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TL;DR: Give the gift of digital organization and pay just $69.97 for lifetime access to FileJump's 2TB cloud storage plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: FileJump FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $69.97
$467.00 Save $397.03 Get Deal

Looking to make an impression with your gifts? During this early Black Friday sale, you can give the gift of peace of mind with the FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage lifetime subscription for just $69.97 (reg. $467).

Ideal for students, professionals, or anyone else who hates running out of storage space, FileJump offers an easy, secure, and affordable way to store files across devices.

Whether backing up family photos, collaborating on projects, or simply saving space on their devices, FileJump is the perfect solution. With 2TB of storage, end-to-end encryption, and no recurring fees, this gift will keep on giving— no subscription needed.

With FileJump's drag-and-drop interface, you don’t need to be a tech wizard to upload files, while the built-in media preview makes viewing photos, videos, and documents a breeze.

Sharing and collaborating are seamless, too. Share files via custom links or create free accounts for clients and team members to access shared folders. With AES 256-bit encryption, your files are not only accessible but also secure.

What really sets FileJump apart? There are no limits on download speeds or transfer rates, meaning you’ll never wait longer than necessary to access your data. 

At $69.97 for lifetime access to 2TB of storage, an 85% discount for Black Friday, FileJump delivers premium features at an incredible value. Competitors charge monthly fees for similar services, but with FileJump, you pay once and own it forever. This offer isn’t just practical and useful — it’s economical, too.

For a limited time, you'll pay just $69.97 (reg. $89.99) for lifetime access to 2TB of FileJump storage.

FileJump 2TB Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription - $69.97 | Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: The SyncPen 4 Smartpen Set is perfect for holiday gifting, letting users digitize their handwriting for $129.99 (reg. $139).

If someone on your list is writing letters to Santa or just trying to keep track of the chaos that is holiday shopping, the SyncPen 4 Reusable Smartpen Set makes it all a little easier. This smart pen set is on sale ahead of Black Friday for $129.99.

The high-tech pen takes handwritten notes, sketches, and even doodles and turns them into digital files in real-time. It’s perfect for those who love the nostalgic feel of handwriting but also crave the practicality of modern tech.

Included in this gift-worthy set is a pressure-sensitive smartpen and a reusable notebook, which means no more wasted paper or scrambling for space. From wish lists to holiday recipes, every stroke gets saved digitally, so nothing important slips through the cracks. Plus, it works with 66 languages, making it a great pick for global users or language learners.

The pen’s compact size means it travels wherever they do — whether that’s the coffee shop, the office, or holiday dinners at Grandma’s house. And the eco-friendly design ensures a guilt-free writing experience for every creative idea or shopping list. They’ll love how easy it is to sync across devices and access their notes wherever inspiration strikes.

This tech-savvy tool isn’t just for holiday lists. It’s the ultimate upgrade for anyone who loves to write, sketch, or organize their thoughts.

Give them the gift of smarter notes with the SyncPen 4 Reusable Smartpen Set for $129.99 — and maybe even the best letter to Santa they’ve ever written.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: NEWYES SyncPen 4 Reusable Smartpen Set $129.99 at the Mashable Shop
$139.00 Save $9.01 Get Deal

Netflix’s true crime industrial complex is showing no signs of slowing, this time setting its sights on one of America’s most haunting mysteries: the murder of 6-year-old JonBenét Ramsey.

With Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey set to drop on November 25, here's everything you need to know about the unsolved crime that has kept the nation captivated — and conspiracy theories spinning— for nearly three decades.

Who is JonBenét Ramsey and the Ramsey family?

JonBenét Ramsey was born on August 6, 1990, in Atlanta, Georgia, to John Bennett and Patricia "Patsy" Ramsey. The youngest of two children, she grew up alongside her older brother, Burke, who was just three years her senior. In the early 1990s, the family relocated to Boulder, Colorado, where they settled in an affluent neighborhood. John was a successful software executive who sold his company to Lockheed Martin.

Patsy Ramsey, John’s second wife, had a background in beauty and pageantry, having won the title of Miss West Virginia in 1977. She channeled this passion into JonBenét’s life, enrolling her in child beauty pageants at a young age. JonBenét quickly became a standout, winning titles such as America’s Royale Miss and Little Miss Colorado. Patsy was deeply involved in her daughter’s competitions, managing her wardrobe, rehearsals, and public appearances.

This hands-on role later led some to call her a “stage mom,” a portrayal that gained traction in tabloid media following JonBenét’s tragic death.

In the aftermath of JonBenét’s murder, both Patsy and John faced public and investigative scrutiny, as speculation about their involvement overshadowed the case and cemented it as one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in American history.

The death of JonBenét Ramsey

The Ramsey family’s life began to unravel on December 26, 1996, when JonBenét was found dead in the basement of their Boulder home just hours after her mother reported her missing. The case became an instant media sensation, fueled by a series of unusual details: a lengthy ransom note found in the house, the absence of clear signs of forced entry, and a botched initial police investigation.

On the morning of December 26, 1996, Patsy Ramsey discovered a handwritten ransom note demanding $118,000 for the safe return of her daughter—a figure John Bennett later claimed was nearly identical to his recent Christmas bonus. Patsy immediately called 911 to report JonBenét missing. However, the police, believing it to be a kidnapping, did not conduct a thorough search of the Ramsey home. Instead, they cordoned off JonBenét’s bedroom but left the rest of the house accessible, inadvertently allowing significant contamination of potential evidence.

Eight hours later, John Ramsey discovered JonBenét’s body in the basement. She was found with duct tape over her mouth and a nylon cord tied around her wrists and neck. In a move that further compromised the crime scene, John carried his daughter’s body upstairs, removing her from the location where she had been found.

A later autopsy revealed that JonBenét had died from strangulation, with additional evidence suggesting the possibility of sexual assault. Her death was officially ruled a homicide, but the circumstances surrounding the case were far from clear. The combination of the ransom note, the condition of her body, and the botched initial investigation quickly led authorities to focus on her parents, John and Patsy Ramsey, as the primary suspects.

JonBenét Ramsey conspiracy theories

The investigation into JonBenét Ramsey’s death, coupled with the intense media scrutiny surrounding her family and the Boulder community, gave rise to two primary theories: either her parents were responsible, or an unidentified intruder committed the crime.

Accidental family crime?

