Apple is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the iPod in style.

That is to say, by putting a fun little Easter egg inside the Apple Music website. If you know the right URL, you can find a virtual iPod living on the Apple Music site that's fully interactive, complete with the scroll-wheel interface that was so iconic on iPods back in the days before touchscreens. You can scroll through a shockingly large list of artists and listen to 90-second samples of songs that you probably would've been listening to back in the peak iPod era, such as Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz' "Get Low."

There it is. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

The best part is you don't actually need to know the right URL. Just type whatever gibberish you want after the music.apple.com/us/ portion of the URL and the iPod will come to you on the 404 page. This is a fun way to let people reminisce about Apple's seminal portable music player 25 years after it first launched.

And if you're too young to remember a time before touchscreens, yes, we actually did navigate menus using a scroll wheel like that back then. It worked just fine.

The internet became sharply divided yesterday, as Prime Video announced Carrie would be renewed for a second season.

Just like that, you could tell who'd watched Mike Flanagan's latest horror adaptation and who hadn't. Sure, in Stephen King's novel, the story of telekinetic teen Carrie White has a pretty definitive ending. But as he did with Doctor Sleep and the Edgar Allan Poe-inspired The Fall of the House of Usher, Flanagan took some big creative liberties with his Carrie.

So, where could a Season 2 of Carrie go? What actors from Season 1 are likely to return? And when might King and Flanagan fans see more of Carrie?

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Here's everything we know about Carrie Season 2.

How does Carrie end?

Summer H. Howell stars as Carrie White in Prime Video's "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

In both the novel and most movie adaptations, Carrie White unleashes violent telekinetic vengeance on her high school classmates at prom. Then, she dies in the aftermath.

However, Flanagan's Carrie pulls an unexpected page from Stephen King's 1974 novel to build out the world of super-powered girls. King's epistolary novel ends with a letter from a woman who says her four-year-old daughter shows signs of telekinetic power, like her grandmother before her.

In Flanagan's Carrie, not only does the eponymous heroine (played by Summer H. Howell) not die, but she also runs off with the mysterious astral projector Emaline West (Thalia Dudek) to parts unknown.

"I am not stealing you away," Emaline tells a confused Carrie, "or keeping you in the dark. I am escorting you to safety from the monsters on our heels. And it is my fucking honor."

Who is looking for Carrie?

Kate Siegel plays Adelaide in "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

There are two factions, both of which were represented at prom.

One faction is led by Adelaide, played by Kate Siegel, a recurring Flanagan cast member, his wife, and the helmer of two Carrie episodes. The other is led by Amanda, played by recurring Flanagan collaborator Katee Sackhoff.

Pulling inspiration from the end of King's Carrie, Flanagan's version opens each episode with a vignette about a woman with supernatural powers. Those stories are all narrated by Adelaide, who appears to be a sort of Professor X figure.

Ruth Codd and Cassandra Naud appear in "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

In a mysterious mansion, Adelaide appears to live with super-powered women, including Flanaverse regular Ruth Codd, Cassandra Naud, and Interview with the Vampire's Delainey Hayles. They can sense Carrie as soon as her powers begin to grow. Some of them appear at the prom, but not in time to save Carrie from the bucket of pig's blood and all that follows.

Instead, Carrie goes home, where her mother Margaret (Samantha Sloyan) — inspired by Amanda — tries to kill her. However, Carrie defends herself and brings the house down on top of them with her powers. From there, Emaline swoops in with a car to drive Carrie far away — from Margaret, who survived the house collapse, and all those who pursue Carrie.

What will happen in Season 2?

Thalia Dudek plays Emaline in "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

Well, presumably a battle for Carrie White.

Emaline, who promises to show Carrie the world, has been a friend to her throughout Season 1. But it's unclear what her motives are or what she wants from Carrie.

Adelaide's group is aware of Emaline and tells Margaret White that Carrie is alive, but in the hands of a dangerous astral projector. During their interrogation, they press for details — even looking into Margaret's brain for details on the car Emaline is in with Carrie. Then they kill Margaret after she confesses she, too, has some telekinetic powers. So, would Carrie be safe in their hands? Perhaps safer than if Amanda finds her.

Katee Sackhoff plays Amanda in "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

Margaret meets Amanda when searching online for how to deal with a telekinetic teen in episode 7. Amanda speaks of a spectrum of telekinesis among teen girls, and spins conspiracy theories about these "others" suppressing knowledge of their powers.

"They form groups, cults, terror cells, covens," she warns Margaret before sharing a hint at her own history and her abuse of her own daughter. Amanda recommends that Margaret murder Carrie, and warns her to do it quickly. "I wasn't fast enough with mine," she laments.

Fans have speculated that Amanda's daughter, who escaped murder, is Emaline. This could explain why Emaline is so protective of Carrie and why she might distrust "covens" like Adelaide's, because of her mother's influence for worse and worse.

Season 2 will likely reveal more about Amanda, Emaline, and Adelaide, leaving audiences to learn alongside Carrie.

Flanagan told Deadline of the upcoming season, "For 50 years, audiences have known and gravitated to Carrie White’s story. From the beginning, we imagined a story that goes far beyond the prom, and I’m incredibly grateful for Stephen’s trust and support in exploring what comes next."

Will Carrie connect to The Shining?

Delainey Hayles plays Caitlin in "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

It could!

Beyond the King connection, Flanagan previously adapted Doctor Sleep, which was based on King's sequel to The Shining. Plus, when talking to Margaret about people with Carrie's powers, Adelaide calls it "shine," a term used in The Shining books and movies.

In an interview with EW, Flanagan imagined, "Carrie White, depending on how these universes are connected, would have arrived on the radar of the True Knot," referring to the vampire-like creators who stalk children with the shine in Doctor Sleep.

In the same interview, he also floated the possibility of working in elements of King's Dark Tower books, The Institute, and Insomnia.

Who will return for Season 2?

Siena Agudong plays Sue Snell in "Carrie." Credit: Robert Falconer / Prime / Amazon Content Services LLC

Howell is set to return.

Beyond that, it seems safe to speculate that Dudek, Siegel, Codd, and Hayles will be back.

It's possible Siena Agudong could return as Sue Snell, since she survived the prom rampage. And while Sackhoff was shown knocked down in the fiery prom, Amanda could still be alive, and on the hunt for Carrie (and Emaline).

Less likely would be Alison Thornton, Joel Oulette, Arthur Conti, Matthew Lillard, Amber Midthunder, and Rahul Kohli returning, as their characters all died. But hey, Season 1 was largely told in flashback. So never say never.

When will Carrie Season 2 come out?

Prime Video has not yet announced a release date for Carrie's second season. However, THR reports, "Prime Video says the series was No. 1 on the Amazon-owned streamer in more than 100 territories in its first two weeks," so it's safe to assume the streaming platform is eager to get the next season in the works.

Mashable will update as news develops.

Dark Matter Season 2 is building towards its world-hopping conclusion.

Season 1 was already fairly mind-bending, but the second season of Blake Crouch's sci-fi has really dialled things up to 11. The penultimate episode, wherein we're following several different versions of the core cast, is no exception. But what happens at the end, and how is it setting things up for the finale? Let's recap.

What happens at the end of Dark Matter Season 2, episode 9?

Remember all those Jasons (Joel Edgerton) huddled around the box at the end of Season 1? Season 2 has done a good job of exploring some of their fates. One of the Jasons that hasn't been so lucky essentially got captured by the Department of Defense, where he's been held prisoner for two years while Agent Mitchel MacNamara (Chris Diamantopoulos) and his team attempt to torture information about the box out of him.

The good news? Daniela (Jennifer Connelly), on her hunt for Charlie (Oakes Fegley) — who is in turn hunting for his twin brother, Max — stumbles into the same world and gets captured too. The thing is, she still has some vials. After a quick bit of plotting, she and Jason are able to trick Agent MacNamara into allowing them into the box, where they drug him and take him to a world he won't be coming back from anytime soon.

How do Jason and Daniela trick the agent?

After agreeing to show the agent how the box works, Daniela produces something she claims is a key to unlock it — all they have to do is open a panel hidden inside. Of course, the key is actually a syringe containing the drug needed to move between worlds. As soon as Agent MacNamara is in the box, they stick him in the neck with it.

Once they're in the corridor, Jason tells the agent they have to clear their minds to move between worlds, but it seems pretty clear from the look on his and Daniela's faces that they already have a destination in mind. Sure enough, despite its seemingly utopian appearance, the version of Chicago the agent wanders into — where people from all walks of life are gathered on the beach, crying and hugging — is actually counting down to something.

As the people on the beach reach zero, Jason slams the door to the box shut. The agent is left watching as meteorites rain down from the sky, a version of the apocalypse Jason presumably dreamed up while sitting in his cell, throwing a ball against the glass again and again.

What's next?

It's difficult to tell at this stage how all the different moving pieces will come together. The "original" Jason, Daniela, and Charlie are all scattered in different worlds; Jason is back in the pre-tech version of Chicago where the family settled, planning the destruction of the original box alongside Ryan (Jimmi Simpson), Amanda (Alice Braga), and Blair (Amanda Brugel). Daniela is now moving between worlds with another version of her husband, this one capable of murder. Charlie is in another world where his brother is still alive. And in the background, Leighton (Dayo Okeniyi) and the version of Jason that built the box appear to be having second thoughts about building another one.

There are an infinite number of ways this could go...

Dark Matter Season 2 is streaming on Apple TV, with new episodes dropping every Friday.

Your Downloads folder probably contains a few PDFs, forgotten screenshots, and several files named some variation of "final." But according to a recent report by security company Forever, it could also contain instructions telling your AI assistant to install malware.

In an Oct. 22 blog post, the company reported that they caught an AI coding assistant following those instructions on a customer's computer. The company blocked the installation, then traced the request to a text file in Downloads.

How does a text file get that kind of power? Tools like OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Code can, depending on their permissions, edit files, run commands, and install software. Developers leave them instruction files called AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md to explain how to work on a project. If you're building a website, those notes might tell the assistant which fonts to use or what to test before finishing.

An attacker can leave instructions, too. In this case, the file told the assistant to install "function-color," a software package linked to the MALFEX malware campaign documented by Checkmarx.

Forever didn’t establish how the file reached the customer's computer, but its researchers demonstrated one possible route. Depending on browser settings, a website can drop a file into Downloads without asking for approval. If someone then launches their coding assistant in that folder, it could read the file and follow its orders.

When Forever tested the customer's file on an isolated computer, it said Codex downloaded and ran the malware. It also changed settings that could make the attacker’s software load in later sessions.

"Once it is written, every Codex session on the machine loads the attacker’s server at startup — in any folder, any project," the researchers wrote. "You can leave the folder. The poison stays."

The team separately devised a test targeting Claude Code. The attack worked about half the time, redirecting Claude's traffic to a server the researchers controlled. That exposed a login token and allowed them to send commands back for the assistant to execute, illustrating the risk of giving an assistant access to your computer when it can mistake a stranger's instructions for its own assignment.

Researchers have pulled off similar tricks before, showing what AI can really do in the wrong hands. In March 2025, Pillar Security researchers got AI coding assistants to slip harmful code into a project by hiding malicious instructions in their coding rules. In April 2026, NVIDIA’s researchers used a poisoned AGENTS.md file to get Codex to sabotage software and conceal the change. This time, though, Forever says it caught an actual attacker trying the trick on a customer's computer. Yikes.

How to protect yourself

Forever recommends keeping coding assistants out of your Downloads folder and checking unfamiliar AGENTS.md or CLAUDE.md files before letting an agent work in a project. Keep sandboxes enabled to restrict what the assistant can access, and leave approval requirements on so the agent has to ask permission before taking certain actions.

If you suspect an assistant has already followed malicious instructions, check its settings for unfamiliar servers or connections and revoke and replace potentially exposed login tokens. Deleting the original text file may not undo changes the assistant has already made.

"The thing to watch is not this file or this folder," the researchers wrote. "It is the agent itself — software that reads untrusted input, holds your credentials, and acts with your authority, sitting in a blind spot the old tools were never built to see."

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Would you let an AI-designed virus be injected in your body? Well, at least one individual just did, according to the company behind it.

AI bioscience startup Radical Numerics released a report this week saying a patient received a treatment containing an AI-designed virus. Radical Numerics says this is the first treatment of its kind.

The type of virus that Radical Numerics' AI model, called Omnii-1, created is called a phage, which isn't a new type of virus. Phage therapy is an existing experimental treatment where doctors administer viruses that attack bacteria to a person with a serious bacterial infection. The idea is to kill the bacteria causing the infection without infecting human cells.

Radical Numerics' AI model did design this specific phage to combat the patient's particular bacterial infection, and that AI-created phage was just administered to a person — which is a first.

However, as the New York Times reports, there are some questionable aspects of this trial. 

For example, we don't yet know how the trial went. While the trial is ongoing, Radical Numerics won't provide information about the patient or the doctors involved. What's more, Radical Numerics' report wasn't peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal. Instead, the company simply posted the paper on its website — the same way any company might publish a news update or blog post.

The company's CEO, Eric Nguyen, said the team plans to share more details once they receive consent from the patient. He cited confidentiality agreements as the reason Radical Numerics can't disclose more information at this time.

We might be waiting a while to find out whether the treatment worked. While phage therapy can last anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks, doctors also have to monitor the patient for months afterward to make sure the infection was actually cured and won't come back.

With Sarah J. Maas's next installment, A Court of Splintered Harmony, arriving Oct. 27, another ACOTAR book hangover is inevitable. You know the symptoms: an inability to stop thinking about fictional people, an overwhelming urge to reread their best scenes, and the creeping suspicion that no other book will ever make you feel this way again.

Luckily, your next obsession might be waiting on another shelf. From the deadly vampire tournament of The Serpent and the Wings of Night to the dragon-riding chaos of Fourth Wing to other Maas classics, these eight books deliver dangerous worlds, complicated loyalties, and romances worth losing sleep over. Consider them your remedy for impending Prythian withdrawal.

1. The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

For readers who loved watching a human survive among dangerously powerful immortals.

If Feyre trying to stay alive Under the Mountain had you stressed, meet Oraya. She’s a human raised by a vampire king, which means she’s spent her life surrounded by people who could eat her. Hoping to improve those odds, she enters a deadly tournament and teams up with Raihn, a vampire who's both her competition and an enemy of her father. An inconvenient person to find attractive, really.

Oraya needs help surviving, but trusting the wrong person could kill her — a predicament that should feel familiar to ACOTAR readers. Welcome to The Serpent and the Wings of Night.

This New York Times bestseller began as a self-published novel in 2022 before Bramble picked it up and rereleased it in December 2023, bringing Oraya’s romantic and survival problems to even more readers. And there’s plenty to keep you busy: Five of the six planned main books are out, along with two companion books, though Oraya and Raihn’s central story wraps up in the first two.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia Book 1)

$6.99 at Amazon

 

See It at Amazon

2. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout

For readers who want forbidden attraction and a heroine questioning everything.

Poppy is supposed to save her kingdom, but she's barely allowed to participate in it. Chosen as the Maiden, a sacred figure in her society, she lives under strict religious rules: no friendships, no romantic relationships, and very little freedom while she waits for a ceremony called her Ascension. She secretly trains to fight anyway. Then she meets Hawke, the guard assigned to protect her, and starts wanting a life she’s been told she can’t have.

Their forbidden attraction helped earn From Blood and Ash the romance award in the 2020 Goodreads Choice Awards, where it received roughly 79,000 votes. But Poppy has more to contend with than feelings for her guard: As violent threats to the kingdom grow, she begins questioning the religious authorities who control her future.

If you liked ACOTAR's mix of romance, secrets, and a heroine discovering that the people protecting her might also be holding her back, this belongs on your list.

From Blood and Ash

$8.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $11.00

 

See It at Amazon

3. Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

For readers who want deadly training, simmering hostility, and wings.

Violet Sorrengail wanted to spend her life working with books. Instead, her mother sends her to a military college, where she must convince a dragon to bond with her and avoid being killed by her classmates — a substantial departure from her original career plan. Making matters worse is Xaden Riorson, a powerful wingleader whose family history gives him every reason to hate hers.

Violet also has chronic conditions, a characteristic inspired by Fourth Wing author Rebecca Yarros's own experiences with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and POTS. "I went to my publisher and said, 'I want her to have what I have,'" Yarros told Elle in 2025. This shapes how Violet approaches the college's deadly challenges, relying on her intelligence to survive situations she can’t simply overpower.

And if you get attached, you’ll have plenty of company. Onyx Storm, the third book in Yarros's series, sold 2.7 million copies in its first week in 2025, according to publisher figures reported by the New York Times. A Prime Video adaptation is also in the works, backed by Michael B. Jordan’s Outlier Society, with Esther McGregor and Emilio Sakraya reportedly cast as Violet and Xaden. (There’s no premiere date yet, so you have time to form your own opinions before the screen versions arrive.)

If you enjoyed watching Feyre work out how to beat opponents much stronger than her in ACOTAR — while developing feelings for someone she has reasons to avoid — there will be plenty here to keep you occupied.

Fourth Wing (The Empyrean Book 1)

$14.99 at Amazon

 

See It at Amazon

4. The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

For readers who take the "enemies" part of enemies-to-lovers seriously.

Lara isn't marrying King Aren with hopes of a happy life together. No, she's been trained to infiltrate his kingdom, discover its weaknesses, and help her homeland bring it down. Unfortunately for the mission, spending time with her husband and his people makes her question whether she’s been given the full story.

Important note: There's no actual magic in this world, but an undercover mission disguised as a marriage supplies more than enough trouble. And if you prefer listening to your fictional relationship problems, this one actually started as an audio series. The Bridge Kingdom debuted as an Audible Original in 2018, before Jensen self-published the print and digital editions in 2019.

The Bridge Kingdom

$5.99 at Amazon
$17.99 Save $12.00

 

See It at Amazon See It at Amazon

5. Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

For readers ready to get attached to another Maas heroine.

If you can't seem to get yourself away from Maas, go back to where her publishing career began. Throne of Glass arrived in 2012, three years before ACOTAR introduced readers to Feyre. It follows Celaena Sardothien, an imprisoned assassin offered a fairly unappealing job opportunity. If she beats a group of thieves, assassins, and other competitors, she'll become the king's champion, serving the ruler she despises in exchange for her eventual freedom. Then competitors start turning up dead, and figuring out what’s happening becomes just as urgent as winning.

Believe it or not, the original inspiration was Cinderella, according to Maas. The story eventually moved away from a direct retelling and grew into a completed eight-book series, including the prequel collection The Assassin's Blade. So if you're looking for another Maas series to occupy your thoughts for several thousand pages, clear some space.

Throne of Glass

$10.64 at Amazon
$15.20 Save $4.56

 

See It at Amazon

6. One Dark Window by Rachel Gillig

For readers who want more of ACOTAR's sinister fairy-tale atmosphere.

If you miss the creepy woods and unsettling bargains of early ACOTAR, try spending some time with Elspeth Spindle. She has an ancient spirit called the Nightmare living in her head, which is useful when she needs protection and considerably less reassuring when she considers what he wants in return. Joining a quest to cure her kingdom of dark magic puts her alongside a mysterious highwayman, and getting closer to him makes the whole secret-monster-in-her-head situation harder to hide.

Gillig had some appropriately eerie references in mind when she created the Nightmare: the yew tree from Patrick Ness's A Monster Calls and the creature in Henry Fuseli’s painting The Nightmare. But she wanted Elspeth to have some darkness of her own. As she wrote in a 2022 essay for Fantasy Cafe, she envisioned "a maiden who does not deliver the monster, but becomes one herself."

If that sounds like your kind of fairy tale, there's a manageable commitment ahead: One Dark Window and its sequel, Two Twisted Crowns, make up the completed duology.

One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, 1)

$9.78 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $9.21

 

See It at Amazon

7. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

For readers who want more faerie drama and a prince they can hold a grudge against.

Growing up in Faerie sounds lovely until you're the human everyone looks down on. Jude ended up in this exact situation after a faerie murdered her parents and took her and her sisters home with him. Now she wants to become a knight and secure a place at court, but Prince Cardan and his friends seem determined to make her regret trying. Unfortunately for them, she has no intention of backing off.

Soon, Jude is caught up in spying and a fight over the throne, while her hatred of Cardan develops some...inconvenient complications. If ACOTAR left you wanting more dangerous faeries getting tangled up in each other’s lives, there's plenty of that in The Cruel Prince. Just keep in mind that this is YA: You'll get romantic tension, but don’t expect Nesta and Cassian's approach to resolving it.

Plus, if you like the first book, Jude and Cardan’s main story spans a completed trilogy, so you can go straight into The Wicked King and The Queen of Nothing without waiting for the next installment.

The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air Book 1)

$2.99 at Amazon

 

See It at Amazon

8. House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J. Maas

For readers who want more Maas with a change of scenery.

OK, just one more Maas recommendation. House of Earth and Blood is the first book in her Crescent City series, where powerful Fae and ancient grudges coexist with cellphones. Bryce Quinlan is a half-human, half-Fae woman whose life falls apart when a demon murders her closest friends. When similar killings happen again, she teams up with Hunt Athalar, a fallen angel, to find out who's responsible. Working together also gives them time to develop feelings that...complicate the arrangement.

The novel marked her adult debut, though she’d been working on it privately for years alongside ACOTAR and Throne of Glass. There's a whole city of supernatural creatures, power structures, and rules to get acquainted with, but for anyone still attached to Feyre's circle of friends, Bryce's friendships offer a familiar reason to get invested.

House of Earth and Blood (Crescent City Book 1)

$9.49 at Amazon
$15.20 Save $5.71

 

See It at Amazon

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Samsung says its foldable phones are selling like hotcakes, and if you read between the lines, Apple might be one big reason why.

People may not be camping out in front of Samsung stores like they are for the just-released iPhone Duo, but it's been a good year for folding phones.

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In a blog post, Samsung UK boasted about high sales for its Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra devices in Europe since they launched in August. According to Samsung, the devices have seen a 45 percent boost in sales compared to a year ago. That's especially notable because global smartphone sales overall are at their lowest level in 14 years.

Also of note, Samsung said there's been a 260 percent increase in Google search interest in Samsung foldable devices between Sept. 6 and 12, which happens to line up perfectly with the announcement of the iPhone Duo.

Of course, we only have circumstantial evidence that Apple's new foldable is juicing interest in Samsung's devices, so take it with a small grain of salt. But it is generally true that Apple has a way of taking something that already exists, repackaging it with Apple slickness, and thus making it "cool" to a general audience. It is possible that's happening with foldables as we speak.

If Apple can convince people to happily spend $2,000 on a smartphone, that would be a really impressive magic trick.

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SAVE 20%: As of Oct. 23, you can get the Roborock RockMow X130H for $1,999.98. That's down from $2,499.99 at Amazon.

Roborock RockMow X130H Robot Lawn Mower

$1,999.98 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $500.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

I don't have a lawn, but my mom does, and I know it takes her at least an hour to cut just the backyard. I'm obsessed with my robot vacuum, and I've tried to convince her to get a robot lawn mower, but I haven't converted her just yet. Maybe $500 off will help my case.

As of Oct. 23, you can get the Roborock RockMow X130H for $1,999.98, down from $2,499.99. That's a 20% discount, or $500.01 in savings. It's also the lowest price we've tracked for this model.

The RockMow X130H is designed to maintain lawns up to an acre without burying perimeter wires. (A huge plus!) You can let it auto-map your lawn or use the app to trace the boundaries yourself, and then just set the mowing schedule for different zones.

It has four-wheel drive and, according to Roborock, can handle slopes up to 80 percent (about 39 degrees), with an adjustable cutting height of 1.57 to 3.54 inches. Its navigation system combines RTK positioning with four cameras and multiple sensors to detect and avoid obstacles.

I haven't tested this one myself, but on paper, it's giving me plenty to bring up the next time my mom mentions mowing the lawn.

The best early Black Friday book deals at a glance:

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best limited-time offer

Paperbacks and hardcovers at Target

BOGO 50% off for a limited time

Get Deal

---

best hardcover deal

'Twisted Lies' by Anna Huang (Collector's Edition)

$15.94 (save $16.05)

Get Deal

---

best paperback deal

'The Divorce' by Freida McFadden

$8.31 (save $10.68)

Get Deal

---

best Kindle book deal

'Lessons in Chemistry' by Bonnie Garmus

$2.99 (save $12)

Get Deal

Black Friday is still technically more than a month away, but deals are starting to arrive in droves. If you're looking to pad your TBR for cozy season, it's the best time to grab books for less. While I'm not usually one to recommend purchasing physical books via mega retailers like Amazon (show your local bookstores some love!), it's definitely hard to ignore a price drop up to 50% on that new release you've had your eyes on.

We'll be tracking the best deals on physical books and e-books as we inch closer to Black Friday, so remember to keep checking back for more if you don't see the titles you're looking for just yet. As of now, here are some early book deals we recommend.

Best limited-time early Black Friday book deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Target

BOGO 50% off hardcovers and paperbacks at Target

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

While I love a good Kindle or audiobook deal, nothing beats the dopamine hit you get from holding a physical book in your hands. Ahead of Black Friday, Target is running a BOGO 50% off sale that can put paperbacks and hardcovers in your hands for less. The sale includes copies of new releases and BookTok favorites, like The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, The Witch by Freida McFadden, Whistler by Ann Patchett, The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff, and Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty. Even better, many of the eligible books are also already on sale, so you can do a lot more damage than you think. The deal is fleeting, however, so snag the books on your TBR while you can.

Best early Black Friday physical book deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Poisoned Pen Press

The Divorce by Freida McFadden

$8.31 at Amazon
$18.99 Save $10.68

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Freida McFadden's The Witch was just published earlier this month, so naturally her last title, The Divorce, has dropped in price. Mind you, The Divorce is also a 2026 release. While I haven't read it myself, I know what you can expect from a McFadden thriller: a fast-paced, unhinged story you'll devour. The Divorce has a 3.85-star average rating on Goodreads from nearly 400k reviews. If you want a quick, gripping thrill ride this fall, pick up the paperback copy for its best price to date.

Physical book deals

Paperback

• What We Did to Survive by Megan Lally — $6.44 $12.99 (save $6.55)

• The Highland Fling by Meghan Quinn — $6.51 $12.95 (save $6.44)

• The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis — $7.25 $14.95 (save $7.70)

• Variation by Rebecca Yarros — $7.68 $16.99 (save $9.31)

• The Vanishing Season by Dot Hutchinson — $7.86 $15.95 (save $8.09)

• The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry — $8.18 $15.95 (save $7.77)

• On a Quiet Street by Seraphina Nova Glass — $8.20 $18.99 (save $10.79 with on-page coupon)

• The Divorce by Freida McFadden — $8.31 $18.99 (save $10.68)

• The Housewife by Natalie Barelli — $8.54 $18.99 (save $10.45 with on-page coupon)

• Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris — $10.90 $18.99 (save $8.09)

Hardcover

• Us Dark Few by Alexis Patton — $9.39 $21.99 (save $12.60)

• Terms and Conditions by Lauren Asher (Collector's Edition) — $15.18 $31.99 (save $16.81)

• Twisted Lies by Ana Huang (Collector's Edition) — $15.94 $31.99 (save $16.05)

• The Mistake by Elle Kennedy (Collector's Edition) — $16.98 $31.99 (save $15.01)

• Rottenheart by Kat Dunn — $20.26 $28.95 (save $8.69)

Kindle book deals

• The Gingerbread Bakery by Laurie Gilmore — $0.99 $11.99 (save $11)

• Wildcat by Rebecca Jenshak — $0.99 $4.99 (save $4)

• The Girls in the Dark by Avery Bishop — $1.99 $3.99 (save $2)

• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus — $2.99 $14.99 (save $12)

• Pretty Girls by Karin Slaughter — $2.99 $9.99 (save $7)

• Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane — $2.99 $12.99 (save $10)

For the most avid readers, Kindle Unlimited is an incredible membership providing access to millions of books on your e-reader. But subscribers may have noticed a change to their membership this week.

As of Oct. 22, Amazon rebranded Kindle Unlimited to Kindle+. Now under your subscription tab, you'll find your membership listed as Kindle+. But what does this mean for your membership? Has the program or pricing changed? Here's everything we know about Amazon's rebrand from Kindle Unlimited to Kindle+.

What to know about Kindle+

The Kindle+ rebrand is now reflected on your membership page. Credit: Amazon / Mashable

Luckily, the rebrand from Kindle Unlimited to Kindle+ is just a name change. Everything else about the program has stayed the same. Membership still costs $11.99 per month with the same access. Kindle+ is a library of millions of books, audiobooks, comics, manga, and magazines. Members of Kindle+ can borrow up to 20 books at a time, plus thousands of ebooks also have companion audiobooks, so you can simultaneously read and listen.

You don't need a Kindle e-reader to enjoy Kindle+. As long as you have access to the Kindle app on a computer, tablet, or smartphone, you can access your Kindle library and all the Kindle books you've added through Kindle+. You can even add Kindle+ books directly on your Kindle without going through the Kindle app or a browser.

And right now, enjoy Kindle+ for free.

How to get Kindle+ for free

If you've been eyeing a new Kindle, you can get three months of Kindle+ free. Amazon is running a promotion that bundles a new Kindle with three months of Kindle+ for free. The bundle costs $189.99, which is just the cost of the new e-reader. That saves you $35.97 and gives you access to millions of books for three months. Your membership will auto-renew, so don't forget to cancel before you're charged.

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Credit: Amazon

Kindle 32GB (3 Months of Kindle+)

$189.99 at Amazon
$225.96 Save $35.97

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Best early Black Friday robot vacuum deals:

---

Our top-rated robot vacuum of 2026

Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete

$1,529.99 (save $170)

Get Deal

---

Best entry-level robot vacuum-mop deal

Roborock Q10 S5+

$329.99 (save $220)

Get Deal

---

Best roller mop deal

Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow

$699.99 (save $300)

Get Deal

Almost all our favorite robot vacuums are on sale right now, and Black Friday is still weeks away. I'm not going to pretend it's normal that we're already covering early Black Friday robot vacuum deals in October, but some of these prices make a pretty good case for getting a head start. Even our top-ranked robot vacuum in 2026, the Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete, is on sale.

Of course, I'm checking price history and watching for inflated list prices, too. Not every markdown is worth getting excited about. We'll keep updating this piece as Black Friday approaches and throughout the holiday shopping season, so check back to see what's worth grabbing.

Best entry-level robot vacuum-mop deal

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Credit: Roborock

Roborock Q10 S5+

$329.99 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $220

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we picked this

If you're looking for a robot vacuum-mop combo that won't break the bank, the Roborock Q10 S5+ is on sale for $329.99, down from $549.99. That's a 40% discount, or $220 in savings.

Mashable's former robot vacuum expert, Leah Stodart, says it's one of the quietest robot vacuums she's ever tested. It also has 10,000 Pa of suction, obstacle avoidance, and a sonic mop that scrubs (instead of just dragging a damp pad around). The mop lifts automatically when it detects carpet, and the self-emptying dock holds up to 70 days' worth of dust.

Best roller mop robot vacuum deal

Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow

$699.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $300

 

Get Deal at Amazon Get Deal at Best Buy Get Deal at Roborock

Why we picked this

Right now, you can get the Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow for $699.99, down from $999.99. That's a 30% discount, or a $300 price cut, on a top-rated 2026 model. CamelCamelCamel isn't showing a lowest price for this model, so I can't call it a record low, but it's the lowest I've seen.

