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TL;DR: Join Costco as a new Gold Star Member for $65 per year and enroll in auto-renewal to receive a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card by email.
Opens in a new window Credit: Costco Costco 1-Year Gold Star Membership + $20 Digital Costco Shop Card $65If you’ve been thinking about joining Costco, a promotion with StackSocial adds a little extra to your first year. Sign up for a one-year Costco Gold Star Membership ($65), enroll in auto-renewal, and receive a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card to put toward your first warehouse run.
A Gold Star Membership gets you into more than 500 Costco warehouses across the U.S., where you can stock up on bulk groceries, household basics, and Kirkland Signature products. Members can also fill up at the Costco Gas Station and have tires installed at the Costco Tire Center while they shop. If you want to stretch your grocery and gas budget further, that access may help reduce regular household costs. Each membership also includes one Household Card for an individual age 18 or older living at your address.
Here’s how to sign up:
Buy the one-year Costco Gold Star Membership voucher from StackSocial.
Follow the instructions in your confirmation email to activate your membership online. Use a valid email address and enroll in auto-renewal.
Pick up your membership card at your local Costco warehouse, and bring a valid photo identification.
Your Digital Costco Shop Card should arrive by email within two weeks of successful sign-up and auto-renewal enrollment. Use it at the warehouse on groceries and household items you already planned to buy. Just note that the Costco Food Court doesn’t accept it.
Join Costco as a new Gold Star Member for $65 and receive a $20 Digital Costco Shop Card for a limited time.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
If you want to catch every Avengers: Doomsday teaser in Avengers: Endgame Encore, be warned. Not every theater is showing all four extra scenes.
SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Endgame Encore' sets up 'Doomsday' with 4 new scenes. Here's what happens.Instead, only IMAX screenings of Avengers: Endgame Encore are showing all of the extra scenes, along with Infinity Vision theaters. Infinity Vision is not a new film format, but rather a certification program created by Disney to tell audiences which Premium Large Format theaters have met their criteria for an "exceptional" moviegoing experience.
Audiences were disappointed by the fact that IMAX and Infinity Vision screenings of Avengers: Endgame Encore got exclusive content, especially since the missing scene amounts to a good chunk of the extra four minutes tacked on to Avengers: Endgame. In an Aug. 25 press release, Disney did make note of the difference between screenings, writing, "An additional sneak peek at [Avengers: Doomsday] will also be available to audiences who see Avengers: Endgame Encore on IMAX and Infinity Vision-certified screens."
What happens in the exclusive Avengers: Endgame Encore scene?The exclusive Avengers: Endgame Encore scene takes place in the headquarters of the Time Variance Authority (TVA), first introduced in Season 1 of Loki. There, the TVA's Mobius (Owen Wilson), Ouroboros (Ke Huy Quan), and Casey (Eugene Cordero) observe a troubling incursion. Two alternate Earths are about to collide, and they're firing missiles at one another.
From there, the number of incursions multiples. It's not long before thousands of universes are colliding, and the TVA is out of its depth.
"The multiverse is collapsing," Ouroboros says.
It's a foreboding set up for Avengers: Doomsday, one that could explain how the main MCU crosses over with the Fantastic Four's universe and the universe containing Fox's X-Men.
Avengers: Endgame Encore is now in theaters. Avengers: Doomsday hits theaters Dec. 18.
After two years, it appears we're getting a new Kindle. The news comes from leaked photos posted by Roland Quandt on WinFuture, showcasing 25 new photos of a new Kindle. In the photos, there appears to be a redesigned 12th generation of Kindle, an update to its 2024 predecessor.
From the photos, it appears the new Kindle e-reader will come in three different shades: black, light blue, and purple. It also appears that the device received an overall redesign. The most exciting change is something I'd hoped would come to a new batch of Kindles — a redesigned power button.
Here's your first look at the 12th Gen #Amazon #Kindle (s?). New colors, new design, Power button is now on the side. I know there are visual differences in the pics re the display and it's rounded corners. So this might be more than one new device. Official pics: winfuture.de/news,161586....
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In the leaked photos, the power button appears to be on the right side of the device, moved from its former position at the bottom. In my review of the 11th generation Kindle, one of my biggest complaints was its power button design, so a change is greatly appreciated. The 12th generation of Kindle also seems to have a more recessed screen that's flush to the edge, now more closely resembling the Kindle Paperwhite.
In addition to the 12th generation Kindle, we also appear to be getting a new Kindle Kids. While it looks like a standard Kindle, it includes a case and an extended warranty.
All the information we have about the new Kindles is inferred from the leaked photos, as there's been no other information provided with them. We're still waiting to learn more about the device's size, front light, storage space, and waterproof rating, or if any other Kindle devices are getting an update. At this time, we also have no details on the timeline and release of this device.
We suspect the new Kindle will cost $149.99, the recently raised price of the 11th generation of Kindle, but are waiting for Amazon to confirm.
Shop current Kindle models Amazon Kindle $149.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Paperwhite $199.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $199.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Colorsoft $289.99 at Amazon Shop Now Kindle Scribe $549.99 at Amazon Shop NowTL;DR: Encrypt and privately share Windows files with an EncryptPro Personal Plan lifetime subscription for $39.99 (reg. $139).
Opens in a new window Credit: EncyptPro EncryptPro Personal Plan for Windows: Lifetime Subscription $39.99Most file encryption tools make you build a locked vault, then wait while large files are decrypted before you can open them. EncryptPro encrypts files right on your PC and shares them through private PGP connections, and a lifetime subscription is on sale for $39.99 (reg. $139).
