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You dont have to wait until Black Friday to find a good self-emptying robot vacuum deal

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:07
A quick look at the best self-emptying robot vacuum deals ahead of Black Friday Best under $300 Dreame D10 Plus Gen 2 279.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ 399 (save $330.99) Get Deal Best hybrid deal with self-cleaning mopping pads Roborock Qrevo S 549.99 (save $250) Get Deal

The majority of robot vacuums you'll see on sale this Black Friday will be self-emptying ones, and there's a reason that feature is more common than not nowadays. Having a robot vacuum typically means you'll be vacuuming more often, and that means a fuller dustbin faster — but thanks to the universalization of the self-emptying dock, you won't have a hard time outsourcing dustbin duty for more than $300 or $400.

SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The guide to deciding which Roomba to buy on Black Friday

This wasn't the case even a few years ago, when automatic emptying was a feature reserved for the high-end robot vacs from a select few brands that were ahead of the game. Now, there are tons of options on both ends of the spectrum, including super affordable, compact options that barely take up more room than a non self-emptying option.

If your budget is a little more flexible, you can squeeze more out of your $500 to $1,000 during Black Friday and secure not only automatic emptying, but automatic water refilling and automatic mopping pad washing and drying. All of the big brands like iRobot, Shark, Roborock, and Eufy all have at least one robot vacuum and mop combo that deals with its own dust and dirty mopping pads all in the same dock, and we're expecting them all to get groundbreaking discounts for Black Friday 2024.

SEE ALSO: Why Eufy's X10 Pro Omni is the most surprising robot vacuum I've tested all year

In fact, prices have already started to drop weeks before Black Friday officially comes on Nov. 29, meaning you have plenty of options to treat yourself to automated cleaning amid Thanksgiving stress. I'm tracking the best self-emptying robot vacuum deals below and will be refreshing this list as more options pop up.

Best early Black Friday self-emptying robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q Revo S $549.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

I think of the Roborock Qrevo S as the diet version of my favorite self-emptying robot vacuum right now, the Roborock Qrevo Master. And unless you're one of the few open to spending $1,000 or more on a robot vacuum, you can probably deal with the Qrevo S skipping the Qrevo Master's fluff features like a livestream pet camera or extending side mop — especially when at $549.99, you could buy two Qrevo S vacs for the price of one on-sale Qrevo Master.

Buying the Qrevo S at Amazon over Roborock's own website also saves you an extra $50.

And anyway, the most important aspect about the Qrevo S is that it has that coveted self-washing and drying mopping pad feature baked into its self-empty dock. I also have to give Roborock credit for arming this Qrevo with the same dual spinning mopping pads as the Qrevo Master, which I feel do a more detailed mopping job than a singular pad that lays flat across the bottom of the vacuum.

More self-emptying robot vacuums (that don't mop) on saleSelf-emptying robot vacuum and mop combos on sale

Lots of Roombas are on sale for Black Friday, but only a few are worth your money

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:07
A quick look at the best Black Friday Roomba deals Best standalone Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5 $299.99 (save $230) Get Deal Best self-emptying Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299 (save $250.99) Get Deal

So many robot vacuums go on sale for Black Friday that decision fatigue is imminent — unless you're specifically set on a Roomba, that is.

Roombas do tend to run slightly more expensive than competitors with the same features, so November is a wise time to buy one — Black Friday has been known to trigger new record-breaking discounts on several Roomba models. In terms of where that happens, Amazon is the best place to find a Roomba on sale despite the flop of the acquisition of iRobot by Amazon (though iRobot's own website has good options, too). Because iRobot doesn't debut new models for the year at CES in January like many other big robot vacuum brands do, you can also be confident that the Roombas on sale during Black Friday won't be phased out in a month or two.

SEE ALSO: How to choose a robot vacuum in 2024: Consider these 5 features before buying

So yeah, there are quite a few Roombas on sale for Black Friday now that Amazon's Black Friday sale is officially underway. But while most of those deals look good in terms of the percentage off that you're getting, many of them just aren't worthwhile when you consider the features you're securing, especially when taking into the bigger list of robot vacuum deals from other brands this Black Friday.

For instance, the base-tier Roomba Vac Essential being on sale for $149 sounds great until you realize that this Roomba doesn't have smart mapping, which means it can't clean specific rooms on command. When standalone robot vacuums like the Eufy L50, which does have smart mapping, are on sale for $159 (or similar price points) for Black Friday, that particular Roomba Vac deal is far less exciting.

SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums — here are the top 5 to shop on Black Friday

This doesn't mean there aren't any Roomba deals that I think are worth it this Black Friday. The i series and j series Roombas under $500 that are currently live are stellar — multiple models are nearly 50% off, with both self-emptying and mopping being optional depending on your needs. (As you get into the more expensive j series Roombas, the deals start to become less appealing. Premium robot vacuums from other brands simply do more than something like the Roomba Combo j9+ for less money.) For a deeper dive into these features, check out my guide that unpacks the differences between the main Roombas.

This story will be updated any time a new noteworthy Roomba deal drops between now and the start of Cyber Week. While you can be pretty certain that the Roombas on sale now are at their Black Friday pricing, Amazon could very well drop completely new Black Friday Roomba deals within the next week — so if you're still waiting for a certain model to go on sale, it'd be wise to check back. Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon.

Best early Black Friday Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5 $299.00 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.99 Get Deal Why we like it

This nearly 50% discount on the Roomba Combo j5+ already looks great on its face, but it's an even sweeter deal when compared to the current sale price on the cheapest self-emptying Roomba, the Roomba Vac 2. For $249.99, the ultrabasic Roomba Vac 2 doesn't mop and can't smart map your house. For $299 — just $50 more — the Roomba Combo i5+ can mop and can smart map to clean specific rooms in your home on command. If $300 is your budget cap for a new robot vacuum, spending that extra $50 is a no-brainer.

The only downside to choosing the Combo i5+ over the more advanced Combo j5+, which is also at an amazing sale price of $399 for Black Friday, is that the i series Roombas don't have the small obstacle avoidance technology that helps dodge things on the floor like charging cords or pet waste. However, if your home is already pretty tidy as it is, or you're down to deal with tidying up ahead of vacuuming, the Combo i5+ is a total steal at this price.

Other Roomba deals at AmazonOther Roomba deals at iRobot.com

Pretty much all of the best robot vacuums out there are at new record-low pricing for Black Friday

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:05

UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2024, 11:30 a.m. EST This story has been updated with new deals now that Amazon's Black Friday sale has officially started.

The best Black Friday robot vacuum deals at a glance Best non self-emptying deal Eufy L60 $179.99 at Amazon (save $100) Get Deal Best budget self-emptying deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299 at Amazon (save $250.99) Get Deal Best premium deal Roborock Qrevo S $459.99 at Amazon (save $340) Get Deal

Yet another Black Friday is basically here, with its arrival often bringing flashbacks to last year's frantic shopping — including the items that you didn't end up buying, and then wished you had all year. If a robot vacuum didn't make the cut last year, let Black Friday 2024 be the time to finally treat yourself to a significantly shorter chore list.

SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2024

After dealing with your current bumbling vacuum all year, there's no reason to wait until Nov. 29 to find an upgrade-worthy robot vacuum deal. At this point, "Black Friday" is basically code for "the entire month of November." Retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Target have been in official Black Friday mode for weeks now, and Amazon finally rounded out the kickoff with the start of its Black Friday event on Nov. 21.

Black Friday deals are making high-end vacs super accessible

The robot vacs getting attention deals-wise this Black Friday are packed with high-end features — ones you may have previously been fine to settle without just because, at full price, they're a really intimidating investment. I'm personally eyeing the number of options that bring home smart mapping and small obstacle avoidance (no more eaten phone chargers) and self-washing and drying mopping pads in the $500 to $700 range. Considering the latter two features in that trio I just rattled off were once so newfangled that they were only available in the $1,000+ range, these sale prices are ones to hop on without hesitation. And FWIW, several robot vacuums are already beating their previous record-low pricing that we saw during October Prime Day — and unlike Prime Day, no membership is needed to access these deals.

Below, I'm tracking the robot vacuum deals live the week before Black Friday. Deals are organized into two sections: robot vacuums that don't mop and robot vacuum and mop combos, with self-emptying docks noted when applicable. Within each category, all robot vacuum deals are ordered by price from cheapest to most premium. (Need help deciding which robot vacuum to buy? I have some guidelines.)

This list will be updated weekly with new deals in the lead-up to Black Friday week, so check back frequently to see if the model you're eyeing drops. Note: Any deal marked with a 🔥 has dropped to a record-low price at Amazon.

Best robot vacuum deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ $299.00 at Amazon
$549.99 Save $250.99 Get Deal Why we like it

This nearly 50% off discount on the Roomba Combo j5+ is stellar at first glance, but it looks like an even sweeter deal when compared to the current deal on the cheapest self-emptying Roomba, the Roomba Vac 2. For $249.99, that bare-bones Roomba doesn't mop and can't smart map your house. For $299 — just $50 more — the Roomba Combo i5+ can mop and can smart map to clean specific rooms in your home on command. If $300 is your budget cap for a new robot vacuum, spending that extra $50 is a no-brainer.

The only downside to choosing the Combo i5+ over the more advanced Combo j5+ that was on sale last week is that the i series Roombas don't have small obstacle avoidance technology, so they can't dodge things on the floor like charging cords or pet waste. However, if your home is already pretty tidy as it is, or you're down to deal with tidying up ahead of vacuuming, the Combo i5+ is a total steal at this price.

More robot vacuums (that don't mop) on saleRobot vacuum and mop combos on sale

Hulus streaming deal just got better with this $0.99 per month add-on of Starz for a year

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:04

SAVE $10: As of Nov. 28, the Starz add-on for Hulu has dropped to just $0.99 per month for a full year in Black Friday sales. This is a full $10 off its usual price of $10.99 per month.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hulu Add Starz on Hulu for an Additional $0.99 per Month for a Year Get Deal

With the cost of streaming services rising, it's always nice to jump on subscription plans when a deal pops up. Black Friday is a great time to do this, as a wide variety of streaming services get incredible discounts ahead of the holiday season. Hulu recently announced their stellar Black Friday deal and now you can take advantage of an exceptional Starz deal through Hulu on top of it as well.

Hulu's Starz add-on has gotten a fantastic deal in Black Friday sales, offering a year of the service for just $0.99 per month. When added up, this would cost you just $11.88 for the full year. Compared to its usual price of $10.99 per month, which brings the cost up to $131.88 for the year, you're saving an astonishing $120 overall. This is among the best streaming deals of the Black Friday sale event this year, and well worth jumping on for the excellent catalog you'll get.

