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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 December 10 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 10 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Something to see

These words are what you might go watch.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

Words are related to the film industry.

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 Cinematic.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for December 10

• Flick

• Picture

• Talkie

• Feature

• Short

• Movie

• Film

• Cinematic

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.

A new report by Human Rights Watch documents the continued exploitation of webcam models abroad, many of whom operate on popular sites like Chaturbate and are streamed by millions around the world — but aren't protected by either the platforms' Terms of Service or the larger labor movement.

An extensive documentation of webcam studio conditions in Colombia, the international human rights group's report outlines an increasingly abusive environment within webcamming studios hosted in cities like Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and Palmira. The organization spoke to 55 studio-based webcammers, Colombian authorities, U.S. State Department officials, and anti-trafficking experts.

SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025

Many of the models interviewed by Human Rights Watch and Colombian sex worker-led organizations La Liga de Salud Trans and Corporación Calle 7 Colombia recounted being coerced into "abysmal" sanitary and physical working conditions under constant surveillance, for periods of up to 24 hours. Even more recounted having never read or signed the Terms of Service of the platforms their content appeared on, with their accounts being made and overseen by the studios — guidelines that could offer them insight into further wage theft and sexual exploitation. For example, few of the webcam platforms offer protections for models to take breaks during live cam shifts. Studios reportedly pressured models into staying online for extended periods of time, using the threat of docked pay and decreased traffic.

Colombia has decriminalized sex work — a globally supported policy position among sex worker, labor, and human rights activists — and all of the models interviewed had consented to their work, yet adult content platforms, especially those in the webcam industry, continue to slip through the regulatory cracks and threaten the safety of models. “Sex workers deserve the same labor protections as all workers under international human rights law, but the billion-dollar webcam industry has largely avoided scrutiny for abuses in its supply chains,” writes report author and Human Rights Watch researcher Erin Kilbride. "Sexual exploitation is not inherent to webcam modeling, but our research indicates that the risk of exploitation in Colombian studios is extremely high."

Labor violations among webcam studio operators overseeing adult content models are well documented. While streaming platforms take anywhere from 50 to 65 percent of a model's earnings already, Human Rights Watch explains, studios like those documented in Colombia retain as much as 70 percent of what is paid out by the platform, reducing model earnings to meager numbers. In addition, many studios retain ownership of models' accounts, forcing them to stay with the studio or risk losing their followings and living wages. The organization reports that this is also a way for studios to circumvent verification systems that protect minors from entering the platform.

"Webcamming exists at the intersection of feminized labor, anti-sex work stigma, the informal economy, and the platform-mediated gig-economy. This combination makes it a ready site of multiple forms of labor exploitation," Human Rights Watch explains in the report. "Adult webcam platforms have remained largely immune to rebuke for their direct participation in and enabling of the exploitation of studio-based webcam workers."

The holiday travel season is coming up, which means loads of empty homes and packages sitting on porches, ripe for the plucking. All the more reason to gift the people on your list, and yourself, a Ring security device that will shine a spotlight on dark places around the house, alert them to when someone’s lurking, and let them know when packages arrive, all in real time. 

Check out these top Ring picks that’ll keep tabs on their space while they’re at grandma’s — and they can uplevel their device’s capabilities with a Ring Home plan.

The company is requesting a pause on a law that requires the app to be sold or face a ban in the United States by mid-January, aiming to buy time for the Supreme Court or the incoming Trump administration to rescue it.

One of the most highly-anticipated AI-related products has just arrived: OpenAI's AI video generator Sora launched on Monday as part of the company's 12 Days of OpenAI event.

OpenAI has provided sneak peeks at Sora's output in the past. But, how different is it at launch? OpenAI has certainly been hard at work to update and improve its AI video generator in preparation for its public launch.

YouTuber Marques Brownlee had a first look at Sora, releasing his video review of the latest OpenAI product hours before OpenAI even officially announced the launch. What did Brownlee think?

What Sora is good at

According to Brownlee, his Sora testing found that the AI video generator excels at creating landscapes. AI generated overhead, drone-like shots of nature or famous landscapes look just like real-life stock footage. Of course, as Brownlee points out, if you are specifically well-versed in how the surroundings of a landmark look, one might be able to spot the differences. However, there's not too much that looks distinctly AI-generated in these types of Sora-created clips.

SEE ALSO: How to try OpenAI's Sora right now

Perhaps the type of video Sora is best able to create, according to Brownlee, are abstract videos. Background or screensaver type abstract art can be made quite well by Sora even with specific instructions.

Brownlee also found that Sora-generated certain types of animated content, like stop-motion or claymation type animation, look passable at times as the sometimes jerky movements that still plague AI video look like stylistic choices.