Suspicion toward the parents stemmed from several key factors. Police noted there were no clear signs of forced entry into the house, and the ransom note — a long-winded, oddly specific document — seemed staged. Investigators also observed what they interpreted as reluctance from John and Patsy Ramsey to cooperate fully, though the family claimed this was out of fear that police were fixated on them as suspects rather than pursuing other leads.

Forensic handwriting analysis eventually ruled out John as the author of the ransom note but was inconclusive for Patsy. Interviews with their son, Burke, both at the time and years later, painted the Ramseys as loving parents, and there was no history of violence on Patsy’s part toward her children or anyone else.

One of the more sensational theories proposed by investigators and amplified by the media suggested that Patsy accidentally killed JonBenét and then staged the break-in and strangulation to cover it up. However, autopsy results undermined this claim, showing that JonBenét was alive when she was strangled, making an accidental death followed by staging less plausible.

Despite mounting public pressure, the investigation was plagued by missteps and insufficient evidence. In 1999, a Colorado grand jury voted to indict John and Patsy Ramsey on two counts of child abuse resulting in death. However, then-District Attorney Alex Hunter declined to sign the indictment, citing a lack of evidence to prosecute the case successfully.

An even more controversial theory gained traction in 2016, following the airing of CBS’s The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey. This theory posited that 9-year-old Burke Ramsey, in a fit of frustration, killed his sister by striking her on the head with a flashlight during a dispute over a piece of pineapple. Proponents of this theory argued that JonBenét’s parents then staged the crime scene—including the ransom note and evidence of strangulation—to protect their son from potential legal consequences. Burke would later sue CBS for defamation.

Possible intruder?

Before focusing on the Ramsey family, police initially pursued the theory that an intruder had committed the crime. This was supported by evidence such as an unidentified boot print found in the basement where JonBenét’s body was discovered, as well as unidentified male DNA found on her underwear.

Investigators followed several leads in the Boulder community, including questioning the family’s housekeeper, a local reporter whose girlfriend suggested he could be a suspect, and even the mall Santa Claus who had interacted with JonBenét before her death. Despite their efforts, none of these individuals were tied to the crime.

Police conducted hundreds of DNA tests, but no matches were ever found, leaving the intruder theory as one of many possibilities in the still-unsolved case.

Where is the Ramsey family now?

After nearly a decade of allegations and intense scrutiny, the Ramsey family was officially exonerated in 2008 by DNA evidence, as announced by the Boulder County District Attorney’s office. Despite this, the damage had already been done. Media narratives and public speculation had dominated their lives, particularly for John and Patsy Ramsey, who became central figures in the storm of controversy surrounding their daughter’s death.

In 2004, John Ramsey attempted to move forward by running for a seat in Michigan’s House of Representatives, but his campaign was unsuccessful. Just two years later, in 2006, Patsy Ramsey passed away from ovarian cancer, an illness she had battled since 1993. Her death marked another tragedy for a family already burdened by public suspicion and loss.

Little was heard from their son, Burke, until 2016, when he gave his first public interview on the Dr. Phil show. The appearance came in response to CBS’s The Case of: JonBenét Ramsey, which had floated a controversial theory implicating him as his sister’s possible killer. Following the broadcast, Burke filed a defamation lawsuit against CBS, which was settled earlier this year.

Why is Netflix covering this again?

Yes, again. In 2017, Netflix released Casting JonBenét, a unique documentary that explored the casting process for reenactments of the Boulder murder. While it received decent reviews, it became one of many documentaries examining JonBenét’s death. So, why another one now?

The new three-part series, directed by Joe Berlinger, aims to reexamine the case with a fresh perspective—and to definitively clear the Ramsey family’s name. Speaking to The Independent, Berlinger reflected on how media narratives had influenced public perception, even his own. “Back then I fell for [the hype],” he admitted. “I’m embarrassed that I fell for it because I had just finished Paradise Lost, which is all about wrongful conviction—but I had a two-year-old daughter at home, and I kind of bought into the media hype.”

Teaming up with a Colorado Springs detective, Berlinger revisits the case, featuring appearances from John Ramsey and his adult son from his first marriage. The director’s stated goal for the series? To debunk the “crazy conspiracy theories” that have clouded the case and public understanding for decades.

Apple's iPads dominate the market. Even with the plethora of tablets from other retailers, iPads are still our favorite. With the 2024 release of the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air, it's clear that Apple is positioning its tablets as a laptop alternative.

Sure, they're great for streaming or reading on the go, but at this point, you can do anything on your computer on an iPad. Whether you want to illustrate or edit videos, iPads will help you do it. Recent developments in the Pro and Air models are also setting them up to be gaming devices.

And there is a best time to shop iPads. Shopping events like Black Friday are the perfect backdrop for upgrading tech while saving money. This year Black Friday falls on Nov. 29, but deals kicked off early, of course. You can find every iPad model on sale right now, so whichever model you choose, you don't have to pay full price.

But since there's not just one iPad to choose from, finding the right tablet isn't so straightforward. Mashable's reporters have hands-on testing experience with the best iPads, so you can figure out which one is for you.

Which iPad model should I buy?

Which iPad model is best for you purely depends on your needs. Do you want something that has enough storage and speed for streaming? Do you want to use it to read? Do you want it as your primary workstation? All of that should factor into your decision.

The best iPad for most people is the iPad Air 2024. It has the latest tech and solid performance but is also in the middle of the range in both price and capability. You can find iPads that are even more advanced or some pared down. Read on for Mashable's list of the best iPads for 2024.

TikTok, an app known for catapulting obscure artists onto the Billboard charts, had a turbulent start in 2024.

At the end of January, Universal Music Group (UMG) pulled its catalog — including massive artists like Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Drake — from the platform after negotiations dissolved between the music giant and TikTok. In February, UMG removed even more music from the platform, this time coming for all songs controlled by Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), which included any song a UMG artist wrote or co-wrote. TikTok estimated that UMG owned 20 to 30 percent of the music on the platform.

SEE ALSO: Taylor Swift's brand is mightier than her pen

In April, ahead of the release of Swift's newest album, The Tortured Poets Department, the singer's music returned to TikTok. By the beginning of May, TikTok and UMG reached a deal to usher its catalog back onto the app.

Before "Apple" took over during brat summer, the was a nearly four-month dry spell where Djo's "End of Beginning" soared in popularity, soundtracking nearly every video on our FYPs. But over the course of the year, TikTok reclaimed its title as a hub for music discovery.