With a Starz subscription, you'll gain access to exciting shows like the new series Sweetpea alongside fantastic films like John Wick: Chapter 4. Complete with a Hulu subscription, you're getting a massive library of shows and films to explore. And considering Hulu only just raised their prices this year, there's no better time to take advantage of a deal like this one.

This deal only lasts until December 2, so make sure to pick up a year of Starz added on to Hulu for just $0.99 per month.

Looking for even more streaming deals? You've come to the right place. Alongside these excellent deals for Hulu, Max, Peacock, Paramount+, and a few more all have excellent offers right now that are worth checking out over the Black Friday shopping event.

NASAs testing a futuristic plane. You might fly on it.

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

NASA isn't just considering a futuristic plane on Mars. It's developing the future of your commercial planes, too.

The space agency's Sustainable Flight Demonstrator project — intended to slash the fuel commercial airliners burn — is developing the novel X-66 plane. Working with Boeing, the project aims to reengineer the single-aisle aircraft that you typically fly on. As NASA noted, these planes (like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737) are the "workhorse of passenger airlines around the world."

In a wind tunnel at the agency's Langley Research Center, aviation engineers recently tested a model of the X-66, which you can see below.

SEE ALSO: NASA reveals its X-plane. It will fly over the U.S. at extreme speeds.

The model, with a six-foot wingspan, shows the major X-66 innovation: a "transonic truss-braced wing," wherein diagonal struts attached to the fuselage support an extra-long wing. (Wings with more surface area can generate more lift.)

A demonstration model of the X-66 plane in a wind tunnel at NASA's Langley Research Center. Credit: NASA / Ryan Hill The X-66 is tested in wind tunnels before Boeing makes modifications to a real airplane. Credit: NASA / Ryan Hill

Engineers will assess measurements of the demonstration plane's lift, drag, aerodynamics, and more to see if it requires any design alterations. Next, the plane will move into a faster wind tunnel (Langley has multiple wind tunnels) and other models will be tested before Boeing introduces these changes to an actual plane.

At its facility in Palmdale, California, Boeing will convert an MD-90 aircraft — a single-aisle plane that's no longer in service — into the X-66. The novel design could offer significant benefits. "When combined with other advancements in propulsion systems, materials, and systems architecture, this configuration could result in up to 30 percent less fuel consumption and reduced emissions when compared with today’s best-in-class aircraft," NASA explained.

Electric planes will likely fill a niche in future commercial aviation, too. But such craft would transport people on shorter regional hops, perhaps some 300 miles or less (long electric flights would require giant batteries, making the planes much too heavy to fly). The main commercial workhorse planes will be similar to the popular planes we see today, but with design enhancements like the X-66.

More efficient planes might not only mean lower fuel costs, for both airlines and the cost passed onto passengers. Aviation has an outsized role in emitting heat-trapping carbon into the atmosphere, as planes contribute two percent of total annual global carbon emissions — more than most nations in the world. "Someone flying from London to New York and back generates roughly the same level of emissions as the average person in the EU does by heating their home for a whole year," the European Commission notes. 

In the coming decades, the X-66 — or a craft like it — may ferry you across the country.

Where to watch the best holiday movies

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

Some people get in the mood for the holidays by decorating a tree, baking cookies, or venturing out to look at houses draped in thousands of string lights. Others just pop on a Christmas movie to get into the spirit. 

Whether you're planning a mega holiday movie marathon, wanting to put on an old classic, or trying to mix up your family movie night with something different this year, there's plenty to choose from. We've curated the very best Christmas movies you can stream or rent, from sentimental classics with a twist and cozy romantic comedies to emotional indie dramas and high-speed action thrillers.

1. The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996) Credit: New Line / Kobal / Shutterstock

Yes, we can all agree that Die Hard is the GOAT Christmas action movie, but don't you dare sleep on The Long Kiss Goodnight. 

In Renny Harlin's action thriller, Geena Davis' Samantha is a wholesome small-town school teacher and mother who, eight years ago, woke up pregnant on a beach with no memory of who she was. In the present day, Samantha gets into a car accident that changes everything — she begins remembering things and discovers she has elite knife skills. Was she a chef, perhaps? That seems unlikely when a strange man who recognized her at a Christmas parade shows up at her house to attack her. She kills him with ease as if it's her day job. Turns out, it sure as heck was. 

Davis' PTA mom soon transforms back into her old badass self, a platinum blonde CIA assassin. This time, she has Samuel L. Jackson's private eye as her sidekick. With explosions and car chases galore, The Long Kiss Goodnight is everything you'd want from a delightfully bonkers holiday action movie.

How to watch: The Long Kiss Goodnight is streaming on Fubo and Paramount+, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

2. Home Alone (1990)

Watching Macaulay Culkin's Kevin McCallister line his house with booby traps in Home Alone never gets old. It's also a great lesson for young kids left at home by their chaotic families in how to prepare for pesky burglars. Anything can be a weapon! Those old paint cans, your brother's pet tarantula, even a blow torch to burn the top off of a strange man's head can keep you safe. Home Alone has all the perfect ingredients to make a great, rewatchable Christmas movie with its wacky and playful plot, its charismatic cast, a sentimental message about the importance of family during the holidays, and some of the most quotable lines. Go eat some junk and watch some rubbish this Christmas.

How to watch: Home Alone is streaming on Disney+ and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

3. The Preacher's Wife (1996) Credit: Touchstone / Kobal / Shutterstock

A cozy Christmas movie starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington — what could be better? In director Penny Marshall's The Preacher's Wife, a remake of 1947's The Bishop's Wife, Washington plays a charming angel sent down to Earth to help save a marriage in shambles. Houston's Julia is growing impatient with her pastor husband Henry (Courtney B. Vance), who's distracted by his dwindling church membership. Washington's jovial Dudley is just the spark that the family needs. His wit and doting attention remind Julia of what things used to be like with her and Henry, and the pastor grows jealous. But no worries; Dudley is just here to revitalize the pastor's faith and remind him of the important things he's let slip as Christmas approaches. The Preacher's Wife is warm and full of heart, and also features one of the silliest Denzel Washington performances that simply must be seen.

How to watch: The Preacher's Wife is streaming on Fubo and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

4. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Nothing says a Christmas classic like a Judy Garland song. In Meet Me in St. Louis, we get several memorable Garland numbers, from the classic “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” to the buoyant "Trolley Song." 

The 1944 Vincente Minnelli musical tells the story of the wealthy Smith family living in St. Louis, Missouri, one year before the 1904 World's Fair. All is well for them until the devastating news arrives that the family must relocate to New York City immediately after Christmas for their father's new job. The two eldest Smith daughters, Esther (Garland) and Rose (Lucille Bremer) are distraught, since they're both in love with local boys and have their futures planned near home. Even the youngest, Tootie (Margaret O'Brien), is so distraught that she destroys a bunch of snowmen in a fit of rage. But maybe, just maybe, the spirit of Christmas will turn things around for them.

How to watch: Meet Me in St. Louis is streaming on Tubi and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

5. Klaus (2019) Credit: Netflix

The majority of family-friendly Christmas movies often tell the same types of holiday stories about Santa. But Sergio Pablos' Klaus proposes a new origin story for Old Saint Nick. In the animated adventure, it all begins with a Norwegian postman named Jasper (voiced by Jason Schwartzman) who's sent away to an icy northern town called Smeerensburg to carry out his mail delivery duties. There he happens to stumble upon a reclusive bearded toymaker named Klaus (J.K. Simmons). When Jasper helps Klaus donate one of his creations to a local kid, soon every kid in town is desperate to send the toymaker a letter to get a gift in return. And so, Santa is born. Pablos' animated film is a welcome addition to the Christmas movie canon, not only for its originality but also for its gorgeous animation that's glowing with light and Christmas-y warmth.

How to watch: Klaus is streaming on Netflix.

6. Carol (2015)

We all need a sad gay romance to weep over during the holidays, and there isn't one better than Carol. Todd Haynes' 1950s-set love story follows Cate Blanchett as the eye-catching Carol Aird, a glamorous mother recently separated from her irate homophobic husband (Kyle Chandler), and Rooney Mara's budding young photographer, Therese Belivet. The two women begin to fall in love over a shared lunch of martinis and a trip to Carol's Connecticut home. But remember, this is the '50s, and Carol's queer relationship is soon used against her in her divorce.

Set over the holidays in New York City, Carol beautifully captures the Christmastime atmosphere of the East Coast in winter. There's a snowy trip to a tree lot, the frazzled energy of a department store amid the holiday shopping bustle, long winter coats and scarves, and the cozy relief of escaping the icy streets for a warm holiday party where eyes meet over cocktails. 

How to watch: Carol is streaming on Netflix, Fubo, and Paramount+, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.   

7. Tangerine (2015) Credit: Augustas Quirk / Magnolia / Duplass Brothers Prods / Kobal / Shutterstock

It's Christmas Eve in Hollywood and Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez), a Black trans woman and sex worker, has just gotten out of jail. She meets up with her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) and soon finds out that her pimp/boyfriend Chester (James Ransone) has been cheating on her — and not with just anyone, but with a white cis woman. Now it's time for revenge.

Tangerine follows the two friends over the course of the night as they walk across Hollywood searching for Chester. A simple story blossoms into a profound and emotional journey that sheds light on the real-life experiences many Black trans sex workers encounter on the daily. When Sean Baker's film first came out, it was praised for its low-budget indie style, and for being shot entirely on iPhones. But it's really the story, rich with intimate human moments and bursts of comedy, along with Rodriguez and Taylor's raw performances, that makes Tangerine such a moving film, and one about the power of chosen family.

How to watch: Tangerine is streaming on Hulu, Netflix, Fubo, and Hoopla, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

8. Go (1999)

Forget cozy holiday dinners and family trips to the tree lot. This Christmas, why not go to a rave? That's how the kids in the '90s cult classic Go decide to celebrate the holiday season.

It's the night of a massive Santa-themed rave in Los Angeles, and two guys are looking to score some ecstasy. Sarah Polley's supermarket clerk Ronna is faced with being evicted, so she decides to become a dealer for the night. Yet things go incredibly wrong, incredibly fast. There's undercover cops, a pissed-off Las Vegas bouncer, car chases, a guy who took way too many pills, and lots and lots of anxiety. 

Watching Go is the exact opposite experience of watching a traditional Christmas movie; instead, it feels a lot like being on a bad trip at a rave. Sounds awful, I know, but I swear it's a blast! If you're itching for some adrenaline, a great '90s cast, and a taste of L.A. rave culture, look no further.

