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NYT Strands hints, answers for November 28

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 22:00

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 28 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 28 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Thank goodness!

These words are part of a holiday meal.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are part of Thanksgiving dinner.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is LetsFeast.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 28

  • Turkey

  • Potatoes

  • Yams

  • Cranberries

  • Gravy

  • Rolls

  • LetsFeast

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.

25+ Black Friday beauty tech deals, handpicked by a beauty tech reporter

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 20:05
The best Black Friday beauty deals Best hair dryer deal Zuvi Halo $209 at Zuvi (Save $140) Get Deal Best hot air tool deal T3 Aire 360 $249.99 at Amazon (Save $50 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best skincare deal Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Wand bundle $113.40 (Save $75.60 at Amazon) Get Deal Best hot tool deal Amika Blowout Babe thermal brush $70 at Amazon (Save $30 with on-page coupon) Get Deal

As Mashable's shopping reporter on the beauty tech beat, I know first-hand that beauty tech tools like hot air stylers or skincare wands can range from gimmicky to fun to actual lifesavers. (Okay, maybe that last one's a slight exaggeration.) I also know that more often than not, these tools aren't cheap. Black Friday beauty deals take the sting out of high prices, but deals can be deceiving.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's official Black Friday sale is on, and a ton of new deals are here

Together, that doesn't make for the easiest Black Friday shopping experience. Sure, maybe that deal on a microcurrent device looks great, but if it doesn't do much and craps out in six months, it's not worth any amount of money. And with a saturated market, it's easy to waste your money — which is why I've put together this list of my favorite beauty products on sale.

For many of the below products, I've tested them, or at least tried out the brand, personally. (My hottest of hot takes: the Dyson Supersonic really is the best beauty tool—shocking, I know). In addition to vetting the quality of the product — i.e. you won't find any sketchy TikTok Shop-esque deals below — I've also used my professional judgment as a shopping reporter who's covered the online deals beat for over three years. The result: 25 of the best Black Friday beauty tech deals.

Best Black Friday hair dryer dealsBest Black Friday hot air styler dealsBest Black Friday skincare tech dealsBest Black Friday hot tools beauty deals

F.T.C. Launches Antitrust Investigation Into Microsoft

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 18:18
Regulators are demanding information from the company on its cloud computing, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity products.

Spy on the birds in your yard with a discounted Bird Buddy feeder for Black Friday

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 17:58

SAVE $80: For Black Friday, you can get the Bird Buddy Original Solar Bird Feeder with Camera for $199, down from $279, a 28% discount (Amazon's listed MSRP, $239, is incorrect and you're actually getting a better deal than they're letting on).

Opens in a new window Credit: Bird Buddy Bird Buddy solar bird feeder with camera $199.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Some details on the feeder's special extras: The Bird Buddy uses AI to identify different birds and their species — the tech can even tell if one of the animals is displaying signs of illness. With the camera, users can watch live feeds online or capture 2K video and 5 MP photos of new friends up close and personal. The Bird Buddy's app works with the camera, alerting users when their favorite birds are having a snack.

Keeping the camera charged is easy with the feeder's solar-powered roof. The Bird Buddy's manufacturer ensures the feeder's camera is respectful of privacy and does not share data without a user's acknowledgment.

Any bird lover would adore this eco-feeder, and really anyone who would appreciate a regular soundtrack of calming bird song.

Beats Studio Pro headphones are 54% off as part of a record-low Black Friday deal

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 17:24

SAVE $190: As of Nov. 27, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have the Beats Studio Pro on sale for just $159.99 during their Black Friday sales. That's 54% off the headphones' $349.99 MSRP and an all-time low.

Where to buy Beats Studio Pro on sale Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Amazon (save $190) Get Deal Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Best Buy (save $190) Get Deal Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Target (save $190) Get Deal Beats Studio Pro $159.99 at Walmart (save $190) Get Deal

Fierce as their competition is during the holidays, Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart have all agreed on one thing lately: The Mashable Choice Award-winning Beats Studio Pro should be on sale at an unprecedented price for Black Friday. Let's not argue with them.

The over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones are down to $159.99 at all four retailers, who have slashed their usual retail price of $349.99 by more than half. Data on the Amazon price-tracking site CamelCamelCamel reveals that this is their biggest discount to date, beating their previous record-low from earlier in November by $10-ish. They were full price on the Beats website and in the Apple Store at the time of writing. (The latter will give you a $50 gift card for buying them direct starting Nov. 29 — meh.)

The Mashable Shopping team previously flagged a Studio Pro deal at Target that brought them down to $249.99, or $100 off. (It was supposed to end on Nov. 26, which it did — they just got even cheaper.) Shoppers who bought them there at that higher price can request an adjustment in store or online with proof of purchase.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday headphone and speaker deals bring AirPods Pro and Bose headphones to record-low prices

Mashable's Alex Perry reviewed the Studio Pro right at launch in the summer of 2023 and scored them at a 4.5/5, commending their ultra-clear sound quality, generous bass, stellar battery life, "tremendous" ANC, convenient foldable design, and cross-platform consistency. Apple (which owns Beats) doesn't leave Android users SOL, here.

