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Disability tech accelerator Remarkable held its 2025 Disability Tech Summit at Sydney Town Hall this week, bringing the event to Australia for the first time.

Founded as an initiative of Australia's Cerebral Palsy Alliance in 2016, Remarkable has since spread to the U.S., holding its previous three Disability Tech Summits in San Francisco and San Diego. The organisation now runs two disability tech accelerator programs annually: One focused on US-based startups, and the other for startups in Australia and the rest of the world.

"In Australia, the federal government currently commits around about a $100 billion per year to disability and aging. And we know that we're only just scratching the surface of what is way in excess of a $13 trillion global opportunity around innovation in this space," said Remarkable founder Pete Horsley.

"We really do believe that with Australia's world leading research design capability, and lived experience in leadership, we have the chance to make the disability sector the next wave of innovative industry that flourishes right here in Australia but also in other pockets around the world as well."

Here are nine startups innovating in assistive tech at Remarkable’s 2025 Disability Tech Summit.

ByStorm Beauty, makeup tools for people with disabilities Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

ByStorm Beauty's founder Storm Menzies has mild cerebral palsy and worked in the disability industry for years. Even so, it wasn't until she broke her dominant hand that she realised how inaccessible makeup is to many people with disabilities. 

"When I couldn’t open a tube of mascara, and I couldn't find the accessible beauty products that I needed, I googled. And even Google was confused," said Menzies. "So I called one of my friends, and I asked her how she did her makeup. And she said, 'Storm, makeup isn't made for people like me. No one sees me as beautiful.'"

This prompted Menzies to create tools which snap on to makeup products, enabling people with disabilities to hold and use them.

"I learned that my community doesn’t actually want accessible makeup," Menzies explained. "What they want is to be able to use the same makeup and beauty products as everyone else, the same products that are trending and viral on TikTok."

ByStorm Beauty's makeup attachments come in two models. The round Betty grip is suited to people with wrist or hand pain, while the paddle-shaped Margie helps people who can't curl their fingers. Both are made of medical-grade silicone, and can be used across different product types and brands. Based in Australia, ByStorm Beauty also currently ships to Canada, the UK, and New Zealand.

"While everyone else is chasing these high-tech, AI solutions, we are focused on simplicity," said Menzies. "Accessibility is not charity. It’s innovation. It is sustainability. And it is the future of beauty."

Possibility Neurotechnologies' Think2Switch, a brain-computer interface Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Possibility Neurotechnologies' co-founder and CEO Dion Kelly describes its brain-computer interface Think2Switch as "like Siri for your thoughts." Designed for ease of use, the Think2Switch software enables people to operate up to four separate electrical devices using off-the-shelf brain sensing headsets.

"For people who experience challenges with mobility and communication,... none of [the potential options] are accessible, affordable, or usable by the average person," said Kelly. "With Think2Switch, anyone can go online right now, and they can purchase a Muse headset for $500, they can download our app, and start using it right away."

Equipped with EEG electrodes, Muse's headsets are intended to be meditation wearables. Possibility Neurotechnologies' Think2Switch reappropriates their ability to detect brain activity to turn it into an accessibility device.

"Imagine being told that your child will never talk, they'll never walk, they'll never be able to do anything independently," said Kelly. "Now imagine learning that there's a technology that can help your child interact with the world, a fundamental human right. So you get on wait lists. You do months and months of assessments trying to prove that your child is disabled enough to warrant this technology, in hopes that maybe insurance will cover it. If not, it's $15,000 out of pocket. That's the reality for 60 million people… where only two percent ever get access."

Based in Canada, Kelly states that Think2Switch has already been used by over a 100 families across 20 clinics. Of course, its ambitions stretch far beyond this. While Possibility Neurotechnologies is currently focused on people with disabilities, the startup hopes to eventually introduce Think2Switch to the kids' consumer tech and toy market as well.

"We're building this for all children, because the desire to control your world is not limited by disability," said Kelly. "With Think2Switch, interaction feels like magic, and what child doesn't want to experience that?"

Field of Vision, enabling people with limited vision to follow live sports Credit: Composite image: Amanda Yeo / Mashable; Field of Vision

Established in 2020, Field of Vision was inspired by a viral video of a blind football fan celebrating a goal in a crowded stadium. The Irish startup's handheld haptic devices enable people with low vision to follow live sports, letting them feel engraved high-contrast field lines as well as the movement of the ball.

"I like to describe it a bit like a football Ouija board," explained co-founder David Deneher. "So you let the magnet guide your hand around the field, rather than the other way around, and then that can tell you where the ball is. And then there's vibrations for key events within the sports games, such as tackles or behinds goals, and there's different vibrations for each of them."

Around the size of an iPad, Field of Vision's device has interchangeable plates allowing it to be used for different sports. Deneher stated that it can be used for soccer, rugby, AFL, and NFL, with the startup planning to expand to baseball and tennis. 

