze into any living situation. You won't even know it's there — until you're making dinner and can simply ask Alexa for measurement conversions out loud rather than actually figuring out the math. Then you'll definitely know it's there.

Update: You can buy the Echo Pop and get a free Amazon Basics smart color light bulb with your purchase.

More Echo deals at AmazonBest Cyber Monday Fire Tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 (32GB) 🔥 $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full rev iew of the Amazon Fire HD 10 (2023).

"Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet is a lot friendlier on the wallet than an iPad. With a 10.1-inch screen, it's similar in size, but it's also a fraction of the price. In our review of the Amazon Fire HD 10, we delighted in its lightweight design and long battery life. The biggest downside to Amazon's Fire tablets are the limited selection of apps offered, especially compared the the Google Play and Apple store.

"That being said, it's still not a bad choice for those who want a tablet for streaming or reading through the Kindle app — especially when the Fire HD 10 is down to its lowest price ever of $74.99. That's a generous 46% off for $65 in savings." — Samantha Mangino, Shopping Reporter

More Fire Tablet deals at AmazonBest Cyber Monday robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

"This nearly 50% off discount on the Roomba Combo j5+ is stellar at first glance, but it looks like an even sweeter deal when compared to the current deal on the cheapest self-emptying Roomba, the Roomba Vac 2. For $249.99, that bare-bones Roomba doesn't mop and can't smart map your house. For $299 — just $50 more — the Roomba Combo i5+ can mop and can smart map to clean specific rooms in your home on command. If $300 is your budget cap for a new robot vacuum, spending that extra $50 is a no-brainer.

The only downside to choosing the Combo i5+ over the more advanced Combo j5+ is that the i series Roombas don't have small obstacle avoidance technology, so they can't dodge things on the floor like charging cords or pet waste. However, if your home is already pretty tidy as it is, or you're down to deal with tidying up ahead of vacuuming, the Combo i5+ is a total steal at this price." — Leah Stodart, Senior Shopping Reporter

More robot vacuum deals at Amazon

Robot vacuum and mop combos

Best Cyber Monday TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 65-Inch Class S5 UHD 4K LED Smart Fire TV 🔥 $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

For our top TV pick at Amazon, we previously went with this massive 75-incher from TCL — and there was a lot to love about it. But we know not everyone has the space for a TV that big, no matter how affordable. So as we round out Black Friday, we have to call your attention to another budget-friendly TCL TV, the 65-inch Class S5 Fire TV.

Don't get us wrong, this is definitely a basic TV. Its LED display isn't as sharp as its QLED or OLED competitors. However, $349.99 for a 65-inch TV seems, frankly, absurd. Despite all the inflation we've seen in recent years, 65-inch TVs remain stubbornly immune, and we're not complaining. This TV uses the Amazon Fire TV OS to connect you to your favorite streaming apps. You'll also get the benefit of an HDR PRO+ display, Dolby Atmos sound, and an Alexa voice remote.

More TV deals at Amazon

24- to 40-inch TVs

43-inch TVs

50- to 55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

Best Cyber Monday Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) 🔥 $1,399.00 at Apple
$1,599.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple MacBook Pro (M4).

"In our all-new testing, Apple's latest MacBook Pro lasted almost 17 hours on a single charge and outperformed the M3 version by 27 percent. Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was impressed by its power efficiency, its stellar speakers, and its upgraded 12MP webcam, rating it a 4.2/5, but said that 'at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart.' (On the plus side, it starts with 16GB of RAM.)

Amazon's doing its best to remedy that issue this Cyber Monday, bringing the space black base configuration down to an unprecedented price of $1,399.99, or $200 off. (For comparison's sake, it was $1,499 at Best Buy at the time of writing.) A lot of MacBooks hit new record lows at Amazon this Cyber Weekend, and this is one of the very few models that hasn't sold out or floated up to a higher price yet. Shipping times were pushed to late December and early January, though." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Apple deals at Amazon

MacBooks

Macs

iPads

Apple Watches

AirPods and speakers

AirTags

Best Cyber Monday laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, 13-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,499.00 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $500.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7.