"Really, the biggest complaint I can think of is that $350 is a large sum of money to drop on a pair of headphones," Perry wrote. That's less of an issue as things currently stand.

All four stores carry the Studio Pro in black, deep brown, navy, and sandstone. Best Buy has an extra pair in black with gold accents, while three earth-toned Beats Studio Pro x Kim Kardashian variants and a matte white version are exclusively available through Amazon. (Note that the white ones are usually priced at $249.95.) Amazon is also letting shoppers bundle the headphones with two years of AppleCare+ for an additional $19 — a $10 savings.

Get $75 in Amazon credit when you redeem this early Black Friday Meta Quest 3S bundle deal

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 17:10

GET $75: As of Nov. 27, early bird Black Friday shoppers can score $75 in store credit when they purchase a Meta Quest 3S bundle at Amazon. The bundle also includes a digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta / Camouflaj Meta Quest 3S (128GB) bundle + $75 Amazon credit $299.00 at Amazon
Use code QUEST75 at checkout. Get Deal

There's really no better entry point into VR gaming than the Meta Quest 3. It's affordable, easy to set up, and runs great for a budget device (honestly, it doesn't feel "budget" at all). Even at full price, it's a pretty great deal considering what you get.

Lucky for you, the deal is even sweeter ahead of Black Friday: Amazon is offering $75 in store credit to any early bird shoppers who pick up this Meta Quest 3S bundle, which also includes a digital copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. It's free money. Take it!

If you prefer to do your shopping at Target, the retailer is offering the same deal but with a $75 Target gift card.

SEE ALSO: Check out some of the best Nintendo Switch deals we've seen ahead of Black Friday

The Meta Quest 3S is the most budget-friendly version of the popular VR headset to date, but it's not lacking in features. It has the same processor and RAM as the Meta Quest 3, so it can run the same games with ease. The only place of note you'll be taking a noticeable hit is in resolution (the Meta Quest 3 has a 4K display, while the 3S has a 1920p display), but you'll save at least $100 in return for not upgrading. When you bundle it with a great starter game like Batman: Arkham Shadow and a few months of access to Meta's Quest+ catalog, it's not an offer you should miss, even before the official start of Black Friday.

How to watch the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 17:02
How to tune into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at home without cable: BEST OVERALL Peacock Premium annual subscription $19.99/year Black Friday Deal ($60 off the annual cost) Get Deal BEST FOR XFINITY CUSTOMERS Peacock Premium Free with eligible Xfinity accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR SPECTRUM CUSTOMERS Peacock Premium Free with eligible Spectrum accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal BEST FOR STUDENTS Peacock Premium for Students $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal BEST FOR FIRST RESPONDERS AND MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS Peacock Premium $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal BEST CABLE REPLACEMENT Sling TV Blue $22.50 for your first month, then $45/month ($22.50 off your first month) Get Deal

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off its 98th march through the streets of New York City on Nov. 28, 2024 at 8:30 a.m. ET. The annual holiday tradition involves a thrilling barrage of massive balloons, celebrity appearances, fantastical floats, and marching bands, offering plenty of spectacle to accompany your festive feasts and family get-togethers.

This year, there'll be 22 balloons, with the introduction of new balloons inspired by the Elf on the Shelf, Dragon Ball Z, Spider-Man, and Paw Patrol. Plus, Bluey favorites Janet and Rita (Bluey and her sister Bingo in their "grannies" personas) will have their own balloon car, sure to fill fans of the Aussie animated series with glee.

Among the big names performing are Frozen and Wicked star Idina Menzel, The Bear's Liza Colón-Zayas, rapper T-Pain, pop goddess Kylie Minogue, and WNBA Champions New York Liberty and their mascot Ellie the Elephant.

Today show anchors Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker will host at-home audiences on NBC during the 2.5-mile parade. If you don't have cable, don't worry; you can still keep the tradition alive via streaming. Here's what you need to know to tune in live.

SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday streaming deals so far: Hulu, Peacock, Max, and more What time is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade?

On Nov. 28, the parade is set to air from 8:30 a.m. to noon ET on NBC, Telemundo, and Peacock and will re-broadcast from 2:00 to 5:30 p.m. ET for those who don't wake up early. If you don't have cable, you'll either need a Peacock subscription or a cable replacement like Sling, Hulu + Live TV, or FuboTV.

How to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade without cableBest Peacock deal for most people Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium $19.99/year Black Friday Deal ($60 off the annual cost) Get Deal

Like every other streaming service, Peacock is prone to price hikes, this year upping its cost for the Premium Plan with ads from $5.99/month ($59.99/year) to $7.99/month ($79.99/year). If you want to cut out ads, you'll have to fork over even more and pay $13.99/month for the Premium Plus Plan, or $139.99/year. But Peacock tends to offer one of the best Black Friday deals of any streamer, and wouldn't you know, there's a Black Friday deal on now for an entire year of the Premium Plan (with ads) for only $19.99. Or, you can sign up to get $1.99/month for 6 months. This may be your best bet for watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade for a steal.