How to Watch: Go is streaming on Paramount+ and Fubo, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

9. The Holiday (2006)

Sometimes you're so depressed and heartbroken after a breakup that the best solution is to get the heck out of town and spontaneously travel to a stranger's home in another country. Maybe you'll find your deepest self there, or maybe you'll meet a charming, kind man for once. In Nancy Meyers' pre-AirBnB romcom The Holiday, that's just what Cameron Diaz's Amanda and Kate Winslet's Iris do. Iris swaps her cozy English cottage to spend Christmas in the Hollywood Hills, while Amanda takes a break from her movie trailer editing job in L.A. to soak in some English countryside solitude. A sweet holiday rom-com with all the signature Nancy Meyers' touches (sappy romance, picturesque homes, cozy cream sweaters, etc.), The Holiday checks all the boxes.

How to watch: The Holiday is available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

10. It's a Wonderful Life (1946) 

In this endlessly rewatchable Christmas staple, Jimmy Stewart is the most generous man in town who puts his dreams aside to help save his neighbors during a financial crisis. Stewart's George Bailey skips his honeymoon, uses his savings to help his community, and even turns down a cushy high-paying job to put others first. But when things go terribly wrong on Christmas Eve, Bailey reaches a breaking point and steps onto a bridge, preparing to jump. That's when his guardian angel, Clarence (Henry Travers), arrives to show him just how different his town and family's life would be without him.

Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life is an enduring Christmas classic because it's a reminder of just how precious life is and the impact we have on those around us, even when we can't see it ourselves. It's the type of Christmas film you put on to get into the holiday mood, then suddenly find yourself sobbing, even if you've seen it a dozen times.

How to watch: It's A Wonderful Life is streaming on The Roku Channel, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

11. Elf (2003) Credit: Alan Markfield / New Line Prods / Kobal / Shutterstock

It's simply not Christmas without Will Ferrell, or a bowl of spaghetti and candy for breakfast. In Elf, Ferrell's Buddy spent his entire life growing up in the North Pole believing he was one of Santa's helpers, despite being enormously tall compared to all the others. Once he finally learns that he's an orphan, Buddy sets out to New York City to find his real father and embark on a series of silly misadventures. James Caan plays Buddy's father, Walter Hobbs, a hardened business exec who publishes children's books. The two are a perfect if chaotic pair — a goofy child-in-a-man's-body, and a grouchy, workaholic dad. For a playful family Christmas comedy that's got romance, humor, and big Manhattan-at-Christmas energy, you can't go wrong with Elf.

How to watch: Elf is streaming on Max, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

12. Phantom Thread (2017) Credit: Moviestore / Shutterstock

If you're tapped out on sentimental Christmas movies, why not put on a seasonal period romance that's enjoyably cynical and even a bit kinky? Set in the 1950s, Paul Thomas Anderson's Phantom Thread is all about relationship power dynamics. A perfectionist London dressmaker named Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) falls for a waitress, Alma (an excellent Vicky Krieps). However, he soon discovers his new muse isn't as submissive as the usual women he casually dates and discards. After Reynolds experiences a bout of sickness, the couple's dynamic takes a fascinating turn. And while the holiday season is technically only present as a backdrop for a handful of scenes — notably some of the most emotionally charged of their romance — Phantom Thread has a wintry, even ghostly, Christmas atmosphere throughout.

How to watch: Phantom Thread is streaming on Netflix and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

13. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

Imagine being a grumpy Scrooge when you're surrounded by a town full of silly Muppets. Michael Caine is as cantankerous as ever as Ebenezer Scrooge in The Muppet Christmas Carol. In the Jim Henson musical take on Dickens' classic, Caine humbugs around London as the townsfolk sing about his coldheartedness. Gonzo and Rizzo narrate the musical film, injecting it with humor and shenanigans throughout. Kermit plays Scrooge's benevolent employee Bob Cratchit, with Miss Piggy as Mrs. Cratchit and Robin the Frog as the adorable Tiny Tim. The whole Muppet gang appears throughout, and while the film follows the same beats of A Christmas Carol, the familiar cast of characters and added music make it an extra joyous watch.

How to watch: The Muppet Christmas Carol is streaming on Disney+, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

14. Moonstruck (1987)

Some people watch A Christmas Story every December, while others put on Moonstruck. The romantic comedy may not be about Christmas, but in almost every scene it gives off big Christmas energy. There's Cher's Loretta walking through the snowy streets of New York City in a long black trench coat and sipping wine by a fireplace. There's the Lincoln Center tree lit up behind Loretta and Nic Cage's Ronny as they attend the opera. There's the twinkling of string lights and Christmas decor along the streets and shops in the backdrop. The energy of Christmas is all around in this movie as Loretta falls in love with the ill-tempered Ronny while his brother (her fiancé) is away in Sicily. While Moonstruck is a perfect movie to watch any day of the year, it's especially fitting to snuggle up with it during the holiday season.

How to watch: Moonstruck is streaming on The Roku Channel, Tubi, and Pluto TV, and available to rent on Apple TV+, Prime Video, and Fandango at Home.

15. Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

When you imagine a picturesque Santa Claus, jolly, endearing, and kind, no one fits the bill better than Richard Attenborough in Miracle on 34th Street. The beloved actor just looks the part, with his rosy cheeks, warm smile, and inviting demeanor. Sadly, no one in Manhattan except a 6-year-old girl named Susan actually believes he's Santa.

In the wholesome 1994 remake of the classic film from 1947, Attenborough plays a sweet old man named Kris Kringle who gets hired to play Santa at a Manhattan department store. Kris keeps insisting that he's actually the famous guy from the North Pole, but everyone in New York seems to have lost the spirit of Christmas so much that a plot is formed to institutionalize the poor guy. It's up to Susan (Mara Wilson) and a lawyer (played by Dylan McDermott) to defend Kris Kringle in court and prove that he's not just wearing a red and white suit for a seasonal gig.

How to watch: Miracle on 34th Street is streaming on Disney+ and The Roku Channel, and available to rent on Apple TV+ and Fandango at Home.

This tiny smartphone will be the talk of the holidays

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Get the NanoPhone, a fully functional tiny smartphone, on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $199) with free shipping and on-time holiday delivery through December 8.

Opens in a new window Credit: Mutant Design Lab NanoPhone - A Miniaturized Smartphone Packed with Mega Features! $89.97
$199.99 Save $110.02 Get Deal

What if your backup phone wasn’t just practical, but also the coolest conversation starter you’ve ever owned?

Meet NanoPhone, the credit-card-sized smartphone that’s tiny in size but massive in functionality. Get it on sale for just $89.97 (reg. $199) with free shipping and on-time holiday delivery through December 8. Whether you’re looking for a secondary phone for emergencies or a compact device for travel, NanoPhone delivers all the essentials — and then some.

Slip this miniature marvel into your pocket and go about your day without the bulk of a standard phone. Designed for versatility, the NanoPhone supports dual SIM cards, a 4G Cellular Network + WiFi, and GPS, and it even includes both front and rear cameras for capturing life’s unexpected moments.

It should be noted that a SIM card and data plan are not included. If you want to use a 4G network to make traditional phone calls, you will need to connect it to a service provider using a SIM card. And while the 4G could be better, it does work on GSM and CDMA networks, which means it's good across most carrier brands.

Despite its ultra-compact size, NanoPhone lets you browse the web, stream videos, and download your go-to apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and more. Enjoy clear calls and live video chats while carrying a device that can fit in your coin pocket.

Need to travel light? NanoPhone is the perfect companion for active lifestyles, sports, or vacations when you want to stay connected without carrying around a bulky phone. Whether you’re shopping for a tech lover or a frequent traveler, NanoPhone makes an unforgettable gift. Its unique design and full-featured capabilities mean it’s more than just a novelty.

This holiday season, give the gift of innovation and watch everyone's eyes light up when they see it.

Order the NanoPhone for just $89.97 (reg. $199) with free shipping and on-time holiday delivery through December 8 during this early Black Friday sale.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Forget pen and paper — get an AI recorder on sale for $100

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Early Black Friday offer: the Focais Meet One AI-Powered Recorder is just $99.99 — ideal for smarter recording, transcription, and summarization.

Opens in a new window Credit: Focais Focais: Meet One - Voice-Activated AI-Powered Recorder $99.99
$149.00 Save $49.01 Get Deal

Looking for the perfect present for the professional, student, or creative in your life?

Look no further than the Focais Meet One Voice-Activated AI-Powered Recorder — on sale for just $99.99 (reg. $149) during this early Black Friday sale. More than just a recorder, this could be a game-changer for productivity, communication, and creativity.

This sleek device combines crystal-clear audio capture with cutting-edge AI technology for automatic transcription, multilingual translation, and conversation summarization. Whether it’s for meetings, lectures, interviews, or creative brainstorming, the Focais Meet One ensures nothing gets missed and everything is easier to review.

Think of this as the Swiss Army knife of recorders. With voice-activated recording, it captures only what matters, saving memory and battery. Noise reduction technology ensures your recordings are crisp and clear, while AI transcription delivers highly accurate text in over 120 languages — a great option for global professionals or multilingual students. Plus, with GPT-4-powered summarization, you’ll get concise takeaways without hours of playback.

The Focais mobile app makes organizing, editing, and sharing recordings easy. And with up to 20 hours of continuous recording and a compact design, it’s built to go wherever you do. A magnetic attachment even lets you record hands-free in any setting.

This holiday season, surprise someone with a gift they’ll actually use and love. Whether for work, school, or personal projects, the Focais Meet One is the ultimate productivity booster.

Take advantage of the Focais Meet One AI-Powered Recorder while it's just $99.99 (reg. $149) for a limited time.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Sleigh the holidays with a refurbished MacBook Air under $520

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Save big with the grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 1228GB SSD) for just $514.99 — an early Black Friday steal.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Refurbished Apple MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 1228GB SSD) $514.99
$1,499.00 Save $984.01 Get Deal

This holiday season, treat the tech lover on your list — or yourself — to the sleek power of an Apple MacBook Air for just $514.99 (reg. $1,499) during this Early Black Friday sale. Packed with the groundbreaking M1 chip, this grade-A refurbished MacBook Air delivers incredible performance, near-mint condition, and terrific value.

Whether they’re a student, creative professionals, or tech enthusiasts, this laptop is a gift they’ll use (and thank you for) every single day. With up to 18 hours of battery life, an 8-core CPU for lightning-fast speeds, and a fanless design for silent operation, this device makes multitasking, gaming, and streaming a breeze. And at this price, you’ll look like a gifting hero without breaking the bank.