"Microsoft's slick Qualcomm-powered laptop lasted nearly 23 hours in our battery life test and one-upped the M3 MacBooks in our performance benchmark (both the Air and the Pro models). If Windows on Arm doesn't pose any compatibility issues for your go-to apps, we think it's the best Windows laptop for most people. It's a Mashable Choice Award-winner that got a 4.8/5 rating from our reviewer, which makes it one of our highest-rated laptops of 2024. (The Asus Zenbook Duo got the same score.)

The 13-inch model we tested came with a Snapdragon X Elite CPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage. It usually retails for a hefty $1,999.99, but Amazon's Black Friday Week sale has brought it down to just $1,499 there. That's 25% off and a new all-time low. It was price-matched in the Microsoft Store at the time of writing, FYI, while Best Buy had it listed for $1,699.99.

If you don't want to spend that much, pared-down configurations start at $844.99." — Haley Henschel, Senior Shopping Reporter

More Windows laptop deals at Amazon2-in-1 laptop dealsGaming laptop dealsChromebook dealsMonitor dealsBest Cyber Monday headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.

"If you want headphones that have great noise cancellation and incredible (adjustable) sound, then the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones won't let you down. Out of the noise-cancelling headphones we've tested, these are our top pick for audiophiles. It can be a little annoying that the ear cups don't fold in, but with 30 hours of battery life, you'll probably find yourself wearing them more often than not. Dropped down to $298, these headphones are at a dollar cheaper than their Prime Day price." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

More headphones deals at Amazon

Noise-cancelling over-ear and on-ear headphones

Noise-cancelling earbuds

Best Cyber Monday fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) 🔥 $279.99 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Just released in August, this is the first time the new Google Pixel Watch 3 has ever gone on sale for less than $300. Unfortunately, the larger 45mm screen is still at full price, but even this 41mm model has a 10% larger display than the same size Pixel Watch 2, thanks to smaller bezels. The Pixel Watch 3's display is also just brighter and zippier in general, without sacrificing that 24-hour battery life.

On that screen, you'll be able to swipe through a more detailed running dashboard than the previous generation, check your heart rate changes from sleep, to regular daytime chilling, to a legit cardio workout, make payments via Google Wallet, and more.

More fitness tracker and smartwatch deals at Amazon

Smart rings

Best Cyber Monday kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pro (6 quart) $98.99 at Amazon
$169.99 Save $71.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If Thanksgiving prep had you wishing for another burner, there's a way to get one without overhauling your entire stove. Instant Pots are truly do-it-all appliances, letting you sauté, steam, and pressure cook all in one little pot. As Black Friday is winding down, so are the deals, and we've seen some Instant Pots sales dwindle.

Luckily, you can still find the drastically discounted Instant Pot 10-in-1 Pro (6 quart) for 42% off. Shop it ahead of Cyber Monday for just $98.99, and you'll be a master of it by the time your next holiday meal comes around.

More kitchen deals at Amazon

Instant Pot

Air fryers and pizza ovens

Coffee makers

Eco-friendly kitchen gear

Beauty tech deals Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex 🔥 $179.00 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal Why we like it

If a multistyler like the Airwrap or FlexStyle feels like it'll be overkill for your hair routine, you might consider a nice (but still multifaceted) hair dryer like the Shark SpeedStyle. It's one of Mashable Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard's favorite Dyson Supersonic dupes, particularly for smoothing — its QuickSmooth brush in particular not only dries hair quickly, but "keeps things from looking too windswept and more styled and volumized." This version also comes with a diffuser for defined curls, a concentrator for sleek, straight styles, and a FrizzFighter finishing tool.

More beauty tech deals at AmazonCyber Monday Outdoor deals at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station $399.00 at Amazon
$799.00 Save $400.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Jackery does one thing, and they do it very well. They make user-friendly, long-lasting, and durable power stations. That's it. That singular focus is also why we love them. And for Cyber Monday, Jackery is offering up to 50% off its most popular products. These power stations have become common fixtures at campgrounds, festivals, and tailgates in recent years, but they're also extremely useful in emergency situations. Pair them with a Jackery solar panel, and they turn into an eco-friendly generator.

More Cyber Monday outdoor deals at AmazonGaming deals at Amazon

Xbox

PlayStation

Nintendo Switch

Speaker deals at AmazonDeals under $25 at Amazon

Note: Some deals are repeated from the above list.