"We get our data from either AI cameras that are installed in the stadium that can bring it to the device in less than half a second, or we can manually track the data," said Deneher. "We can work in any size stadium, with big stadiums such as [Melbourne's] Marvel Stadium, all the way to our local ones….

"That's one of the big things we work on, is making sure the data gets to our device in less than half a second. Because the idea is we want the fans to be able to experience this sport at the same time as everyone else, rather than always asking what's going on."

Earlier this year, Marvel Stadium announced that AFL audiences will be able to rent Field of Vision's devices for free in 2026, in collaboration with Australian telecom Telstra. While Field of Vision's devices are currently loaned out by stadiums, Deneher hopes that sports enthusiasts will eventually own their own which they can take with them to games.

Understanding Zoe, an app for tracking neurodivergent children's health Credit: Composite image: Amanda Yeo / Mashable; Understanding Zoe

Named for co-founder and CEO Laetitia Andrac's daughter, Understanding Zoe is an AI-assisted app which allows parents, teachers, and therapists to track their neurodivergent child's progress by logging their behaviours. The app's AI coach Pip then offers insights based on the information provided, helping adults identify a child's meltdown triggers and the calming techniques which work for them. 

"The whole idea of Understanding Zoe was to support [neurodivergent children who] are misunderstood and hidden and invisible," said Andrac. "To make sure that, from now on, we don't repeat the biases and the trauma from the past, and we support them."

Though the app is focused on children, Andrac noted that they hope to expand beyond this in the future.

"Understanding Zoe was born out of our own lived experience facing [a] broken system," Andrac said. "We are embracing ethical AI, we are correcting biases, and we are embracing strength-based neuro affirming care. We collaborate with researchers from University of Sydney, Oxford University, but we also collaborate with lots of clinicians and lived experience experts to really build this platform."

Understanding Zoe is available on both iOS and Android, and offers a free 30-day trial. After that, the app will set you back $AU10 per month per family, with multiple children and caregivers supported.

Rampey, an autonomous AI-powered robot ramp Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

As the name suggests, Rampey is a ramp. Of course, this is far from all there is to it. Introduced by founder and CEO Jay Davey, Rampey is a robotic, self-deploying ramp which uses AI to autonomously position itself in front of train doors. This means people with disabilities don't have to rely on station staff to help them, enabling them to get in and out of the carriage with greater ease.

"No staff needed, no waiting for heavy ramps, no arriving early," said Davey, who boasts over 20 years of experience in robotics. "Our autonomous ramps position themselves before the doors open. And what took minutes now takes seconds….

"The robot is safe around people, thanks to its hybrid LiDAR and computer vision sensor suite. Platforms with large gaps and curve geometries are no challenge. We turn in place to match the angle of the train, and we adjust the height of the ramp to the perfect height every time."

While Rampey is targeted at wheelchair users, Davey also acknowledged the need to consider how it impacts other people with disabilities.

"We want to put lights and sounds and audio cues to give some kind of indication of what the robot wants to do," said Davey. "But those lights and sounds — if they're not carefully monitored and carefully implemented — they can be challenges for people with neuro divergence or things like that. So that realisation, that awareness [of] what you're putting on the robot, matters a lot."

Though based in Australia and primarily focused on trains, Davey noted that Rampey could also be used for other modes of transport such as autonomous cars, and could eventually be deployed globally. The startup is currently looking to raise pre-seed capital.

Umps, a personal alarm exploring AI integration Credit: Composite image: Umps; Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Umps is named after co-founder and CEO Adam Jahnke's title for his grandfather, whose dangerous falls inspired the personal alarm startup. Jahnke's grandfather wasn't wearing his alarm when he fell, so Umps started out by developing a smart home system which could detect abnormal movements via sensors placed around users' homes. However, potential users were deterred by the feeling of being surveilled.

"We were creating really great opportunities for intervention," explained Jahnke. "We were particularly good at detecting things like infections, breakdowns in people's everyday routine, disruptions to sleep, more sedentary behaviour…. [but] people felt a loss of autonomy and a loss of agency when something passive was monitoring them."

As such, Umps ultimately returned to personal alarms, offering pendants and watches connected to a home hub. However, the startup is now looking at how to offer more services and greater functionality on its devices, integrating various wireless network protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, Thread, and WiFi.

"We've got a whole bunch of technology in here that would enable us to integrate other sensors and medical devices," said Jahnke. "What we ended up building was a range of voice applications that can be delivered over the personal alarm, [with voice commands] not just going to an emergency centre, but also to be delivered to care. 

"So with [Australian Christian community care organisation] Anglicare now, people can press this button, they can talk to the device, the device will transcribe what that person's request is and send it directly to their care team. Their care team can type back a response, send it back, and push it directly to the device."

Umps also plans to launch AI wellbeing checks next year, which will have its hub prompt users to gather information from them.