SEE ALSO: 7 wild Sora videos blowing up social media after its launch

Most surprisingly, Brownlee found that Sora was able to handle very specific animated text visuals. Words often show up as garbled text in other AI image and video generation models. With Sora, Brownlee found that as long as the text was specific, say a few words on title card, Sora was able to generate the visual with correct spelling.

Where Sora goes wrong

Sora, however, still presents many of the same problems that all AI video generators that came before it have struggled with.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora is officially here

The first thing Brownlee mentions is object permanence. Sora has issues with displaying, say, a specific object in an individual's hand throughout the runtime of the video. Sometimes the object will move or just suddenly disappear. Just like with AI text, Sora's AI video suffers from hallucinations. 

Which brings Brownlee to Sora's biggest problem: Physics in general. Photorealistic video seems to be quite challenging for Sora because it can't just seem to get movement down right. A person simply walking will start slowing down or speeding up in unnatural ways. Body parts or objects will suddenly warp into something completely different at times as well.

And, while Brownlee did mention those improvements with text, unless you are getting very specific, Sora still garbles the spelling of any sort of background text like you might see on buildings or street signs.

Sora is very much an ongoing work, as OpenAI shared during the launch. While it may offer a step up from other AI video generators, it's clear that there are just some areas where all AI video models are going to find challenging.

OpenAI officially launched Sora on Monday, Dec. 9, and people are already testing its capabilities.

The company showed off its AI video generator last year before launching it during its 12 Days of OpenAI series of announcements. It was made available to the U.S. and lots of countries earlier today. Mashable's Cecily Mauran has all the details about the launch.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI's Sora is officially here

The general idea behind Sora is that, much like a chatbot, you give the AI tool a prompt, and it spits out results. But instead of text or images, you get videos. That is both pretty amazing and quite concerning.

There are already a number of videos created by Sora that are going viral online. Here are seven examples.

1. Here's an AI-generated news clip from Marques Brownlee, the popular tech YouTuber, who got to test Sora early. Tweet may have been deleted 2. Brownlee showed off Sora's impressive ability to create landscape videos. Tweet may have been deleted 3. Here is some fake historical video from Sora. Tweet may have been deleted 4. Here's a pelican on a bike...for some reason. Tweet may have been deleted 5. This person made a quick clip of Plato speaking. Tweet may have been deleted 6. Ever seen flying jellyfish? Tweet may have been deleted 7. The Roman Empire is definitely this dude's Roman Empire. Tweet may have been deleted

The tool from OpenAI just dropped, and there are already a number of videos out there.

Obviously, with time, folks will get the hang of Sora, and there will be more and more AI-generated video on our social feeds. Just be sure to stay on your toes and look out for fakes designed to fool you for nefarious purposes.

SEE ALSO: How to identify AI-generated videos

Sora is here.

On Monday, Dec. 9, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that users in "most countries" will have access to its AI video generator, Sora — all you have to do is head to Sora.com and use your ChatGPT account.

This was the company's biggest announcement so far in its ongoing 12 Days of OpenAI event, in which it discusses new products every day for the first 12 business days in December.

"This is going live today in most of the world," Altman said during the livestream, adding that it won't actually go live in most of Europe or the UK. "If you have an open AI Plus subscription, you get 50 generations a month. If you have an open AI pro, you get unlimited generations in our sort of slow queue mode and 500 normal faster generations. You can also get fewer generations at the higher resolution. And anybody with any account can enjoy the feed."

The livestream also featured a demo of Sora, showing users how to check out videos made in Sora by scrolling through them in the "Featured" tab, which you can find under "Explore." OpenAI showed off how to prompt video, choose resolutions, length and aspect radio, and took viewers through how to use its new Storyboard feature.

"We're really excited to see what you all will create," Altman said. "We're really excited to see all of the new ways that this new kind of entertainment and tool will be used. You all did incredible work on this. I'm super proud of the team. I love the product."

OpenAI has officially launched Sora.

On Monday, CEO Sam Altman immediately kicked off the livestream by announcing the Sora public release. As of today, Sora will be available today to ChatGPT Plus and Pro users in the U.S. and other countries — excluding the UK and countries within the EU.

SEE ALSO: Sora reportedly shipping as part of '12 Days of OpenAI' livestream marathon Tweet may have been deleted

Early last year, OpenAI introduced the AI video generator. But it has been quietly in development to a select group of testers, until being unleashed to the public today, allowing plenty of hype to build up in between. Early demos of Sora's photorealistic details and advanced sense of physics and accuracy has wowed AI enthusiasts. But it has also drawn controversy over how it got so good. OpenAI hasn't revealed what Sora was trained on, but reportedly transcribed over a million hours of YouTube videos, suggesting the AI video was trained on videos from the web without the credit or compensation of the video creators. Recently, a group of artists working as early testers for Sora leaked the API credentials in protest of what they call "art washing."