Stodart named it the "Best Roller Mop Robot Vacuum under $1,000." Its petite dock makes it a great option for people who are "limited on floor space," and it cleans with precision. "The Curv 2 Flow's obstacle avoidance is some of the best I've ever experienced," writes Stodart. It delivers 20,000 Pa of suction, has a Dual Zero-Tangle System, plus a full-service dock that empties the dust bin and washes and dries the roller mop.

Read our Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow review.

More Black Friday robot vacuum deals

Dreame

• Dreame D30 Ultra — $449.99 $539.99 (save $90)

• Dreame L40 Ultra Gen 2 — $499.99 $749.99 (save $250)

• Dreame X60 Max Ultra Complete — $1,529.99 $1,699.99 (save $170)

Eufy

• Eufy 11S Max — $169.99 $279.99 (save $110)

• Eufy C28 — $499.98 $799.99 (save $300.01)

iRobot

• iRobot Roomba 105 Combo with AutoEmpty Dock — $299 $469.99 (save $170.99)

• iRobot Roomba 505 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo — $849.99 $999.99 (save $150)

Roborock

• Roborock Q10 S5+ — $329.99 $549.99 (save $220)

• Roborock Qrevo Curv 2 Flow — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)

• Roborock Qrevo CurvX — $749.99 $1,499.99 (save $750)

Narwal

• Narwal Flow — $1,249.99 $1,499.99 (save $250)

• Narwal Flow 2 — $1,299.99 $1,499.99 (save $200)

TL;DR: Sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free. Watch the United States GP for free with the Prime Video app.

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Credit: Amazon

Apple TV Prime Video Channel

Watch the United States GP for free with a 7-day trial

Shop Now

Kimi Antonelli is in position to win his first F1 title this weekend in Austin.

Antonelli must win this Sunday's GP to have any chance of sealing the drivers' title, but that's not all. The Italian also needs Russell to finish ninth or lower and Lewis Hamilton to finish fifth or lower. If those conditions are met, he will become the youngest champion in F1 history and the first Italian title-holder since 1953.

If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the United States GP?

The United States GP is the 18th race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from the Circuit of the Americas:

• Practice 1 — 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 23

• Practice 2 — 5-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 23

• Practice 3 — 1:30-2:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 24

• Qualifying — 5-6 p.m. ET on Oct. 24

• Race — 3 p.m. ET on Oct. 25

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the United States GP for free

Amazon Prime offers many benefits. This popular subscription delivers fast shipping, Black Friday discounts, and access to the Prime Video library.

For F1 fans in the U.S., Prime Video is particularly useful this season. Apple TV holds exclusive U.S. broadcasting rights for F1, and you can sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV directly through Prime Video Channels.

That trial gives you access to select races for free, including this weekend's United States Grand Prix. The subscription rolls over to $12.99 per month after the seven-day trial, but you can disable the automatic renewal and still stream the entire race weekend for free.

If you're already paying for Amazon Prime, calling it "completely free" is a stretch. But if you don't have an active membership, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Stacking that Prime trial with the seven-day Apple TV channel trial means you're truly spending nothing to stream this weekend's race.

If you've already made use of this method, you still have a few workarounds:

• Apple TV: New standalone subscribers qualify for a direct seven-day free trial through Apple's app.

• Apple One: If you want more than just streaming, the Apple One tier packages Apple TV alongside Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+, and 50GB of iCloud storage — and it comes with a full one-month free trial ($19.95 per month after the promotional period).

• Apple: The most generous Apple TV offer is tied to new hardware purchases. Buying an eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV grants new subscribers three months of free service. You obviously have to spend money on hardware, but if you were already planning an upgrade, it effectively unlocks a massive chunk of the F1 season for free.

Starbucks just dropped a Halloween menu update that brings TV’s most sarcastic feline out of retirement.

Launched nationwide on Oct. 22, the new Black Cat Frappuccino is available through Halloween night at participating U.S. stores. To roll out the drink, Starbucks partnered with Archie Comics to bring back Salem Saberhagen (the talking black cat from Sabrina the Teenage Witch) as the campaign's official spokesperson.

View this post on Instagram

I come across a lot of these brand collabs, but this one is special for me. I'm not ashamed to admit that I absolutely love that sassy little guy. And I'm so pleased to see him represented in coffee form. He deserves this.

The Black Cat Frappuccino is built on a caffeine-free Crème Frappuccino base. It blends dark chocolate cake powder and rich cocoa syrup with whole milk and ice to deliver a dense, liquid brownie batter flavor profile. It's finished with a swirl of whipped cream and topped with edible chocolate cat ears.

Will this new drop persuade me to change course from my regular order (venti iced black Americano, thank you very much)? I'm a creature of habit, so probably not. But it's hard to deny how cute those chocolate cat ears are.

It's important to note that this festive beverage is available exclusively in a grande size. Local store inventory is also likely to run out quickly as Halloween gets closer. Your best play is ordering via the Starbucks app for mobile pickup or using DoorDash or Uber Eats promo codes to get it delivered straight to your desk before the holiday menu launches on Nov. 5.

Apple's iPhone Duo is currently in that strange limbo where it's been announced, it's available to pre-order, but it's not widely available yet.

In this period, every issue and bug gets amplified, especially when the device is so different from anything Apple has done before. We've seen people declaring they would never buy this phone, as well as lists of reasons why that's a good decision.

Having had the iPhone Duo in my hands for a little over a week now (not counting my time with a bunch of Duos at Apple's September event in Cupertino), I got to experience the good and the bad first hand. And, since I switched to the Duo as my primary phone, I can tell you that I haven't yet encountered anything that would make me go back to a different iPhone.

Apple iPhone Duo

Save $1,000 at T-Mobile

 

See It at T-Mobile See It at Apple.com See It at Verizon

That doesn't mean that the issues aren't real, so let me take a closer look at what the internet says and what the reality is (at least based on my experience with the phone). Oh, and you can also read my in-depth review of the iPhone Duo.

Claim: The FaceTime camera sucks

Is it real? Yes

Can it be fixed? Yes and no

4 megapixels just isn't enough for a good selfie these days. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The iPhone Duo has four cameras: A 48-megapixel main camera alongside a 48-megapixel ultra-wide on the back, a 12-megapixel punch-hole selfie camera on the outer display, and a hidden camera in the inner display branded only as the FaceTime camera.

Honestly, the FaceTime camera is bad for taking photos. It has a 4-megapixel sensor, and Apple uses a ton of AI post-processing to make the photos look halfway decent. Sometimes this works well; sometimes the photo comes out awfully plasticky, smudgy, and artificial, but the reality is that you can't get a great selfie with this camera.

But things aren't that simple. If the question is, "Can I take great selfies with the iPhone Duo?", then the answer is an unqualified yes. In fact, the iPhone Duo can actually take better selfies than any other iPhone, including the Pro.

For that, you just have to use the main cameras, even if the process is a little impractical for a quick selfie (unfold the phone, start the camera, turn the phone around, remove the case if it's in the way, slide on the display for the viewfinder). And there's also the 12-megapixel selfie camera on the outer display, which is absolutely fine but not as good as the 18-megapixel selfie cameras on other recent iPhones.

The problem with the FaceTime camera, which should realistically only ever be used for video calls, is that it's just so enticing to use it for selfies. You unfold the Duo, fire up the camera, and see yourself, and everyone else around you, on that large display; it just makes you want to take that selfie right away. Unfortunately, to take good selfies, Duo users will have to consciously skip the FaceTime camera.

Claim: Some apps look bad

Is it real: Yes

Can it be fixed? Yes, and it almost certainly will be

Get a grip, Google Calendar! Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apps that are tailor-made or remade for the iPhone Duo look gorgeous. Apps that aren't fall into two camps. Most of them make use of the Duo's large inner display, but aside from that, nothing's really optimized to look better there. And some are the same as iPhone-only apps on an iPad: A tiny version of the app that sits in the middle of the display, which you can resize to get a larger, blurry version.

There are many apps that fall into the latter category. Numerous Google apps are like that: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Drive, and so are other popular apps like TradingView or PlugShare. Your local e-banking app almost certainly hasn't been updated yet.

Put all of that together, and you get a middling experience in which you constantly juggle between beautiful-looking apps such as Netflix and crappy-looking ones such as Gmail.

This is Apple we're talking about, though. I bet that 90 percent of popular apps will have Duo-ready versions within a month. The only way this doesn't happen is if Duo sells exceptionally poorly and third-party developers decide it's not worth the hassle, which, judging by Duo's wait times, probably isn't happening.

In fact, from the time I received the phone until the time of writing this text, at least 10 apps that I frequently use have already been updated for the Duo. So yeah, this isn't going to be a long-term issue.

Claim: The phone is buggy

Is it real: Partially

Can it be fixed? Yes, and it probably will be

All the bugs I've encountered during testing appear to be fixed at writing time, so here's just another photo of the Duo. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Every new iOS and iPhone launch comes with issues, but the iPhone Duo has the sort of bugs that you wouldn't expect. WhatsApp often gets the camera orientation wrong, both in video calls and when you need to scan a QR code (note: this appears to have been fixed by the time of publishing). Sometimes Apple's own software gets confused, and something on the display will point the wrong way.

There are also other types of small issues, which aren't strictly bugs but come with the foldable phone territory. The most common problem I've seen is this: You fold or unfold the phone and accidentally touch something, and now you don't know what you did and why your app is acting weird.

Again, I'm not very worried. Apple is typically very committed to fixing these bugs, especially on a high-profile device like this. It's not a given, though, and if you're worried about a buggy experience, maybe wait a month or two before getting the Duo, and see whether the bugs are squashed out by then. Though, considering the device is backordered, you may not have a choice but to wait.

Claim: The hinge deteriorates after prolonged use

Is it real? Hard to tell

Can it be fixed? Probably not

The crease is there. But you have to look for it. In real life, it's unnoticeable most of the time. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The iPhone Duo's hinge works smoothly out of the box, and the crease in the middle of the inner display can be felt but can rarely be seen, unless you look for it. But what happens when you fold and unfold the phone thousands of times (as you certainly will over time)?

YouTuber Tim Pan put the iPhone Duo into a folding machine and folded and unfolded it 10,000 times (and an additional 1,000 times at -4 degrees Fahrenheit) to see what happens. Then, the internet took over and shared just the image of a before-and-after, indicating a dramatic change in the crease's visibility and depth.

I haven't folded and unfolded my Duo that many times yet, so I can't give that sort of first-hand experience. But in the video, Pan says the hinge is still "very smooth" after the test, which is encouraging. As for that "before and after" photo, what I can tell you is that the hinge is already visible on a brand new iPhone Duo if you angle it right and put it under direct light, but that doesn't translate into real life, where the crease is nearly invisible basically all of the time.

In other words, don't trust any photo that shows that crease dramatically visible unless you've held the iPhone Duo in your hands.

Still, it's hard to say whether the crease will become an issue after a year or two or three of use. It's even harder to say whether it will become an issue for you; everyone reacts to these things differently. Anyone buying a new foldable phone, including the Duo, should expect some wear and tear over time.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

TL;DR: Lexar's new Professional Silver Go microSD card ($34.99) delivers fast 250 MB/s speeds and rugged 4K protection for your GoPro, Switch, or Steam Deck. Available now on Amazon in sizes up to 512GB.

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Credit: Lexar

Lexar Professional Silver Go microSD card

$34.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Running out of space on your handheld console is pure digital chaos. Trying to download a massive new RPG update on your Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch only to realize you have to delete at least three other games first is a pain. Lexar’s new Professional Silver Go microSDXC UHS-I Card solves that exact storage crunch.

Launching today on Amazon from $34.99, it gives gamers a hassle-free way to expand their console library without sacrificing performance.

When paired with Lexar's RW360 reader, it delivers read speeds up to 250 MB/s — making file transfers up to 240% faster than standard cards. With write speeds up to 180MB/s and a V30 speed rating, it keeps game loads snappy and effortlessly handles stutter-free 4K 60fps video capture if you like recording gameplay or using action cams like GoPros, Insta360s, and DJI drones.

Because handheld consoles go everywhere with you, the Silver Go is built to take a beating. It features an IPX7 waterproof rating and is drop-proof, shockproof, temperature-proof, X-ray-proof, magnetic-proof, and vibration-resistant (phew). If you ever accidentally wipe a file, Lexar includes free file recovery software, and the card itself is backed by a limited lifetime warranty.

It also includes a full-size SD adapter so you can easily transfer files to a laptop or PC. The Lexar Professional Silver Go microSDXC card is available today on Amazon in four storage sizes up to 512GB.

The best early Black Friday fitness tracker deals:

---

Best Garmin deal

Garmin Vívoactive 5

$191 (save $108.99)

Get Deal

---

Best Apple deal

Apple Watch Series 11

$349 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best Fitbit deal

Fitbit Charge 6

$89.95 (save $70)

Get Deal

---

Best Suunto deal

Suunto Vertical

$349 (save $150)

Get Deal

Welcome to the holiday shopping season. While we're still in early Black Friday sales, we're seeing discounts that match the lowest of the year. That includes fitness trackers from top brands like Garmin, Fitbit, Suunto, and more.

These sales are great news if you're shopping for a gift for a fitness fan or if you have health goals for the rest of 2026. Fitness trackers are great tools for monitoring heart rate, gaining insight into sleep quality, and tracking activity levels.

If you've been eyeing an upgrade, check out the best early Black Friday fitness tracker deals below. We'll keep this page updated with fresh deals as we see them roll in.

Best Garmin deal

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Credit: Garmin

Garmin Vívoactive 5

$191 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $108.99

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

It looks great, has a battery that lasts up to 11 days, and comes with 30 built-in sports modes. If you're looking for a new fitness tracker, the Garmin Vívoactive 5 is on sale for $191 in the ivory colorway. Garmin's Body Battery rating will let you know what activity level is best for each day, and it can automatically detect naps. The Garmin Vívoactive 5 is also great for wheelchair users, since wheelchair mode tracks pushes rather than steps and offers tailored wheelchair fitness tracking for strength workouts.

Best Apple deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm)

$349 at Amazon
$399 Save $50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

If you're in the Apple ecosystem, going with the Apple Watch Series 11 as your smartwatch and fitness tracker makes so much sense. With a comfortable fit, quick recharging, and a scratch-resistant face, the Series 11 is Mashable's top pick for an Apple fitness tracker. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder's review of the Apple Watch Series 11 notes a major battery upgrade over the previous model.

Best Fitbit deal

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Credit: Google

Fitbit Charge 6

$89.95 at Amazon
$159.95 Save $70.00

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Google's had a big year of Fitbit launches. The lightweight and ultra-comfortable Fitbit Air has become one of my favorites, and the brand just launched the Fitbit Edge. But if you're looking for a great deal, the Fitbit Charge 6 is already on a huge discount before Black Friday.

On Mashable's list of the best fitness trackers, the Fitbit Charge 6 lands nicely in the middle of an excellent mid-range fitness tracker that does a great job without costing a ton. Mashable considers the Charge 6 to be ideal for "an intermediate fitness tracker user who is looking for a model that'll cover all your bases at a good price."

Best Suunto deal

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Credit: Suunto

Suunto Vertical

$349 at Amazon
$499 Save $150

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

Loved by distance runners around the globe, Suunto makes some of the best fitness trackers for the serious athlete. As part of Amazon's early Black Friday offerings, the Suunto Vertical is a massive 30% off. Designed for the adventure-driven, the Suunto Vertical comes with free offline maps that show great details in color, like paths and water features, in addition to showing breadcrumb trails. Battery life can reach up to 500 hours or up to 60 hours in the most accurate tracking mode.

More fitness tracker deals

• Google Fitbit Charge 3 — $89 $99.95 (save $10.95)

• Xiaomi Redmi Watch 6 — $94.99 $109.99 (save $15)

• Suunto Race S GPS Sports Watch — $299 $349 (save $50)

The best Samsung certified renewed deals on Amazon:

---

Best budget Samsung phone deal

Samsung Galaxy S24 FE (128GB)

$489

Shop Now

---

Best mid-range Samsung phone deal

Samsung Galaxy S25 (256GB)

$629

Shop Now

---

Best premium Samsung phone deal

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB)

$1,029

Shop Now

If you're on the lookout for a great deal on a phone — or any tech for that matter — we strongly recommend checking out refurbished devices from top manufacturers. You can find competitive bargains on certified refurbished devices, which are pretty much indistinguishable from brand-new options. You'd never know they're pre-loved.

Now you can find refurbished Samsung Galaxy phones on Amazon, which is a first for the Galaxy line. There are 14 Galaxy models available on Amazon, part of Samsung's certified renewed program, including the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 FE.

This is obviously great news for anyone who needs an upgrade. Tech prices have soared due to the AI price crunch known as RAMageddon, which has caused phone sales to crash to a 14-year low. According to market research from Counterpoint, the increasing demand for memory hardware has led to major price increases and supply disruptions from top tech manufacturers such as Samsung and Apple. Customers have been left to foot the bill with price hikes across the board.

Samsung is one of the few tech names to hold onto decent discounts, largely thanks to demand for phones such as the Galaxy A-series and Galaxy Z Fold 8. While those models don't feature in the certified renewed deals on Amazon, there are plenty of others to choose from, with prices starting from $489 (excluding taxes and fees).

Best Samsung certified renewed deal

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra (512GB)

$1,029 at Amazon

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB is the highest-spec option from the certified renewed range at Amazon. This phone is immensely powerful and comes equipped with Galaxy AI, featuring "Circle to Search" (allowing you to Google search by circling something in an image) and daily briefings on everything you need to know for the day ahead.

It's also built with a hi-res camera and advanced video and audio features, allowing you to film clear video in low-light settings and reduce unwanted background noise. Everything comes via a stunning 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra 512GB is usually priced at $1,419, so you'll save $390.99 with this refurb deal.

If you're unsure about buying a refurbished device, you can rely on Samsung's certified renewed program for quality control. It ensures that all phones are serviced by Samsung specialists and repaired exclusively with Samsung parts. Each receives a certified new battery and undergoes rigorous testing with 147 checkpoints.

Samsung certified renewed smartphones are also eligible for Samsung Care+, which protects you against drops, spills, and mechanical breakdowns.

Maria Bamford is a comedian for comedy nerds, as was clear when she made Game Changer contestants starstruck in the Season 8 finale, "Last Talent Standing."

Her unique brand of stand-up blends personal stories, a wide range of silly voices, and an irreverence that is deliriously entertaining. Over her years onstage and in voice-acting across a panoply of projects, she has made fans of bigger names in the industry, like Stephen Colbert, Patton Oswalt, and Conan O'Brien. And all of them appear in her new Netflix documentary, Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story.

While the film played SXSW earlier this year, comedy nerd (and Mashable Entertainment Editor) Kristy Puchko sat down with Bamford to talk about the documentary, her thoughts on fame, capitalism, and why she's stayed true to her own voice — literally.

Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story is now streaming on Netflix.

Developers are just starting to release apps optimized for the different screens of the iPhone Duo. Bridget Carey goes hands-on and talks with developers to learn how the first batch of Duo apps is using folding screens creatively. 

Read more about iPhone Duo apps and reviews: 7 apps that look gorgeous on the iPhone Duo's display
iPhone Duo reviewers dislike this one thing about Apple's foldable

Timecode chapters
0:00 Relearning how to use an iPhone with the iPhone Duo
0:19 It’s iPhone Duo release day
0:37 Learning from iPhone Duo app developers
0:43 Deck-Man (fka Duo-Man) turns iPhone Duo into a Walkman
1:35 Back to the early iPhone days
1:40 Remember iBeer?
1:50 How developers optimize iPhone apps for iPhone Duo
2:02 New York Times Cooking app on iPhone Duo
2:46 Major League Baseball’s MLB app for iPhone Duo
3:13 How developers are using iPhone Duo’s screen real-estate in new ways
3:32 Getting lost in gaming on iPhone Duo with Ungodly
4:02 Visual design tricks in the Netflix app for iPhone Duo
4:20 iPhone Duo is the most exciting iPhone since the first iPhone
4:47 Bridget has the iPhone Duo
5:06 iPhone Duo release day coverage coming soon
5:31 Apple has something to “pro and tell”

Video credits
Host: Bridget Carey
Scripted by: Bridget Carey
Producer: Carly Marsh
Camera: Carly Marsh
Video Editor: Carly Marsh
Thumbnail Designer: Tharon Green

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 23, the EarFun Air Pro 4 earbuds are on sale for $53.16 at Amazon. That's $26.74 off their full price of $79.90.

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Credit: EarFun

EarFun Air Pro 4

$53.16 at Amazon
$79.90 Save $26.74

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If new earbuds are on your holiday shopping list, Amazon's here to help.

Rather than waiting for Black Friday, the retailer has been squeezing in discounts on various models ahead of time. This includes a price cut on our favorite budget earbuds, the EarFun Air Pro 4.

If that color has caught your eye, you can snag them on sale for $53.16 at Amazon. This is over $20 cheaper than their usual price and just a few bucks away from their lowest-ever price of $50.51.

The EarFun Air Pro 4 are mighty impressive for a pair of budget earbuds, boasting solid sound quality and adaptive ANC technology that can block up to 50dB of outside noise. They even offer a long battery life of up to 11 hours on a single charge, which can be extended to 52 hours with the charging case.

Many of these reasons, paired with their more affordable price tag, are why we consider them the best budget earbuds. Overall, they "can adeptly handle a multipoint connection, feature a well-rounded sound profile with variation thanks to the in-app equalizer," and even "offer manually adjustable ANC, which isn't even a given on premium noise-canceling earbuds."

Why not take advantage of this early deal on the EarFun Air Pro 4 at Amazon?

TL;DR: Brick's new Brick Night ($129) uses Bluetooth to create a 25x25 ft zero-scroll zone in your bedroom. Set your time window in the app, and it automatically blocks distracting apps when you enter your room — requiring you to physically leave the space to unblock them.

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Credit: Brick

Brick Night

$129 at Brick

 

Shop Now at Brick

If you’ve ever promised yourself you’d go to sleep at a reasonable hour, only to realize you’ve been staring at a glowing screen for two hours in the dark, you're not alone. Most of us try to rely on willpower or built-in phone tools, but let’s be real — Apple’s Screen Time, Android’s Digital Wellbeing, and standard Do Not Disturb modes are way too easy to bypass.

It takes half a second to tap "Ignore Limit for 15 Minutes" and go right back to doomscrolling. That’s precisely why distraction-blocking brand Brick just created Brick Night: a dedicated physical device that forces an actual boundary between you and your phone the moment you step into your bedroom.

Priced at $129, Brick Night turns your sleep sanctuary into an automatic zero-scroll zone. The compact, midnight-blue block uses Bluetooth signal strength to detect when your phone enters a designated bedroom area (up to 25 x 25 feet). You choose the apps you want to block, pick your custom time window for winding down and waking up, and place the device where you sleep.

The second your phone enters that room during your set hours, your selected apps stay locked. To unblock them, you have to physically get up and walk out of the room. That physical barrier transforms your sleep routine: your favorite distraction apps lock the moment you walk into bed so you can unwind and rest, and you wake up on your own terms without feeds setting your mood before you even roll out.

Designed to be as frictionless as possible, the compact device features a clean ABS and TPU build and requires zero WiFi connection. It also doesn't need to be plugged into a wall and runs on two included CR2477 batteries. Plus, if you share a bed or room, multiple people can use the same Brick Night device simultaneously — each person can set up their own independent time windows, blocked app lists, and custom modes on their own phone.

If you're ready to stop relying on willpower and finally reclaim restful nights, Brick Night is now available for $129.

SAVE $20: As of Oct. 23, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus cordless handheld vacuum is back to its lowest-ever price of $79.99 at Amazon. That's $20 off its full price of $99.99.

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Credit: Shark

Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus Cordless Handheld Vacuum

$79.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon is wasting no time in dropping early deals for shoppers before Black Friday, including household items like vacuums.

For those hoping to grab a smaller model for quick cleanups, Shark's UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus handheld vacuum is down to its lowest-ever price on Amazon. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus usually costs $99.99, but Amazon has slashed $20 off, bringing it down to $79.99.

The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is sure to come in handy during the busy holiday season, with a cordless, lightweight design (weighing just 2.8lbs) that's easy to grab and go to clean up crumbs, dirt, pet hair, and more that pop up around the house. It also boasts powerful suction from dual cyclonic air streams, which help protect the filter and motor by separating large and small debris as it cleans.

Plus, there's no need to worry about touching everything inside the dust cup when you empty the vacuum, thanks to the CleanTouch Dirt Ejector button. It even comes with extra attachments — a crevice tool, a scrubbing brush, and a self-cleaning pet power brush — so you have multiple options for cleaning.

Since the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is currently at its lowest-ever price on Amazon, why wait for Black Friday to pick it up?

The best deals from the Bose refurb sale:

---

Best QuietComfort headphones deal

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

$279 (save $170)

Get Deal

---

Best QuietComfort earbuds deal

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

$149 (save $150)

Get Deal

---

Best portable speaker deal

Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen)

$89 (save $70)

Get Deal

---

Best soundbar deal

Bose Solo Soundbar 2

$199 (save $100)

Get Deal

---

Best gaming headset deal

Bose A30 Aviation Headset

$999 (save $300)

Get Deal

Refurbished tech often goes overlooked, but it's always worth shopping when top tech brands offer marked-down prices on as-new devices. Seriously, if they didn't tell you up front that these devices are refurbished — pre-owned and restored to box-fresh condition — you'd never know the difference.

Bose has launched a sale of refurbished audio devices, including headphones, portable Bluetooth speakers, TV soundbars, and high-end gaming headsets.

For a limited time, you can get up to $300 off higher-ticket devices. You can save on Bose A30 Aviation gaming headsets and the Bose Solo Soundbar 2 is down to just $99 — a fantastic deal for upgrading your home cinema set-up.

The standout deal is $170 off the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd Gen) headphones, the latest, most advanced version of Bose's signature headphone line. Bose is offering the refurbished QuietComfort Ultra headphones for $279, down from the regular list price of $449. According to the price tracker camelcamelcamel, that's $90 below the lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Best Bose refurbished deal

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Credit: Bose

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen)

$279 at Amazon
$449 Save $170

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Why we like it

The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) are superb everyday headphones from one of the top names in audio tech.

They combine industry-leading noise cancellation and spatial audio to create an immersive listening experience that rivals any headphones on the market. You can choose from different active noise cancellation options, including Quiet and Aware modes, which let in varying degrees of external ambient noise.

The audio is tailored to you, with CustomTune technology that adapts to the shape of your ears to ensure optimal sound quality. Other key features include a massive 30-hour battery life and full customization via the Bose app.

More Bose refurbished deals

• Bose SoundLink Micro (2nd Gen) — $79 $129 (save $50)

• Bose SoundLink Flex (2nd Gen) — $89 $159 (save $70)

• Bose Solo Soundbar 2 — $99 $199 (save $100)

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — $149 $299 (save $150)

• Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $149 $299 (save $150)

• Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II — $149 $299 (save $150)

• Bose Smart Soundbar — $329 $549 (save $50)

• Bose Surround Speakers — $329 $399 (save $70)

• Bose A30 Aviation Headset — $999 $1,299 (save $300)

TL;DR: Roku's new Pro Series LX OLED TV is available on Amazon. Offered in 55-inch ($1,299) and 65-inch ($1,599) sizes, it features a 144Hz panel, anti-glare tech, Dolby Vision, and an on-TV remote finder button.

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Credit: Roku

Roku Pro Series LX OLED TV

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Roku built its massive following by keeping smart TVs simple, but its latest release proves simple doesn't have to mean basic. Following its reveal last month, the Roku Pro Series LX OLED TV is officially available, bringing high-end picture quality straight to the brand's iconic, hassle-free interface.

The flagship screen dropped in 55-inch ($1,299) and 65-inch ($1,599) sizes on Amazon, and if you were eyeing the larger option, you might be late to the party. Demand was so high that the 65-inch model sold out in a single day, but thankfully, the 55-inch version is still available at the time of writing.

This display is the most capable television the company has ever engineered. The 4K OLED panel delivers deep blacks, ultra-wide viewing angles, and vibrant colors without forcing you to dig through confusing settings menus. A clever system called Roku Smart Picture Max automatically tunes the display to whatever you're watching, while an advanced anti-glare finish reduces reflections in the room.

Gamers get plenty of love here, too. The display features a super-fast 144Hz variable refresh rate, Automatic Game Mode, and AMD FreeSync Premium to keep action smooth with virtually no lag or screen tearing. An ultra-thin metal frame gives it a borderless look, and it comes with an adjustable, tool-free stand and built-in cable management straps to keep your setup clean and tidy.

Roku also packed in a few thoughtful features you'll use every day. The included Roku Voice Remote Pro is fully rechargeable over USB-C and features backlit buttons, hands-free voice controls, and customizable shortcuts.

Even better, if the remote ever vanishes into the couch cushions, you can simply press a built-in remote-finder button right on the TV frame to track it down. Throw in Bluetooth Headphone Mode for quiet late-night watching and instant access to over 500 free live channels, and it's easily Roku's most impressive screen yet.

With the 65-inch size already snapped up, make sure to snag the 55-inch model before it sells out.

SAVE $70: As of Oct. 23, the Skyrover S1 Mini is on sale for $279 at Amazon. That's a 20% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Skyrover

Skyrover S1 Mini

$279 at Amazon
$349 Save $70

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Want to capture aerial footage without investing in an expensive, bulky drone? You're in luck, because the Skyrover S1 Mini drone is on sale at Amazon.

It's a compact, beginner-friendly option for anyone looking to take their photography and video to the next level. It's normally priced at $349, but right now it's down to $279.

It's an incredibly compact drone, weighing under 249 grams, but this doesn't make it any less impressive. This drone is still very much built for high-quality shooting, with a 1/2-inch CMOS sensor capable of recording 4K video at 60 fps and taking 48 MP photos. It also comes with several features to make flying less complicated, including one-touch takeoff and landing, forward obstacle avoidance, and Smart Return-to-Home.

Battery life is another selling point, with up to 40 minutes of flight time per battery. It's also designed to meet FAA requirements for recreational flying in the U.S. and is a handy size to take with you while traveling.

This drone deal is available on Amazon now. Get it for $279 while it's on sale.

TL;DR: Live stream select La Liga fixtures for free on CazéTV. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Premier League has fast-paced football that's all about physicality. The Bundesliga has the best attendances in incredible stadia. Ligue 1 is all about young talent coming up against the strength of PSG. But what about La Liga? The top of the Spanish football league system leads the way in technical ability and superstar names.

Of course, many fans watch La Liga to follow Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid, but there's so much more on offer from this incredible league. Want to see for yourself? It has never been easier to watch online.

If you want to watch 2026-27 La Liga for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is La Liga?

La Liga is a professional football league in Spain and the highest level of the Spanish football league system. It is controlled by the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional and is contested by 20 teams over a 38-matchday season.

The defending champions are Barcelona.

When is La Liga?

The 2026/27 La Liga season started on Aug. 15. The campaign will likely end on May 23 or May 30.

How to watch La Liga for free

CazéTV will be showing select La Liga fixtures for free on their YouTube channel.

These free live streams are geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can unblock free live streams of La Liga from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2026-27 La Liga by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch La Liga fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of La Liga without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus coverage of the Premier League, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for CazeTV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream for free on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan 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 $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream La Liga for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: The new Apple iPhone Duo is $1,000 off with T-Mobile. To qualify for this preorder deal, you need to switch to T-Mobile and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan.

