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Apple is planning a major camera upgrade, but it might not arrive until 2026.
According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is working on adding a variable aperture main camera to its iPhone 18 Pro series.
That wasn't a typo: We're talking about the iPhone 18 Pro, the one that's likely to arrive in 2026. Yes, we know that's very far in the future, but Kuo gets his info from Apple's supply chain, and the company often does plan this far ahead.
SEE ALSO: Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) review: Record-breaking performanceKuo's post focuses on the potential suppliers of this new camera; he thinks they'll be Sunny Optical, Largan Precision, and Luxshare.
Notably, an earlier report from The Information claimed that Apple would bring the variable aperture camera to the iPhone in 2025, but it appears that the launch has been delayed for a year.
For the end user, the variable aperture main camera should bring noticeable improvements; the camera should perform better in low light, as the variable aperture allows the camera to control how much light hits the lens. It could also improve portrait mode, as variable aperture should allow for more precise depth of field control.
While we'll apparently have to wait two years for an Apple phone with this tech, phones with variable aperture cameras do exist on the market already. One example is the Xiaomi 14 Ultra, which Xiaomi unveiled (as a global device) during Mobile World Congress in February this year.
A young couple kidnapped by a creepy driver is a straightforward enough horror concept, but Bruce Goodison's Black Cab throws in a spooky twist to shake things up.
While the first two acts are easy enough to follow, the movie's ending — and particularly the final moments — is a bit more of a head scratcher.
What was the deal with that ghost? Is Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) alive or dead at the end? We've had a go at breaking it down below.
SEE ALSO: 25 hidden gems of horror found on Shudder What's Black Cab about?First, a quick recap of the key points. In Black Cab, Anne and her fiancé Patrick (Luke Norris) are kidnapped by a taxi driver called Ian (Nick Frost), who claims to have driven Anne previously. After remembering that he picked her up from a hospital maternity ward and spoke to her about her pregnancy in their last ride, Ian electrocutes Patrick with a taser and zip-ties both of them.
Ian then drives them to Mabel Hill, a notorious road that he claims is haunted by the ghost of a woman whose child died before she did — a ghost that Anne herself keeps catching glimpses of during their drive. But it isn't until the final act that we discover why Ian is doing this.
What happens at the end of Black Cab?We learn Ian has a wife and son of his own, but he's clearly mentally unstable. Although he changes his story a couple of times, the final version reveals that he's had ideas of killing the boy as a way to punish his wife for accusing him of cheating. Ian believes these dark thoughts are what's led to him being haunted by the ghost he's seen on the road; he thinks she's searching for a living child as a replacement for her own that she lost.
Ian's twisted plan in kidnapping Anne, therefore, is to offer her and her unborn baby up to the ghost as a way of getting her to leave him alone. The problem? As Anne finally reveals to Ian, she's no longer pregnant; she had a miscarriage shortly after he gave her that previous lift from the hospital.
After breaking this news Anne chases after the ghost, accusing her of taking her baby. Ian runs away through the woods only to circle back to his black cab. He gets in, drives off, then appears to crash into Anne when she runs out into the road — but when he gets out and checks, there's nobody there. As he drives off again we see a ghostly image of Anne sitting in the back seat of his cab.
Credit: Shudder What really happens to Anne at the end?A lot to unpack, isn't it? The main question we were left with when Black Cab finished, though, had to do with Anne's fate. Is she alive at the end of the film, or dead? What's happened to her?
Ultimately Anne's fate isn't clear, but the implication seems to be that she's dead at the end of the movie. Maybe she collapsed in the woods while chasing the ghost, dying from complications related to Ian also tasering her earlier in the film? Her cause of death isn't clear, but the fact that the road is empty after Ian appears to crash into her strongly suggests that Anne is a ghost at this point — as does the final shot of her sitting in the back seat of his cab as he drives away.
Our best guess? Anne has essentially replaced the ghost haunting her and Ian throughout the film. The ghost lost a child, so she took Anne's — and now that Anne's dead, like a curse being passed down, she'll be the one haunting Mabel Hill in search of what she's lost.
How to watch: Black Cab is streaming now on Shudder.
TL;DR: Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
We're quickly approaching the conclusion of the 2024 WTA Finals. There's a place in the final up for grabs as Sabalenka takes on Gauff in the second semi-final matchup. The Riyadh singles champion will win no less than $4.45 million, so this game really matters.
If you want to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for freeThe 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including Sabalenka vs. Gauff.
If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand
Visit TVNZ+
Watch Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Sabalenka vs. Gauff without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Sabalenka vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The 2024 WTA Finals are nearing their conclusion. We're at the semi-final stage, meaning the remaining players can almost taste the absolutely huge prize money reward on offer. The Riyadh singles champion will win no less than $4.45 million, so there's quite literally a lot of stake.
Zheng meets Krejcikova in the first semi-final matchup. If you want to watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for freeThe 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including Zheng vs. Krejcikova.
If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand
Visit TVNZ+
Watch Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Zheng vs. Krejcikova without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Zheng vs. Krejcikova in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
15% OFF: As of Nov. 8, Target Circle members can get 15% off Fandango gift cards.