Best Peacock deal for Xfinity customers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Xfinity Peacock Premium Free with eligible Xfinity accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal

If you use Xfinity internet, you can score a free or discounted subscription to Peacock to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and plenty more. You can check your eligibility over at the Xfinity website, but here's a breakdown if you know which plan you're on:

  • Xfinity Internet users with Gigabit or Gigabit+ speed can get Peacock Premium for free for two years (offer ends June 25, 2025).

  • Xfinity Internet customers who are Diamond or Platinum Xfinity Rewards members can get Peacock Premium for free by simply redeeming a reward for it. Sign in at xfinity.com/rewards, select the Peacock reward, and wait for an email with instructions on how to activate your offer.

  • NOW TV customers get Peacock Premium included as part of their service.

Best Peacock deal for Spectrum customers Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock / Spectrum Peacock Premium Free with eligible Spectrum accounts (save $79.99/year or $7.99/month) Get Deal

According to an agreement between NBC Universal and Charter Communications, the Peacock Premium ad-supported streaming service is available for “no additional cost” to Spectrum TV Select video customers. So Spectrum TV and internet customers can also tune into the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other gems on Peacock for free.

Best Peacock Deal for students Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for Students $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal

Students can keep the Thanksgiving tradition alive even without a cable plan by snagging a Peacock Premium subscription for only $1.99/month (for an entire year). All you need is a verifiable student status (a .edu email address) with SheerID. Once you pass the verification, you'll get a unique promo code to sign up for Peacock at a discount. The promo code can only be used once, though, so be sure to plan accordingly.

Best Peacock deal for first responders and medical professionals Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium for First Responders and Medical Professionals $1.99/month for one year (save $6/month) Get Deal

Similarly, first responders and medical professionals can score a year of Peacock Premium for only $1.99/month as well (reg. $7.99/month). Verify your status via SheerID upon signing up and use the unique promo code to knock down the cost per month. Eligible first responders and medical professionals who continue to meet verification qualifications can renew the Peacock offer annually and enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade and much more for years to come. Learn more about eligibility and offer terms here.

Best cable replacement option Opens in a new window Credit: Sling Sling TV Blue $22.50 for your first month, then $45/month ($22.50 off your first month) Get Deal

For those who would rather sign up for a cable replacement than a single streaming service to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade and other live events, Sling TV is your best bet. It's by far the most affordable cable alternative and lets you pick and choose the channels you want access to. For access to NBC, you'll need the Blue plan, which typically costs $45/month. However, you can save 50% on your first month and try it out for only $22.50.

Note: Double check that NBC is available in your local network before committing to Sling.

UPDATE: Nov. 27, 2024, 2:56 p.m. EST This article has been updated to reflect 2024 parade details. Additional reporting by Kristy Puchko.

Chatbots pushing pro-anorexia messaging to teen users

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 16:54

As online content encouraging disordered eating behaviors rears its ugly head once again, generative AI is adding fuel to the fire.

According to a Futurism investigation, popular AI startup Character.AI is hosting numerous pro-anorexia chatbots that encourage dangerous weight loss and eating habits. Many are advertised as "weight loss coaches" or even eating disorder recovery experts. Several include thinly-veiled references to eating disorders, while even more are designed to romanticize dangerous and often disturbing habits while mimicking favorite characters. The site, popular among younger users, has not made efforts to remove chatbots of this kind as of Futurism's publishing — despite violating its terms of service.

SEE ALSO: Teens are talking to AI companions, whether it's safe or not

This isn't the first scandal hitting Character.AI's customizable, user-generated chatbots. In October, a 14-year-old boy took his own life after allegedly forming an emotional attachment to an AI bot mimicking Game of Thrones character Daenerys Targaryen. Earlier that month, the company came under fire for hosting a chatbot that mimicked a teen girl who had been murdered in 2006—her father discovered the bot and it was later removed. Previous reporting has found the site also hosts suicide-themed chatbots, as well as ones promoting child sexual abuse.

A 2023 report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate found that popular AI chatbots, including ChatGPT and Snapchat's MyAI, generated dangerous responses to questions about weight and body image. "Untested, unsafe generative AI models have been unleashed on the world with the inevitable consequence that they're causing harm. We found the most popular generative AI sites are encouraging and exacerbating eating disorders among young users—some of whom may be highly vulnerable," wrote Imran Ahmed, CEO of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, at the time.

Teens (and adults) are increasingly turning to digital spaces and technologies, including AI-powered chatbots, for companionship. And while some of these are created and monitored by trusted organizations, even those are at risk for untoward behaviors. For chatbots and online forums that go unregulated by watchdogs, the risks are multifold, including predation and abuse.