Hailo, an app helping people with disabilities catch public buses Credit: Composite image: Hailo; Amanda Yeo / Mashable

In 2018, Hailo co-founder and CTO Santiago Velasquez missed a university exam after multiple buses failed to stop for him that morning. Though he'd arrived early, was wearing a high-visibility vest, and held up the route number, he wasn't able to see the bus to hail it. As a result, he missed his exam and had to spend an additional six months on his electrical engineering degree.

"It wasn't the driver's fault," said Velasquez. "They are focused on the road [and] traffic, and without a clear signal at the appropriate time, the decision to stop can pass in a blink… People with disabilities experience isolation daily because public transport is not for everyone. This means living smaller lives, fewer outings and having limited employment opportunities."

The Hailo app aims to address this problem, and make public transport more accessible for everyone. Commuters use the app to send alerts to drivers' dashboards, letting them know that there are passengers to pick up as they approach a stop. They can also plan trips and see live vehicle information in the app. Meanwhile, drivers will receive information such as how many passengers there are, whether they need to deploy a ramp, and if the bus' suspension needs to be lowered.

"Both drivers and travelers get alerts at pickup, during the trip, and while approaching the stop," Velasquez explained. "Hailo works with existing technology on vehicles, so we are ready to roll out across New South Wales, Australia, and the world."

Hailo conducted a trial across 400 buses in New South Wales last year, and is preparing to launch in Melbourne and expand globally. While Hailo was initially designed for people with disabilities, Velasquez noted that it could be useful to everyone who takes public transport.

"[Text messaging] was to help people who couldn't hear," said Velasquez. "Now everybody says, 'Don't call me. Text.' It's the same thing with Hailo."

Rove, lightweight customisable wheelchairs Credit: Amanda Yeo / Mashable

Rove offers lightweight yet durable wheelchairs made of 3D-printed titanium and wound carbon fibre. Weighing approximately 4kg (9lbs) without wheels and capable of being customised down to the millimetre, Rove's assistive devices are for experienced wheelchair users who know what they like.

"Your chair has to match your aesthetic, but also get you around," said Rove's national sales manager Alex Jones. "It needs to go to weddings, to funerals, to appointments. And just day to day in your life, in everything you do, you are most likely going to be dependent on that chair for — depending on the use case — either one thing or everything you do in your entire life.

"So here at Rove, we try and use cutting edge technology… to take the pros of both [titanium and carbon fibre] and cut out as much of the cons as we can to make the best, most functional wheelchair that we can. 

"And then we really care about the aesthetics of it. So we do colours, we do all sorts of different things, because a wheelchair isn't just a thing that you have inside of your house. For a lot of people, it's something that they're going to use every day and be dependent on for their whole mobility…. We make them look cool….

"The look on someone's face when they see that chair that they actually want to be seen in public, that catches me by surprise every time."

Rove doesn't yet have any dealers outside of Australia and New Zealand, with Jones telling Mashable that it's currently going through the approval processes in the U.S. and Europe. As such, it will likely be a while before it makes it to dealers stateside. However, you can still order a wheelchair directly from their website, with Rove selling to customers across the globe.

Marco Polo, a housemate matching platform for people with disabilities Credit: Composite image: Marco Polo; Amanda Yeo / Mashable

While Australia's National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) helps people with disabilities find housing, they typically don't get to choose their housemates. Marco Polo is a housemate matching platform which gives NDIS participants the power to select who they live with. 

"Across Australia, more than 700,000 people rely on the NDIS, and too many of them are being placed into shared homes with strangers," said Marco Polo co-founder Amy Connelly. "This leads to outcomes that range from conflict and distress to failed placements, and in some cases, violence and neglect….

"What the system needs is the ability to prioritise connection, choice, and compatibility first. But the system isn't designed for that, so we built the technology that makes it possible…. Think [Australian share accommodation website] Flatmates meets Tinder, custom built for people with disability."

People who receive NDIS housing assistance simply tell Marco Polo how much funding they receive and the location they prefer to live in. The platform will then show them potential housemates who match their individual circumstances and preferences.

Marco Polo is free for participants and support coordinators, while there are paid subscriptions for care providers, who can use the platform to list and manage vacancies. Connelly states that Marco Polo currently has over 600 users.

"Often people [using the NDIS housing model] have no choice in who they're living with," said co-founder Aaron Cotton. "It's, 'Here's three people, in you get, just deal with it and be happy that you've got somewhere to live.' We are changing that, and making sure that people with a disability and their families and whoever supports them have the ability to select who they're living with and who supports them."

The Vivaldi web browser is already a compelling alternative to Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox, and now it's getting even better with upgraded tab synchronization. There are also some helpful changes to the new tab page, performance controls, and the built-in mail client.

