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Notepad is getting Wordpad features

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 23:18

Microsoft's next update for Notepad will bring native table support and streaming results for its built-in AI text features. This is a significant move that continues to push the classic text editor away from its simple, lightweight roots, which isn't where you'd want it to go.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Google is bringing back one of my favorite Google Photos tools

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 23:01

The Google Photos editing update earlier this year received a mixed reception, but one of the biggest things I noticed was the removal of a feature I used a lot: perspective correction. I was worried it was gone forever, but thankfully, it looks like Google is quietly working to bring it back.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Your gaming monitor probably can’t handle real HDR (even if it says it can)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 23:00

The advent of HDR has been a game changer for image quality when it comes to televisions. Console gamers, in particular, have enjoyed incredibly vibrant, high-contrast imagery which goes a long way to making up for a lack of overall GPU power. With the right TV, games (and movies) can be jaw-dropping on a TV.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best smartwatch for running just got its first-ever discount: Grab a Pixel 4 for $100 off this Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 22:52

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 21, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, LTE) is on sale for $349.99 at Amazon. That's a 22% discount, and the first time this model has ever gone on sale.

Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, LTE, Matte Black) $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon

The Google Pixel Watch 4 launched earlier this year, and until now, it hasn’t budged from its full price. For Black Friday, Amazon finally knocked it down.

As of Nov. 21, the Google Pixel Watch 4 (LTE) is on sale for $349.99. That’s a $100 drop from its $449 list price and the lowest price we’ve ever seen. (If you don't need the latest model, the Google Pixel Watch 3 is also on sale for $199.99, down from $299.99. You'll still get Fitbit integration and a sleek design, but for $100 less.)

Not only is this a good price for a smartwatch, but it's legitimately our favorite Android smartwatch of 2025. It even landed a spot on the Google Holiday 100 list as one of the most-searched gifts of the year. Mashable’s Senior Culture Reporter, Christianna Silva, trained for the New York City Marathon with it, calling it a "true runners' watch" thanks to its custom workout builder and reliable GPS. While the battery didn't quite survive the entire race day (it died before the finish line), it was flawless during her 18 weeks of training. The new domed display is brighter and more immersive, the interface is smoother, and it holds its own against heavy hitters like Garmin.

If you want the best experience on your Pixel or Samsung phone, this is the watch to get — especially now that it’s finally cheaper.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

I stopped trusting Wi-Fi for these 5 gadgets, and here is why

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 22:00

While you might think to plug your desktop or smart home hub into your router’s Ethernet port, there’s a lot more to hardware for internet.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Gmail might be harvesting your emails to train AI—here's how to opt out

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 21:57

A big concern in this new and fancy AI era is taking proper care of the stuff we actually give to AI models. These days, training AI models with your input is typically an opt-in thing—mostly because governments already had a say in it. Google, however, is apparently taking the liberty to train Gemini using your Gmail account. And you actually need to opt out.

Categories: IT General, Technology

One of the best Assassins Creed games might get a remake very soon

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 21:42

Ubisoft is potentially ready to sail the high seas again.

The French gaming giant published its latest financial earnings this week, and while there's lots of interesting business-y stuff going on in there, one minor detail stands out: the presence of an unannounced title that is set to launch by March 31, 2026 at the latest. Insider Gaming reports that this is going to be a remake of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, originally released in 2013 and pretty much universally regarded as one of the top titles in the long-running series.

SEE ALSO: Review: 'Kirby Air Riders' is frivolous, fleeting, and only fun with other people

Insider Gaming has been on this beat for a while now, having published previous exclusive reports about this remake. Aside from general visual and quality-of-life upgrades you would expect from a remake, it's apparently also going to take Black Flag in a more RPG-like direction, a la recent entries like Shadows. One unfortunate (depending on your perspective) rumor is that it's going to minimize or even do away entirely with the modern-day frame story sections of Black Flag. Once a major part of Assassin's Creed, Ubisoft has been shying away from those elements for a while now, seemingly unable to or uninterested in pushing them forward narratively.