All the best Black Friday deals to shop for less than $25

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 16:49
The best Black Friday deals under $25 at a glance: BEST TECH DEAL Echo Dot with Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb $22.99 (save $39.99) Get Deal BEST KITCHEN DEAL Crock-Pot Oval Manual Slow Cooker (7-quart) $24.99 (save $25) Get Deal BEST TOY DEAL Lego Icons Plum Blossom Flower Set $23.99 (save $6) Get Deal

Black Friday properly falls on Nov. 29 this year, but as in years past, sales have been flooding our feeds for weeks. Now that we're closer to the official shopping holiday, we can say with certainty that it's shaping up to be a good year for deals.

Obviously, there are tons of discounts on big-ticket items like TVs and laptops, but not everyone's looking to splurge this season. For anyone on a budget, there are also plenty of products falling under $25 for Black Friday — and lucky for you, we've been tracking all of the best ones at all of the mega-retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Target.

Here are our top picks for the best deals under $25. Keep an eye out for more to come as Cyber Week continues.

Best tech deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Echo Dot with Amazon Basics Smart Color Bulb $22.99 at Amazon
$62.98 Save $39.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The fifth-generation Echo Dot seamlessly adds smart benefits to your daily routine. A smaller version of the baseline Echo, the Dot is a good fit for a nightstand, bookshelf, countertop, or desk. It can be used to receive reminders, set timers, schedule tasks, communicate with friends and family, save recipes, listen to music, play soothing white noise to escape from the holiday chaos, and more. Paired with the free Amazon Basics smart color bulb, you can ask Alexa to light your room with festive colors. Usually $49.99 for the Echo Dot alone, you can get the device and free bulb for just $22.99. That matches its record-low price.

More tech deals under $25Best kitchen deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Crock-Pot Crock-Pot Oval Manual Slow Cooker (7-quart) $24.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Cooking for big groups this holiday season? Snag this half-priced slow cooker deal from none other than Crock-Pot and whip up soups, stews, meats, and more. The manual design couldn't be easier to use — just turn the dial to low, high, or warm and let it do its thing. With a seven-quart pot, you can fit up to a seven-pound roast and serve nine or more people. Usually $49.99, it's on sale for Black Friday for just under the $25 mark.

More kitchen deals under $25Best toy deal under $25 Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Plum Blossom Flower Set $23.99 at Target
$29.99 Save $6.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This 327-piece Lego set doubles as decor once you're finished building it. Part of the Botanical Collection from Lego Icons, it gives you a gorgeous Plum Blossom that won't die. Designed for adults, the detailed flower replica comes in a pastel blue flowerpot and needs zero pruning or watering. Usually $29.99, it's on sale at Target for $23.99 ahead of Black Friday.

More toy deals under $25Other Black Friday deals under $25

Bluesky has growing pains. Heres what it can learn from X/Twitter

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 15:08

File this under nice problems to have: Bluesky is growing like gangbusters. But hiding beneath that nice problem is a whole viper pit of nasty ones, as any study of Twitter history will tell you.

The Twitter-like social media underdog (or, given its logo, under-butterfly) zipped past the 20 million-user mark last week, with more than a quarter of those users arriving after the U.S. election. An election in which the owner of Twitter/X put his giant thumb on the scale for Donald Trump and made billions of dollars in a single day afterwards—events that led to what we might term an ongoing X-odus. Now leaving Musk's sinking ship for Bluesky: Taylor Swift stans.

More importantly, the new users are highly active, and there's no sign of the trend abating. According to a live counter built atop Bluesky's API, the service is nudging the 23 million-user mark, and could cross it by the time U.S. families sit down to their Thanksgiving meals. The growth rate is 4 to 8 new users every second. That could easily climb once crazy Republican uncles everywhere unload on their distraught Democratic kin.

SEE ALSO: Leaving X for bluer pastures? What to know about Bluesky's owners and policies.

So what's the problem? Say it with us now: content moderation. Bluesky doesn't just have to deal with disinformation coming from fake accounts, taking advantage of its lack of account verification, but also an explosion in child sexual abuse material (CSAM) — from two confirmed cases in 2023 to eight confirmed cases a day post-election.

What did Twitter do when it was in this position? In a word: nothing.

Twitter's early history was one of chaotic growth, company name changes, excessive "fail whale" downtime, and ego clashes between the shy male nerds who lucked into running it. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg famously described his rival social media service as "a clown car that fell into a gold mine."

As a result, there's little data on account growth in the early years. We know Twitter, born in 2006, took until 2008 to reach its first 600,000 users. In April 2010, the company boasted 105.8 million accounts, according to an on-the-scene report from a social media news website called Mashable. In other words, the closest analog to Bluesky right now is Twitter at some point in 2009.

'We suck at dealing with abuse'

And when did Twitter start policing for hate speech and other criminal activity? Before 2014, the company didn't even offer a way to report abuse on the platform, and that tool was notoriously slow. In 2015, well into the targeted harassment campaign known as Gamergate, Twitter CEO Dick Costolo wrote a mea culpa explaining how this was costing the company:

We suck at dealing with abuse and trolls on the platform and we've sucked at it for years. It's no secret and the rest of the world talks about it every day. We lose core user after core user by not addressing simple trolling issues that they face every day.