Here are some of the best and most viral songs on the platform in 2024.

"Apple" by Charli XCX

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and "Apple" by Charli XCX was never far from our FYP.

Brat wasn't just an album but a cultural moment, and the iconic "Apple" dance created by Kelley Heyer bolstered its success. The song soundtracks over 1.7 million videos, with participants dancing to it everywhere. The dance was so popular that on Charli XCX and Troye Sivan's Sweat Tour, they crowded an "Apple girl" at each show who performed the choreography on the big screen.

"BIRDS OF A FEATHER" by Billie Eilish

Eilish's music returned to TikTok just in time to bolster the success of her latest album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT. While "LUNCH" is the album's single, "BIRDS OF A FEATHER" is the runaway hit on social media. Eilish's plea to stick together became the go-to song to soundtrack TikTok videos about friendship and romance, boasting over 1.3 million videos.

"Breathe" by Olly Alexander

An inexplicable trend that combined a clip from Gilmore Girls with Olly Alexander's 2014 cover of the Years & Years' "Breathe" catapulted the song back into relevancy. The "I love your daughter trend" saw men on TikTok appeal to a woman's father with their dance moves. In the soundbite, Gilmore Girls' Kirk (Sean Gunn) says, "I love your daughter," and Kirk's love interest's father replies, "What do you have to offer her?" And he says, "Nothing, only this…" At this point, the men employ their goofiest dance moves to Olly Alexander's "Breathe." Over 247,000 videos used the remix of the Gilmore Girls scene and "Breathe."

"Diet Pepsi" by Addison Rae

With "Diet Pepsi," Addison Rae officially transitioned from TikTok star to pop girlie. The irresistible earworm proved her spot in the brat extended universe was well-deserved. There, of course, was a "Diet Pepsi" dance choreographed by @fr00dle.

"End of Beginning" by Djo

The year's runaway hit came out in 2022, but the song jumped in popularity on TikTok from a mere 18,000 videos in February to 2.2 million in March. The cinematic dream-pop song lends itself to yearn-posting for a city you've since moved away from, fan edits of The Bear, and it has the added bonus of being written by someone the platform already loves, Joe Keery — the actor who plays fan-favorite Steve Harrington on Stranger Things.

"Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter

Rising to prominence after being Olivia Rodrigo's "blonde girl" and Swift's opener for the Latin America leg of the Eras Tour, Carpenter gripped the internet with four little words, "That's that me espresso."

Her sun-drenched hit is not only impossibly catchy but endlessly quotable. "That's that me espresso" and "I'm workin' late cuz I'm a singerrrr" inspired countless memes. Between the original and the "Double Shot Version," it's soundtracked over 450,000 videos on the app.

"Juna" by Clairo

Amid so much Clairo shade, the soft-spoken singer-songwriter released her third album, Charm.

"Juna," the hopeful lead single, inspired over 1.3 million TikToks and an accompanying trend. Participants in the trend posted a photo of themselves captioned with the lyrics, "You know me," followed by another slide saying, "You KNOW me," with a photo of themselves surrounded by things that define them. In true TikTok fashion, the defining things were often-materialistic in nature, detracting from the beauty of the song.

"Maps" by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs

It isn't TikTok if it isn't bringing a past hit to new listeners. This year, the Yeah Yeah Yeah's 2003 single "Maps" exploded in popularity thanks to an incredibly simple dance that even rabbits, cats, seals, and dogs performed.

"Mamushi (feat. Yuki Chiba)" by Megan Thee Stallion

Every summer is hot girl summer when Megan Thee Stallion is making hits. "Mamushi," this year's contribution to the hot girl canon, inspired creator MONA to choreograph a wildly popular dance to the song. The hype for the dance continued to explode when Megan Thee Stallion danced with MONA in a TikTok video. The track was used in over 2.4 million videos. Between "Mamushi," "Maps," and "Apple," the TikTok dance made a triumphant return — the girls stayed dancing!

"Nasty" by Tinashe

"Is somebody gonna match my freak?" is to Tinashe as "That's that me espresso" is to Carpenter.

Released in April, "Nasty" rose to virality thanks to a freaky white boy's dance moves on TikTok. A genius X user reposted a brief clip of a dancer, Nate — who posts under the handle @nates.vibes — impressively gyrating his hips, biting his finger, and sticking his tongue out. His moves are at odds with his nerdy appearance, making it immediate meme fodder.

In the original video, posted in February 2023, he dances to "Bind" by Hey Choppi, but the viral version replaces the audio with "Nasty." The video garnered more than 10 million views on X and spurred a whopping 5.6 million TikToks, including Tinashe herself mimicking Nate's moves. Now, that's what we call the Song of the Summer.

"Not Like Us" by Kendrick Lamar

From March to May, Kendrick Lamar and Drake went head to head in a vicious rap battle instigated by "Like That" from Future, Metro Boomin, and Lamar.

Over the course of 10 songs, Lamar and Drake launched diss after diss at each other, setting the internet ablaze with analysis and speculation. But back-to-back hitters "Meet the Grahams" and "Not Like Us" seemingly declared Lamar the winner. With accusation-laded, highly charged bars like "Certified Lover Boy, certified pedophiles" and "Tryna strike a chord, and it’s probably A-minor," "Not Like Us" has produced hundreds of thousands of TikToks and counting.

"TEXAS HOLD 'EM" by Beyoncé

Beyoncé inspired a good old-fashioned TikTok dance with "TEXAS HOLD 'EM." Choreographed by users Dexter Mayfield (@dexrated) and Matt McCall (@matt8mccall), their original dance video received a whopping 43.5 million views and 4.2 million likes. The song has since been used in over a million videos.

"That's So True" by Gracie Abrams

The final song to dominate FYPs this year was Gracie Abrams' "That's So True." For weeks on end, videos of people emphatically lip-synching, "What'd she do to get you off? (Uh-huh) / Taking down her hair like, oh, my God," were inescapable on the platform. And Abrams herself is seeing the boost in real-time as "That's So True" continues to climb the Billboard Hot 100.