Of course, this is not officially confirmed yet, so it's possible it winds up not happening. Still, it would be nice to return to the piratical shenanigans of Black Flag.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I wait all year for these 27 classic Black Friday deals — Yeti coolers, cordless drills, and Sony headphones on sale

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 21:33

Ah, Black Friday. I've been covering this annual sales event professionally since 2019 (even picking up an award along the way). Because it feels like the entire internet goes on sale during Black Friday, it can actually be hard to know where to start. We've got plenty of shopping guides to help you out, including our regularly updated guide to the best Black Friday deals of 2025.

By now, all of the big online retailers have launched their Black Friday sales, so there's no reason to wait for Thanksgiving to do your shopping. Many of the best products of the year are getting their first real discounts, including the Sony XM6 headphones, Google Pixel Watch 4, Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, and Apple M5 MacBook Pro laptops. But what about those classic products that never go out of style? I'm talking about viral hits like Bissell's Little Green Machine or Yeti coolers.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday 2025: Live updates on the latest deals from Amazon, Target, Walmart, and more

In this story, I'll share all of my favorite classic Black Friday deals. Year after year, I've counted on these deals when making recommendations to friends and family. Whether you're shopping for Christmas gifts or rewarding yourself, you can find massive savings in this guide.

Kindles Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $124.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal

Kindles usually go on sale but twice a year: Prime Day and Black Friday. And now that the holiday shopping season is finally here, you can pick up Kindles starting at just $79.99 at Amazon. However, my advice would be to spring for the Kindle Paperwhite, which we've named the best Kindle for most people.

Apple AirTags Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTags (4-pack) $64.98
$99 Save $34.02   Get Deal

Initially marked down to $67.99, Amazon went even lower, and you can now pick up a 4-pack of Apple AirTags for just $64.98. Whether you use these Bluetooth trackers to keep track of your personal belongings or your toddler, it's time to restock.

Crest 3D WhiteStrips Opens in a new window Credit: Crest Crest 3D WhiteStrips teeth whitening treatment $29.99 at Amazon
$45.99 Save $16.00   Get Deal

This is one of those classic Black Friday deals that always comes around like clockwork. FYI, they make a great stocking stuffer.

Coleman camping tents Opens in a new window Credit: Coleman Coleman Sundome Camping Tent $71.99
$106.49 Save $34.50   Get Deal

As sure as the sun rises in the sky, Coleman will mark down its four-person tents to under $85 during an Amazon sale. This Black Friday is no exception.

LifeStraw emergency water filters Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Peak Series Personal Water Filter Straw $18.70
$24.95 Save $6.25   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: LifeStraw LifeStraw Personal Water Filter Straw $9.99 at Amazon
$19.95 Save $9.96   Get Deal

In keeping with the outdoor theme, LifeStraw always has big discounts across the board come Black Friday. Their deals start cheap — for less than $10, you can grab their original personal water filter. And for a little bit more, their updated Peak Series straw is on sale for $18. If you need stocking stuffer ideas, try these Black Friday classics.

Apple AirPods Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $77.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $51.01   Get Deal

For at least the last couple of years, Amazon has used Black Friday and Prime Day as an excuse to drop AirPods down to a new record-low price. And this year, they dropped even lower than we expected. Best Buy, Walmart, and Target all dropped prices on these wireless earbuds to $79.99. As of this writing, Amazon has finally matched that price.

Bissell Little Green Opens in a new window Credit: Bissell Bissell Little Green $84.99 at Amazon
$123.59 Save $38.60   Get Deal

The upholstery cleaning powerhouse, otherwise known as the Bissell Little Green, can be found on sale year-round, but reliably, Black Friday Day brings it down to its lowest price point. If you're shopping early to make holiday hosting easier, this little cleaning machine could be a godsend.

Echo speakers Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Pop smart speaker $21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00   Get Deal

Amazon Echo speakers provide the cheapest entry fee for smart speaker life. Just like with Kindles, Amazon doesn't miss a chance to mark them down during the big sale — the cheapest one you can grab is the Echo Pop at just $24.99.