EncryptPro works fast and reliably to keep your files private. In testing on a standard machine, EncryptPro encrypted a 10.6GB file in just 35 seconds. Streaming decryption opens large files in seconds, so a 10GB video starts playing right away instead of waiting for the whole file to unlock. Every file and folder gets AES-256 encryption, and the app overwrites each original with zeros and then random data across multiple passes, so no readable copy gets left behind in the Recycle Bin.
SEE ALSO: 15 early October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by our gadget expertsUnlike other security software, you don’t need to open a separate window to use EncryptPro. Right-click any file or folder in Windows Explorer to lock or unlock it. Then just double-click an encrypted file to open it in its usual app. Encrypted folders are still browsable, and custom icons show each file’s group and lock state even when EncryptPro isn’t running.
EncryptPro uses a zero-knowledge setup, so the company can’t access your files, and you can verify that yourself with tools like Wireshark and Glasswire. Nothing gets uploaded or synced to a cloud server. Your encrypted files work from USB drives and external drives, and you can open them offline on any PC.
The Personal Plan adds PGP file sharing with no passwords to email, 5 password-protected Security Groups, and up to 10 one-to-one connections with 2 members each. Upgrade Lock rotates a connection’s keys whenever you want, cutting off anyone who doesn’t get the new password. One master password opens any group, so a forgotten group password won’t lock you out.
Your license works on three devices at once running 64-bit Windows 10 or 11, and future updates are included.
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Anthropic just released Claude Sonnet 5.5, the second model in its Claude 5.5 family. It arrives less than a week after the company launched Claude Opus 5.5.
According to Anthropic's announcement, Sonnet 5.5 runs more than 30 percent faster than Sonnet 5 and costs up to 30 percent less for most work. The company describes it as a lower-cost complement to Opus 5.5, and that Sonnet 5.5 is best suited to well-scoped everyday tasks, such as fixing bugs and producing documents, slides, and spreadsheets. Anthropic said Claude Haiku 5.5 will arrive in the coming weeks.
SEE ALSO: Judge allows most of Reddit's lawsuit against Anthropic to proceed Anthropic benchmarks show big gains over Sonnet 5Anthropic reported that Sonnet 5.5's top score edges out Opus 5.5's, though Opus 5.5 scored higher at every other effort level the company charted. On GDPval-AA v2.1, which measures real-world work across 44 occupations, Sonnet 5.5 scored 1,844. That is two points behind Opus 5.5 and about 400 points ahead of Sonnet 5. The company also said it is the first Sonnet model to beat Pokémon Red, working only from screenshots.
Credit: Anthropic / Mashable screenshotAnthropic cautioned that benchmarks capture only part of a model's abilities. The company said its own testing and outside testing both found Opus 5.5 still clearly stronger at complex, open-ended work.
Early testers cited efficiency gains. In the press release, Slack principal engineer Curtis Allen said Sonnet 5.5 beat Sonnet 5 on nearly all of Slack's offline Slackbot evaluations, finishing "in fewer steps and with about 14% fewer output tokens."
Pricing and availabilityPricing is the same as Sonnet 5:
$2 per million input tokens
$10 per million output tokens
$0.20 per million tokens for cache reads
The input and output rates are half of Opus 5.5's. Anthropic says the lower per-task cost stems from the model requiring fewer tokens to complete the same work.
Sonnet 5.5 is available now on all of Anthropic's platforms, including Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. Developers can access it via the API as claude-sonnet-5-5, with zero data retention. Developers who run Sonnet with thinking off must switch to a new between_tools setting before migrating.
New safeguardsAnthropic said Sonnet 5.5's cybersecurity capabilities are comparable to Opus 5's. For that reason, it is the first Sonnet model to ship with cyber safeguards similar to those on Opus 5.5. Higher-risk cybersecurity requests will visibly fall back to Sonnet 5, while routine bug-fixing is unaffected. Biology safeguards are unchanged from Sonnet 5. Organizations can apply to the Life Sciences Verification Program for broader access. Sonnet 5.5 is also the first Sonnet model to launch with classifiers designed to block distillation attacks, in which bad actors extract a model's capabilities at scale.
On Anthropic's automated behavioral audit of roughly 1,850 scenarios, Sonnet 5.5 matched or improved on Sonnet 5 on most alignment measures. Opus 5.5 still performed slightly better overall. The company acknowledged that no set of evaluations catches every failure.
Flock CEO Garrett Langley is avoiding the public. Last week, as individuals testified to Flock's flaws in front of the U.S. Senate's Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Langley stayed home. He sent a letter in his stead.
But a group of ignited internet users believes the CEO, who runs an $8 billion surveillance technology company advertised as a security solution, should be put on display — and perhaps given a metaphorical swirly.
Using a previously circulated address that reportedly belonged to Langley and was shared online in an effort to doxx the CEO, a new group of anti-Flock users allegedly labeled his home as a public toilet. The reported listing is still unverified.
Others called on each other to share Langley's personal information en masse, including the unconfirmed address, to show what "endless surveillance for no good reason feels like."
SEE ALSO: Three takeaways from the Senate hearing on Flock's camera network"This internet backlash against the Flock CEO hiding his own house while selling surveillance to everyone else is honestly poetic justice. why do tech executives think privacy rules only apply to them," wrote one user on X.
People on social media also noticed images of the address on Google Maps' Street View had been blurred from public view. A privacy feature offered at a homeowner's request, many found the anonymity ironic and began circulating unverified images of the home in response.