This MacBook Air isn’t just a pretty face — it’s a powerhouse of innovation. The M1 chip gives it up to 3.5x faster CPU speeds, while the 8-core GPU provides 5x better graphics for everything from photo editing to intense gaming. The 16-core Neural Engine brings machine learning to your fingertips, whether you’re using advanced apps or just optimizing your daily workflow.

Its 13.3-inch Retina Display makes colors pop and text razor-sharp, making it perfect for work presentations or Netflix marathons. Plus, 128GB of SSD storage offers plenty of space for all your files and programs, and the fanless design keeps things whisper-quiet while you work or play.

This MacBook Air comes with a grade-A refurbished rating, meaning it’s in near-mint condition with minimal (if any) visible wear. It’s the premium Apple experience without the premium Apple price tag. And at $514.99, you’re getting a machine that typically retails for $1,499 — a massive 65% discount.

Get the grade-A refurbished Apple MacBook Air for just $514.99 while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Candy canes are overrated — stuff stockings with this $19 iPhone charging cable

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Skip the candy this year — the fast-charging, MFI-certified Flexi Pro USB-C to Lightning Cable is just $18.99 at the Mashable Shop.

Opens in a new window Credit: HyperGear Flexi Pro MFi-Certified USB-C to Lightning Soft-Touch Silicone Cable $18.99
$29.99 Save $11.00 Get Deal

Stop giving candy and give a gift that won't melt or cause cavities this year. The Flexi Pro MFi-Certified USB-C to Lightning Cable is a terrific stocking stuffer or Secret Santa gift option for anyone with Apple devices. With its soft-touch silicone design, this cable is as stylish as it is practical, making it the kind of gift that will actually get used (and appreciated).

MFi-certified for safe use with Apple devices, the Flexi Pro supports up to 35W Power Delivery for lightning-fast charging. Imagine going from 0% to 50% battery in just 25 minutes. Whether you’re powering up an iPhone, iPad, AirPods, or any Lightning-enabled device, the Flexi Pro gets the job done efficiently.

What really sets this cable apart? Its super-soft, tangle-free silicone coating. Not only is it tear-resistant and built to last 10x longer than standard cables, but it also feels great to handle. The 6-foot length gives you flexibility whether you're on the couch, in the car, or sharing an outlet at the airport. This cable is all about convenience. It includes a handy silicone strap for easy storage, so it’s ideal for travel.

For just $18.99 (reg. $29.99) during this Pre-Black Friday sale, you can grab a Flexi Pro cable for every techie on your gift list — or treat yourself. After all, who doesn’t need a cable that works as hard as they do?

Flexi Pro MFi-Certified USB-C to Lightning Soft-Touch Silicone Cable - $18.99 | Get It Here

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The 32 best Christmas movies on Hulu

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 05:00

Christmas movies are about shameless joy, uninhibited sweetness, and guaranteed happy endings. We don’t always have to be challenged. We don’t always have to learn more about the human condition. Sometimes we just want to be happy, and this list of yuletide films, from the classics to the unconventional, are sure to spark that cozy feeling of twinkling lights and sugar plum dreams in your tired, old candy cane bones.

The best part? They're all streaming on Hulu, so you can watch 'em ASAP, from the comfort of your very own Grinch cave, er, couch.

1. Elf (2003) Will Ferrell in "Elf." Credit: Alan Markfield / New Line Prods / Kobal / Shutterstock

Will Ferrell’s Buddy will stand for no man sitting upon a throne of lies and pretending to be his beloved Santa, and he will launch into a full-on brawl in front of children to prove it. Ferrell playing a full-grown adult man who’s spent his life believing he was an actual elf in the North Pole in Jon Favreau’s Elf is, undoubtedly, peak Christmas comedy. When Buddy finally learns he’s a human who was an orphan, he sets out to find his real father in New York City — and it turns out he's a workaholic publishing exec played by James Caan. There’s epic snowball fights, a romance with Zooey Deschanel, and every kid’s dream: spaghetti candy breakfast. With any other actor in the lead, Elf could have easily been an obnoxious, forgettable family comedy, but it’s Ferrell’s goofball antics and total commitment to the bit that make the film funny as heck, even 20 years later. — Oliver Whitney, Freelance Contributor

How to watch: Elf is streaming on Hulu.

2. Die Hard (1988)

Forget fresh baked cookies and decorating the tree. The one true way to tap into the Christmas spirit each year is watching Bruce Willis climb elevator shafts and run barefoot through broken glass. 

It’s December 24, 1988, and NYPD detective John McClane (Willis) has just arrived at the Nakatomi Corporation Christmas party to reconnect with his estranged wife (Bonnie Bedelia) — ya know, to come out to the coast and have a few laughs. Unfortunately (or rather, fortunately for our viewing pleasure) Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber has decided to crash the party with his long-haired German henchmen to steal some bearer bonds. “It’s Christmas, Theo,” Hans tells his safecracker. “A time for miracles!” Too bad for him this Christmas miracle arrives in a bloody tank top and sporting a cranky disposition; McClane won’t let these thieves get away easily. — OW

How to watch: Die Hard is streaming on Hulu.

3. A Christmas Story (1983)

Every kid remembers that one toy they desperately wanted more than anything else for Christmas. It dominates every moment of your young life as you plead for it and shake presents to guess at what's inside. For the nine-year-old Ralphie (Peter Billingsley), that Christmas gift fixation is a BB gun. Unfortunately, everyone from his mom to the local department store's grumpy Santa rejects his wish by looking out for his safety. “You'll shoot your eye out!” they shout.

A Christmas Story is in many ways the perfect movie to watch on Christmas Day. It's warm and nostalgic, wacky and playful, and accurately captures a child's view of Christmas. Plus, it's one of a kind — no other holiday movie features a leg lamp, tongues stuck on a frozen pole, and elves shoving screaming children down a giant slide. — OW

How to watch: A Christmas Story is streaming on Hulu.

4. The Preacher's Wife (1996) Credit: Touchstone / Kobal / Shutterstock

In Penny Marshall’s The Preacher’s Wife, Courtney B. Vance’s Reverend Henry Biggs is having a rough time. He’s spread himself so thin helping out his parishioner community, struggling with dwindling membership, and battling a real estate mogul trying to buy up his church that he’s hardly present for his family. It’s almost Christmas and he can’t make time for his wife, a singer named Julia (Whitney Houston), or take his son shopping. He prays for help, and suddenly, God delivers the greatest gift of all: a wide-eyed, buoyant angel in the form of Denzel Washington. Washington’s Dudley tries his hardest to provide guidance to the stubborn reverend, but he soon finds himself also growing quite fond of Julia, because you simply can’t put Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston in a movie together and not have romantic chemistry.

The Preacher’s Wife is a touching Christmas story that celebrates the importance of family over all else, but the real standouts are, of course, every time we get to hear Houston sing, and a delightful series of moments where a goofy Washington loses his mind when eating New York pizza and halal. — OW

How to watch: The Preacher’s Wife is streaming on Hulu Live TV.

5. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

For many, Christmas is a time of joy, loving connection, and families happily embracing beside a Christmas tree. In Stanley Kubrick's world, it's none of those things. Jealousy, secrecy, temptation, and infidelity haunt the main couple at the center of Eyes Wide Shut in the days leading up to the jovial holiday. 

Alice and Bill Harford (Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, who were married at the time of filming) are a picturesque wealthy, white American couple. They live in a stunning Upper East Side apartment, attend a lavish Christmas party, and take their kid holiday shopping at FAO Schwarz. But one night, after a very stoned Alice tells her husband about a sexual fantasy she once had about another man, his jealousy leads him on a journey to a secretive Satanic-esque orgy. While the plot of Kubrick's final film has nothing to do with Christmas directly, there's an undeniable unease to watching a marriage fall apart and a sinister mystery unfold against the backdrop of the holiday season, all as Christmas lights twinkle in the background. — OW

How to watch: Eyes Wide Shut is streaming on Hulu with the Paramount+ add-on.

6. Jingle All the Way (1996)

If anyone is going to successfully get their kid the hottest toy of the year that's completely sold out, it's Arnold, baby. In the '90s holiday classic Jingle All the Way, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Howard is a pretty crummy dad who spends more time at work than with his son Jamie (Jake Lloyd). To make it up to him, Howard decides to get Jamie the one thing he wants for Christmas — a Turbo Man action figure. When the toy store shelves are empty on Christmas Eve, Howard goes on a mission to find a Turbo Man at any cost, from a black market salesman to a radio station giveaway and plenty more shenanigans, like running from the cops and even a fake bomb threat. It's outrageously silly in the best way. — OW

How to watch: Jingle All the Way is streaming on Hulu.

7. Tangerine (2015) 

It’s Christmas eve in a Hollywood donut shop and Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) has just gotten out of jail, unfortunately a normal occurrence for trans sex workers like her. Now her best friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) is telling Sin-Dee that her boyfriend and pimp Chester (James Ransone) has been cheating on her the whole time, and with a cis woman. She sets out on a mission to track him and his other girlfriend down. 

SEE ALSO: 70 essential LGBTQ films to stream right now

Sean Baker’s ultra-low budget Tangerine, which he famously shot entirely on iPhones, captures a gritty reality that’s rarely seen in traditional holiday movies, which usually center well-off families with stable incomes and cozy romances. Here, Sin-Dee’s family is Alexandra and other trans sisters along the stroll, and the men they interact with are sneaking away from their wives and children at home for sex. But don’t mistake Tangerine for a gloomy downer. Baker’s film is bursting with comedy, energy, and heart, all thanks to Rodriguez and Taylor’s radiant performances. Ultimately, Tangerine is a moving story about surviving with chosen family, something queer and trans audiences could surely use more of. — OW

How to watch: Tangerine is streaming on Hulu.

8. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Credit: THA / Shutterstock

The third installment in the National Lampoon’s Vacation series opens with the only Griswold family vacation in the film: a trip to a forest where Clark (Chevy Chase) gleefully drags his family out into the snow to cut down their own Christmas tree. From there, many classic Griswold hijinks ensue as Clark goes out of his way to plan the most over-the-top Christmas of all time. That includes decking out his roof in hundreds of string lights to the point of knocking out the entire city’s power grid, the unexpected arrival of his wife’s cousin and her cigar-smoking husband (Randy Quaid), an indoor squirrel attack, a cat wrapped inside a gift box, a very pissed-off Julia Louis-Dreyfus as his snooty neighbor, a SWAT team storming the house, and so much more. It's total Christmas chaos, Griswold style. — OW

How to watch: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is streaming on Hulu.