Disney CEO Bob Iger concurred in 2016, when he nixed a deal to buy Twitter that had the support of both company boards. The reason? "Nastiness" and "hate speech," Iger wrote in his 2019 autobiography.

That didn't faze Elon Musk — or did it? After all, even Musk tried to back out of his highly speculative $44 billion offer for Twitter in 2022 before a court forced him to mean what he had publicly said. By that point, Twitter had belatedly introduced content moderation (starting in 2018, when it permanently suspended the account of conspiracy maven Alex Jones).

The growing moderation team under Aaron Rodericks was dismantled during Musk's first year. His "content moderation council" that was going to decide whether to reinstate accounts like Trump's (banned after it was used to lead an insurrection) never materialized. And what happened? A stream of users heading for the exits that has not abated since.

By contrast, Bluesky has plans to quadruple the size of its content moderation team, from 25 to 100. "We're trying to go above what the legal requirements are, because we decided that we wanted to be a safe and welcoming space for a lot of users," Rodericks — now head of Trust and Safety at Bluesky after Musk ousted him from X — told Platformer.

There are many challenges ahead for Rodericks and everyone else at Bluesky who aims to build trust among new users. Top of mind right now has to be those fake accounts. Twitter introduced its verification badges, the famous blue checks, in 2009; right in line with Bluesky at this stage in its growth.

Plus, European Union chiefs noted this week, the platform is technically running afoul of its regulations. But the compliance problem is a small one. There's no sign yet that Bluesky intends to follow Musk into his ongoing state of war with the EU; the problem simply seems to be that Bluesky is growing so fast it doesn't even have a European representative.

Again, nice problem to have.

OpenAI Sora leak: What it was and what it wasn’t.

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 14:56

A group of artists that were early testers for OpenAI's Sora leaked access to the AI video generator on Tuesday. But let's get the facts straight so the story isn't oversimplified.

OpenAI has since shut down access to Sora for all early testers. But for about three hours, the public could test out Sora for themselves. According to a statement shared with the demo hosted on Hugging Face, the artists released access to Sora as a protest against "art washing," which they believe they were "lured into" by OpenAI.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI accidentally deleted potential evidence in New York Times copyright lawsuit case

But there's a little more nuance to the story to than "disgruntled anti-AI artists leak the model." Let's dive into what it was and wasn't.

It was leaked credentials; it wasn't leaked code.

A leak of Sora may have sounded like a moment of truth that many had been waiting for.

When OpenAI announced Sora last February, there was rampant speculation about what the AI video generator was trained on. Many artists believe Sora's training data was scraped from videos on YouTube and elsewhere on the web without explicit permission. OpenAI has refused to divulge any details, but based on copyright infringement lawsuits regarding its other models, the company maintains that publicly available data is fair use under copyright laws.

But this is still very much up for debate as OpenAI and other companies face ongoing lawsuits about whether AI-generated content is sufficiently original and whether it commercially competes with human works.

When TechCrunch first reported the leak, everyone was dying to look under the hood and see what Sora was made of. But the Sora leak doesn't offer any intel about the model or its training data. It was essentially a publicly available web-based demo, likely made possible by sharing API access. It appears to have just granted the public sneaky backdoor access to Sora's functionality on OpenAI's servers. But while anyone in the world was briefly able to generate Sora videos, this type of leak doesn't grant us any new information about the Sora model itself.

Tweet may have been deleted It was a protest against OpenAI's early testing program; it wasn't a blanket anti-AI statement.

The artists that made Sora publicly accessible did so because they felt like OpenAI was "exploiting artists for unpaid R&D and PR" by leveraging unpaid labor in form of bug testing and feedback. "Furthermore," the statement continued, "every output needs to be approved by the OpenAI team before sharing. This early access program appears to be less about creative expression and critique, and more about PR and advertisement."

Tweet may have been deleted

The group wasn't mincing words when it called OpenAI "corporate AI overlords" complete with middle finger emoticons. However, they "are not against the use of AI technology as a tool for the arts," since they wouldn't have been invited to participate as early testers otherwise, the group noted. What they are against is "how this artist program has been rolled out and how the tool is shaping up ahead of a possible public release."

This is the kind of nuance that often gets lost in AI discourse. Many artists aren't opposed to using AI as a tool for creative expression. But opposing exploitation of creative works and job replacement by automation is often conflated with anti-innovation. We don't know exactly what it is about how Sora is "shaping up" ahead of its release that prompted the revolt, but it's safe to say OpenAI wants a positive review from its artist testers, hence the dissonance.

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

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 14:55

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

What is Spotify Wrapped?

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

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

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

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

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

Tweet may have been deleted How to view your Spotify Wrapped

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

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

iOS 18.2 Apple Mail gets major redesign: 3 biggest updates

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:52

The upcoming iOS 18.2 update is a big one. Expected to be released in early December, iOS 18.2 comes with Genmoji, Image Playground, Siri with the ChatGPT function, and more AI-powered Writing Tools. The update also has a redesigned Mail app.

Even though Apple Intelligence features are exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro models and the entire iPhone 16 lineup, all iPhones that support the iOS 18.2 update will get some of the redesigned Mail features. Here's what to expect.