"Shame if he gets egged and TP'd on halloween," wrote a different X prankster.
In response to the purported doxxing, a recent thread on the r/AskConservatives subreddit asked, "Does the Flock CEO deserve privacy?"
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Flock is now synonymous with a nationwide surveillance apparatus enabled by the proliferation of Automatic License Plate Readers (ALPRs), used by law enforcement to document, profile, and track drivers regardless of their participation in actual crimes. The anti-ALPR movement has grown exponentially in the last year, culminating in a new bipartisan effort to cancel Flock contracts, regulate their use, or even ban them outright.
Legislators are largely responding to an online movement that has united communities to force Flock out of their towns, often turning to public protest and guerilla tactics to physically remove Flock devices. Over the weekend, for example, the DeFlock America Facebook group — an online gathering place for surveillance opponents — reached a milestone of more than 820,000 members.
The allegations detailed in a former Cornell University student's lawsuit are horrifying. The student, identified in the suit as Jane Doe, alleges that seven fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her in 2024, ultimately prompting her to leave the university. Since she filed the lawsuit, students at Cornell and others beyond the campus have spoken out.
Among them is actress Florence Pugh, who had a message for men in particular:
"This is really the moment where we need our men to be as horrified and as sickened as us. You need to be leading conversations about how we change the allowance and complicity of this behavior as much as we are. How can you expect us to trust that it’s 'not all men' when in moments like this, many of you stay quiet?... Colleges/schools/universities repeatedly fail women around the world. You build men that get taught through time and time again that they can do extreme harm and that they won’t be harmed in return. I’m no longer tired — I'm enraged by schools protecting boys, in fear of their futures being wrecked..."
But after Pugh shared the message with her 10.7 million Instagram followers, some of her anger shifted toward the platform carrying it.
According to Pugh, Instagram placed a "sensitive-content" warning over the post, preventing some followers from swiping through the carousel to read it. In other words, Pugh says Instagram restricted access to the very post she was using to call attention to the allegations.
Screenshot of Florence Pugh's Instagram profile grid, where you can see the grey grid post flagged as sensitive content. Credit: Screenshot: Instagram/@florencepugh"Am I being censored for talking about rape?" she asked. When she tried sharing her statement again, Pugh said Instagram was "blocking me from reaching people."
Meta confirmed to TMZ that Instagram initially placed a sensitive-content label on Pugh's post. "We removed this label upon further review after we determined that it qualified for a newsworthy allowance," a spokesperson said. The post is now visible to adults without restrictions. It is, however, considered "age-restricted content" on the platform.
Instagram does have recommendation rules that can limit how widely certain content is recommended to people who don't already follow an account, even when that content is allowed to remain on the platform. But Meta did not say whether those rules affected the reach of Pugh's post.
Pugh, for her part, had already drawn her own conclusion: "Instagram, at least we can see what side you're on."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.So why did the post receive a warning in the first place? Meta hasn't explained exactly what triggered it. The company's sexual exploitation policy allows victims to share their experiences, while prohibiting content that "depicts, threatens or promotes sexual violence, sexual assault or sexual exploitation." In Pugh's case, Instagram ultimately determined that the post could remain unrestricted under its newsworthy allowance.
SEE ALSO: How to filter sensitive content on InstagramAnd while the Instagram warning has drawn attention of its own, Pugh's original post was about what happened at Cornell and how the university responded.
The lawsuit alleges that some of the accused students received disciplinary measures that included writing essays. Cornell has pushed back on the suggestion that essays were anyone's sole punishment, saying it expelled and suspended students and barred the fraternity from campus.
The allegations are now getting another look beyond the university. After the former student filed her lawsuit, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten reopened the criminal investigation and said he intends to present the case to a grand jury. No criminal charges have been filed.
Pugh isn't the first person to question what happens when Meta's moderation rules get between users and conversations about safety and health, particularly those involving women and marginalized communities. Last year, The Guardian reported that more than 50 organizations focused on abortion access, reproductive health, and LGBTQ+ issues had experienced restrictions or account removals across Meta's platforms.
Fatma Ibrahim of Sex Talk Arabic, for example, said Instagram repeatedly told the organization that posts about sexual health violated its rules and that its page would no longer be recommended to other users. Meta denied targeting the groups because of their advocacy and said it had reinstated more than half of the accounts flagged by campaigners.
People who report sexual assault can already face significant barriers to being heard. As attention around the Cornell allegations continues to grow, Pugh's experience raises a broader question about how Instagram handles those conversations and what its moderation systems deem too sensitive to show.
Professional wrestler Benjamin Satterley, who went by the ring name PAC, passed away at the age of 40 over the weekend, according to All Elite Wrestling.
News of Satterley's death was quite sudden, as he had previously wrestled the opening match of AEW's All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 26, and AEW announced his passing the following day. Satterley's passing also coincided with the celebration of life ceremony for fellow AEW wrestler "The Butcher" Andy Williams, who tragically passed on Sept. 5, 2026.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Satterley, born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, started his wrestling career in 2004, traveling across the world and making his name in promotions such as Ring of Honor, CHIKARA, and Dragongate. Known for his high-flying style, raw athleticism, and technical in-ring ability, Satterley was often called "the man that gravity forgot." He was one of the best to ever do it.
Before signing with AEW in 2019, Satterley joined WWE's developmental program NXT in 2012 under the ring name Adrian Neville, where he would become one-half of the company's inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions and a one-time NXT Champion. In 2015, he was called up to WWE's main roster, shortening his name to Neville and becoming a two-time Cruiserweight Champion.