Yeti Coolers and Tumblers Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra 45 cooler $260 at Yeti
$325 Save $65   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Rambler 42-ounce Tumbler $31.50 at Amazon
$45 Save $13.50   Get Deal

Yeti doesn't do sales like other brands. So scoring actual discounts on the outdoor brand's coolers and drinkware isn't easy. However, there is one foolproof trick. During Black Friday, Yeti always discounts one color across its entire product line. For Black Friday 2025, it's firefly yellow.

Jackery Explorer power stations Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station $349 at Jackery
$429 Save $80   Get Deal

We love power stations here at Mashable, as they're extremely useful companions for music festivals, camping trips, and tailgate parties. They also come in clutch during power blackouts. I've had a lot of good experiences with Jackery, and the brand's Explorer power stations are at record low prices over at Amazon, as they always are during Black Friday.

Awesome Lego sets Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar $35.99 at Walmart
$44.49 Save $8.50   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Classic Creative Brick Box $17.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $17.00   Get Deal

The best-selling Lego sets for Black Friday 2025? The seasonal Lego Star Wars Advent Calendar and the classic Lego Brick Box are both on a major discount. Of course, you can find tons more Lego sets on sale this time of year, as per always.

Pro tip: Don't sleep on Walmart's Lego deals!

Instant Pots Opens in a new window Credit: Instant Pot Instant Pot Pro Crisp (8-quart) $199.95 at Amazon
$269.99 Save $70.04   Get Deal

Instant Pots may not really have the cultural cachet of a few years ago, but they're still a mainstay on the Black Friday deals page. This Pro Crisp model is a hybrid, serving as both a pressure cooker and an air fryer.

UltimateEars speakers Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $59.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $40.00   Get Deal

These tiny speakers are the best Bluetooth speakers under $100, even at full price. And while they dropped to $66.49 for Prime Day 2025, you can now pick them up for the ridiculous price of $59.99. Not only are they fully waterproof (you can take them in the shower), but they sound louder and clearer than you'd expect for a speaker of their size.

Sony headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones $159.99 at Best Buy
$349.99 Save $190   Get Deal

Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones always get a discount on Black Friday, and the XM4 model is Best Buy's doorbuster deal of the day for Friday, Nov. 21. You can pick up these famous headphones for just $159.99, more than half off the retail price. While they're not the newest headphones in Sony's lineup, they're far more affordable and almost as good as the brand's newest noise cancellers.

DeWalt drills Opens in a new window Credit: Dewalt Dewalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill Driver Set $119 at Amazon
$179 Save $60 Battery and charger included Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: DeWalt Dewalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill and Impact Driver $149 at Amazon
$259 Save $110   Get Deal

If you've always wanted to be handy around the house, then you need the proper tools. And DeWalt deals are always popular on Black Friday. These drills were some of the most popular products among Mashable readers for Black Friday 2024, and they're officially back on sale.

Cheap Fire TVs Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon 32-inch Fire TV 2-Series $99.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 65-inch F50 Series LED 4K Smart Fire TV $279.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $170   Get Deal

Somehow, in the tariff era, TV prices keep getting lower. Why should TVs prove to be so immune to tariffs? Hey, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. This year, you can even grab a 32-inch Amazon Fire TV for just $99.99. And if you want a 65-inch Fire TV, prices start at just $279.99.

Samsung's The Frame Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch The Frame TV (2024) $797.99 at Amazon
$1,497.99 Save $700   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED Smart TV (2025) $897.99 at Amazon
$1,497.99 Save $600   Get Deal

I've probably written this sentence a hundred times: Samsung's The Frame is the best TV in the world right now. While Samsung does have some premium OLEDs with better displays and sound, the balance of features and unique art gallery function makes The Frame truly unique. Often imitated, this art TV has an ultra-thin design and a unique anti-glare matte display you won't find anywhere else.

Nespresso machines Opens in a new window Credit: Nespresso Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Coffee and Espresso Maker $89.99 at Amazon
$139.95 Save $49.96   Get Deal

Nespresso machines are a step above your typical Keurig. Several steps up, actually. And it's rare to find these espresso makers on sale for under $100 — unless it's Black Friday. Pro tip: This is also a good time of year to stock up on coffee and pods.

