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Mashable covers all of Apple's product launches, and we've been speculating for months on what products the company might still release in 2025. We thought we might get AirTags 2.0, a new Apple TV device, or an updated HomePod. Truly, we did not see the iPhone Sock coming.

Designed in collaboration with the innovative brand Issey Miyake, the iPhone Pocket officially launched on Friday, and the reaction across the web has been very entertaining. The internet, in its collective wisdom, has unofficially rebranded the 3D knit phone holder as the iPhone Sock, which is fair, as Apple says the product was "inspired by the concept of 'a piece of cloth'". One enterprising creator even made their own version of the pricey designer accessory, using an old sock, of course.

The iPhone Pocket Sock comes in two sizes (short and long) and can be held in your hands, worn cross-body, or wrapped around a bag handle — priced at $149.95 and $229.95. Even many Apple fans were put out by the price, as $230 is a big ask for a phone holder, especially in this economy.

Of course, those aren't unheard of prices for designer accessories, especially from a brand like Issey Miyake, and Apple has proven time and again that if Apple builds it, people will buy it. (With the possible exception of the Vision Pro, of course.) As of this writing, the iPhone Sock is completely sold out in all colors at the online Apple Store, but customers may still be able to snag one at select Apple Stores IRL.

So, what is the iPhone Sock?

An Apple press release states:

iPhone Pocket features a ribbed open structure with the qualities of the original pleats by ISSEY MIYAKE. Born from the idea of creating an additional pocket, its understated design fully encloses iPhone, expanding to fit more of a user’s everyday items. When stretched, the open textile subtly reveals its contents and allows users to peek at their iPhone display. iPhone Pocket can be worn in a variety of ways — handheld, tied onto bags, or worn directly on the body. Featuring a playful color palette, the short strap design is available in eight colors, and the long strap design in three colors.

This might seem like a random product for Apple, but the company also released the colorful Apple Crossbody Strap this fall, though with a more reasonable $59 price tag. Apple and Issey Miyake also have a history together.

Steve Jobs and Japanese designer Miyake were actually friends, and according to Apple legend, Jobs once tapped Miyake to design an Apple uniform, which never came to fruition. Apple has continued without Jobs, and likewise, the fashion brand Issey Miyake has continued without its namesake founder, who passed away in 2022.

In the West, Issey Miyake is best known for its origami-inspired handbags and popular fragrances.

An Issey Miyake handbag with the new iPhone Pocket. Credit: Apple The iPhone Pocket on its own. Credit: Apple

Have Apple and Issey Miyake lived up to their founders' vision? We don't know, but we are curious about what Steve Jobs would have said about the $230 iPhone Sock. He and Miyake were friends, after all.

Critmas came early for Critical Role fans everywhere, because the first episode of The Mighty Nein is now streaming for free on YouTube.

SEE ALSO: 'The Mighty Nein' trailer: Critical Role's new show teases magic battles and tons of trauma

Set to premiere Nov. 19, The Mighty Nein is Critical Role's second animated series with Prime Video, the first being The Legend of Vox Machina. Like The Legend of Vox Machina, The Mighty Nein follows a group of unlikely heroes in the world of Exandria. However, The Mighty Nein charts new ground for Critical Role on TV, with longer episodes and a darker tone setting it apart from the raunchier Saturday morning cartoon vibe of The Legend of Vox Machina. (There are still dick jokes, though.)

The first episode, titled "Mote of Possibility," introduces three of The Mighty Nein's main heroes. There's disheveled wizard Caleb Widogast (voiced by Liam O'Brien), heavily inebriated goblin Nott the Brave (voiced by Sam Riegel), and hotheaded Cobalt Soul monk Beauregard Lionett (voiced by Marisha Ray). The three are disparate travelers when we first meet them, but a brewing war between the Kryn Dynasty and the Dwendalian Empire will soon bring them together.

The inciting incident of that war takes center stage in "Mote of Possibility," which opens with a wizard heist on the Kryn Dynasty. Their target? The Luxon Beacon, an object of unfathomable power. Full of magic and brutality, the episode is worth checking out for the heist alone.

The first three episodes of The Mighty Nein premiere Nov. 19 on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

Valve has just released Proton 10.0-3, the newest stable version of the compatibility layer that lets Linux and Steam Deck users run thousands of Windows games. This update is absolutely massive and comes with better stability, performance boosts, and support for a huge list of titles.

As we leave our physical media collections behind, and new movies and shows might not even get a release you can buy, own, and preserve, streaming services are becoming the custodians of our collective media history. But are they doing a good job when platforms like Disney+ are willing to remove their own content from streaming anywhere in the world?