10. Spencer (2021) 

If you dread spending the holidays with your in-laws, Spencer is here to give you some modicum of relief — at least you're not Princess Diana, forced to make merry with the Royal Family just as your turbulent marriage has begun to disintegrate! Pablo Larraín’s Spencer offers a fantastical and haunting look into the mind of Diana over the course of three days during the holiday season in 1991.

It all starts off on a sour note when Diana (played exquisitely by Kristen Stewart in her best performance yet) arrives late to the Queen’s estate on Christmas Eve day after getting lost. From there, her mental health splinters as anxiety and depression take over. Prince Charles (Jack Farthing), who Diana knows is having an affair (the affair with Camilla Parker Bowles), is cruel and harsh towards her, her only companion among the staff (Sally Hawkins) is sent away, and Diana begins having ghostly visions of Anne Boleyn throughout the estate. It’s an eerie gothic Christmas tale with loads of excellent Kristen Stewart brooding and all the jaw-dropping hats and '90s suits you could dream of. — OW

How to watch: Spencer is streaming on Hulu.

11. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)  Credit: Touchstone / Kobal / Shutterstock

Tim Burton and director Henry Selick’s stop-motion masterwork isn’t a Halloween or a Christmas movie: It’s a spectacular fusion of both in the best of ways. The Nightmare Before Christmas is the perfect film for those who prefer their yuletide delights to come with a side dish of spookiness — and songs. Sick of movies where kids greedily open presents? Great, please enjoy a giant black and orange snake gobbling up gifts whole, along with the entire dang Christmas tree. Family comedies where a jolly old Santa rides his magical sleigh — yawn! How about one where Santa gets kidnapped and a kid gets a shrunken head for a gift? That’s exactly what happens when Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, loses his, well, joie de mort. Wandering sadly through the woods, Jack stumbles into a series of parallel worlds, each dedicated to a different holiday. When he lands in Christmas Town, his bony little mind is blown, and he dedicates himself to learning everything he can about this warm and magical place, and its strange leader named Sandy Claws. There's mischief and romance, a mad scientist and a singing boogeyman, not to mention a voice cast that includes Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, and the late, great Paul Reubens.

Brilliant in everything from its stunning animation and clever story to its detailed world-building and endlessly catchy music, there’s nothing quite like the haunting magic and whimsy of The Nightmare Before Christmas. — OW

How to watch: The Nightmare Before Christmas is streaming on Hulu Live TV.

12. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) 

In It’s A Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey is the type of man who always puts his community first, even using his honeymoon savings to keep his father’s local bank afloat so residents can finance their homes. But on Christmas Eve, the menacing board member Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) intends to shut the bank down. When the money to keep it running gets misplaced at the last minute, a completely devastated George steps onto a bridge and prepares to jump. But suddenly, an angel named Clarence (Henry Travers) appears to show George what his beloved town would be like had he never been born, and it’s not a jolly picture.

Frank Capra’s holiday staple may be a saccharine Christmas tale, but it tells a bigger story beyond its holiday framing. It’s not only about the importance of gratitude and family during the Christmas season, but more broadly, it’s a story about the power of community and everyday people supporting one another across shared struggles. It’s a reminder of the significant impact every person has on those around them, and while that may be cheesy, it’s a poignant and forever-relevant thing to be reminded of, even beyond Christmas. — OW

How to watch: It’s A Wonderful Life is streaming on Hulu Live TV.

13. The Family Stone (2005) Credit: 20th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock

The Family Stone is a crucial holiday movie for one very important reason: Afterwards, you will forever be haunted by the fear of dropping the casserole all over the kitchen floor on Christmas morning. Personally, I think of Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Rachel McAdams every time I bake a casserole, and thankfully, I’ve yet to drop one. But that’s just one of the many devastating moments in this dramedy about a dysfunctional family reuniting for the holidays. Parker plays Meredith, who’s visiting her boyfriend Everett’s (Dermot Mulroney) family for Christmas, which of course means chaos. There’s arguments at dinner with Everett’s gay brother who announces plans to adopt a child, there’s a car crash, more arguments, and a developing love triangle. It’s the perfect taste of comedic familial mayhem to distract you from your own dysfunctional family this holiday season (and, of course, to remind you to save your precious casseroles). — OW 

How to watch: The Family Stone is streaming on Hulu.

14. Every Day Is Christmas (2018)

In this Lifetime take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Toni Braxton is a modern-day Scrooge. The R&B legend plays Alexis Taylor, a work-obsessed money manager who runs her own financial firm and hates the holidays.

On Christmas Eve, when Alexis realizes the firm hasn't hit their annual goals, she does what any terrible boss would do — she cancels Christmas bonuses and threatens to fire anyone who doesn't show up for work the next morning (yes, on Christmas Day). She's a jerk, but we, of course, learn there's a tragic reason behind her curmudgeonliness. In Dickensian fashion, the ghost of Alexis' mother arrives late into the night to usher her into the past, help her better understand the present, and see what her future may hold. Every Day Is Christmas is definitely a Lifetime movie full of sappy dialogue, some cringe acting, and an obvious storyline, but it's a pleasantly enjoyable one thanks to Braxton's charisma and all the flashy dresses she gets to wear.

How to watch: Every Day Is Christmas is streaming on Hulu Live TV.

15. The French Connection (1971)

If you're in the mood for a top-tier action thriller with some light Christmas-y vibes, The French Connection has you covered. The William Friedkin classic starts off with Gene Hackman donning a Santa Claus suit as he chases a guy across town. This isn't your jolly neighborhood Santa; Hackman's Popeye is a hot-headed NYPD detective who will stop at nothing to crack a case, and he won't hesitate to beat up a lead for answers. 

In Friedkin's film, part of which is set during the holidays in a seedy 1970s New York City, Popeye and his partner Cloudy (Roy Scheider) are dead set on stopping a major heroin dealer from importing $32 million worth of drugs into the States. There's foot chases, shootouts, and most notably, one of the best and most intense car chases in the history of cinema.

How to watch: The French Connection is streaming on Hulu with the Max add-on.

16. Batman Returns (1992)

Leave it up to Tim Burton to inject a brooding darkness into the holiday season. After Edward Scissorhands but before The Nightmare Before Christmas, Burton gave us Batman Returns. And yes, it is indeed a Christmas movie.

First of all, it's a Batman film where Gotham City actually looks and feels festive and colorful for the first time. Burton's extravagant sets are filled with towering Christmas trees blanketed in string lights and ornaments, there's the tree-lighting ceremony where the Red Triangle Circus Gang jump out of a massive gift box, there's the penguin army strapped with candy cane-striped rockets, and, of course, the fact that mistletoe plays an important role in the plot. 

How to watch: Batman Returns is streaming on Hulu.

17. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

What’s more magical than playing hide and seek with your siblings, only to stumble upon an old wardrobe that transports you to a wondrous new world full of talking animals? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the first film in the big-screen adaption series of The Chronicles of Narnia books, taps into that childhood fantasy of escaping the tragedies of reality to experience the magic of a winter wonderland. In the book and film’s fictional world, the kids are living through WWII, but Narnia isn’t entirely joyful either. Lucy (Georgie Henley) and her siblings soon discover that the snowy land of Narnia has been cursed by the evil White Witch (Tilda Swinton) to be forever winter but never Christmas. Thankfully, the kids do get some holiday cheer in the form of an encounter with Father Christmas himself. — OW

How to watch: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is streaming on Hulu.

18. Edward Scissorhands (1990)  Credit: 20th Century Fox / Kobal / Shutterstock

Most people may not think of Edward Scissorhands as a Christmas movie, but I’d argue it still counts. One of the most visceral and memorable moments from the beloved Tim Burton film is Winona Ryder’s Kim twirling in the ice falling from Edward’s (Johnny Depp) angel sculpture as Danny Elfman’s ethereal score plays. It’s that beautiful, magical, heart-swelling moment that sticks in Kim’s memory, and is what frames the opening and closing of Burton’s tale. That snowy moment is also the beginning of the end of joy for Edward. 

In Burton’s film, Christmas isn’t a time of warmth, acceptance, or kindness, but it's marked by cruelty and isolation. It’s when Frankenstein’s monster with blades for hands is cast out from the normalcy of a pastel suburb and driven into the dark mansion above. It’s lonely, sad, and heartbreaking, and there’s something incredibly relatable about that for anyone who’s never had an easy relationship with or a comfortable home during the holidays. Who needs Santa when we can tell bedtime stories about Edward, up in his castle creating snow flurries and sculpting away. — OW

How to watch: Edward Scissorhands is streaming on Hulu.

20. The Santa Clause (1994)

Ah yes, the classic '90s movie where Tim Allen accidentally kills Santa. In The Santa Clause, the first of what would soon become a trilogy, Allen’s Scott is a divorced marketing exec who doesn’t believe in Santa. After Scott spooks the old guy mid-present delivery, Santa tumbles off the roof to his death. Dark! When Scott puts on the magical suit to please his young son Charlie (Eric Lloyd), he becomes bound by the holy North Pole contract stipulating that he now must carry the mantle as the new Saint Nick. He isn’t exactly up for the job and ends up being a pretty grouchy Santa, not to mention a lactose-intolerant one, much to the disappointment of one little girl expecting him to drink his customary glass of milk. Despite some icky fatphobic jokes over Scott’s Santa weight gain, The Santa Clause is a delightfully strange and charming family movie with a clever story and some signature sardonic Tim Allen humor. — OW

How to watch: The Santa Clause is streaming on Hulu Live TV.

21. The Nutcracker (1993)

For those who can't make it to the theater to watch The Nutcracker live, this film adaptation brings the magic of the ballet to the screen. Filmed like a live stage production, 1993's The Nutcracker puts you right in the audience. In this classic Tchaikovsky story, a young girl wakes up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve to a series of magical happenings — the decorated tree grows enormously tall, and her new Nutcracker toy is now life-size. The film features a young Macaulay Culkin as the Nutcracker himself, as well as plenty of dancing by the New York City ballet doing George Balanchine's iconic choreography.  — OW

How to watch: The Nutcracker is streaming on Hulu.

22. Eastern Promises (2007)  Credit: Peter Mountain / Focus Features / Bbc / Kobal / Shutterstock

Nothing says holiday cheer like Viggo Mortensen as a Russian gangster casually blow-drying a frozen corpse in front of a strand of Christmas lights. Eastern Promises doesn’t have anything to do with the holidays directly, but it is set during Christmas in London, where the atmosphere of hope and celebration is juxtaposed with violence and deceit. 