If you’re a woman stepping into senior leadership during midlife, menopause symptoms like hot flashes or brain fog can feel like professional roadblocks—but they don’t have to be. Here are some research-backed strategies to lead through menopause with strength and clarity. Advocate for your health. Don’t settle for vague answers or inadequate treatment. Take initiative: […]

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SAVE UP TO $60: On Nov 13. Whoop launched the details of its Cyber Week sale. The sale will launch on Nov. 20 and run through Dec. 2, and includes $60 off Whoop MG plans and $40 off Whoop 5.0 plans.

Shop Whoop plans Shop Life Plan Whoop MG $359 Shop Now Shop Peak Plan Whoop 5.0 $239 Shop Now Shop One Plan Whoop 5.0 $149 (Save $50) Get Deal

While we're still two weeks out from Black Friday, the sales are already here. Big retailers like Amazon, Target, and Walmart already have some early Black Friday savings live, but many individual brands are waiting until Nov. 20, a week before Thanksgiving, to launch their sales. Plus, the sales are running through what is now known as Cyber Week, aka the week that encompasses Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The latest brand to announce its Cyber Week deals is Whoop.

On Nov. 20, Whoop kicks off its Cyber Week sale, which will bring discounts to the Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG trackers. The brand operates a little differently from other trackers; instead of buying the device, you pay for a membership, which includes the device — and those memberships are going on sale. The sale will run through Dec. 2.

SEE ALSO: I tested the top fitness trackers for running a marathon (by running the NYC marathon)

During Cyber Week, the Life Plan, which includes Whoop's most advanced tracker, the Whoop MG, will be $60 off. This deal applies to both 12- and 24-month plans. That brings the price of the 12-month plan down to $299 from $359, and the 24-month plan down to $539 from $599. The Peak Plan, which included the Whoop 5.0, will be $40 off on 12- and 24-month plans. The 12-month plan will be down to $199 from $239, and the 24-month plan will be down to $359 from $399.

In addition to the devices, Whoop will offer up to 20% off Whoop 5.0 accessories and Whoop Body, as well as up to 70% off Whoop 4.0 accessories.

You can swap out bands on your Whoop wearable, and those accessories are also on sale during Cyber Week. Credit: Whoop

What's notably missing from Whoop's Cyber Week sale is a discount on the Whoop One subscription, the most basic membership tier that comes with the Whoop 5.0. Oddly enough, ahead of Cyber Week, One memberships are currently on sale. You can get a 12-month membership to Whoop One for $149, saving you $50 off its normal $199 price.

We love Whoop's fitness trackers here at Mashable. They're a round-the-clock device, as you never need to take them off. Whoop wearables are waterproof, and you can even charge the device while wearing it. We think it's the best sleep tracker too, easily the most comfortable with the most extensive data. Mashable's Christianna Silva determined it's the best health tracker to use while marathon training.

Whoop's Cyber Week sale begins on Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 2. However, if you want to grab a Whoop One membership on sale, you can grab that now for just $149.

Opens in a new window Credit: Whoop Whoop 5.0 $149 at Whoop
$199 Save $50 Get the Whoop 5.0 with a 12- or 24-month One membership. Get Deal

TL;DR: Live stream Patriots vs. Jets in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Thursday Night Football this week matches the 8-2 New England Patriots with the 2-7 Las York Jets. On paper, this looks like a comfortable victory for the Patriots. In reality, it's never that easy.

If you want to watch Patriots vs. Jets in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Patriots vs. Jets?

Patriots vs. Jets in the NFL starts at 8:15 p.m. ET on Nov. 13. This game takes place at Gillette Stadium.

How to watch Patriots vs. Jets for free

Patriots vs. Jets in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Patriots vs. Jets for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit 7Plus

5. Live stream Patriots vs. Jets for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Patriots vs. Jets in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NFL for free with ExpressVPN.

We're getting closer to the New Moon, the period of the lunar cycle where the moon disappears from view entirely. There's still lots to see until then, so keep reading to find out what is happening with the moon tonight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Thursday, Nov. 13, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 37% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Looking up with no visual aids you'll be able to see the Aristarchus Plateau and the Kepler and Copernicus Craters. If you have binoculars, to the bottom left you'll see the Grimaldi Basin, the Mare Humorum, and the Clavius Crater. If you have a telescope, you'll get to see even more, including the Reiner Gamma, Schiller Crater, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, according to NASA. Moon phases are how the moon looks from Earth as it goes around us. We always see the same side of the moon, but how much of it is lit up by the Sun changes depending on where it is in its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all. There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Black Friday is fast approaching, and there's nothing you can do to stop it. Major retailers already dropping their Black Friday ads and early-access deals, so it's time to check out everything that's on offer, make a list of your top priorities, investigate price history, and hope for the best.

Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and a bunch of other popular retailers have already announced their Black Friday plans. The Target early Black Friday sale runs from Nov. 6-8, three weeks before the main event. Want to make the most out of Target's Black Friday campaign? We've checked out the pre-Black Friday ad to provide you with a snapshot of what's on offer from the big-box retailer.