SAVE $75: As of Nov. 25, the Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle is on sale for $274.99 in Target's Black Friday sale. This is 21% off its list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch OLED Model: 'Mario Kart 8 Deluxe' Bundle $274.99 at Target
$349.99 Save $75.00 Get Deal

Black Friday is a great time of year to pick up a console at a reduced rate. And many consoles get a bundle deal around this time of year as well, which is really great news for gamers. The Nintendo Switch is something that has popped up over the last few years with a bundle deal involving Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and this year is no different.

You can score the Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle on sale right now at Target. This OLED bundle has a list price of $349.99, but as of Nov. 25, you can pick it up for $274.99 at Target. This is 21% off the list price, saving you $75 overall.

SEE ALSO: The PS5 Slim just got its biggest-ever discount in Amazon's Black Friday event

Not only does this bundle come with the Nintendo Switch OLED model — which we called the "best version of this console" in our review — you're also getting Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and 12 months of a Nintendo Switch Online membership. If you break down this bundle into its individual parts, you're saving over $150 if you were to buy everything separately without a discount. That's a phenomenal bundle deal to take advantage of right now.

This Black Friday bundle is one you definitely don't want to miss. Grab the Nintendo Switch OLED Mario Kart 8 Deluxe bundle at Target.

There's plenty more to check out outside of Target, too. Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon are kicking off Black Friday week in style with a wide variety of discounts available right now for shoppers. No matter if you're looking for more gaming deals, tech, or items for your home, there's a little something for everyone.

SAVE $40: As of Nov. 25, the SHOKZ OpenRun headphones are on sale for $89.95. That's a 31% discount on list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: SHOKZ SHOKZ OpenRun $89.95 at Amazon
$129.95 Save $40.00 Get Deal

Black Friday sales are the best excuse to upgrade your tech. You can find incredible deals on TVs, laptops, earbuds, Apple products, and much more. But the latest deal to catch our eye is on the SHOKZ OpenRun bone-conducting headphones. As of Nov. 25, you can find them on sale at Amazon for just $89.95, saving you 31% on list price.

Bone conduction technology does what it says on the tin. It's a technology that transmits sound through vibrations directly to the inner ear via the cheekbones, bypassing the eardrum, and increasing your spatial awareness.

SEE ALSO: Save $100 on the Dyson Supersonic hair dryer this Black Friday

The SHOKZ OpenRun headphones are an earbud-free design with a lightweight, wraparound frame and open-ear fit. They utilize 8th-generation bone conduction technology to deliver high-quality audio while keeping your ears open to your surroundings for safety and connection during workouts. This is one we recommend for runners — a great way to listen to music and stay safe.

It has an IP67 waterproof rating, so they’re sweatproof and work for runs or walks in the rain. However, these are not suitable for swimming.

The battery life will keep you listening for up to eight hours, and a quick 10-minute charge will top you up with an hour and a half of extra playtime.

Grab this great Black Friday deal at Amazon.

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 25, the Dyson Supersonic is on sale at Amazon for $329. That's a 23% discount on the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic $329.00 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal

Sometimes you can excuse a splurge, and when Black Friday deals are available, you can absolutely excuse it. Amazon's discounts kicked off last week and still have a week left to go, so you'll find plenty of deals on a range of products. And if you're looking for new hair styling products, you'll love this discount on the Dyson Supersonic hairdryer.

As of Nov. 25, this model is reduced by $100 at Amazon, now only $329. This deal is for the nickel/copper color option.

SEE ALSO: The Dyson Airwrap just got a $100 Black Friday discount at Amazon

The Supersonic is a great option for all hair types. It is designed to dry hair quickly while minimizing damage caused by extreme heat, something we can all get behind. It uses Dyson’s powerful digital motor V9, which spins at up to 110,000 rpm, combined with fancy Air Multiplier technology to produce a controlled airflow for efficient drying and styling.

It also protects hair health by measuring air temperature over 40 times per second, ensuring it never exceeds safe levels. This means your hair's natural shine is left intact, so say goodbye to dry, bristly hair.

The Supersonic comes with various attachments, including a styling concentrator, diffuser, flyaway attachment, and a gentle air attachment.

Grab this Black Friday deal on Amazon.

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 25, the Dyson Airwrap is on sale at Amazon for $499.99. That's a 17% discount on the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Airwrap $499.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

The discounts are just getting started and Amazon's Black Friday event has officially kicked off. Running from Nov. 21 through to Dec. 2, there are plenty of deals and savings to be had across TVs, headphones, tablets, and much more. And if you're on the hunt for some new hair styling accessories, you're in luck. The Dyson Airwrap is now reduced by $100 at Amazon.

The Dyson Airwrap is still one of the top hair products in the game, famed for its incredible styling techniques using Dyson air-powered technology. Such incredible technology doesn't come without a high price tag, however. But as of Nov. 25, you can find this product at Amazon reduced to $499.99. This deal is specific to the 'special edition — long for straight to wavy hair' model.

SEE ALSO: I tried 5 Dyson Supersonic dupes that are actually worth the hype (and on sale for Black Friday)

This iconic hair tool features a range of attachments to curl, wave, smooth, and add volume to your hair without extreme heat. It offers versatility for all types of hair style, from natural waves to polished looks, all while minimizing the risk of heat damage.

This 'long for straight to wavy hair' dryer is a tailored version of the Airwrap, specifically designed for people with longer hair who want to create different styles ranging from straight looks to bouncy waves.

Don't miss out on this Black Friday deal, head to Amazon now.

SAVE OVER $70: As of Nov. 25, the PS5 Slim is on sale at Amazon for $424. That's a 15% discount on the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: PlayStation PS5 Slim $424.00 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $75.99 Get Deal

PS5 deals are among the most sought-after on Black Friday, and we're not surprised. Whether it's accessories, controllers, or the consoles themselves, you'll find plenty of discounts across the likes of Walmart, Best Buy, and Amazon. And if the PS5 Slim is on your wishlist, you can find it reduced by $75.99 at Amazon, now priced at $424. This is also the lowest it has ever been priced at Amazon, so you're getting a great deal.

The PS5 Slim is a sleek, compact version of the full-size console. It offers the same high-performance gaming but in a smaller, more space-efficient design. The Slim still has the same powerful hardware as the original PS5, including ray tracing capabilities, speedy load times thanks to its SSD, and sharp 4K visuals.

SEE ALSO: PS5 vs. PS5 Slim: What are the differences?

With this in mind, the PS5 Slim is ideal for those with reduced space, or who want to cut down on clutter. Its design also includes a detachable disc drive, allowing you to choose between physical and digital formats.