David Cronenberg’s violent crime drama — perfect for those looking for something intense and dark in place of the usual light holiday entertainment — follows Naomi Watts as a midwife who discovers the diary of a young Russian girl who died in childbirth. That diary leads her to the local headquarters of the Russian mafia, and a dark scheme led by top boss Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), his loose-cannon son (Vincent Cassel), and their newest recruit and fixer Nikolai (an excellent Mortensen covered in tattoos). A suspenseful and gory mystery unfolds as Watts's Anna gets closer to the truth, and Nikolai balances carrying out his boss's orders with helping her. Morality and corruption constantly bleed into one another in Cronenberg’s fantastic crime fable, which features an all-timer nude fight sequence in a bath house. — OW

How to watch: Eastern Promises is streaming on Hulu.

23. The Polar Express (2004)

Leave it to filmmaker Robert Zemeckis to bring the wonder of a children’s book to vivid life on screen. The Polar Express expands Chris Van Allsburg’s beloved Christmas story into a film about a young boy who boards a magical train on its way to the North Pole. Tom Hanks plays and voices a handful of roles, including the train's conductor, a Scrooge puppet, and Santa Claus himself. What’s most notable about The Polar Express is the visual world it creates, converting the quiet classicism and awe of the book’s illustrations into a CG world. Back in 2004, it was the first feature-length film to be shot entirely using motion-capture, and the first big studio IMAX 3D movie to ever hit screens. While those visuals have certainly not aged well with time, The Polar Express still manages to capture the magical spirit of Christmas viewed through the eyes of a child. — OW

How to watch: The Polar Express is streaming on Hulu.

24. Babe (1995)

Before Babe follows one little piglet's journey of becoming a sheepherder, that titular pig must escape the clutches of death as Christmas dinner approaches. Mrs. Hoggett (Magda Szubanski) is set on having roast pork for the family holiday meal, but James Cromwell's farmer Arthur tries to get his wife to consider sparing the lil pig this year. He's hoping that Babe will win them a prize ham at the county fair (which is, when you think of it, still pretty messed up!). There's suspense all across the farm as Christmas approaches and Mr. Hoggett sets up decorations, and there's even some carol singing, courtesy of the one and only Babe. Remember, when you sit down for Christmas dinner this year, Christmas doesn't have to mean carnage. — OW

How to watch: Babe is streaming on Hulu with the Max add-on.

25. The Happiest Season (2020) An excellent cast for this modern Christmas flick. Credit: Hulu

The perfect Christmas rom-com for the 2020s, The Happiest Season follows young couple Harper (Mackenzie Davis) and Abby (Kristen Stewart) as they head to Harper’s family’s home for Christmas. The only issue is that Harper has yet to come out to her family, which leaves Abby in the uncomfortable position of having to lie about herself for the holidays. The cast here is top notch. Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis shine in their lead roles, and the internet had a complete breakdown about how magnetic Aubrey Plaza is as Harper’s ex-girlfriend, Riley. Alison Brie, Dan Levy, Mary Holland, Victor Garber, and Mary Steenburgen round out the sparkling cast in this film co-written and directed by Clea DuVall. 

It’s a much-needed and utterly modern take on the holiday romance. And what’s more, it feels believable, which is almost unheard of for a Christmas movie! Don’t waste another second waiting to watch this intelligent, funny, and cheerily sincere film. — Kristina Grosspietsch, Freelance Contributor

How to Watch: The Happiest Season is streaming on Hulu.

26. Little Women (2019)

The most comforting Christmas movies don't always need to be about Christmas. In Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the warmth and coziness of the holiday season is blanketed everywhere across the screen in Little Women. As we follow the lives of the March sisters in the years after the Civil War, not only does Christmas weave in and out of the plot, but Gerwig captures an icy, wintry atmosphere that makes you feel smack in the middle of the holidays. The sisters are always bundled up in their layers of 19th-century winter gear, and the orange glow of the fireplace, draped with stockings and garlands, fills the March home with an inviting coziness. Little Women also embraces the spirit of Christmas, from its message of generosity as Marmee (Laura Dern) encourages her daughters to give their Christmas breakfast to those without food, to the importance of the family being together. — OW

How to watch: Little Women is streaming on Hulu.

27. The Mistle-Tones (2012)

Tia Mowry is Holly, a bubbly woman whose greatest dream in life is to join the local Christmas cover group, the Snow Belles, and spend every Christmas Eve… checks notes … singing at the mall. But when Holly is denied a spot in the group by Snow Belle queen and diva Marci, played by none other than Tori Spelling, she starts her own singing group and competes with the Snow Belles for the coveted mall gig. 

The Mistle-Tones is fun and fluffy, and it stays engaging thanks to its multiple Christmas medley performances. There is romance here for Holly — her boss is a standoffish workaholic? I bet that’s about to change!!! — but Mowry and Spelling are both so accustomed to the camera, their casual self-assurance tends to steal most of their scenes. – KG

How to Watch: The Mistle-Tones is streaming on Hulu.

28. Last Christmas (2019)

Emilia Clarke swaps her Daenerys garb for an elf costume in this Christmas rom-com from director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids). Clarke's Kate is an out-of-work singer whose life is in total shambles. She couch surfs from one annoyed friend's flat to the next, drinks and hooks up with random guys to drown her sorrows, and continues to disappoint her overbearing mother (a Russian-accented Emma Thompson, who also co-wrote the screenplay). Then one day outside of her day job at a year-round Christmas shop (owned by Michelle Yeoh), Kate meets the charming and kind Tom (Henry Golding). The two share a sweet connection walking through the decorated streets of London, skating on an ice rink, and getting to know each other, all soundtracked to the music of George Michael. — OW

How to watch: Last Christmas is streaming on Hulu with the Max add-on.

29. Almost Christmas (2016) Credit: Universal Studios / Kobal / Shutterstock

In Almost Christmas, it's the Meyers' family's first time getting together for the holidays without their beloved matriarch. Danny Glover's Walter lost his wife Grace 10 months ago, and he's struggling as the family begins to arrive for Christmas. 

The holiday dramedy from playwright and filmmaker David E. Talbert (Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey), is full of dysfunctional family drama and playful hijinks. The eldest son Christian (Romany Malco) is running for Congress and won't step away from his work to be with family. Gabrielle Union's single mother Rachel is being courted by a friendly neighbor (Omar Epps), but she's too independent-minded to flirt back. J.B. Smoove's Lonnie attempts to fix the broken animatronic Santa, even though he doesn't know a thing about electronics. The entire family hates Aunt May's (Mo'Nique) cooking. And worst of all, no one can find Grace's special box of recipes in time for Christmas dinner.

How to watch: Almost Christmas is streaming on Hulu.

30. Krampus (2015)

After you overdose on saccharine holiday movies, sit the family down for some Christmas horror with Krampus. In this inventive horror-comedy, the Engel family is having a bad start to the holidays. Max (Emjay Anthony) gets in a fight at the school play, then later gets teased by his cousins for writing a letter to Santa. Sarah's (Toni Collette) sister Linda (Allison Tolman) arrives with her family and the annoying kooky aunt (Conchata Ferrell). Within all the chaos, Max starts to lose his faith in Christmas, which has a ripple effect. Suddenly a storm arrives, blanketing the whole town in ice, and Max's sister goes missing. A giant creature is galloping along the rooftops and dragging bodies into the snow. Krampus has arrived to punish the bad kids and let chaos reign this Christmas! While full of spooky fun and plenty of suspense, Krampus isn't too scary for those who can't handle horror. — OW

How to watch: Krampus is streaming on Hulu with the Max add-on.

SEE ALSO: 25 of the best Christmas horror movies to haunt your holiday 31. Scrooged (1988) Credit: Paramount / Kobal / Shutterstock

Take the selfishness and obsessive ambition of Ebenezer Scrooge and make him a ruthless TV exec, and you get Bill Murray's Frank Cross — perfect casting. He's a cold-hearted jerk of a boss and a miserable guy with no love life. As Christmas approaches, the ghost of his old boss arrives to nearly toss him out of his high-rise penthouse window and warn him that three more ghosts will soon pay Frank a visit. 

First, a wacky cabbie played by David Johansen appears to show Frank his past and troubled childhood. Carol Kane dressed up as a shimmering fairy makes an appearance as the Ghost of Christmas Present, and a third ghost arrives to show his dreadful future. Easily one of the funniest iterations of the Dickens classic, largely thanks to Murray's wry humor, Scrooged is perfect when you're looking for a more modern take on a traditional Christmas story. 

How to watch: Scrooged is streaming on Hulu with the Paramount+ add-on.

32. Merry Liddle Christmas (2019)

In the Lifetime movie Merry Liddle Christmas, Kelly Rowland plays an entrepreneur named Jacquie Liddle who lives in a luxury home full of high-tech bells and whistles. This year, she's decided to host the family for Christmas at her house. The only thing is, it has to look absolutely perfect, since a camera crew is coming to film her home. That means swapping a colorful tree for a fake white one with gold tinsel, getting rid of some family-favorite decorations, and doing away with other traditions, which her mother is definitely not happy about.

There's no real crisis or major drama (it is a Lifetime movie, after all), but the main points of contention are how freaked out Jacquie's parents are by her fancy gadgets (like a Roomba and Alexa-esque device that orders her groceries). Jacquie also doesn't get along with her sister, but soon she gets distracted by a single neighbor who catches her eye. If you're itching for more, check out not one but two Merry Liddle Christmas sequels in this Christmas movie trilogy.


How to watch: Merry Liddle Christmas is streaming on Hulu Live TV.

UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2024, 2:15 p.m. EST This list has been updated to include the latest Hulu offerings.

NYTs The Mini crossword answers, hints for November 28, 2024

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:58

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 Thursday, November 28, 2024:

AcrossBillion-dollar company whose name is an exclamation

  • The answer is Yahoo.

Each of the letters in EGOT

  • The answer is Award.

Party crasher, perhaps

  • The answer is Rando.

Certain eatery, or its patron

  • The answer is Diner.

Polaris in Ursa Minor, e.g.

  • The answer is Star.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 28 DownGridiron gains

  • The answer is Yards.

Look forward to

  • The answer is Await.

Barbera's partner in animation

  • The answer is Hanna.

Something placed with a server

  • The answer is Order.

Bad thing to come out of a milk carton

  • The answer is Odor.

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.