After leaving WWE, Satterley would join AEW under his original ring name, PAC. Nicknamed "The Bastard," Satterley became the company's inaugural International Champion (originally called the All-Atlantic Championship), a two-time World Trios Champion, and at one point held both titles to become AEW's first double champion.
Outside of his achievements in WWE, AEW, and beyond, Satterley was a beloved figure in pro wrestling, both by fans and his fellow wrestlers.
His Death Riders stablemate Marina Shafir shared an emotional, heartbreaking tribute to Satterley at an indie event. "Listen. He was our bastard. I was just holding this man yesterday," she said. "He was the best. He was the fucking best. You know why? Because he knew himself. He was just so modest about how fascinating he was."
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Wrestlers from various promotions, fans, and even his hometown team Newcastle United have mourned Satterley's passing on social media:
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According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is exploring a redesigned headset that follows the same core philosophy as Meta's, i.e., moving the compute components out of the headset and into an external puck. But the project, code-named N224, is reportedly on life support. It's facing pushback from some senior executives and is unlikely to ship before late 2028, if it ships at all. For now, Apple's attention has moved toward simpler smart glasses without displays.
SEE ALSO: Apple to fix iPhone 18 Pro Face ID bugThe shift comes days after Meta unveiled its VR Glasses at Meta Connect 2026. The $1,299 headset, due in spring 2027, weighs about 100 grams. That's roughly a fifth of Meta's own Quest 3 and a small fraction of the Vision Pro. Gurman, who has used the Vision Pro since launch, argued in his Power On newsletter that Meta's glasses are what Apple's headset should have been.
When the Vision Pro launched in February 2024, it drew attention for its impressive displays and eye-and-hand controls. It also drew complaints about its weight, its price, and a shortage of reasons to wear it beyond watching videos. It was a striking proof of concept, much like Samsung's Galaxy Z TriFold, but more a showcase for enthusiasts than a device for everyday people.
Meta's ability to make their VR headset lighter was simply to move the heavy parts off your face. The processor and battery live in a separate module that clips onto your clothing and connects to the glasses by cable. Gurman reports that the module is about the size and weight of the Vision Pro's external battery pack.
The Vision Pro started at $3,499 and can weigh up to about 800 grams, depending on the headband. Meta chose comfort and price over high-end quality, which is always a winner for consumer buy-in.
Apple saw the problem coming, according to Gurman. Early in development, there was consideration in moving processing to a separate home device, but the team rejected the idea. Since launch, Apple has shelved at least three projects meant to fix the Vision Pro's biggest flaws:
N107: a headset that would have offloaded computing to a Mac or another device.
N100: a "Vision Air" that would have moved more components into an external pack.
N109: a lighter, cheaper model with a less powerful chip.
Gurman reports that some senior Apple leaders believe a separate puck leads to a poor experience and prefer an all-in-one design. However, as Gurman writes, new CEO John Ternus has long been privately skeptical of a headset this heavy and expensive, though he has spoken optimistically about it in public. The Vision hardware team has also been moved lower in Apple's org chart, its former hardware chief left for OpenAI, and the team recently went through layoffs.
Even if Apple does commit, a new headset likely wouldn't arrive before late 2028 or early 2029.
PREORDER NOW: As of Sept. 28, preorder the Boox Picco, a 3.97-inch e-reader. You can purchase the tiny e-reader for $109.99 and get it as soon as it's released in November.
Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Picco E-reader $109.99 at BooxFor months, Boox has been teasing its new tiny e-reader. The Boox Picco was first unveiled in July with an in-person debut at IFA 2026 in Berlin. Now, the device is officially available for preorder.
The Boox Picco is a 3.97-inch e-reader. It's part of the brand's new Tile collection. While Boox's other e-readers like the Palma and Go 6 are classified as tablets, the Picco is a Tile, likely to differentiate between operating systems.
Unlike Boox's tablets, the Picco Tile doesn't have an Android operating system, meaning you can't access any additional apps since there's no Google Play Store. Instead, you'll read from the Picco's native library. It does have some extra apps, including a Pomodoro timer and Todo (a to-do list app). We suspect it'll operate similarly to Xteink e-readers, which are best for DRM-free files. To get files on the Picco, upload them either with a USB-C cable or with the new Boox Tile app.
It's about the size of a deck of cards and can even attach to the back of an iPhone with MagSafe. It has a dual-tone front light so you can adjust both the warmth and brightness. It has a power button plus a page-turning button on the side. There's also a function switch on the side that swaps the device between front light and dark mode.
The Boox Picco retails for $109.99. It's now available for preorder on Boox's site. No exact ship date has been provided, but according to Boox's site, the device will ship in October. However, a Boox representative said it will ship by November.
If you're ready to extend your Boox e-reader collection, preorder the Boox Picco now for $109.99.
Opens in a new window Credit: Boox Boox Picco E-reader $109.99 at BooxDoes the camera on your smartphone matter more than anything else that the device can do?
If so, you might want to check out Honor's new Magic 9 Pro Max.
Seriously. Just take a look at it. Have you ever seen the lenses on any smartphone’s camera bump extend the entire width of the phone?
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max launch. Credit: HonorAs Phone Arena points out, the release of the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max marks the 10th anniversary of the company, which is a subsidiary of Huawei, so it appears they’re going all out.
The phone's camera system was created in partnership with ARRI, the professional cinema camera company that has long been a staple in major motion pictures. ARRI provided image science and camera expertise, which helped Honor develop the camera for the device.