SEE ALSO: 60+ of the absolute best stocking stuffers for 2025

The great news for shoppers is that Target’s three-day early Black Friday sale is offering a large portion of deals at 40% off or more. And that includes popular categories like gifts and holiday décor, toys including Lego, clothing, and kitchen essentials. We're seeing great deals on some of the best Ninja appliances, cordless vacuums, and headphones. Some of these will make great holiday gifts while others are a gift to get you through holiday travel, like noise-cancelling headphones.

Keep in mind some of these deals are exclusive to Target Circle members but don't fret because it's free to to sign up.

Here are some of the best Target deals you can shop on sale between Nov. 6-8:

Best early Black Friday toy deals

• $9.99 Hasbro family games

• 20% off Lego toys

• Up to 30% off select baby toys and gifts

• 30% off Hot Wheels

Best early Black Friday Kitchen deals

• Instant Pot 6-quart Pressure Cooker Bundle — $69.99 $139.99 (save $70 + get a free $10 Target gift card)

• Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven — $119.99 $229.99 (save $110)

• Ninja Kitchen System Blender — $149.99 $189.99 (save $40)

• Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee Maker and Espresso Machine — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)

• Ninja Crispi Glass Air Fryer Cooking System — $159.99 $179.99 (save $20 + get a $10 Target gift card)

• DeLonghi Magnifica Start Automatic Coffee Espresso Machine — $499.99 $799.95 (save $299.96)

Best early Black Friday Lego deals

• Lego Christmas Tree Building Set — $26.99 $44.99 (save $18)

• Lego City Space Science Lab — $36.79 $45.99 (save $9.20)

• Lego Wicked Glinda & Elphaba's Dormitory — $46.99 $52.99 (save $6)

• Lego Botanicals Evergreen Collector’s Set — $47.99 $59.99 (save $12)

• Lego Minecraft The Crafting Table — $71.99 $89.99 (save $18)

Best early Black Friday floor care deals

• Bissell Little Green Max Carpet Cleaner — $109.99 $139.99 (save $30)

• Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Tineco GO Flex Cordless Stick Vacuum — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

• Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)

• Dyson V9 Motorbar Vacuum Cleaner — $269.99 $599.99 (save $330)

• Dyson V11 Cordless Stick Vacuum — $399.99 $629.99 (save $230)

• Eecovacs Deebot T30S PRO Robot Vacuum and Mop — $545.99 $839.99 (save $294)

Best early Black Friday headphone and earbud deals

• Beats Solo Buds Earbuds — $69.99 $79.99 (save $10)

• Beats Solo 4 Headphones — $149.99 $199.99 (save $50)

• Beats Studio Pro Headphones — $199.99 $349.99 (save $150)

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $249.99 $359.99 (save $100)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones — $329.99 $399.99 (save $70)

Best early Black Friday speaker deals

• Amazon Kids Echo Dot — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25)

• Beats Pill — $129.99 $149.99 (save $20)

Best early Black Friday holiday prep deals

• 30% off hefty storage and organization

• 30% off Threshold decor items

• 40% off holiday lighting

• 40% off tree skirts, collars, toppers, and more

• 40% off select holiday décor and lights

Best early Black Friday clothing deals

• 40% off select clothing for men, women, and kids

• 40% off pajamas for all

• Up to 40% off slippers and socks

We're a few weeks away from Black Friday, right? Wrong, Black Friday is very much up and running with major retailers already dropping their Black Friday ads and early-access deals. We understand if that doesn't immediately sound like great news. This busy shopping season requires careful planning and a good dose of stamina, but if you're willing to commit, you can walk away with everything on your wishlist for a fraction of the list price.

And you're not alone over Black Friday. We've very much got your back at this time of year, and that starts by checking out all the Black Friday ads dropped by leading retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Lowe's. The latter is planning to drop a wide range of impressive hardware and DIY deals through Black Friday and beyond. You can check out Lowe's Black Friday ads here.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

We recommend making a list of your top priorities, tracking price history, and then planning your time to pounce. Or alternatively, you could let us do all the work for you. We've gone ahead and investigated the Lowe's Black Friday ads to paint a picture of what's already available to buy in 2025:

Best early Black Friday tool deals

• Craftsman Folding Utility Knife with On-Tool Blade Storage — $16.98 $21.99 (save $5.01)

• DeWalt Elite Series 1/4-in x Impact Driver Bit Set 100-Piece — $39.98 $44.98 (save $5)

• Werner Load Capacity Step Ladder — $69 $139 (save $70)

• Craftsman 6-Gallon Portable Electric 150 PSI Pancake Air Compressor — $99 $169 (save $70)

• Craftsman V20 20-Volt 1-Pack Lithium-ion (4.0 Ah Battery and Charger) — $99 $149 (save $50)