Pet deals at Amazon

Check out our sister site PCMag's best Black Friday deals list for more options.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Walmarts Cyber Monday sale is live: Final hours to shop the best deals

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 04:11
The best Cyber Monday deals at Walmart: Best Apple deal Apple AirPods Pro 2 $154 (save $95) Get Deal Best TV deal Hisense 55-inch U6HR QLED 4K Roku TV $278 (save $60) Get Deal Best gaming deal 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' $30 (save $39.99) Get Deal Best headphone deal JLab JBuds Lux ANC $29 (save $50.99) Get Deal Best speaker deal JBL Partybox 110 $199 (save $150.95) Get Deal Best Lego deal Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Helmet $48.98 (save $31.01) Get Deal Best outdoor deal Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with Stand $195.99 (save $104) Get Deal

Walmart is tying a bow on its 2024 holiday programming with an extended Cyber Monday sale. After kicking off at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 1 (following three hours of early access for paid Walmart+ members), the sitewide savings event is now live through 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Dec. 2.

The big-box store's sale features lingering deals from its Black Friday event last week, including $154 Apple AirPods Pro 2, $29 JLab ANC headphones, a $178 55-inch 4K TV, and $30 digital copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. They're joined a handful of new discounts on large 4K TVs, gaming laptops, and Lego sets. All offers are available online while supplies last.

Annual Walmart+ memberships are also 50% off through the end of the day, which is low-key a great streaming deal. (The subscription service comes with a free year's worth of Paramount+ Essential valued at $59.99/year.)

SEE ALSO: The best Cyber Monday deals in 2024 — new low prices are live

Mashable's team of deal-hunting pros knows how to distinguish good discounts from duds, having covered Cyber Weekend sales for nearly a decade, and we're keeping a running list of Walmart's top holiday deals on popular tech and gifts this season. Keep scrolling to see our picks, and check back often: Walmart is dropping additional deals randomly during its holiday sales this year.

A quick FYI that Walmart doesn't do price matches, but its extended return/exchange policy is in effect through Dec. 31. It covers most items purchased in stores and online.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a , while struck-through deals were sold out at the time of writing.

Best Apple Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $154.00 at Walmart
$249.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

Apple's second-generation ANC earbuds have an Adaptive Transparency mode that lets the user hear environmental sounds while reducing loud noises, and — as this fall — a new clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature. Our reviewer was impressed by their "great sound" and a "long-lasting battery life," and appreciated the fact that they retained the same "really comfortable" fit as their predecessors. You don't need to upgrade if you already own the original AirPods Pro, but they're a nice upgrade from the non-Pro version.

Walmart has been a trendsetter this Cyber Weekend: After it dropped the AirPods Pro 2 down to a record-low of $154 during its second Black Friday deals event (normally $249), other retailers like Amazon and Target swiftly followed suit. Only the former's deal was still live at the time of writing.

More Apple deals at Walmart

AirPods

iPads

MacBooks

Apple Watch

Apple accessories

iPhone cases

Best TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch U6HR QLED 4K Roku TV $288.00 at Walmart
$348.00 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Walmart is famous for its Cyber Weekend TV doorbusters, and this year the big-box store went hard. So hard, in fact, that Walmart has had a hard time keeping its most headline-worthy drops in stock — but we found a good one that's still available. If you missed the $178 55-inch Hisense Roku TV that's sold out, consider bumping up to the brighter, more colorful version of that TV: a 55-inch QLED for $288.

Best Buy's cheaper QLED model is a Google TV, so the one you ultimately add to your cart will come down to availability and/or your smart TV platform preference. At any rate, a mid-size QLED from a recognizable brand like Hisense for under $300 is a steal — and a must-have for the rest of football season.

More TV deals at WalmartBest gaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Switch 'The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom' $30.00 at Walmart
$69.99 Save $39.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The stunning sequel to Breath of the Wild was one of Mashable's favorite games of 2023, and it's never been this cheap before. It actually sold out once at this price last week during Walmart's Black Friday Deals event; it was back in stock at the time of writing. Note that the deal only applies to the digital version of the game, so you won't have anything to wrap, but you (or a giftee) can start playing it immediately.