Opens in a new window Credit: Fandango Target Circle Members: Get 15% Off Fandango Gift Cards Get DealThis time of year is all about excellent deals. Target, in particular, is already dropping early Black Friday deals for shoppers to enjoy. If you're part of their Target Circle program (and if not, it's free to join), you can score even more discounts. One of our favorites at the moment is this deal on Fandango gift cards, but you'll want to act fast as it expires after Nov. 8.
Target Circle members can get 15% off Fandango gift cards. This offer applies to the $25 card, $50 card, and $100 card. If you've been looking for a good gift idea, you truly can't go wrong with a Fandango gift card that can set someone up for some fun visits to the movie theater.
SEE ALSO: Movie lovers can score 50% off The Criterion Collection at Barnes and NobleThese gift cards can be used to purchase tickets online for a wide variety of upcoming movies at numerous movie theaters. Thankfully, their website has a full breakdown of movie theater partners as well so you can find your best local option. And with so many movies coming out this holiday season — from Gladiator II to Wicked to Nosferatu — a gift like this can save someone a lot on multiple trips to the cinema.
Target's got plenty more deals to check out right now as well, given their early Black Friday sale event is running until this Saturday. A few other retailers are jumping in on the Black Friday action ahead of the actual day as well, like Walmart and Best Buy, so check out our breakdowns of each to learn more about what their plans are.
TikTok will now let you share songs directly from Apple Music and Spotify to the platform.
Announced by the company on Thursday, the new "Share to TikTok" feature gives users of music streaming platforms the ability to share tracks, podcasts, or even audiobooks straight to TikTok.
The option to "Share to TikTok" will now appear when you go to share a song or album on Spotify or Apple Music. You can either post your selected track straight to the TikTok feed, using Photo Mode or the green screen feature to appear in the video steaming with hot takes. Or you can share straight to TikTok DMs to send it to your friends, where clicking on the song will open it in either Apple Music or Spotify.
SEE ALSO: What does WLW mean? The term is all over TikTok.Amazon Music, Tidal, YouTube Music, and other music streaming platforms were not named in the announcement.
The feature is meant to be a complementary addition to TikTok's "Add to Music App" launched in November last year, which lets users tap the button next to the name of the song playing in a video and add it to their chosen music streamer.
Credit: TikTok"Today's launch of 'Share to TikTok' is the latest example of our ongoing commitment to support music discovery and artist promotion in partnership with music streaming services," said Ole Obermann, global head of music business development, in a press statement.
"Since its launch, 'Add To Music App' has already been responsible for hundreds of millions of track saves and billions of streams on our partner music streaming services. 'Share to TikTok' takes the user experience full circle, and will be an amazing way of promoting artists and tracks to the TikTok community."
It won't be this straightforward with every share, however. Major labels have different licensing agreements in place with TikTok; for example, in May, TikTok and Universal Music Group (UMG) reached a "multi-dimensional" deal to put their artists back on the platform after the label pulled its whole catalogue. Warner Music Group (WMG) and Sony Music Entertainment have their own deals with TikTok.
Meanwhile, indie labels have their own deals. When TikTok's licensing deal with the National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA), which represents a number of indies, expired in April, the NMPA said it would not renew its license with TikTok. Indie nonprofit label licensing group Merlin is threatening to remove a large chunk of its catalogue from TikTok.
So, while sharing music to your TikTok DMs seems pretty safe as it's just a link, sharing to your feed might be more complicated.
The news also comes after TikTok said it would be pulling the plug on TikTok Music by November. The music streaming service never made it to the U.S., and had debuted in Brazil and Indonesia in July last year.
50% OFF: As of Nov. 8, The Criterion Collection is 50% off at Barnes and Noble. This sale runs until Dec. 2.
Opens in a new window Credit: The Criterion Collection The Criterion Collection 50% off at Barnes and Noble Get DealIt's a fantastic time of year to be a movie fan. Not just for the Black Friday shopping event, which usually offers some great 4K and Blu-ray discounts, but also for the big Criterion Collection sale at Barnes and Noble. For those looking to get their hands on some incredible films from their collection, this is an excellent time to stock up.
The Criterion Collection is currently 50% off at Barnes and Noble. This sale features a wide variety of 4Ks, Blu-rays, and DVDs to build out your physical media collection, but also a variety of boxed sets are on sale, including the massive CC40 box set. This sale only runs until Dec. 2, so if you've had your eye on some films, now's a great time to pick them up.
SEE ALSO: Save over 80% on Audible audiobooks and dive into new stories this winterThe added bonus of purchasing from The Criterion Collection is that each cover has a unique design that'll stand out beautifully in your collection. They're physical editions that are worth every penny, and investing in high-quality 4Ks and Blu-rays is always a good idea. Though streaming is there with a touch of a button, there's nothing quite like watching a physical copy of your favorite films.
There are plenty more deals on physical media still to come as Black Friday approaches. Some retailers are jumping into the seasonal sale event early this month as well, so it's worth having a look at our breakdowns of Walmart, Best Buy, and Target's shopping events to see what they've got planned.
GET A FREE RED CUP: Starbucks has revealed its new holiday menu, meaning Red Cup Day is right around the corner. Here's how to get your free reusable red cup on that day.