Perhaps, in an indirect response to criticisms that tools like Sora are exploiting and replacing the work of creatives, Flynn emphasized that "Sora is a tool" and an "extension for the creator behind it."

In the livestream, OpenAI product lead Rohan Sahai and product designer Joey Flynn wasted no time in sharing Sora's capabilities. The tool lives on a standalone website, sora.com, with an explore tab for discovering what other users are creating. By clicking into one of the videos, users can see the methods used to the create the video, such as simple text prompt, video or image extension, or Sora's storyboarding tool.

In the library tab, users can get started making their own video with a text prompt or uploading an image. From here, users can select aspect ratio, resolution up to 1080p, duration up to 20 seconds, and multiple variations of the prompt. There are also certain default presets like "stop motion" and "balloon world."

Sora also comes with a more advanced tool called Storyboard, which allows users to shape the video with specific directions. Storyboard bears a similar resemblance to other video editing tools with frame views on the bottom and various editing tools. Each "storyboard card" or frame can be generated from a text prompt or image upload. Users can use the recut feature to shift cards around, the remix feature to describe specific changes to the sequence, the loop tool to play the video on repeat, or blend to create a transition between multiple scenes.

In OpenAI's announcement, the company shared some of its safety measures. All Sora-generated videos come with C2PA invisible watermarks, and visible watermarks by default. Sora will block "damaging forms of abuse, such as child sexual abuse materials and sexual deepfakes," and limits uploads of people.

ChatGPT Plus users get 50 videos a month at 480p (or 720p for less videos) and ChatGPT Pro users get 10 times more usage.

SAVE $25: The rarely on sale Kindle Paperwhite is $25 off at Best Buy and Amazon. Get it now for $134.99 and 16% off.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Paperwhite $134.99 at Amazon
$159.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal

Amazon is known for good deals, even on their own products, discounting Fire tablets and Echo devices frequently. However, when it comes to their Kindle e-readers, the deals are few and far between. Unless it's a shopping event like Prime Day or Black Friday, Kindles rarely see discounts, and you're left paying full price. Yet, a week after Cyber Monday, Best Buy is offering a sweet discount on the latest Kindle Paperwhite.

Back in October, Amazon launched its 2024 line-up of Kindles that included the upgraded basic Kindle as well as the Paperwhite and Paperwhite Signature Edition. Luckily, during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, we saw record low prices on the devices. However, as quickly as the deals came, off they went when Cyber Week ended.

The Kindle Paperwhite is my favorite e-reader. It's Amazon's fastest e-reader, turning pages quickly, and not stuttering when switching between books. The screen has a crisp, high-contrast screen with adjustable warmth so you can read at night without any eye strain. Plus, with its Libby integration and Kindle Unlimited, you can read all you want without spending a dime.

As a special holiday treat, Best Buy is offering $25 off the 2024 Kindle Paperwhite. This brings the e-reader down to $134.99, giving you 16% off — this is just $5 more than it's lowest price ever. And since first spotting this deal at Best Buy, Amazon has decided to get in on the savings too, matching Best Buy's price. That gives you the freedom to buy from your preferred retailer.

SAVE $6.98: As of Dec. 9, select Verizon customers can get Netflix and Max (with ads) for just $10 a month, a $6.98 savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: Verizon Netflix & Max (with ads) Get Deal

If your subscription services are pinching your wallet, you might be able to save money with the latest Verizon bundle.

As of Dec. 9, select Verizon customers can get Netflix & Max (with ads) for just $10 a month. That’s about $6.98 off per month if you subscribe to Netflix Standard and Max with Ads separately.

To get this deal, you’ll need to be a Verizon Unlimited Ultimate ($65/month), Unlimited Plus ($55/month), or an Unlimited Welcome ($65/month) customer. Verizon customers with 5G Home, LTE Home, and Fios home internet plans are also eligible.

If you’re already on an eligible plan and a current Netflix or Max subscriber, all you have to do is sign into your Verizon account (select “services & perks” or “recommended perks”) and add the bundle. It’ll ask for your login credentials, and you'll be all set.

Lego sets from retailers like Lego, Target, and Amazon for up to 30% off or more on Dec. 9th, ahead of the holidays. Plus, order now and get 2x Lego Insiders points when you buy direct from the Lego webstore.