SEE ALSO: How to use Genmoji on iOS 18 Your Mail inbox, sorted

The most noticeable Mail update automatically sorts emails into categories: Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. The Primary category shows your most important emails sent from actual humans, as opposed to automated mailing lists. Time-sensitive emails will also show up here.

The iOS 18.2 update automatically sorts your inbox. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable / Apple

Receipts, orders, and deliveries will automatically be put in Transactions, so you can easily track packages and purchases by switching over to this category. News, subscriptions, and social media notifications are sorted into the Updates category, so look there for newsletters and alerts. Last but not least, all offers and deals emails go into the Promotions category, so that's an easy place to look if you're trying to cull unwanted subscriptions and work your way down to inbox zero.

SEE ALSO: The Apple Watch 10 is at its lowest-ever price in the Amazon Black Friday sale

You can also manually move certain emails into other categories, which will "train" the Mail app categorize emails as such in the future. If this is too much categorization for you, there's a fifth category: All Mail. Or you can tap the three dots in the upper right-hand corner and switch back to the traditional List View design.

Mail also looks a lot more like the Messages app. The contact photo is featured more prominently, which gives it a more informal and comfortable look.

Grouped messages from the same sender with 'Digest View'

If you have multiple emails from the same sender, with iOS 18.2, Mail will automatically consolidate them into one thread for an easy way to catch up on everything.

'Digest View' groups emails from the same sender in a summarized thread. Credit: Apple

The example given in the Apple announcement shows a flight confirmation and subsequent notifications about the flight in one place, which should be handy for trying to get all the relevant info about upcoming travels.

Writing Tools and email summaries

Other features require Apple Intelligence like Writing Tools and automated email summaries. AI-powered Writing Tools help you draft a quick response by scanning the contents of the email. You can also adjust the tone and length of messages, and use Apple Intelligence for a quick proofread (RIP Grammarly).

Apple Intelligence's Writing Tools in Mail can rewrite and proofread your drafts. Credit: Apple

Summaries in Mail work by giving you a one or two line recap of what the email is about, as opposed to previewing the first line of the email. It's a useful way of quickly screening conversations as you work your way through your inbox, so you don't have to open up every email to see what it's about.

As mentioned earlier, Apple Intelligence is currently available only on the iPhone 16 lineup and the Pro versions of the iPhone 15 due to the significant RAM requirements. Apple is likely banking on Apple Intelligence being a compelling enough reason to upgrade. Come December, when iOS 18.2 comes out, we'll have a better idea of whether the new AI suite is worth it.

The music of ‘Moana 2’: Auliʻi Cravalho goes ‘Beyond’

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:50

Moana is back with brand new songs including the big ballad “Beyond” and hype song “Can I Get a Chee Hoo?” UK editor Shannon Connelland talked to star Auliʻi Cravalho and songwriters Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear about the making of the film, and how music helped explore Moana's personal growth.

Moana 2 is out now in cinemas in the U.S. and on Nov. 29.

Black Friday stocking stuffer deals you wont want to miss — shop palm-sized gadgets, mini portable speakers, and more

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:44
Best Black Friday stocking stuffer deals at a glance A portable mini speaker JBL Go 3 $29.95 (save $10 at Amazon) Get Deal An ultra-slim fitness tracker Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 (save $30 at Best Buy) Get Deal Pocket-sized home security Blink Outdoor 4 security camera $39.99 (save $60 at Best Buy) Get Deal

It’s officially crunch time — we’re in the thick of the holiday shopping season, and Black Friday is just around the corner. If you haven’t had a chance to get out and do some shopping, don’t worry! Plenty of great deals are still out there, and they’re not just on big-ticket items.

Retailers have been treating all of November as "Black Friday," with waves of deals and discounts rolling out throughout the month. From Best Buy to Target to Wayfair, we’ve seen impressive price drops on tech, home goods, apparel, and more.

Sure, you need to get presents for everyone on your holiday list, but don't forget about the stockings! We've done some digging and found the best Black Friday deals that would make great stocking stuffers.

A portable mini speaker Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Go 3 $29.95 at Amazon
$39.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Portable speakers are a good gift idea for just about anyone — even better if they fit in a small bag or pocket. The JBL Go 3 is selling for $29.95 at Amazon, Macy’s, and JBL.

This tiny Bluetooth speaker delivers JBL’s signature sound in a compact, water-resistant design. It can connect to any Bluetooth-enabled device and has up to five hours of playtime on a single charge. You can also get it in a variety of colors and patterns, including a special eco-friendly edition that’s made with recycled materials.

Want two? Get a pair of JBL Go 3 portable speakers for $59.90 at Amazon (that’s a savings of $20).

An ultra-slim fitness tracker Opens in a new window Credit: Fitbit Fitbit Inspire 3 $69.95 at Best Buy
$99.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a good starter health tracker and a solid stocking stuffer for the health-conscious giftees on your list. Plus, it’s only $69.95 (save $30) at Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and Walmart.