Opens in a new window Credit: Starbucks Get Free Starbucks Red Cup on Red Cup Day Learn MoreStarbucks has dropped their holiday menu with some festive new cup designs, and that means Red Cup Day is coming up soon. While we don't know the official day yet, it's usually not long after their new seasonal drinks drop.
If you're not familiar, Red Cup Day is when Starbucks gives out reusable red cups to shoppers. But how do you go about getting a free cup on this one-day-only event? Don't worry, we're here to help.
SEE ALSO: Score a free $20 Starbucks gift card when you buy a $300 Delta gift cardIf you order any size seasonal beverage on Red Cup Day — doesn't matter if it's hot, iced, or blended — you'll get a free grande reusable red cup with your purchase. If you'd like to see what new drinks and food items are joining the Starbucks menu for the holiday season this year, have a look at their reveal here.
Below, we've listed the drinks included in the offer on Red Cup Day last year to give you a better idea. Unfortunately, the Christmas Blend brewed coffee and Christmas Starbucks Reserve weren't included at the time, but who knows what this year holds:
Apple Crisp Oatmilk Macchiato
Caramel Brulée Latte
Chestnut Praline Latte
Gingerbread Latte
Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai
Hot Chocolate
Iced Apple Crisp Oatmilk Shaken Espresso
Oleato Gingerbread Oatmilk Latte
Peppermint Hot Chocolate
Peppermint Mocha
Peppermint White Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Cream Chai Tea Latte
Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Pumpkin Spice Latte
Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
White Hot Chocolate
These colorful reusable cups are a helpful item to keep year-round. Having a reusable cup is better for the environment, plus it features a cute design to always remind you of the holiday season. What's even better is bringing this reusable cup back to Starbucks will net you a $0.10 discount off your drink order, which is a nice bonus!
As we near the holidays, there are plenty more offers for shopper to check out, especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming up. It's truly the season of savings, and plenty of retailers are jumping in on the seasonal sale event with some excellent deals, like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Sorry, folks: You won't be able to share your Max login credentials much longer.
The Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service announced it would start cracking down on accounts that are sharing their password back in March, but not much has really happened so far.
In the company's third quarter 2024 earnings call on Thursday, JB Perrett, CEO and president of global streaming and games for Warner Bros., said Max will start with "very soft messaging" around password sharing later this year.
SEE ALSO: The best Christmas movies now streaming on Netflix"As we kick into '25 and into '26 you'll see more and more progress on that, which in effect is a form of a price rise as well, obviously asking members who have not signed up or multi-household members to pay a little bit more," he said. "And so you're going to see that as an additional kicker."
This probably means users can expect emails warning them about password sharing, followed by offers to start paying for extra members.
The company previously said it would fully roll out paid sharing in 2025.
There's potentially worse news, too. According to Perett, Max might also increase the prices of its streaming service as it deems there is a "fair amount of room" for higher prices due to the service's "premium nature."
"We think the premium nature of our product in particular lends us to have a fair amount of room to continue to push price," he said. "We've been judicious about it, but every price rise we've done so far the churn has actually been lower than we projected and expected and the retention continues to be strong."
The company increased the prices for its streaming service twice this year, most recently in June.
Max's move to curb password sharing is hardly surprising given that Netflix saw a big subscriber increase after it put an end to password sharing on its streaming service.
It would come as a surprise to more people than you think that "roomba" isn't the universal term for a robot vacuum. It is, in fact, a capital "R" that denotes Roomba as a proper noun rather than a generic trademark, though the Band-Aid level interchangeability really does exemplify just how iconic iRobot has become in the world of automated floor cleaners.
That can be attributed to the fact that iRobot has consistently delivered some of the most reliable robot vacuum models for two decades. More than 20 Roombas have come out since the first one hit homes in 2002, but tracking the best Roombas isn't so chaotic when you consider that only a handful of those models are actually relevant at the time of your shopping.
How to tell the difference between the Roomba modelsThe arbitrary numbers and letters of the Roomba family tree are confusing at face value, but nothing that can't be told apart after learning a few super general classification themes.
SEE ALSO: Why Eufy's X10 Pro Omni is the most surprising robot vacuum I've tested all yearWhen shopping for a Roomba, you'll really only be choosing from what I call iRobot's core lineup: the group of three to five Roomba series that are actively sold on iRobot's website. Any Roomba whose title includes a letter and a number (like j9+ or i5) or the word Max is more advanced than a Roomba with just numbers in the title (like 692) or just words (like Roomba Vac or Essential).
As of fall 2024, the five main Roomba collections up for grabs are as follows, from most advanced to least advanced: Max, j series, s series (though nearly obsolete), i series, and Essential series.
A plus sign (like j9+) denotes that the model comes with a self-emptying dock, and Roombas that mop will have "Combo" in the title. Note that there are several Roombas that can be purchased with or without mopping capabilities or self-emptying docks. "Max" is a new layer of Roomba typology that was introduced with the drop of the Roomba Combo 10 Max — it refers to the ability of a mopping Roomba to wash and dry its own mopping pad within the self-empty dock. On the other end of the spectrum, "Essential" means "most basic" in the Roomba family, and that means no smart mapping.
SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuum Do Roombas go on sale for Prime Day?Yep, most Roombas will be on sale for Black Friday. And most Black Friday Roomba deals won't wait until actual Black Friday on Nov. 29 — we all know that Black Friday is more of a season nowadays than a day or even a week, and solid robot vacuum deals will be popping up throughout November. For instance, the mopping, smart mapping, and phone charger-avoiding Roomba Combo j5+ is already on sale for $399.99 — 45% off — during the first week of November. My fingers are also crossed to see the new Roomba Combo 10 Max beat its October Prime Day price and drop below $900.
Not sure which Roomba to eye on Black Friday? I've composed an exhaustive comparison guide to all of the best iRobot options below, including my experience with any of the models I've tested hands-on at home. Not every single Roomba model in existence will be listed in this guide, and not every "main" Roomba on iRobot's website will be recommended as one of the best. Rather, I've pulled Roombas from multiple price points that I think offer the best value in various categories that people care about, whether that's mopping, smart mapping, small obstacle detection, the cheapest possible path to all of those features, or budget alone. Each Roomba's battery life and automatic emptying capabilities will be noted, along with my reasoning for choosing the highlighted model over other Roombas with similar prices.
Here's your easy breakdown of all of the best Roomba vacuums as of fall 2024:
Black Friday is the absolute best time for finding good deals on laptops. (I would know: I've tracked them for Mashable since 2019.) And with retailers taking full advantage of the holiday's abnormally late timing this year, running sales that span most of November, steep discounts are expected to be plentiful all month long.
Case in point: Early Black Friday sales that are now live on HP, Lenovo, and LG's websites have ushered in deals across their lineups, including a $500 markdown on an excellent Windows convertible our staff has tested. Dell is also in the middle of an Early Holiday Savings event that features discounts as high as $600 on select PCs — most notably, some spiffy XPS series models.
Meanwhile, Best Buy just dropped an initial batch of early Black Friday deals alongside some other holiday doorbusters, one of which is an HP gaming laptop that's dipped well under $500. (It's the only major retailer besides Target that's already kicked off its Black Friday plans, but Walmart isn't far behind.)
SEE ALSO: When do Black Friday sales start? Be on the lookout for early holiday deals.For their part, Apple Macbooks are in an awkward spot right now: Many M2 and M3 models are on sale, but they're sitting well above the previous record-low prices they hit in mid- to late October. Amazon and Best Buy are both running some preliminary discounts on the brand-new M4 models, which may be tempting if you're desperate to upgrade from an M1-or-older clunker. If you're patient, though, I think they'll get even cheaper closer to Black Friday proper. Keep in mind that Best Buy offers a holiday price match guarantee, but Amazon doesn't.
I would hold off on adding most MacBooks to your cart for now, especially since we don't know Amazon's formal Black Friday plans just yet: Last year, it ran a great deal on a MacBook Air x Apple Care+ bundle. The Apple Store itself is probably saving its usual Black Friday gift card offer for the day of on Nov. 29 — a practical option for those enmeshed in the Apple ecosystem.
Below, I'm keeping track of the best Black Friday laptop deals that are currently up for grabs. Bookmark this page and check back often, as I'll be updating the list continuously in the weeks leading up to the year's biggest shopping holiday.
Best early Black Friday MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,549.99 at AmazonRead Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M4).
In our all-new testing, Apple's latest starter MacBook Pro lasted almost 17 hours on a single charge and outperformed the M3 version by 27 percent. Mashable Tech Editor Kim Gedeon was impressed by its power efficiency, its stellar speakers, and its upgraded 12MP webcam, rating it a 4.2/5, but said that "at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart." (On the plus side, it comes with 16GB of RAM.)
Amazon and Best Buy have both done their best to remedy that during the M4 MacBook series' launch week: Amazon has the base configuration marked down to $1,549.99 (or $49.01 off), while Best Buy has it on sale for a full $50 off — but only for paid My Best Buy members.
More MacBook dealsApple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $699.99 $999 (save $299.01 with on-page coupon)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049.99 $1,099 (save $49.01)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,249.99 $1,299 (save $49.01)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,399 $1,699 (save $300)
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M3 Pro, 18GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,899 $2,399 (save $500)
Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,949 $1,999 (save $50) with paid My Best Buy membership
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Pro, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,449 $2,499 (save $50) with paid My Best Buy membership
Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M4 Max, 36GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,049 $3,199 (save $150) with paid My Best Buy membership
Read Mashable's full review of the HP Spectre x360 14.
This year's Spectre x360 14 has an "addictive keyboard," a "vibrant" OLED touchscreen display, and a solid battery life of over 11 hours per charge, said Gedeon. (It also comes with its own stylus for drawing and note-taking in tablet mode, which is much appreciated.) She gave it a 4.5/5, which nabbed it a Mashable Choice Award.
The upgraded configuration that Gedeon tested features an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 32GB of memory, and 2TB of storage. It usually retails for $1,939.99, but it's listed for $1,439.99 during HP's Black Friday Sale — a 26% savings. Note that lesser configurations with an Ultra 5 125H CPU, less RAM, and/or less storage are also on sale at HP (starting at $949.99), with some models price-matched at Best Buy.