Valve's Steam Machine announcement has made massive waves across the PC gaming community. While the Steam Machine and Valve's new VR headset, the Steam Frame, took center stage, I'm by far the most excited about the new Steam Controller. Here's why.

SAVE $41.88: As of Nov. 14, get your first three months of Audible for just $0.99, saving you $41.88. On top of the monthly savings, enjoy a $20 Audible credit to use on your next listen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Audible $2.97 at Amazon
$44.85 Save $41.88 Enjoy your first three months of Audible for just $0.99 per month. Plus, score a $20 Audible credit when you sign up. Get Deal

With the holidays coming up, you might have a decent amount of travel on deck. And whether you're taking a plane, train, or automobile to get to your holiday plans, you'll need some entertainment along the way. If you're hoping to get in a few more books in on your reading goal, audiobooks will help you get there, especially when you're stuck in the car for hours at a time. And right now you can save on Audible audiobook membership.

As Nov. 14, three months of Audible for just $0.99 per month. In addition to the discounted monthly rate, you'll also receive a $20 credit to use on the site to stock up on even more audiobooks. Membership is other $14.95 per month, meaning with this deal, you'll spend just $2.97 for three months, saving you $41.88. This deal is only available to new Audible customers. However, Audible is offering one month free to returning customers.

Audible is Amazon's audiobook hub. It's where you can get audio versions of all the top books, but additionally Audible has a whole collection of originals. This includes special editions of Pride & Prejudice performed by Harris Dickinson and Marisa Abela or Audible's original festive crime thriller, the Mistletoe Murders.

Sign up for Audible now, and score three months for just $0.99 per month.

For anyone who has ever dreamed of handing over their household chores to a machine that actually delivers on the promise, Narwal has been quietly perfecting that idea. Known for blending robotics with genuinely useful automation, the brand has earned its place among the most advanced names in smart home cleaning. This year, Narwal’s Black Friday promotion gives tech enthusiasts and homeowners a chance to upgrade their daily routine with record-low prices across its most popular vacuum and mop systems.

Lexus has long set the bar for luxury, tech, and value, with models like the UX300h, NX, and RZ starting under $44,000. Their higher-end trims, like the IS 500 F SPORT, pack impressive features and performance but push past $60,000.

Fragmenting your data across many Excel tabs is a common habit that silently kills file performance, introduces hidden errors, and turns reporting into a tedious chore. Here's why you need to stop.

Get ready to rustle and mosey and, uh, other cowboy-themed verbs on your mobile device in a few weeks.

That's because Rockstar's legendary Red Dead Redemption from 2010 is coming to basically every modern video game device in upgraded form on Dec. 2, per Rockstar itself. The Red Dead Redemption PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android versions will feature fresher visuals and the excellent Undead Nightmare DLC. This new version will be available as a free upgrade for anyone who already owns the currently available build of Red Dead on consoles, while Netflix users will be able to play the mobile version free of charge.

It also seems like you'll be able to carry over your save data if you upgrade from an existing version of the game, which is nice.

SEE ALSO: 'Metroid Prime 4' looks and feels great, but I'm nervous about one little thing How to get Red Dead Redemption on iOS and Android

You might be wondering how Red Dead on phones is going to work. Rockstar says it will have mobile-friendly controls, of course, but the process of actually getting it is slightly more complicated than you might think.

The wording in Rockstar's press release makes it sound like the game will be available on the App Store or Play Store, so you should be able to just buy it there (for a price that isn't mentioned at all in the post). However, if you have an active Netflix subscription, that won't be necessary. You can simply log into the Netflix mobile app and play the game through that instead. Netflix already has a selection of games available for subscribers, but Red Dead is probably the biggest and most noteworthy one to date.

As for PS5, Xbox, and Switch 2, you'll just buy the game from each console's digital storefront, as per usual. Easy!

Google has developed an AI-powered agent that's playing video games, including Goat Simulator 3 — yes, a goat-based video game.

Google DeepMind created a Gemini-powered agent called SIMA 2 — "scalable instructable multiworld agent" — that's navigating the world of Goat Simulator 3, reported MIT Technology Review.

The AI agent is called SIMA 2 because, well, there was an original SIMA. We covered the original project at Mashable. The agent was designed to essentially serve as a video game companion — an AI-powered player that could accompany human players. (The ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handheld has a similar, Copilot-powered feature.) SIMA 2 is apparently an improved version of the original.