Best Lego holiday deals Best Lego webstore deal Lego Jade Rabbit $11.99 (Save $8) Get Deal Best Lego Star Wars deal Lego Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama Build and Display Set 75380 $54.99 (Save $25) Get Deal Best Lego flower deal Lego Icons Poinsettia Building Set $34.99 (Save $15) Get Deal Best Lego Creator deal Lego Creator 3 in 1 Medieval Castle & Dragon Toy Set 31120 $79.99 (Save $20) Get Deal

There are a ton of great Lego deals live right now ahead of the holidays. Black Friday came and went but the Lego deals never stopped, and right now major retailers like Target, Amazon, and the Lego webstore are all dropping major sets for sale prices hitting prices up to 30% off or more. It's a great time to nab a Lego gift.

Shop now to nab Lego Creator sets, Star Wars collaborations, and festive Lego flowers for excellent prices, and until Dec. 10th, when you shop on the Lego webstore, you'll earn 2x Lego Insiders points.

Best Lego webstore deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Jade Rabbit $11.99 at Lego
$19.99 Save $8.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

Not only is it incredibly cute, but the Lego Jade Rabbit is also 40% off. This small set is one of the best Lego deals we've seen out there this week.

To make a great thing even better, the Lego webstore is currently running a special deal, where direct orders give 2x Lego Insiders points, helping you earn Lego perks even faster. What collector could resist?

Best Lego Star Wars deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego / Star Wars Lego Star Wars Mos Espa Podrace Diorama Build and Display Set 75380 $54.99 at Target
$79.99 Save $25.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

There are lots of ways to use Lego. For some, Lego is all about building custom designs. For others, Lego collab-sets are memorabilia: a way to build and commemorate favorite moments from movies. This Lego Star Wars diorama set is the latter.

Star Wars fans will love building this Mos Espa Podrace set. Built for display, this 718 piece Lego set is a perfect decoration to accent a DVD collection or mantle.

Best Lego flower deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Icons Poinsettia Building Set $34.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

Reinventing what it means to have a green thumb, Lego's collection of flowers are vibrant display sets. The Lego Icons Poinsettia Building Set is a perfect holiday gift or home accent.

Poinsettias are classic holiday flowers. This set will bloom year after year, whether you reassemble it every December or display it year round. Best of all, you won't need to water it.

Best Lego Creator deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Creator 3 in 1 Medieval Castle & Dragon Toy Set 31120 $79.99 at Target
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it:

At their core, Legos are about building, and Lego Creator sets get to the root of that. This Lego Creator set celebrates classic Lego subject matter: castles and dragons.

The LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Medieval Castle & Dragon Toy Set 31120 comes with a whopping 1,426 pieces. Creators might build this set following instructions, then rebuild it a hundred different ways. If you're looking for a present for a Lego fan that like to dive into creating, then this is a perfect set.

More Lego deals:

• Lego Hidden Side Wrecked Shrimp Boat 70419 $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Lego Dungeons & Dragons minifigures $3.99 $4.99 (save $1)

• Lego Porsche 963 $19.99 $24.99 (save $5)

• Christmas Tree Toy Building Set 40573 $30.99 $44.99 (save $14)

Reddit is launching an AI search tool to simplify all the instances in which you need to find an answer to a particular problem.

We've all been there before — usually, for me, it's some weird tech issue — where you're in a pickle that seems resolvable only through the collective experience and knowledge of the Reddit hive-mind. The social media company's new AI tool, called Reddit Answers, aims to be the place you go for such searches instead of trawling through Google.

Wrote the company in a blog post announcing the tool:

"With Reddit Answers, redditors can ask questions and receive answers using a new, AI-powered conversational interface. Once a question is asked, curated summaries of relevant conversations and details across Reddit will appear, including links to related communities and posts. Redditors can easily read relevant snippets and answers inline from real redditors, jump into the full conversations, and go deeper in their search with their own or suggested follow-up questions."

With Reddit Answers, you can search a specific problem and, theoretically, have the tool deliver conversational answers with direct links and quotes to actual Reddit posts. The Verge's Jay Peters got an early look at Reddit Answers and wrote they've "liked what [they've] seen" in limited testing.

SEE ALSO: Reddit's traffic is way up – but why? It's Google.

If you search Google for Reddit results, of course, it surfaces a bunch of links whereas Reddit Answers, in theory, makes it more digestible via summaries and bullet points. It's worth considering, however, that Reddit's AI tool could publish incorrect or incomplete summaries and answers — pretty much every AI tool has had that issue.

Reddit said it's rolling out Answers to a limited number of users, with English being the only available language for the time being. Interested Redditors can check the company's site to track if it's available in their area.

EA games — maker of the popular Sims, FIFA, and Madden franchises — is investing in more robust game development for people with disabilities.