More Windows laptop dealsHP Laptop 15z-fc000 (AMD Athlon Silver 7120U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250)
HP Laptop 17z-cp200 (AMD Athlon Gold 7220U, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) — $279.99 $659.99 (save $380)
Dell Inspiron 15 3520 (Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $399.99 $549.99 (save $150)
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3i (Intel Core 3 100U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $679.99 (save $230)
HP Pavilion Laptop 16z-ag000 (AMD Ryzen 5 8540U, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $449.99 $799.99 (save $350)
Dell Inspiron 16 5640 (Intel Core 7 150U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $679.99 $999.99 (save $320)
HP Pavilion Plus Laptop 16t-ab100 (Intel Core Ultra 5 125H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $679.99 $1,099.99 (save $420)
Lenovo IdeaPad 5i 2-in-1 (Intel Core 7 150U, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $719.99 $1,004.99 (save $285)
Dell Inspiron 16 7640 2-in-1 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $749.99 $1,149.99 (save $400)
Lenovo Yoga 7 2-in-1 (AMD Ryzen 7 8840HS, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $779.99 $1,114.99 (save $335)
Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge, 14-inch (Snapdragon X Elite, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $849.99 $1,349.99 (save $500)
HP Envy x360 15-fe1097nr (Intel Core Ultra 7 155U, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $899.99 $1,249.99 (save $350)
Dell XPS 15 9530 (Intel Core i7-13620H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $999 $1,299 (save $300)
HP OmniBook Ultra 14-fd0013dx (AMD Ryzen AI 9 365, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)
Dell XPS 14 9440 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,499.99 (save $300)
LG gram 17 (Intel Core i7-1360P, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)
LG gram Style 16 (Intel Core i7-1360P, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,999.99 (save $800)
Dell XPS 13 9340 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,559 $2,059 (save $500)
Dell XPS 16 9640 (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,149.99 $2,749.99 (save $600)
LG gram Pro 16 (Intel Core Ultra 7 155H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,399.99 (save $600) + free LG 32-inch MyView Smart Monitor
Sub-$500 gaming laptop sightings are to Black Friday season as robins are to spring. This one is an entry-level HP Victus 15 with a 144Hz display and a backlit keyboard. It's equipped with an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS CPU, AMD Radeon RX 6550M graphics, 8GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage — nothing special, but perfectly suitable for a younger gamer or someone who sticks with undemanding games like Fortnite or CS2. (Consider putting your savings toward a RAM bump, if anything.)
Best Buy has it on sale for just $429.99 (normally $799.99) as one of its first holiday doorbusters of the season, which works out to a juicy 46% discount.
More gaming laptop dealsHP Victus 15z-fb200 (AMD Ryzen 5 8645HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)
Lenovo LOQ (Intel Core i5-13450HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 12GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $774.99 $1,079.99 (save $305)
HP Omen Transcend 16t-u100 (Intel Core i7-14700HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)
Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 9 (AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,319.99 $1,769.99 (save $450)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 9 (Intel Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,359.99 $1,829.99 (save $470)
Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9 (Intel Core i9-14900HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,799.99 $2,359.99 (save $560)
Look, this 15-inch Chromebook isn't an impressive laptop by any means: It has a discontinued Intel Celeron N4500 processor from 2021 with 4GB of memory and 64GB of eMMC storage. But for those who just need a basic machine for everyday tasks like web browsing and email sending, it'll certainly get the job done.
You really can't argue with the price, either. Best Buy has it on sale for $129, which is actually a better deal than it's advertising: The Lenovo website sells the exact same configuration for $279.99. All in all, you're saving just under $151 (or a whopping 56%).
More Chromebook dealsLenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook (MediaTek Kompanio 520, 4GB RAM, 64GB eMMC) — $169 $319 (save $150)
HP Chromebook Plus 14at-nf000 (Intel Core i3-N305, 8GB RAM, 128GB UFS) — $389.99 $599.99 (save $210)
TL;DR: Gain online privacy with a 3-year Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for $67.19 with the code HOLIDAY20.
Opens in a new window Credit: Surfshark Surfshark VPN Starter Plan: 3-Year Subscription $67.19Tired of geo-blocked websites, ads popping up, and limited access to content? With Surfshark VPN, you can enjoy a world of online content with the freedom to browse as you please.
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Surfshark is all about letting you enjoy the web on your terms. With over 3,200 servers in 65 countries, you have the freedom to explore any content anywhere. You can catch up on your favorite shows while traveling, unlocking exclusive content, or even securing the best online deals no matter where you are. Plus, Surfshark’s advanced CleanWeb feature blocks ads, trackers, and malicious links before they even load, so you get a cleaner, faster browsing experience that’s easy on the eyes.
With military-grade AES-256 encryption, Surfshark’s security features are as reliable as they come. Surfshark also includes MultiHop, which doubles your VPN connection through two different servers for an extra layer of privacy. And in case your VPN connection drops, Surfshark’s Kill Switch automatically disconnects your internet until the VPN is restored, preventing any unprotected data from being exposed.
