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Apple upgraded the newest MacBook Pro's display without telling anyone.
That's according to prominent display analyst Ross Young, anyway. Young took to X on Thursday to point out that Apple has adopted a "quantum dot" display for the M4 MacBook Pro.
The hardcore technical details are that Apple replaced the red KSF phosphor film it had used on previous MacBook displays with quantum dot film. But Young's post also makes it clear, in layman's terms, what this means for you, the user.
SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence on Mac: 5 AI-powered features you can test right now Tweet may have been deleted What is a 'quantum dot' display?As Young put it, quantum dot technology gives Apple equal — or perhaps even better — color output than the old method, as well as more responsive motion performance.
Young highlighted that the latest quantum dot films are not only highly efficient—they’re also cadmium-free. Apple had previously been wary of going to quantum dot displays because they used cadmium, which is a carcinogen, according to the World Health Organization.
These aren't massive upgrades, but they are noteworthy enough that it's odd that Apple chose not to market this change at all. One way to think about it, perhaps, is that you got even more than what you paid for.
UPDATE: Nov. 15, 2024, 11:45 a.m. EST In less than 10 minutes after dropping at 11 a.m. ET, the Ninja Slushi has already sold out at Best Buy. If it happens to get a restock at Best Buy or anywhere else, we'll let you know.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Slushi $299.99 at Best BuyFinally, some good news: The Ninja Slushi is back in stock.
Technically, this "restock" is the Best Buy Drop of the day for Friday, Nov. 15. Best Buy Drops is a tab in the Best Buy mobile app that features a running list of items dropping that week, which are often high-profile items at record-low sale prices or, in this case, a restock of a high-profile item that's hard to get your hands on.
Once a Drop goes live (this is always at 11 a.m. ET), a status bar will pop up above the item to show how much inventory has been claimed — indicating how quickly you need to make your move. (Once the inventory for that Drop has all been claimed, it's gone.) Given the number of times the Ninja Slushi has sold out since it came out in July, it wouldn't be surprising for the Slushi stock at Best Buy will dwindle within an hour or two.
And coming from someone who has been using the Slushi on a regular basis since the summer, I'm here to let you know that you won't regret taking advantage of this Drop and having Slushi opportunities at your fingertips whenever you want.
SEE ALSO: When do Black Friday sales start? Early holiday deals are already here.Hear me out: Little treats are more crucial than ever in Times Like These (whatever that means to you). But as we know all too well, the whole "it gets dark at 5 p.m. now" thing makes leaving the house the last thing on Earth that we want to do, even if a fun drink or milkshake is waiting on the other side.
The Ninja Slushi is literally a little treat machine, and the mere variety of its menu is the thing I love most about it. The five settings on the Ninja Slushi are slush, spiked slush, frappé, milkshake, and frozen juice, so the possibilities are pretty endless. You can whip up a frozen version of the orange juice you drink every morning or the protein drink you have after your workouts, recreate a fancy drink you got on vacation that one time, bring to life a collection of ingredients that you think would go well together, or literally just pour in soda and make a Coke slushie. The Slushi takes around an hour to take stuff from liquid to frozen, but it can then keep your mix at that consistency for several hours afterward.
SEE ALSO: TikTok is in love with the Ninja Creami, but am I?Yes, you can pour soda, juice, or wine directly into the Slushi with no other ingredients. The fine print there is that sugar is the main fuel that makes the Slushi slush — so slushing a diet soda or seltzer with no sugar requires having simple syrup or agave on hand. No, the Slushi can't make ice cream exactly like the Ninja Creami, though the milkshake setting is kind of close. Compared to the Creami that is sitting right beside the Slushi on my counter, the Slushi is much quieter and requires much less prep work.
Admittedly, my Slushi usage slowed down for a hot second after prime frozen margarita weather waned off — but usage picked right back up when all of the chilly weather cozy concoction recipes started flowing. Most recently, my friend and I made frozen apple cider mimosas, and next up is a sugar cookie martini. Most frozen dessert-like recipes are pretty much possible with the Ninja Creami, so if you'd rather grab that than wait for another Slushi restock, it's on sale at Best Buy for $219.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Creami Deluxe $219.99 at Best BuyThere's definitely something to be said for the crisp handheld control of a powerful cordless Dyson. But if you're not one to classify cleaning as cathartic, why not outsource that tedious task to one of the best robot vacuums?