Flagship Roborock robot vacuums Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock roborock Saros 10R $999.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $600   Get Deal

The Roborock Saros 10R, one of Mashable's best robot vacuums, is finally under $1,000. While we haven't seen this specific robot vacuum in past Black Fridays (because it's, you know, new), we always see the year's best robovacs go on sale.

Samsonite luggage sets Opens in a new window Credit: Samsonite Samsonite Saire LTE Softside Expandable Luggage Set with Spinner Wheels $299.99 at Amazon
$509.99 Save $210   Get Deal

If you're a Black Friday veteran like I am, then you know Samsonite luggage sets always get big discounts at Amazon this time of year. In fact, I'm pretty sure these are the exact Samsonite bags I got for Christmas a few years ago. They've taken me everywhere from Palm Springs to Kyoto. They may not be the most stylish bags, but who cares if they get you where you're going?

Dyson Supersonic

I'm vain about my hair, and the Dyson Supersonic is the hair dryer I use every day to get the perfect coif. I've been using this legendary hair dryer for years, but its full $449 price tag (it's priced at $519 at Amazon) can really hurt. That's why you should only buy this ionic hair dryer during Black Friday, when it gets its annual discount. If you shop directly at Dyson, you'll pay just $299.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer $299.99 at Dyson
$449.99 Save $150   Get Deal Free offers from Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: kindle unlimited Kindle Unlimited $0
3-Month Free Trial Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Music Unlimited $0
4-Month Free Trial Get Deal

Amazon tries to tempt Black Friday shoppers with extended free trials on its most popular services, including Amazon Music Unlimited, Audible, and Kindle Unlimited. Just don't forget to make a calendar event to remind you to cancel the subscription before the free period expires!

Categories: IT General, Technology

The 10 cheapest new hybrid cars you can buy in 2025

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 21:00

Hybrid technology is no longer just for Prius-level models. In 2025, some of the most affordable new hybrids are well within reach for budget-conscious buyers. Thanks to improvements in hybrid systems and strong competition between automakers, there’s now an impressive selection of lightly priced, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Categories: IT General, Technology

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

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 20:49
The best October Prime Day Samsung deals at a glance: Best tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ (256GB, WiFi) $599 (save $150.99) Get Deal Best monitor deal Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G6 OLED gaming monitor $749.99 (save $250) Get Deal Best TV deal Samsung 65-inch The Frame Pro Mini LED QLED 4K TV $1,597.99 (save $500) Get Deal Best wearable deal Samsung Galaxy Ring $279.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best phone deal Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, unlocked) $1,057.91 (save $362.08) Get Deal Best smartwatch deal Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, Bluetooth) $279.99 (save $70) Get Deal

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

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

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

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

Best early Black Friday Samsung Galaxy phone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB, unlocked) $1,057.91 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $362.08 record-low price 🔥 Get Deal Why we like it

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

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

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

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

Doorbuster deal: Sony XM4 headphones are just $159.99 if you hurry

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 20:46

SAVE $190: As of Nov. 21, you can get the Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones for just $159.99, down from $349.99, at Best Buy. That's a $190 discount and the lowest price we've ever seen these headphones go for.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 $159.99 at Best Buy
$349.99 Save $190   Get Deal

I’m not usually the person shouting about headphone specs, but I do know a pricing error when I see one — and this definitely feels like one. Best Buy just dropped the Sony WH-1000XM4s to $159.99. To give you some context, I looked up the price for a used pair on Amazon, and they're selling for about the same price. Getting a brand-new pair for under $160 is wild.

SEE ALSO: I test headphones for a living — these are the 10 best early Black Friday deals

I know these aren't the newest model (the XM5s are out), but a lot of people actually prefer these older ones. The main reason? They fold. The new ones don't, which is annoying if you're trying to jam them into a carry-on.

Plus, they hold up. Mashable’s Alex Bracetti re-tested these in 2025 and flat-out said there is "no better audio deal right now" than the XM4s. You still get top-tier noise cancellation and 30 hours of battery life, just without the "newest model" price tag.