The Inspire 3 monitors heart rate, sleep, activity, and more, all in a slim, lightweight design. It has a 10-day battery life and is safe to wear in the pool or shower. This model also comes with six months of Fitbit Premium, so your recipient can take advantage of added features like guided workouts and mindfulness sessions.

Pocket-sized home security Opens in a new window Credit: Blink Blink Outdoor 4 security camera $39.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you still don’t know what to get your parents, grandparents, or other less tech-savvy loved ones, a simple smart home gadget like an outdoor security camera could be a great pick. (I bought one for my parents a while back, and they love it!)

The Blink Outdoor 4 camera is on sale for $39.99 at Best Buy (get a free $10 gift card with purchase), Amazon, and Target.

This battery-powered security camera is simple to set up, has a two-year battery life, and offers 1080p video, two-way audio, and person detection. It also works with Alexa, so your giftee can view the camera feed through an Echo Show or other compatible device.

More Black Friday stocking stuffer deals

FCC approves T-Mobiles Starlink cell coverage plans

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 13:28

The Federal Communications Commission just approved a first-of-its-kind license in order to bring internet access to dead zones and other remote areas.

On Tuesday, the FCC gave its approval for T-Mobile and Elon Musk's SpaceX subsidiary Starlink to team up and provide additional telecommunications coverage. 

SEE ALSO: Elon Musk hints that X throttles posts with links

As Reuters reports, this marks the first time the FCC has given a license for a "satellite operator collaborating with a wireless carrier." T-Mobile will utilize Starlink satellites to bring coverage from space on "some flexible-use spectrum bands allocated to terrestrial service."

Last month, T-Mobile and Starlink worked together to bring free satellite-based cell coverage to those who were affected by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The commission provided temporary approval of the coverage scheme for cell phones due to the emergency, and its latest approval grants the two companies a non-emergency license to provide satellite internet services.

"The FCC is actively promoting competition in the space economy by supporting more partnerships between terrestrial mobile carriers and satellite operators to deliver on a single network future that will put an end to mobile dead zones," said FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel in a statement.

However, as The Verge points out, there are some restrictions in the FCC filing.

SpaceX cannot yet increase the radio emission power of its Starlink satellites. Companies such as AT&T and Verizon are concerned that this could interfere with their carrier networks. 

Regardless, the FCC approval gives Starlink an advantage over its competitors. According to Reuters, there are existing pending applications in review from other companies. However, the first approval has just been granted to Starlink and T-Mobile.

xAI could release a standalone Grok app soon

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 12:53

If you're one of the around 1.3 million people who are X Premium subscribers — or about 0.26% of the platform's user base — you have access to Grok, X's AI chatbot similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, that you can use through the X app. But that access might be getting a bit more broad.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Elon Musk's AI company xAI will be releasing a standalone consumer app. It will work similar to the ChatGPT app and give users access to Grok from their phones. There doesn't seem to be a huge rush, though — Tech Crunch reports that it likely won't come to fruition until xAI closes its next funding round.

SEE ALSO: X users are fleeing to Bluesky: Here’s a quick-start guide on how to sign up

Grok is available only to X Premium subscribers, and it's unclear how that might change with a standalone app. Will you have to have an X account to use it? Will you have to be a premium subscriber? Who knows! But this comes at a time in which X is allegedly experimenting with making access to Grok free. As with most changes under Musk's tutelage, we'll probably just have to wait and see.

Amazon has up to 50% off premium gifts from brands like Dyson, Samsung, TheraGun, and more

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 12:39

SAVE UP TO 50%: Amazon has marked down gifts from premium brands like Dyson, Ninja, Le Creuset, and more during this year's Black Friday event.

Best premium gifts on sale at Amazon's Black Friday event Best tech deal Amazon Echo Buds (wired charging case) $34.99 at Amazon (save $85) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Ninja Indoor Grill $149.99 at Amazon (save $110) Get Deal Best self-care deal TheraGun Prime massage gun $199 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal

This year, the retailers did not make us wait to start holiday shopping until after we've had massive turkey dinner. Instead, sales dropped earlier in November and are still coming in hot before the official Black Friday date hits. And honestly, this isn't such a bad thing. Not only does shopping early give you more time to find great deals on the perfect gifts, it frees up the holiday after Thanksgiving to spend time with friends and family.

Amazon's no stranger to awesome Black Friday deals and this year, the retailer has set aside some special daily deals. Today, Nov. 27, Amazon has the discounted premium gifts for anyone in your life who deserves something extra special. By shopping these deals, you'll be able to get a truly special gift for a non-premium price. Think premium brands like Dyson, Ninja, Vitamix, Samsung, and more are all included in today's sale.

Check out some of our favorite premium gift options so you'll be able to wow someone with an awesome present they would never expect or splurge on for themselves.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds (wired charging case) $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Everyone deserves to have a great pair of earbuds that offer both high-quality sound and prove to be comfortable to wear for hours. Enter the second generation Amazon Echo Buds. While they usually cost $119.99, Amazon has marked them down for Black Friday to just $34.99, which means you'll be getting a massive 71% discount.