Are Roombas the best robot vacuums?Though Roombas are really good robot vacuums, they aren't the only good robot vacuums.
iRobot dominated the robot vacuum realm from the early 2000s up until a few years ago, so it's no surprise that much of the general public forgets that "Roomba" isn't simply a generic term for any robotic vacuum.
But Roombas officially aren't in a league of their own anymore: You can't even Google "Roomba" without a question involving Shark robot vacuums popping up, and other brands like Roborock and Eufy have entered the chat with a fury. And I'm here to put some respect on their names.
SEE ALSO: As a Dyson stan, I wouldn't tell anyone to buy the Dyson 360 Vis Nav robot vacuumI'm regularly testing the top robot vacuums at multiple price points and comparing them to top performers from previous years, with all of my evaluations taking place in my own home on various rugs, tile, and hardwood floors. During the testing of each robot vacuum, I keep notes on how they stack up based on criteria like overall suction power and scrubbing efficiency (if that robot vacuum is one that also mops, which is seen more often than not nowadays), self-maintenance features like self-emptying or self-washing and -drying mopping pads, smart mapping to specific rooms and navigation around obstacles, and the overall experience of having that robot vacuum live in my home.
Do robot vacuums go on sale for Black Friday?Big time. If you're strict about not dropping more than a few hundred dollars on a robot vacuum, your chances of buying a nicer model without going over budget just went up. Alternatively, if you're heavily considering taking the plunge on a fancy, expensive model (like the self-cleaning ones mentioned above), grabbing it on sale during the Black Friday season will make you feel a bit better about your splurge.
As a staple category of any Amazon sale event, you can expect every major robot vacuum brand to throw in some serious Black Friday deals. We wouldn't be surprised if the more premium models in our list beat their own record-low pricing from October Prime Day. I'm tracking all of those Black Friday robot vacuum deals and will give a special heads up if any hit a new all-time low sale price throughout Cyber Week. (Note: The price listed for each of the robot vacuums below is their MSRP, not their sale price — so don't be surprised to see several hundred dollars shaved off once you click on the product.)
With so many options on sale, though, your decision fatigue may be worse than it was outside of sale season. I've narrowed down your shopping list to five top options, all of which I've put to the test in my own home. Here are the best robot vacuums for every home and budget in 2024:
Gifting a laptop can be a daunting experience, with countless options and confusing specs that can lead you down a scrolling spiral. But fear not — we've done the heavy lifting for you.
This holiday season, we've rounded up a list of next-gen laptops that cater to everyone on your list. While each machine boasts its own bells and whistles, they all share one standout element: the cutting-edge Snapdragon® X Elite processor.
Known as Copilot+ PC laptops, these six powerhouses are redefining performance standards. With lightning-fast speeds, impressive on-device AI capabilities, and extraordinary battery life* — made possible with Snapdragon X Elite — these laptops are set to wow your loved ones. Let's dive in and find the one that’ll knock their themed socks off.
For your WFH whiz
Gift Now Gift NowFor your brilliant artist
Gift Now Gift NowFor your multi-tasking parent
Gift Now Gift NowFor your AI innovator
Gift Now Gift NowFor your digital nomad friend
Gift Now Gift NowFor your creator
Gift Now Gift NowFor your WFH whiz
Gift Now Gift NowFor your brilliant artist
Gift Now Gift NowFor your multi-tasking parent
Gift Now Gift NowFor your AI innovator
Gift Now Gift NowFor your digital nomad friend
Gift Now Gift NowFor your creator
Gift Now Gift NowWrap up your holiday shopping with confidence, knowing you've found the perfect tech gift. A next-gen laptop powered by the Snapdragon X Elite processor is designed to complement any lifestyle, delivering lightning-fast performance, impressive AI capabilities, and exceptional battery life.
Happy holidays and happy gifting!
*Battery life varies significantly based on device, settings, usage, and other factors.
1. Source: Samsung; Based on local, 1080p resolution video playback, default video player (full screen), 150 nit brightness, default earbud volume, Wi-Fi and mobile network off, keyboard backlight off. Results vary with settings, usage and other factors.
2. Source: HP; Based on HP's internal analysis as of next gen PCs with a 40-60 TOPS NPU as of (current date). Battery life tested by HP using continuous FHD video playback, 1080p (1920x1080) resolution, 200 nits brightness, system audio level as image default, player audio level at 100%, played full screen from local storage, headphone attached or through speaker (if no audio jack port), wireless on but not connected. Actual battery life will vary depending on configuration and maximum capacity will naturally decrease with time and usage.