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!
Categories: IT General, Technology

3 subtle Windows customization tools to try this weekend

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 20:30

No version of Windows is perfect for everyone, and Windows 11 has attracted more controversy than most. Windows isn't quite as flexible as Linux if you want to customize your experience, but you can get close if you're willing to dive in a bit.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Prime Video documentaries you’ll actually want to watch this weekend (November 21 - 23)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 20:30

The weekend is here, which for many means chilling out with a good movie or show. Sometimes you want a big popcorn blockbuster, sure. But other times you want the real stuff—the human stories, the mysteries, the weird and funny stuff that only reality can conjure. If you have an Amazon Prime membership, you're in luck because Prime Video, as it turns out, has loads of documentary movies and series.

Categories: IT General, Technology

3 Netflix documentaries you have to watch this weekend (November 21 - 23)

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 20:00

Documentaries have a fantastic way of gripping us with reality that's more gripping, fascinating, and intense than anything scripted. When life pulls back the curtain, you get deep and surprising perspectives, personalities, and surprises that you just can't make up.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Grokipedia sourcing info from the internets biggest neo-Nazi forum, researchers say

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 19:59

Elon Musk's anti-woke Wikipedia rival, Grokipedia, is pulling information from widely blacklisted sources and known neo-Nazi sites, according to two researchers.

The analysis, "What did Elon change? A comprehensive analysis of Grokipedia," was conducted by two Cornell Tech researchers and has yet to be peer reviewed. It's the first attempt to comprehensively scrape the site's entries which numbered more than 880,000 at the time. As of publishing, Grokipedia v0.2 hosts 1,016,241 articles.

SEE ALSO: Grok generates sycophantic praise for Elon Musk after new update

They found that the website frequently cited blacklisted sources and sites deemed low-quality by academics, including Stormfront. Stormfront is considered the first major hate site on the Internet and the most popular forum for white nationalists, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SLPC). It was founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader Don Black in 1995, and long hosted white supremacist, neo-Nazi message boards.

In addition, researchers found Grokipedia cited far-right conspiracy peddler Infowars 34 times, and pulled from VDare, a white nationalist publication designated as as a hate group by the SPLC, 107 times. Similar entries on Wikipedia cited mainly mainstream news publications.

"We find that the elected official and controversial article subsets showed less similarity between their Wikipedia version and Grokipedia version than other pages," the report reads. "The random subset illustrates that Grokipedia focused rewriting the highest quality articles on Wikipedia, with a bias towards biographies, politics, society, and history."

Researchers also found that, on the whole, Grokipedia articles were "longer and more verbose" than Wikipedia articles, citing twice as many sources but with a higher share of unreliable citations.

It's been less than a month since Musk launched the online encyclopedia, intended as competition to what the X CEO began calling "Wokipedia" or "Dickipedia." Musk has long criticized the nonprofit resource for having an alleged left wing bias. "Grokipedia.com version 0.1 is now live. Version 1.0 will be 10X better, but even at 0.1 it’s better than Wikipedia imo," the billionaire wrote in an X post at the time of launch. Users quickly noticed, however, that Grokipedia was plagiarizing many of its entries directly from Wikipedia, with exceptions for its more political charged articles.

Grokipedia's editorial process is not clearly outlined. Users don't appear to be able to edit articles directly on the site, but can submit suggestions which the xAI team filters. It's not apparant if the titular Grok chatbot is involved in the review system, although Musk has said it is involved in fact-checking. The chatbot has previously come under fire for spewing hate speech and praising the actions of Adolf Hitler. Musk himself has reinstated white supremacist figures on X and engaged in far-right talking points and imagery.

Conversely, Wikipedia's content and citations practices are governed by five community pillars, which include an emphasis on primary sources and general neutrality. "All articles must strive for verifiable accuracy with citations based on reliable sources, especially when the topic is controversial or is about a living person," one pillar reads. Wikipedia also discourages the use of "websites and publications expressing views that are widely acknowledged as extremist." Infowars, for example, has been deemed a deprecated source and blacklisted by Wikipedia due to persistent spamming and its reputation for publishing fake news and conspiracy theories.