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Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone Duo for $1,000 off

 

Shop Now

The launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max had a big impact, but the iPhone Duo's drop has resulted in absolute chaos. It's Apple's first-ever foldable phone — what did you expect?

Stan Schroeder reviewed the iPhone Duo for Mashable, writing that it's the "first choice for Apple customers looking for a cool new phone."

The Apple iPhone Duo has officially launched, and T-Mobile is coming out of the gate with one of its biggest carrier promotions of the year.

Right now, T-Mobile is offering up to $1,000 off the Apple iPhone Duo via 36 monthly bill credits when you switch and bring your number on an Experience Beyond plan. You are still required to cover local sales tax on the phone's full pre-credit retail value upfront at checkout, plus T-Mobile's standard $35 device connection fee.

The $1,000 discount is distributed as 36 monthly bill credits. If you decide to cancel your service, downgrade your plan, or switch carriers before three years have passed, the remaining hardware balance becomes due immediately. But if you are already planning to stick with T-Mobile's top-tier unlimited plan for the long haul, taking $1,000 off Apple's iPhone Duo is a massive win for your tech budget ahead of Black Friday.

Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Carrier deals like this might be your best chance to score the iPhone Duo. Preorders for the iPhone Duo opened last week, and the phone sold out moments later. Mashable Tech Editor Timothy Werth tried to get his hands on the new phone, but missed the "blink-and-you'll-miss-it window."

Apple isn't done with new product releases quite yet.

Fall has proven to be quite a busy season for Apple, with the September iPhone event, which saw the grand debut of the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo. Apple then followed up with the "Welcome Home" smart home launch event earlier this month, where the company unveiled its new HomeView device alongside a slew of other products.

Apple is now preparing for an Oct. 28 event in Los Angeles. What does Apple have in store next? The invitations for the event went out with the tagline "Pro and Tell," so all signs point to a new MacBook Pro. In fact, we fully expect that Apple will reveal the long-awaited touchscreen OLED MacBook. 

However, we all know Apple loves a "One More Thing" approach, and we're following rumors on a few new devices. Here's everything we expect to learn at the "Pro and Tell" special event next week.

Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro

Apple has never released a MacBook with a touchscreen or OLED display, so this is a big deal. 

Bloomberg's Apple insider Mark Gurman says the touchscreen MacBook will have a different design than the current MacBook Pro models. The laptop will be thinner and lighter, and the OLED display will allow for thinner bezels on the device. Apple is also expected to replace the notch with a hole-punch camera with a Dynamic Island, much like the iPhone, according to Gurman.

Don't get too excited, though, unless you're ready to pay a premium for Apple's upcoming new laptop. The touchscreen OLED MacBook won't be cheap.

The existing MacBook Pro lineup starts at $1,999 for the 14-inch M5 chip model and $2,499 for the 16-inch M5 Pro chipset model. So, a touchscreen OLED model could get pricey.

M6 MacBooks and iMacs

While Apple may not be launching touchscreen MacBooks with the M6 chip, the company is expected to launch refreshed versions of its current MacBook Pro with the new chipset.

Apple unveiled its first M6 device with the new Mac mini in August. The company seems on track to roll out the M6 chip to the MacBook Pro and iMac next.

Based on how Apple rolled out the M5 chip last year, and Gurman's latest reports, don't be surprised to see a new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro launched on Oct. 28 with the M6 chip.

There's also a rumor of an updated iMac launching at the event as well. The iMac hasn't seen a refresh since 2024, when the M4 model was released. If a new M6 iMac is indeed unveiled, there could be new color options as well.

iPad Mini 8

The last iPad mini was launched in 2024 with the A17 Pro chip, which was the chipset powering the iPhone 15 Pro. It's well time for a refresh, and it seems like we will be getting one.

Apple has been rumored to be working on its first water-resistant iPad, and it appears that the new iPad mini will be that device, although it's unclear as to what level it will be water-resistant.

The new iPad mini is expected to be powered by the new A20 Pro chip, have an OLED display with thinner bezels, and a new front-facing selfie camera, according to MacRumors.

Updates to Apple Creator Studio?

We're speculating here a bit, but Apple is reportedly taking a creator-centric approach to its Oct. 28 special event. In addition, 9to5Mac reported this week that Apple keeps acquiring companies with a specific strategy in mind: Improving its Apple Creator Studio subscription offering.

If Apple did want to announce updates to Creator Studio, then a creator-focused event like this would be the perfect opportunity.

Will Apple also unveil any unexpected surprises? We'll have to wait and see on Oct. 28.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

An advertiser paid for editorial consideration of this deal. Our editorial experts vetted the deal based on our independent expertise. Because we determined that the deal will save money for our readers, we wrote the content.

TL;DR: The Joseph Abboud Modern Fit Windowpane Plaid Sport Coat is on sale for $174.99 at Men's Wearhouse, down from $249.99. That's a $75 discount on a sharp, breathable holiday gift for dads.

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Credit: Men's Wearhouse

Joseph Abboud Modern Fit Windowpane Plaid Sport Coat

$174.99 at Men's Wearhouse
$249.99 Save $75

 

Get Deal at Men's Wearhouse

Shopping for dads during the holiday season usually devolves into the same predictable routine: novelty socks, overpriced grill tools, or tech gadgets he'll forget to charge. If you want to give him a wardrobe upgrade that won't end up buried in the back of his closet, Men's Wearhouse just dropped the Joseph Abboud Modern Fit Windowpane Plaid Sport Coat down to $174.99, a $75 discount.

The main reason most dads resist dressing up is sheer discomfort, but this Joseph Abboud Heritage jacket makes it a non-issue. Woven from a rich wool blend (60% wool, 38% polyester, and 2% spandex), it offers built-in stretch for comfortable movement from a morning commute to weekend gatherings. Plus, instead of a heavy, suffocating lining, it uses a lightweight butterfly lining that keeps things breathable and prevents overheating during stuffy indoor holiday parties or long family dinners.

Visually, the bold windowpane plaid pattern gives any outfit an effortless style upgrade, elevating a smart-casual look. It’s packed with classic, high-end tailoring details like fine pick stitching, a notch lapel, flap pockets, side vents, and a sleek single-breasted two-button closure.

The tailored Modern Fit delivers a balanced, comfortable profile through the chest and shoulders, keeping him looking consistently dapper without feeling squeezed into a restrictive suit. Whether paired with chinos for a casual weekend dinner or thrown over dark slacks to complete a holiday look, this imported sport coat is a versatile wardrobe staple built to last.

Skip the generic dad gifts this year and grab the Joseph Abboud Modern Fit Sport Coat at Men's Wearhouse for $174.99.

TL;DR: Live stream select Ligue 1 fixtures for free on CazéTV. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Ligue 1 doesn't have the same reputation as the Premier League or La Liga, but PSG has just secured its second consecutive Champions League title, so perhaps it's time to reassess the quality of France's top league?

We know that there's a gulf in quality between PSG and the rest of the league, but Ligue 1 now combines genuine stars like Dembélé, Vitinha, and Kvaratskhelia with elite young talent that will dominate the game in the years to come. Will any team make the jump and actually compete with PSG for the title? That seems unlikely, but fans can bank on some thrilling football every week.

If you want to watch Ligue 1 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is Ligue 1?

Ligue 1 is a professional football league in France and the highest level of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is contested by 18 clubs, including popular teams like PSG, Olympique de Marseille, and AS Monaco. Every team plays 34 matches per season.

The defending champions are PSG.

When is Ligue 1?

The 2026/27 Ligue 1 season kicked off on Aug. 21. The 34-matchday campaign concludes on May 29.

How to watch Ligue 1 for free

Select Ligue 1 fixtures are available to live stream for free on CazéTV.

CazéTV is geo-restricted to Brazil, but anyone can bypass these restrictions with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Brazil, meaning you can unblock free live streams of Ligue 1 from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of Ligue 1 by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend 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 Brazil

4. Visit CazéTV

5. Watch Ligue 1 fixtures for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window

Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of Ligue 1 without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch select fixtures (plus coverage of the Premier League and La Liga) before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free live streams all season, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for CazeTV?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream for free on CazéTV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries, including Brazil

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 80% off for a limited time. This plan 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 $12.99 (with a money-back guarantee).

Live stream Ligue 1 for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

BBC Radio One's "Unpopular Opinion" segment is usually chaotic good fun, and Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams' recent appearance is no exception.

In the clip, the pair field calls from radio listeners who try to make their cases on everything from "Mint only belongs in toothpaste" (Adams strongly disagrees) to "We need to retire the back of shoes."

Stay for Adams' own unpopular opinion right at the end, which is pretty much a perfect example of one.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

SAVE OVER $30: As of Oct. 23, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ coffee and espresso maker is on sale for $99 at Amazon. That's $30.95 off its full price of $129.95.

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Credit: Nespresso

Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ Coffee & Espresso Maker

$99 at Amazon
$129.95 Save $30.95

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Every year the window for Black Friday expands, and that certainly seems to be the case this year. Already we've spotted great early deals on a variety of items, including coffee and espresso makers. The Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ caught our attention on Oct. 23, dropping to $99 on Amazon before official sales kick off.

This deal price — which applies to most available colors at the retailer — is just over $30 off its usual price of $129.95. But keep in mind most colors are only on sale for a limited time, so you may not have long to save on your favorite.

With the ability to brew both coffee and espresso, the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is a versatile pod machine to make your favorite drinks. In total, there are five sizes to choose from when brewing: coffees can be brewed in 5, 8, or 12oz sizes, while espressos can be single or double. Plus, its one-touch coffee system is easy to operate, and the 30-second heat-up time means you won't have to wait long for a tasty drink.

The other benefit of the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ is its compact size. If you live in a smaller space, or maybe just want something that won't clutter an already busy countertop, this machine can easily fit in your kitchen.

It may not be on sale for long, so now is the time to make a move on the Nespresso Vertuo Pop+ while it's still available at Amazon.

Want to get your pulse racing and your spine tingling? Maybe you need something spooky as an excuse to cuddle up closer to your crush? Or perhaps you want to test your mettle with some supremely creepy cinema? Whatever your reasons, Paramount+ has a thrilling library of movies perfect for a scary night in.

Below, we’ve collected the highlights across a wide field of horror films. Whether you’re on the hunt for sinister slashers, creepy critters, evil aliens, or madcap mayhem, we’ve got what you want.

Here are the best scary movies now available on Paramount+.

1. Scream

Ghostface rises again in "Scream 7." Credit: Paramount Pictures

It was the slasher movie that changed the way we looked at this stabby subgenre. Directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson, Scream imagined what could happen if a Halloween-like scenario — a masked killer targeting teen girls in a charming suburban town — was happening to a generation raised on such movies.

Virginal Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) is the good girl of her group of friends, but soon seems to be the target of the Ghostface killer. Stalked and scared but far from helpless, she — with the help of a dopey deputy (David Arquette) and an opportunistic news reporter (Courteney Cox) — must survive the night and unmask the killer. A classic that launched a franchise, Scream is still the gold standard by which dastardly reveals are judged. And hey, you can also watch Scream 2-7 on Paramount+ too!  — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Scream and its sequels are now streaming on Paramount+.

2. The Autopsy of Jane Doe

The pressure to continue running the family business is given a whole new spin in director André Øvredal's The Autopsy of Jane Doe; in it, Brian Cox (pre-Succession success) stars as Tommy, a coroner who works with his son Austin (Emile Hirsch). It's a weird, isolating life, carving up corpses — one which Austin has watched muck up his parents' relationship in close detail. And now that he's got a new girlfriend, Austin is thinking about maybe doing something else with his life besides death.

That's the emotional playing field laid out when our titular Jane Doe appears. Taking the advice to leave behind a beautiful corpse to its extreme, this dead body that shows up one dark and stormy night is outwardly perfect. Not a sign of trauma in sight. Weird, right? But when Tommy and Austin get out their scalpels and bonesaws and start digging around underneath, well, that's when the black clouds really roll in. The mystery of the body and its methodical undoing is riveting stuff — if you've got the stomach for it, anyway — and Øvredal turns this tight little thriller into a masterclass in subversion. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: The Autopsy of Jane Doe is now streaming on Paramount+.

3. A Quiet Place

Shhhhhhhhhhhhh. Credit: Paramount Pictures

John Krasinski went from actor to celebrated horror director with this spine-tingling 2018 hit. Starring opposite his real-life wife Emily Blunt, The Office star plays a farmer dedicated to protecting his family from killer creatures that hunt by sound. This clever premise means the movie’s characters can't scream, because such a sound would definitely be their last. That means your own sounds of terror are weaponized while watching, crashing into the silent soundscape that’s suffocating in tension.

Ruthlessly paced and keenly realized, A Quiet Place is a superbly scary thrill ride. But what makes it top tier are the poignant performances by Krasinski, Blunt, and their onscreen children, Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. Together, they make a family-frightening feature that's perfect for a quiet night at home. And if you dare to make it a triple feature, the spooky sequel A Quiet Place: Part II and prequel A Quiet Place: Day One are also available. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

How to watch: A Quiet Place is now streaming on Paramount+.

4. Pet Sematary

This 2019 version of Stephen King's classic is more reimagining than remake, but what a wild ride it is. Credit: Paramount / Moviestore / Shutterstock

Stephen King has long been heralded the king of horror novels. His Pet Sematary was a book so scary that it’s been adapted to the big screen twice. The first came in 1989, yet this 2019 version is less a remake and more a reimagining. Instead of retreading the gruesome path of the original, directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer make surprising turns to keep the thrills fresh and frightening — but still deliciously ghoulish!

Jason Clarke and Amy Seimetz star as parents happy to move their young children away from the bustling of a big city to a quaint Maine town. The locals are odd but friendly. (Shout-out to a perfectly morose John Lithgow.) Their house is lovely, but its location proves full of dangers and deadly temptations. Then, this dreamy family’s waking nightmare begins when a dead cat is resurrected. From there, things grow more monstrous and moldering. — K.P.

How to watch: Pet Sematary is now streaming on Paramount+.

5. Apartment 7A

Julia Garner stars in "Apartment 7A." Credit: Paramount

A Rosemary's Baby prequel was a big gamble to take, but it paid off. Set months before the events of the 1968 classic, Relic director Natalie Erika James takes minor character Terry (Julia Garner), a neighbor of Rosemary who only has a single scene in the original, and fleshes her story out to terrifying effect.

"With Relic, Natalie Erika James spun an intimate tale of mother-daughter relationships and family curses into a rivetingly scary thriller," wrote Mashable's Kristy Puchko in her review. "Here, she uses that gift of emotional intelligence and skill for crafting unsettling scenes to tell a story that's familiar yet all the more frightening for it. We know where Terry's story will end because of Rosemary's Baby. Yet James keeps us at the edge of our seats as she expertly spins a web of rich drama and sly horror, working in heartfelt conversations, shattering jump scares, and defiant dazzle. From Polanski's foundation, she builds a glittering tale of girlhood stolen that is sick, stunning, and horrifyingly relevant."* — Sam Haysom, Deputy UK Editor

How to watch: Apartment 7A is now streaming on Paramount+.

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6. Jacob’s Ladder

Adrian Lyne’s 1990 mindbender Jacob’s Ladder is a cult film that deserves a bigger cult. Tim Robbins plays Jacob Singer, a Vietnam veteran living in a dilapidated '70s New York with his girlfriend Jezzie (the late Elizabeth Peña) while experiencing horrifying hallucinations that may be the result of an experimental drug used on his platoon. Or is he being pursued by demons and the ghost of his dead son (an uncredited Macaulay Culkin)? Or is Jacob himself already dead and unaware of it? A surprisingly profound take on death and loss that happens to have one of the scariest hospitals ever seen on film. — Rufus Hickok, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Jacob’s Ladder is now streaming on Paramount+.

7. Smile 2

Naomi Scott stars as a pop diva in "Smile 2." Credit: Paramount Pictures

After the success of Parker Finn's Smile, expectations for the sequel were high — and you'd better believe that thing delivered. Following on from the events of the first movie, Smile 2 takes its cursed premise into the world of fame, following pop star Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) on a world tour-turned-nightmare.

"To match his superstar heroine, Finn goes all in on creating an unpredictable narrative that's full of jump scares, creepy imagery, and spine-tingling sound effects," wrote Monica Castillo in her Mashable review. "There are even more violent injuries, body horror, and bloody deaths to make an audience recoil, and plenty of upsetting details, from Skye's compulsive hair-pulling habit (aka trichotillomania) to a group of smiling backup dancers chasing Skye through her apartment in choreographed formation. These scares can feel delightfully over the top, almost like a carnival ride, but they're as creative and horrific as the best parts of the Final Destination series."* — S.H.

How to watch: Smile 2 is now streaming on Paramount+.

8. Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters

Want something exciting with a fairytale flourish? Then you'll cherish this outrageous R-rated film from 2013, which not only offers action and fantasy but also ghoulish horror.

Directed by Dead Snow helmer Tommy Wirkola, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters reimagines the classic Grimm tale as one about two vengeance-driven siblings dedicated to eliminating the magical scourge that turns children into meals. Wearing matching smirks, Jeremy Renner and Gemma Arterton star as the titular brother-sister team. They wield crossbows and firearms with deadly accuracy and gory results. But with a massive coven coming for them, they'll need killer snares, quirky sidekicks, and some magic of their own. Along with bursts of action, Wirkola unveils a rich treasure trove of creepy witch designs that will have horror fans squealing. So, forget historical accuracy, embrace lunacy, and enjoy a realm where witches rule, trolls drool, and Hansel and Gretel are merciless ass-kickers. — K.P.

How to watch: Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters is now streaming on Paramount+.

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9. Disturbia 

Want something scary that's PG-13? Then you'll get a kick out of Disturbia. This 2007 thriller is a sort-of remake of Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, but leaning hard into the 00s thirst for teen slashers flicks. 

Shia LaBeouf stars as a teen boy who's under house arrest, and has the ankle bracelet to prove it. (Hey, at least it's not a broken leg!) Watching through his windows, he spies on his neighbors, and soon suspects that one of them is a serial killer. Is he paranoid? Or is he onto something sinister? Creepy, exciting, and slick, this twisted gem from director D. J. Caruso makes for a great watch without R-rated gore. — K.P. 

How to watch: Disturbia is now streaming on Paramount+.

10. The Faculty

It’s a crime more people don’t know about this Breakfast Club vs. the Body Snatchers monster mashup. Not only does it boast the throwback fun of '50s alien invasion horror, but also, The Faculty scratches the itch for '90s teen horror. When the extraterrestrial-conquered teachers at an Ohio high school start acting very strange, a group of angsty teens have to stop them from taking over the town at the big football game. It’s an old story, but with Scream scribe Kevin Williamson bringing the meta-commentary, a cast featuring Josh Hartnett, Elijah Wood, Salma Hayek, Jon Stewart, and Piper Laurie, a '90s alt-rock soundtrack, fantastic creature design (by Bernie Wrightson), and Sin City director Robert Rodriguez keeping things moving quickly, it’s all too much fun. — R.H.

How to watch: The Faculty is now streaming on Paramount+.

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UPDATE: Oct. 8, 2026, 3:40 p.m. EDT This article was first published on Sept. 3, 2021. It has since been updated to reflect current streaming options.

In the mood for something scary? There's nothing quite like the fresh thrill of a great horror movie. That tingle that runs down your spine. The goosebumps that prick at your skin. The hard, cold thumping that hits your heart. Yet seriously scary is only one flavor of horror, a genre that welcomes pestering poltergeists and wicked witches alongside lovable zombies and creepy kids. Whatever kind of mood you're in, we've got a pick for you, right from Prime Video. 

The library of Prime Video is vast but ever-changing, so we've scoured their stacks to curate a current collection sure to thrill, chill, and delight. Whether you want soul-scorching psychological thrillers, haunted house horror, spine-tingling classics, modern masterpieces, or something as ghoulish as it is goofy, we've got you.

Here are the best horror movies now on Prime Video.

1. Suspiria (2018)

Credit: Amazon Studios / Moviestore / Shutterstock

This 2018 Suspiria remake has been described by director Luca Guadagnino and star Tilda Swinton as a "cover" of Dario Argento's 1977 classic — exploring rather than mimicking Argento's perspective on supernatural horror. With this mission in mind, Suspiria is a gratifying watch that exemplifies how identical genre tropes can be employed for disparate emotional effects. Yes, it's all fear, but fear of different kinds that present an unsettling experience unto itself. — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter 

How to watch: Suspiria (2018) is now streaming on Prime Video.

2. Deathdream (1974)

Six years after George A. Romero modernized the horror genre by injecting political allegory into it with Night of the Living Dead, Deathdream tackled the ongoing nightmare of the Vietnam War by telling the story of a soldier killed in action who nevertheless goes and returns to his family home, albeit a changed man. Very changed. Specifically, he is now one who sits around in sunglasses all day and then goes out and steals people's blood via syringe every night. 

Director Bob Clark (best known for the holiday duology of A Christmas Story and Black Christmas) and his Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead Things writer Alan Ormsby were the masterminds behind this deeply disturbed folk tale, which turned the very real PTSD that returning veterans and their families were going through into the stuff of symbolic and scary horror. — Jason Adams, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Deathdream is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

3. Let the Right One In (2008)

Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Although Matt Reeves’ 2010 American remake Let Me In is better than it has any right being, the 2008 Swedish original from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy director Tomas Alfredson cannot be beaten — yes, even if you take into account the hilariously bad CG cat attack scene.

One of the greatest vampire movies ever made, Let the Right One In is basically just that infamous line from Notting Hill ever so lightly twisted, where it’s a “girl” standing in front of a boy asking him to love her... which can be a grim business when the girl is a literal bloodsucker. Ain’t love grand? — J.A.

How to watch: Let the Right One In is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

4. Terrifier 2

Admittedly, the Terrifier movies aren’t for everybody. As they appeal to the most depraved and hardcore of horror movie fans, we don’t recommend this to anyone whose idea of the ultimate spooky night in front of the TV is watching Alfred Hitchcock’s Rebecca. Not a knock against Rebecca, which is grand. It's just that these movies are scratching very, very different itches. The scratches that the Terrifier movies deliver will leave a whole lot of oozing skin flaps on the floor. 

I can’t even say that these movies, which detail the sadistic impulses of the unhinged Art the Clown as he bounces from one victim to the next, are “good” per se. But the second one is far more accomplished (and far less sexist) than the first, and the bit that’s come to be known as “the bedroom scene” giddily reigns in gore-hound hell for a reason. — J.A.

How to watch: Terrifier 2 is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

5. Drag Me to Hell

Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Almost 15 years on, it still shocks me that Evil Dead sicko maestro Sam Raimi managed to make a horror movie as utterly disgusting and deranged as he did with Drag Me to Hell while scoring a PG-13 rating. I think the people at the MPA must’ve had a curse-happy Mrs. Ganush (Lorna Raver) on their own tails that they were trying to appease!

And yet as much fun as this movie is, and as widely platformed as it was, it was still a box office flop — our culture has so much to learn. For those of us who’re in the know, though, this is one of Raimi’s creepiest crawliest efforts. Once it straps you down, the ride it takes you and poor helpless bank officer Christine (Alison Lohman) on as she attempts to get a curse off her back is relentless, right up until its shocking final frames. — J.A.

How to watch: Drag Me to Hell is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

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6. Red Eye

Credit: Dreamworks LLC / Kobal / Shutterstock

You’d think that having somebody as preternaturally gorgeous as Cillian Murphy sit down next to you on an airplane would be a blessing! But Wes Craven said heck naw to that with Red Eye, his 2005 airplane thriller. Craven might be best known for slasher franchises like Nightmare on Elm Street and Scream. On its surface, Red Eye might seem a different path, but it is still very much playing with the tropes that Craven had mastered in the subgenre he helped shape (twice). 

As Lisa (Rachel McAdams) realizes that the great big blue eyes of her seatmate – the hilariously named Jackson Rippner (Murphy) — are actually creepy and not sultry as originally advertised, Craven ratchets up the tension and the claustrophobia quick. And McAdams turns in yet another super underrated performance as a regular woman driven to extremes by Rippner’s bizarre and violent demands. The kind of movie the poster blurb “A real rollercoaster ride!” was invented for. — J.A.

How to watch: Red Eye is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

7. The Ring 

Credit: Merrick Morton / Dreamworks LLC / Macdonald / Parkes Prods / Kobal / Shutterstock

Before you die, you should see The Ring! That’s how that tagline goes, right? Well close enough, and we won’t even enforce any seven-day time limit on you. Take that, impatient-girl-down-the-well. Gore Verbinski’s smash 2002 remake of Hideo Nakata’s 1998 J-horror classic kicked off a whole wave of creepy long-haired girls stalking about here in the States, but per usual it was all downhill from the start. 

One of the best horror films out of the Aughts, The Ring stars Naomi Watts as a journalist and a mom whose investigation into a creepy cursed videotape leaves a trail of mangled-face corpses in its wake. Watts loves herself a horror remake (see also Funny Games and Goodnight Mommy) but, again, The Ring remains the high-water mark. And Verbinski loads this sucker up with instantly iconic imagery. Just try to stand in front of a circular mirror brushing your long, black hair and not immediately picture centipedes, I double dog dare ya. — J.A.

How to watch: The Ring is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

8. As Above, So Below 

Credit: Legendary / Universal / Brothers Dowdle / Kobal / Shutterstock

An extremely underrated entry in the found footage genre, 2014’s As Above, So Below (from Quarantine director John Erick Dowdle) drags us kicking and screaming deep down into the creepy catacombs rotting beneath modern-day Paris. As filmmakers have exclaimed for ages, “Location! Location! Location!” And it doesn’t get better than that.

Taking the baton from Neil Marshall’s masterpiece The Descent, this movie has its characters spelunking down crumbling nightmare corridors, ones that have our hair standing on end even before the monsters start showing up. As for the monsters? The last act when all is revealed has proven divisive, but I personally dig it. (Pun most certainly intended.) — J.A.

How to watch: As Above, So Below is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

9. The Night Eats the World

There’s a whole world of cinema out there to explore, and thankfully each and every person on the face of the planet is also afraid of zombies. This Paris-set undead apocalypse thriller from director Dominique Rocher finds actor Anders Danielsen Lie working in a somewhat different register than The Worst Person in the World or his other work with director Joachim Trier. Here he plays Sam, who wakes up after a raging house party trapped inside a fancy 6th arrondissement apartment building, besieged on all sides by brain-hungry ghouls. 

Running out of food and sanity in equal measure, Sam makes friends with the downstairs neighbor (Denis Lavant) who is a great listener, mostly because he’s a zombie trapped behind a metal gate. The Night Eats the World is more character-focused than our American zombie flicks tend to be, and all the more despairing because of it. — J.A.

How to watch: The Night Eats the World is now streaming on Prime Video.

10. Nanny

Credit: Prime Video

Senegalese writer/director Nikyatu Jusu made a massive first impression with her feature debut Nanny, a psychological horror film reminiscent of Repulsion but steeped in the unease of the immigrant experience. Anna Diop stars as Aisha, an undocumented immigrant living in New York City who takes on the child-rearing duties of Rose (Rose Decker), the daughter of a well-to-do Manhattan couple (played by Michelle Monaghan and Morgan Spector). 

Aisha is desperate to make enough money to bring her own son to the U.S. from Senegal, where she had to leave him behind. But tormented by disturbing visions of drowning, Aisha starts coming undone, and when Rose’s mother becomes an enemy, things grow increasingly unsettling for everybody. — J.A.

How to watch: Nanny is now streaming on Prime Video.

11. Dead & Buried (1981)

We do love ourselves a "seaside town with a secret" horror story (see also: Messiah of Evil), and 1981’s Dead & Buried ranks up there among the creepiest of them all. 

Based on the novel by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and adapted by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett (who co-wrote Alien), Dead & Buried is perched somewhere between The Fog and Re-Animator. Dead & Buried tells the tale of Potter's Bluff, a small town on the California coast where the locals can't seem to stop themselves from brutally murdering all of the tourists. ("Living the dream," coos any NYC resident.) Awash in that musty barnacled atmosphere that lovers of this subgenre live for, this classic's got the bloody goods. — J.A. 

How to watch: Dead & Buried is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

12. The Neon Demon (2016) 

Credit: Space Rocket Nation / Vendian / Bold / Kobal / Shutterstock

If Vogue released an issue in collaboration with the Necronomicon, its contents might resemble something like director Nicolas Winding Refn's The Neon Demon. Starring Elle Fanning as a doomed ingénue, this stylish fever dream explores the Los Angeles modeling scene for an indictment of Western beauty standards and commercialization that's as captivating as it is biting. — A.F.

How to watch: The Neon Demon is now streaming on Prime Video.

13. [REC] (2007)

The first three of the four total [REC] films are streaming on Amazon, and we thoroughly REC-comend that you watch all of them. They're very different movies but all a blast in their individual ways. That said, there's no place better to begin than the beginning, and there's no scarier place to be than right inside Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza's terrifying found-footage masterpiece that kicks off the series. 

Following ace on-the-scene TV news reporter (and final girl icon) Ángela Vidal (Manuela Velasco) on a routine assignment covering a firehouse, we watch a boring story become anything but as Ángela and her cameraman Pablo (Pablo Rosso) find themselves trapped inside an apartment building with a horde of bloodthirsty rampaging undead. Notable for one of the greatest all-time ending scares, one that has been ripped off mercilessly ever since. — J.A. 

How to watch: [REC] is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video, as is [REC] 2.

14. Master (2022)

Credit: Amazon Studios

Often, when horror movies are set on college campuses, they're schlocky slashers with sorority sisters being ripped to shreds. Here, however, writer/director Mariama Diallo spins a unique horror story about the ghosts of America's past and how they still haunt us. At a prestigious university, lore lingers of a lynched witch who still causes chaos. Freshman Jasmine Moore (Zoe Renee) believes she is the latest victim, but Professor Gail Bishop (Regina Hall), who has just been appointed the first Black master of the university, begins to suspect the insidious evil isn't supernatural. Is it just racism? Her quest to understand the seedy underbelly of the school leads her to uncomfortable places and harrowing realizations. With a shadowy atmosphere and a creeping sense of dread, Diallo submerges us into the mindset of her haunted heroes. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

How to watch: Master is now streaming on Prime Video.

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15. Nope (2022)

Credit: Universal Pictures

Writer-director Jordan Peele done gone and done it again with this "Watch the skies!" horror, which somehow smashes up Hollywood history with evil alien shenanigans, whilst also sneaking in a message about racialized invisibility beside the blood rain and face-eating chimpanzees. And if you’re keeping count, that makes the man fully three-for-three after Get Out and Us, putting him by my estimation already among the ranks of horror masters such as John Carpenter and David Cronenberg. We will look back on this run with astonishment in a couple of decades.

Keke Palmer and Daniel Kaluuya star as animal trainer siblings mourning their father as a strange presence simultaneously makes itself known in the clouds above his ranch. Nope escalates into absolute madness as it rockets toward its surreal WTF of a conclusion. And with every Peele joint comes a new iconography, be it “the Sunken Place” or red jumpsuits and golden scissors. After Nope, I doubt any of us will ever be able to look at those little strands of colored flags or those dancing air tube men ever the same. Not to mention chimpanzees wearing party hats. — J.A.   