• DeWalt 20-Volt Max 6-1/2-in Cordless Circular Saw with Brake (Tool Only) — $129 $159 (save $30)

• Kobalt 24-Volt 2-Pack Lithium-ion (4.0 Ah Battery and Charger) — $149 $159 (save $10)

• Little Giant Ladders Multi M14 Load Capacity Telescoping Multi-Position Ladder — $154 $194 (save $40)

Best early Black Friday grills and outdoor cooking deals

• VEVOR Outdoor Kitchen Pull-Out Drawer Modular Outdoor Kitchen Cabinet — $127.19 $158.99 (save $31.80)

• Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker W Black Barrel Charcoal Grill — $119.99 $138.23 (save $18.24)

• COWSAR Black 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $149.99 $299.99 (save $150)

• Royal Gourmet 3-in-1 Grill and Griddle Combo Station with Lid Portable Liquid Propane Grill — $149.99 $159.99 (save $10)

• COWSAR Stainless Steel and Black 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $169.99 $449.99 (save $280)

• COWSAR Stainless Steel and Black 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $239.99 $599.99 (save $360)

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Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 13 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Number (11): Everything in this space must add to 11. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (15): Everything in this space must add to 15. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 13 Pips

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this light blue space must add to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this orange space must add to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed vertically; 4-3, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 13 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-6, placed horizontally.

Number (18): Everything in this space must add to 18. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add to 6. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 3-3, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition isn't hard if you watch a lot of baseball movies.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. 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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Seen on a zebra

• Green: Baseball movies

• Blue: Low risk scoring

• Purple: Types of Drakes

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Things a Football Referee Carries

• Green: Baseball Movies, with "The"

• Blue: Feats Worth Three Points/Goals in Different Sports

• Purple: Drake____

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 #416 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Things a Football Referee Carries - BEAN BAG, COIN, FLAG, WHISTLE

• Baseball Movies, with "The" - NATURAL, PRIDE OF THE YANKEES, ROOKIE, SANDLOT

• Feats Worth Three Points/Goals in Different Sports - FIELD GOAL, HALF-COURT SHOT, HAT TRICK, RINGER

• Drake____ - BALDWIN, BULLDOGS, LONDON, MAYE

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

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

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

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

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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

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

A mathematical sequence.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

TUPLE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To measure.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 13, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

GAUGE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To allow.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 13 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 13, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GRANT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Part of the leg.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 13 Hurdle Word 4 answer

THIGH

Final Hurdle hint

They rule a courtroom.

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

JUDGE

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

Valve has announced three new pieces of hardware for Steam: The console-like Steam Machine, a new virtual reality headset called Steam Frame, and a brand new version of the Steam Controller. They all run on SteamOS and are set to release sometime in early 2026. Prices have not been revealed yet.

Starting off with the Steam Machine, Valve confirmed that it’s six times more powerful than the Steam Deck and is able to play your entire Steam library, including AAA and indie titles. Games will be noted with a “Steam Machine Verified” tag if they play well on the console, similarly to the “Steam Deck Verified” tag. So, it's not quite a console, but not quite a PC either. According to Valve, "Once you sign in with your Steam account, your entire library will be there waiting for you."

Credit: Valve SEE ALSO: Xbox President Sarah Bond confirms next-gen console will be a premium, high-powered device

As for the size, it’s a 6-inch cube that’s designed to fit under your TV or on your desk. It even has an LED strip to signal system status such as download progress.

The Steam Frame is Valve's new wireless virtual reality gaming headset. It's designed to be “streaming” first and comes with controllers. Valve’s website says it offers “wireless, comfortable, lightweight VR for your Steam library.” Interestingly, Valve also says it can play VR and non VR titles. Just like the Steam Machine and Steam Deck, it’s also going to have its own “Steam Frame Verified” tag. The tag will help you see which games, VR or not, will work on the headset.

The new Valve Steam Frame VR headset. Credit: Valve

There’s a new feature called Foveated Streaming, which optimizes details where your eyes are looking. This feature uses low-latency eye tracking data to move the best quality pixels to align with your eyes, so that you experience better image quality.

Lastly, the brand new Steam Controller has gotten quite an overhaul compared to its 2015 version. It has your standard A,B,X, and Y buttons, along with your thumbsticks and direction pad. But it also features two large trackpads near the grips to simulate how computer mice move.

Credit: Valve SEE ALSO: Playing the Lenovo Legion Go 2 handheld made me yearn for the simplicity of my Switch 2

The thumbsticks use TMR technology to create a more responsive feeling and increase longevity. It also includes haptic feedback for a more immersive experience, as well as a grip-enabled gyro called Grip Sense. Players simply hold and release to toggle off gyro aiming.

It also comes with the Steam Controller Puck, which is a wireless transmitter that acts simultaneously like a charging station and a stable connection to your hardware.

