Mashable

Spooky season is upon us, so what better time to wear your friend's skin as a costume?

Want to experience the freaky fun of the body-swap thriller It's What's Inside firsthand? We get it. Out of SXSW, Mashable contributor Siddhant Adlakha praised writer/director Greg Jardin's jaw-dropping film as "a ludicrous, metaphysical midnight romp that forces its ensemble to look at each other — and at themselves — in surprising ways."

Following this wild movie's Netflix debut, the streaming service has launched It's What's Inside: The Game, in which you can walk in the shoes of suitcase-toting Forbes and his crew of dramatic college friends. The Mashable crew played it, and the results were hilarious and horrifying!

But how does this game work? Thankfully, there's no sketchy suitcase involved. According to Netflix: "Using cutting-edge technology, you’ll swap faces and voices with each other as you try to guess who is in whose body. Head-spinning? Absolutely. Nerve-wracking? You bet. But don’t worry, the game is totally safe. Your friendships, however, might not be." Dun dun dunnnn!

Are you game?

How to play It's What's Inside: The Game Credit: Netflix

All you'll need is a laptop or desktop computer (mobile devices can't participate), three to five friends, and 15 minutes of free time.

The It's What's Inside: The Game site offers a tutorial and private rooms so you can experience the thrills of this mind-bending movie in an exhilarating new way. But how do you swap bodies? The site invites you to take a selfie and record two minutes of audio, so your friends can essentially use your face and voice as a filter within the game.

Don't worry about your data. Mashable has confirmed with Netflix that "players’ likenesses and voices are accessed for the game, but they will not be stored or used beyond that. Once the game is over, that data is deleted immediately." 

Here's how to play It's What's Inside: The Game:

Visit www.itswhatsinsidegame.com — the Chrome browser is recommended for best results. 

There, clicking the Start Game button will prompt you to accept terms and conditions. Click "Next" to accept, and you'll be offered a code, which you can share with your friends to build your private playroom. From there, you'll be instructed to record audio from a creepy script and take a selfie. Here are some tips for the best user experience in recording your audio: 

• Allow the site access to your microphone.

• Make sure you’re in a quiet space with low background noise.

• Speak clearly like you’re having a conversation with a friend.

• Scroll as you normally would to reveal more of the script you need to read.

• Once you’ve seen the "recording complete" prompt, click the Next button.

From there, you'll take your selfie using your computer's camera. Here are Netflix's tips for the best user experience: 

• Don’t lean in too close to the camera, and make sure you take your photo in a position that you’re comfortable in. You’ll need to stay in a similar position when you swap bodies with your friends. 

• Note: There’s a small flash of soft yellow light when we take your photo.

While the site gets to work swapping your virtual bodies, you'll watch a brief tutorial video on how gameplay works. You'll take turns answering question prompts as your friends. As they answer, you can guess who's who by placing their "Polaroid" (selfie) on the board over their new identity. The player with the most correct guesses and the player who tricked the most players will win.

Before entering your private playroom, the game will notify you which "body" you've swapped into, so you know who to act like. Once everyone is ready, the host will click the Start Game button.

Tips to win at It's What's Inside: The Game Credit: Netflix

Here are more tips from Netflix on how to get the best experience out of It's What's Inside: The Game: 

Once we drop you all into the game, we’ll give you about 20 seconds to get familiar with your new face, and all your friends' new faces. Use this time to get your body and face in a good spot so that your body swap is convincing. Once that 20 seconds is up, it’s time to get into Q&A.

Try replicating the image your friend took, the way they positioned their body, their face in frame, the angle of their head. The better you match that image, the better your swap will be.

Note: you will be muted until it’s your turn to speak in the Q&A. Everyone will answer the same question that shows up on the top of the screen. You will be unmuted when it’s your turn to answer, and then placed back on mute when your turn has ended.

Keep an eye out for the bright green prompt that will tell you when it’s your turn to answer. Also, the timer at the top will show you how long you have left to answer the question. If you end up not using the whole 20 seconds, feel free to click the End Turn Early button.

At any time throughout the Q&A, if you think you know who’s who, then drag their Polaroid onto the body they’re hiding in. Gameplay will last for 10 minutes. At the end of the 10 minutes, all will be revealed, and you’ll be able to see who was in whose body. Everyone will be revealed one by one, and you’ll be able to talk freely over a video call.

After you’ve all been revealed, we’ll move on to the post-game lobby, and you’ll see the final scores. You’ll have roughly 5 mins to talk through the scores. For one minute, you’ll be able to see who was the best guesser and best imposter. For the remainder of the time on the clock, you’ll be able to see the group scores and who guessed who.