Black Friday is coming, but the Amazon Echo deals are already here

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:57

SAVE UP TO 55%: Amazon's Black Friday sale is now live, and so are the deals on Amazon Echo devices. Find the lowest prices ever on Echos, including 55% off the Amazon Echo Pop, which is back down to $17.99, saving you $22.

Best Echo Device Deals Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $44.99 at Amazon (Save $45) Get Deal Best Echo alarm clock deal Amazon Echo Spot $44.99 at Amazon (Save $35) Get Deal Best Echo Kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $22.99 at Amazon (Save $27) Get Deal

"Alexa, when do Black Friday deals start?" Right now.

This year, Black Friday falls on Nov. 29, 2024, and while we're still weeks away, the early deals are here. Apple is already unleashing deals across its products, and big ticket items like robot vacuums are dipping in price ahead of the big event. So if you're looking to make your home a little smarter, now is the time to shop Amazon's Echo devices.

Echos are some of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to upgrade your smart home, helping you do everything from play music to set daily lighting routines. Just one month ago, we were tracking deals during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, and we saw the lowest price ever on Echo Devices. Way ahead of Black Friday, we're already seeing those deals swing back around.

Here are the best deals on Amazon Echo Devices to shop ahead of Black Friday.

Best Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $22.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. While we expect this price to hang around through Black Friday weekend, you can rest assured you're getting it at a great deal when you buy now.

More Amazon Echo deals

Pick up an early Black Friday soundbar deal and listen to the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade on full blast

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:42

SAVE UP TO $500: Ahead of Black Friday, shop big markdowns on soundbars at Amazon and Best Buy. Shop the Samsung HW-Q850D/ZA Soundbar for $599.99, saving $500 for 45% off.

Best soundbar deals Best soundbar deal Samsung HW-Q850D/ZA Soundbar $599.99 (Save $500) Get Deal Best budget soundbar deal Insignia 2.0 Mini Soundbar $34.99 (Save $15) Get Deal Roku Streambar SE $79.99 (Save $20) Get Deal Best Bose Speaker Bose Smart Soundbar $399 (Save $100) Get Deal

Getting ready for the holiday season means pulling out the string lights, stocking the pantry full of cozy treats, and turning on the latest Hallmark movie marathon. A key part of that set-up is your home entertainment system. If you're looking to make some upgrades, it might pay to start shopping ahead of Black Friday.

The big post-Thanksgiving day event falls at the very end of this month, so if you're getting antsy about your holiday shopping, the good news is, the deals are already here. If you want to watch every moment of the Macy's Day Parade in perfect detail, TVs are already on sale as part of the early Black Friday rush. If you want to hear it too, that's where a soundbar comes in.

The early Black Friday deals on soundbars are abundant. Amazon and Best Buy have major discounts, up to 50% off on soundbars from Samsung, Bose, LG, Sony, and more. Here are the best deals to shop.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy is already going hard with QLED TV deals ahead of Black Friday Best soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung HW-Q850D/ZA soundbar $599.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $500.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you want not just a soundbar, but a fully decked out home entertainment system, the Samsung HW-Q850D/ZA is the solution. Not only do you get a wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar, but this deal also includes rear speakers to get true surround sound.

Normally $1,099.99, ahead of Black Friday, you can get it for just $599.99. That takes 45% off to give you $500 in savings.

Best budget soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 2.0 Mini soundbar $34.99 at Best Buy
$49.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not into spending $100, or even $50, you can still find a soundbar. The Insignia 2.0 Mini soundbar is a great candidate if you're on a budget. For just $34.99, it's a compact sound system that's 20 inches in length. It's Bluetooth-enabled, but can also connect with an AUX or USB cord. It comes with three audio modes, standard, theater, or news, to elevate your home entertainment no matter what you're watching.

During Best Buy's early Black Friday sale, you can find the Insignia 2.0 Mini soundbar for $34.99. That saves you $15 for 30% off.

Best streaming soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku Streambar SE $79.99 at Best Buy
$99.99 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Roku Streambar SE gives you one of the greatest gifts in this age of modern technology: two devices in one. This soundbar also doubles as a Roku streaming device, giving you access to all your favorite streaming services. Plus, it features a system to automatically adjust the volume so voices are clearer. Even better: it lowers the volume during commercials.

It's down to $79.99 ahead of Black Friday for $20 off and 20% savings.

Best Bose soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Smart soundbar $399.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Bose recently revamped its smart speaker so you can get the newest version on sale. It includes Dolby Atmos sound in addition to an A.I. Dialogue assistant to balance voices and surround sound for perfect clarity. It connects via Bluetooth, which also allows you to play cast music and videos from your phone to the TV, all through the soundbar.

Grab the Bose smart soundbar during early Black Friday sales for just $399, saving $100. That knocks 20% off its original price of $499.

More soundbar deals

20+ of the best Bluetooth speaker deals ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:41
Best Bluetooth speaker deals ahead of Black Friday Best overall Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $78.96 at Amazon (Save $21.03) Get Deal Best budget speaker deal JBL Go 4 $39.95 at Amazon (Save $10) Get Deal Best high-end Bluetooth speaker Sonos Move 2 $359.00 at Amazon (Save $90) Get Deal

The Black Friday shopping season is here, and Bluetooth speakers are at some of their best prices of the year.

Though it may not be the best time of year to take a Bluetooth speaker poolside, it's always great to think ahead and save some money. Plus, having a quality speaker is never a bad idea if you're planning on hosting any holiday parties.

SEE ALSO: All the best early Black Friday deals at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart

So far, we're seeing the most deals at Amazon, bringing deals on speakers from Ultimate Ears, JBL, Beats, and Sony. Thanks to the proximity to Black Friday, we're also seeing brands that don't typically go on sale, like Sonos, finally get some price cuts.

It's a pretty solid roundup (all of our favorite speakers are represented), but as Black Friday proper — Nov. 29 — draws nearer, we'll be updating this list with any new deals that crop up.

Best Bluetooth speaker deal ahead of Black Friday Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $78.96 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $21.03 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is the best speaker we've tested under $100: it doesn't take up much space, has 14 hours of battery life, gets as loud as a larger speaker without losing much clarity, and can be taken on the go to pretty much any situation thanks to its IP67 rating. While it drops to $79.99 throughout the year, this is still a fantastic deal for a speaker that we think is well worth it at full price, and at the time of writing, each of the four colorways is available on sale. (At $78.96, you can get it for ever-so-slightly cheaper, but this price is only available on the black colorway).

If you're in the market for a new Bluetooth speaker, one of the only reasons we'd say to pass on this one is if you already own the Wonderboom 3 (it's incredibly similar) and want to pair up with another Wonderboom speaker to use stereo mode (none of the UE speakers are backwards compatible for stereo mode).

Best high-end Bluetooth speaker deal Sonos Move 2 $359.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sonos Move 2.

Sonos speakers are expensive, and they really only go on sale during Black Friday. Even during both Prime Days this year, we didn't see price cuts on Sonos products, and especially not our favorite pick for smart homes, the Sonos Move 2. This speaker is big enough that it might be a hassle to move it around regularly, but it's not so big that you'll dread moving it if you're hosting a backyard barbecue.

The trade-off is that you get a speaker with 24-hour battery life and sound quality that shines across all genres of music. Mashable Senior Editor Stan Schroeder wrote in his review, "It's capable of producing one of those effects where you play a song you know well (in my case, 'Roxanne' by The Police), and you hear details you never knew were there, like the (accidental?) touching of the drumsticks at the end of the song's intro." Plus, it has compatibility with Alexa and Sonos Voice Control.

Best budget Bluetooth speaker deal JBL Go 4 $39.95 at Amazon
$49.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The JBL Go 4 is tiny and inexpensive, but it packs a punch. This speaker sounds surprisingly clear, and can get louder than you think (though you do start to sacrifice some of that clarity at higher volumes). During our testing, we found it got anywhere from seven to up to nine-and-a-half hours of playtime, making it an excellent option for taking on the go to the beach (where it's IP67 water and dust-proof rating will keep it safe), or for taking up minimal space in your home while still providing plenty of sound. $39.95 is the lowest price we've ever seen it at, beating its Prime Day price by about $5.

More Bluetooth speaker deals

20+ of the best Black Friday noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds deals

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:38
Best noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds deals ahead of Black Friday Best headphones deal Sony WH-1000XM5 297 (Save $102.99) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbus $229 (Save $50) Get Deal

Black Friday is just around the corner, but major retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are already kicking off their programming. In other words: it's a pretty good time to pick up a pair of headphones on sale.

So far, we've seen the bulk of the deals at Amazon, with headphones and earbuds from Sony and Bose returning to record low prices. In addition to our top picks as of Nov. 20, the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones and Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds, we're also seeing markdowns on brands like Apple, Beats, Jabra, and Google.

With a few pairs already down at lows we saw during Prime Day, we're anticipating that the actual day of Black Friday (this year, it falls on Nov. 29) will bring new record lows. In the meantime, we'll keep you updated on the best noise-cancelling headphones deals live, from now through Black Friday.

Best noise-cancelling headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $298.00 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Sony WH-1000XM5.

If you want headphones that have great noise cancelling and incredible (adjustable) sound, then the Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones won't let you down. Out of the noise-cancelling headphones we've tested, these are our top pick for audiophiles. It can be a little annoying that the ear cups don't fold in, but with 30 hours of battery life, you'll probably find yourself wearing them more often than not. They've hit $298 a couple times this month, but it's just a dollar away from their low price of $297. With these headphones being a 2022 release, we're hoping to see them drop even lower on Black Friday, but if you want to pick up a pair early, this deal matches both their July and October Prime Day price.

More noise-cancelling headphones dealsBest noise-cancelling earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds $229.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds.

For folks who want the best possible noise cancelling they can get in their earbuds, we like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. They do come with the price tag that reflects their top notch noise cancelling — but, on sale, they cost less than the full price of AirPods Pro. After testing out these earbuds, Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino was more impressed than she expected to be, writing, "Truthfully, I can't imagine a person that wouldn't appreciate these buds. The noise cancellation is the best I've ever experienced, and the music feels like it surrounds you thanks to spatial audio. Plus, the fit is like no other."

More noise-cancelling earbuds deals

Black Friday headphone and speaker deals include AirPods Pro and Bose headphones at record-low prices

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:36

UPDATE: Nov. 25, 2024, 4:30 p.m. EST This post has been updated with the latest headphones and earbuds deals in the days leading up to Black Friday.