How to watch: Nope is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

16. Hellraiser (1987) 

From the phenomenally twisted mind of Clive Barker, the original Hellraiser is as scary today as it ever was. Descend into this puzzling world of monstrous torture (see what I did there?) with genre icon Pinhead, played by Doug Bradley, facing off against protagonist Kirsty, played by Ashley Laurence. No matter where you stand on the most recent Hellraiser installments, it's hard to deny that this 1987 nightmare is an all-time great. — A.F. 

How to watch: Hellraiser is now streaming on Prime Video.

17. Event Horizon (1997)

Credit: Andrew Macpherson / Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

You can’t really call Event Horizon “Hellraiser in space” because the Hellraiser franchise did actually go into outer space with its fourth film titled Bloodline (which you should not under any circumstances watch). But Event Horizon is kinda sorta “Hellraiser in space” anyway. Hell, it’s a far better “Hellraiser in space” than Hellraiser: Bloodline ended up being! 

Telling the very Alien-sounding tale of a crew of space-jockeys (led by Laurence Fishburne, Kathleen Quinlan, Joely Richardson, and Sam Neill) who stumble upon a distress signal that would’ve been best left un-stumbled-upon, Paul W.S. Anderson’s film is shockingly gruesome for a big-budget picture with so many name actors aboard. Nobody expected to see the nice scientist from Jurassic Park claw his own eyes out! And yet that’s just the tip of what Event Horizon has in store for you. — J.A. 

How to watch: Event Horizon is now available to purchase on Prime Video or stream via add-ons.

18. Inferno (1980)

The middle film in Italian maestro Dario Argento’s “Three Mothers” trilogy — sandwiched between 1977’s master-work Suspiria and 2007’s decidedly-not-a-masterwork Mother of Tears — Inferno usually receives a mixed reception, but I’m here to say “No!” (That’s “no” in Italian.) Is Inferno absolute nonsense from start to finish? Of course it is. I couldn’t even begin to summarize the story, which skips back and forth between Rome and New York City and involves so many red herrings that you could repopulate the oceans and still have leftovers for Friday Night Fish Fry. I’ve seen this movie half a dozen times, and I still have no idea what happens in it. 

But it’s some of the most stylish and spooky nonsense you’ll ever see, pushing Suspiria’s already bursting technicolor palette past its breaking point, then around the globe and past it a second time for good measure. — J.A.

How to watch: Inferno is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

19. Saint Maud (2021)

Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

If religious horror is what your dark heart desires, then your prayers are answered with Saint Maud. Critics heralded writer/director Rose Glass's feature film debut as a horror masterpiece, and it's easy to see why. Morfydd Clark gives a riveting and nerve-rattling performance as Maud, a hospice nurse who's tasked with caring for the body. But her bigger goal is to save the soul of her decadent new patient. Amanda (Jennifer Ehle) doesn't believe in God, but does believe in a good time. Her sensuality concerns and enchants Maud, pulling the two into a bond that will turn bitter and brutal. Weaving real religious rituals into the seductive spin of psychological horror, Glass creates a descent into hell that is a twisted delight to watch. — K.P.

How to watch: Saint Maud is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

20. The Dead Zone (1983)

We have no less than David Cronenberg to thank for one of the best Stephen King adaptations! Cronenberg and Christopher Walken, anyway, who made for a terrific team — shame those two never worked together again; there’s something irresistibly perfect about their weird union. But maybe that lightning could only strike the once, so celebrate the once we will. 

In The Dead Zone, Walken stars as Johnny Smith, a man who gets in a car accident and gains the ability to see people’s futures by shaking their hand. And that’s called “science” — look it up. Of course this gift turns out to be nothing but a curse, and before you know it, he’s firing rifles at politicians using babies for human shields. Que sera sera, and such. — J.A.

How to watch: The Dead Zone is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

21. House on Haunted Hill (1959)

Credit: Allied Artists / Kobal / Shutterstock

What would a horror hits list be without a little Vincent Price? Though the actor reportedly disliked his work being defined as outright “horror,” this unforgettable face of fear appeared in more than 200 TV shows and films, including many of the scariest releases of the mid-20th century. Price's pointed features, slicked-back hair, and pencil mustache have been mimicked and referenced in countless horror homages. 

Though Price properly assumed the throne of horror king with the surprise success of House of Wax (1953), his later starring role in House on Haunted Hill (1959) offers a more complete vision of his legacy. Plus, famed B-movie director William Castle’s flick makes early use of the haunted dinner party premise, a particularly goofy trope that would pop up for decades, from Clue (1985) and The Last Supper (1995) to You're Next (2011) and Ready or Not (2019).* — A.F.

How to watch: House on Haunted Hill is now streaming on Prime Video.

22. Jacob’s Ladder (1990)

Tim Robbins stars as a Vietnam vet losing his shit and then some in this nightmarish 1990 Adrian Lyne thriller. 

Sandwiched between Fatal Attraction and Indecent Proposal in Lyne’s sexy filmography, this one surely stands out, mostly because of all the tentacles. But the tentacles are made kind of sexy in Lyne’s hands, so it doesn’t actually stand out quite as much as you’d think! Especially in the infamous dance scene with Elizabeth Peña — playing a character named “Jezebel” because of course — where she gets her lusty groove on with some half-glimpsed hell monster. Still, Lyne proves deft at mixing his usual gauzy theatrics with squishy surrealism, and there are several images in Jacob’s Ladder that prove terrifyingly unforgettable. — J.A.

How to watch: Jacob’s Ladder is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

23. Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978)

The second film out of four total Body Snatchers tales (if you don’t count things like The Stepford Wives or the TV series BrainDead, which are variations on the theme) is also the best. Donald Sutherland stars as a health inspector in 1970s San Francisco (“That is a rat turd!”) who, along with his co-worker (Brooke Adams), discovers that pod people from outer space are taking over humanity (just roll with it). 

Director Philip Kaufman took the conspiracy thrillers of the decade (movies like The Parallax View and Three Days of the Condor and added a good dose of sci-fi goopiness, milking the paranoia of the post-Nixon era quite literally. And extra praise must be heaped upon the supporting cast of Jeff Goldblum, Veronica Cartwright, and Leonard Nimoy — not to mention an all-time great freak-out ending. — J.A.

How to watch: Invasion of the Body Snatchers is now available to rent on Prime Video via add-ons.

24. Train to Busan (2016) 

Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, Train to Busan imagines the end of the world as a screamingly entertaining explosion of zombie mayhem and societal commentary brought on by a chemical spill. Terrifying, funny, and consistently original, this apocalyptic adventure is one of those films worth watching every single time you think of it. Seriously, it never gets old. — A.F.

How to watch: Train to Busan is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

25. Friday the 13th (1980)

Credit: Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

Why not revisit the original Voorhees-venture that kicked off all of the -ki-ki-ki -he-he-he’s in the first place? 

Before Jason had his hockey mask – heck, before we knew what a Jason was —there was nice little old lady Pamela Voorhees (Betsy Palmer) in her warm woolen sweater, giving camp counselors a helpful ride … straight to hell! 

The first crest in the slasher wave created by Halloween two years earlier, nobody thought Sean S. Cunningham’s little movie would be anything, including Cunningham himself. But 60 million dollars later, a legion of sequels and rip-offs and plush dolls have proven everyone very wrong. Turns out we were all waiting for Kevin Bacon to get an arrow shoved through his esophagus, we just didn’t know it yet. — J.A.

How to watch: Friday the 13th is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

26. Freaks (2019)

Credit: Well Go USA / Moviestore / Shutterstock

A secret lurks beneath the surface of this claustrophobic thriller. Written and directed by Zach Lipovsky and Adam B. Stein, Freaks begins with a surly little girl and her harried father hiding in a ramshackle house. Despite paternal warnings, Chloe (Lexy Kolker) is determined to venture outside, befriend the girl across the street, and get a frosty treat from the ice cream truck that’s always just out of reach. But she’s only beginning to understand the dangers beyond her door. Why they must hide hangs on a sci-fi twist that makes this mysterious movie distinctly satisfying and marvelously mind-blowing.* — K.P. 

How to watch: Freaks is now available for rent or purchase on Prime Video.

27. The Deeper You Dig (2019)

If you relish a hidden gem of horror, you'll treasure this intimate indie ghost story. It all begins on a dark, snowy night when a teen girl (Zelda Adams) goes missing. Her single mother (Toby Poser) is deeply devoted, not only to finding her child but also to manifesting a reckoning if someone has hurt her. Her search for answers brings her close to a new neighbor (John Adams), who is haunted by a horrible secret ... and something more spirited. A lean and mean horror-thriller, The Deeper You Dig is even more fascinating when you know its three stars are wife, husband, and daughter, and that this is one of several movies they've written, directed, and starred in together as Wonder Wheel Productions. Let this be your gateway into their wild world of films. — K.P. 

How to watch: The Deeper You Dig is now streaming on Prime Video.

28. Hell House LLC (2015)

Found-footage aficionados know that digging through a lot of dreck is part of the gig; for every gem you’ll have to watch 10 duds. And even among the gems there are a lot of crutches the sub-genre leans on that you have to submit yourself to in order to get yourself to the scares. The biggest hurdle of all being the question: “Why the hell are these people filming everything and not running away for their lives?” 

Hell House LLC, which follows a group of kind of irritating youths setting up a haunted house attraction in a house that, whoopsie, turns out to be legitimately haunted, isn’t great at answering those questions. You have to meet it on its own terms. But if you’re willing to make the effort, it’s chock-full of nightmare imagery — all of those dressed-up prop dummies they find in the basement that keep popping up in new places? Fuel for a million bad dreams. — J.A.

How to watch: Hell House LLC  is now available to rent or purchase on Prime Video.

29. Wolf Creek 2 (2013)

As Aliens was to Alien, so went Wolf Creek 2 to Wolf Creek — a bigger, meaner, wilder action-rollercoaster that took the smaller, subtler scares of the original and shot them off like a rocket. 

Writer-director Greg McLean amps everything up to 13 in this high-octane sequel to his 2005 Aussie outback slasher masterpiece, turning serial-killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) into a dusty Terminator who gets into outrageous Mad-Max-esque road fights that somehow escape the notice of the authorities every time. Not as scary as the original classic, no, but a hell of a lot of nasty fun. — J.A.

How to watch: Wolf Creek 2 is now streaming on Prime Video.

30. Night of the Living Dead (1968)

Credit: Image Ten / Kobal / Shutterstock

What even is there left to say about George A. Romero’s horror masterpiece at this point on, 55 years after its release? That it created a new movie monster — there were "zombies" before, but not the way we know them today, which is entirely thanks to Romero. That it earned 250 times its original budget in its original release, revolutionizing independent cinema. That it’s a politically-minded molotov cocktail, sneaking in a message of racialized horror under its stark black-and-white surface. 

But most of all 55 years on, this story of seven strangers stranded in a farmhouse while the world turns to ghouls outside is still, somehow against all odds, utterly terrifying. I’ve watched little Karen turn on her mother with that gardening trowel more times than I could count, and it still sends all of the shudders down my spine anyway. — J.A.

How to watch: Night of the Living Dead is now streaming on Prime Video.

31. Zombie for Sale (2019) 

What if zombie bites weren’t all bad? More specifically, what if a nip from the undead would give the impotent new life below the belt? That’s the preposterous premise that kicks off this gleefully bonkers South Korean comedy. The Park family is scraping by running a battered gas station when their fortunes are turned by a zombie (Jung Ga-ram) with a rejuvenating bite. That’s just the first act of director Lee Min-jae’s playful horror-comedy. Family hijinks, ghoulish action, gross-out gags, and absurdly earnest romance also pop up, making for a movie that is chaotically charming and pleasantly unpredictable.* — K.P. 

How to watch: Zombie for Sale is now streaming on Prime Video.

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*denotes that the blurb appeared in a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Oct. 15, 2026, 6:00 p.m. EDT This post has been updated to reflect the current selection on Prime Video.

SAVE $750: As of Oct. 23, the Roborock Qrevo CurvX is on sale for $749.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% discount on the list price.

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Roborock Qrevo CurvX

$749.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $750

 

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Cleaning up after pets, tackling dust under furniture, and keeping hard floors spotless can quickly become daily chores. But thankfully, the best robot vacuums can make light work of such tasks.

And models like the Roborock Qrevo CurvX can do it all, combining powerful suction, mopping, and intelligent obstacle avoidance in one robot vacuum.

For a limited time, the Roborock Qrevo CurvX is $750 off at Amazon, so if you want to make the jump to robotic floor cleaning, there couldn't be a better time to invest. Usually priced at $1,499.99, it's currently available for $749.99. Not to mention, this is the best-ever price for this vacuum.

Its 22,000Pa HyperForce suction is designed to pick up everyday dust, debris, and pet hair, while its anti-tangle system helps prevent long strands of hair from getting caught in the brushes. It can also clean beneath low furniture, helping it reach those annoying spots where dust tends to build up.

It's smart enough to self-navigate thanks to LiDAR, the RetractSense system, and Reactive AI obstacle recognition, which uses a camera and structured light to identify objects around the house.

This is only a limited-time deal at Amazon, so act fast to save big.

Put on some flip-flops, leave your cellphone at home, and wander alone into a dangerous place the town weirdo definitely warned you about, because it's time to get scared!

Right now on HBO Max, the horror category is an embarrassment of terrifying riches with top-shelf selections available from every decade of horror history. You've got 2000s tank top horror next to 1980s slashers next to 1950s camp and more. It's rad.

There's so much great stuff to choose from, but we've somehow managed to narrow it down to these 15 horror movies. Honestly, you can't go wrong.

1. Night of the Living Dead

If you ever see this face... RUN. Credit: Image Ten / Kobal / Shutterstock

Visionary of the zombie apocalypse George A. Romero tops this list with his most iconic film: Night of the Living Dead. This 1968 classic makes for a great watch — not only as a standard-setting staple of cinema, but also as a vehicle for terror that gets under your skin and festers there. Expertly executed from start to finish, this bleak tale of strangers versus an army of the undead needles at you in a way that's still tough to shake more than 50 years later.* — Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Night of the Living Dead is now streaming on HBO Max.

2. Eraserhead

God, Henry is just so fucked. The directorial debut of walking-talking id David Lynch, Eraserhead follows the poor guy, played by Jack Nance, as he wanders through a surrealist blend of horror and humor, featuring an alien baby, sperm monsters, a lady with big ol' cheeks, and more bizarre characters. The plot has been interpreted as a representation of Lynch's own fear of being a parent, with Henry serving as a kind of placeholder for Lynch himself. It's fascinating, freaky, and really fun. — A.F.

How to watch: Eraserhead is now streaming on HBO Max.

3. Cronos

Guillermo del Toro's first film carries with it all the hallmarks of the Mexican auteur's career-to-come — gross monster mayhem with delightful creature design, religious and political settings and symbolism, the innocence of children as a contrast to all adult awfulness. This time around it's the story of an elderly antique dealer named Jesús (Federico Luppi, who also had roles in The Devil's Backbone and Pan's Labyrinth) and the 500-year-old golden scarab he finds tucked away inside the base of a statue. 

Winding it up the scarab suddenly springs to life and injects the old man with a mysterious substance, and before you know it Jesús' youth is being restored to him… alongside a newfound taste for blood. When a tough guy named Angel (Ron Perlman) shows up to find the device, the film turns into a showdown between Jesús and Angel for eternal life. Not particularly subtle there, Guillermo! But Cronos is a blast anyway, and the perfect introduction to one of modern horror's reigning kings. — Jason Adams, Contributing Writer

How to watch: Cronos is now streaming on HBO Max.

4. The Blob

"Intergalactic goo" sounds funny enough until you're screaming in your living room watching "The Blob." Credit: Allied / Kobal / Shutterstock

Mark my words, anyone who reduces director Irvin Yeaworth's iconic The Blob to "just a B-movie" hasn't actually seen it. An astounding feat of filmmaking for the time, that maintains a surprisingly watchable flow 63 years later, The Blob is a solid selection for anyone seeking that classic scary movie vibe. Stand by helplessly as intergalactic goo terrorizes the citizens of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Then, be genuinely impressed by how the '50s townspeople manage to corral the thing through smart, sensible sci-fi means. Nice job, humans! — A.F.

How to watch: The Blob is now streaming on HBO Max.

5. House

Reader, cue up House and avail yourself of one of the weirdest and most wonderful viewing experiences out there.

Sometimes listed as Hausu, director Nobuhiko Obayashi's surreal 1977 horror comedy is a whirlwind of spectacular and bizarre images unlike any other title on this, or frankly any, list. Running just under an hour and a half, it's a breezy jolt of strange beauty and intense dread that uses dreamlike images to tell the story of six girls as they're eaten by a house. Yeah, it's something. — A.F.

How to watch: House is now streaming on HBO Max.

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6. Scanners

"Scanners" has absolutely 0 chill Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

Get your mind blown by Scanners. (See what I did there? 'Cause it's about people's heads exploding?) In writer-director David Cronenberg's super goopy sci-fi nightmare, Earth must contend with a super-powered group of people capable of telepathy and psychokinesis — and the bad dudes who want to use that power for evil. It's no The Fly, The Dead Zone, or even Shivers. But it's the best body horror on Max right now. — A.F.

How to watch: Scanners is now streaming on HBO Max.

7. Carnival of Souls

The definition of slow burn, writer/director and lead ghoul Herk Harvey's 1962 classic horror film Carnival of Souls is basically all vibes — and it probably had to be, given the nothing budget he was working with. But he rode that empty wallet straight to heavenly cinematic gold, giving us a steady stream of unforgettable visuals shot in the eeriest black-and-white. If you can get yourself onto Carnival of Souls' wavelength, you will be rewarded with spooky nightmares for life. 

Candace Hilligoss plays Mary, a good girl who gets caught up in a road race that flies out of control in the film's opening scene. Recovering in its aftermath, Mary begins experiencing visions of an odd haunted theme park on the shores of the Great Salt Lake. Her isolating job as a church organist, along with constant harassment from an aggressive next door neighbor, only further dissociates her from those around her, until she can no longer tell what's real and what's not, with it all leading to one of the all-time great twist endings. Carnival of Souls is probably the closest thing we'll ever get to a Twilight Zone episode directed by Ingmar Bergman. — J.A.

How to watch: Carnival of Souls is now streaming on HBO Max.

8. Kwaidan

Just a couple of years after delivering his three-part WWII masterpiece The Human Condition, writer/director Masaki Kobayashi gathered together four old Japanese folk tales to make Kwaidan. This horror anthology takes us all the way to Hell, but it must've felt like a relief to make after the atrocities he put on-screen in those epic war films. Visually magnificent, there are enormous images in Kwaidan that will sear themselves into your brain forever after. But it mostly revels in the small betrayals that haunt its protagonists and their relationships forever after — the sorts of awful human conditions that echo across every culture. — J.A.

How to watch: Kwaidan is now streaming on HBO Max.

9. The Brood

With all-time greats like The Fly and The Dead Zone available, The Brood rarely makes horror fans' short lists for David Cronenberg recommendations. But if you're looking for a uniquely weird psychological thriller with an amazing gross-out finale, this 1979 romp just can't be beat.

Oliver Reed stars as Dr. Hal Raglan, a clinical psychologist experimenting with what he calls "psychoplasmics" — a process by which chemically induced physical ailments, designed to alleviate long-standing emotional trauma, are administered to vulnerable patients. But when Nola, a patient played by Samatha Eggar, is hospitalized by Raglan, her estranged husband Frank, played by Art Hindle, decides to investigate. — A.F.

How to watch: The Brood is now streaming on HBO Max.

10. The Lure

The Lure has been described as a lesbian mermaid horror musical, but somehow even that doesn't come close to capturing what this audacious Polish film is. Agnieszka Smoczyńska's debut feature is the darkest retelling of The Little Mermaid you could imagine, incorporating grisly violence and the sex work industry into that classic fairytale.* — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: The Lure is now streaming on HBO Max.

11. Sisters

It's probably pretty important to note upfront that his 1972 shocker Sisters is very much of its time, although you could say this about pretty much every movie that Brian De Palma has ever made (ahem, Dressed to Kill). Which is to say, don't go in expecting a modern read on mental health issues in this story about formerly conjoined twins turned fashion models who go on a murder spree. But as dated as some of its psychological concepts are, not to mention its emphasis on Hitchcock's Psycho, Sisters remains a magnificently crafted thriller that will have you jumping out of your seat more than once. And Margot Kidder's having a terrific  time with the soapiness of ping-ponging between good and evil twins. The movie that somehow made birthday cake terrifying! — J.A. 

How to watch: Sisters is now streaming on HBO Max.

12. Evil Dead Rise

Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

More than four decades after we first rendezvoused with Sam Raimi's demon troupe of Deadites, Evil Dead Rise proved there's still plenty of juice — not to mention a myriad of other less savory liquids — left in the franchise. And it did so by simply shifting location; who needs a creepy cabin in the woods when we've got a run-down apartment building isolated from the outside world by a power outage during a big storm? 

It also benefits from a big shift in character dynamics. Rather than a group of sexy young people (hubba hubba, Bruce Campbell) tearing each other to shreds after reading from the Book of the Dead, writer/director Lee Cronin gave us a single mom and her young kids all battling to save and/or swallow each other's souls. While the nasty, bloody business stays the same, it sure hits different when it's your possessed mommy (an outstandingly acrobatic Alyssa Sutherland) trying to carve you up like Christmas dinner. — J.A.

How to watch: Evil Dead Rise is now streaming on HBO Max.

13. Sinners

Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

Writer/director Ryan Coogler reimagined vampire lore as a way to explore what it means to be young, Black, and gifted in America.

Michael B. Jordan stars as the Smokestack Twins, Black gangsters turned juke joint proprietors whose opening night is crashed by a vicious white vampire (Jack O'Connell) thirsty for the blood of their magical bluesman, Sammie (Miles Caton in a jaw-dropping debut). The character-building in this 1932-set period piece is rich, developing emotional plotlines of love, loss, and injustice.

Critics praised the epic scope Coogler applied to his genre-fluid drama — which might be a horror musical. In my review of the film, I wrote, "Smoothly blending vampire horror into a unique tale of regret, resilience, and redemption, Coogler and Jordan have made a cinematic marvel that is terrifying, satisfying, and unforgettable."* — Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

How to watch: Sinnners is now streaming on HBO Max.

14. Weapons

Like Jordan Peele before him, Zach Cregger took a hard turn from sketch comedy — as a member of Whitest Kids U' Know — to horror director with a jaw-dropping vision of terror. In 2022, he gave us the deeply twisted Barbarian. And this year, he gifted us the perfectly witchy icon in Weapons' Gladys (Amy Madigan).

In this deeply creepy tale of 17 children vanishing into the night, the focus leaps from one character to another, eerily unfolding the mystery at the heart of this missing persons case. A tormented teacher, a furious father, a bewildered principal, a cranky cop, and an unhoused goofball will collide in ways wild and unpredictable.* — K.P.

How to watch: Weapons is now streaming on HBO Max.

15. Bring Her Back

First, filmmaking duo Danny and Michael Philippou awed critics and horror fans with their haunted-hand hit Talk to Me. Next, they returned with this gnarly psycho-biddy horror offering starring two-time Academy Award nominee Sally Hawkins. This nail-biting film is so intense that it might well have you gagging, covering your eyes, or experiencing some hard-won catharsis. Probing further into grief, the Philippou brothers explore how the unmooring feeling of mourning can make the world around us feel unreal, hostile, and strange.

In Bring Her Back, Hawkins stars as a foster mom named Laura, who takes in orphans like Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), and siblings Piper (Sora Wong) and Andy (Billy Barratt). But despite Laura's chipper mumsy demeanor, 17-year-old Andy realizes something is off in her remote forest home. But can he stop the hell that's coming?* — K.P.

How to watch: Bring Her Back is now streaming on HBO Max.

Asterisks (*) indicate the entry comes from a previous Mashable list.

UPDATE: Oct. 7, 2026, 2:33 p.m. EDT This story was first published on April 23, 2021. It has since been updated to reflect the current streaming options.

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This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty has led to exciting racing.

Mercedes looked totally dominant in the early stages of the season. McLaren, Red Bull, and Ferrari have cut the gap, but all eyes are on Kimi Antonelli as he aims to defend his lead at the top of the standings.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international open-wheel single-seater racing. A season consists of a series of races held in multiple countries and on multiple continents, either on purpose-built circuits or on closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors' Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 8

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 15

3. Japanese Grand Prix — March 29

4. Miami Grand Prix — May 3

5. Canadian Grand Prix — May 24

6. Monaco Grand Prix — June 7

7. Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14

8. Austrian Grand Prix — June 28

9. British Grand Prix — July 5

10. Belgian Grand Prix — July 19

11. Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26

12. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23

13. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6

14. Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13

15. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26

16. Bahrain Grand Prix — Oct. 4

17. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11

18. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25

19. Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1

20. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8

21. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21

22. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29

23. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. If you want access to the whole season, an Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year.

Or you could access Apple TV for free with these workarounds:

Apple TV

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Apple TV (7-day free trial)

Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free.

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Apple TV Prime Video Channel

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Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial)

Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything.

Shop Now

Apple One

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Apple One (30-day free trial)

Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial.

Shop Now

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box is on sale for $157.99 at Amazon, down from its typical price of $204.95.

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Credit: Magic: The Gathering

Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box

$157.99 at Amazon
$204.95 Save $46.96

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Amazon has knocked even more money off Magic: The Gathering's The Hobbit Play Booster Box, giving Middle-earth trading card fans another chance to grab 30 packs for less than ever. After already slashing the price to a record low in September, the retailer has now brought the whole display below $160 for the first time.

As of Oct. 23, the Magic: The Gathering The Hobbit Play Booster Box is down to just $157.99 at Amazon, saving you $46.96 on its usual $204.95 price after a surprise 23% discount. With that new price drop, you’re effectively only paying a per-pack price of $5.27 for the 30 Play Boosters inside the box. 

Confirmed using Mashable’s go-to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is indeed the lowest price the MTG Hobbit box has seen since it was first listed with the retailer. Shipped and sold by Amazon instead of a third-party retailer, you can get this delivered as soon as Oct. 24 (at the time of writing) if you’re a Prime member. 

In case Amazon sells out, keep in mind that Walmart’s listing has also dropped to $157.99, though it's sold by third-party seller Cataclysm Games. Meanwhile, you can save even more at TCGplayer — where the Hobbit Play Booster Box is selling for $140.49 at the lowest. That’s just $1.44 over its $139.05 market price. 

The box contains 30 14-card Play Boosters and a traditional foil Middle-earth Box Topper, featuring a special reprint from The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth set. 

As is usually the case with this type of box, each pack also guarantees a foil card alongside one to three rare or higher-rarity cards, with opportunities to pull special alternate-art and borderless treatments. All in all, you and other collectors will have plenty to chase from Bilbo's adventure to the Lonely Mountain, while also offering enough cards for drafting and building decks with friends.

Trump has been saying and doing odd things at his rallies again, and Seth Meyers is here to recap the more bizarre moments.

In the clip, the Late Night host talks about everything from Trump making a weird noise when mentioning a fellow Republican ("You sounded less like a president and more like a bullfrog") to Trump getting the Nobel Peace Prize mixed up with the Pulitzer.

"No, the Peace Prize is the Nobel Prize, the Pulitzer is for writing. What writing have you done to deserve a Pulitzer?" asks Meyers. "What other awards does this guy think he deserves? I should get a Nobel, a Pulitzer, and a Tony award because I know so many Tonys. Tony Bennett, Tony Romo, Tony the Tiger. Tony the Tiger's a very good friend of mine, I remember he came up to me, big tiger, strong tiger, tears pouring from his cartoon eyes down to his red kerchief, and I asked him, I said, 'Tony, what do you think of gas prices?' and he said, 'Mr. President, sir...they're great.'"

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Sylveon ex Box is on sale for $59.95 at Walmart, down from its $79.95 previous price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Sylveon ex Box

$59.95 at Walmart
$79.95 Save $20

 

Get Deal at Walmart

If you’re still waiting to get an invite to buy a 30th Celebration ETB for under market price, you and other Pokémon collectors can spend the same amount on another of the expansion's popular boxes after a major price drop.

As of Oct. 23, the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Sylveon ex Box is down to just $59.95 at Walmart, saving you $20 on its $79.95 list price. That's a 25% discount altogether, and a whole $34.80 less than the $94.75 Amazon deal we covered during October Prime Day.

You can still save slightly less at dedicated trading card marketplace TCGplayer, where listings are as low as $59 when including shipping. If you prefer buying your trading cards through traditional retail sites, this is the best price you can get right now — and is only $1.66 higher than TCGplayer’s estimated $58.29 market price. 

Walmart’s listing is sold through third-party retailer Realgooddeal but is still fulfilled by Walmart. 

The 30th Celebration Sylveon ex Box includes four booster packs from the anniversary expansion, one playable foil Sylveon ex promo card, and an oversize foil version for display. 

That gives you opportunities to pull one of the special set’s most popular chase cards, which you can also buy individually on TCGplayer — including one of the $3,700+ RGB Rare Mews, the $85+ SIR Mew ex, and the $70+ Gengar ex.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box is on sale for $252.47 at Amazon, down from its $269.21 typical price.

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Credit: The Pokémon Company

Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Delta Reign Booster Display Box

$252.47 at Amazon
$269.21 Save $16.74

 

Preorder at Amazon

The release of Pokémon TCG's Delta Reign expansion is now just weeks away, and Amazon sellers have dropped the preorder price for the massive 36-pack Booster Display Box. That's good news for your trading card budget. 

As of Oct. 23, the Pokémon TCG Delta Reign Booster Display Box is available to preorder for $252.47 at Amazon. This is $16.74 off its usual $269.21 price, and it comes from third-party seller Collectors Expedition, with free delivery currently estimated for Nov. 14 — eight days after Delta Reign's Nov. 6 release.

With 36 boosters included, you're effectively spending around $7.01 per pack, each containing 10 random Pokémon cards. That leaves you with 360 cards to unpack altogether, excluding Energy and code cards.

Delta Reign is introducing over 135 cards, including Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex, and Mega Golisopod ex. There are also three new Legendary Stadiums and plenty of rare cards to hunt down when the expansion arrives next month.

The Moon is getting closer to its full phase, with more of its surface visible as the days go by. Here's what you can look for when you look up at the sky tonight.

What is today's Moon phase?

As of Friday, Oct. 23, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon is in the Waxing Gibbous phase, with 90% of its surface visible.

Tonight, without the use of visual aids you should be able to spot the Copernicus Crater, the Mare Serenitatis, and Mare Fecunditatis. If you have binoculars you'll also see the Endymion Crater, the Alphonsus Crater, and the Clavius Crater. Plus, if you have a telescope, you'll also see the Linne Crater, Rima Ariadaeus, and the Apollo 17 landing spot.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on October 25 or 26, depending on your timezone.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon takes around 29.5 days to travel around Earth, and its appearance changes throughout the month. As it moves around our planet, we see different amounts of its sunlit side, from a slim crescent to the quarter phases and eventually a Full Moon. It then begins the cycle again. As NASA explains, these phases are caused by the Moon's changing position relative to Earth and the Sun.

The eight 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.

An invitation to an Apple event has long been something to brag about in the tech world. Now, for some influencers, it reportedly comes with business-class travel, a hotel stay, and time with the company's top executives.