More gaming deals at Walmart

Video games

Gaming consoles and bundles

Gaming controllers

Gaming laptops

Gaming headsets

Gaming monitors

Best headphone/earbud deal Opens in a new window Credit: JLab JLab JBuds Lux ANC $29.00 at Walmart
$79.99 Save $50.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Our initial reaction to seeing this deal was, "Is this allowed? " Twenty-nine bucks is a surprisingly and stupidly low price on a solid pair of comfy budget headphones with good noise cancellation and a long battery life. (JLab has rated them at up to 70 hours; we're currently testing them and feel like that's accurate.) Elsewhere, the JBuds Lux ANC are going for $46.99 at Amazon and $49.99 on the JLab website, so no idea how Walmart finagled this one.

More headphone/earbud deals at Walmart

Earbuds

Headphones

Smartwatch dealsSpeaker and soundbar dealsVacuum deals

Robot vacuums

Stick vacuums

Beauty tech dealsLego deals

Check out our sister site CNET's list of Black Friday deals under $50 for more options!

Board game dealsToy dealsKitchen deals

Coffee makers

Mixers and blenders

Multicookers

Miscellaneous kitchen gear

Other Black Friday deals at Walmart

Check out our sister site ZDNET's list of Black Friday deals for more options!

Featured Video For You 5 best Black Friday products to shop
Categories: IT General, Technology

A bunch of new Apple deals just dropped for Cyber Monday

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 04:10
The best Cyber Monday Apple deals at a glance: Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) $154 at Amazon (save $95) Get Deal Best iPad deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal

Cyber Monday is here, and we're keeping a close eye on all the Apple deals for the latest sales and updating this page hourly with the best prices.

Because if you think Apple doesn't show up with good deals during the Black Friday season, think again.

It's true that if you're shopping straight from the Apple Store, you're limited to its usual gift card promo. From Nov. 29 through Dec. 2, Apple is giving out gift cards worth up to $200 with the purchase of select iPhones, MacBooks, AirPods, and more. Yawn.

The real savings are happening at other retailers. Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are offering historic prices on the most coveted Apple products during their holiday sales, so keep checking back through Cyber Monday.

Skeptical about Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on Apple products? We get it. Retailers sometimes use the label on mediocre deals. But we track Apple prices year-round, and only legit price drops earn a spot in this guide.

Case in point: Amazon's Black Friday Week sale delivered a new all-time low price on the M3 MacBook Air, which now comes with 16GB of memory. (Last week, you could get it for $844 at Amazon, $55 cheaper than at Best Buy) You can also buy the AirPods Pro at the record-low price of $154 at Amazon and Walmart, which beats out their old Prime Day record by nearly $15.

As we enter into the early hours of Cyber Monday, we're already seeing some of the most popular Apple deals that we thought had sold out (like the M3 MacBook Air) are now magically back. So, if you see something you like on sale, grab it before it's gone again for good.

Note: All newly added or updated deals have been marked with a , while struck-through deals were either sold out or expired at the time of writing.

Best Cyber Monday AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) $154.00 at Amazon, Target, and Walmart
$249.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods Pro 2.

Whether you're a frequent flyer or simply someone who loves noise-cancelling headphones, we're betting you'll be a fan of the AirPods Pro. (If you're reading this far, let's assume you're not an Android user.) The latest version of the Pro earbuds has consistently been at a record low of $153.99. (Update: These buds may be priced at $154 for some shoppers, a whole penny more.) For comparison's sake, they've only hit $168.99 a handful of times prior to this price drop. Good on Amazon, Target, and Walmart for going all-in on a Black Friday/Cyber Monday deal this great.

Strangely, they're also $11 cheaper than the new AirPods 4 with ANC, which are supposed to be a more budget-friendly alternative to the Pros. (Yes, the AirPods 4 are also on sale.) Alongside top-notch ANC, you'll get six hours of battery life per charge, balanced sound, and of course, a seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem, making these earbuds some of our favorite headphones, period.

More AirPods dealsBest Cyber Monday iMac or MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.00 at Amazon
$1,099.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the M3 Apple MacBook Air.

A few weeks ago, the M3 MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade without a price hike. That makes this new record-low price on the base configuration with 256GB of storage an even sweeter deal. (What's more, it's now a sub-$100 bump from the older, also-on-sale M2 version.) For reference, this is our favorite MacBook for most people in 2024: It's fast enough to handle light creative work, its keyboard and speakers are both fantastic, and it can support two external displays — so long as you close its lid first.