In honor of International Day of People with Disabilities (Dec. 3), the electronic gaming company announced it will be expanding its Patent Pledge to include dozens more patents for accessible technologies that would put the power of more inclusive design in the hands of game developers. EA's Patent Pledge is a commitment to providing royalty-free IP to the gaming industry at large, and a promise not to enforce EA patent infringements for the accessible technologies the company offers.

SEE ALSO: X got a new AI image generator called Aurora

The 23 new technologies include six audio and sound technologies, as well as a new opensourced photosensitivity analysis plugin for the Unreal Engine 5 builder. The plug-in allows designers to test their games using EA's IRIS tech in real-time — IRIS makes gameplay easier for people with epilepsy or other photosensitivities. The audio patents include tech for improved and simplified speech recognition and more personalized speech options, including text-to-speech in the voice of video game characters and machine-learning powered voice aging. These options make in-game expression more inclusive for gamers.

"Among other things, these patented accessibility technologies could be used to improve the gameplay experience of players who have speech disability or who prefer or need assistance with verbally expressing themselves," explained EA. "They could make it possible for those players’ speech to be more effectively recognized and reflected in-game in a way that is representative of their age, emotion, language and speaking style."

The video game titan has introduced several other accessibility patents, including personalized music and sound settings for those with specific hearing needs, haptic and touch screen technologies, and a tool known as Fonttik, which ensures visual fields and on-screen text are accessible to those with low vision. The offerings are part of EA's larger accessibility efforts.

"By making this technology available to others royalty-free, we want to encourage the industry to work together to make video games more inclusive by removing unintended barriers to access," wrote EA senior vice president Kerry Hopkins.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Dec. 9: OUR TOP PICK Sonos Move 2 $359 (save $90) Get Deal BEST EARBUDS DEAL Amazon Echo Buds with ANC $34.99 (save $85) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Garmin vivofit jr. 3 $69.99 (save $20) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 8 $54.99 (save $45) Get Deal BEST STREAMING DEVICE DEAL Roku Ultra $79 (save $20.99) Get Deal

Only a little over two weeks separate us from Christmas, which means its crunch time for securing gifts for those on your list. If you missed out on shopping during Cyber Week, all hope is not lost for scoring a deal. In fact, plenty of Black Friday prices are live once again at Amazon. We've helped you out by rounding up a few of the best deals we think are worth adding to your cart on Monday, Dec. 9.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If none of these catch your eye, be sure to check back each day this week for brand new selections.

Our top pick: Sonos Move 2 Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Move 2 $359.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal

One of our favorite Bluetooth speakers, particularly for smart homes, is back on sale at its Black Friday price of $359 (reg. $449). It's not exactly the most portable option for a Bluetooth speaker, but what it lacks in portability, it makes up for in impressive stereo sound, 24-hour battery life, and dynamic smart features. Plus it looks sleek and comes in both black and white options. As Mashable's Stan Schroeder writes in his review: "This speaker is one of the best in class, and the quality of sound it produces is reason enough to consider it."

Check out our full review of the Sonos Move 2.

Amazon Echo Buds with ANC Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Buds with active noise cancellation $34.99 at Amazon
$119.99 Save $85.00 Get Deal

If you're looking for budget earbuds that can quiet the world around you, the Amazon Echo Buds with active noise cancellation are basically a no brainer. Originally released in 2021, they feature a comfortable build, effective noise cancellation, solid sound quality, and average battery life. "I'd call them a steal for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the world of ANC without setting their wallet on fire," writes Mashable's Alex Perry in his review of the buds. And that was at their full price of $119.99. As of Dec. 9, they're back down to their best-ever price of $34.99 — that's 71% in savings.

Check out our full review of the Amazon Echo Buds with ANC.

Garmin vivofit jr. 3 Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vivofit jr. 3 $69.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal

The Garmin vivofit jr. 3 is designed to get kids excited about moving their bodies. This particular model uses Disney princesses to motivate kids to achieve active minute goals and unlock entertaining app adventures, games, and icons. The parent-controlled app is also a bonus for moms and dads who want to keep their kids safe. It can be used to assign tasks, schedule alerts and alarms, and reward kids for good behavior. Usually $89.99, it's on sale for just $69.99 as of Dec. 9. That's a savings of 22%. Not a Disney fan? There's also a more simplistic model (also on sale) that features a "Garmin world tour" instead of the magical kingdom.

Amazon Fire HD 8 Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 $54.99 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $45.00 Get Deal

Amazon quietly released a new Fire HD 8 tablet in October and it's seen numerous discounts since. As of Dec. 9, it's back down to its best-ever price of $54.99 — that's 45% in savings. Compared to the 2022 model, the latest Fire HD 8 includes 50 percent more RAM for boosted performance (3GB instead of 2GB), a better camera (5MP vs. 2MP), new generative AI-powered features, and a better price. It also didn't fix what wasn't broken; it packs the same display, storage options, and battery life as its predecessor.