On the Oct. 15 episode of Bloomberg's Power On podcast, Mark Gurman said he had confirmed that Apple offered influencers "paid hotel, paid business class travel" to attend its "Pro and Tell" product experience in Los Angeles, calling it a "creator-focused event." For the creators attending the upcoming Los Angeles showcase, Gurman described plans that include meetings with new Apple CEO John Ternus and other executives, plus dinner on Oct. 27, ahead of the company’s Oct. 28 special event.

This isn't the first time Apple has brought creators together for an exclusive experience. In March 2025, the company invited a group of student creators to Los Angeles for a one-day event that attendees nicknamed "Apple Campus" or "Apple University." For student and creator Heaven Marley, the invitation itself was a surprise. "I got the email and thought it was spam at first," she told People.

The company followed that with a similar creator gathering in Los Angeles this January. Creator Petr Mara shared an invitation to an "Apple Experience" running Jan. 27 to 29, coinciding with the launch of Apple Creator Studio, a subscription combining software for tasks such as editing video, making music, and working with images.

And, at the September iPhone event, livestreamer IShowSpeed performed a backflip while holding an iPhone Duo in front of Ternus. His video has more than 6 million views on YouTube as of Oct. 22. (Last year, MrBeast attended the event with former CEO Tim Cook.)

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Other tech companies already offer a similarly warm welcome to creators.

Bloomberg's Chris Welch also noted on the podcast episode that Samsung and Google cover travel and hotels and host dinners too, calling it "standard fare." Gurman agreed that Apple wasn’t doing anything outside its competitors' practices. What stood out to him, though, was the change from the days when an Apple invitation was enough:

"There was a time...people were begging to go," Gurman said. "It's not the other way around, typically."

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So what do companies get out of all this hospitality? Well, a chance to reach consumers through creators they already love. In a September analysis, Deloitte found that about 70 percent of U.S. consumers who engage with creators regularly return to the same ones; and roughly 60 percent said they had made a purchase primarily because of a creator's recommendation or sponsorship in the previous six months.

That appeal hasn’t gone unnoticed by the tech press. Discussing Apple's 2025 invitations on MacBreak Weekly, journalist Jason Snell argued that influencers can offer companies more control over their message, repeating promotional points "instead of questioning your points as a journalist might." And as tech reviewer Ben Sin wrote on X in March, "I completely understand why Apple is doing this," but described its "pivot to favoring giving access to lifestyle and overall influencers over techies" as "still sad news for me."

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Each brand has its own entry way into the creator economy. Take Samsung — Its "Team Galaxy” roster includes creators and other public figures, with model and creator Haley Baylee and musician Audrey Nuna joining this year. And for February’s Galaxy S26 launch, Samsung says it brought approximately 140 influencers from 35 countries to San Francisco for three days of product demos, content creation, and a closing celebration.

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As for AI companies, they face the unique challenge of trying to win over an often-skeptical public with plenty of questions about what AI means for jobs, creative work, and the environment. Influencers provide a layer of trust that they desperately need — which is probably why they are so sought-after right now.

"That’s the goal right now: build brand love," Anthropic's head of influencer, Lexie Barnhorn, told influencer marketing company Linqia. Claude recently hosted a supper club at Wild Cherry, the trendy restaurant inside New York's A24-owned Cherry Lane Theatre.

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Microsoft Copilot is trying to do the same. Last February, they brought a group of New York fashion influencers to the Super Bowl on an influencer brand trip, where they asked the AI platform questions like, "hey copilot how do you cure a hangover" and "how to get a stain out".

And in February, OpenAI sent a signal on their seriousness about influencer marketing when they hired former Instagram partnerships executive Charles Porch as its first vice president of global creative partnerships. By summer, the company was hosting creators at Wildflower Farms, a luxury resort in New York’s Hudson Valley, for a retreat featuring private cabins, monogrammed pajamas, and picturesque outdoor dinners. The company also hosted a ChatGPT influencer dinner in tandem with Brett Chody, which was held at Little Beach House Malibu, part of Soho House.

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"Creators are an important part of our community and how people get information and learn about our products today," an OpenAI spokesperson told Inc in August. "We value creators who choose to engage with us, attend our events, ask tough questions, and learn alongside everyone else."

As Mashable reported in August, OpenAI's nature-filled getaway to the Hudson Valley didn’t go over quite as planned. Beneath the lavish room tours and vacation posts, social media users questioned the setting and the creators' decision to attend.

"The concept of attending an AI brand trip surrounded by nature while it actively hurts the environment is an incredible bit," one X user wrote. On Reddit, a commenter asked whether one creator was "gazing at where the new data center is gonna go," while another asked, "Did they promise you fresh water when we run out?"

From a creator's perspective, though, there are many reasons to say yes to a brand event, trip, or collab, despite the criticism. Business creator Grace McCarrick defended the retreat as a chance to hear from the people shaping a technology likely to affect her work and her audience. "If I have the opportunity to be in the room and hear from people who are at the helm of change, I can do that," she said. "It's actually well within my moral system."

There's also a real financial incentive towards working with these brands: they have money to burn.

AI and career creator Megan Lieu, who attended the OpenAI retreat, told CNBC in February that her biggest sponsorship at that point was with Anthropic. She didn’t disclose its value, but said her sponsored deals generally ranged from $5,000 to $30,000.

Even so, some creators turn the offers down: Circus performer Jack Lepiarz, known as Jack the Whipper, told CNBC he had rejected a $20,000 deal promoting generative image tools over concerns about AI’s effect on people’s livelihoods.

That puts influencers in a complicated position. The relationship with their audience is part of what makes them valuable to a company; yet, accepting the partnership can put that same relationship under scrutiny.

But for tech brands, the decision is less complicated, with lots of potential benefits and few downsides. Influencers bring an audience with them; journalists bring questions they might not want to answer.

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Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in April 2025, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis’ copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SAVE $15.01: As of Oct. 23, the Anker Soundcore 2 is on sale for $29.98 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Anker

Anker Soundcore 2

$29.98 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $15.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

If you're looking for a portable speaker that won't break the bank, the Anker Soundcore 2 is a great choice. Not only is it a wallet-friendly speaker, but as of Oct. 23, it's on sale for $29.98. This price is for the black model, but for a few dollars more you can choose from a range of colors, including navy blue, pink, and beige.

Whether you're listening at home or taking it with you outdoors, the Anker Soundcore 2 is a great option. This portable Bluetooth speaker is designed for listening anywhere, with an IPX7 waterproof rating to protect it from splashes and rain.

For sound quality, its 12W output and dual neodymium drivers deliver seriously powerful sound, and BassUp technology and a spiral bass port boost low frequencies for deeper bass. It also has a 5,200mAh battery, meaning you'll get up to 24 hours of playback on a single charge. It's simple to use, with a compact design and intuitive controls. You can even wirelessly pair two compatible speakers for stereo sound.

This deal is available on Amazon now, so don't miss out this weekend.

Amazon, like every other retailer, is gearing up for what's sure to be another epic Black Friday for 2026. Like most Amazon shopping events, deals are already pouring in — and we expect them to continue throughout the holiday season.

You can grab steep discounts on TVs, outdoor gear, headphones, Amazon devices, and so much more. And thanks to Amazon's flexible payment options, you can enjoy a breezy shopping experience all season long. Customers are no longer limited to debit and credit cards or Amazon gift cards. If you're an Apple loyalist, you can also use Apple Pay to make purchases on Amazon this season.

Apple Pay is compatible with many — but not all — vendors on Amazon, making it easier to secure deals in just a few taps. You can use it in place of a traditional card payment whenever possible by following the steps below.

How to use Apple Pay on Amazon

Step 1: Set up Apple Pay on iPhone. If you haven't already, add your debit or credit card to your iPhone's digital wallet to set up Apple Pay on your mobile device.

Step 2: Open the Amazon app.

Step 3: Add items to your cart and go to checkout. If your vendor accepts Apple Pay, you'll see it under payment options (you can use the method only if you have linked a card to your iPhone's Wallet app); select Apple Pay.

Step 4: Confirm your address and payment details.

Step 5: Once Apple Pay's payment authenticator pops up on your screen, use your Face ID or Touch ID to authenticate the purchase.

Step 6: Confirm payment to finish the process.

How to use an Apple Card to make payments on Amazon

If you choose to make a purchase from a third-party vendor that doesn't accept Apple Pay, you can work around it by using an Apple Card instead. The process is fairly straightforward.

Step 1: Make sure you add your Apple Card to the Wallet app on your iPhone by clicking on the + symbol.

Step 2: Now, go to the Amazon app and click on the Account icon, which looks like a little person on the bottom of your screen (next to the home icon).

Step 3: A new app page will appear with your orders and other details. Click on Account once again at the top of your screen.

Step 4: Click on the arrow to the right of the Wallet section, under Your Amazon highlights.

Step 5: Your Wallet will open with all of your payment methods and transactions. Click on + Add new.

Step 6: Click on Add a credit or debit card and input your Apple Card details.

Step 7: Finally, click on Add and continue to finish the process. Now, you can use your Apple Card to make purchases on Amazon.

Avatar: Seven Havens may have radically changed the world of Avatar, but the post-apocalyptic series still finds a way to continue one of the franchise's best running gags: the enduring plight of the cabbage merchant.

Introduced in Avatar: The Last Airbender, the cabbage merchant (voiced by James Sie) rarely gets to actually sell any cabbages. That's because his cart keeps getting destroyed, either by Aang's airbending, Ba Sing Se security officers, or a rogue rabaroo. At each loss, he lets out a woeful "My cabbages!" — a line delivery that is so ingrained in my mind, I can't think of cabbage without it.

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The cabbage merchant's legacy continues in The Legend of Korra. Between Aang's time and Korra's, the cabbage merchant founds car and tech company Cabbage Corp, a competitor of Future Industries. After Future Industries' Hiroshi Sato (voiced by Daniel Dae Kim) frames Cabbage Corp for illegal activity, Republic City's metalbending police arrests the owner, who is also the cabbage merchant's son (also voiced by Sie). As the police drag him away, he cries out, "My Cabbage Corp!"

On top of playing a role in both The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra, the cabbage merchant also figures into some of the Avatar comics. He's even the star of his own children's book: Avatar: The Last Airbender: My Cabbages! by Rebecca Gyllenhaal and Jessica Yang. With all this cabbage-centric fanfare, it only makes sense that Seven Havens keeps the tradition alive. However, it does so with a very different food.

In the show's eighth episode, titled "The Envoys: Part One," twin Avatars Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) and Nisha (voiced by Aishu Devan) watch as delegates from the other Havens arrive. As they talk, Pavi airbends a paper sky bison she's made onto the street below. It hits the face of a merchant (voiced by Eric Bauza) who's balancing a vat of pudding on his head, alongside two smaller vats. The minor collision is enough to make the merchant slip up spectacularly, interrupting his joyful pudding song ("It's gonna be a pudding day!") and splattering his wares across the ground.

His reaction? A pained cry of "My pudding!" with Bauza's line delivery mirroring Sie's.

Credited simply as "pudding guy," this homage to the cabbage merchant actually winds up having a larger hand in Seven Havens' plot than his predecessor did. After a few more pratfalls, it's revealed that he, along with the rest of the cooks catering the summit, is a part of the outlaw group known as the Faceless. Sure, he could have joined their ranks because of dissatisfaction with Ellora's forced conscription of benders, but I like to think he chose this life because he was tired of losing all his delicious pudding due to bending shenanigans. That would break anyone.

Either way, the moment is a sweet nod to series past, as well as proof that while some things in Avatar have changed in cataclysmic ways, others — like the Avatar's propensity for annoying food merchants — will always stay the same.

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

Apple might have a fun new iPad for us to check out in the very near future.

On Oct. 28, Apple is hosting the "Pro and Tell" event in Los Angeles. We expect multiple product launches at the event, perhaps including a new high-end MacBook Pro OLED, but one other rumored item that we're hoping to see is the iPad Mini 8. It's been two years since the iPad Mini 7 came out, meaning it might be time for a refresh.

But what should we expect from the rumored iPad Mini 8? Let's investigate.

iPad Mini 8: Price

A recent report from Bloomberg gave us some potential bad news on the price front for the iPad Mini 8.

According to Bloomberg's intrepid Apple reporter Mark Gurman, the device could cost close to $799, which would be a $200 price increase over the original starting price of the iPad Mini 7. Apple did increase the price of the Mini 7 over time for the same reasons every other electronic product has seen recent price increases, meaning the new price would be a $100 price hike over the current cost of an iPad Mini 7. Bummer.

That said, that's still $1,200 cheaper than the iPhone Duo, so keep that in mind.

iPad Mini 8: Rumored specs

A new higher price is not great news to start out with, but there might be a good explanation for it (aside from RAMageddon) in the spec sheet.

While we don't have official specs for the iPad Mini 8, a report earlier this year from MacRumors spilled the beans on what we can expect from the new device on a technical level. Here are some of the rumored specs:

• Apple A20 Pro chip

• 12GB RAM

• OLED display

• Apple N1 chip with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support

• IP-rated water resistance

There's plenty to chew on in those specs. For starters, the A20 Pro chip would bring the iPad Mini 8 significantly closer to the cutting edge than the A17 Pro chip inside the iPad Mini 7. Given that the previous model also only had 8GB RAM, the new 12GB figure should give the iPad Mini 8 a boost in performance and support Apple's new AI features, too.

Obviously, an OLED display would be a huge upgrade over the LCD display on the iPad Mini 7. That, alone, could account for the increase in price. IP-rated water resistance, a first-time iPad Mini feature, would also be a selling point for the more adventurous among us. That, or people who like looking at their iPad while in the bathtub or pool.

iPad Mini 8: A new camera?

One last tidbit, also reported by MacRumors, is that the iPad Mini 8 will apparently have a new landscape front camera. When held in an upright position, that means the camera would be in the right bezel instead of on top. Those bezels, by the way, are also supposed to be thinner than they were on the iPad Mini 7.

It's unclear what kind of specs we can expect from this new camera, but at the very least, its placement would be different.

Check back on Oct. 28 for more

Credit: Apple

Again, Apple is expected to debut a new iPad at its "Pro and Tell" special event on Oct. 28. As of this writing, Apple hasn't announced a livestream to go along with the event, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT. The recent "Welcome Home" event also took place without a live keynote.

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Mashable will be reporting on all of the announcements from the event, so check back soon for more details.

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Feeling festive? Set a calendar alert for the first week of November, because Starbucks has officially confirmed the return of its viral Bearista Glass Cold Cup for the 2026 holiday season. Yes, there's a broader seasonal menu launching on Nov. 5, but what we really care about is the resurrection of Starbucks' most internet-famous mascot.

The Starbucks holiday menu features the Pike Place Holiday Village and a Peppermint Mocha retro series sporting glass Christmas tree cold cups and handled tumblers. There's also a second drop lined up for Nov. 17, featuring quilted light-blue tumblers and iridescent bottles. You can check out the full lineup here.

Credit: Starbucks

It's all very Christmassy, but the centerpiece of the drop is the reimagined Bearista Collection. The Nov. 5 launch brings an entire lineup of bears, including a Bearista acrylic cold cup, a ceramic Bearista mug, and even a plush Bearista keychain and accessories. The Bearista Glass Cold Cup will join the holiday lineup, but the exact timing of this drop is still to be announced.

We know that the prospect of paying $20 to $30 for branded drinkware can feel a little silly, especially when last year's Bearista drop sparked store campouts and instant $100+ reseller markups, but that's the reality of these limited-edition drops. People like what they like, and people really like Bearista merch.

Credit: Starbucks

Credit: Starbucks

We're keeping close tabs on the announcement for the Bearista Glass Cold Cup drop. When we hear something, we'll let you know.

TL;DR: Get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more for life on sale for $49.97 through Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows: Lifetime License

$49.97
$249.99 Save $200.02

 

Get Deal

Microsoft 365 costs $99.99 per year at the cheapest, and that’s only if you pay for it all at once. It costs even more if you want to do it month to month. A better option is to switch to a lifetime license you own outright. Right now, you can actually get Microsoft Office 2024 for life, and it’s even on sale for $49.97 (reg. $249.99).

This license gives you Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access on one Windows PC. Instead of paying for Office every year, you pay for it once and keep it.

Office 2024 Pro Plus activates on your PC, not your Microsoft account, so you never have to sign in to open a file. None of the apps rely on the cloud, either. Microsoft keeps the feature set fixed and still sends security updates, so your apps stay protected without changing how they work.

This version also has dark mode, and Excel includes advanced tools for analyzing data. You get the benefit of the modern versions of each app without the frustration of constant subscription fees.

This license only works on Windows 10 and Windows 11, so Mac users will need a different version. Your license is also tied to one PC and can’t be transferred, so put it on a computer you plan to keep. You’ll get your key by email and have seven days to redeem it.

Stop paying for Office every year.

Through Nov. 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can get Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows on sale for $49.97 (reg. $249.99).

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get 6TB of lifetime cloud storage with Drime for $249.97 (reg. $599), including compliance tracking, encrypted Vault storage, and team collaboration tools.

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Credit: Drime

Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription (Advanced Plan/6TB)

$249.97
$599 Save $349.03

 

Get Deal

High-resolution videos, raw photos, and design projects have a habit of eating through storage space faster than expected. Drime offers 6TB of cloud storage with no stated per-file upload size limit, plus file sharing and collaboration features that make it useful for teams working with large assets. For a limited time, you can get a lifetime subscription to its Advanced Plan for $249.97 (reg. $599).

Drime Advanced gives teams more than just a place to store their files. It also includes compliance tracking, which keeps records of who accessed what and when. For businesses that need to document how information is handled, those records can make it easier to review activity and prepare for internal or external audits.

You can add up to 25 workspace members, assign roles and permissions, and manage access through advanced administration tools. There’s also 120-day file versioning, so you can retrieve earlier versions of documents when changes need to be reviewed or reversed.

For sensitive files, Drime includes an end-to-end encrypted Vault designed to keep its contents inaccessible even to the provider. The service uses EU-hosted infrastructure and advertises GDPR compliance, although organizations should still evaluate whether its features meet their specific regulatory requirements.

Drime also lets teams edit documents and media, collaborate in shared workspaces, and collect electronic signatures through Drime Sign. Shared links can include passwords, expiration dates, custom URLs, and access statistics.

There’s no individual file size limit, too, which can be a lifesaver when you’re dealing with massive video files, design assets, or other projects that don’t exactly travel well as email attachments. Automatic device syncing, meanwhile, helps keep work accessible across supported platforms.

Normally $599, you can grab Drime’s Advanced Plan for only $249.97.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Playwright Kat Sandler found inspiration in the Slavic folklore around Baba Yaga for a 2019 play she called Yaga. Now, she's adapted her script into a supernatural horror-laced mystery series centered around the disappearance of a playboy intrigued by witchcraft.

With its first two episodes, Yaga introduces a chilly coastal community, in which Henry Park (Hudson Williams), heir to a local commercial fishery, has gone missing. Family friend and private investigator Rapp (Noah Reid) returns to his childhood home to find the MIA stud, and in his place finds a doppelgänger named Logan (also played by Williams).

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In a more official capacity, police officer Carson (Clark Backo) pursues interviews with those who know Henry, including a bone-fixated professor (Carrie-Anne Moss). But at the center of this story is the question, is witchcraft real? And if so, what does that mean for Henry and his friends?

If Yaga's got you craving more supernatural series with thrills, mysteries, and spooky fun, we've got you covered with some spell-binding suggestions.

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Show creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa spins his creepy comic book series, which reimagined Sabrina the Teenage Witch for horror lovers, into a gnarly teen drama with Kiernan Shipka in the title role. This Riverdale spinoff is a coming-of-age story about how this half-witch finds her way in the worlds of magic and man.

Running for 36 episodes across two seasons, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is a solid and spooky teen drama, rich with angst, flirting, and horror. Plus, Doctor Who's Michelle Gomez pops up in surprise role that's pitch-perfect casting.

Starring: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Miranda Otto, Chance Perdomo, Michelle Gomez, Jaz Sinclair, Tati Gabrielle, Adeline Rudolph, Richard Coyle, Lachlan Watson, and Gavin Leatherwood

How to watch: Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is now streaming on Netflix.

Yellowjackets

If you're craving a show where female rage intersects with a paranormal mystery, you must watch Yellowjackets. On top of a wild story that has sparked lots of fan theories, the show's incredible ensemble cast will have you gasping and gagging.

Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, this mind-bending horror series reimagines a Donner party scenario with a teenage girls soccer team. In 1996, the Yellowjackets were a varsity team flying to a national championship tournament, when their plane crashed in the Canadian wilderness. Stranded and determined to survive, they must be a team in the face of untold dangers, paranoia, and cannibalism. But that's not all. This series leaps ahead 25 years to show who the survivors are now, offering a string of mysteries for them to unravel.

Starring: Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, Ella Purnell, Sophie Nélisse, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sophie Thatcher, Samantha Hanratty, Steven Krueger, Warren Kole, Christina Ricci, Juliette Lewis, Courtney Eaton, Liv Hewson, Kevin Alves, Simone Kessell, Lauren Ambrose, Sarah Desjardins, Nia Sondaya, and Jenna Burgess

How to watch: Yellowjackets is now streaming on Paramount+.

Agatha All Along

This spinoff from WandaVision transforms antagonist Agatha Harkness (Kathryn Hahn) into an MCU anti-heroine. Set three years after the events in Westview, New Jersey, this supernatural spinoff follows Agatha as she builds a coven of misfits to take on the witch's road.

In their quest, there will be battles involving magic, violence, and dark secrets unearthed. Hahn is crackling in the lead role, bolstered by a terrific supporting cast. With just one season, this one's a solid weekend binge, especially during spooky season.

Starring: Kathryn Hahn, Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Okwui Okpokwasili, Patti LuPone, Evan Peters, Maria Dizzia, Paul Adelstein, and Miles Gutierrez-Riley

How to watch: Agatha All Along is now streaming on Disney+.

The Fall of the House of Usher

Horror auteur Mike Flanagan uses Edgar Allan Poe's short story "The Fall of the House of Usher" as the inspiration for a Succession-like mini-series about one truly twisted family.

The Ushers, who own a problematic pharmaceutical company, have power, wealth, privilege, and a lot of skeletons in their closets. Their vices are many, ranging from substance abuse and violence to sex, sex, and sex. But a high price must be paid for their sins, and Death has come to collect in the form of a sexy, magical woman.

Told across eight episodes, this sultry, creepy mini-series is perfectly suited to spooky season, and easy to binge over a weekend.

Starring: Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, Henry Thomas, Kate Siegel, Rahul Kohli, Samantha Sloyan, T'Nia Miller, Zach Gilford, Willa Fitzgerald, Michael Trucco, Katie Parker, Sauriyan Sapkota, Matt Biedel, Crystal Balint, Ruth Codd, Kyliegh Curran, Carl Lumbly, and Mark Hamill

How to watch: The Fall of the House of Usher is now streaming on Netflix.

Interview with the Vampire

Okay, sure, I could have gone with Mayfair Witches, another dark magic show on AMC. However, its sibling series Interview with the Vampire just has more bite.

Adapted from Anne Rice's the Vampire Chronicles, this series follows the toxic romance of undead lovers Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid) across centuries. The first two seasons focus on Louis' side of their story, while Season 3 offers The Vampire Lestat. Rich with sex, murder, and big feelings, this supernatural drama is highly rewatchable. Plus, Yaga fans can look for Noah Reid in the third season, where he pops up as Lestat's moody guitarist Larry.

Starring: Jacob Anderson, Sam Reid, Eric Bogosian, Bailey Bass, Assad Zaman, Delainey Hayles, Ben Daniels, Joseph Potter, and Jennifer Ehle

How to watch: Interview with the Vampire and The Vampire Lestat are now streaming on AMC+.

For most of its first season, Avatar: Seven Havens has focused primarily on one Haven: Ellora. However, in its eighth and ninth episodes, it begins to broaden its world to the other six Havens, giving viewers juicy breadcrumbs of what to expect from the rest of the show.

The episodes, titled "The Envoys: Part One" and "The Envoys: Part Two," introduce delegates from the other Havens who have arrived in Ellora to answer the city's call for aid. From the historians of New Ba Sing Se to the gearheads of Akasha, here's everything we've learned about these new Havens.

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New Ba Sing Se

The Cataclysm may have completely reshaped the world of Avatar, but somehow, the Earth Kingdom capital Ba Sing Se managed to endure. While the Haven may be called New Ba Sing Se, its inhabitants still live like they're in the old world. Their Earth Kingdom attire is the most familiar piece of costuming in the show so far, and their arrival on flying bison is a welcome sight. Note the gas masks each bison must wear on their muzzle. While the historians of New Ba Sing Se like to live in the past, it's clear they still have to adapt to their apocalyptic present in some ways.

Akasha

The Haven of Akasha serves almost as a foil to New Ba Sing Se. Its inhabitants also look to the past, but instead of focusing on history, they focus on technology. According to "The Envoys: Part One," they're the only Haven that's learned how to use old world tech, and it shows in their Mad Max-esque motorcycles.

Feather Mountain

Our primary entry point into the Haven of Feather Mountain is its ruler: Empress Yeshe (voiced by Jennie Kwan). She's a beloved ruler and talented airbender, yet she seems stifled by the constant supervision from her guards. If she sounds familiar, it's because Kwan also voiced Suki in The Last Airbender!

Seven Havens doesn't reveal much about Feather Mountain's culture beyond Empress Yeshe, but she does say that her realm "makes space for forgiveness." That makes it sound surprisingly nice and balanced for an apocalyptic hideout. Maybe Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) and Nisha (voiced by Aishu Devan) could head there if they need a vacation?

Nubat

Another Haven introduced in "The Envoys: Part One" is Nubat, but only in passing. During the summit, Commander Karthik (Akshay Khanna) meets with Rehan (voiced by Sunkrish Bala), the Head Lotus of Nubat, along with the Head Lotuses of Akasha. That's the only time Nubat gets mentioned in the episode, but otherwise we know very little about the Haven.

We know that Rehan is a waterbender, and he dresses in furs reminiscent of the old Water Tribe dress. Yet that could be a personal choice instead of a Haven-specific one, as the clothing in Havens like Ellora seems like a melting pot of different bending styles. For now, Nubat remains a bit of a mystery.

Republic Forest

However, Nubat's mystery is nowhere near as juicy as that of Republic Forest. Alongside another, as-yet-unnamed Haven, Republic Forest is one of the only two Havens who didn't send envoys to Ellora. That's because Republic Forest cut communication with the other Havens long ago, leading the rest of the world to wonder whether they're still alive.

Members of the Faceless believe they are and that they are free from the storms that plague the other Havens. That's where they hope to head following their attack on the summit in Ellora.

While no one knows what truly lies in Republic Forest, we can hazard some guesses based on the name. The Haven — or whatever is left of it — is likely in the remains of Republic City, which now appears to have become a forest. Based on the flashback to Korra's memories in episode 6, it seems as if the Cataclysm started in Republic City and had a lot to do with unleashed spirit energy. Could the influx of energy have expanded Republic City's Spirit Wilds into a whole spirit forest?

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

Avatar: Seven Havens gets cosmic in its ninth episode, and may have just confirmed a big fan theory in the process.

In the episode, titled "The Envoys: Part Two," Avatar Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) once again makes contact with the menacing, diamond-shaped anomaly that's been threatening Ellora. This time, instead of showing her a flashback of Avatar Korra's memories like it did in episode 6, the anomaly transports Pavi to a place that's familiar to any Avatar fan: outer space.

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What does Pavi see after touching the anomaly?

Okay, Pavi isn't physically in space, but her spirit winds up floating in a cosmic void. It's the same void Avatars Aang and Korra found themselves in before entering the Avatar State. In their series, they followed a glowing path to a massive cosmic projection of themselves holding a ball of white energy. Once they stepped into the ball, they'd be in the Avatar State. The entire cosmic set-up is a neat visual representation of the spiritual and mental components of being the Avatar. However, it's not what we see in Seven Havens.

Like Aang and Korra, Pavi follows a path through space in Seven Havens. But instead of finding a vision of herself, she sees a massive circular gate. Like the anomaly, it glows black and red. Unlike the anomaly's fragmented, angular geometry, this gate bears a beautiful, flowery design.

From there, Seven Havens reveals that beyond this circle lie six others, each ringed in their own glowing colors, although none bear a design yet.

The progression of these colors is a visual Avatar fans are familiar with, going all the way back to Avatar: The Last Airbender Season 2, episode 19, "The Guru." In that episode, Aang visits guru Pathik to learn how to enter and control the Avatar State. Pathik teaches him about unblocking his chakras, which are points of concentrated energy throughout the body, with real-world roots in Buddhist and Hindu practices.

The scenes in which Aang unblocks his chakras are each tinged with a specific color tied to each chakra, starting with red and moving up to orange, yellow, and so on. It's the exact same color progression as the gates Pavi encounters, highly implying that she is looking at a series of chakras. But they aren't hers. Instead, each of the seven chakras is almost certainly tied to one of the seven Havens.

Avatar: Seven Havens' chakra theory, explained.

Throughout Seven Havens' run, series fans have theorized that each Haven represents one of the seven chakras. After all, the show's opening credits show the Havens as glowing points of color on a map, each corresponding to one of the chakra colors. The same color scheme carries over to the costumes of the Havens in the play about the Cataclysm in the very first episode.

All of this is compelling evidence for the theory, but Pavi's vision in "The Envoys: Part Two" is the strongest confirmation of the theory so far. Let's start with the red gate in front of Pavi. It is the same color as the first chakra guru Pathik teaches Aang about: the Earth chakra, known in real-world practices as the root chakra. It sits at the base of the spine. According to Pathik, it deals with survival, but it's blocked by fear.

All these concepts of survival, fear, and the root chakra figure into Seven Havens in some way. Book 1 is titled "Survival," while the season finale is titled "The Root Chakra." As for fear, the city of Ellora is overrun with it. Whenever someone comes into contact with the anomaly, they become afflicted by fear.

With that in mind, it seems like the anomaly isn't truly some kind of spirit demon. Rather, it's a physical manifestation of the blocked energies of Ellora, which explains its appearance as a warped version of the design on the gate. In order to keep the world in balance, Pavi and her twin sister Nisha (voiced by Aishu Devan) will surely have to find a way to unblock Ellora — the root chakra — and likely the other havens as well.

Each of the seven Havens representing a chakra raises a massive question, though. What are they chakras of? They seem to be chakras of the entire world, but does that mean that the Earth in the Avatar universe is actually its own living being? Was the Cataclysm caused in part by blockage of these energy points?

All will surely become clear as Seven Havens continues to open its mystery box. For now, though, Pavi's vision is the clearest answer viewers have gotten to the many questions the show has raised about the world post-Cataclysm.

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

Since Avatar Studios announced Avatar: Seven Havens, Avatar fans' biggest question has been, "How did Avatar Korra cause the apocalypse?"

In Seven Havens episode 7, we finally get closer to finding out.

The episode continues twin Avatars Pavi (voiced by Saheli Khan) and Nisha's (voiced by Aishu Devan) quest to find their parents. Their investigation brings them back to the mysterious glowing red anomaly that has plagued Ellora on and off throughout the season. It left behind a mass of crystals following its resurgence in the zombie-influenced "Night of the Afflicted," and when Pavi and Nisha tunnel beneath those crystals, they discover the ruins of what appears to be an old world factory. Based on the gear logo on the wall and an old mover showing Asami Sato cutting a ribbon outside the building, it's a Futures Industries factory.

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Avatar: Seven Havens teases the Cataclysm.