"The publicly determined, community-oriented rules that try to maintain Wikipedia as a comprehensive, reliable, human-generated source are not in application on Grokipedia," report author Harold Triedman told NBC News.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Pornhub asked tech platforms to enable device-level age verification

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 19:52

Pornhub's parent company, Aylo, has sent letters to major tech platforms urging them to enable device-level age verification, according to WIRED.

Anthony Penhale, chief legal officer for Aylo (which also owns RedTube and YouPorn), sent letters to Apple, Google, and Microsoft saying in all of them that "we have found site-based age assurance approaches to be fundamentally flawed and counterproductive."

SEE ALSO: OnlyFans to require criminal background checks through controversial screener

Site-based age verification methods have "failed to achieve their primary objective: protecting minors from accessing age-inappropriate material online," the letters reportedly state.

This comes soon after the latest study, which suggests that U.S. age verification laws indeed fail in their objective, as well as impede adults' right to free speech.

"Site-based age verification" has been enacted in half of the United States and other countries, including the UK, Italy, and France. These age verification laws typically require inputting personal data, such as a government-issued ID or a facial scan, on sites with explicit content beyond a "yes or no" checkbox to ensure a visitor is over 18. (Though non-explicit websites like YouTube have also started implementing age verification.)

For years, Pornhub and free speech experts have advocated for device-level age verification instead, meaning blocks and filters on individual phones, tablets, or computers.

Mike Stabile, director of public affairs at the Free Speech Coalition, previously told Mashable that he recommended device-level filters that block all websites registered as RTA, or "Restricted to Adults." "It signals to filters, whether it's your Apple filter or Net Nanny or something like that, that this site should be blocked," he explained.

In press releases regarding age verification legislation, Aylo has also advocated for device-level filters as the solution to keep minors off its and other adult websites. Now, they're pleading with tech giants to do the same.

"We strongly advocate for device-based age assurance where users' age is determined once on the device, and the age range can be used to create an age signal sent over an API [application programming interface] to websites," each letter states. Aylo requested that Apple, Google, and Microsoft extend this device-based approach to web platforms.

Microsoft declined to comment to Mashable.

An Apple spokesperson linked to a Newsroom update from June 2025, which states that kids aged 13 to 17 will now have similar age-appropriate protections on Apple devices as those under 13 already do under Child Accounts, regardless of whether the teen's account was set up as a Child Account or a standard Apple Account. The protections include web content filters.

The Apple spokesperson also linked to a child online safety white paper from February 2025, which states that, "The right place to address the dangers of age-restricted content online is the limited set of websites and apps that host that kind of content."

Google told Mashable that it's "committed to protecting kids online, including by developing and deploying new age assurance tools like our Credential Manager API that can be used by websites. We don't allow adult entertainment apps on Google Play, and certain high-risk services like Aylo will always need to invest in specific tools to meet their own legal and responsibility obligations."

Categories: IT General, Technology

A ton of 65-inch TVs are at Black Friday prices a week early — yes, The Frame and LG C5 are on the list

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 19:49
The best early Black Friday deals on 65-inch TVs at a glance Cheapest 65-inch QLED TV deal Insignia 65-inch QF QLED 4K Fire TV $299.99 at Amazon (Save $200) Get Deal Cheapest 65-inch Mini LED TV deal TCL 65-inch QM5K QLED 4K TV $449.99 (Save $450 at Best Buy) Get Deal Best 65-inch Mini LED TV you can buy right now TCL 65-inch QM8K Mini LED QLED 4K TV $899.99 (Save $1,600 at Best Buy) Get Deal Best 65-inch OLED TV you can buy LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV $1,399.99 (Save $1,300 at Best Buy) Get Deal Best 65-inch art TV deal Samsung 65-inch The Frame QLED 4K TV (2024) $999.99 (Save $1,000 at Best Buy) Get Deal

If you're already set on the size of TV that you want to buy this Black Friday, there's no need to wade through the miles-long general list of all of the best Black Friday TV deals. 65 inches seems to be the sweet spot for most people — it's not so small that it looks like a monitor in your living room, but not so obnoxiously big that it barely fits on the TV stand. But typing "65-inch TVs on sale" into the search bar is the most chaotic way you could go about it — especially since I've already done the chaotic part for you.