You can exit the game at any point by clicking the Finish Game button. Once you’ve finished the game, you’ll be able to download a shareable asset that you can share on social media.

Play it while you can. It's What's Inside: The Game will be live from Oct. 9-14. It's What's Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

Running is really important to me. I try to get out of the house and hit the road at least three times a week. It's therapy in the form of sweat and chafe, and I keep coming back for more.

Things have changed considerably since I was a skinny boy competing for my school in local cross country events. Back then I bounced around the park in nothing but my school uniform and sneakers. There were no carbon-plated running shoes giving me an extra few seconds per mile. No running watch tracking my pace and heartrate. And definitely no supplements giving me an edge over the competition. Things were probably better back then, but I won't deny that I'm very much into anything that promises to make me just a little bit faster.

And I am fast, OK? I can run a 5K in under 18 minutes, so I feel confident in my ability to recommend the products that will actually make a difference. I'm not just some guy with all the gear and no idea. I have at least some idea of what I'm doing. And just to be very clear, there's nothing humble about that brag. I will race you.

The problem with the best running gear is that it doesn't exactly come cheap. And that's why you should target major shopping events (like Prime Day) to stock up on everything you need to shave some seconds off your PB, speed up your recovery, improve your levels of comfort, and look your best when plodding around town.

As Mashable's Global Shopping Editor, I have spent the last six years investigating what constitutes a genuinely good deal. This year, I have put together this quick list of the best Prime Day deals for runners, based on years of expertise.

Best for workouts: Garmin Running Watch Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 55 $168.99 at Amazon
$200.00 Save $31.01 Get Deal

I avidly follow a few running YouTubers, in an effort to glean some pearls of wisdom that can bring my times down. Something they all seem to agree on at the moment is that Coros running watches are the best in the business. I'm not saying those professional athletes are wrong, but I'm all about Garmin.

And I also firmly believe that if you're just running, you don't need a smartwatch with all the bells and whistles. You need something that focuses on the metrics that matters, like the Garmin Forerunner 55. I've been using this running watch for a couple of years now, and it has never let me down. The GPS is speedy to connect and reliable, the watch face is easy to read (even when your vision is blurred), and you can easily add personalized workouts through the Garmin Connect app.

Best for comfort: Danish Endurance Socks Opens in a new window Credit: Danish Endurance Danish Endurance Long Distance Running Socks $21.21 at Amazon
$24.95 Save $3.74 Get Deal

The best thing I can say about these socks is that you forget all about them, even on those really long runs that seem like a good idea on a Sunday morning. I've always been someone who struggles with blisters and random running-induced foot wounds, but no more!

Danish Endurance socks were introduced to me by a friend who doesn't run, so I guess they are a versatile option as well. I only wear these socks for running, and I can attest to the fact that they are comfortable on long runs, offer effective protection against blisters, and are light enough for those moments when you want to push the pace.

Best for convenience: MVRK Running Pack Opens in a new window Credit: MVRK MVRK Water Resistant Chest Pack $27.99 at Amazon
$44.99 Save $17.00 Get Deal

Once upon a time, I didn't bring my phone out with me on runs. But that was before I became a big Podcast runner. There's nothing that can take your mind off the mild discomfort of a run like the grizzly descriptions of a murder. And even after I started always listening to something while running, I opted for the armband approach. I was a caveman.

Nowadays I keep my phone, bank card, keys, and maybe a gel in a MVRK Water Resistant Chest Pack. Unlike the armband, this chest pack feels like an extension of my body. And unlike some other running packs I've tried, this model comes with actual zips. I'm fed up with velcro that deteriorates over time. Bring back the humble zip.

Best for indoors: NordicTrack Treadmill Opens in a new window Credit: NordicTrack NordicTrack T Series $479.00 at Amazon
$599.00 Save $120.00 Get Deal

I don't actually own a treadmill, so I can't speak to my experience of using the NordicTrack T Series. What I can say is that I have access to a basement that would be absolutely perfect for a treadmill. At least, that's what I say to myself when I look out the door and it's pouring with rain. And if I do eventually take the plunge and purchase a treadmill, I am likely to go with NordicTrack. I'm not willing to spend thousands on a Peloton, and NordicTrack is a reliable name in fitness tech.

The NordicTrack T Series promises heart-pounding studio workouts and trainer-guided workouts from around the globe, so you can run along the beaches of Hawaii instead of through the mean streets of my home town.

SAVE OVER $170: As of Oct. 9, the iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO robot vacuum is on sale for $249.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 40% on the regular list price of $420.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO $249.99 at Amazon
$420.00 Save $170.01 Get Deal

October Prime Day is made for picking up the kind of luxury items that you can’t always justify buying. One such luxury item is a smart robot vacuum cleaner. We’d all love one for a robot maid to do our dirty work around the home, but they’re not exactly cheap. Even budget Roombas like the i3+ EVO are priced at $400 or more. Fortunately, Amazon's got a great deal on a high-end model from iRobot, one of the leading names in robot vacuum cleaner technology.