3. Source: Asus; Battery tests conducted by ASUS on May 7, 2024 using the 1080p Video Playback scenario. Test configuration: ASUS Vivobook S 15 (S5507Q), 3K OLED panel, Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite 12C, 1 TB SSD, 32 GB RAM, 70Wh battery. Test settings: WiFi disabled, Keyboard backlit disabled, Windows Power Plan set to Best Power Efficiency, display brightness set to 150 cd/m2. Actual battery life may vary depending on product configuration, usage, operational conditions and power management settings. Battery life will decrease over the lifetime of the battery.
4. Source: Dell; https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/xps-13-laptop/spd/xps-13-9345-laptophttps://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/xps-13-laptop/spd/xps-13-9345-laptop. Multi-day battery life, up to 27 hours based on XPS 13 tested with Snapdragon X1 Elite X1E-80-100, FHD+ display, 16GB, 512GB SSD. Testing conducted by Dell labs in May 2024 with display brightness set to 150 nits (40%) and wireless enabled. Based on streaming Netflix 1080p content using the Netflix Windows 11 app. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time. The stated Watt Hour (WHr) is not an indication of battery life.
Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries.
SAVE $99.96: As of Nov. 15, get the Fitbit Google Ace LTE on sale for $129.99 at Woot, down from its usual price of $229.95. That's a discount of 43%.
Opens in a new window Credit: Woot Fitbit Google Ace LTE $129.99 at WootYour kids are clamoring for a smartwatch. You know they don't need one just yet, but an activity tracker makes sense for their active lifestyles. Or maybe you want to encourage your little ones to start getting up and out there to get their blood flowing so they build healthy habits at an early age. Whatever the case may be, a kid-centric smartwatch is a great idea that can help you encourage and motivate your brood. And you can get a fantastic one right now for its best price yet.
As of Nov. 15, get the Fitbit Google Ace LTE for just $129.99 at Woot. That's $99.96 off its normal price of $229.95 and a 43% discount, as well as one of the lowest prices we've seen. Woot has the Mild colorway in stock, which features a light gray wristband with plenty of fun watch faces to choose from.
This kid-focused smartwatch may be for young users, but it's no slouch when it comes to features. It has built-in 4G LTE and GPS capabilities, so you can keep an eye on where your kid goes no matter what they get up to. They'll love using their new tracker because it comes pre-loaded with games and activities to help them keep track of those impromptu basketball games or hopping on a scooter and hanging out in the backyard.
The watch boasts a 16-hour battery life, so it can keep up with the kids even when your own watch is starting to get low. Pop it on the charger for a fast charge session to get up to 11 hours of battery back in just a half-hour. And if you need to tweak important settings, use options like School Time to make sure your kids actually pay attention in class and don't game on their watch when it's time to learn. And that's not all – there's a host of other comms and even payment features so your kid has everything they need on their wrist.
Snatch this smartwatch up for the kids in your life at this price before the holidays officially roll around.
GET FREE AUDIOBOOKS: Stuff Your Earbuds Day is here! Get free audiobooks on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16.
If you thought Stuff Your Kindle Day was exciting, get ready for its audio equivalent: Stuff Your Earbuds Day. This lesser-known shopper’s holiday is the best way to score free audiobooks and treat yourself to a cozy Autumn night in.
Here’s how to make the most of Stuff Your Earbuds Day.
What is Stuff Your Earbuds Day?Stuff Your Earbuds Day is an annual event hosted by romance author Rebecca Hefner via the Romance Audiobookworms website. During the event, booklovers can snag hundreds of free audiobooks from romance authors across genres, including sci-fi and historical romance.
The deals are live for 48 hours, and there’s no limit to how many you can download.
When is Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2024?Stuff Your Earbuds Day takes place on Nov. 15 and Nov. 16, 2024. If you want updates and reminders, you can sign up for Romance Audiobookworms’ newsletter via Substack.
Who can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day?Unlike most shopping events, this isn’t a members-only affair. Anyone can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day. All you have to do is find the audiobook you want (you can find the list on Hefner’s site) and download it from whatever platform you normally use to listen to audiobooks (e.g., Google Play Books, Apple Books, Spotify, Chirp, Kobo, BookFunnel, and Barnes & Noble Nook). Note: These audiobooks aren’t available on Audible.