The PS5 Slim also boasts improved energy efficiency, consuming less power during use. It even includes subtle tweaks to its cooling system for a quieter performance. It supports all existing PS5 games, accessories, and PS VR2, ensuring full compatibility with Sony’s gaming ecosystem.

Head to Amazon to grab this great Black Friday deal.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

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

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

Tweet may have been deleted

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.

Tweet may have been deleted

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 25 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 - Bad run of luck

• Green - Ballers minus "s"

• Blue - Agile avoidance

• Purple - Different types of a popular sport concept

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow - Streak of poor performance

• Green - NBA teams in singular form

• Blue - Evade a defender

• Purple - ___ golf

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 #63 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Stream of poor performance: DOWNSWING, DROUGHT, SKID, SLUMP

• NBA teams in singular form: NET, NUGGET, PACER, WIZARD

• Evade a defender: DEKE, JUKE, SIDESTEP, SPIN

• ____ golf: DISC, MINI, LINKS, TOP

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new 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.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, November 25, 2024:

AcrossAccessory marked down after Halloween, maybe

• The answer is Mask.

High level?

• The answer is Attic.

Tree-dwelling animal whose fur gets tinted green with algae

• The answer is Sloth.

Cook, as onions

• The answer is Saute.

River that Achilles was (mostly!) dipped in

• The answer is Styx.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 22 DownIt's measured in kilograms

• The answer is Mass.

Rockefeller Center statue depicting a Greek Titan

• The answer is Atlas.

Strong, dark beer

• The answer is Stout.

Poker pot

• The answer is Kitty.

Party mix cereal

• The answer is Chex.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

Less than three weeks into owning a Yoto Player, my three-year-old nephew began calling another speaker toy "Yoto" as well. Two months on, his delight at the gadget hasn't waned — and his initially sceptical parents now love it as much as he does.

SEE ALSO: Finding a gift that kids actually like is tricky. This guide will make it easier.

My sister and brother-in-law aspire to give my nephew a relatively screen-free upbringing, wary of raising a developmentally delayed iPad kid. They don't own a television, preferring to watch the occasional film or episode of Bluey on a laptop, and they carefully ensure my nephew's access to smartphones is strictly monitored and timed.

Even so, there are times when they're so exhausted that they just need a break. Children have an abundance of energy that can be difficult to keep up with, especially when you also have both housework and normal work to attend to. There's a reason why so many tired, desperate adults resort to screens to keep their kids entertained.

The Yoto Player aims to offer an alternative to screens, engaging children's imaginations via kid-friendly audio they can control themselves with physical cards. It isn't the type of toy I would typically pick up, my family being somewhat apprehensive regarding children's gadgets. 

Having now tried it, it turns out the Yoto Player is a game changer.

What is the Yoto Player? When not playing a card, the Yoto Player can be used as a clock. Credit: Yoto

Simply put, the Yoto Player is a portable speaker that plays audio from cards inserted into a slot on the device. This allows children to control what they listen to themselves, deciding which cards to play, adjusting the volume, and skipping to the tracks they love the most. Yoto's card system also ensures there's no danger of children inadvertently straying into inappropriate content without adult supervision, as they might while browsing YouTube.

With child-friendly rounded edges, the Yoto Player's large controls are easy for young children to operate independently, and click to provide satisfyingly tactile feedback. After the first few weeks of familiarising himself with it, my nephew displayed no difficulty using the Yoto Player's knobs and buttons to navigate, deftly adjusting the volume, switching between tracks, and pausing playback. The controls aren't labelled, but they're intuitive enough that this isn't a problem (your child may not be reading yet anyway).

The Yoto Player's chunky, box-like design is also resilient enough to withstand the rigours of childhood, even if you choose to forgo the additional protection of a silicone Adventure Jacket. Just like any gadget, I wouldn't deliberately throw it at the ground, but the Yoto seems robust enough to handle getting knocked around or dropped from a toddler-like height a few times.

The Yoto Player offers functionally screen-free entertainment My nephew wasn't bothered at all by Yoto's functional lack of a screens. Credit: Amanda Yeo

When I first presented my nephew with the Yoto Player, I was concerned that he would quickly lose interest due to its lack of a screen.

To be clear, while the Yoto Player is functionally screen-free, the device technically isn't screenless. Both the Yoto Player and the smaller Yoto Mini have screens which display chunky pixel art reflecting the content being played. For example, a picture of a giraffe may be shown alongside Dear Zoo, or an image of Lightning McQueen during Yoto's novelisation of Disney's Cars. 

These pictures do change as the audio progresses, and can even helpfully display the answers to the audio quizzes found on some cards. Still, these innocuous on-screen icons are largely static, and more akin to occasionally turning the page in a picture book than watching an endless hypnotising parade of YouTube unboxing videos.

Fortunately, this lack of video has not deterred my nephew from his Yoto Player at all. While he doesn't seem worryingly engrossed in the speaker, he is most definitely enjoying it, the gadget still consistently keeping him entertained and occupied months on. In fact, he's found the Yoto Player engaging enough that he's happy to quietly listen to it while lying next to a napping parent, or after waking up at an obscenely early hour of the morning. Both the Yoto Player and Mini are compatible with wired 3.5mm jack headphones as well as wireless ones.

His parents enjoy watching him enjoy the Yoto Player as well, whether he's focusing solely on the story or listening while building a LEGO tower. Rather than allowing children to zone out as they would in front of a screen, the Yoto Player engages their imagination, similarly to being read or sung to. My brother-in-law praised the Yoto Player as "entertainment that doesn't make him catatonic," noting that it's also an excellent gadget for car rides.

"[I'm] so much more comfortable leaving him with a Yoto than a phone," my brother-in-law told me.

Yoto's wide catalogue of cards includes Disney, Elton John, and C.S. Lewis Yoto has a wide catalogue of cards to collect. Credit: Yoto

The Yoto Player is primarily operated via Yoto cards, which are purchased separately to the speaker. Put a card in the Yoto Player's slot, and it will begin to play. Yank it out, and it will stop. It's a simple enough system that young children can understand and operate it easily.