Furthermore, the partnership brings ARRI’s touch to the camera software as well. The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max provides 14 ARRI filter presets along with support for 4K 60fps "Cinema Grade" recording, 10-bit color depth and ARRI Wide Gamut 3.
But, the Magic 9 Pro Max is more than just a partnership with a leading Hollywood camera-maker. The cameras themselves top any other smartphone in the market.
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max sports a whopping 200 MP main camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and a f/1.57 aperture, a 200 MP telephoto camera with 1/1.4-inch sensor and a f/2.6 aperture, and a 50 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.0 aperture. In addition to that, the Magic 9 Pro Max boasts a 55 MP selfie camera as well.
To compare Honor’s latest smartphone with the newest iPhone 18 Pro Max, all three rear cameras on the Apple device top out at 48 MP. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra probably comes the closest with its 200 MP main camera, but the phones’ camera specs differ beyond megapixel count.
SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro hands-on: What's new with the camerasThe main camera on the Honor Magic 9 Pro Max has optical image stabilization rated to the Camera & Imaging Products Association’s CIPA 8.0 standard. In addition, it also boasts 3-degree gimbal-level stabilization, a feature in which the camera can actually move and tilt by up to 3 degrees.
It's not just cinema-grade cameras either. Honor claims that the Magic 9 Pro Max is the first smartphone with a "cinema-grade" directional microphone. The company says it can pick up sound from up to 20 meters away and has audio recording presets to help users capture the sounds that they want and reduce noise from its surroundings.
The phone’s full specs are as follows:
6.8-inch LTPO OLED display, 1–120Hz, 2,000 nits peak brightness
200 MP main camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and a f/1.57 aperture, 200 MP telephoto camera with 1/1.4-inch sensor and a f/2.6 aperture, 50 MP ultra-wide lens with f/2.0 aperture, 55 MP selfie camera
Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Up to 16 GB RAM, up to 1 TB storage
8,800 mAh silicon-carbon battery
MagicOS 11 based on Android 17
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max looks like a beast for smartphone camera aficionados. Unfortunately, however, Honor’s devices are not officially sold in the U.S. So, if you really want one, you’ll have to go through third parties and import it yourself.
The Honor Magic 9 Pro Max launches today in China and retails for approximately $970 USD.
If you've ever had a lingering curiosity wondering if PlayStation games can be played on an Xbox, well, they can. Technically.
A modder named Devran Cosmo Uenal has built an early version of a PS5 emulator for the Xbox Series X, according to Boy Genius Report. The project, called PS5X, can already run a small selection of PS5 games on Microsoft's console, though not especially smoothly.
For context, an emulator is software that imitates another device's hardware. Consoles are essentially specialized computers, and their games are built to run on that specific hardware. An emulator tricks a game into thinking it's running on the machine it was made for, even when it's actually on a PC, a phone, or, in this case, a rival console.
Emulation sits in murky legal territory. In the U.S., emulators themselves are generally legal because building software that emulates a console's hardware isn't illegal in itself. However, downloading copies of a video game you don't own is copyright infringement.
PS5X is a port of KytyPS5, an open-source PS5 emulator for PC. Uenal adapted it to run on the Xbox Series X. BGR reports that the Xbox version lags behind the PC original but already produces impressive results for such an early project.
SEE ALSO: Xbox lays off more than 250 employees amid studio restructuringsEarly is the keyword here, as the list of games PS5X can play is very short. Uenal's YouTube channel shows a PS5X game library that includes Gex Trilogy, Hellboy: Web of Wyrd, Marvel Cosmic Invasion, and Quake 2. These are smaller titles, which are usually the first to work on a new emulator. BGR says they're playable but not polished, with minor glitches and performance problems. In Uenal's footage, Quake 2 swings between roughly 20 and 40 frames per second, well short of the steady frame rate players expect.
BGR notes that bigger games may follow soon. A recent interface update from Uenal shows Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time, Grand Theft Auto 5, and Gran Turismo 7 in his library, which BGR reads as evidence that the games are being tested. The biggest hurdle is graphics. KytyPS5 draws its visuals using Vulkan, a graphics system widely used on PCs. The Xbox doesn't support Vulkan. It uses Microsoft's own system, DirectX.
PS5X should improve as the PC version does, since it's built on KytyPS5. The PC emulator has advanced quickly in recent months. According to BGR, it can now run Astro Bot and Demon's Souls without crashing, though often at single-digit frame rates, and GTA 5 is fairly playable on high-end PCs.
PS5X hasn't been released to the public. When it is, BGR reports that Xbox owners will be able to install it by switching their console into developer mode, a setting Microsoft offers for testing homemade software.
Selling a keyboard on Facebook Marketplace can involve a lot of messages. That sounds like a reasonable job to hand to an AI assistant — until it reportedly agrees to a price, gives out your address, and tells the buyer you’re home, all without checking with you first.
That's what Matt J. Robb says happened after he let Meta's AI agent Muse handle a Marketplace listing. In a post on Threads, Robb said the agent accepted a low offer and shared his address without telling him. By the time he learned what had happened, the prospective buyer had already come to his building and left.
So muse handled my Facebook marketplace today. Just found out it told people my address and agreed a lowball price and then they showed up without it even telling me until late tonight that it messed up.
Absolutely wild.
A screenshot Robb shared shows Muse telling him the buyer arrived around 9:15 p.m. and waited for more than 20 minutes. According to the assistant’s own account, it sent an automatic reply saying "Yep, I’m here!" while Robb was unavailable. Muse said it had since apologized to the buyer from Robb's account and offered to try again another day. Robb responded by telling Muse never to arrange a pickup without checking with him first.