Shop Stuff Your Earbuds Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kait Nolan Let It Be Me Get Deal Why we like itThere are hundreds, if not thousands, of audiobooks available this Stuff Your Earbuds Day, but if you’re looking for somewhere to start, might we suggest Let It Be Me.
In this story, Emerson Aldridge became a mother very early in life. Once her daughter is old enough to leave for college, Aldridge isn’t sure what to do with herself. Not remembering what life was like before motherhood, she sets out on a journey of self-discovery (which includes canoodling with her firefighting neighbor).
Before you head into the weekend, check out some of our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. Though we still have to wait a week until the mega retailer's official Black Friday sale begins, there are tons of deals already flooding in that are worthy of adding to your cart — including products from top brands like Apple, Garmin, Solo Stove, and Sony.
Here are our top picks from the best Amazon deals of the day on Nov. 15. Be sure to look back at our picks from Nov. 13 and Nov. 14 as well. Many of those are still live, including a 41% price drop on the very impressive Samsung Galaxy Buds FE and a record-low M2 iPad Air.
Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3 (45mm) $349.99 at AmazonThe latest Garmin Venu checks all the right boxes when it comes to a smartwatch — and then some. It's equipped with an abundance of health metrics and fitness tools, in-depth recovery advice, detailed sleep data, and a battery life that'll outshine even the most expensive Apple Watch. In smartwatch mode, it'll last you up to two weeks before needing a charge (less when tracking workouts). While the smart features aren't quite as bright and shiny as the Apple Watch, the Venu 3 truly stands out for anyone who prioritizes sleep, wellness, fitness, and battery life. It's usually $449.99, but you can slash 22% off and get it for $349.99 at Amazon as of Nov. 15. That's its lowest price on record.
Opens in a new window Credit: Solo Stove Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 with stand $195.99 at AmazonIt's not fall without bonfires. Ahead of Black Friday, Solo Stove dropped the price of its Bonfire 2.0 bundled with a stand down below $200. While the list price at Amazon is a bit inflated (it's really $299.99 on the Solo Stove website), it's still a 35% discount. The Bonfire 2.0 is ideal for intimate gatherings of four to six people and with the smokeless signature 360-degree airflow, nobody should get smoked out while sitting around it. It weighs about 22 pounds and comes with a carrying case to tote it around, making it ideal for backyard hangs or weekend camping trips.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2024 iMac (M4, 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $1,349.99 at AmazonAnnounced during October's Mac week, the latest iMac boasts Apple's in-house M4 chip, which is allegedly 1.7 times faster than the M1 model. It also features a 24-inch 4.5K display, a 12MP front camera, four USB-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, Apple Intelligence (of course), and a 16GB starting RAM. Plus, it comes in seven fun colors, including pink! As of Nov. 15, an on-page coupon drops the $1,499 price down to just $1,349.99 for the 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD model. While it's not the biggest discount ever, it's the lowest price we've seen it so far.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 noise-cancelling headphones $198.00 at AmazonWhile Sony's WH-1000XM5s have now replaced the WH-1000XM4s as our favorites, they're a whole lot more expensive and only offer a slight upgrade over the previous generation. The WH-1000XM4s are still excellent headphones in 2024. They earned the Best of the Year badge of honor in 2020, as well as an Editor's Choice award from our friends at PCMag (which is owned by Mashable's publisher, Ziff Davis). With top-notch noise cancellation, impressive sound quality, customizable EQ, and a cozy fit, you could certainly do worse. While they're usually $348, you can snag them on sale for $198 as of Nov. 15. That's 43% in savings and $130 cheaper than the 1000XM5s.
None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.
Black Friday is just around the corner, but if you can't wait for the deals to start, we've got good news. A whole host of retailers have already started releasing discounts, meaning you have almost the whole of November to score some great deals.
Walmart and Best Buy are among those that have started the month-long savings, and now so has Target. Enjoy early sales on select products, as well as daily "deals of the day." To help you in your bargain hunting, we've checked out everything from Target's Black Friday ad to find the best early deals on everything from Apple products to high quality headphones.
With so much to browse and so many deals to choose from, here are some of the best deals you can buy online from the Target Deal Days Black Friday ad.