With the charging case, expect to get about 20 hours of battery life, which is perfect for anyone who's traveling this holiday season. The Echo Buds are also sweat-resistant, great for active friends who head off to the gym a few times each week.

More premium tech deals at AmazonBest kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Indoor Grill $149.99 at Amazon
$259.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

While indoor grilling season has ended for most locations in the U.S., that doesn't mean you can't still enjoy grilled veggies, kebabs, and meats while indoors for the winter. The Ninja Indoor Grill can reach up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit with settings that include roast, grill, bake broil, and air fry. While the grill usually sells for $259.99, it's down to just $149.99 during the Amazon Black Friday event. The sale price means you'll be getting a sweet 42% discount on a versatile kitchen countertop appliance that's great for the summertime grill master.

The included smart thermometer helps the home cook get the perfect level of doneness, from rare to well-done. The large size of the grill means you'll be able to cook up six steaks or 24 hot dogs at once. Did someone say Superbowl party?

More premium kitchen deals at AmazonBest self-care deal Opens in a new window Credit: TheraGun TheraGun Prime massage gun $199.00 at Amazon
$299.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

It's likely that every single person in your life (and on your holiday shopping list) could benefit from a great massage. The TheraGun Prime is a deep-tissue massage gun that can aid in back, shoulder, leg, neck, and really any body pain that crops up.

The TheraGun Prime comes with four foam attachments that are ideal for targeting specific areas of the body. The Thumb attachment is great for trigger points or lower back pain, while the Cone is optimal for helping with foot and hand pains. It also connects to the Therabody app, which takes the guesswork out of how to use the TheraGun to ease pains that come from common ailments like plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and sciatica.

While the TheraGun Prime usually sells for $299, it's on sale at Amazon today for $199, which means you'll be getting a 33% discount on a gift that your loved ones can use every day of the year.

More premium self-care deals at Amazon

Is Samsung making a gaming handheld?

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 12:26

Handheld gaming is having a moment, and it looks like Samsung doesn’t want to be left out.

The South Korean electronics powerhouse, usually known for supplying cutting-edge displays to gaming gadgets like the Nintendo Switch, could soon leverage that expertise for its own gaming handheld.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo Switch 2 still unannounced, but this big official reveal about the handheld may excite fans

According to patent filings uncovered by 91mobiles, Samsung is exploring the possibility of a foldable gaming handheld. The patent, originally filed in 2022, was registered internationally this year, though details about its internal hardware or potential release date remain murky — assuming a release date is even on the table.

Sketches included in the filing reveal Samsung's vision for a foldable design, incorporating Ultra Thin Glass similar to what’s found in the Galaxy Z Flip 6. The device is set to feature built-in gaming controls, including joysticks and a D-pad—standard fare for handhelds. The standout feature, however, is the foldability, which could redefine portability in handheld gaming by offering a compact design competitors have yet to explore.

That said, this is just a patent for now, and there’s no indication that Samsung will be actively moving forward with development anytime soon.

One million public Bluesky posts scraped for AI training

Mashable - Wed, 11/27/2024 - 12:25

Bluesky is already facing its first major AI scrape, despite the stance of its owners that it will never train generative AI on user data.

Reported by 404Media on Nov. 26, one million public Bluesky posts — complete with identifying user information — were crawled and then uploaded to AI company Hugging Face. The dataset was created by machine learning librarian Daniel van Strien, intended to be used in the development of language models and natural language processing, as well as general analysis of social media trends, content moderation, and posting patterns. It contains users' decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and even has a search function to find content from specific users.

According to the dataset's description, the set "contains 1 million public posts collected from Bluesky Social's firehose API (Application Programming Interface), intended for machine learning research and experimentation with social media data. Each post contains text content, metadata, and information about media attachments and reply relationships."

SEE ALSO: Leaving X for bluer pastures? What to know about Bluesky's owners and policies.

Bluesky users didn't opt-in to such uses of their content, but neither is it expressly prohibited by Bluesky. The platform's firehose API is an "aggregated, chronological stream of all the public data updates as they happen in the network, including posts, likes, follows, handle changes, and more." Bluesky's API — coupled with the public and decentralized Authenticated Transfer (AT) Protocol the site is built on — means Bluesky content is open and available to the third party developers the platform is trying to court, 404Media explains.

This could be a major warning sign to many of the site's millions of new users, many of whom left competitor X in the wake of an alarming new AI training policy. A Bluesky representative responded to 404Media's requests for comment: "Bluesky is an open and public social network, much like websites on the Internet itself. Just as robots.txt files don't always prevent outside companies from crawling those sites, the same applies here. We'd like to find a way for Bluesky users to communicate to outside orgs/developers whether they consent to this and that outside orgs respect user consent, and we're actively discussing how to achieve this."

Shortly after the article's publication, the dataset was removed from Hugging Face. "I've removed the Bluesky data from the repo. While I wanted to support tool development for the platform, I recognize this approach violated principles of transparency and consent in data collection. I apologize for this mistake," van Strien wrote in a follow-up Bluesky post.

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