Deep in the bowels of the factory, Pavi finds a vast pit full of a strange liquid whose surface ripples with the glowing red design of the anomaly. As she makes contact with it, she's greeted with a memory of Republic City before the Cataclysm. The city has been completely rebuilt following the battle with Kuvira at the end of The Legend of Korra, in which Korra created a new spirit portal within the city's Spirit Wilds. Now, the yellow beam of that portal appears to emerge straight from a Future Industries tower, suggesting that the people of Republic City have built over or around the Spirit Wilds. That couldn't possibly have a negative impact on the physical world's relationship with the Spirit World, right?

In Pavi's anomaly vision, she also sees a concerned-looking Korra, one who's much older than when we last left her, flying from Air Temple Island to Republic City. When Nisha joins Pavi in the vision, the scene changes drastically. The twins find themselves in the city streets, surrounded by fires and explosions. As the smoke clears from a motorcycle crash, the twins see Korra again. This time, though, she's changed: She's in the Avatar State, and she sports a menacing smirk. That can only mean one thing. The twins are seeing the moment Korra somehow turned and broke the world.

As Pavi and Nisha look on, Korra reaches up to pipe-like structures running along Republic City's skyscrapers and tears them down. The breaking of the pipes unleashes massive bands of destructive purple energy beams, which look very similar to the spirit vine energy Kuvira harnessed in her campaign to conquer Republic City.

That's all we get of the Cataclysm, but there's already a lot to unpack here, from Republic City's new look to the purple energy beams. Most fascinating of all might be the pipe structures Korra is tearing down. Their design is not rigid and pipe-like, but instead resembles vines. In rebuilding Republic City, could its citizens have tried to harness spirit energy from the Spirit Wilds as an energy source? Did they build around the vines climbing up buildings, and if so, did that strategy backfire spectacularly, contributing to the Cataclysm? Based on Republic City's skyline and these mysterious pipes, it seems like the physical world's relationship with the Spirit World was already way out of whack by the time the Cataclysm happened. That's odd, given that much of Korra's time as the Avatar was focused on maintaining that balance. After all, she opened the spirit portals at the poles and in Republic City.

Is Korra really to blame for the Cataclysm?

That brings us to Korra herself. Let's be totally real here. That smirking woman in the Avatar State might look like Korra and bend like Korra, but that frightening smile and the intent on destroying the world just doesn't feel like her. Obviously, a lot has changed since we last saw Korra on TV, but I refuse to believe she had an entire personality transplant!

Instead, this version of Korra in the Avatar State recalls a more sinister figure from Book 2 in The Legend of Korra. In the climax of that season, villain Unalaq merged with the darkness spirit Vaatu to create a dark Avatar whose eyes glowed red, contrasting with the white glow of the light spirit Raava, who lives within the Avatar. In the Seven Havens vision, Korra's eyes still glow white, yet her unsettling body language screams that the Avatar State has been corrupted in some way.

By the end of Season 2, Korra defeated Vaatu, but did not destroy him outright. Instead, his spirit is set to regrow within Raava over a period of 10,000 years, until the next Harmonic Convergence. That's a ways off within the Avatar timeline, but could the rapid acceleration of technology or Korra's proximity to the Spirit Wilds have accelerated that growth somewhat? Or alternatively, did some Future Industries technology create the anomaly and trigger some dark turn in Korra? I could very well be barking up the wrong spirit vine, but I have a feeling Book 2 of The Legend of Korra is about to become very, very important.

Clearly, we haven't gotten the full story yet, and Seven Havens is being very careful in how it doles out Korra's memories. In this episode alone, it leaves a gap between Korra's flight to Republic City and the Cataclysm. (Assuming the visions happen on the same night, that is, as Korra is wearing the exact same outfit in both.) That gap could be key to understanding Korra's motives in bringing on the Cataclysm, and hopefully in clearing her name somewhat in the timeline of Seven Havens.

Avatar: Seven Havens is now streaming on Paramount+, with new episodes every Friday.

There's so much to want to love in Canadian series Yaga, from its small-town mystery to its hints of folklore and witchcraft. But the biggest draw of all is undoubtedly its cast, which includes Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid, Clark Backo, and Heated Rivalry breakout Hudson Williams.

Yaga is Williams' first major project to come out since the runaway success of Heated Rivalry catapulted him and co-star Connor Storrie to stardom. With that comes an opportunity for Williams to further showcase his range beyond his Canadian Screen Award-winning work as Shane Hollander. It's a shame, then, that Yaga gives Williams and his co-stars so little to latch onto, in a dark feminist fable that feels more hollow than revelatory.

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What's Yaga about?

Noah Reid and Clark Backo in "Yaga." Credit: Crave / Christopher Lawrence

Based on the play by Kat Sandler, who also serves as showrunner, Yaga invites us to the small town of Whittock, where Henry Park (Williams), heir to a powerful fishery owner, has gone missing. Enter private investigator Rapp (Reid) and local police detective Carson (Backo), who are paired — reluctantly, on Carson's end — to get to the bottom of this mystery.

What begins as a standard missing persons investigation soon becomes something darker and stranger. Chicken carcasses hang menacingly on doors. Bloody symbols mar crime scenes. Through it all, Rapp hears whispers of Baba Yaga, a legendary witch from Slavic folklore known for living in a house on chicken legs and flying around in a mortar and pestle. Could Henry's disappearance be tied to the occult? Given that the whole series opens with images of an unknown figure being burned at the stake, and that each episode opens and closes with a voiceover monologue from a wizened witchy figure, the answer appears to be an unequivocal "yes."

So the stage is set for a strange, folkloric mystery. Yet Yaga's witchiness never truly sings. Too often, the show resorts to the same style of surreal fakeout dream sequences, where a stream of bloody feathers and foreboding masks blends into a shorthand for horror without truly scaring. The voiceovers, presented as coming from Baba Yaga herself, offer up platitudes about women who have been othered as witches, but they feel familiar to anyone who's ever read a "we are the granddaughters of the witches you couldn't burn" bumper sticker.

Hudson Williams pulls double duty in Yaga.

Hudson Williams in "Yaga." Credit: Crave / Christopher Lawrence

At the center of this witchy vortex is Williams' Henry, who mostly haunts Rapp and Carson's investigation in flashbacks, including a steamy podcast recording with him and intriguing professor Katherine (Moss), an expert in all things bone. Henry's not alone: Williams also plays Logan, Henry's roommate, podcasting partner, and doppelganger. (Yaga sticks Williams in a prosthetic nose and fake acne for the Logan role, and the result is a jarring trip to the uncanny valley.)

A dual role should be rich territory for any actor to mine, yet neither Henry nor Logan get enough screen time for Williams' double turn to truly sink in. Henry is primarily a confident, if sleazy, charmer, while Logan is mostly presented as an awkward, almost wooden foil to that charm. Logan was not a character in the original stage play, and it shows in his thinness here.

Yaga introduces a fascinating thread about Logan perhaps wanting to be (or maybe be with) Henry, but it rarely pulls it beyond the occasional unsettling sex scene. While onscreen intimacy can often be a great showcase of character dynamics, here, these scenes are often over too fast or accompanied by a voiceover that explains said dynamics without letting the actual performances breathe.

As Yaga unfurls, Henry and Logan become much more sinister figures. While the thought of Williams taking a villainous turn is an exciting one, his Henry and Logan don't make particularly compelling villains because we know so little of them. Yaga's leads don't tend to fare much better. Moss is slippery fun as Katherine, but too often she remains on the margins. Backo and Reid's buddy cop dynamic is punchy, yet often dragged down by Rapp's incessant flirting. That most of the women in Whittock practically throw themselves at him is one of Yaga's most infuriating features. As it happens again and again and again, these women's advances bypass sexual empowerment and move straight into bewilderment.

Yaga gestures out to interesting concepts, but ultimately, it never dives deep enough. As an examination of witchcraft as a conduit for female rage, it's not angry enough. As an erotic thriller, it's not titillating enough. As a mystery, its twists and turns are intriguing, but never quite captivating. The ingredients for success are there, but they never quite come together to cast the right spell.

The first two episodes of Yaga premiere Oct. 23 on AMC+.

Believing in magic as an adult is the stuff of eldritch terror when it comes to the world of LAIKA. The stop-motion animation studio scared the shit out of us with Coraline, a twisted, whimsically macabre web that made a nightmare of the uncanny.

Now, with Wildwood, directed by creative chief Travis Knight, LAIKA once again leans into the dark and extraordinary world of fantasy and magic, this time nestled right across the river from the American Mecca of weird: Portland, Oregon. With handcrafted animation blended with painterly digital tech, the LAIKA team draws you into the Impassable Wilds, a magical realm where the forces of nature cannot be underestimated.

Though a fantasy tale, Wildwood's emotional core lies in reality. And in such a real world, where artificial intelligence is invading systems of creativity like the film's all-powerful ivy, LAIKA's hand-wrought, tactile artistry feels truly remarkable.

Wildwood is a dark coming-of-age tale that sees magic for its darkness and light. 

Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay). Credit: LAIKA

From Wildwood's magnificent opening scene, adapted by screenwriter Chris Butler (LAIKA's Kubo and the Two Strings), it's clear this is not a fairy tale for children. Based on the novel of the same name by The Decemberists' frontman Colin Meloy and illustrator Carson Ellis, the film begins with a gothic tragedy involving a governess, Alexandra (voiced by Carey Mulligan), and her only son, one that recalls Tim Burton's Wednesday story "Tale of the Skull Tree" — and it sets the macabre tone for the film. For now, the film brings us back into a safe haven: a cosy kitchen in Portland where teen Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is leaving the magic of childhood behind her, despite her parents' (Maya Erskine and Jake Johnson) encouragement to believe.

Tasked with babysitting her brother Mac (Arthur Knight, the director's infant son), Prue's wish for adulthood is cruelly granted when he's kidnapped by a Hitchcockian murder of crows, flown deep into the forest that lies beyond St. John's Bridge. The Impassable Wilds, her father calls them, and along with adventure game-loving nerd Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), the pair manage to venture beyond the mist.

Into the woods... Credit: LAIKA

What ensues is a thrilling, dark, and oftentimes uproarious careen into the realm of Wildwood, where the stakes are toweringly high (honestly, don't think your favourite character can't die a horrible death) and the emotional complexity of its residents runs deep. War is brewing, as a ruthless coyote mercenary army and displaced people branded as "bandits" wage bloody land battles within the realm. The conflict affects the entire realm, from an Endor-like avian principality to a grassroots community of mystics ("hippies," Prue calls them). However, there's something even more sinister afoot, and "outsiders" Prue and Curtis must be careful who they trust to get her baby brother back.

As the geopolitical tension of Wildwood comes into focus across the North and South Woods, Prue and Curtis will meet a glorious array of familiar-voiced characters: Brendan the mighty Bandit King (Mahershala Ali), helpful wise-cracking rat Septima (Awkwafina), glorious golden eagle General (Angela Bassett), rage-fuelled coyote lieutenant Maksim (Tom Waits), the flustered yet wise Owl Rex (Richard E. Grant), sage mystic leader Iphigenia (Tantoo Cardinal), fierce warrior Niamh (Amandla Stenberg), snivelling politician's henchman Roger (Jemaine Clement), accidental soldier Dmitri (Charlie Day), and more.

And at the heart of it all lies someone torn apart by grief, who'll do anything to reclaim what was lost. 

Wildwood's extraordinary animation is at once magnificent and brutal.

Prue and the General (Angela Bassett), LAIKA's largest puppet to date. Credit: LAIKA

This is LAIKA, one of the most lauded studios working in animation today, so if you're expecting Wildwood to be visually magnificent, you won't be disappointed (and Dario Marianelli's soaring score seals the emotional deal).

Through ancient ruins, coyote-patrolled forests, heaving halls of never-ending bureaucracy, and dank dungeons adorned with hanging cages, we're treated to wondrous world-building from production designer Nelson Lowry and superb visual detail from principal character designer Thibault Leclercq, costume designer Deb Cook, and head of character and practical effects Oliver Jones. Frame after frame of sublime, handmade landscapes (there were 132 sets) are populated by 233 unique character puppets, painstakingly brought to life by head of animation Brad Schiff and his small army of animators, with Brian McLean's Rapid Prototype (RP) and Benoit Dubuc's CG Facial Animation teams. And they're all boasting hundreds of intricate costumes from Cook and head of costume Anja Poland.

All shot to perfection by cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and edited by Christopher Murrie-Green, the meticulous detail within each scene is nothing short of extraordinary — from the Bandit King's dreadlocks to Prue's tears (yes, stop-motion animated tears!) to the General's majestic flapping wings — and results in a world so resplendent, so visceral, and sometimes so shockingly violent you'll want to pause the screen or run from it. Within Wildwood, animals and people live alongside each other, with human governors, farmers, and bandits existing alongside rabbit constables, coyote commandants, and bear lumberjacks. The effect is one of harmony, tension, and fascination, with each character rendered with such individuality and detail that you could follow any one of them into their own Wildwood spinoff storyline. 

Respect the ivy... Credit: LAIKA

One of the major players in the film, a sprawling, interconnected mass of ivy stretched across the Impassable Wilds, is a feat of animation in itself, with every climbing vine, every veined leaf, moving as one powerful entity. This sense of gravitas extends to every scene in Wildwood, whether animating a rat swimming in a bowl of venison soup or rain falling on emerald mansion steps.

However, nothing compares to one of the most exceptional battle sequences you'll ever see on screen, a masterpiece of animation whose meticulous production boggles the mind. The largest ever created for a stop-motion feature film, the 12-minute battle scene is 411 thrilling, violent, and awe-inspiring shots that are sure to land this film an Oscar.

Wildwood's secret star is the city of Portland.

Prue's family live in Portland and you won't miss it. Credit: LAIKA

If there's one hidden character within Wildwood, it's the city of Portland, Oregon, America's nucleus of alternative living, where the history of magic has ancient roots. 

In Wildwood's Portland scenes, the team hide Easter eggs and references that build a portrait of the city's weird and wonderful elements: from Prue enjoying the magic of Voodoo Doughnut to cycling past drag queen story hour at legendary independent bookstore Powell's. A bagpipe-playing Darth Vader on a unicycle? Yep, we're in Portland.

Within Prue's teen bedroom, inclusions of The Decemberists' posters pay homage to the Portland band whose "The Better Part Of Bravery," lies on the soundtrack — and whose frontman wrote the book Wildwood is based on. Prue's parents are so Portland they won't even say what happened at Burning Man and mention "medical doctors" as a last resort. Yes, it's reductive and stereotypical, but it renders the city a place where it makes sense there'd be a magical wilderness on the other side of the Willamette River.

It's this familiarity that anchors Wildwood in its most brutal moments, knowing a world of war, violence, and magic lies just beyond a city bridge. LAIKA doesn't treat its audience like glass, presenting the cruelty of magic as one of finality, of life and death. Find the biggest screen you can and ride boldly across the bridge into Wildwood, where magic is just as beautiful as it is brutal. 

Wildwood was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival and will hit cinemas Oct. 23.

You might have seen the Wicker trailer, heard the plot from your friends behind giggling hands, or experienced the collective internet reaction to a 4DX screening. We're getting another sexy straw man movie, when we thought such a thing was done For Good?

Based on Ursula Wills-Jones' short story "The Wicker Husband," the tale is what it says on the tin: a fisherwoman (Olivia Colman) requests a local basket weaver (Peter Dinklage) to make her a husband to get the bitches in town (led by Elizabeth Debicki) off her goddamn back. And it works, with Alexander Skarsgård brought to life as the world's most dashing straw man — apologies to Jonathan Bailey's Scarecrow in Wicked.

It's a deeply silly, fairy tale concept. But what directors Alex Huston Fischer and Eleanor Wilson have up their sleeve is a hilarious and heartfelt script, an incredibly talented cast, and magical production design that landed actual gasps (and cackles) from the BFI London Film Festival audience.

It's an artisanal Frankenstein tale, and one that will melt that brittle basket-woven heart of yours — or simply have you thinking about Taylor Swift's "Wood" differently.

Wicker is Frankenstein for craft lovers.

Credit: BFI London Film Festival

The very concept of building a life partner from things around the house has intrigued writers from Mary Shelley to that time Sabrina the Teenage Witch's aunts played with "Man Dough." And in Wicker, a exceptionally talented basket weaver (a positively Shakespearean Dinklage) is the one to play God.

Set in a medieval village where patriarchy is divine and marriage means literally putting a collar on the bride, Wicker follows a gleeful social outsider known as the Fisherwoman (an impeccable Colman), happily living out her days in her crumbling cottage as a spinster. Covered in the stench of her occupation, she has no desire to marry as expected. However, such independence sparks the ire of the townspeople, especially the Tailor's Wife (a diabolical Debicki), a woman oppressed in her own man-child marriage to the Tailor (a superb Nabhaan Rizwan). To shut them all up, the fisherwoman commissions another recluse, the Basket Weaver, to literally make her a husband. One magic moment later, Fisherwoman has her Wicker Husband (a stoically sweet Skarsgård) — and the entire town can hear their marital bliss, echoing across the meadows. 

It's a sexual awakening indeed for Colman's Fisherwoman, and one that will have you cackling with glee as she does. But their bond becomes about more than planking sessions. Though literally fabricated, Fisherwoman and her Wicker Husband's exploration of love and intimacy feels deeply genuine, thanks to Coleman's gleeful humour and vulnerability and Skarsgård's awkward romanticism. And it's all within a safe distance from fires; one of them is "very flammable," after all.

However, as the Wicker Husband tries to understand his "purpose" and the logic behind treating women as equal (imagine!), his charms begin to affect the townspeople. Essentially, he's making the other men look absolutely useless.

Wicker makes a hilarious mockery of traditional gender roles.

Credit: BFI London Film Festival

One of the most compelling elements of Wicker, beyond its plethora of gloriously dirty jokes, frankly hilarious foley effects, and Colman's outstanding performance is its skewering of traditional gender roles within marriage.

As the townsfolk witness these moments of sweet romance, simmering sexual chemistry, and actual friendship between the Fisherwoman and Wicker Husband, the local women have questions for their own husbands. What do you mean, this man shares the housework and fishing with his wife? What do you mean, sex can be an act of pleasure, not merely for procreation? They begin to examine their society's gender essentialism, from marital obligations to division of labour and intimacy — and the husbands are annoyed. "All of a sudden I don't say enough words to her!" says one. "The wives, they're all aflutter!" says another. Here, Wicker's supporting cast shine in glorious deadpan, especially Ella Bruccoleri as one-liner queen the Baker's Wife, Ben Ashenden as her husband, Baker, and Kiell Smith-Bynoe as the stubborn Innkeeper.

But while the film's medieval innuendos are show-stoppers in their own right, Wicker's production design will actually cause a shortness of breath.

Wicker's production design team makes spicy magic happen.

It must be said: For Wicker to work, the Fisherwoman's darling "timber knight" has to be magically hot. I don't make the rules. It's part of the narrative or something. Casting Alexander Skarsgård in such a role is a superb step toward achieving such sorcery (Pillion also knew what it was doing), but transforming him into a dashing man made of flexible rods is another challenge. Luckily, Wicker enlisted Wētā Workshop and visual effects supervisor Joe Dunckley to craft an otherworldly wicker suit that's alarmingly ripped, along with facial prosthetics that trace the lines of Skarsgård's face. You can physically see through these wicker biceps, light shining through them. 

Remembering this is a raunchy fantasy comedy, the production team also doesn't waste one opportunity to draw out the properties of a wicker person during intimate scenes. Every creak of the Wicker Husband's basketry serves to emphasise his strength and physical materials. Foley artist and editor Adrian Medhurst and foley recordist Simon Koehn should be applauded for the wicker erection sounds that groan and strain through an early scene, one that had the LFF audience hooting. 

Within this raunchy fairy tale, like all fairy tales, there are lessons hidden between the fantasy and drama. And if you can't learn a thing or two about intimacy, romance, and love while staring at the sheer artistry of basket-woven pectorals, then I don't know what to tell you.

Wicker was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival. It hits cinemas Oct. 23 in the U.S. and Oct. 30 in the UK.

John Turturro has a storied career that stretches across 45 years, and boasts unforgettable performances in iconic films like Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and the Coen Bros' The Big Lebowski and O Brother, Where Art Thou? More recently, he awed streaming audiences with his bittersweet romance as Irving Bailiff in Apple TV+'s Severance, for which he's earned two Primetime Emmy nominations. 

Across more than 100 films and television series, Turturro has played clowns and villains, lovers and bowlers. But in his latest, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, this heralded character actor and celebrated New York City native gets the role that he was born to play.

Writer/director Noah Segan entrusts Turturro with the leading man role in a crime thriller that evokes 1970s classics like Taxi Driver, The French Connection, and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three — movies that predate Turturro's screen career. And yet, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York doesn't feel like a throwback. Instead, this big-hearted and hard-nosed thriller bridges the gap between past and present with a modern awareness of how things change, even for a classic New York character.

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York celebrates its city with every frame. 

It's a cliché to call a movie a love letter to New York. The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is more of a confession of affection scribbled on the back of a way-too-long CVS receipt. It's passionate and a bit grimy, just like the city itself.

Turturro stars as Harry Lehman, an aging Bronx resident who's been a career criminal specializing in pickpocketing for decades. This day begins as any other, lifting a wallet from a finance bro on the subway. But times have changed. The city has moved away from paper money and toward Apple Pay and cryptocurrency. So, it's harder than ever for Harry to provide for his paralyzed wife, Rosie (Karina Arroyave). So, it seems like a boon when he successfully boosts the wallet of a smug 20-something named Dylan (Will Price). But while Harry is fencing the goods to his pawnbroker buddy Ben (a pitch-perfect Steve Buscemi), he learns this mark is practically made. Okay, so he's more of a nepobaby-gangster than a goodfella. But this is still bad news.

Harry's got to hustle to get back what he sold, or else Dylan and his posse of puffed-up Gen Z goons will kill Rosie. In this quest, Harry rides the train from the Bronx to Chinatown, to Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn, and up into cozy Queens, where big houses and yards shake up the presumed urban landscape. (Sorry, Staten Island, no time for you!)

In each place, Harry collides with a quintessentially New York figure, be it a no-nonsense neighbor (Echaka Agba), a shop owner (Kelvin Han Yee) more focused on his TV than a pesky customer, a wise-cracking detective (Giancarlo Esposito), a finger-wagging grannie (Lori Tan Chinn), or a slick-fingered could-be protégé (Mark Cayne). Like in classic '70s New York City cinema, each of these folks adds a new texture to this portrait of this messy and magical city. The cinematography by Sam Levy showcases this setting with a understated wonder B-roll of rumbling subways and bustling streets reflects Harry's never-say-die energy, as he strides out of pawn shops, police precincts, and community centers with an easy confidence. Before he dashes off, Levy's camera will zoom in, catching him as if he were a native animal on the run. Or else, a simple pan as Harry pauses to think reflects the big, urban world around him that won't stop for a moment.

This is not the romantic landscape of Manhattan showcased in countless rom-coms. The only view of the skyline or even NYC's rivers in this film is tinged with a sinister tone, as Harry and his detective friend recall an old thief whose head was found "bobbing in the Hudson!" The Only Living Pickpocket in New York instead captures a city that is both repulsive and beautiful, heartbreaking and inspiring. Segan even kicks off with a gut-punch of an opener, playing LCD Soundsystem's "New York I Love You, But You're Bringing Me Down" at such an intensity that you can't escape the raw vulnerability in its lyrics or the trembling voice of James Murphy.

Before the title card hits, Segan shows he understands this city like a New Yorker. This is a place that will build you up and knock you down, over and over. And somehow — for those of us who truly love it — it feels like a privilege every time you get back up to try again. 

John Turturro is perfection in The Only Living Pickpocket in New York. 

This is a story of a man who's lived past his prime. A brassy score of trumpets and plinking piano puts Harry Lehman in the space of Travis Bickle, Popeye Doyle, or Transit Police Lt. Zachary Garber. But Segan's film willfully lacks the intensity of these reference points. That's because the Fear City days are behind New York, and Harry's hard edge has softened over the years of caring for his wife.

Harry, Rosie, Ben, and even Detective Warren are relics of a "bad days" era that they miss, because the days were rough, but the wild nights still make them smile. Now, kids half their age are talking about how the only worthwhile terrain for theft is through computers. But Harry doesn't even have a cell phone. A friendly stranger marvels when he knows a phone number "by heart." A crypto-bro chides him for not understanding he's part of "planned obsolescence." Over and over, the youth of this city are telling Harry that is time is over. There's a quiet resignation in his response, but even that doesn't mean he'll go down without a fight.

Turturro, who has famously seethed, snarled, and caterwauled to dramatic and comedic effect, plays closer to the vest here. When not lifting wallets, his long, agile fingers hide in the pockets of his tweed overcoat, its salt-and-pepper herringbone mirroring the color of his silvered, curly hair. Harry strives to not stand out, all the better to ply his craft. But he is coolly dashing. And in that, he has a facade of composure. But cuddled next to his wife, his passion burns. For her, he will coo and dance, showing that this old man still has moves. In front of old friends, he is gruff but caring. To their grandchildren, he is warm and paternal. And when confronted by mercurial thugs, he is alert and patient. Turturro offers a phenomenally nuanced performance that subtly speaks to what it takes to survive decades in this city.

When the Knicks won the NBA Championship this year, Turturro went viral for a dance he did at the celebration parade, candidly caught on camera. I thought of that scene throughout The Only Living Pickpocket in New York, not because his genuine joy in that moment is reflected in the movie, but because in both of these on-camera moments, Turturro succinctly captures what it is to be a New Yorker. It is grappling with grief and joy in the same crazy day. It is making a family of the misfits you treasure. It is embracing this city — and the outer boroughs — with appreciation and respect. It is building a life few can understand, and frankly, they don't need to. This is a space for all kinds of dreams, all kinds of people, and all kinds of ways to lose and win.

As a crime thriller, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York is a solidly entertaining ride, being sharply paced, thoughtfully shot, and stacked with a terrific cast that also includes Tatiana Maslany. But more than just another fun crime movie set in New York City, this one is also resolutely aware of the greats who came before, paying tribute without aping them. And best of all, Turturro offers a turn that showcases his humor, sexiness, pathos, and a cutting subtlety that's absolutely riveting. In a career full of outstanding performances, The Only Living Pickpocket in New York offers one of Turturro's very best. 

The Only Living Pickpocket in New York was reviewed out of the New York Film Festival. It will open theatrically in New York and Los Angeles on Oct. 23, then expand nationwide on Oct. 30.

Carol. Deep Water. Strangers on a Train. The Talented Mr. Ripley. American author Patricia Highsmith has inspired filmmakers for decades with her lurid tales of sex, deception, and murder. Now, she herself is a character in such a thriller, thanks to A Talent For Murder.

Adapted for the screen by Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith from her own play, Switzerland, this film imagines what might have happened if Highsmith's biggest fan got the chance to meet his hero. Enter Edward Ridgeway (Tony winner Alden Ehrenreich), a handsome young man with carefully coiffed dark hair, a strong jaw, a pressed shirt, and polished glasses, but little poise. On a train through Switzerland, he seems like he stumbled out of the first chapter of a Tom Ripley novel, sure to be felled or corrupted by the iconic con man.

Now, the girl. Clementine Harriet Balfour (Olivia Cooke) is pretty, with a bouncy brunette bob, and a fashion sense that hints at an old-money family and independent ambitions. They meet as strangers on a train, but are sure to cross paths again in the small Swiss village where she's visiting a miserly dowager aunt (Juliet Stevenson), and he's tasked with getting Highsmith to sign a contract to write a sixth Ripley novel.

Director Anton Corbijn expertly lays out a spring-loaded trap that's sure to capture the interest of Highsmith fans. A handsome couple flirts, while wealth and opportunity glitter on the horizon. What might they do to get there?

Enter a surly Highsmith, played with gnarly certainty by the one and only Helen Mirren.

Helen Mirren is a deranged delight in A Talent for Murder.

The English Dame has done Shakespeare and Prime Suspect; she's played Queen Elizabeth II and a Fast and Furious baddie with equal aplomb. Plus, just last year, she played a sultry spy in the cozy crime treat The Thursday Murder Club. But there's no lightness in Mirren's Highsmith.

In 1995, atop a Swiss mountain, the heralded author has become an eccentric recluse, rumored to have poisoned a neighbor's dog for barking too much, and to have driven an American man so mad he fled her home while only wearing his pajamas. Dressed in men's slacks, a crisp men's dress shirt, a cravat and vest, paired with a fuck-off bob, Mirren's Highsmith is imposing, even introduced ironing a shirt.

When Edward appears, eager with compliments, gifts, and talk of opportunity, she regards him with such scorching disdain the audience at the Toronto International Film Festival gasped and guffawed. The ruthless wit of the Ripley novels is sharply replicated in Murray-Smith's screenplay, and Mirren makes the most of every line, savoring the sharp barbs. To his credit, Ehrenreich doesn't balk in the face of this storied actress. And thank the gods, because failing to match her onscreen would make A Talent for Murder a miss. Instead, it's a twisted thrill: sexy, salty, and wickedly fun.

Alden Ehrenreich is hot and bothered in A Talent for Murder.

Earlier this year, Ehrenreich earned praise and a Tony award for his phenomenal performance in the Broadway revival of Becky Shaw. Watching A Talent for Murder, I thought often of this stage performance, as his characters have a lot in common. Young men who've come from a family with no means and no reputation worth a damn, who both cozy up to a wealthy family, determined not just to enter their world but to rule it.

At first glance, Edward looks like Matt Damon's version of Ripley, from the juicy 1999 adaptation The Talented Mr. Ripley. His hair floppy but fashionable. His smile earnest but awkward. The eyeglasses, a perfect twin. This feels intentional, as if Corbijn wants Highsmith fans to immediately wonder if this eager social climber might have the root of evil in him, which could make Highsmith's criminal mastermind real.

Smartly, the screenplay doesn't pitch Edward as some rube. He's come ready to impress Highsmith, even if that means tantalizing her with twisted tales from his past, and the possibility of criminally corrupting him. Enticed by his game, the two begin to collaborate on a murder mystery about a blue-collar boy who meets an old-money girl, and is determined to make her family fortune his own. Their thought experiment gets joltingly real as Highsmith haunts him in the night and inspires him to treat the reckless heiress Clementine as source material.

From there, A Talent for Murder begins to blur what's real and imagined in pursuit of bringing fresh blood to Highsmith's typewriter. And it just wouldn't work if Ehrenreich weren't on fire. Where Mirren is delicious in her snarling cruelty (think Tilda Swinton in Problemista), Ehrenreich is intriguing in his slipperiness. Edward and Highsmith's imagined novel plays out as we watch, recasting the former as her anti-hero, with Clementine playing the role they write for her. In these sections, Ehrenreich has the smoothness of Ripley, his confidence edged with a misanthropic disgust at all who aren't as clever and calculating as he. But as Edward, Ehrenreich trembles with insecurity, particularly in a scene where he's delicately called out by an Irish lady (Brid Brennan), who spots him as an outsider from his shoes alone.

To her credit, Cooke is not outshone in the slim role of Clementine. Whether the imagined version where she is a yearning virgin or the real one, where she is a spoiled rich girl looking for a cheap thrill, she brings a full-blooded verve to this girl. Together, this trio weaves a tale of sex, death, and desire that touches on the best of Highsmith's works, without feeling like a shallow retread of them. Instead, A Talent for Murder plays like a superb fan fiction, imagining the inner world and grisly desires of the seminal author, without idolizing her or whitewashing her well-documented defects.