Best deals on AppleApple Watch SE 2 GPS (2022) - $199.99 $249.99 (Save $50)
Apple iPad 10.2-inch Wi-Fi (2021, 9th Generation) - $199.99 $329.99 (Save $130)
Apple AirPods Pro 2 - $189.99 $249.99 (Save $60)
Xbox Series X Console - $449 $499.99 (Save $50)
Logitech Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - $79.99 $99.99 (Save $20)
Logitech G733 Wireless Gaming Headset - $109.99 $149.99 (Save $40)
TCL 55" Class S5-Series 4K UHD HDR LED Smart Google TV - $249.99 $349.99 (Save $100)
Westinghouse 43" 1080p FHD Smart Roku TV - $129.99 $199.99 (Save $70)
VIZIO 55" Class 4K UHD LED HDR Smart TV - $299.99 $329.99 (Save $30)
HP 16" WUXGA Touchscreen Laptop - $699.99 $779.99 (Save $80)
HP 14" Touchscreen Chromebook - $329.99 $379.99 (Save $50)
Lenovo Ip Slim 3 14M868 14" Refurbished Laptop - $159.99 $319.99 (Save $160)
HP Victus 15.6" 144Hz Gaming Laptop - $879.99 $999.99 (Save $120)
ASUS Vivobook 16" WUXGA Notebook - $559.99 $729.99 (Save $170)
Lenovo IP Duet 5 13Q7C6 13.3" Chromebook - $214.99 $429.99 ($215)
Beats Solo 4 Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones - $129.99 $199.99 (Save $70)
Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Bluetooth Open Earbuds - $249.99 $299.99 (Save $50)
Beats Studio Pro Bluetooth Wireless Headphones - $249.99 $349.99 (Save $100)
JLab Studio Bluetooth Wireless On-Ear Headphones - $19.99 $29.99 (Save $10)
Beats Studio Buds True Wireless Noise Cancelling Bluetooth Earbuds - $99.99 $149.99 (Save $50)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Refurbished Headphones - $299.99 $399.99 (Save $100)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K (2024) - $24.99 $49.99 (Save $25)
Roborock S7 Max Ultra Robot Vacuum - $999.99 $1299.99 (Save $300)
Roku Express 4K+ - $29.99 $39.99 (Save $10)
SAVE $150: As of Nov. 15, Sony's WH1000XM4 wireless headphones are on sale for $199.99 as part of Best Buy's early Black Friday sale. This is $150 off their list price of $349.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH1000XM4 Wireless Noise-Cancelling Over-the-Ear Headphones - Black $199.99 at Best BuyBlack Friday has grown into quite the sale event throughout November, with several retailers offering up a variety of deals for shoppers to enjoy in the weeks leading up to the official day. Best Buy's Black Friday plan includes weekly doorbuster deals alongside plenty of early sales, ranging from TVs to gaming consoles to headphones. If you've had your eye on picking up the latter, we've got good news, the retailer's dropped a fantastic discount on Sony WH1000XM4 wireless headphones that's definitely worth checking out.
The sleek Sony WH1000XM4 wireless headphones are currently on sale for $199.99, $150 off their list price of $349.99. That's a fantastic early Black Friday treat for shoppers, especially considering how high-quality these headphones are.
We've ranked these headphones as the best overall in our list of the best wireless headphones. Mashable's Deputy Editor of Shopping and Reviews, Miller Kern, said that the Sony WH1000XM4's "have superior sound quality and noise cancellation. They're comparable to the Sennheiser PXC 550-II headphones, but have a more stylish look in our opinion — the ear cups are less bulky."
SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy onlineThey also offer a nice selection of colors, all of which are on sale right now at Best Buy so you can have your pick of the black headphones, midnight blue, or silver.
Best Buy's Black Friday sales have been the gift that keeps on giving, so don't miss out on this excellent deal on the Sony WH1000XM4 wireless headphones.
If you're looking for even more early Black Friday deals, you're in luck. Both Target and Walmart have their own Black Friday plans going on throughout the month of November, with each offering a wide variety of early discounts for shoppers to enjoy. Other retailers, like Amazon, also have plans set for the Black Friday shopping event, so you can set a reminder for when their biggest deals go live.
SAVE $200: As of Nov. 15, the TCL 55-inch Q5 4K QLED Smart Fire TV is on sale for $249.99 at Best Buy as part of its early Black Friday sale. That's $200 off its list price of $449.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 55-inch Class Q5-Series 4K UHD HDR PRO+ QLED Smart Fire TV (2024) $249.99 at Best BuyBest Buy's Black Friday sales have quite a bit for shoppers to check out, from new doorbuster deals every Friday to a variety of early discounts that have dropped ahead of the big sale event. As part of those early deals there's been a wealth of TVs on sale, and this deal on a TCL 4K TV is one that immediately caught our eye.