Credit: Screenshot/Threads: @matt.j.robbDavid Singleton of the Muse team said he had contacted Robb to investigate. "In the past, when we’ve worked with users to investigate similar reports, we’ve consistently learned that Muse was following direct instructions and correctly asked for permission," he wrote on X. "Would love to help and figure out what’s going on here!"
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Robb disputes the suggestion that Muse asked for permission in his case. In an update on X, he said Muse didn’t ask him about the sale until the buyer showed up. He added that he lives in a security-gated apartment building and warned others to be careful about giving an AI agent control over in-person transactions. The screenshots he shared show the buyer messaging to confirm Robb was available, then complaining that he had driven for half an hour and nobody had come down.
The account has made at least one other user reconsider trusting Muse. Gizmodo senior editor Ray Wong wrote on X that he deleted the app after seeing Robb's post, calling the situation "dangerous and creepy." Wong also raised the concern of what an unexpected visit to someone’s home could mean for a woman.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.And this isn't the first time someone has alleged Muse crossed a boundary they thought they’d set. Inc. columnist Jason Aten reported that Muse brought up a private conversation after he believed he had declined access to his messages. When he asked how Muse knew about the exchange, Aten said the agent’s explanation didn’t match what he found on his Mac. "Snooping through the private database of messages on my Mac doesn’t feel safe or private to me," he wrote. "Lying about it isn’t great either."
Meta introduced Muse earlier this month as a personal AI agent that can work across connected apps, negotiate on a user’s behalf, and continue working after the app is closed. The company says Muse checks with users before sensitive actions and gives them control over which services it can access.
SEE ALSO: 10 ways to use Meta's Muse AI app, from flight credits to outfit ideasThat promise is precisely why accounts like these are unsettling. Whatever an investigation finds about Muse’s permissions, an assistant arranging an in-person meeting surely needs to make sure the person it represents knows it’s happening, don't you think?
SpaceX's Starship reached orbit for the first time on Monday, surviving an early engine shutdown during ascent, and then cutting its test flight short.
The giant rocket lifted off at 7:48 a.m. local time from Starbase, Texas. Moments later, one of the six engines on Starship's upper stage, known as the ship, quit firing. At first, SpaceX flight controllers seemed to be leaning toward calling off the push to orbit, with host Dan Huot providing live commentary as they weighed the decision.
But after studying the data, they polled "go" for the orbital insertion engine burn. A single engine fired for a few seconds and pushed the ship fast enough to stay in space.
"That's the first time we've ever said that in this program: 'Go for orbit,'" said Jake Berkowitz, a SpaceX lead propulsion engineer. "That is a really, really cool thing to hear and obviously means quite a bit for the remainder of this mission."
Reaching orbit moves Starship from a series of shorter test flights toward sustained flight around Earth. Until Monday, every Starship flight followed a short arc that used gravity to drop the ship back into the ocean. In orbit, a spacecraft moves so fast that Earth curves away beneath it as quickly as gravity pulls it down, keeping it aloft to circle the planet. The milestone advances Starship's development toward refueling in space and full reusability, which SpaceX needs for its plans to fly to the moon and Mars. But the test, which was supposed to see the ship circle Earth six times before returning, ended about three hours into flight, without a clear explanation.
SEE ALSO: A Mars crater wasn't just a lake. That could change the hunt for life.The engine shutdown was the first obstacle. Huot told viewers the team had decided "not to commit to orbit" and would send the ship down in the Indian Ocean instead. Then he said controllers were reassessing the situation.
The engine that quit belonged to a set built for the thin air of space, and the ship didn't need that set for the rest of the flight. The team focused on the ship's three center engines — the ones it needs to reach orbit and later leave it. Those engines continued to look healthy, Huot said.
Starship coasts through space around Earth before its orbital insertion engine burn on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshot"You're getting this in real time as I'm starting to see it," he said, "so we are not giving up yet."
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Before the ship reached orbit, the rocket's first stage, a booster called Super Heavy, also did its job. It flipped, fired its engines to head back toward Texas, and made what the hosts called a soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. That was an improvement over the previous flight this summer, in which the booster hit the water hard.
Starship fires its orbital insertion burn successfully during its 14th test flight on Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. Credit: SpaceX / X screenshotAfter reaching orbit, the test was meant to continue for about nine more hours. The mission would conclude by relighting a single engine to slow down and drop out of orbit. Instead, flight controllers took the first available deorbit opportunity to bring the ship back to Earth. The test lasted about three hours. Commentators did not immediately share a reason for the decision.
The ship is expected to plunge back through the atmosphere, where its exterior will heat to thousands of degrees, relying on heat-resistant tiles for protection. SpaceX added extra pins to hold tiles in place and closed gaps where superheated gas had slipped behind them on the last flight.
If all goes as planned, Starship will splash down in the Pacific Ocean far off the coast of Chile. Despite the early return, hosts called the test "wildly successful."
Another Amazon Prime Day is upon us. Well, kind of. Prime Big Deal Days, which runs from Oct. 6 through Oct. 7, isn't quite as massive as Amazon's flagship summer sale, but it serves as an unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season.
Casually called October Prime Day, the fall sale features deals on all sorts of tech — just like Prime Day proper. TVs, in particular, tend to see pretty big price drops now that new models have been on the market for about six months. In other words, if you're in need of a new TV, you can find a 2026 model for a steal during October Prime Day.