Roku Ultra Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Ultra $79.00 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.99 Get Deal

Our favorite Roku streaming device, the Roku Ultra, is on sale once again. Usually $100, it's down to just $79 on Dec. 9, which is a savings of 21%. More powerful than the Roku Express 4K Plus, Roku's premium streaming device features a quad-core processor that offers smooth HD, 4K, and HDR streaming on a zippy interface. It comes with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision support, a microSD slot for storing and streaming external media, an Ethernet port, and the Roku Voice Remote Pro with customizable shortcut keys.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

When it comes to J.R.R. Tolkien adaptations, Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is a tough act to follow. Look no further than the Hobbit movies, which floundered in their efforts to capture the original films' success. Then there's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, whose attempts to cram everything we love about Middle-earth into too-short seasons make for unwieldy (if still fun) TV.

Enter The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an anime prequel from director Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus) that centers on the legendary kingdom of Rohan, 183 years before The Lord of the Rings. While certainly indebted to Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim doesn't just seek to replicate its predecessors' formula. Instead, it plays with tone and structure to forge a path that is far bleaker. That path starts with the medium of anime, which offers a new angle into Tolkien on a visual and thematic level.

SEE ALSO: 'The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim' trailer teases an epic battle for the fate of Rohan

Kamiyama and screenwriters Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou frame The War of the Rohirrim as a historical tale told by The Lord of the Rings' Éowyn (Miranda Otto, returning in voiceover). Her voice acts as a bridge between the medium of live action and anime, with anime acting as a vehicle for live-action Éowyn's storytelling. While we never see any live action scenes, the hint of them becomes the film's baseline reality. Anime, with its heightened, stylized qualities, serves as a representation of legend.

And truly, there is no one better to tell this legend than Éowyn, as War of the Rohirrim's heroine Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise) is essentially Éowyn from 183 years in the past.

The War of the Rohirrim is what you'd get if you Éowyn had a solo film. Héra in "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

The War of the Rohirrim is based on a short section of Tolkien's appendices, in which Héra is but an unnamed daughter. However, in fleshing her out, the film is able to add new depth to the story, all while making sure Héra is the kind of person Éowyn would actually be telling a story about.

Like Éowyn, Héra is the daughter of a king of Rohan: the formidable Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Succession's Brian Cox). She's also a headstrong rider and fierce fighter, one who aspires to be just like the shieldmaidens of old. It's not hard to see Éowyn looking up to her and using her story to inspire the next generation of shieldmaidens, years down the line.

That story kicks off in earnest when the Dunlending lord Freca (voiced by Shaun Dooley) proposes that Héra marry his son (and her childhood friend) Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino). Yet that marriage is the last thing both Héra and Helm want. In fact, Helm sees the proposal as such an affront that he challenges Freca to a fight. Here, we see another benefit of incorporating Héra further into the story. Her presence and development add new layers to Helm, as we get a better sense of his relationship to his family. His protectiveness of Héra carries shades of Théoden's own protectiveness over Éowyn, but he has an added element of bloodthirsty bravado that carries over into his brawl with Freca.

SEE ALSO: The 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast debates whether Sauron is "brat"

That fight is the first of many skirmishes The War of the Rohirrim has to offer, and it's as uncompromising as one might expect when a man named "Hammerhand" is involved. All it takes is one mighty punch for Helm to kill Freca outright, but the feud between Helm's family and Freca's is far from over. Wulf, in his grief, vows revenge.

And revenge he'll get! Years later, Wulf has amassed enough of an army that he can march on Rohan. In the war that follows, Helm, Héra, and the Rohirrim must retreat to the Hornburg stronghold, where they'll make one last stand to save their people.

Sound familiar? That's because the story of Helm Hammerhand is basically the prototype for The Two Towers' Battle of Helm's Deep. After all, he's the reason the Hornburg comes to be known as Helm's Deep! Yet The War of the Rohirrim is no Helm's Deep retread. It's a brutal, lengthy siege that pushes everyone involved to new, desperate limits.

The War of the Rohirrim's siege sequence isn't just Helm's Deep 2.0. Helm Hammerhand in "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim." Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

While the battles in the Lord of the Rings trilogy are gargantuan undertakings, and unquestionably the best fantasy set pieces put to screen, they aren't particularly lengthy affairs. The Battle of Helm's Deep takes place over the course of one night, whereas the Siege of Gondor and the Battle of Pelennor Fields last a few days. The siege in The War of the Rohirrim lasts an entire winter, and the film makes sure you feel the impact of every one of those months spent in the cold.