Update: The $844 deal has sold out at the time of writing. Prices at Amazon are now $899 for the 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD models. Select colors of the M3 MacBook Air are also back-ordered at Amazon, with most models not set to deliver until after Christmas.

More MacBook and Mac deals

MacBook Air (13-inch)

MacBook Air (15-inch)

MacBook Pro

Mac

iMac & Apple Studio Displays

Best Cyber Monday iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M2, WiFi, 128GB) $499.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the M2 Apple iPad Air.

The iPad Air is just one dollar away from its lowest price ever. This Apple tablet is our favorite model for most people thanks to its versatility: It works just as well for artists as it does for students. The M2 chipset makes it a more viable laptop replacement than other tablets while costing you a few hundred dollars less than a supercharged iPad Pro.

SEE ALSO: The best iPads for reading, working, and streaming More iPad deals

iPad

iPad Air

iPad mini

iPad Pro

Best Cyber Monday Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $329.00 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

Thanks to Amazon and Best Buy, the Apple Watch Series 10 is officially down to a new record-low price for the third time this month. (This time around, it's at $329, as compared to last week's $349.) Apple's latest flagship smartwatch has a thinner and lighter design than previous models, plus a larger display that has a built-in speaker. It supports new health and fitness features like sleep apnea alerts and water temperature/depth sensing, though its faster charging was the biggest plus in our reviewer's eyes.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 10

SE

Ultra

Unlocked iPhone deals More Cyber Monday Apple deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Top 7 most-bought items by Mashable readers on Cyber Weekend, a few still on sale

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 04:06

We can curate a list of the best Black Friday-into-Cyber Monday deals still live as carefully as we want, but the number of items on sale is going to be overwhelming regardless.

Though Mashable shopping reporters have hands-on experience with nearly every single top pick in the most popular categories, knowing what other people actually spent their money on is always helpful insight.

SEE ALSO: Cyber Monday streaming deals are here for one last day

So we've narrowed down that intel for you, too. Of the hundreds of Cyber deals we've been tracking, here are the seven most popular items from core product categories like Apple devices, robot vacuums, and Kindles.

If you'd like to be influenced even more, we also have a list of the deals Mashable shopping reporters would actually spend their money on.

1. Most popular MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why people like it

Our favorite MacBook for most people in 2024 was also the favorite MacBook of Mashable readers this Black Friday and Cyber Monday season.

"A few weeks ago, the M3 MacBook Air got a quiet RAM upgrade without a price hike. That makes this new record-low price on the base configuration with 256GB of storage an even sweeter deal. (What's more, it's now a sub-$100 bump from the older, also-on-sale M2 version.) For reference, this is our favorite MacBook for most people in 2024: It's fast enough to handle light creative work, its keyboard and speakers are both fantastic, and it can support two external displays — so long as you close its lid first." — Bethany Allard, Lead Shopping Reporter

The 256GB M3 Air has sold out at Amazon, but the same model is still on sale in some colors at Best Buy as of Dec 2. Otherwise, several other Cyber Monday MacBook deals are still around.

2. Most popular earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation) $154.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why people like it

You can't expect Apple to not snatch this crown when it continuously beats its own record-low prices from the last big shopping holiday. The second generation AirPods Pro, which have consistently been a favorite purchase of Mashable readers, are Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard's favorite noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple users. They simply seal out ambient noise better than many truly wireless earbuds and can be charged directly from an iPhone 15.

This deal is still live as of Dec. 2, and many more Cyber Monday earbuds deals are still around.

3. Most popular robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $340.00 Get Deal Why people like it

This is the first Black Friday that robot vacuum and mop combos that also wash and dry their own mopping pads have really popped off. When they first became a big thing at the beginning of 2024, it was rare to find one under $1,000 let alone under $500.

Of the full Roborock Qrevo lineup, the Qrevo S falls nicely in the middle of the pricing spectrum. Senior Shopping Reporter and resident robot vacuum expert Leah Stodart thinks of it as the diet version of her favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Qrevo Master. The Qrevo S skips the livestream pet camera and has slightly less powerful suction, but is still a beast that can also recognize small obstacles like phone chargers.

This deal has sold out as of Dec. 2. However, many other Cyber Monday robot vacuum deals are still around, including the most popular vacuum from Prime Day, the Eufy X10 Pro Omni.