If you've been looking to make the jump to a 4K TV but don't want to shell out a ton of cash for it, this is your time to shine. Best Buy's offering a 55-inch TCL Q5 4K UHD HDR PRO+ QLED Smart Fire TV for just $249.99, $200 off its list price of $449.99. Considering the price of other 4K QLED TVs, this is a fantastic discount to take advantage of. Not to mention, this pick is worth every penny.
With QLED Quantum Dot Technology you're getting richer images for an eye-catching display, no matter if you're watching movies, catching up on a new show, or settling in for a night of gaming. This richness is made even better when paired with crisp 4K resolution. And that's not all. You're also getting features like Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos Audio that help create a truly cinematic experience, and all of this is fitted into a nice 55-inch screen size.
Smart features are also included in this TV, so you can have all of your favorite streaming apps right in the palm of your hand. What's even better is that you can even set up voice control with Amazon Alexa to flick through said apps. What better way to enjoy your favorite entertainment?
If you've been looking to score a new TV, or just get an upgrade, don't miss out on this early Black Friday deal on the TCL 55-inch Q5 4K QLED Smart Fire TV.
Other top retailers are jumping in on the early Black Friday sale action, too. Both Target and Walmart have their own Black Friday plans that include early discounts for shoppers to check out in the lead-up to the big day. Amazon's even revealed when their Black Friday sale event officially kicks off, so keep your eyes out for even more deals in the coming weeks.
Scammers beware, there's a new AI ready to waste your time on the phone — and it's intentionally programmed to sound like someone's proud grandma.
Developed by UK provider Virgin Media O2 and announced on Thursday, "Daisy" is an AI-fuelled call answering service that aims to keep scam callers on the line as long as possible, meaning less time spent with potential human victims. It's the same idea we've seen in a fair few time-wasting bots in the past — and it's the signature strategy adopted by scam fighter Scamalot aka James Veitch.
O2 worked on the AI with YouTuber Jim Browning, whose scambusting work has seen him track and expose many a fraudulent scheme using various strategies.
SEE ALSO: 7 of the best robocall blocking apps and tools for avoiding phone spamDescribed by the company as "head of scammer relations", the Daisy AI is programmed to give rambling stories to callers — and I'm not going to lie, the details sound a little bit like age-based stereotyping of elderly women but who am I to say what a scammer will believe? According to O2, Daisy has told "meandering stories of her family, talked at length about her passion for knitting and provided exasperated callers with false personal information including made-up bank details." The company claims Daisy "has successfully kept numerous fraudsters on calls for 40 minutes at a time."
According to O2, Daisy is the result of multiple AI models that listen to the caller and make a live transcription. Then, the program generates an appropriate response from its language model, delivered in a human-like voice embedded with Daisy's personality. This is the ad:
Why make the AI sound like the social stereotype of an elderly woman? The prevalence of telephone fraud in the UK is particularly felt by the elderly, with scammers targeting people over the age of 75 — and a huge majority of these scams are conducted by phone. This is not unique to the UK — according to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), impersonation scams caused over $1.3 billion in losses for people in the U.S. in 2023, with call centres targeting older adults — "almost half the complainants report to be over 60 (40 percent), and experience 58 percent of the losses (over $770 million)."
Scam callers use social engineering techniques to try and convince people to hand over their personal details like banking, social security, and other ID details — so having an AI chat right back to them without the risk of losing real money seems like a pretty smart technique.
You won't be able to interact with Daisy yourself (unless you're a scammer). When I reached out to the company for further information, an O2 spokesperson told me, "The purpose of creating Daisy was to both waste scammers time and to create a campaign to educate the public on the danger of scam calls. The tool was purpose built to interact with scammers and so is optimised to do that rather than have general conversations. Opening the tool up to everyone would also require a huge amount of computing power, so right now this isn’t something Daisy is able to do."
In the case that the scammer makes it through to you instead of Daisy, you can forward suspected scam calls and text messages to O2's existing blocking service at 7726.
Unfortunately, the sheer, sinister creativity of scammers has no limit, so companies need to think equally if not more creatively to combat them.