There's also more than enough variety in Yoto's card catalogue for you to carefully curate your child's listening experience. Covering content for ages 0 to 12 and up, Yoto's cards contain songs, stories, and even educational audio. Many of these are originals created by Yoto itself, however there are also numerous cards from well-known brands such as Disney, Harry Potter, Ladybird Books, and even Cocomelon. The song cards also range from nursery rhymes to Queen, the Spice Girls, Elton John, and the Beatles. You can even record your own cards too (more on that below).

However, my brother-in-law did note that it is a closed ecosystem, the Yoto Player requiring you to either buy Yoto cards or play Yoto-approved audio from the Yoto app. With the cheapest cards costing a few dollars at minimum, the price of accumulating a collection of Yoto cards can quickly stack up. As such, you'll likely want to build your library gradually. The complete Harry Potter series alone will set you back a couple of hundred dollars.

Interestingly, the Yoto cards don't actually have the sound files stored on them. Rather, they tell the Yoto Player that you own said cards, and direct it to download the audio from Yoto's servers. As such, you will need to be connected to WiFi during setup as well as the first time you insert each card. Setup is easy though, and once complete the Yoto Player seamlessly interacts with the cards as though they contain the audio, starting and stopping when they're put in and pulled out.

My nephew was happy to sit quietly and enjoy listening to his Yoto Player. Credit: Amanda Yeo

One mild disappointment is that though the Yoto Player appears perfectly designed for read-along content, many currently available book cards aren't suitable for this purpose. Yoto does have audiobook cards for classic novels such as The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe; James and the Giant Peach; Anne of Green Gables, and The Secret Garden. However, customers have noted that at least some of Yoto's book adaptations are abridged, meaning kids can't follow along even if they have their own copies of said books.

Fortunately, some cards for picture books such as Dear Zoo are specifically designed for read-alongs, providing audio cues for when to turn the page. I was unable to try this out with my nephew, but my brother-in-law believes it will be great for when he starts reading.

Lyrics in many of the nursery songs may be slightly different to what you remember from your own childhood as well. Rather than handing off hot cross buns to your sons "if you have no daughters," Yoto Original card Old McDonald and other Pre-School Songs suggests you "give them to your daughters, give them to your sons."

None of this should negatively impact your child's enjoyment of the tunes. My nephew has been bopping along regardless, holding impromptu living room dance parties with his Yoto. However, such lyrical changes may throw off a few confused parents during their first sing-along.

Yoto lets you personalise cards for a loving touch

If such changes really bother you, fortunately there is a solution. In addition to its extensive library, Yoto offers blank cards that you can use to record your own audio via the Yoto app. This opens up a wealth of exciting possibilities, enabling you to create special, personalised cards just for your child. 

It's a sweet idea, allowing grandparents and other loved ones to record themselves telling bedtime stories, singing songs, or leaving loving messages for a child. The child will then be able to play these messages back themselves whenever they want to hear their family member's voice. My brother-in-law recorded himself reading a book and singing nursery rhymes with my nephew, assigning each track an image for Yoto Player's screen to display while they played. Cards such as these are likely to be treasured for a long time to come.

Yoto's connected app is for adults The app adds extra functionality for adults to explore. Credit: Yoto

Like pretty much every gadget nowadays, the Yoto does have a connected app. However, children can use cards to operate their Yoto Player without ever setting sight on the app, which would defeat the entire goal of screenless entertainment. Rather, the Yoto app is intended for adults. 

Parents can scan Yoto cards into the app, allowing them to play the related audio without the physical card, as well as curate a library from the collection of free sounds under the Discover tab. This includes audio timers for activities such as brushing teeth or tidying up, children's podcasts, and family-friendly radio channels from both Yoto and Yoto-approved third parties.

There's also a decent selection of sleep sounds even parents may benefit from, which includes audio such as white noise, brown noise, "Rainy Car Ride," and "Kirthar National Park, Pakistan." Every sound can be placed on a customisable timer that maxes out at 12 hours and 55 minutes, so you can set it to automatically turn off once your child is likely to have nodded off. You can also put tracks on repeat, as well as adjust the speed of playback.

All of these sounds can not only be streamed from the app to any connected Yoto Player, but played straight from your phone or on third-party speakers as well. I used Apple AirPlay to stream Yoto's audio to my Sonos Roam, utilising the app's sleep sounds for myself. Kids aren't the only ones who find the sound of rain soothing.

The Yoto app also allows multiple users to join one family account, which is particularly useful for children who spend time in multiple households. I did encounter some issues joining my brother-in-law's account, which was only rectified when we both connected to the same Wifi for the initial setup, but otherwise using the app has been a relatively seamless experience.

Yoto Player vs. Yoto Mini My nephew uses both the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini interchangably. Credit: Amanda Yeo

Yoto offers two speaker models: the Yoto Player, and the Yoto Mini. The most obvious difference between the two are their sizes. The Player is a cube measuring slightly larger than four inches in each dimension, while the Mini is smaller at 2.7 inches across and 1.5 inches deep. 

The Yoto Player also has extra features such as stereo sound, a night light, a room thermometer, and both wireless and USB-C charging. Meanwhile, the Yoto Mini only supports mono sound and USB-C charging. Yoto states that the Mini also has a shorter battery life of 14 hours, compared to the Player's 24.

Even so, my nephew didn't seem bothered by any of these differences. He happily treated the two speakers as interchangeable, picking up the Yoto Mini even when the Player was available and fully charged, and easily carrying the Player around despite the Mini being specifically designed for portability. The Mini's much smaller screen didn't put my nephew off either.

The Yoto Player's night light distinguishes it from the Yoto Mini. Credit: Yoto

Rather, it was my sister and brother-in-law who got the most use from the Yoto Player's extra features, setting the night light to automatically change colours between night and day. This meant that when my nephew woke up at 6 a.m., he knew it wasn't time to get up until his Yoto Player's light turned blue at 7 a.m. — a blessing for parents in need of all the sleep they can get. 

Unfortunately, my nephew isn't a fan of the night light, so they've since abandoned using the Yoto Player at night. My brother-in-law was also mildly disappointed that the Yoto Player's night light only turns on when it is placed face down with the clock on its screen not visible. As my nephew is already reading numbers, my brother-in-law felt having the Yoto Player's night light and clock both visible simultaneously could have helped teach him to tell how long it is until it's time to get up.