4. Most popular Kindle deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (32GB) $154.99 at Amazon
$189.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal Why people like it

Black Friday 2024 was the first real time the newest Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition had a chance to go on sale after just being released in late October, missing Prime Day in early October. Our readers opted for this slightly more often than the regular Paperwhite, though Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino actually prefers the regular Paperwhite. It's possible that extreme bookworms were looking for the 32GB of storage that only the Signature Edition can supply.

This deal is still live as of Dec. 2, and a few other Cyber Monday Kindle deals are still around.

5. Most popular TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U8 Series Mini LED 4K TV $899.99 at Best Buy
$1,499.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal Why people like it

Hisense has offered several excellent TV deals this Black Friday and Cyber Monday season, but readers were particularly sold on this 65-inch Mini LED model. This certainly isn't Hisense's cheapest QLED TV, but it's still a steal compared to the premium counterparts from LG, Samsung, and Sony. We'll take a wild guess that most of the readers who took the bait on the U8 were gamers — it's a beloved choice for gaming with a 144Hz native refresh rate and little lag.

Fun fact: Mashable readers also opted for Hisense's Samsung The Frame dupe over the actual Frame.

This deal is still live as of Dec. 2, and many other Cyber Monday TV deals still around.

6. Most popular iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (10th generation, WiFi, 64GB) $259.00 at Amazon
$349.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why people like it

Yep, the most affordable iPad had a slight edge over even the newest iPad Mini and Air. The 10th generation iPad is likely the best option for most folks, with the A14 Bionic chip offering plenty of power for streaming and note-taking, without creeping anywhere near M1 or higher prices. The biggest downside of the tablet is that it isn't compatible with the second-gen Apple Pencil or new Apple Pencil Pro, but it is compatible with the newer USB-C Apple Pencil.

This deal is sold out at Walmart as of Dec. 2, and also sold out at its slightly-pricier sale price of $279 at Amazon. However, multiple other iPad deals are still around.

7. Most popular over-ear headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra $329.00 at Amazon
$429.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why people like it

Readers who aren't earbuds people were more likely to opt for the Bose QuietComfort Ultra over both the AirPods Max and Sony WH-1000XM5, and we don't blame them — the QuietComfort Ultras are our overall favorite noise-cancelling headphones. Shopping reporter Samantha Mangino asserts they're the most comfortable pair of headphones you can buy right now, and their all-day battery life keeps pace with their all-day wearability.

This deal is still live as of Dec. 2, and many other Cyber Monday noise-canceling headphones deals are still around.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best Cyber Monday Samsung Galaxy deals at Amazon: Shop phones, watches, tablets, and earbuds

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 03:57
Best Samsung Galaxy deals at Amazon Best tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) $299.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best phone deal Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (512GB) $1,059.98 (save $360.01) Get Deal Best Galaxy Watch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (44mm LTE) $219.99 (save $160) Get Deal Best Galaxy Buds deal Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro + $20 Amazon gift card $188.98 (save $81.01) Get Deal

The end of Cyber Monday is fast approaching, but there are still plenty of great tech deals live.

At Amazon, there are still tons of Samsung Galaxy deals available, with all parts of the Galaxy line represented, including phones, tablets, watches, and earbuds. Below, you'll find all the deals we could source that were still available in the final hours of Cyber Monday.

And if you're working on some more Cyber Monday shopping, be sure to check out our main list of all the Cyber Monday deals still live that are worth shopping.

Best Samsung Galaxy deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE (128GB) $299.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review on the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE.

When it comes to tablets, iPads are far from your only option. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 FE was released as the budget alternative to the S9 (our favorite Android tablet), but it'll be more than enough for most casual tablet users, with enough processing power to get you through streaming videos just fine, 20 hours of battery life, and an included S Pen for easy note taking.

To contrast, the standard iPad is on sale at the time of writing for $279, which although a decent deal, is for a tablet that has only 64GB of space and a lower screen resolution. The Galaxy Tab also comes with a stylus, while an iPad requires you to purchase one separately (even if you grab it on sale, the cheapest Apple Pencil is an additional $70.