In the meantime, go call your actual grandma and don't dismiss her stories as "waffle". She's not Abe Simpson or an AI bot.
By now, you've probably heard about users fleeing Elon Musk's X. Yes, there have been a few other moments over the years since Musk acquired then-Twitter when users decided to leave — there was even at least one attempt to create an alternative Twitter before ownership by Musk was even seen as a possibility.
But this time the exodus appears to be significantly bigger. Following the 2024 presidential election results and Musk's support for President-elect Donald Trump, users have been deactivating en masse.
SEE ALSO: Bluesky goes down amid exodus from Elon Musk's X / TwitterAnd this time, it appears most everyone has settled on one particular X alternative: Bluesky.
Bluesky has a lot in common with X. It's a similar public town square type microblogging-style platform. In fact, before Musk took over then-Twitter, it received an investment from the company. Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey even sat on Bluesky's board up until earlier this year.
Bluesky has gained more than 100,000 new sign ups per day since the U.S. election on Nov. 5. It now has over 15 million users. It's enjoyed a prolonged stay on the very top of Apple's App Store charts as well.
Ready to join? Here's how to get started on Bluesky:
How to sign up for BlueskyNot too long ago, Bluesky was invite-only. New users could only join the platform if they received an invitation from an existing user.
That's not the case anymore. Anyone can sign up for Bluesky.
Credit: BlueskyTo sign up, simply go to bsky.app and click the Sign Up button. You'll notice that all the usual input fields found when signing up for any other social media platform are there such as email, password, and birthday.
Credit: BlueskyHowever, there is one thing that's different: Hosting provider. Basically, Bluesky allows those who are more tech-savvy to host their own version of Bluesky, much like how alternative social media platform Mastodon has "instances." However, most users just don't have to worry about this. It will not affect their experience at all. Just keep Bluesky Social as your hosting provider.
Credit: BlueskyOn the next page, users will be able to pick their username. Choose any available name and Bluesky will then add ".bsky.social" to the end of it. Why? Because Bluesky allows users to use their own website domain as their handle. For example, if you own YourName.com, your Bluesky handle could be "@YourName.com" on the platform. Once again, this is not necessary to get the full Bluesky experience. Most users will just go by @YourName.bsky.social.
From there, Bluesky will give you the option to upload an avatar and pick topics of interest so that the platform can best suggest accounts to follow.
How to get started on BlueskyCongratulations, you're in. Your Bluesky account is all setup and now you can get started.
You'll notice that Bluesky looks a lot like Elon Musk's X, formerly known as Twitter. There's a Discover feed which is basically the For You feed with suggested posts and content. There's a Following feed, which only includes posts from other Bluesky users that you follow.
Credit: BlueskyOn the left hand side menu, there's a Profile tab for your own account and a Notifications tab that shows who interacted and replied to your posts. The Chat tab is basically the equivalent of Direct Messages.
Since you're new to Bluesky, you're going to want to start off by following some accounts. Using the Search tab, you can find Suggested accounts recommended by the platform based on your interests. You can also search for specific people to see if they're also on Bluesky. If you're coming from Musk's X, there's a third-party Chrome extension called Sky Follower Bridge that can help you locate the accounts you follow on that platform that also have an account on Bluesky.
Probably the most unique aspect of Bluesky is the pair of related features: Lists and Feeds. You might be thinking that Bluesky's Lists feature is a bit like Twitter Lists, however, the Lists feature is much more integral to how Bluesky works than that.
Lists are a collection of accounts that can be followed, muted, or blocked in bulk. For example, users can create a list of Bluesky users that they think all other users interested in a certain topic or hobby should follow. Other users can then easily follow that entire list of users. On the flip side, Bluesky users have also compiled lists of accounts that post hateful or extremist content. Users can easily block all the users on that List and not see any of those account's content show up on their feed.
Credit: BlueskyFeeds on the other hand are not lists of accounts, but curated feeds. Think of Feeds as customized For You pages. There are Feeds for just certain topics like Science or Art, there are feeds with content just for specific types of accounts, and then there are algorithmically based custom feeds that depend on what's currently popular on the site. By following a feed, you add a brand new tab on your main timeline to keep up with alongside your Discover and Following feed.
Credit: BlueskyBut, it gets even easier actually. Bluesky recently launched a new feature called "Starter Packs" which basically recommends users and feeds so you can get started. Other users can also curate their own Starter Packs to help their new followers find additional accounts to follow too. Just go to your account's profile page and click the Starter Packs tab to get started.