SEE ALSO: Google is training an AI to play video games — why this could be problematic

"Games have been a driving force behind agent research for quite a while," Joe Marino, a researcher at Google DeepMind, said this week, via MIT Technology Review.

The idea behind SIMA 2 is that the agent can learn and adapt in open-ended, complicated video games. A human player can also help direct the agent and improve its performance.

macOS has a host of powerful automation features that many users never discover. They've been around for years and are hiding in menus that you use every day. They're called Services, and are among the most flexible and underrated tools on your Mac.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 14, shop the Lego Star Wars Grogu set, complete with the hover pram. Ahead of Black Friday, get it for just $49.99, saving you $50 for 50% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Star Wars Grogu Set $49.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $50.00   Get Deal

We're two weeks out from Black Friday, but the holiday shopping season is well underway. If you're making your list (checking it twice, etc.) and starting to stockpile gifts, then we have the deal for you. If you're looking for a gift for the Star Wars enthusiast in your life, this Grogu set complete with hover pram is absolutely adorable — and 50% off.

As of Nov. 14, the Lego Star Wars Grogu set is down to $49.99. It's now 50% off its list price of $99.99, saving you $50. It's absolutely adorable but it's a limited time deal.

The Lego Star Wars Grogu set is available only at Amazon and according to the product list page, the deal is going fast, implying that it won't last. So if you're looking to buy it for the Star Wars fan in your life, then you'd better get it soon, since we don't think it will last until Black Friday — or even next week.

The Grogu set is complete with the hover pram, aka Baby Yoda's sickeningly sweet transportation. Grogu himself has a posable head and ears and a Sorgan frog to complete the set. It's 1,048 pieces and suitable for anyone over the age of 10. Not to mention it's just right for the biggest The Mandalorian fan in your life.

Get the Lego Star Wars Grogu set for just $49.99 at Amazon.

You may, like me, sometimes be unsure what you can install aside from the apps that appear at the front and top of software browsers like Discover and the Snap Store. If you know where to look, though, there are hidden software gems everywhere.

I've never understood the appeal of wall-mounted tablets for controlling a smart home. To me, dashboards have always felt like expensive replacements for physical switches. However, a recent project finally made me realize that wall-mounted control panels can have their place

Small SUVs have become one of the most competitive segments in the market, with every automaker offering a mix of practicality, comfort, and value. The Honda HR-V has long been a go-to choice for those seeking reliability and efficiency, but one Korean contender has stepped up with a compelling blend of refinement, technology, and driving dynamics that make it hard to overlook.

It's just good to have my wonderful friend Samus Aran back.

Arguably Nintendo's coolest character, Samus and her Metroid series has largely been in the wilderness since 2007, when Metroid Prime 3 came out. I enjoyed Metroid Dread a great deal a few years ago, but that's really the only game starring Samus in nearly 20 years that I've cared about. On Dec. 4, that streak will hopefully end with the launch of Metroid Prime 4: Beyond on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.

I got to play about an hour of the game at a recent preview event, courtesy of Nintendo, and boy do I have some thoughts. For the most part, at least based on the early parts of Prime 4, this is still the Metroid Prime you know and love. But, I have one major concern. Let's get into it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo 'Metroid Prime 4 Beyond' $69 at Amazon
Releases on Dec. 4 Pre-order Here SEE ALSO: 'Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment' is fine. It's also the most disappointing Switch 2 exclusive. It feels good to be back in the power suit The aliens are very mean. Credit: Nintendo

My demo of Prime 4 occurred in two distinct chunks: A short, 10-minute glimpse at the very beginning of the game (a demo I had already played back in April), and a longer look at the point when it seems like the game properly starts. As in, Samus finds herself on a mysterious, seemingly abandoned alien planet full of wonder and mystery, and she's gotta figure out what the heck to do about it. Classic Metroid stuff.

The longer portion of the demo took place in a jungle-themed area called Fury Green. This place is very reminiscent of past Metroid games; gross bug monsters and alien plants attack Samus every few minutes, and weird alien artifacts litter the landscape, just waiting for Samus to get the right item or ability to use on or around them. While this portion of the game was fairly linear and straightforward, there were definitely doors and pathways I couldn't open yet because I didn't have the proper ability, which is what you want to see in a Metroid game. It was also, seemingly, the first hour or so of the game, so I'm not going to condemn that part of it for being linear.

Despite having started life as a Switch 1 game (and still getting a Switch 1 release), Prime 4 might be the best-looking game I've seen running on a Switch 2 so far. The demo was running in the 4K/60FPS configuration, though the 1080p/120FPS version looks great, too. Beyond raw tech specs, Fury Green is just a tremendously gorgeous area, and the art direction in Prime 4 seems to be on par with the rest of the series.