Samsung Galaxy phone Cyber Monday dealsSamsung Galaxy tablet Cyber Monday dealsSamsung Galaxy Watch Cyber Monday dealsSamsung Galaxy Buds Cyber Monday deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

These are the best cordless power tool deals during Amazons Cyber Monday sale, from screwdrivers to circular saws

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 03:39

If by some miracle you own a home in 2024, congrats! That's awesome. But home ownership isn't all sunshine and rainbows — without a superintendent, anything that breaks is yours to fix, whether that's with hired help or by yourself. If you prefer the latter method, you're going to need a decent lineup of power tools on hand to keep you prepared for any surprise issues.

SEE ALSO: Home Depot is still giving away free cordless tools for Cyber Monday

It just so happens that a lot of cordless power tools are on sale at Amazon during their 2024 Cyber Monday sale, from electric screwdrivers, to nail guns, to circular saws, and more. We've been keeping track of all of the best deals, and have listed them out below so you can spend less time shopping, and more time planning your next home project.

Best cordless power tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Kit $129.00 at Amazon
$239.00 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Whether you live in a home or a studio apartment, you should probably have a power drill handy. This drill kit from DeWalt has everything you need and then some, including an impact driver for more heavy-duty tasks and a case to carry them in. For Cyber Monday, the bundle is just $129, saving you $110.

More cordless power tool deals at Amazon
Categories: IT General, Technology

2024 Cyber Monday ads: Best deals from Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and more

Mashable - Tue, 12/03/2024 - 03:36

Black Friday has come and gone. Now we bask in the glory of Cyber Monday, specializing in the best deals to shop online. As always, the shopping event that takes over our TVs and inboxes promises huge discounts on TVs, laptops, headphones, speakers, and so much more.

In the battle of Cyber Week, the leading names in the retail game are competing harder than ever. Some deals are price-matched across stores, while other deals on certain products are exclusive to one store or another. Where are shoppers supposed to start?

SEE ALSO: Are there any stores that price match Black Friday deals? Not officially, for the most part.

To help you shop smart this Black Friday, we've scoured all of the deals and doorbusters from the Black Friday ads of Best Buy, Walmart, Kohl's, The Home Depot, and Target, pulling out the best ones and organizing them for you by category and retailer below. For those who don't have time to scroll through pages and pages of ad scan offers from each store, this is your cheat sheet. Just use your keyboard's search shortcut to search the product or category you're eyeing.

After weeks of having early sales advertised to us, here are the best deals from Black Friday ads that you can buy online as of actual Black Friday on Nov. 29.

Best deals from AmazonBest Amazon deals on AppleBest Amazon deals on EchoBest Amazon deals on fitness trackersBest Amazon deals on headphonesBest Amazon deals on KindlesBest Amazon kitchen dealsBest Amazon deals on robot vacuumsBest Amazon deals on TVsBest Amazon deals on DysonBest deals from Best BuyBest Buy Apple dealsBest Buy deals on camerasBest Buy deals on fitness trackersBest Buy deals on gamingBest Buy deals on headphonesBest Buy deals on kitchenBest Buy deals on laptopsBest Buy deals on smart home gadgetsBest Buy deals on speakersBest Buy deals on TVsBest Buy deals on vacuums Featured Video For You 5 best Black Friday products to shop Best deals from The Home DepotBest Home Depot deals on cordless toolsBest Home Depot deals on air purifiersBest Home Depot deals on smart homeBest Home Depot deals on home securityBest Home Depot deals on ice makersBest Home Depot deals on mini fridgesBest Home Depot deals on vacuumsBest deals from Kohl'sBest Kohl's deals on Amazon productsBest Kohl's deals on home audioBest Kohl's deals on headphonesBest Kohl's deals on smartwatchesBest Kohl's deals on tabletsMore Kohl's Cyber Monday dealsBest deals from TargetBest Target deals on Apple productsBest Target deals on gaming techBest Target deals on TVsBest Target deals on kitchen appliancesBest Target deals on laptopsBest Target deals on headphonesBest Target deals on robot vacuums and regular vacuumsBest Target deals on smart homeBest Target deals on speakersBest Target deals on smartwatchesBest deals from WalmartBest Walmart deals on AppleBest Walmart deals on dronesBest Walmart deals on gamingBest Walmart deals on headphonesBest Walmart deals on laptopsBest Walmart deals on TVsBest Walmart deals on robot vacuums and regular vacuums
Categories: IT General, Technology
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