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV, as told through this easy TV specs guide

I sifted through all of the early Black Friday TV deals to compile a list of the best 65-inch TV deals most worth your money. You have serious options: Every single TV named in Mashable's list of the best 65-inch TVs of 2025 is already at its Black Friday sale price, mostly thanks to Best Buy's Black Friday sale starting early on Nov. 20.

For those in the market for a more budget-friendly 65-inch TV, I've never seen QLEDs this affordable before — you could bring one home for as little as $300. There are a ton of opportunities to bring a 65-inch home for what you'd normally pay for a way smaller screen at another time of the year. Here are the best 65-inch TV deals to shop ahead of Black Friday 2025:

Best Black Friday 65-inch TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV $1,399.99 at Best Buy
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00   Get Deal Why I like it

If you're even a casual TV head, you're aware of the legacy of LG's C series OLED TVs. The newest version is the LG C5 OLED released in March 2025, and it's nearly a whole 50% off. That $1,399.99 price tag looks so much less intimidating than its usual $2,699.99.

While half off any popular flagship TV is news in itself, it's even more special when an OLED TV is the model in question. OLEDs are the most expensive type of TV because they use a completely different lighting system than LEDs, QLEDs, or Mini LEDs. In fact, they don't use a backlight panel at all — instead, OLED pixels are self-lighting, and can individually dim (or turn themselves off completely) to make dark scenes contrasted and ultra-legible without muddying the parts of the screen that do need to be light. This makes OLED the best option for watching movies or gaming in the dark.

Most TV experts who have reviewed the LG C5 agree that it's a beast, with the one main gripe being that it was so expensive at full price. Black Friday begs to differ.

More 65-inch TVs on sale at Best BuyMore 65-inch TVs on sale at AmazonMore 65-inch TVs on sale at Walmart
Categories: IT General, Technology

Google Chat is getting a new feature

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 19:18

Google Chat is rolling out a fantastic new feature that lets you preview unread messages right from the left-hand navigation menu. Now, you can quickly look through your messages without having to commit to reading them fully and marking them as such.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Bitcoin price nosedive continues. How low could it go?

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 19:17

There may be yet another cold crypto winter in store for Bitcoin investors.

Bitcoin has essentially been in a nosedive for the entire month of November, with the cryptocurrency falling below $100,000 for the first time in months just last week.

On Friday, things got even worse for crypto holders as Bitcoin fell to just above $80,000, which would mark its lowest price since early April. It's also a far cry from its all-time high of more than $126,000 from just last month. Basically, all of Bitcoin's gains for the entirety of 2025 have just been wiped out.

Lackluster sentiment, concerns about the economy, concerns about the Federal Reserve cutting rates, long-term crypto investors and whales selling off significant portions of their holdings — all of these issues have combined to result in the current crypto bear market.

SEE ALSO: Google boss sounds the alarm over trillion-dollar AI bubble

But some analysts believe that this bear market is just beginning and the worst is yet to come. In fact, there's a potential for another crypto winter over the next few months.

Mike McGlone, senior commodity strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, warned that Bitcoin could be eyeing another 2018-like crash scenario, which saw Bitcoin's value collapse by 70 percent. McGlone said he believes it could "eventually break down and head towards $50,000" in an interview this week on Bloomberg

If the current negative sentiment continues, and if other assets such as the stock market continue to drop, McGlone said he could see Bitcoin going back down to 2018 levels of $10,000.

Earlier this week, financial analyst Clem Chambers shared a prediction that a crypto winter seemed likely if Bitcoin dipped into the mid-$80,000 range, which it now has. In his prognosis, Chambers says that a crypto winter could see Bitcoin fall somewhere between the $40,000 and $60,000 range.