The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is currently discounted to $249.99 for a markdown of 40% from the list price. That’s $170.01 back in your pocket as you put your feet up and let the robot vacuum get on with the housework. But don’t dawdle on this deal. Oct. 9 is the final day of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days. Be sure to check out our live blog for real-time updates as the sale comes to a close.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day deals on robot vacuums

The iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO is packed with technology that will make your life easier and your home cleaner. It’s fully compatible with Alexa and has smart mapping, automatic emptying, and advanced navigation features.

Usually priced at $429, this self-emptying robovac is one of the most affordable smart Roomba vacuums — and you can get it on sale for a little while longer. Remember: October Prime Day ends at midnight PT, so take advantage of this 40% deal while you can.

SAVE OVER $69.96: As of Oct. 9, the Beats Studio Buds are on sale for $79.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 47% on the regular list price of $149.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Beats Studio Buds $79.99
$149.95 Save $69.96 Get Deal

If there’s one gadget we all need in this modern and Bluetooth-connected world, it’s a pair of high-quality earbuds. (Oh, and a smartphone. And a laptop. Okay, so maybe more than one thing.) And if great-sounding audio is a priority — and why wouldn’t it be? — then Beats products should be on your radar. The Apple brand makes stylish headphones that produce exceptional-sounding music. That’s why the Beats Studio Buds are an absolute steal this October Prime Day.

You can currently pick up the Beats Studio Buds for the discounted price of $79.99, which gives you a massive saving from the list price of $149.95. We used to get excited when these buds dropped to $100. After closely watching their price history on Amazon, we can confirm they're once again at their lowest-ever price. (Technically, they're $0.04 shy of a record low, but we're counting it.)

And don’t forget: Oct. 9 is the last day of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days, aka October Prime Day, so don’t miss your chance to snap up these noise-cancelling earbuds and save yourself more than $69.

SEE ALSO: The new Apple AirPods Max 2 just got their first discount for October Prime Day

Beats Studio Buds are true wireless earbuds that have active noise cancellation and transparency mode, which allows certain ambient sounds through at your discretion, such as other people’s voices. They also offer spatial audio and one-touch pairing with iOS devices.

They’re Apple-made but compatible with both Apple and Android — and a bargain no matter which brand of smartphone you use. As a bonus, you’ll also get three months of Apple Music absolutely free with your purchase. Everything’s controlled by the buds themselves — just give them a tap.

If you want to keep track of the best savings, follow our live blog for up-to-the-minute coverage of all the latest October Prime Day deals at Amazon and beyond.

It's autumn, meaning it's time for Gilmore Girls marathons, pumpkin lattes, and cuffing season. Cuffing season, a phrase from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE), is the time of year when (in the northern hemisphere) temperatures dip and daters may be more apt to settle down and cuddle with one person for those cold winter months, as opposed to playing the field.

SEE ALSO: Welcome to the 'Lover Girl' dating era. It's time to embrace romance.

To help prepare you for cuffing season, dating app Hinge has created a guide to first dates. Do you want a quick date, or are you down to devote more time? Indoors or outdoors? Activity or conversation-based? This logic tree has you covered:

Hinge's easy guide for first date ideas. Credit: Hinge

Hinge's director of relationship science, Logan Ury, shared tips with Mashable on having fun first dates this season:

• Don't put too much pressure on a first date. You're just meeting this person, don't jump into wondering whether you'll marry them. But if you think you'll feel anxious regardless, you can take pressure off by including a "third object." A "third object" is something other than you and your date to talk about, like art at a museum.

• Try a group setting. This might also lessen the stress of speaking to one person all night, and Ury recommended this so you can see how your date interacts with other people. "This is a great way to get a sense of those hard-to-measure qualities that are so important, like kindness," she said.

• Customize the date based on your match's interest. If they mention an activity or drink in their bio, you'll show interest by suggesting a first date that includes that interest.

Ultimately — and this might be difficult — have fun. Not every first date is going to turn into a cuddle buddy, but hopefully, you'll have one once winter begins.

SAVE $703: As of Oct. 9, the LG 55-Inch OLED evo TV is on sale for $1,296.99 at Amazon. That's a discount of 35% on the retail price of $1,999.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 55-Inch OLED evo TV $1,296.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $703.00 Get Deal

The mighty television set is always one of the most sought-after items during big sales such as October Prime Day. Because who doesn’t love a great TV? You know, the thing that all your furniture points toward. We're following all the latest deals (including TV deals), in our Prime Day live blog, but one LG TV deal in particular deserves a callout.