The new Steam Controller. Credit: Valve

In the meantime, the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED are still going strong for Valve. The handheld will also be compatible with the new hardware.

You can also watch the full announcement video on YouTube.

You've heard of CPU or GPU bottlenecks, but monitor bottlenecks? Well, when you think about it, your monitor is where the rubber hits the road when it comes to gaming performance. Just like a high-performance car with bad tires, it doesn't matter how good things are under the hood if you can't make it to the finish line.

TL;DR: Turn any space into a theater with the Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector with Google TV, on sale now for $269.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kodak Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector with Google TV $269.99
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Want to make an ordinary night magical? All you need is some popcorn and a Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector, and you can turn your living room into a fancy movie theater. This projector offers full HD visuals with 4K support, providing a big-screen experience anywhere, and right now it’s on sale for just $269.99.

Tired of paying the extravagant prices at the movie theater? Bring the cinema experience home with some help from the Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector. This smart projector serves up full HD visuals with 4K support, so it’s not only perfect for movie night, but also for gaming or streaming your favorite shows.

SEE ALSO: Rumor suggests Apple could kill Dynamic Island with under-display camera

The watch parties don’t have to stay at home — the Kodak Flik X20 is compact enough to bring along and take the party anywhere. There are also four projection modes — front, ceiling, rear, and rear ceiling — so you can decide how you’d like to watch. No matter where you choose, you’ll see content in rich colors and stunning clarity.

The Kodak Flik X20 has built-in Google TV, so you’ll have your favorite streaming apps like Netflix right at your fingertips without having to bring any other gadgets along. Just download them from the Google Play store and start watching content in full HD.

This projector comes equipped with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, so you can also share, cast, or stream your content from multiple devices. Setup is a breeze and the controls are straightforward, so it’s easy for everyone to use.

Upgrade your movie night with the Kodak Flik X20 1080p Smart Projector with Google TV, on sale now for $269.99.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Elevate your cybersecurity with this three-year subscription to the Surfshark VPN Starter Plan, now just $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF, available for just four more days until Nov. 16.

Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Yr Subscription $67.19
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It’s time to start taking your cybersecurity seriously. Whether you’re traveling this holiday season or just want to stay protected during the busiest online shopping time of the year, now’s the perfect time to tighten things up. A VPN is an affordable and easy way to browse the web more safely.

Right now, you can score a three-year subscription to the Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for only $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF through Nov. 16.

SEE ALSO: Google issues security alert about malicious VPNs stealing user data

VPNs let you enjoy the internet as it was meant to be browsed, with no geographical limits or online tracking, and no worrying about potential hackers stealing your data. The SurfShark VPN Starter Plan is a great way to surf safer, and this three-year deal lets you test out all the perks a VPN can bring.

Surfshark VPN gives you total privacy, as you can browse the web with military-grade AES-256 encryption. Your online location will be hidden, so you can’t be tracked, and you can rest easy when you log on from anywhere — even sketchy public Wi-Fi networks. You’ll also avoid any geo-restrictions, so you can enjoy total freedom online, no matter where you are.

This three-year subscription also provides access to CleanWeb, offering additional benefits including ad and malware blocking, as well as a faster internet experience. You can also use Surfshark Search, a more private way to browse the web and receive unbiased, organic search results.

This three-year subscription can be used on an unlimited number of devices. You can connect to more than 3,200 servers in over 100 countries, and rest easy knowing Surfshark has a no-log policy.

Browse safer with this three-year subscription to the Surfshark VPN Starter Plan, now for only $67.19 (reg. $430) with code SURF.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Microsoft Word is ubiquitous in the professional world, and its widespread support and capabilities have lead to it becoming one of the most popular word processors today.

I love smart home technology, and I've always dreamed of living in the house of Back to the Future 2 or The Jetsons, but as a grownup with a little more experience of what technology is really like on a day-to-day basis, I have some reservations about what should or should not be "smart". With "smart" these days meaning "connected to the cloud".

There's a new trend on TikTok and everyone hates it.

It's one of those trends you might have found out not because you saw people using it, but because you saw people hating on it — at least that's how it was served up to me, on a plate of disgust.

The trend goes like this: A group of people, typically kids, gives their phone to someone else and asks them to record them doing a dance. They record the dance on the front-facing camera so the dancers can see themselves and at the end of the dance, they move towards the camera and flip it to reveal the person recording them.

SEE ALSO: TikTok Shop reportedly faces deluge of 70 million fake products. AI is to blame.

The trend is a few weeks old, according to Know Your Meme, which reported that it likely started towards the end of October with a video from TikTok creator @jaycrudddy. The video has 1.3 million views.

This might sound like a silly trend with unoffensive consequences, but many people online are labeling it as bullying because the person chosen to record is often someone the dancing kids are trying to make fun of, be it a less popular kid, a person struggling with homelessness, or an elderly person. The punchline of the video is almost always at the expense of the recorders.