Within the walls of the Hornburg, the remaining people of Rohan are confronted day in, day out with their impending doom — especially as Wulf's army constructs a siege tower that could break their last defense. Things are hardly better outside the walls, though. Wulf's encampment bears the brunt of the snowy elements, forcing his own people to consider whether this siege is really worth it. Of course, there's no question for Wulf, who remains resolute in his snarling, single-minded quest to tear Helm apart. But for everyone else involved (including the audience), The War of the Rohirrim's siege sequence is a tightly wound coil of dread. One side has to break — but which will it be?

These psychological tensions only continue to rise when rumors spread of a ghostly figure tearing through Wulf's camp. Here, The War of the Rohirrim takes a turn into Gothic horror, with the hallowed halls of the Hornburg perhaps being home to some greater supernatural forces. The result is deliciously frightening for a time, then surprisingly sweet in its payoff.

The same is true for the rest of The War of the Rohirrim, which takes us from the depths of Rohan's despair to the heights of Héra's hope for the future. Her fervent belief that some good can still prosper in even the darkest of times is unmistakably Tolkien in nature, linking The War of the Rohirrim to the Jackson films through more than repeated locations and Easter eggs (some more heavy-handed than others). However, it's the ways in which The War of the Rohirrim stands out from Jackson's films — like the use of anime and the psychologically-focused siege sequence — that allows The War of the Rohirrim to truly carve out its own space in onscreen portrayals of Middle-earth.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opens in theaters Dec. 13.

SAVE UP TO 23%: Find the Dyson Supersonic, Airwrap, and Airstrait on sale post-Cyber Monday. Save up to 23%, including on the Dyson Supersonic, bringing it down to $329, saving $100.99.

Shop the best deals on Dyson Best Dyson deal Dyson Supersonic $329 at Amazon (Save $100.99) Get Deal Best Airwrap deal Dyson Airwrap $489.99 at Amazon (Save $110) Get Deal Best Airstrait deal Dyson Airstrait $399 at Amazon (Save $100.99) Get Deal

Just because Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed, doesn't mean that the deals of the season are over. If you've still got lots of holiday shopping to do, the good news is, we're here tracking the best deals leading up to Christmas. If you're hunting for beauty tech, the elusive Dyson hair styling tools are still on sale ahead of the holidays.

Having tested our way through Dyson's hair styling tools, we get the hype. From the Supersonic to the Airwrap, they're an efficient way to get a blowout at home while cutting back on the amount of heat damage your strands face. However, we've never been a fan of the price tag on these devices. Luckily, Dyson hair styling tools are down to their all-time low prices ahead of the holidays. Plus, if you order now, these Dyson devices will arrive by Christmas.

Best Dyson deal Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson Supersonic $329.00 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $100.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The Dyson Supersonic started the Dyson hair tool craze. It's an easy-to-use hair dryer, with magnetic attachments that make at-home blowouts a breeze. It's quieter, faster, and more lightweight than a traditional hairdryer, so if you're blow drying your hair everyday, it's going to be far less of a workout than you're used to.

Our biggest sticking point with the Dyson is its price tag, and we've found plenty of Supersonic dupes that get the job done at a better price. However, ahead of the holidays, it's down 23% on Amazon, bringing it to its lowest price ever of $329. So if you're looking to give the Supersonic to someone you love (even if that person is yourself), you'll save $100 while doing so.

More Dyson deals

• Dyson Supersonic (Refurbished) — $229.99 $349.99 (save $120)

• Dyson Airstrait — $399 $499.99 (save $100.99)

• Dyson Airwrap — $489.99 $599.99 (save $110)

More beauty tech deals

• L'ange Le Vite Straightening Brush — $27.64 $39.49 (save $11.85)

• L'ange Hair Le Volume 2-in-1 Titanium Blow Dryer Brush — $48.30 $69 (save $20.70)

• L'ange Hair Le Duo Standard 360° Airflow Styler — $53.40 $66.75 (save $13.35)

• Shark SpeedStyle — $129.99 $179.99 (save $50)

• T3 Aire 360 Ceramic Air Styler — $268.99 $299.99 (save $31)

SAVE $90: As of Dec. 9, you can nab a Sonos Move 2 for $359 at Amazon. That's 20% off the list price and a savings of $90.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Move 2 $359.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal

Portable speakers are always a good idea — they’re great for gifting to friends, fam, and yourself. With a durable, portable Bluetooth speaker, you can take the party wherever you go.

As of Dec. 9, you can get the Sonos Move 2 for $359 at Amazon. (Sonos and B&H match this price.) That’s a $90 price cut and a pretty sweet deal for a powerful, all-weather (IP56 rating) Bluetooth speaker from one of the most trusted audio brands around.