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It’s privacy, speed, and global browsing all in one. Get a 3-year Surfshark VPN Starter Plan for $67.19 with the code HOLIDAY20 through November 17.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.
AI has taken the world by storm, but perhaps its best use case right now is in productivity. Where do you get most of your productivity done? Well, it depends on what your job is, but for most of us, our work happens best on our computers — especially if our computers are NPU-equipped, and AI ready. Over the past year or so, companies from Microsoft to Apple have been building AI-powered tools to supercharge productivity, baking these features into their latest and greatest laptops in an effort to help users get more out of their devices.
Not only is AI super useful for productivity, but it can play a role in how you use your laptop to relax too. Here's a look at the best AI laptop features, for both work and play, out there right now.
AI assistants at the push of a buttonMany laptops now feature AI assistants that can be prompted from the keyboard.
Microsoft, for instance, was relatively quick to the AI revolution with Copilot, which is available in full force on Copilot+ PCs, like the Microsoft Surface Laptop. Copilot works kind of like ChatGPT and allows you to chat about basically anything you can imagine, including researching or coming up with outlines for that presentation you haven't put together yet. Copilot+ PCs even have a dedicated Copilot button that you can press to easily bring up the AI assistant whenever you need it.
Improve your writing with the help of built-in AILaptops are the best tools around for writers, and having AI writing assistants built in seems like a no-brainer.
Apple, which may not have been quite as quick as Microsoft to bring AI features to its laptops, is making up for lost time now that macOS 15.1 Sequoia is available. All of Apple's top-of-the-line laptops, like the new M4 MacBook Pro, have access to some Apple intelligence features. Many of these features are slightly more subtle than Microsoft's, being easily accessible when you need them but not quite as in your face. A perfect example of this is Apple Intelligence's new Writing Tools feature. All you have to do is highlight some text, right-click on it, and head to the Writing Tools menu item. From there, you'll be able to have Apple Intelligence proofread text, rewrite it, or completely change the tone of it to be more friendly or more concise. It's pretty handy for day-to-day use, and it's great that it's easily accessible wherever you might type text.
Create AI images quickly and easilyAI-generated images are becoming a familiar part of the online world, but tools built into the latest laptops are making it easier than ever to create them.
Looking for that perfect image to accompany the PowerPoint presentation you're putting together? Or simply want to create something for fun to send to a friend? The Microsoft Photos app can generate AI images for that exact purpose. Using Microsoft Photos, all you have to do is come up with a prompt that describes the image you're looking for, after which Photos will generate it and you can then refine it with additional instructions. It works quite well, and while you may have to spend a bit of time asking Photos to refine its creation, you'll spend a whole lot less time than you would if you were designing the image yourself. Microsoft Photos is available on all Windows computers, however the image creation feature works on Copilot+ PCs like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i.
Access and analyze your documents and filesIf AI software is going to act as your "assistant" it's going to need access to the documents you use to do business. This is part of the full service AI-powered laptop of the future.
Perhaps the most powerful thing about Google's Gemini, for instance, is its ability to integrate with the rest of your Google services. So, you can ask it for information about documents you've written and to summarize those documents directly in the Gemini interface. Gemini even integrates with Gmail, so you can have the assistant summarize emails in a pinch without having to go through them all individually. Gemini features work best on so-called "Chromebook Plus" laptops, like the Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714. These laptops come with a free year of Google’s Gemini Advanced subscription.
Avoid digging through settingsWho wants to dig through the settings menu on their computer to find every little setting? Both Copilot and Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, can change settings for you – all you have to do is ask. Some advanced settings may not quite work just yet, but you can easily ask these assistants to do things like toggle Wi-Fi on and off, manage Bluetooth connections, and more. It works pretty well, and is available on both Apple Intelligence-powered computers, like the MacBook Pro, and even cheaper Copilot+ PCs, like the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus.
TL;DR: Perfect for your bedside, desk, or travel, the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger is on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $119) for a limited time.
Opens in a new window Credit: VistaShops Speedy Mag Wireless Charger for iPhone $34.97If you're tired of dealing with tangled cords and slow charging, the Speedy Mag Wireless Charger might just be your new favorite charging solution.
For just $34.97 (reg. $119), this sleek wireless charger is designed to make your life easier, whether it’s on your nightstand, desk, or in your travel bag.
The Speedy Mag is ideal for bedside use, thanks to its magnetic design that holds your phone securely in place all night. Plus, with built-in safeguards against overcharging and overheating, you can rest easy, knowing your device is in good hands.
And if you need a desk upgrade, this wireless charger eliminates messy cables, giving you a cleaner-looking workspace. It’s designed with fast-charging capabilities, so you can get back to using your phone quickly (within about 30 minutes) and keep the productivity flowing.
And for those on-the-go moments, this compact charger fits easily into any bag, allowing you to charge wirelessly at cafes, hotels, or offices. It also makes a terrific travel companion to charge your phone while flying to your destination.
With MagSafe compatibility and Qi-enabled support for other devices, the Speedy Mag offers rapid, versatile power for iPhone 12 and newer models. It can power up your iPhone 1.5 times on a single charge.