According to investment bank Standard Chartered, Bitcoin falling below $90,000 would likely leave half of crypto treasury companies "underwater," which may result in even bigger selloffs. In turn, Bitcoin's value would then drop even more. Citi analyst Alex Saunders also told Reuters that the $80,000 level, which Bitcoin is currently trading at, would be a significant level to watch to see if the cryptocurrency can hold, as that's the "average level of bitcoin holdings in exchange-traded funds."

So, hunker down, Bitcoin faithful — you're likely in for a long winter.

Categories: IT General, Technology

I’m replaying Tomb Raider for the 100th time, and these PS5 Black Friday deals are fueling my habit

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 19:16
Best early Black Friday PlayStation deals at a glance: Best PS5 game deal Astro Bot $39.59 (save $20.40) Get Deal Best PS5 accessory deal DualSense Edge Wireless Controller $169 (save $30.99) Get Deal Best PS5 console deal PS5 Slim Disc Edition $449.99 (save $100) Get Deal

I’m not a "hardcore" gamer. I don’t spend eight hours a day online, and I’m definitely not competing in any tournaments. But I do play my PS5 every single day — usually for about 15 minutes right before dinner to decompress. Lately, I’ve been replaying the entire Tomb Raider trilogy (I’m on the third one now, and it holds up), but I also love the classics like Spyro, Crash Bandicoot, and Kingdom Hearts.

SEE ALSO: The 50+ best gifts for gamers that they won't already have

Because I’m actually buying games and accessories for my own setup (and for my nephews this holiday), I tend to keep an eye on these prices throughout the year, so I know when a "deal" is actually just the standard price in a fancy font.

I’ve combed through the early Black Friday ads from Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, and PlayStation Direct to find the discounts that are actually worth it. Here are the best PS5 deals live right now.

Best early Black Friday PS5 game deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Interactive Entertainment Astro Bot $39.59 at PlayStation
$59.99 Save $20.40   Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full Astro Bot review.

I didn't know anything about Astro until my dad asked me if I'd "found the secret game in the PS5" yet. Once I found Astro's Playroom (the free game pre-installed on every console), I spent all night playing it and bought the full Astro Bot game as soon as it came out. It’s pure joy in game form — creative, colorful, and genuinely fun to play. (It won Game of the Year at the 2024 Game Awards.) My youngest nephew, Aubry, is obsessed with it; he literally has posters of the little bot in his room and begs to play it every time he comes over.

First-party Sony titles tend to hold their value, so seeing it drop this low is a win. You can grab it for $39.97 at Amazon, but if you want to save every penny, it's slightly cheaper at $39.59 at PlayStation Direct.

More PS5 game dealsBest early Black Friday PS5 accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation DualSense Edge Wireless Controller $169 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $30.99   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller $54.99 at Amazon
$74.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal Why we like it

If you’re looking for a "big gift" for the serious gamer in your life, the DualSense Edge is a solid option. I bought this controller for my eldest nephew, Landon, last Christmas, and he loved it. It’s the "pro" version of the standard controller, meaning it has customizable buttons, swappable stick modules (a lifesaver for stick drift), and adjustable triggers. It doesn't usually go on sale (unless it's Prime Day or holiday season), so saving $31 is a pretty good deal. You can grab it for $169 at Amazon, or for essentially the same price ($169.99) directly from PlayStation.

If you don’t need all the pro features, the standard DualSense Wireless Controller is also on sale for $54.99 at both Amazon and PlayStation. My mom bought the pink one for my sister last year, and it’s a perfect, practical gift for anyone who needs a spare.

Best early Black Friday PS5 console deal PS5 Slim Disc Edition $449.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Walmart Get Deal at Best Buy Why we like it

We’re skipping the PS5 Pro this year — at $649 without a disc drive or stand, it’s a hard sell for anyone who isn't a hardcore pixel-peeper. Instead, I recommend getting the standard PS5 Slim Disc Edition. You'll get the same great library of games, 4K graphics, and lightning-fast load times, plus the ability to actually play discs (because sometimes you just want to pop in a Blu-ray or a used game you found cheap). It’s currently $449.99 at both Amazon and PlayStation Direct, saving you a cool $50.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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