Series developer Retro Studios has also nailed the feel of running around this ancient, unknowable world and shooting everything in it with a gun. Combat is fast, smooth, and fun, and as a bonus, this is the first Metroid Prime game to launch with normal, dual-analog stick controls. It feels great, and Samus's new psychic abilities add some interesting variety to both puzzle-solving and fights. She can manipulate little balls of energy to power alien devices, as well as fire a beam that stops time and allows you to manually fly it around the environment for a few seconds. I did one major boss fight at the end of the demo where I had to take out three targets simultaneously using that last ability, and it felt like classic Metroid Prime stuff.

So, yeah, I'm not really worried about the parts where you look at and play Metroid Prime 4. My demo also, heartbreakingly, didn't include any motorcycle stuff.

But I was kind of hoping I'd be the only one around here Hell yes. Credit: Nintendo

This demo of Prime 4 would have left me excited for the game with zero reservations if not for one little thing: At one point in Fury Green, Samus runs into another stranded human, a dorky Galactic Federation engineer guy who is fully voice-acted. He accompanied me throughout most of the rest of the demo, partially as someone to protect in a brief escort quest-like section, but mostly as a guy who chimes in on comms every now and then to chat with Samus (who does not speak at all).

This isn't the first time a Metroid game has put Samus near other people, either with or without voice acting. Results in previous games have been...mixed, to say the least. Metroid has always worked best when Samus is truly alone on a dark and preferably goopy alien world. The early Prime games, in particular, have utterly flawless senses of atmosphere. Before you meet this engineer doofus, Prime 4 feels reminiscent of that. After you meet him, it's still a fun game with very pretty visuals and good combat, but it's not the same.

It also doesn't help that he's genuinely kind of annoying, and it's hard to tell if the game is in on the joke or not, from what I played.

I'm not going to render judgment on Prime 4 for this just yet. For all I know, this dude is only a small part of the game and won't be chattering in Samus's ear for the entire adventure. I just don't want to spend an entire Metroid Prime adventure listening to a geeky dude talk in pseudo-Marvel Cinematic Universe banter at me.

After seeing that part of Metroid Prime 4, I'm officially slightly concerned about a game that had given me no reasons to feel that way up until now. I think Nintendo has earned the benefit of the doubt here, but I can't lie: I'm a little more nervous than I'd like to be. We'll see what happens when Metroid Prime 4: Beyond launches on Switch and Switch 2 on Dec. 4.

In the meantime, you can pre-order Metroid Prime 4: Beyond for $69.

As Apple TV's streak continues—after The Studio's dominating presence at this year's Emmys, and now with the hottest new show on TV with Pluribus (to name just a couple of its recent hits)—what better time to highlight some of the streamer's best and most bingable series that you can devour this weekend?

TL;DR: Live stream San Antonio Spurs vs. Golden State Warriors in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The 2025 NBA Cup has only just started, but we're already getting huge games with serious ramifications. The Warriors lost their opening game, so losing to the Spurs would put them in real trouble. Can Wemby and the Spurs dump the Warriors out of the NBA Cup?

If you want to watch Spurs vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spurs vs. Warriors?

Spurs vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Nov. 14. This game takes place at the Frost Bank Center.

How to watch Spurs vs. Warriors for free

Spurs vs. Warriors in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, 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 NBA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $20: As of Nov. 14, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Set is on sale for $44.99 at Amazon. This is 31% off and its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Building Set $44.99 at Amazon
$64.99 Save $20.00   Get Deal

Black Friday may still be a couple of weeks away, but we've already found some stellar Lego deals for shoppers to jump on ahead of time. No matter if you're looking for discounts on Star Wars sets or Botanical builds, there's plenty to consider right now. And for a limited time, the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Set is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

The Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees set comes with a list price of $64.99, but Amazon has knocked it down to $44.99 for a limited time. This is a $20 discount and a record-breaking price.

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

The Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Set is a lovely little trio of trees to piece together. This set comes with 709 pieces that create a ginkgo bonsai tree with yellow leaves, a black pine bonsai tree with green needles, and a wisteria bonsai tree that has hanging lilac flowers. It's recommended for adults of 18 years old and above, but if you know someone younger who wants to build them, just give them a hand with piecing it together.

Don't miss out on this excellent deal on the Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Set at Amazon before Black Friday.

There's plenty more Lego deals to check out. Our roundup of 20+ early Lego deals already live ahead of Black Friday can point you in the direction of even more options that are on sale right now.