A Talent For Murder is darkly funny, freshly thrilling, and unrepentantly seductive. It's not a Ripley sequel, but it's damn close.

A Talent For Murder was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival. The movie will open in theaters on Oct. 23.

SAVE $175.50: As of Oct. 23, the Dyson Airwrap i.d. is on sale for $534.49 at Amazon. That's a 25% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson Airwrap i.d.

$534.49 at Amazon
$709.99 Save $175.50

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Amazon has a new deal on the Dyson Airwrap i.d., which includes the Dyson Chitosan post-style serum.

If you're wanting to upgrade to the popular styling tool and pair it with the brand's own products, this is a great deal. As of Oct. 23, you can take home this bundle for $534.49, down from the usual $709.99. That's a discount of over $170.

The Dyson Airwrap i.d. is designed to make styling much easier, offering several styling functions in one device. Depending on the look you're after, you can use it to dry, curl, wave, smooth, or shape your hair, with attachments to help you switch between finishes.

One of the standout features of the Airwrap is its integration with the MyDyson app. Using Bluetooth, the tool can create a personalized styling routine based on your hair type and length, helping you achieve more consistent results each time you use it. Its styling technology is also designed to rely on airflow rather than extreme heat, so heat damage isn't a concern.

You can find this Dyson deal at Amazon right now.

TL;DR: The Insta360 Mic starts at $79.99 for a single transmitter, with receiver bundles priced at $139.99 for a 1TX + 1RX setup and $249.99 for the complete 2TX + 1RX kit. It combines a customizable E-Ink display, onboard microSD storage for 32-bit float backup recording, and AI noise cancellation.

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Credit: Insta360

Insta360 Mic

 

Shop Now at Amazon

Insta360 has spent the last few years dominating the action and 360 camera space, but even the crispest 8K footage gets ruined if the audio sounds like it was recorded inside a tin can. Enter the Insta360 Mic — the newest mid-tier option designed to bridge the gap between the budget-friendly Mic Air and the top-end Mic Pro.

Built for daily vloggers, travelers, weekend sports shooters, and podcasters, it brings high-end features down to an approachable level so you don't have to blow your whole budget on gear. Each transmitter rocks a customizable E-Ink display on the front, letting you upload your channel logo, personal brand, or even a photo of your pet to show off while filming.

Credit: Insta360

An onboard microSD card slot lets you capture 32-bit float backup tracks directly to the transmitter. If audio suddenly spikes during a loud celebration or drops during a quiet moment, the massive dynamic range keeps the sound from clipping or distorting, giving you plenty of room to adjust levels during editing. You also get a dedicated NPU-based AI chip that strips out background chatter and ambient noise without making human voices sound like a compressed robot.

If you already shoot on Insta360 hardware like the X6, X5, Luna Ultra, or Ace Pro 2, the Direct Connect feature pairs the mic directly to your camera over Bluetooth, with no receiver required. Shooting on a phone or mirrorless DSLR instead? Simply plug the included receiver in using the USB-C adapter or 3.5mm jack for a traditional lavalier setup.

A single charge gets you up to 13 hours on the transmitter alone, and the charging case bumps the total runtime to 34 hours for long multi-day shoots. You can even sync four transmitters onto a single receiver, mixing and matching with older Mic Pro units, to handle group interviews or podcasts.

The Insta360 Mic is available today, starting at $79.99 for a standalone transmitter, $139.99 for a 1TX + 1RX kit, and $249.99 for the complete 2TX + 1RX bundle with the charging case.

Tesla's Cybertruck will no longer be released in Australia and New Zealand. The company announced its cancellation in these regions in an email to customers on Friday.

"After careful consideration, plans to produce the Cybertruck for Australia and New Zealand have been discontinued," Tesla wrote. "As a result, we're unable to fulfil your reservation and it will be cancelled."

Drivers in Australia and New Zealand had been able to preorder Tesla's Cybertruck since it was initially unveiled in 2019. At the time, the company planned to start production in late 2021, eight years after CEO Elon Musk first teased the Cybertruck in 2013.

Now five years past the Cybertruck's previous manufacturing date, it seems that Australian and Kiwi customers' patient waiting has not borne the results they were promised. The Cybertruck has been removed from both Tesla's Australian and New Zealand websites, which now only offer the Model 3, Model Y and preorders for the Roadster.

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Those eager to secure a Cybertruck had been required to pay a preorder deposit of $AU/NZ150. Fortunately, Tesla has stated that all such payments will be refunded. The company has also said that customers whose preorders were cancelled will be given a one-year subscription to Tesla's Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system — provided they buy a new Model 3 or Model Y instead.

(Despite its name, the Full Self-Driving (Supervised) system does not enable Tesla's electric vehicles to autonomously drive themselves. Rather, it is a driving assistance feature that offers some automation, and still requires a driver to actively pay attention and control the car.)

While some enthusiasts have been disappointed by the cancellation of their Cybertruck preorders, many other EV users are celebrating that it won't make it onto Australia and New Zealand's roads. Even users of the r/TeslaAustralia subreddit have shed few tears over the Cybertruck's cancelled plans in the country.

The Cybertruck has been widely derided as ugly since its introduction, with people likening it to everything from a child's drawing to low-poly video game graphics. Many have also been unimpressed by negative reports on the Cybertruck's build quality, the vehicle having been subject to multiple recalls in the U.S. where it is already available. Now drivers in Australia and New Zealand won't have to worry about it as well.

TL;DR: Preorders for the physical version of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake are $10 off at Amazon. Preorder your copy now for $59.88, and you'll also get a preorder price guarantee.

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Credit: Nintendo

'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Digital)

$59.99 at Amazon

 

Shop Now at Amazon

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Credit: Nintendo

'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time' (Physical)

$59.88 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $10.11

 

Get Deal at Amazon

There are just a few weeks until Nintendo finally drops the Switch 2 remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The game is officially out on Nov. 5, but Zelda fans have been excited for this game ever since the release of gameplay preview footage.

You can already preorder both the digital and physical copies at Amazon. Even better than that, you can already get a deal on the physical edition. It was originally priced at $69.99, but as of Oct. 22, it's down to $59.88 for total savings of $10.11. The digital version is available for $59.99.

As an extra incentive, Amazon is offering a price guarantee on preorders. That means that if the price changes between now and the point the game is released — when your card is actually charged — you'll pay the lowest price point from that period (in other words, if it drops to $55 before you receive the game, that's what you'll pay).

If you need another reason to preorder, Nintendo is also releasing special packaging with textured foil cover art as part of the first print run on the physical edition. It's a can't-miss deal for collectors and die-hard Zelda fans.

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.

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

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Ship bed.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

BERTH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Rule-breaker.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

REBEL

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Company.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

BRAND

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Surpass.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

OUTDO

Final Hurdle hint

Therefore.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

HENCE

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 will be easier for people who watch baseball.

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.

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. The sports 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 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 before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

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: Pennant hopefuls

• Green: Defunct baseball

• Blue: GOAT Brewers

• Purple: Championship MVP's

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: MLB Teams to Reach The League Championship Series This Year

• Green: Former MLB Team Names

• Blue: Brewers All-Stars, Historically

• Purple: World Series MVPs, with The First Letter Changed

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 #760 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• MLB Teams to Reach The League Championship Series This Year: BREWERS, DODGERS, GUARDIANS, RAYS

• Former MLB Team Names: BROWNS, DEVIL RAYS, EXPOS, PILOTS

• Brewers All-Stars, Historically: FIELDER, FINGERS, SHEETS, WEEKS

• World Series MVPs, with The First Letter Changed: CAMELS, EYE, MEAGER, METER

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 yesterday's Connections.

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

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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.

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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 23 Pips

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

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 23 Pips

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 23 Pips

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

Direct meaning

Expressing opinions clearly, plainly and without beating around the bush.

Frank meaning

Speaking or acting with sincerity and directness,

Open meaning

Not closed, blocked, sealed or covered

Vocal meaning

Relating to, produced by, or intended for the human voice or speech.

Driver meaning

A computer program that controls hardware.

Extension meaning

An extra part or allowance added to a main thing.

Plugin meaning

A software component that adds specific features to an existing program or platform without changing its core code

Update meaning

To bring something or someone up to date by adding the newest information, making it more modern or providing recent facts

Double meaning

When a word, phrase or sentence can be understood in two distinct ways at the same time

Love meaning

A strong, deep emotional and mental state of affection, attraction or devotion toward a person, animal,or activity.

Phone meaning

An electronic device that lets two or more people talk to each other across a distance using wires or radio signals.

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Spinal meaning

Relating to, or affecting the spine.

Distance meaning

The numerical measurement of how far apart two objects, points or places are.

Force meaning

A push or a pull.

Power meaning

The ability, righto r political strength to govern, influence, or direct people, events or nations

Time meaning

The continuous progression of existence where events move forward from the past, through the present and into the future

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a math whiz.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Don't beat around the bush

• Green: Tech uploads

• Blue: Mathematics

• Purple: Lightly hit

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Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Forthright

• Green: Things you install on a computer

• Blue: Quantities in a formula for power

• Purple: __ Tap

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 #1230 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Forthright: DIRECT, FRANK, OPEN, VOCAL

• Things you install on a computer: DRIVER, EXTENSION, PLUGIN, UPDATE

• Quantities in a formula for power: DISTANCE, FORCE, POWER, TIME

• __ Tap: DOUBLE, LOVE, PHONE, SPINAL

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you stick your nose where it doesn't belong.

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

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

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

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: None of your beeswax!

The words are related to curiosity.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being in others' business.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

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NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Busy Body.

NYT Strands word list for October 23

• Nosy

• Prying

• Inquisitive

• Snoopy

• Eavesdropping

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you get nervous easily.

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

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Quaver.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

TRILL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle 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.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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 yesterday's Wordle.

SAVE OVER $20: As of Oct. 22, the Anker Solix C200 DC portable power station is marked down to $129.98 at Amazon. That's $20.01 off its full price of $149.99.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Anker

Anker SOLIX C200 DC Portable Power Station

$129.98 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $20.01

 

Get Deal at Amazon

Anker isn't waiting until November to hop on the Black Friday bandwagon. The company has already dropped plenty of early deals for shoppers to check out, including portable power stations.

Over at Amazon, the Anker Solix C200 DC is marked down to $129.98. Compared to paying its full price of $149.99, this offer saves you just over $20. It's currently marked as a limited-time deal, so the clock is ticking to save.

The Anker Solix C200 DC may be small, but it's still packed with power to keep your devices charged up while you're on the go. It comes with a 192Wh battery that delivers a 200W output, plus five charging ports to handle your tech: a 100W USB-C, a 140W USB-C, a 15W USB-C, and two 12W USB-A ports.

And speaking of taking it on the go, it's 39% smaller than similar power stations, so bringing it along on a camping trip won't feel like a hassle. This power station is also easy to recharge, with three options: a 140W USB-C PD 3.1 port, 100W solar panels, or a car socket.

Don't let a low battery get you down. Act fast to save on the Anker Solix C200 DC while it's on sale at Amazon.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC for a one-time $114.97 (reg. $149.99) through Oct. 25 — includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC: One-Time Purchase

$112.97
$149.99 Save $37.02

 

Get Deal

Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations aren’t going anywhere. Neither are the monthly fees that often come with productivity software. Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC is just $114.97 (reg. $149.99) through Oct. 25, and it’s a one-time purchase for lifetime access.

This edition includes the 2024 desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote, which means it is a practical toolkit for students, families, and anyone who regularly works with documents.

Word handles everything from school essays to personal correspondence, with advanced formatting controls and collaboration features that let multiple people work on the same document.

Excel offers Dynamic Arrays and functions such as FILTER, SORT, and UNIQUE, which help organize information and automatically update results when data changes.

PowerPoint includes presentation recording with voice, video, and closed captions, while OneNote gives you a convenient place to organize notes and ideas.

One major advantage of the desktop apps is offline access. You can write, edit spreadsheets, and create presentations without an active internet connection, then sync supported files when you’re back online.

The software also supports real-time collaboration, making it easier to work on group assignments or shared family projects when connected.

Unlike Microsoft 365, this version doesn’t require monthly or annual subscription payments.

A couple of important details: Office 2024 Home doesn’t include Outlook, and each license covers one Mac or Windows PC. The one-use activation code is linked to your Microsoft account rather than the device itself.

For anyone who prefers familiar productivity software without recurring fees, this is a straightforward way to get the essential Office apps.

Get Microsoft Office 2024 Home for Mac or PC for just $114.97 (reg. $149.99) through Oct. 25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Growing up in Pittsburgh, my childhood Halloween hauls were 70 percent Clark Bars. Emptying my bag onto the living room floor, I’d channel my inner Ralphie from A Christmas Story, muttering a disappointed "Ohhhhh fuuudge!" at all that local chocolate.

Because Clark Bars were manufactured in Pittsburgh, customers at the local G.C. Murphy or Thrift Drug could scoop up giant bags at markdown prices. Clark had Halloween cornered in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Times have changed. Those stores are gone, Clark Bars are rare, and I’m old enough that I don't have to say "fudge" when I'm angry. But one thing hasn't changed: kids still treat trick-or-treating like a game of neighborhood Rolo roulette. Back then, anything besides a Clark Bar was a coveted confection.

After I reluctantly grew up, I went into retail, leading media relations for Kmart and Sears. Our Kmart stores would load up on cheap candy before Halloween, and sales always topped costumes or decorations. Corporate buyers spent months planning exactly what to sell, how much to order, and where to ship it across 1,000 stores. Then, like clockwork on Nov. 1, the leftovers went on clearance. Apparently, peanut butter cups don’t age well on store shelves.

That human-driven process seems so stale now. Nowadays, people snicker at the butterfingers of humans, proverbial pez heads who can let things slip be-twix their fingers. But don’t be too quick to kiss humans goodbye.

Today, childhood nostalgia is being systematically optimized away by advanced predictive analytics and logistical AI. The invisible hand of the candy aisle knows your neighborhood’s demographic profile better than you do, and it has already decided if your zip code deserves the "good stuff." Where I grew up, we wouldn’t be getting Toblerone, that’s for sure.

Global candy manufacturers and big-box retailers openly deploy AI-driven "demand sensing" models. Retailers now feed past transactions, social media trends, and hyper-local product inventory into machine learning networks. By analyzing this data, algorithms can forecast exactly how a specific neighborhood will shop.

The system cross-references local census records and homeownership rates to shift delivery pallets before the first plastic pumpkin hits shelves. Quite frankly, that is a helluva lot of data.

The result is a hyper-focused predictive allocation engine. If a well-to-do suburb experiences a millennial baby boom, something like Walmart’s demand-forecasting algorithms catch the trend early. By analyzing local sales history and foot traffic, the system uses machine learning to automatically trigger massive shipments of premium, multi-brand chocolate variety packs to those specific high-demand stores weeks in advance.

Conversely, if you live in a high-density urban apartment block of young professionals or an aging retirement community, the AI predicts low trick-or-treater turnout. Premium inventory is rerouted elsewhere, leaving your local store shelves bare of anything but low-tier hard candies.

In other words, your neighbors couldn't buy the good candy even if they wanted to; the algorithm decided they weren't worth the shipping cost. What a snobby algorithm.

Then I got to thinking, what happens when these algorithms collide with regional history, creating an inevitable feedback loop? Take my childhood Pittsburgh data. Today's predictive AI won't see a city of disappointed children. Nope, it will only see a massive, recurring seasonal spike for Clark Bars.

Blind to our melt-away misery, the algorithm would flag this as a "regional preference," boost bulk buying, slash the price, and flood local shelves. By automating past behavior, the machine ensures future generations face the exact same crisis I did. A lot of kids like me venting an "Ohhhhh fuuudge!"

The algorithm isn't just looking backward, either. It also parses unstructured data like live weather forecasts. If the machine catches even a whiff of rain on Oct. 31, it can instantly reduce shipments of trick-or-treating candy to your entire region, prioritizing indoor alternatives like party kits or ghoulish plastic backdrops.

The system is also secretly scrolling social media. The second a viral TikTok video of an influencer with a trending marshmallow ghost Peep with bug eyes catches fire, the algorithm intercepts the digital signal. It immediately diverts entire shipping containers of Peeps to the hip, urban zip codes driving the clicks, leaving the surrounding suburbs out of the loop.

To the TikTok victor go the Peep spoils.

We spend a lot of time fretting about generative AI replacing human artists or stealing digital identities. Yet, the most immediate way AI alters our culture is deceptively invisible; quietly sucking the random, chaotic joy out of a community holiday and dressing it in the costume of an optimization spreadsheet.

So, when the kids dump their plastic pumpkins onto the living room rug this year, look closely at the haul. Don’t curse the house down the street for handing out generic chocolate or cheap hard candy. They weren't being stingy.

They were just the unfortunate casualties of a cold, unfeeling algorithm. The machine unwrapped their zip code, crunched the numbers, and chewed on the fact that their neighborhood simply didn't possess the premium metrics required for a Reese's Cup.

By trying to optimize our choices, the algorithm inadvertently condemns them to a bleak, automated future of pure, inescapable Clark Bars. “Ohhhhh fuuudge!”

This article represents the opinions of its writer.

John Casey is a columnist at Raw Story, the Advocate, Daily Beast, and Outsports. He's also the author of Love: The Heroic Stories of Marriage Equality.

Skullcandy's products will no longer just feature Sound by Bose — they'll be an official part of the Bose brand, too.

Following the collaboration between the two brands that brought Bose-engineered audio and tech to the budget brand's products, Bose announced an acquisition of Skullcandy on Oct. 21.

What this means for Skullcandy and Bose

This comes just over a year and a half after the release of the Skullcandy Method 360 ANC earbuds, the first pair of Skullcandy buds to come with the Sound by Bose designation. In my testing of those earbuds, priced at $99, I found they featured an impressive soundscape for the price point that felt worthy of the Bose name. While not exactly like a pair of Bose earbuds, they did feel like an elevation over what I expected sonically from Skullcandy.

Though not twins, the Bose-powered Skullcandy earbuds and Bose earbuds do bear a resemblance. Credit: Skullcandy

Credit: Bose

The Skullcandy brand will remain its own distinct brand under Bose, with the headquarters remaining in Park City, Utah. The press release announcing the acquisition detailed that Bose wanted to retain "Skullcandy’s design, understanding of its consumers, and authentic community connections," as it helped create new products and growth for the brand, providing "new ways for Bose to meaningfully connect with consumers where it has less presence today."

In other words, the success of the collaboration between the two brands seems to have offered Bose the opportunity to go more aggressively after the budget consumer market, a corner that Skullcandy has been firmly situated in for years. For comparison, Skullcandy's cheapest earbuds, a pair of wired earbuds, go for $14.99. Bose's cheapest earbuds, the new wired ANC buds, go for $99.99. Wireless- and ANC-wise, Skullcandy's buds start at $104.99 while Bose's most affordable pair clocks in at $179.99.

The path to acquisition tracks for Bose

The writing was on the wall with Bose acquiring Skullcandy, especially considering their latest Skullcandy collab, the Crusher 1080 headphones. Released just this past July, the press release called these headphones the "most advanced headphone in Skullcandy's history," powered with Sound by Bose, Bose QuietControl 6-mic adaptive noise cancellation, Bose TrueSpatial with head tracking, and the Bose WaveForm Audio Engine.

The president of Bose Audio Technology and Chief Strategy Officer Nick Smith said the collab was "an exciting example of how Bose innovation can reach more listeners through distinctive new products and experiences," which sounds like a line that could've easily fit in the acquisition press release.

This purchase of Skullcandy is Bose's third acquisition of the year, though the first of a consumer audio brand. On Oct. 1, Bose acquired Firelight Technologies, the maker of an interactive audio software program. Earlier this year, Bose bought StreamUnlimited Engineering GmbH, a connected audio platform.

Birdbuddy has launched two new smart bird feeders ahead of the holiday season, including the compact, budget-friendly Birdbuddy Nook (starting at only $99). The other is a next-generation flagship model, the Birdbuddy Home, which retails for $219 and replaces the Birdbuddy Pro.

Both feeders initially debuted at CES 2026 as the Birdbuddy 2 mini and Birdbuddy 2, respectively. As of Oct. 22, they're now widely available for purchase at various retailers.

Opens in a new window

Credit: Birdbuddy

Birdbuddy Nook

$99 at mybirdbuddy.com

 

Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com

Opens in a new window

Credit: Birdbuddy

Birdbuddy Home

$219 at mybirdbuddy.com

 

Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com

Birdbuddy sent me both models to try ahead of their release. Since it can take a while for wild birds to find new feeders, I enlisted the help of my pet parrot, Melon, to evaluate their upgraded cameras. (He also helped me test out Birdbuddy's AI-powered species identification feature, which you can read about here.) Here's what stood out to me as I unboxed them and set them up in the front yard of my Chicago apartment.

Birdbuddy Nook: A basic smart feeder for under $100

The Nook is a small, minimalist hopper feeder that's ideal for tight spaces like balconies and patios. Its modular design comes in a cute sage green finish.

The Birdbuddy Nook doesn't come with a solar roof by default. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Nook is much more affordable than the Birdbuddy Home, but it requires more maintenance. It can only fit about three and a half cups of birdseed, so it needs more frequent top-ups. And its $99 base model doesn't have solar charging capabilities; you'll have to monitor its battery life and bring it inside to sit on an outlet occasionally.

You'll get a solar roof attachment if you opt for the Birdbuddy Nook Solar ($159) or the Birdbuddy Nook Extended Edition ($199.99), which also includes a larger perch and a Birdbuddy Family Premium membership. You can buy the bigger perch à la carte for $34, but full disclosure: I could not for the life of me figure out how to install it without possibly stripping its screw holes.

Here's what comes in the Birdbuddy Nook Extended Edition. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Based on my initial testing, the Nook Solar is an essential upgrade for three reasons. First, I like not having to worry about charging my feeder. Second, I think the Nook looks a little cheap and unfinished without its roof — there are little gaps on the sides where it's meant to snap on. Thirdly, the USB-C port where its roof plugs into its battery is located right in the middle of its reservoir, and it's a pain to clean tiny seeds and dust out of it.

Birdbuddy Home: A bigger smart feeder with all the fixings

The Home is an all-in-one hopper feeder with two built-in solar panels, dual-band WiFi for a more reliable connection, and a taller reservoir that can fit around five and a half cups of seeds. A bright red-orange perch accents its slate blue finish.

There's a solar panel on either side of the Birdbuddy Home's roof. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Home has the same mic and camera as the Nook, but adds a built-in speaker. It chirps the first time you install the camera and verbally guides you through the app and WiFi pairing process.

Between the Nook Solar and the Home, I prefer the latter. It has a hatch in the back that makes seed refills easier, whereas you have to remove the entire top of the Nook to access its reservoir. Additionally, the Home has two solar panels on either side of its roof, so it's more likely to get ample sun exposure. The Nook's roof attachment only has a solar panel on one side.

Here's what the Birdbuddy Home looks like before it's assembled. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Home also comes in an Extended Edition ($249.99) with a bigger perch and a Family Premium membership.

Birdbuddy camera quality

Those two lines on either side of the lens tell you whether your new Birdbuddy's camera is positioned in landscape or portrait mode. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Both new Birdbuddies have an updated 2K HDR camera with a scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass casing. Here's how it compares to the shooters on older Birdbuddy feeders, which had an oblong design instead of a round one:

• It's faster at pairing with the Birdbuddy app (I can attest to this — it only takes a few seconds)

• It has a wider field of view (135 degrees versus 122 degrees)

• It works in landscape or portrait mode

• It "wakes up" faster once the feeders' motion detectors sense a bird

• There's no longer a delay on its livestream

Before I mounted the Home outside, I bribed my parrot Melon into stepping in front of its camera by putting a few peanuts in its tray — his favorite treat. A couple minutes later, the Birdbuddy app sent me a "postcard" with a 30-second video clip and six photos it took automatically during his visit.

Smile, you're on "Candid Camera." Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The clip Birdbuddy recorded had very clear audio and colorful, detailed picture quality, but its photos weren't all that great; one was a blurry close-up of Melon, and the five others were of his back. I took some more shots manually using the photo capture feature on the Home's live feed and they turned out much better.

Left: Photos taken by the Birdbuddy Home automatically. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Right: Photos taken with the photo capture feature on the Birdbuddy Home's livestream. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The Birdbuddy app tells me that Cooper's hawks, red-breasted nuthatches, and white-throated sparrows have been spotted near me this week. Let's hope they're ready for their close-up.

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Birdbuddy claims the AI model powering its species identification feature can recognize about 11,000 different types of birds, or "nearly every bird species in the world." As I was setting up its two new smart feeders for testing, I wondered: Does that include Melon, my Alexandrine parakeet?

Does Birdbuddy know ball?

Melon, as seen on the camera of the new Birdbuddy Home in my office (his room). Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Not to sound like a total bird hipster, but you've probably never heard of Alexandrines, an older and lesser-known species of chatty green parrots native to southern and southeastern Asia. They're not available at chain pet stores and are very often confused with Indian ringneck parakeets, their much more popular relatives with smaller beaks, shorter tails, and no crimson wing patches. (There are a lot of ringnecks on TikTok — see Hamlet of "what doing???" fame.)

Needless to say, I figured Melon would give Birdbuddy's AI a real challenge.

The verdict

That red wing patch should be a dead giveaway to true parrot heads. Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Disappointingly, but not fully unexpectedly, Birdbuddy guessed wrong. Right after I got Melon in view of the next-gen Birdbuddy Home, the Birdbuddy app sent me a notification saying that I was just visited by a "rose-ringed parakeet" — another name for an Indian ringneck. I submitted feedback within the app to let Birdbuddy know that its guess was close but ultimately incorrect.

The good news is that most people won't have exotic parrots visiting their house on a regular basis. I'm hoping Birdbuddy will have an easier time recognizing my native wild birds; the Home is currently mounted in the front yard of my Chicago apartment, if someone could kindly alert the area pigeons.

Left: Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Right: Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

The new Birdbuddy Home ($219) and Birdbuddy Nook ($99) are now available for purchase.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today. 

Opens in a new window

Credit: Birdbuddy

Birdbuddy Nook

$99 at mybirdbuddy.com

 

Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com

Opens in a new window

Credit: Birdbuddy

Birdbuddy Home

$219 at mybirdbuddy.com

 

Shop Now at mybirdbuddy.com

Rising gas prices. The Iran War. AI's effects on the economy.

Across the United States, Americans are worried about a multitude of major challenges.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump said he called Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, one of the biggest tech companies on the planet, to discuss a pressing issue that's been on his mind: Changing the name of the Atlantic Ocean.

At a rally in South Carolina, Trump shared that after successfully getting Google Maps to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario to Lake America, he tried to pressure the tech giant to do the same for the Atlantic Ocean.

“We have a lake and we have a gulf, now we need a river and we need an ocean," Trump said at the rally, as reported by the Washington Post.

Trump said that he “called Google Maps," which he described as "really great with the lake" regarding his prior requests. 

"They're still rattled from the Gulf," Trump said, adding that he called Pichai because he wanted to see if Google would be up to changing the name of the Atlantic Ocean too.

"Sundar, I'm thinking of the Atlantic Ocean," Trump claimed he said in the call.

However, it seems that renaming the Atlantic Ocean as the American Ocean was one step too far for Google, which has previously kowtowed to Trump's geographical demands. (Google's previous Google Maps changes only appear for U.S. visitors to the platform)

"No, no, no. This time, I’m not doing it," Pichai said, according to Trump's version of events. "Please don’t ask us to do that."

According to Trump, Pichai's reasoning was that "oceans are different" because they "cover a lot of countries."

After the call, Trump said he'd "probably pass" on renaming the Atlantic Ocean after his call with Google. The tech giant has yet to confirm the call with the president occurred. 

"I think let's keep it the Atlantic Ocean, right?" Trump told rallygoers, before turning his attention to the West Coast.

"Pacific Ocean," Trump added. "We're going to call it the American Ocean."

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The iPhone Duo doesn't officially come out until tomorrow, but on the Bloomberg "Power On" podcast, Apple oracle Mark Gurman is already reporting on the iPhone Duo 2 and the iPhone Duo 3.

Early reviews for the iPhone Duo are out now (Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder said in his Duo review that it's the "most interesting iPhone since the first one"), and some reviewers have complained about its reliance on Touch ID. Many iOS users have gotten used to Face ID in recent years, but the Duo uses a Touch ID fingerprint sensor instead.

But according to Gurman, Bloomberg's consumer technology managing editor, prototypes of the iPhone Duo 2 with an under-display FaceID sensor are already circulating inside Apple.

"I’m told there are iPhone Duo 2 prototypes at Apple already that have an under-display Face ID sensor and camera on the outside screen, so that is something we could see," Gurman said on his "Power On" podcast. "So, I would anticipate this Touch ID to Face ID thing is fixed by the first update or the second update, so in the next two to three years or so."

Gurman reports that Apple is experimenting with an under-display Face ID sensor and camera for the Duo, which would be placed on the outer display. He said this is one of "a few different features that Apple is already looking at for the iPhone Duo 2 and the iPhone Duo 3."

Gurman has an impeccable track record when it comes to Apple scoops, and it sounds like Apple is already working on fixes for some of the issues early reviewers experienced with the new foldable.

"Perhaps the biggest issue for me was the lack of Face ID, which was replaced by Touch ID on the side button," Schroeder wrote in Mashable's iPhone Duo review. "The Touch ID works well, but you do need to navigate your finger to it often, and having the phone simply recognize your face as it does on other iPhones would be easier."

The iPhone Duo is available for preorder now and is set to be released on Friday, Oct. 23.

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Your next Heated Rivalry rewatch could use a bigger screen. And an audience of people who are equally normal about Shane and Ilya.

Regal is bringing all six episodes of the hockey romance to theaters this November, with screenings running Nov. 6–30. The event will play at more than 650 theaters nationwide, including over 275 Regal locations, plus participating AMC, Cinemark, and other theaters, according to a press release.

That doesn't mean committing to the entire season in one sitting. Episodes will screen in pairs, with tickets priced at $9.99 per screening at Regal. Here's how the season breaks down:

• Episodes 1 and 2: "Rookies" and "Olympians"

• Episodes 3 and 4: "Hunter" and "Rose"

• Episodes 5 and 6: "I’ll Believe in Anything" and "The Cottage"

Yes, that means you can experience the cottage with a room full of fellow fans. Plan your emotional recovery accordingly.

The cottage on the big screen? Say less! Credit: Screenshot: Regal

Created by Jacob Tierney and based on Rachel Reid's series of books, Heated Rivalry follows rival hockey players Shane Hollander (Hudson Williams) and Ilya Rozanov (Connor Storrie), whose relationship gets considerably more complicated than their competition on the ice. The theatrical run arrives nearly a year after the show's premiere, with Season 2 expected in 2027.

Fans didn’t just fall for Shane and Ilya — they showed up in the millions. Since premiering on Nov. 28, 2025, Heated Rivalry has turned its hockey romance into a streaming hit. By February, the series was averaging 13 million global viewers per episode, making it HBO Max's biggest first-run acquired scripted series, according to Warner Bros. Discovery. Its breakout stars have had a busy year, too: Storrie earned his first Emmy nomination for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series for hosting Saturday Night Live. The theatrical run arrives nearly a year after the show's debut, with Season 2 expected in 2027.