We've rounded up the best early October Prime Day TV deals from brands like LG, Hisense, Samsung, and Amazon Fire TV that you can shop now, including several options already under $500. But be sure to check back as the official Prime Big Deal Days sale nears for even more hefty discounts.
Best budget TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch 4-Series 4K TV $279.99 at AmazonAs much as we might drool over Sony's new flagship Bravia 7 II True RGB TV, when it comes time to actually add a TV to our shopping cart, we often have to lower our expectations. The good news: TVs are among the few tech products that have gotten cheaper over the past five years, and even budget TVs offer fairly impressive displays and sound.
The Amazon Ember 4-Series is a good starter TV if you're on a budget, and that's why it's one of the best October Prime Day TV deals we've found so far. Despite clocking in at under $300, this 55-inch TV has a 4K HDR10+ display, WiFi 6 support, a speedy quad-core processor, and doubles as an Alexa smart speaker. If you're already in the Amazon ecosystem and OLEDs aren't in your budget, don't overthink this one.
Best OLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-inch C6 OLED 4K TV $1,499.99 at AmazonOLED TVs are known for their elite contrast and often extreme price tags. However, the LG C6 is what Mashable's TV expert calls the "best affordable OLED TV," compared to competitors' prices. It's also her top pick for an OLED TV for most people. It features inky blacks, stark contrast (of course), improved audio, peak brightness, and a higher refresh rate than its predecessor, and overall, incredible picture quality. At just under $1,600, the 65-inch model is over $1,000 cheaper than its list price ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. We've actually seen it drop even lower before, so we'll be keeping an eye out as the official sale nears.
Best QLED TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch U7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV $847.99 at AmazonThe Hisense U7 series delivers Mini-LED performance you'd expect on higher-priced models. It packs a 165Hz refresh rate, 2.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos audio, a Google TV with a Gemini interface, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. Its backlighting features full-array local dimming as well, which means clusters of tiny LED bulbs precisely control brightness levels within specific sections of your screen for more accuracy and depth. The U7 is a step up from our favorite budget TV of 2026, but with this massive price drop, it's actually a much better deal. At $847.99, the 65-inch model is already $2 cheaper than it was on Prime Day proper back in June.
Best art TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV $499.99 at AmazonIf you want an aesthetic TV that doubles as artwork on your wall, but don't quite have the budget for Samsung's The Frame, Amazon's new Ember Artline TVs are a solid alternative. The 55-inch model is on sale for less than $500 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, which is 44% off and its best price on record. While Amazon's art TV isn't quite as impressive in the specs department as Samsung's, it does offer a free art gallery and a wide selection of frame options at no extra cost. It's not our top pick at full price, but at $400 off? It's hard to pass up.
Best Roku TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV $449.99 at AmazonNot everyone is a fan of the Fire TV ecosystem, and we get it. I'm a Roku fan, and this deal on the 65-inch Roku Plus Series TV shaves $200 off ahead of October Prime Day. While I do think we could see an even better price as the official sale nears, this is still a solid discount that puts a 65-inch Mini-LED QLED in your living room for less than $500. Mini-LED backlighting and local dimming enable finer tuning of the bright, detailed 4K QLED display. It also features Dolby Atmos sound, Roku Smart Picture, and a delightfully simple interface.
More early October Prime Day TV dealsUnder 50-inch TV dealsInsignia 40-inch F40 HD TV — $99 $119.99 (save $20.99)
Roku 43-Inch Select Series 4K TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Amazon Ember 40-inch 2-Series HD TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Amazon Ember 43-inch 4-Series 4K TV — $199.99 $329.99 (save $130)
Sony 48-inch Bravia 6 OLED 4K TV — $1,098 $1,299.99 (save $201.99)
Insignia 50-inch F50 4K TV — $159.99 $299.99 (save $140)
Samsung 55-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $299.99 $347.99 (save $48)
Hisense 55-inch E6 Hi-QLED 4K TV — $299.99 $429.99 (save $130)
Amazon Ember 55-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $819.99 (save $370)
Hisense 50-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $699.99 (save $250)
Amazon Ember 55-inch Omni QLED 4K TV — $489.99 $589.99 (save $100)
Amazon Ember 55-inch Artline QLED 4K TV — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400)
Samsung 55-inch The Frame LS03F QLED 4K TV — $747.99 $1,097.99 (save $350)
Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $797.99 $1,299.99 (save $502)
LG 55-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $899.99 $1,299.99 (save $400)
Insignia 65-inch QF Series QLED 4K TV — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
Roku 65-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV — $449.99 $649.99 (save $200)
Hisense 65-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $597.99 $999.99 (save $402)
Amazon Ember 65-inch Omni QLED 4K TV — $709.99 $849.99 (save $140)
Amazon Ember 65-inch Artline QLED 4K TV — $799.98 $1,099.99 (save $300.01)
Amazon Ember 65-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $799.99 $1,089.99 (save $290)
Toshiba 65-inch G700 ArtVision QLED 4K TV — $1,097.99 $1,999.99 (save $902)
LG 65-inch LX7B Gallery Mini LED 4K TV — $1,099.99 $1,799.99 (save $700)
Hisense 65-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,197.99 $1,999.99 (save $802)
Samsung 65-inch S85H OLED 4K TV — $1,397.99 $1,999.99 (save $602)
TCL 65-inch QM8L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,697.99 $2,499.99 (save $802)
Sony 65-inch Bravia 8 II QD QLED 4K TV — $2,498 $3,299.99 (save $801.99)
Samsung 75-inch M70H Mini-LED 4K TV — $547.99 $729.99 (save $182)
Amazon Ember 75-inch Omni QLED 4K TV — $989.99 $1,199.99 (save $210)
Amazon Ember 75-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $999.99 $1,499.99 (save $500)
Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Hi-QLED Mini-LED 4K TV — $1,297.99 $1,999.99 (save $702)
Amazon Ember 85-inch Omni Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $1,759.99 $2,099.99 (save $340)
Hisense 85-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,998.99 $3,999.99 (save $2,001)
Hisense 100-inch E7 Mini-LED Hi-QLED 4K TV — $1,996.97 $2,999.99 (save $1,003.02)
Hisense 100-inch U7 Mini-LED ULED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $2,999.99 (save $502)
TCL 98-inch QM7L SQD-Mini-LED QLED 4K TV — $2,497.99 $3,999.99 (save $1,502)
SAVE $200: As of Sept. 28, the 85-inch TCL QM6K Series Mini-LED 4K TV is on sale for $897.99 at Amazon. Down from its typical price of $1,097.99, that's its best-ever price.