Ready to postThis may all sound a bit much, but it's really not. Just remember, you had to get started somewhere on X and other social media platforms to. And if you've made it this far, you're ready to post. This is the part that's really reminiscent of Twitter.
Credit: BlueskyPosts on Bluesky are limited to 300 characters. Users can post photos and .gifs as well. Bluesky also recently added video, which can be posted as long as the clip is 60 seconds or less.
Users can like content by clicking the heart icon. They can also repost content as well as quote posts.
And there you go. That's all the Bluesky basics. Now there's no excuse to not give an alternative to Musk's X a try.
If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 15 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 15 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Dress for lunchThese words make for a healthier meal.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedWords are types of vegetables.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is SaladGreens.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for November 15Romaine
Kale
Iceberg
Watercress
Radicchio
SaladGreens
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. 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 November 15's 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?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers 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 15 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Openings that let something loose
Green: Used to construct text
Blue: Produces sound when used
Purple: Ways we perceive or use time
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Fissure
Green: Elements of Writing
Blue: Instruments You Blow Into
Purple: ___ of Time
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 #523 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayFissure: CRACK, HOLE, LEAK, PUNCTURE
Elements of writing: LETTER, PHRASE, SENTENCE, WORD
Instruments You Blow Into: JUG, PIPE, RECORDER, WHISTLE
___ of time: NICK, PASSAGE, SANDS, WASTE
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.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 15Are 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.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for November 15's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for November 15 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 15 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Something that seems in poor taste.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter T.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
TACKY.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 15Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
The Daily Mini Crossword is one of the many popular daily word games available on Mashable. Powered by Arkadium, the mini crossword offers a speed round of puzzle fun with clues that are sure to challenge experienced crossword enthusiasts.
But there's no need to let the challenge get in the way of your enjoyment! If moments are turning to minutes after getting stuck on a clue, find the answers you need to progress right here.
And when you're done, check out the many other word games you can play on Mashable, including a full-size crossword.
Also, if you get stuck on any other daily word games, such as Wordle, Connections, or Strands — we have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for November 15 SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableHere are the clues and answers to Daily Mini Crossword for Friday, November 15, 2024:
Across____ on the side of cautionThe answer is Err.
The answer is Guard.
The answer is Indie.
The answer is Still.
The answer is Ill.
The answer is Egis.
The answer is Runt.
The answer is Radii.
The answer is Rill.
The answer is Dell.
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 GamesAre 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.
SAVE $400: As of Nov. 15, the ASUS TUF 15.6-inch gaming laptop - fitted with 16GB RAM, RTX 4070 graphics, and a 1TB SSD - is on sale for $999.99 in Best Buy's early Black Friday sale. This is $400 off its list price of $1,399.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS TUF 15.6-inch Gaming Laptop - Intel Core i7 with 16GB Memory - NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 - 1TB SSD - Mecha Grey $999.99 at Best BuyWhile the official day isn't until November 29, Black Friday deals have been dropping left and right at top retailers over the past few weeks in anticipation of the sale event. Best Buy, in particular, has plenty available already, from doorbuster deals every Friday to a selection of early Black Friday offerings. Included in their early deals is a fantastic discount on the ASUS TUF gaming laptop, which is worth checking out if you've been looking to make the jump into PC gaming.
Best Buy currently has the ASUS TUF 15.6-inch gaming laptop marked down to $999.99 as part of its early Black Friday deals. This saves you $400 off its list price of $1,399.99, which is a fantastic discount. It's even more worth it given the specs of this laptop.
SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy onlineThis gaming laptop comes fitted with an Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB RAM, a massive 1TB SSD, and a powerful NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card to tackle your favorite games with ease. Its large 15.6-inch display also offers 1920x1080 Full HD resolution with a 144Hz refresh rate. And all of this is packed into a sleek design that's perfect for taking on the go.
Deals like this don't come around very often, so don't miss out on this early Black Friday deal on the ASUS TUF 15.6-inch gaming laptop at Best Buy.
Best Buy's not the only place offering some early Black Friday discounts. Walmart and Target are holding their own sales throughout the month in the lead-up to the big shopping event that are worth checking out. Even Amazon has plenty planned for Black Friday, as they recently revealed when their big sales kick off this month. Make sure to mark your calendar so you don't miss out on this season of savings.
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