Opens in a new window Credit: Yoto Yoto Mini at Amazon
Shop Now Is the Yoto Player worth it? Both the Yoto Player and Yoto Mini are capable of engaging kids. Credit: Yoto

I was mildly sceptical about Yoto's speakers going in. While Yoto's mission to minimise screen time is admirable, and I certainly replayed certain cassette tapes ad infinitum as a child, I wondered if purely audible entertainment might have gone the way of the stick and hoop. Perhaps a speaker wouldn't interest a child when compared to the bright lights and cheerful colours of television.

Such concerns were entirely unfounded. Not only has my nephew fallen in love with his Yoto, his parents and grandparents are also quite pleased with it as well. My sister and brother-in-law even overcame their own scepticism toward children's gadgets, happy that my nephew is engaging his imagination rather than being mesmerised by a screen. I have been sent more than one photo of my nephew listening contentedly to his Yoto Player, or joyfully rolling around with it on the floor.

If you're struggling to keep a young child entertained but don't want them engrossed by a screen, the Yoto Player is a great option to explore that will keep their minds active. And considering that Yoto offers cards for all ages, it could help you sort a few years of Christmas and birthday presents as well.

TL;DR: Skip the monthly fees and get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2019 for Windows for just £19.93 (reg. £182.76) through 08 December.

Opens in a new window Credit: Retail King Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for Windows £19.93 at the Mashable Shop
£182.76 Save £162.83 Get Deal

Ready to level up your work life? Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office Pro Plus 2019 for Windows for just £19.93 (reg. £182.76) at the Mashable Shop.

What apps are included in this Microsoft Office package?

You’ll get access to all the core tools, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, and OneNote — everything needed for productivity, whether at work or home.

Can the apps be used without an internet connection?

Yes; once installed, you can use the apps offline without worrying about connectivity. This is especially useful for anyone working in places with limited internet access.

What’s the advantage of a lifetime license?

A one-time purchase gives you a lifetime device license to all the tools without monthly fees. It's a cost-effective solution for those who prefer owning their software outright. This version comes with regular security updates to keep your software running smoothly and securely over time, ensuring your tools stay current.

Who would benefit most from this 2019 license?

It’s great for students, remote workers, and home users who need reliable, offline access to essential Office apps without the hassle of recurring payments.

How many devices can I install Office on?

This package allows you to install Microsoft Office on one device and is compatible with Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems.

Ready to own your Office tools for life? For £19.93 (reg. £182.76), you can skip the subscriptions and enjoy a lifetime of productivity with Microsoft Office 2019.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Samsung's famous art TV, The Frame, turns your living room into an art gallery. Get the 43" version of this 4K QLED TV on sale for $749.99 (reg. $999.99) for Black Friday. 

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung The Frame 43" QLED 4K LS03D 2024 Smart TV (Open Box) $749.99 at the Mashable Shop
$999.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal

TVs have come a long way in a short time, but most of them are still big black boxes sitting in your room. When they aren't in use, they add nothing to your home decor. 

The Frame is a QLED smart TV that doubles as an art gallery, and it really looks the part. The ultra-thin 4K TV comes in an elegant frame and with access to its own art library you can display on the screen when you aren't streaming. There's a reason TikTok is raving about this unique TV.

In this The Frame Black Friday deal, you can get this famous Samsung TV for $749.99, down from $999.99 in an open-box deal. 

A classy new kind of TV

Who says your TV can't be art?

When powered on, the Samsung The Frame is a premium smart TV, delivering sharp, vibrant 4K visuals and immersive sound. Quantum HDR and Dolby Atmos bring your favorite shows and movies to life in exquisite detail, and the TV’s TizenOS interface means you can seamlessly access streaming apps, play games, or even work out with virtual trainers.

But the real magic happens when it’s powered off.

In Art Mode, the Frame becomes a canvas for curated artwork or personal photos. The matte, anti-reflection display mimics the look of real paper or canvas, reducing glare and providing a lifelike art-viewing experience. The Samsung Art Store offers access to more than 2,500 iconic works from renowned museums, or you can upload your own creations to make the display uniquely yours. 

What sets the Frame apart is its design versatility. Interchangeable bezels allow you to customize the look to match your space, while the Slim Fit Wall Mount helps it sit flush against the wall, blending seamlessly with your decor. It’s as much a design statement as it is a television.

With TikTok users raving about its dual functionality and high-end finish, it’s no surprise the Frame has become a trendsetter.

This smart TV is marked down for Black Friday because it's an Open Box item, but that's not a bad thing. It just means it might have been extra stock or the box has some cosmetic issues, but the TV itself is still in brand-new condition.

Get the Samsung Frame Smart TV on sale for $749.99 during Black Friday at the Mashable Shop. 

Samsung The Frame 43" QLED 4K LS03D (2024) Smart TV (Open Box) - $749.99 | See Deal

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

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 25 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 25 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Plan on it

These words are written on a calendar.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are things to consider when planning something.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Calendar.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 25

• Month

• Date

• Year

• Event

• Week

• Appointment

• Holiday

• Calendar

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.

I don't think it's an understatement to say that Dune: Part Two rocked my world. Thanks to its glorious sandworms, Austin Butler's freaky Feyd-Rautha, and so much more, it quickly became one of my favorite films of the year.

But just because you love something doesn't mean you can't have a problem with it, and boy, did I have a problem with how Dune: Part Two handled one scene in particular: Lady Jessica's (Rebecca Ferguson) Spice Agony.

SEE ALSO: 'Dune: Prophecy' episode 2: Sister Lila's prophecy, explained What's the Spice Agony ritual?

The Spice Agony is a Bene Gesserit ritual where a Sister takes some of the Water of Life, a spice-rich poison derived from baby sandworms. Thanks to years of training, a Sister can transform the poison within her body and render it harmless. In return, she unlocks her genetic memory, meaning the memories and wisdom of all her ancestors, and becomes a Reverend Mother. Failure means death.

Jessica takes the Water of Life in order to replace the Fremen's dying Reverend Mother. However, since she's pregnant, the Water of Life also transforms her unborn daughter Alia Atreides (Anya Taylor-Joy), effectively giving her a Reverend Mother-level of consciousness and power in the womb.

This is all supremely strange stuff, brought to life in Frank Herbert's Dune with a surreal scene where Lady Jessica communicates with the Fremen's Reverend Mother Ramallo within their "mutual mind's eye." You can feel the deep connection between the two Bene Gesserit, the terror about what this means for Alia, and the overwhelming barrage of information Ramallo gives Jessica.