Get yours today or gift it to someone on your list to experience the convenience of wireless charging.
The Speedy Mag Wireless Charger is on sale for just $34.97 (reg. $119) for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
TL;DR: This refurbished 2017 MacBook Air is just $249.97 (reg. $299.97) with free shipping through November 21.
Looking for a dependable Mac at a fraction of the price? This grade-A refurbished 2017 MacBook Air offers just that. Priced at $249.97 (reg. $299.97) with free shipping through November 21, this model brings you the quality and design of an Apple MacBook without the high cost, making it ideal for everyday users.
The 2017 MacBook Air is powerful enough to handle your daily tasks, from web browsing and video streaming to document editing and light photo work. With a 1.8GHz Intel Core i5 processor, you can expect smooth, responsive performance for the essentials, while its 128GB SSD offers the right balance of speed and storage space to keep important files, photos, and more at your fingertips.
And with a battery life of up to 12 hours, you can go all day without worrying about recharging. Apple’s thoughtful design is apparent in the lightweight, ultra-slim build, which makes this MacBook Air easy to slip into a bag and take anywhere.
Its 13.3" widescreen display, equipped with a 1440x900 native resolution, offers bright, clear visuals for watching videos, browsing photos, or getting through work with minimal eye strain. The compact form factor doesn’t compromise connectivity either, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built-in, allowing you to stay connected.
Purchasing this refurbished MacBook Air also contributes to environmental sustainability. By choosing refurbished tech, you’re helping to reduce e-waste, which is better for the planet. With its grade-A condition rating, this MacBook is in near-mint shape, giving you the feel and experience of a new laptop at a lower price.
Get the trusted performance of an Apple laptop without the hefty price tag.
This refurbished 2017 MacBook Air is just $249.97 (reg. $299.97) with free shipping through November 21.
Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) - $249.97
Get It Here
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air 13.3" (2017) 1.8GHz i5 8GB RAM 128GB SSD Silver (Refurbished) $249.97TL;DR: You can get a refurbished MacBook Air bundled with Microsoft Office 2019 on sale for $269.97 (a $1,288 value) while supplies last.
Refurbished MacBook AirIt’s a great laptop for everyday tasks with an Intel Core i5 and 8GB of RAM, though it won’t hold up well for intense multitasking or gaming
A grade “A” refurbished rating means the device is in near-mint condition and it comes with a 90-day parts and labor warranty
Enjoy a 13.3-inch display with Intel HD Graphics 6000
Equipped with 128GB of onboard storage
Being a 2017 model year, it cannot upgrade past macOS Monterey 12
Download Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Teams Classic
This Office lifetime license allows you to install the complete app suite to one Mac with no recurring fees
We only have 50 of these MacBook Air and Microsoft Office for Mac bundles in stock. Order yours for $269.97 (a $1,228 value) before they’re sold out.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: LIMITLESS USA INC. Apple MacBook Air 13.3" MQDR2LL/A 128GB Silver (Refurbished) + Microsoft Office Home & Business 2019 for Mac Bundle $269.97What would happen if any of Hugh Grant's famed rom-com characters — think William from Notting Hill or the prime minister from Love Actually — trapped you in a house of horrors? That's not too far off from what you'll get in Heretic, the latest horror offering from writer-director duo Scott Beck and Bryan Woods (A Quiet Place, 65).
Yes, Grant has leaned further into villain archetypes in the past few years, from Paddington 2's egotistical Phoenix Buchanan to Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' roguish Forge. But no film has weaponized his talents to as frightening an extent as Heretic. Here, you'll witness Grant both as you've never seen him before (downright terrifying!) and exactly as you've seen him before (charming with a side of self-deprecation). The combination is downright bone-chilling, with Grant's performance providing nonstop terror even as Heretic's theological frights remain fairly surface level.
SEE ALSO: Hugh Grant will scare your socks off in exclusive 'Heretic' clip What's Heretic about? Hugh Grant in "Heretic." Credit: A24Grant plays Mr. Reed, a seemingly friendly man who opens his door to Mormon missionaries Sister Paxton (The Fabelmans' Chloe East) and Sister Barnes (Yellowjackets' Sophie Thatcher). The pair have already had a rough day of lugging their bikes up and down steep stairs, getting made fun of by local teenage girls, and weathering the beginnings of a gnarly rainstorm. After all that, Mr. Reed's genuine interest in the Mormon Church is just the pick-me-up they need. And while mission rules forbid them from being alone with him without a woman present, he insists that his shy wife is just in the kitchen whipping up a marvelous blueberry pie. That's all the confirmation Paxton and Barnes need to enter his home and start teaching him about their faith.
Once inside, though, the red flags start piling up. Turns out Mr. Reed knows quite a bit about Mormonism. Look no further than his heavily marked-up copy of the Book of Mormon. ("More like Mr. Read," Paxton jokes, desperate to land her first baptism.) Then there are his pointed probes about Mormon founder Joseph Smith and polygamy. At first glance, these could just be mistaken for run-of-the-mill religious skepticism. But when coupled with personal questions about the death of Barnes' father, it's clear something more sinister is afoot. From here, all Heretic needs is one push — in this case, the reveal that "Mrs. Reed" is nothing more than a blueberry-scented lie — to send Paxton and Barnes hurtling into hell.