Opens in a new window Credit: TCL TCL 85-Inch Class QM6K Series Mini LED QLED 4K HDR TV $897.99 at AmazonIf you have been waiting to turn your living room into a private movie theater, Amazon just dropped a record-low deal on a massive screen. The 85-inch TCL QM6K Series Mini-LED 4K Smart TV is currently marked down to $897.99 from its typical $1,097.99 price tag. That is an 18% discount that knocks $200 off, bringing this latest-model display down to its best price ever.
Getting an 85-inch screen under the $900 mark is already a steal, but what makes this deal special is that TCL didn't skimp on picture quality to keep the price low. Instead of using old-school giant backlights that make dark scenes look washed-out and grey, this model packs thousands of microscopic LEDs directly behind the glass. Because these tiny lights can dim or brighten independently, bright objects stay sharp while dark backgrounds remain genuinely dark, preventing bright light from leaking into the dark corners of the screen.
SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime in time for the next Prime DayIt is also built to handle fast movement without turning into a blurry mess. The screen can refresh its picture up to 144 times every second, which means fast-moving footballs, racing cars, and current-gen video games stay buttery smooth. Whatever you choose to watch, the TV automatically adjusts its picture settings to match the exact movie or show format you are streaming, making sure colors pop without looking fake or overly harsh.
Rounding out the package is built-in Google TV software, which means all your favorite streaming apps like Netflix, Prime Video, and YouTube are on one easy-to-use home screen. You can control the TV using the included voice remote with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa commands, and the onboard speakers are tuned by audio brand Onkyo with spatial surround sound built right in, so dialogue stays clear without requiring an immediate soundbar purchase.
Head to Amazon to score TCL's massive 85-inch Mini-LED 4K TV at its record-low price before it sells out.
TL;DR: Watch Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly for free on Network 10. Access this free livestream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Nations League action continues this week with a number of interesting fixtures, but there's another high-profile fixture taking place on the other side of the world. Australia are facing off against Brazil for the second time in a week, just days after they drew 1-1 at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
If you're interested in watching Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.
When is Australia vs. Brazil?Australia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly kicks off at 6 a.m. ET on Sept. 29. This fixture takes place at the Suncorp Stadium.
How to watch Australia vs. Brazil for freeAustralia vs. Brazil in an International Friendly is available to live stream for free on Network 10.
Network 10 is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free by following these simple steps:
Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice
Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia
Visit Network 10
Watch Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Australia vs. Brazil without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this fixture before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for Network 10?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Network 10, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries, including Australia
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices, including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to 10 simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.
Live stream Australia vs. Brazil for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: According to reports, Pokémon cards will return to McDonald's Happy Meals from Nov. 5. Each Happy Meal order will include a four-card booster pack, with 15 cards available to collect in total.
It looks like Pokémon cards are officially returning to McDonald’s Happy Meals in the U.S. Mark your calendars for Nov. 5, because collectors have got a month to complete the latest 15-card set.
According to reports from PokéBeach, the limited-time promotion will run through Dec. 9. Each Happy Meal order will include a four-card booster pack featuring three standard cards and one guaranteed holofoil. It's going to be chaos.
Here's everything we know about the upcoming drop, what to expect in the packs, and how to score the cards.
When do Pokémon Happy Meals drop at McDonald's?If reports are true, the U.S. promotion will run from Nov. 5 to Dec. 9. If Target's recent Pokémon event was anything to go by, expect high demand from launch.
What will the Pokémon Happy Meal booster packs include?We don't expect McDonald’s to change a winning formula. As usual, each Happy Meal will contain three regular cards and one foil card. There will be 15 cards to collect, including six holo cards printed on confetti holofoil. Unfortunately, we don't know which cards will be featured just yet.
How to get the cards (without feeding the scalpers)If you are trying to complete a full 15-card binder set without buying 50 Happy Meals, keep these tips in mind:
Ask to buy extra booster packs separatelySome locations allow you to purchase additional Happy Meal toy/card packs individually at the register (typically around $1.99 to $2.99 each) without purchasing a full meal, though rules vary by location.
Avoid third-party reseller markupsComplete 15-card sets and individual holos usually flood secondary markets hours after launch, often dropping significantly in price after the initial opening-weekend hype cools down.
Shop online alternativesIf in-person stock dries up, official Pokémon 30th Anniversary TCG sets are actively restocking online. In fact, you can find Pokémon 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Boxes for under market price right now at Amazon.
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