Rebecca Ferguson in "Dune: Part Two." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

But in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two, this pivotal sequence is given short shrift. Jessica writhes around in agony, we see the vibrant blue Water of Life flowing through her body (and around her fetus), then the Reverend Mother cries out in fear about her being pregnant. There's no sense of the memory aspect of it all, nor do we get any of the fascinating interiority of the scene in the novel. Understandably, there are many things Dune: Part Two had to change during the adaptation process. Yet dulling such a fascinating scene yields underwhelming results, to the point that the sequence almost feels like an afterthought.

Dune: Prophecy's portrayal of Spice Agony is terrifying — and great.

Enter Dune: Prophecy, HBO's prequel series about the early days of the Bene Gesserit order. In the show's second episode, young acolyte Sister Lila (Chloe Lea) goes through the Spice Agony in the hopes of gleaning information from her ancestors that could help the Sisters face down certain ruin. The circumstances of her Agony are far different from Jessica's, yet the scenes are still in conversation with each other, given that they both portray different versions of the same ritual. And honestly? Dune: Prophecy's take comes out on top.

As Lila begins the Agony, we see shots of the Water of Life swirling with her blood, a visual straight out of Villeneuve's film. But after that, we delve into something stranger and scarier. Lila winds up in a vast cavern full of faceless Sisters — a perfect physical representation of Lila's ancestral memory. There, she meets her grandmother, Sister Dorotea (Camilla Beeput), who gives her cryptic messages about the oncoming reckoning. She also imparts the memory of her death to Lila, showing her how young Valya Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) murdered her with the Voice. Here, we see the memories of Lila's ancestors pouring into her, similar to Jessica's experience receiving Ramallo's memories in Herbert's Dune.

Dune: Prophecy takes the Agony one step farther, emphasizing the horror of the process. The Sisters in the cave don't move naturally. Some shamble towards Lila. Others crawl along the ceiling and down the walls. They surround and attack her, falling on her body like zombies devouring a corpse. It's an overwhelming sequence, both for Lila and the audience, and it captures the do-or-die panic of the Agony in a much more visceral sense than Dune: Part Two.

Dune: Part Two also has the added element of Alia's presence, and she quickly becomes the focus of the scene. But in shifting that focus almost entirely to her, we lose some of Jessica's journey. The Agony is a massive moment in her story, but her physical and mental experience falls to the wayside. With Dune: Prophecy, you stay with Lila the entire time, experiencing this taxing, deadly, and strange trial alongside her every step of the way. That immersion pushes Dune: Prophecy's Agony to the top, righting one of Dune: Part Two's (few) wrongs.

Dune: Prophecy is now streaming on Max. New episodes premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

Another episode of Dune: Prophecy means another cryptic prophecy to break down.

Episode 2's prophecy comes courtesy of Sister Lila (Chloe Lea), a young acolyte in the Sisterhood who makes the decision to undergo the dangerous ritual known as the Agony long before she's ready.

SEE ALSO: 'Dune: Prophecy': What does Tiran-Arafel mean?

During the Agony, a Sister takes the poison known as the Water of Life, derived from baby sandworms. Thanks to years of physical training, a well-prepared Sister should be able to neutralize the poison within her body. That process will unlock her genetic memory, making her a Reverend Mother. We've seen this ritual before in Dune: Part Two, when Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) successfully transforms the Water of Life and becomes a Reverend Mother to the Fremen.

However, failing to change the Water of Life means death. That's why less-experienced acolytes like Lila don't take it. So why is she subjecting herself to it?

As we learn in episode 2, Lila is the descendant of Sisterhood founder Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul (Cathy Tyson), who first foretold the oncoming reckoning known as Tiran-Arafel. Current Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and her sister, Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), hope that if Lila can unlock her genetic memory and connect with Raquella, she'll be able to deliver some wisdom that will help the Sisterhood prevail over the trials to come.

SEE ALSO: Space babies and time jumps: How 'Dune: Part Two' handles the challenge of Alia Atreides What is Sister Lila's prophecy, and what does it mean?

Of course, the plan goes as poorly as can be expected. Lila, brave as she is, succumbs to the Water of Life. Before she does, though, she delivers a foreboding prophecy — not from Mother Raquella but from Raquella's granddaughter, Dorotea (Camilla Beeput). Dorotea speaks through Lila, revealing, "The key to the reckoning is one born twice. Once in blood. Once in spice. A revenant full of scars. A weapon born of war, on a path too short."

So who could she be talking about? Who do we know from Dune: Prophecy who has been born twice?

As of now, all signs point to soldier Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel). Like all humans, he was born in blood, but he also experienced a rebirth in the Arrakis desert, when he was swallowed by a sandworm. Given that Arrakis is the only planet where the spice melange exists, and that sandworms are a key part of spice production, Hart's experience facing Shai-Hulud sounds as close to a birth in spice as you can get. He also bears several scars on his face, and as a soldier, he is the definition of "a weapon born of war."

However, there's one word in Lila's prophecy that could change everything: "revenant." That term could reference someone who's come back to life. Or it could reference another element of Frank Herbert's Dune lore: gholas.

Could Desmond Hart be a ghola?

A ghola is essentially a human clone, but instead of being cloned from living tissue, a ghola is replicated from dead tissue. Pretty gnarly, right? They're created by a faction known as the Bene Tleilaxu, and they play a large role in Dune Messiah and onward.

So, with the concept of a "revenant" on the table, could Dune: Prophecy be implying that the Desmond we meet in the show is actually a ghola? Perhaps the original Desmond died in the sandworm attack — which seems basically impossible to survive, as cool as that would be — after which his dead body became the base for his ghola. Add in some extra genetic manipulation during the ghola creation process, and boom, you're looking at Desmond's fire powers.

Of course, this is all just conjecture, and Desmond Hart could simply be as powerful as he claims he is. Or the prophecy could be pointing to someone else entirely, and Desmond is just a red herring. But for now, who else do we know who's been reborn in spice? We've got our eye on you, Desmond!

Dune: Prophecy is now streaming on Max, with new episodes premiering Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.

The Biden administration is reducing its award to the chip maker, partly to account for a multibillion-dollar military contract.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for November 25 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 25 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

The color you get when you mix red, blue, and yello.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no reoccurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter B.

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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...

BROWN.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 25

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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.