SEE ALSO: 25 of the best Christmas horror movies to haunt your holiday"Hell" of course being the back section of Mr. Reed's house, which includes a chapel he built himself, as well as two staircases — one marked "belief," the other "disbelief" — leading down into the darkness. These staircases become the focal point for a religious battle of wits, as Mr. Reed tests the Sisters' faith to its limit.
Heretic's religious horror is not the scariest thing about it. Chloe East and Sophie Thatcher in "Heretic." Credit: A24Most of this battle of wits plays out in conversation, with Heretic quickly cementing itself as the chattiest horror movie of the year. (While introducing Heretic at this year's Fantastic Fest, Beck and Woods said they created it as the inverse to A Quiet Place, which created scares without any dialogue.) As Mr. Reed lures Paxton and Barnes deeper into his web, each conversational turn and cutting question become cause for more and more dread. Yet that's less due to the actual content of the conversations, and more about Beck and Woods' claustrophobic direction of this three-hander. Tight close-ups on Mr. Reed, Paxton, and Barnes' faces keep us locked into their discussion, while the single-location setting reminds us that there is no escape.
Ostensibly, the theological debate that this trio engages in is meant to be the meat of Heretic's horror, as Paxton and Barnes reckon with their relationship to God in a time of crisis. But the film's religious discourse is mostly skin-deep — albeit fun.
SEE ALSO: 10 terrifying religious horror movies you can stream right nowTake, for example, a show-stopping monologue from Grant, delivered like a sermon from his own pulpit, about the iterative connections between everything from religion to Monopoly to Lana Del Rey. (A Jar Jar Binks impression makes its way in there too, and Grant makes a delightful meal of it, as he does with everything else in the film.) The actual messaging about religion being nothing more than an elaborate marketing farce isn't particularly groundbreaking — you could just as easily find these ideas on any atheist message board. It's the way Grant delivers it, with all the panache of a smarmy debate bro, that really sets your teeth on edge.
That's because Heretic mines its greatest scares not from its questions about religion, but from the age-old truth that it's just really terrifying to be a woman alone with a strange man. Especially when that strange man combines the mannerisms of rom-com Hugh Grant with the trap-loving sensibilities of Saw's John Kramer.
Hugh Grant in Heretic is some of the best horror casting in recent memory. Hugh Grant in "Heretic." Credit: A24The root of Heretic's true horror begins with Grant's performance. Here, the actor is fully in what'd we consider to be his rom-com mode, employing the tricks he uses in his romantic roles. Mr. Reed is all affable grins and shrugs, politely tripping over his words, then mugging apologetically when he mixes up names or asks an uncomfortable question. He seems almost sorry to be asking Barnes and Paxton to head into his creepy basement, when in reality he's in total control.
That knowing lack of acknowledgment of his control carries over into Beck and Woods' script. While some of Heretic's religious musings can feel overwritten, Mr. Reed's social manipulation of the Sisters is spot-on. He claims, time and time again, that he isn't pressuring them — never mind the fact that he's locked them in his house. He accuses Barnes and Paxton of getting too worked-up, discounting their very valid fears about him. Who can stay calm when a man is, once again, coercing them into his basement?
East and Thatcher play Paxton and Barnes' reactions perfectly, with the pair attempting to defuse the situation without upsetting Mr. Reed. Their discomfort comes through at first in small ways. Thatcher's firmer Barnes refuses a drink from Mr. Reed, while East's sweet, more unsure Paxton responds to most of his questions through awkward giggles. But as the cracks in Mr. Reed's façade begin to show, the panic becomes ever clearer on the Sisters' faces, even as they try to remain polite. Repeated questions to meet Mrs. Reed become shorthand for terror. Paxton and Barnes invent excuses to try to extricate themselves. Later, they dull down their intelligence and beliefs in an attempt to appeal to what they think Mr. Reed wants from them — Paxton even thanks him as she begins her descent downstairs. It's a stomach-churning, yet all-too relatable moment of panicked nicety in a film full of them. How do you push away a man who won't allow you to remove yourself from his vicinity? A man who wants to use his religious beliefs to control and mold you to his will — again, sound familiar?
These scenes of Paxton and Barnes diminishing themselves make the moments when they fight back all the sweeter. They choose to meet Mr. Reed on his own intellectual turf, challenging him on his clearly well-rehearsed points. And whether or not you agree with Mr. Reed's religious beliefs or the Sisters', each rebuttal of theirs hits hard by virtue of them facing down their captor.
Heretic's dialogue — no matter how high school debate-y it threatens to get — is delivered with such malevolent fun by Grant and such ferocity by East and Thatcher that by the time the film falls into more traditional slasher mode, it's a shame to part with these conversations. Frightening reveals and boatloads of religious and occult iconography (much of it delivered in impressively crafted statues and images throughout Mr. Reed's house) certainly get the blood pumping. But they're something you could see in any religious horror movie. What really sets Heretic apart is Grant, the absolute monster of a man he plays, and just how awfully familiar that man is.
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