SEE ALSO: Sonos Move 2 Review: Fantastic sound and a price to match

According to Mashable’s Senior Editor, Stan Schroeder, the Sonos Move 2 “almost sounds too good for its size and intention.”

The Move 2 can play for up to 24 hours on a single charge (you can listen twice as long as the previous generation) and has a built-in handle to help you tote it from one place to another. The automatic Trueplay tuning adjusts the speaker's sound output based on its surroundings, so you'll get a rich, immersive listening experience no matter where you place it.

“The Move 2 is equally as good at playing various types of music, including modern pop and its vast electronic soundscape, a well-recorded studio track by a jazz ensemble, and an intimate, live acoustic performance,” Schroeder writes.

The only qualms Schroeder had with the Move 2 were its weight and price, but with the $90 discount, you’re getting premo audio quality for an even more reasonable price point.

Google unveiled an experimental machine capable of tasks that a traditional supercomputer could not master in 10 septillion years. (That’s older than the universe.)

SAVE 27%: As of Dec. 9, you can snag 27% (or more) off KitchenAid stand mixers, food choppers, and more at Amazon.

Best KitchenAid deals as of Dec. 9: Best deal overall KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (KSM150PS) $329.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best food processor deal KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper (KFC3516IC) $44.99 (save $15) Get Deal Best blender deal KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender (KHBV53) $44.99 (save $15 ) Get Deal

You don’t have to be a baker to appreciate the value of a high-quality kitchen appliance, and thanks to Amazon, you don’t have to be a millionaire, either.

SEE ALSO: All the best kitchen gadgets we’ve tested and loved

Right now, Amazon’s slashing prices on a wide range of KitchenAid products, from stand mixers to blenders and everything in between. Get up to 27% off select KitchenAid items, including the iconic 5-quart stand mixer.

Whether you’re an aspiring chef or just want to make mealtime a little bit easier, these deals are so good, you might find yourself looking forward to spending time in the kitchen.

Here are our top picks from the sale:

Best deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (KSM150PS) $329.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $120.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The KitchenAid Artisan Series 5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (KSM150PS) is a kitchen classic, and it’s on sale for $329.99. That’s a 27% discount or $120 off the sticker price. For an iconic mixer that rarely goes on sale, this is a deal you won't want to miss.

This stand mixer is the only mixer you’ll ever need. With 59 touchpoints around the mixer bowl and 10 speeds, you can make everything from fluffy whipped cream to sticky bread dough. It’s available in 20 color options, but the feather pink (pictured) is a personal favorite.

Best food processor deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper (KFC3516IC) $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you’ve been on the hunt for a top-notch food processor, the KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper (KFC3516IC) is just $44.99, down from $59.99. That’s a 25% discount or $15 in savings.

This little kitchen gadget is designed to chop, slice, dice, and puree a wide range of ingredients, from vegetables to cheese and nuts. With two speeds and a 3.5-cup capacity, it's great for small batches and simple meal prep.

Best blender deal Opens in a new window Credit: KitchenAid KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender (KHBV53) $44.99 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We’re headed into the thick of soup season, so a powerful blender is a must-have. The KitchenAid Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender (KHBV53) is also on sale for $44.99, a 25% discount from $59.99.

This hand blender features a removable eight-inch blending arm with a four-point stainless steel blade shape, enough to blend soups, sauces, and more right in the pot. (The included pan guard helps prevent scratches.) Plus, the variable speed trigger puts you in full control of the blending process.

GET $10 OFF: Dec. 9th, the JBL Go 3 is on sale for $29.95, order now and save 25% or $10.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Go 3 $29.95 at Amazon
$39.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal

Clip it onto your backpack, tuck it in a beach bag, or hook it onto your scooter, the JBL Go 3 is meant to come along for the ride.

Right now this highly portable, waterproof speaker is 25% off at Amazon. Whether you're outfitting your exercise gear with sound, or you're looking for a great stocking stuffer, this deal is not to be missed.

SEE ALSO: I find the best earbud deals, and Bang & Olufsen Beoplay EX earbuds are half-off

The JBL Go 3 has an ingress protection rating of IP67, meaning it can withstand sudden showers, and won't falter because of a little beach sand.

JBL is known for punchy bass and a sonic profile that's bigger than you'd expect based on the speaker size. Simple to connect with Bluetooth, the speakers enable you to tune in wherever you might roam.

As of Dec. 9th, get the JBL Go 3 for $29.95 and save 25% or $10.

The Go 3 is built with a cord loop designed to hook onto a carabiner, so you can easily clip it onto your pack or shower spout.

With five hours of battery life, this speaker isn't only rugged enough to come along on your expedition, it can keep up.