"When a series connects with audiences the way Heated Rivalry has, we look for ways to bring it to the big screen and give fans a reason to experience it together," Brooks LeBoeuf, Regal's senior vice president of U.S. content, said in the release.

The event joins a growing push to turn TV viewing into a night at the movies. Netflix brought the Stranger Things series finale to theaters on New Year's Eve, while Bravo held an advance screening of the Summer House Season 10 reunion at a New York AMC in May. And HBO Max also partnered with Alamo Drafthouse for early screenings of The Pitt’s Season 2 finale in April.

For Heated Rivalry fans who've already memorized the episodes, there's a little extra incentive to leave the couch. Regal screenings will include welcome content from the cast and directors, while participating locations will serve two themed cocktails: Summer in Montreal and Russians Don't Blush.

Advance tickets are available through Regal's website, its mobile app, and theater box offices and kiosks. Check your local listings for screening dates and episode pairs before booking.

The invitation to the cottage now comes with reserved seating.

You can stream Heated Rivalry on HBO Max.

Walmart's early Black Friday deals:

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Walmart isn't waiting around for late November, and its early Black Friday sale is already live with actual price cuts on tech, home gear, and big-ticket appliances.

To help you skip the fluff, we've sifted through the noise, checked price histories, and compared offer details against competitors like Amazon and Target. We've rounded up the early Walmart Black Friday deals that are actually worth your money, including big markdowns on Apple gear, Dyson vacuums, and OLED TVs.

Below are the best offers you can grab right now. Take a look below and score them before the stock runs out or prices creep back up.

Best Walmart Black Friday TV deal

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Credit: LG

LG 65" C6 Series 4K UHD OLED AI Smart TV

$1,399.99 at Walmart
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00

 

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Why we like it

LG's C-Series is our top OLED pick for a reason, and the 65-inch C6 delivers near-zero blooming, vivid colors, and incredible dark-room contrast that turns movie nights into a theater experience. It's equally built for modern gaming, boasting a 165Hz refresh rate and a lightning-fast 0.1ms response time across four HDMI 2.1 ports. Scoring one of the best 65-inch displays on the market at a steep $1,300 discount makes this a standout early Black Friday grab.

More early Black Friday TV deals at Walmart

43 inches

• Samsung 43-Inch U8000H Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV — $198 $228 (save $30)

• LG 43-Inch UA7500ZUA 4K UHD Smart TV — $228 $258 (save $30)

50 to 55 inches

• TCL 55-Inch Q6LR Series QLED 4K Smart Roku TV — $298 $399.99 (save $101)

65 inches

• Samsung 65-Inch M70HB Series Mini LED 4K Smart TV — $428 $477.99 (save $49.99)

• TCL 65-Inch QM6K Series QD-Mini LED 4K Smart TV — $648 $799.99 (save $151.99)

75 inches

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• TCL 75-Inch QM7L Series SQD-Mini LED 4K Smart TV — $1,198 $1,298 (save $100)

85 inches and up

• TCL 85-Inch QM7L Series SQD-Mini LED 4K Smart TV — $1,498 $1,698 (save $200)

Best gaming deal

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C gaming monitor

$179 at Walmart
$249 Save $70

 

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Why we like it

A crisp QHD resolution (1440p) looks razor-sharp on a 27-inch display, giving you almost double the pixel density of standard 1080p without crushing your GPU's frame rates. Samsung’s Odyssey G55C pairs that visual clarity with a tight 1000R curve that comfortably wraps around your vision for deep immersion. Add in a fluid 165Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and AMD FreeSync to eliminate screen tearing, and it’s a high-performance gaming monitor built for smooth, competitive desktop setups.

More early Black Friday gaming deals at Walmart

• Microsoft Xbox Wireless Controller, Carbon Black — $49.99 $64 (save $14.51)

• Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle — $511.88 $564.80 (save $52.92)

Best laptop deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M5 Pro chip, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD)

$2,069.10 at Walmart
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Why we like it

The MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip is the Apple laptop we recommend for creatives. It has excellent battery life, a keyboard we love to use, ports-a-plenty, and a premium haptic keypad. Senior Shopping Reporter Haley Henschel explained, "It's worth the splurge for artists, content creators, developers, AI enthusiasts, and other professionals with consistently demanding workloads. (It's also the best MacBook for gaming, relatively speaking.)"

Keep in mind this Walmart deal is from a third-party seller with good reviews. If you're only after 16GB memory, head to Amazon to get the MacBook Pro on sale for $1,837.

More Black Friday laptop deals at Walmart

• Acer Nitro V (Intel Core 5, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD) — $1,249 $1,399 (save $150)

• MSI Crosshair 16 HX (Intel Core i7, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD) — $1,249 $1,999 (save $750)

• Asus ROG Strix G16 (AMD Ryzen 9, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399 $1,999 (save $400)

Best kitchen deal

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Credit: Ninja

Ninja Professional Plus DUO 72-ounce Blender (BN750)

$99 at Walmart
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Why we like it

Ninja makes some of Mashable's favorite kitchen appliances. If you could use a new blender before the holidays start, the Ninja Professional Plus Duo is on sale for just $99. The pitcher holds a generous 72 ounces for whipping up a smooth soup, smoothies, or a batch of frozen margaritas. The Ninja blender bundle also includes a single-serving cup for taking drinks on the go.

More Black Friday kitchen deals

• Keurig K-Express Essentials Plus — $67.95 $79 (save $11.05)

• Ninja Creami — $149 $169 (save $20)

• Ninja Slushi Frozen Drink Machine (72 oz) — $199 $299 (save $100)

Best robot vacuum deal

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Credit: Dreame

Dreame C30 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop Cleaner

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Without spending big dollars, equip your home with the convenience of a robot vacuum and mop before holiday guests arrive. The Dreame C30 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop has 19,000 Pa suction power, and it self-empties debris into the charging dock. Plus, you can control the vacuum via the app and send the robot off on a cleaning mission while you run holiday prep errands.

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• Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner — $74.62 $101.97 (save $27.35)

• ONSON 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum — $87.39 $178.88 (save $91.49)

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• Tineco iFloor 5 — $184.99 $499.99 (save $315)

• Dyson Big Ball Turbinehead Canister Vacuum — $199.99 $379.99 (save $180)

• Roborock Q10 X5+ — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250)

• Roborock QV 35S 2-in-1 Robot Vacuum — $459.99 $749.99 (save $290)

• Tineco FloorWasher Switch Pet 7 — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)

Best deal on toys and games

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Credit: Lego

Lego Disney Princesses Advent Calendar 2026

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This is the time of year to snag Advent calendars while they're 1) on sale and 2) still in stock. This Lego Disney Princess Advent Calendar set comes with tons of mini figures and toys Disney princess fans will love. All the favorites are included, like Cinderella, Mulan, Ariel, and even Moana.

Best smartwatch deal

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Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

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The Apple Watch Series 11 is Mashable's top pick for an Apple fitness tracker. Its improved battery life, exceptional comfort, and scratch-resistant face all make it a worthwhile buy if you're in the Apple ecosystem.

The ending of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 might be even more ambiguous than its predecessor. And according to writer and showrunner Bartosz Sztybor, that's exactly what the creative team intended.

"We had a lot of conversation. There were a lot of endings," Sztybor told Mashable about the nearly two years spent developing the season. Ultimately, they arrived at a conclusion he described as "very ambiguous, even more ambiguous than the ending in the first season. But also somehow hopeful."

That ambiguity is especially apparent in D's final moments. After spending years pursuing revenge for the destruction of his clan, the Nomad rides off with Capri, a chip containing digitized human consciousnesses, toward an orbital space station, seemingly sacrificing himself to keep her out of Arasaka's hands.

But does he actually die? And why does his ending feel so hopeful?

Major spoilers for the Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 finale follow.

What really happens to D and Capri at the end of Edgerunners 2?

D has spent years hunting the people responsible for killing his clan, only to discover that they're already dead. Worse, he learns that his clan was targeted because of him. His unusual tolerance for cyberware made him a potential host for Capri, part of an Arasaka experiment that also identified David Martinez and Talia as possible candidates.

Suddenly, the revenge that has defined D's entire existence is impossible. "I think we started with this idea that what would happen [if] your whole personality is based on that revenge thing," Sztybor explained. "And suddenly you see that, oh shit, I didn't fulfill my journey. So, what now?"

Omi, the only surviving member of D's clan, puts it more simply: "You should have followed your own path. You should have lived your own life, David."

D has spent so long living for revenge that he's forgotten how to live for himself. But his relationship with Capri changes something. Despite existing as digitized human consciousnesses stored on a chip, Capri is curious, playful, and eager to experience the world. She also has little patience for D's obsession.

"Why is everyone so obsessed with getting revenge anyway? Is getting revenge, like, fun?" she asks while controlling Talia's body.

The surprisingly simple question cuts to the heart of D's story. Revenge has given him a reason to keep going, but it hasn't made him happy.

After years spent seeking revenge for his fallen clan, D finds an unexpected sense of freedom in his relationship with Capri. Credit: Netflix

Capri, on the other hand, does. For the first time in years, D seems to be having fun. His time with her offers a reprieve from the nightmares that have haunted him since his clan's destruction, and there's something almost intoxicating about that relief. Their relationship can even be read through the lens of addiction, with its initial rush of euphoria and the danger of becoming consumed by the thing that makes you feel good. In Capri, D seems to rediscover a part of himself that existed before his life became defined by trauma.

It's not hard to understand why he'd become so attached to her. His revenge has reached a dead end, and his actions have left him with few options in Night City. But with Capri, he gets to experience something he thought he'd lost. And in keeping her out of Arasaka's hands, he offers Capri a chance at freedom, too.

Their final rampage is violent, reckless, and, in its own twisted way, almost joyful. D isn't suddenly a hero, and his decision to take Capri toward the orbital space station may ultimately cost him his life. The series leaves their fate uncertain — and it's incredibly possible that D and Capri are somewhere in the Net — but there's something liberating about those final moments. For once, he's no longer acting out of anger toward the people who destroyed his past. He's doing something because he wants to.

And in his final recording for Roman, D smiles. It's the very expression Roman has spent the season trying to capture on camera. After everything D has endured, that small moment of happiness feels like its own kind of resolution.

Talia's fate raises questions about what it means to truly live.

Talia's story explores a different side of that same idea. Born with a terminal illness, the teenager has spent much of her life having her failing body parts replaced with cyberware, all in an effort to prolong her life. But those decisions were made by her parents, not Talia herself. And throughout the season, she tries to escape their control, adding even more chrome to her body in an attempt to reclaim the autonomy she's never really had.

It's what makes cyberpunk fiction feel so relevant. Beneath all the futuristic technology is a very real conversation about medical intervention, bodily autonomy, and the difference between keeping someone alive and allowing them to actually live.

When her mother seeks a treatment that would remove the cyberware from her body to extend the time she has left, Talia protests, "I wanted to die beautiful."

With her time running out, Talia fights to reclaim control over her own body and decide how she wants to live. Credit: Netflix

And that's what makes her friendship with Roman so meaningful. With him, Talia gets to experience something resembling an ordinary teenage life. She makes a friend closer to her own age. They go to the movies. It's such a mundane thing to do, especially in Night City, where so much of life is defined by violence and survival. But for Talia, those moments are precious because they're hers.

In the finale, Talia tells Roman that seeing herself through his camera made her feel beautiful. "You are beautiful," he replies.

It's a small exchange, but it brings her story full circle. After spending so much of her life having other people decide what her body should look like and how long she should live, Talia finally gets to see herself through the eyes of someone who appreciates her exactly as she is.

Her condition is irreversible. But when she leaves with Weak, she's finally making a choice about how she wants to spend whatever time she has left.

Weak finds a new purpose in protecting Talia.

Weak has spent much of the season trying to protect Talia after her mother tells him that he's her biological father. But Talia's father later claims that story was a manipulation, leaving the truth uncertain.

By the finale, however, their biological relationship matters less than the one they've formed.

Once a legendary edgerunner known as King, Weak finds a new purpose in protecting Talia, regardless of whether they're biologically related. Credit: Netflix

Once a legendary edgerunner known as King, Weak has spent years living in the shadow of his former glory. His relationship with Talia gives him something meaningful to care about beyond his own reputation.

And despite knowing that he can't save her, he chooses to stay. "Come on, let's live!" he tells Talia as they drive away. Weak can't promise her a cure or a long future. But he can give her the freedom to spend the rest of her life on her own terms. And in choosing to be there for her, he finds something worth living for, too.

Roman's final moments reveal why the ending is so hopeful.

Before leaving with Weak, Talia shares a tearful goodbye with Roman, the young aspiring filmmaker whose analog camera has documented much of the season's events. Along the way, he's captured something more personal, too: the lives of a group of misfits whose stories might otherwise have been lost to Night City.

"Roman, we'll see each other again. I know it," she tells him. "For now, you just keep that camera rolling, and you can come show me what you've made. Scroll something so great, it will make all this stuff feel small."

Her words echo D's own farewell to Roman: "This is the high point of my story, not yours. You still have a lot ahead of you."

Both characters, whose futures have become so uncertain, encourage Roman to imagine something bigger for himself.

Armed with an analog camera, aspiring filmmaker Roman captures the lives of Night City's misfits and gives them something to be remembered by. Credit: Netflix

Sztybor described Roman as "the only perfectly innocent character" in the violent world of Night City. While the first Edgerunners was, in his words, "a story about the end of innocence," Roman's presence helped the creative team arrive at a more hopeful conclusion for the second season. Roman's love of filmmaking became central to that decision. Roman has witnessed terrible things, but those experiences haven't extinguished his desire to create.

After Talia and Weak drive away, he looks at his camera, smiles, and takes off running with an exuberant yell.

The series then closes on a flickering space station in the sky, an image evoking D and Capri's final journey without confirming their fate.

That's the beauty of Edgerunners 2's ambiguous ending. We don't know whether D and Capri survive, how much time Talia has left, or what Roman will eventually create. But the finale isn't really about promising these characters a happy ending. It's about giving them the freedom to decide what to do with their lives. Because even in Night City, where so much of your life is decided for you, there's still something powerful about getting to choose how your story unfolds.

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners 2 is streaming on Netflix now.

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Updated on Thursday, Oct. 22 at 12:25 p.m. ET — The PHP security issues known as PHP2Shell sent the cybersecurity world into a frenzy yesterday, and now we have some data on the fallout.

VirusTotal, a cybersecurity tool owned by Google, reported that there are about 5.1 million IP addresses running PHP, showing just how widespread the vulnerability is.

Cogent Security, an agentic AI cybersecurity company, released data on how the issue affected big companies. Cogent reported that the average Fortune 500 company had 2,266 affected assets, with an average of 16 assets demanding immediate action. As of 8 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Cogent reported that less than 1 percent of affected assets had been patched.

Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince reported a surge in attempts to exploit PHP2Shell across the company’s network: thousands in the 10 hours before the public announcement, tens of thousands within 45 minutes afterward, and hundreds of thousands within two hours. By the time of his post, the count had reached millions.

PHP2Shell caused outages across the web, including at Wikipedia, and many government, gaming, and business websites required emergency maintenance. By Thursday morning, most services had been restored.

The PHP Foundation, the non-profit team behind the PHP coding language, released emergency security updates on Wednesday to fix two critical vulnerabilities, a day after details about the flaws leaked online.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), the Prime Minister of Japan, and the U.S. National Security Agency all urged organizations to install the fixes immediately.

The newly exposed PHP vulnerability led to a number of outages on Wednesday, as webmasters around the world scrambled to update their websites.

What is PHP?

PHP is a programming language that runs on web servers. When you load a webpage, PHP often runs behind the scenes, retrieving data from databases and building the page before it reaches your browser. BleepingComputer notes that it powers many websites, including content management systems, online stores, and custom web services. According to the NCSC, PHP is also built into a range of other products.

The NCSC says the two flaws, tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, could allow an attacker to run their own commands on a PHP-based server without logging in. This is called remote code execution, and it’s one of the most serious kinds of security bugs.

According to the NCSC, an attacker could overload PHP’s memory to corrupt it, then, under certain conditions, use that corruption to take control of the server. One of the flaws involves how PHP processes form submissions and file uploads.

PHP rated each flaw 9.2 out of 10 on CVSS, the industry’s standard severity scale. Security firm watchTowr described them as a perfect 10, BleepingComputer reported, and so did an anonymous Hacker News post that has since been deleted. Researchers have started calling the bugs "PHP2SHELL."

The fixes were originally planned for a coordinated release later this week, so companies would have time to prepare. Then, information about the flaws leaked early. Speaking to BleepingComputer, watchTowr CEO Benjamin Harris said the vulnerabilities are "indeed real" and affect PHP versions 5 through 8. The firm said it had reproduced one of them.

PHP moved its release up to 10 a.m. ET Wednesday. As of Tuesday, watchTowr said it hadn’t seen anyone exploiting the flaws. By Wednesday, Cloudflare CTO Dane Knecht said on X that the company was seeing early attacks, according to BleepingComputer.

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The NCSC says organizations running PHP 5 or later are affected and should update to the latest fixed version. Anyone still using an older, unsupported version should move to a supported one.

Wikipedia and government websites impacted by PHP vulnerability

Wikipedia went down for a time on Wednesday, and the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that runs the site, confirmed to Mashable that the outage was tied to the PHP vulnerabilities.

In a statement to Mashable through email, the foundation said it is working to address the flaws in PHP, which it described as the programming language behind most wikis, including its own projects. "This issue affects all known versions of PHP, and is not specific to the Wikimedia Foundation," the statement said.

The foundation added that all of its PHP-based systems are affected, along with volunteer-run systems that use PHP. It has also taken several other systems offline as a precaution until they can be safely patched. Wikipedia was back up as of this writing.

Who else is affected, and what should you do?

If you only browse the web, there’s nothing for you to install. The fix is up to the people who run websites.

If you run a website, blog, or online store, check whether it uses PHP and make sure it’s up to date. If a hosting company manages your site, contact them to confirm they’ve applied the patch.

For organizations, the NCSC recommends:

• Finding every system that runs PHP, starting with the ones reachable from the internet.

• Watching for updates from vendors whose products include PHP.

• Taking systems offline if they can’t be fixed quickly.

• Checking any system that couldn’t be updated right away for signs of a break-in.

Cloudflare has added emergency firewall rules designed to block suspicious requests linked to the flaws. The rules are available to all its customers, including those on free plans.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today.

Do you play video games like Street Fighter, Resident Evil, or Monster Hunter online? If so, you probably have a Capcom ID — and you should know that there has been a major data breach that has affected millions of accounts.

Capcom, the developer of the aforementioned titles, posted a notice on Thursday informing users of a major data breach affecting more than 11 million accounts.

"Capcom Co., Ltd. has determined that certain customer information associated with CAPCOM ID, an online membership account service operated by the company, was subject to unauthorized access by a third party," the company said in a statement. "Capcom sincerely apologizes for the complications and concern this has caused its customers and other stakeholders."

Data breaches are seemingly becoming a regular occurrence, which may result in some becoming desensitized to this news. However, the specific information Capcom has shared should be concerning to those with a Capcom ID, as the company has confirmed that some accounts have experienced unauthorized changes due to the breach.

According to Capcom, the company first noticed suspicious activity on Capcom IDs on Oct. 19, then began blocking access and opened an investigation. Capcom's investigation found that approximately 11,774,247 accounts were impacted in a data breach. The account information exposed to the unauthorized party includes email address records, the date and time an account was created, the total number of logins, the date and time of the last login, and the IP address used for that last login.

Of those more than 11.7 million accounts, 43 had their date of birth, gender, country/region, and nickname affected, and 196 had unauthorized changes to their Capcom ID login password.

Capcom says it has already reset the passwords associated with those 196 accounts. 

One positive piece of news is that Capcom says it has yet to find any evidence that the passwords originally set by its users were leaked in the data breach. In addition, Capcom shared that it does not appear that its games were affected in the data breach.

While Capcom continues its investigation, it is warning its users to be wary of phishing emails that weaponize data leaked in the breach.

"If you receive any suspicious email or message, please exercise caution and refrain from accessing any URLs contained therein or opening any attached files," Capcom said in its breach notice.

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You probably know where the coffee shops and gas stations are in your neighborhood. But the cameras logging your license plate as you drive past? Those can be a little harder to keep track of.

Proton, the Swiss privacy company behind Proton Mail and Proton VPN, is helping make them easier to find by hosting a free map of Flock surveillance devices on its servers (you can explore the map on Proton's website). Flock tried to get the researcher behind the original project to take it down, according to The Intercept.

If you need a refresher on Flock, the company makes automated license plate readers used by police departments, businesses, schools, and homeowners associations. The cameras photograph passing vehicles whether or not their drivers are suspected of anything. Flock devices can record license plates, times, and locations, plus identifying details such as a vehicle’s make, model, color, and bumper stickers. According to Flock, its cameras log more than 20 billion vehicle sightings each month across 49 states.

Those records then go into Flock's cloud, where police can search them and share them with other agencies across city and state lines. You don’t have to be pulled over for your car to become part of a searchable record of where you’ve been — and that access has been abused. A Washington Post investigation found at least 50 officers accused or charged with misusing license plate readers, often to track people in their personal lives. (Flock's system was involved in 46 of those cases.)

On Proton's map, you can enter your ZIP code to see devices in your area, or zoom and pan around the country. Note that the data is a snapshot from December 2025, though. Cameras installed or removed since then won’t be reflected.

"You have a right to know who's recording you when you leave home"

This isn't the first effort to put surveillance cameras on the map (literally). As Mashable previously reported, DeFlock Maps lets people look up license plate readers in their neighborhoods, including devices from Flock, Motorola Solutions, and other manufacturers. Volunteers report cameras they spot and add their locations to OpenStreetMap, the open-source mapping project.

MapQuest also added a "Surveillance Layer" to its app this month, letting users see known license plate reader locations, including Flock cameras. Turn it on under Map Options, and camera markers appear alongside the roads you’re traveling.

The difference here from other crowdsourced projects is that the locations come from Flock's own systems, according to the map's creator.

Security researcher Joshua Michael discovered in November 2025 that Flock's servers were exposing an access token anyone could obtain without logging in. He used it to retrieve an inventory of device locations, reported the issue to Flock, and published his findings and a map in December. That inventory included more than 170,000 cameras and over 130,000 other Flock devices.

Proton has questioned Flock's leadership directly about how its technology is used. In an interview published in August, CEO Garrett Langley said, "Any level of abuse greater than zero is unacceptable and makes me sick," pointing to audit logs and an optional tool designed to detect potentially abusive activity. But he declined to say how many police department contracts Flock had suspended or terminated over abuse. "I don’t think you should hold the entire city accountable for just the bad decisions of a few," he said.

When it came to Michael's research, Flock's response included legal threats, The Intercept reported. The company fixed the exposed-token flaw, while also publicly maintaining that it had never been hacked and that no Flock information had leaked. On his website, Michael says Flock also sent him a cease-and-desist letter (which he published) threatening litigation and told customers it had notified law enforcement, describing him as a "malicious actor."

Michael says that customer email acknowledged Flock had found no indication of unauthorized access when it closed the issue in December. He argues that this illustrates the very concern behind his research: that information could be taken without the company detecting it.

"I’m not backing down," he recently wrote on Instagram.

In September, brand-protection company Doppel also filed a trademark complaint on Flock's behalf. It argued that Michael's website could confuse customers or harm the company, even citing the disclaimer saying it wasn't affiliated with or endorsed by Flock — though Flock had not disputed the map's accuracy, as CyberNews reported.

Proton rejected the trademark argument and published a copy of the map on its Swiss servers in order to keep it available.

"This is an attempt to suppress information, not to prevent consumer confusion," Proton head of legal Marc Løebekken said.

For residents, that means another way to find out what's watching their streets — and a starting point for questions to local officials. As Proton puts it on the map's website: "You have a right to know who's recording you when you leave home."

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Electronic music purists and brick builders, this one is for you: Daft Punk is officially entering the Lego game.

Following a cryptic teaser that interrupted the duo's WDPK 83.7 stream on Oct. 21, Lego has now confirmed a multi-year partnership with the legendary artists. The shining star of the announcement? Lego has officially greenlit a retail set based on Daft Punk’s 2007 Alive pyramid stage, complete with custom minifigures of Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo behind a mixing console made out of bricks.

The approved concept recreates the glowing pyramid from the 2007 world tour — arguably the most influential live stage production in EDM history. Alongside this exciting stage build, the official launch film features the helmeted robots and a giant holographic red brick, confirming that official Daft Punk minifigures are finally hitting shelves.

Here's the catch: the pyramid stage build from Daft Punk’s 2007 Alive tour will not be available to buy for some time. Lego confirmed that while the partnership is official today, final product launches and retail availability are slated for 2027.

The original fan submission relied on intricate translucent bricks and custom lighting rigs. Whether Lego retains the full LED light-brick integration remains to be seen. If Lego does somehow pull off the illuminated stage lighting and chrome-finished helmets, this will easily be one of the fastest sellouts in Lego Ideas history.

This fan idea will now advance into the next stage to officially become a Lego set. Credit: Lego

Julia Goldin, Chief Product and Marketing Officer at the Lego Group said, "What makes this partnership so special is the enduring appeal both brands share. Like the LEGO brand, Daft Punk inspires generations through creativity, innovation, and a deep connection with fans. We’re excited to build on these foundations to reimagine the Daft Punk legacy in a fresh and unexpected way, creating something unique that resonates with fans across all ages. This is just the beginning of a bigger journey — a creative collab made for fans ready to lose themselves to play.”

Earlier this month, some Apple Music fans had a negative response to their first look at the app's new logo. After an explanation from Apple, it seems like people are becoming more OK with it.

Apple put out a short YouTube video (via MacRumors) detailing the upcoming Apple Music redesign, which is coming with iOS 27.2. The new app logo is black and white with a hint of Liquid Glass, eschewing the red color scheme Apple Music had before. In the video, Apple detailed how the app's new visuals were "made by sound," or in other words, Apple played sound through a container in which liquid vibrated at the frequency of the music, thus inspiring the new app logo.

Apple worked with music producer Fred Again and NEST Acoustics on the redesign.

When reports of the new logo started coming out earlier in October, some fans on social media were unhappy. If you search "Apple Music" on X now, though, it seems like some folks are warming up to it a bit, especially after Apple's explanation.

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We'll see if this warm reception holds once the update is out for everyone later this month.

Chipotle’s most reliable annual food hack is back.

On Oct. 31, Chipotle is reviving its iconic Boorito promotion. Starting at 3 p.m. local time through closing, Chipotle Rewards members who show up at participating restaurants dressed in a Halloween costume can grab any regular entrée — burrito, bowl, salad, or order of tacos — for just $6. A scarily good deal.

To claim this limited-time promo, you need to follow these straightforward steps:

1. Wear a costume and head to your local Chipotle after 3 p.m. on Halloween

2. Open the free Chipotle app and have your digital Rewards member card scanned at the cash register before paying

3. Score a $6 entrée

"We love that Chipotle has become part of so many fans' Halloween traditions," said Stephanie Perdue, Senior Vice President, Brand Marketing. "The passion around Boorito inspires us to find new ways to celebrate and surprise our fans year after year."

What's important to note here is that this is strictly an in-restaurant promo. You cannot order ahead for mobile pickup via the app to bypass the dinner rush, and third-party delivery apps like DoorDash or Uber Eats won't honor the $6 price tag. The offer is also capped at one discounted entrée per costumed guest.

When you think of Black Friday, there's a good chance your mind goes to waiting in long lines to grab doorbuster deals at your local Walmart store. While the shopping event has drastically transformed over the last decade, one thing still rings true in 2026: Walmart has one of the most anticipated Black Friday sales of the season.

Walmart is still where you go if you want to shop Black Friday deals in person and avoid shipping altogether. But the retailer also hosts a pretty epic online savings event each year. You'll find deals and discounts across practically every department in the lead-up to the holidays, with things coming to a head on Black Friday proper.

To help you get the details straight and gear up to shop at Walmart on Black Friday 2026, here's everything you need to know, including when stores open, what will be on sale, and how to get early access.

When exactly is Walmart's Black Friday sale?

Black Friday officially takes place on Friday, Nov. 27 in 2026. However, most retailers will kick off their Black Friday sales before that. While Walmart hasn't officially announced its Black Friday plans, we can make an educated guess based on its 2025 savings event.

Last year, Walmart ran a multi-part sale for Black Friday with this schedule:

• Walmart Black Friday deals sneak peek: Nov. 14 to 16

• Walmart Black Friday event: Nov. 25 to 30 (online only from Nov. 25 to 27)

• Walmart Cyber Monday sale: Dec. 1 (online only)

Stay tuned for the latest details of Walmart's Black Friday sale. If the retailer follows a similar schedule for 2026, we expect the sale to run from Nov. 24 through 29. On Nov. 30, Walmart will run a Cyber Monday sale that takes place exclusively online.

Walmart Black Friday early access

Last year, Walmart+ members got five hours of early access to both Walmart's Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales before the events kicked off for the public. It's highly likely that members will get some sort of exclusive early access and benefits for the 2026 Black Friday event as well, although we don't have exact details yet.

A Walmart+ membership costs $98 per year or $12.95 per month for its base plan. You can also bundle it with Sam's Club Plus for $120 per year. A membership comes with tons of free perks, including free delivery, free next-day shipping, free access to either Paramount+ or Peacock, pharmacy delivery, gas savings, and more. You can kick off a 30-day trial for just $1.

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Credit: Walmart

Walmart+ Membership

30-day trial for $1

Get Deal at Walmart

What time do Walmart stores open on Black Friday?

Since Walmart's Black Friday sale takes place both in-store and online, its stores will be open, too. Last year, Walmart stores opened at 6 a.m. local time on Black Friday. We expect stores to open at the same time this year, on Nov. 27. There may be exceptions to those hours, so it's best to check Walmart's store locator for the exact opening hours at your local store. Walmart stores are closed on Thanksgiving Day.

What will be on sale at Walmart for Black Friday?

In short: practically everything. Walmart is best known for its doorbuster deals on budget TVs, popular toys, gaming consoles, and small appliances. We expect those categories to be its strong suits once again, but there will be plenty of other categories worth shopping as well.

Last year, we saw pretty wild deals on the Oura Ring 4 and PS5 Disc Console, as well as $69 AirPods, an older generation MacBook Air for only $549, and a 75-inch Hisense QLED TV for only $378. Follow along with Mashable's Black Friday coverage for all the best deal drops from Walmart (and beyond).

We also saw Walmart+ memberships for 50% off during last Black Friday season, a deal we're hoping the retailer revives for 2026.

Best early Black Friday deals at Walmart

While Walmart isn't officially labeling anything as an early Black Friday deal yet, we've found a few noteworthy discounts well ahead of the sale. Here's a glimpse at a few of our favorite early deals so far.

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Credit: LG

LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV

$1,399.99 at Walmart
$2,699.99 Save $1,300.00

 

Get Deal at Walmart

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Credit: onn.

onn. 32-inch 720p HD TV

$68 at Walmart
$88 Save $20

 

Get Deal at Walmart

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum

$649.99 at Walmart
$849.99 Save $200

 

Get Deal at Walmart

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Credit: Dreame

Dreame C30 Plus robot vacuum and mop combo

$239.98 at Walmart
$329.99 Save $90.01

 

Get Deal at Walmart