Featured Video For You Mashable Rants: Is flirting with AI considered cheating?

In an Instagram post about the trend, user @coquettesvanilla, who has over 41,400 followers, said the trend has "turned into straight up bullying" and saying the trend might seem small but leads to people feeling "insecure" and "like they’re not good enough."

"We shouldn’t be building a whole trend around tearing someone down," @coquettesvanilla wrote. "Bullying isn’t always loud or obvious, sometimes it hides behind 'it’s just for fun.' But if someone gets hurt, then it wasn’t fun to begin with. We can choose to be better. We can choose not to add to the negativity or make people feel ashamed of themselves. Social media doesn’t have to be a place where people get laughed at, it can be a place where we actually respect each other."

Other users have echoed @coquettesvanilla's sentiment.

One user with 14,400 followers on TikTok, @hhyy1037, called the trend "disgusting."

"Nine times out of 10, that person looks like the sweetest, kindest, most innocent human being. You can tell they were just trying to be nice, probably quiet, probably introverted, maybe not even part of that friend group for real," @hhyy1037 said.

Even @Tinx, a creator with 1.5 million followers on TikTok, made a video about the trend calling it out for bullying.

"I'm not a mom but if I found out my kids did that, I would ground them forever. I'm serious I think that is one of the mean- it's not even mean, it's cruel," Tinx said. "It's straight up cruelty. It's so mean-spirited."

Virtual reality headsets have struggled to find a place with consumers, even among gamers, who are not usually shy about spending money on their hobby.

A coalition between Pornhub's parent company Aylo and other adult content producers has come together to create the Adult Studio Alliance (ASA), which aims to standardize safety across the industry with its Code of Conduct.

Safety precautions, such as testing for HIV and other STIs every 14 days, have long been mandatory for professional porn productions in the U.S. However, the ASA's goal isn't to introduce new safety procedures — it's to standardize them in a clear, unified, and structured way, as stated in a press release.

SEE ALSO: 'We're all sinners': the Conservative tradwife who does OnlyFans

Key guidelines of the ASA include:

• Give performers full transparency, like scene details and partners, prior to booking

• Boundary checklists and pre-shoot discussions

• Intimacy coordinator or other liaison available before, during, and after a shoot

• Health and safety protocols — like STI testing every 14 days

• Prohibitions on drugs and alcohol on a shoot, and guidelines about prescription medication

• Requirements for licensing, transparency, and ethical representation

The full Code of Conduct is available on the ASA's website.

"The ASA Code of Conduct sets a benchmark for how adult content should be made," Aylo's VP of brand and community, Alex Kekesi, commented in the press release.

Aylo is one of the founding members of the ASA; it owns Pornhub and also studios such as Brazzers and Sean Cody. The other founding members are Dorcel, ERIKALUST, Gamma Entertainment (which owns sites like Adult Time), Mile High Media, and Ricky’s Room.

"When we protect performers' rights, we foster an empowering work environment and destigmatize porn, ultimately benefiting both our industry and society as we create safer content," Kekesi continued.

"I believe strong production standards are the foundation of a safe and respectful and successful industry, and I've always believed performers deserve nothing less. That's why I'm truly excited to see the launch of the Adult Studio Alliance and to enthusiastically welcome this initiative," said performer Cherie DeVille, who has written for Mashable.

Performer and marketing director for queer porn studio, CrashPadSeries.com, Jiz Lee, told Mashable that much of the groundwork and bullet points of this new Code of Conduct were made in the Adult Performer Advocacy Committee's (APAC) performer bill of rights and code of conduct, which were created by a volunteer-based group of performers over a decade ago.

While it would've been considerate for big studios to credit APAC, Lee said, it's great to see this transparency and effort by major studios. "It shows that performers have power to influence the industry and working conditions," they said. Lee wishes ASA's code of conduct included points on AI, tagging (the marketing language used, especially for BIPOC and LGBTQ performers), and individualized health and performer agency (such as working with HIV-positive performers).

This coalition and Code of Conduct come at a time when the adult industry is under scrutiny. Countries, including the UK and France, as well as around half of the United States, have established age-verification laws that require users to input their personal data to access explicit material.

Despite free speech experts and an initial study suggesting that age-verification doesn't work for its intended purpose — keeping minors off of porn sites — more places are adopting them. It's also causing non-explicit platforms, like Spotify, to start age-verifying as well. Earlier this year, experts in the First Amendment and the internet warned Mashable that these laws can fundamentally change the internet and often require more and more personal data as time goes on.

There's also a conservative push in the United States to outright ban porn entirely. The far-right blueprint for Trump's second presidential term, Project 2025, outlines prohibiting pornography and imprisoning creators. Since Trump's second inauguration in January, a few bills have been introduced to ban porn. The bills haven't moved since they were introduced, however.