Best headphone and speaker deals ahead of Black Friday Best headphone deal Sony WH-1000XM4 $199.99 at Best Buy (Save $148.01) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) $154 at Amazon (Save $95) Get Deal Best Bluetooth speaker deal Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $78.96 at Amazon (Save $21.03) Get Deal

Black Friday is just around the corner, but retailers aren't waiting to bring headphones down to record-low prices.

The start of Best Buy's Black Friday sale has brought the Sony WH-1000XM4 headphones down to one of the lowest prices we've ever seen them at $199.99, while Walmart's sale brought the Apple AirPods Pro to record-low price at Walmart and Amazon (they love to stay competitive). Essentially, every major audio brand, including Bose, JBL, Sennheiser, and Beats has headphones and earbuds down at record-low prices.

SEE ALSO: Walmart's first wave of Black Friday TV deals goes extremely hard

Check out our top picks below for the best headphone and speaker deals below:

Best headphones deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 $199.99 at Best Buy
$348.00 Save $148.01 Get Deal Why we like it

While these headphones hit the market back in 2020, they're still a decent option to pick up, especially if you're looking to spend no more than $200. While they do go on sale throughout the year, they typically drop about $100, making this nearly $150 especially good. Because they're older, they no longer have top of the line noise-cancelling or sound quality, but they still more than get the job done. Plus, unlike the newer Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones, the XM4 ear cups fold in, potentially making them a better option for folks who travel frequently.

More headphone dealsBest earbuds deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) $154.00 at Amazon
$249.00 Save $95.00 Get Deal Why we like it

This is not a drill: The AirPods Pro are down to a brand-new record-low price days ahead of Black Friday. In October, Prime Day brought the popular Apple earbuds down to a record-low of $168.99, which dropped lower to $159 last week. With Walmart's second Black Friday kicking off on Nov. 25, the retailer dropped the price of these earbuds down to another new record-low of $154, which Amazon had to match. In other words, if you've been waiting to buy the AirPods Pro, this is a really good time to buy them. While we can't say for sure whether they'll drop even more come Friday (retailers have often reserved their best prices for the day), $154 is the kind of price we would've expected to see then.

More earbuds dealsBest speaker deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Ultimate Ears Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 $78.96 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $21.03 Get Deal Why we picked this

The Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 4 is our favorite speaker under $100 at full price, so we think this deal is especially worth it. Despite its relatively compact size, this speaker reaches impressive volumes, can be taken pretty much anywhere you want to go thanks to its IP67 waterproof rating, and has 14 hours of battery life. That said, this isn't the first time we've seen this speaker drop down in price. Even shortly after its release this past June, it dropped down to $79.99 — but a few days ahead of Black Friday, you can get it for ever so slightly cheaper.

More speaker deals

Walmarts Black Friday TV deals go extremely hard

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:35

TVs being on sale for Black Friday isn't unique to any one retailer. Sure, that's news to no one. The less-known intel is that, while there will be a handful of price-matched deals on identical models at all of the big competing stores, each store also has a certain type of TV that they seem to really hone in on when it comes to Black Friday discounts.

Walmart's wheelhouse is simply the cheapest 4K TV possible at any given size between 50 inches and 75 inches. If you see Amazon and Best Buy plateauing at a certain sale price for a certain size (for instance, maybe the cheapest they're seemingly able to go for a 50-incher is $199.99), it's pretty safe to assume that Walmart will have an option that slightly beats both of those sale prices. This highly competitive vibe is the main reason why TV deals are typically better on Black Friday than on Amazon Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Just announced: Amazon finally dropped its Black Friday sale dates

Because Walmart likes to release its most jaw-dropping TV deals as a handful of pre-meditated doorbusters, more shoppers will be waiting in the wings for the clock to strike a certain time (rather than calmly perusing several pages of TV deals) — which means TVs selling out is more likely and time is of the essence.

One way to make sure you get first dibs on any of Walmart's big Black Friday drops is by becoming a Walmart+ member. Paid Walmart+ members get early access to Walmart deals, often for several hours before the sale officially goes live to the public. Through Dec. 2, new, expired, monthly, and current Walmart+ trial members can sign up for an annual Walmart+ membership for $49 — 50% off the regular $98 a year that Walmart+ typically costs.

Along with this early access, Walmart+ members also get perks like a free Paramount+ subscription; 10 cents per gallon fuel savings at Exxon, Mobil, Walmart, and Murphy; Walmart Cash through Expedia; free shipping from your store; free online shipping with no order minimum; and more.

We're tracking all of Walmart's best TV deals throughout the Black Friday season below and will update the list as new ones drop — or as models sell out. On top of the ultra budget-friendly options we gushed about earlier, Walmart also has some good deals on premium models from Samsung and LG.

Note: Occasionally, a Walmart TV doorbuster will come in the form of a TV that's making its debut at a sale price rather than appearing as a clear-cut dollar discount off of an MSRP. Walmart will tag these drops as a "Special Buy" so shoppers know this is still a great price even if there's no previous list price crossed out to indicate a sale. To get an idea of what that size of TV is going for at other retailers, check out our general coverage of Black Friday TV deals which includes Amazon and Best Buy.

Best early Black Friday TV deal at Walmart Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Our pick: Hisense 50-inch R6 4K TV $138.00 at Walmart
$238.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Exhibit A showcasing Walmart's ability to offer the cheapest version of pretty much any size TV. A $138 50-inch 4K TV may or may not sound like a good deal to the average person who doesn't memorize TV prices for a living, but the only context you need is, well, the TV deals at other retailers. The cheapest 50-inch TVs at Amazon and Best Buy as of mid-November are $199.99 (a Roku model and a Pioneer model), so Walmart having this 50-inch Hisense model for an extra $60 less than those speaks for itself.

More early Black Friday TV deals at Walmart

Amazons Black Friday TV deals arent really hitting, but there are some decent offers

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:34

UPDATE: Nov. 26, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST Amazon's Black Friday sale officially started on Thursday, Nov. 21. This story has been updated with details on how long the sale will last, plus new deals on Amazon's brand new mini LED TVs, Hisense ULED and QLED TVs, and new further discounts on Fire TVs that were on sale last week.

A quick look at the best TV deals at Amazon ahead of Black Friday Best 55-inch TV deal Hisense 55-inch U8 Mini LED ULED 4K TV $697.99 (save $402) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal Insignia 65-inch F30 4K Fire TV $319.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal TCL 75-inch Q5 QLED 4K Fire TV $549.99 (save $200) Get Deal

Black Friday being one of the best times of year to buy a TV is knowledge that we were all simply born with, it seems. Where to find those stellar TV deals is less obvious, and for many, is a question that boils down to one thing: Amazon or somewhere else?

To be frank, likely the only time Amazon will have the "best" TV deal in any given category is on its own Fire TVs. These, including its Amazon-branded Fire TVs as well as Fire TVs made by TCL, Toshiba, Hisense, and Insignia, get the most attention discount-wise from Amazon during any shopping holiday, and most have dropped to all-time low pricing now that Amazon's Black Friday sale is officially underway. (It finally kicked off on Thursday, Nov. 21, and runs through Cyber Monday on Dec. 2).

If you're partial to the Fire TV platform or merely trust Prime shipping the most, Amazon's not a bad place to find an affordable mid-size 4K TV with a smooth interface. There are even more chances to upgrade to a nice Fire TV on sale now than there were during Amazon's October Prime Day sale just over a month ago — Amazon has since debuted several new versions of its Omni TVs, including its very first mini LED TV. Like Prime Day, note that some Black Friday Fire TV deals are still only available to Prime members.

SEE ALSO: The best Black Friday streaming deals so far: Peacock, Max, Paramount+, and more

For bigger or fancier QLED or OLED models, Best Buy is your best bet. Its selection of large-screen premium options from Samsung, Sony, and LG is much vaster than Amazon's, and that selection isn't riddled with questionable third-party sellers like Amazon's is. Best Buy's already-live Black Friday TV deals also confirm that Best Buy is making sure to have a stake in the "small, cheap QLED" club. Speaking of your best cheap TV options, budget shoppers would be very wise to check Walmart before buying a TV at Amazon — this year's selection of Black Friday TV deals that have already dropped once again prove that Walmart is the best at offering the cheapest possible 4K TV at just about any given size.

At any rate, it's still worthwhile to peruse Amazon's Black Friday TV deals while keeping TV deals from other retailers in mind. TV deals are categorized by size and then listed from cheapest to most expensive within that size category, which will get longer as we refresh this list with new deals that pop up in the days ahead of Black Friday. As a refresher, Amazon is marking all TVs at Black Friday pricing with a big, red "Black Friday deal" tag.

Best Black Friday TV deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 75-inch Q5 QLED 4K Fire TV $549.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon put its new Mini LED Fire TVs on sale for the first time mere days after announcing them, but that doesn't automatically make those the best deal on a QLED TV at Amazon this Black Friday. Though the 27% discount itself isn't as steep as the 30% or 40% off ones we're seeing in our list, it has to be noted that this huge 75-inch Hisense TV is already ridiculously modestly priced at full price. Its $549.99 sale price looks even sweeter in context when put beside the 65-inch version of Amazon's cheapest in-house Omni QLED, which is on sale for $599.99 — so opting for this TCL gets you 10 more diagonal inches of screen for $50 less.

Many people looking to finally replace their old, slow LED TV are looking for the happy medium between the cheapest possible TV and the fanciest possible TV. TCL's base tier QLEDs fall right in this sweet spot: Even as one of the more basic QLEDs on the market, you'll immediately notice the change in brightness and color of the Q65 over the regular LED you've been watching. The difference comes from a layer of quantum dots laid over the LED backlight, which provides an overall punchier picture that's much better for gaming or watching sports.

More TV deals at Amazon43-inch TVs50- to 55-inch TVs65-inch TVs70-inch to 75-inch TVs85-inch TVs and up

One more thing: If you're getting rid of an old TV to make room for this Black Friday purchase, take it somewhere that recycles old electronics (like Best Buy) rather than trashing it.

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 28

Mashable - Thu, 11/28/2024 - 04:33

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.

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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.

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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 28 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 - Texas squads

  • Green - A divisional roundup

  • Blue - Famous basketball players

  • Purple - Athletic siblings

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 - Dallas Teams

  • Green - NFC North teams

  • Blue - UConn women's basketball alumni

  • Purple - NBA brothers

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 #66 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

  • Dallas Teams: COWBOYS, MAVERICKS, STARS, WINGS

  • NFC North teams: BEARS, LIONS, PACKERS, VIKINGS

  • UConn women's basketball alumni: BIRD, CASH, MOORE, TAURASI

  • NBA brothers: CURRY, HOLIDAY, LOPEZ, MORRIS

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.

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