The 55-inch LG C4 evo OLED 4K Smart TV is discounted by more than $700 on Oct. 9, the final day of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days shopping event. And you can save even more by opting for the 65-inch model, which is 45% off as of this writing. This is the best LG TV deal of October Prime Day, so don't miss out.

The C4 OLED TV comes from a fine pedigree of award-winning TVs. The C3, C2, and C1 of years past all won numerous "best OLED TV" awards, and the C4 is widely considered by reviewers to be the top contender of 2024. The premium 4K smart TV is currently discounted to $1,296.99, 35% less than the normal list price. Here at Mashable, we keep a close eye on the Amazon price history for big products, and we can confirm this is the lowest price ever seen for the 55-inch version of the TV.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day TV deals are on Fire TVs

This isn’t any old television set. As we already mentioned, LG has a well-earned reputation for making the best OLED TVs in the world, year after year. It’s fully smart, with Alexa built-in for voice control, and it comes equipped with an AI-powered magic remote. Not only that, there’s Doly Atmos and Vision, plus access to 300+ free digital channels and features for gaming. And, of course, a high-end OLED display with incredible color.

This October Prime Day deal will allow you to upgrade the centerpiece of your home cinema setup. And just at the right time of year, as you get ready to binge holiday season TV shows and movies.

And don’t wait around on this LG TV deal. Remember: Oct. 9 is the final day of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days.

SAVE $350: As of Oct. 9, the Samsung The Frame 55-Inch TV is on sale for $667.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 41% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung The Frame 55-Inch TV $977.99 at Amazon
$1,645.98 Save $667.99 Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day is the perfect chance to secure incredible deals, and we at Mashable have been keeping an eye on which deals are worth your time and which aren't. We've seen incredible deals across laptops, earbuds, and TVs, but one of the best offers we've seen is the discounted Samsung Frame TV.

A stylish and aesthetic TV, the Samsung device has long been famous for its ability to camouflage as a painting on your wall. The 4K QLED display gives you a stellar viewing experience when bingeing your favorite shows, before giving you an amazing artwork image when not watching. Special mention to the matte finish, reducing reflections and making your displayed images pop even more.

Artwork aside, it also features a Tizen smart interface for a user-friendly experience for navigating apps and settings, voice control compatibility with Alexa and Google Assistant, and multiple HDMI ports and USB connections.

As of Oct. 9, you can purchase this TV for $977.99, an incredible 41% discount. Not only is this the lowest it has ever been priced at Amazon, but it's the first time it's been available for under $1,000. This particular discount applies to the 55-inch model, but there are similarly incredible deals across all other sizes (excluding the 85-inch).

There's not long left of October Prime Day, so move fast if you want to score this deal.

SAVE $85: As of Oct. 9, the Kindle Scribe is on sale for $254.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 25% on the list price of $339.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (16 GB) $254.99 at Amazon
$339.99 Save $85.00 Get Deal

If reading and writing are your thing, then you'll love this October Prime Day deal. Combining reading and note-taking, the Amazon Kindle Scribe is an e-reader and a digital notebook all in one. And thanks to Prime Big Deal Days, this Kindle is at its lowest price in months.

The Kindle Scribe is the newest e-reader in Amazon's lineup. The Scribe comes with a stylus so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. Besides its note-taking abilities, it has a 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display.

Its lightweight design also makes it portable and easy to carry around on your travels. And let's not forget the impressive battery life, lasting weeks on just a single charge.

SEE ALSO: 300+ October Prime Day deals selected by our shopping experts

The bright display is perfect for reading in any light, indoors or outdoors, and you can store up to 16 GB of content. That means you can stock up on plenty of Prime Day e-book deals and barely make a dent in the storage.

Again, as of Oct. 9, the Kindle Scribe is marked down to $254.99, so you're saving $85 — all the more money for books. This is the final day of October Prime Day, but you can check out our Prime Day live blog to stay up to date on all the final deals, including a handful of deals on Kindle e-readers.

SAVE OVER $300: As of Oct. 9, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is on sale for $1,046.58 at Amazon. That's a saving of 26% on list price and it's lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra $1,046.58 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $373.41 Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is a great opportunity to upgrade your tech. With deals across Apple, Samsung, and more big names, you don't have to look far to grab a bargain. And if a new phone is on your horizon, check out this incredible discount on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Reduced by 21% to $1,046.58, this phone is now at its lowest-ever price at Amazon, and one of the best October Prime Day deals we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day unlocked phone deals from Samsung, Google, and more

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an incredible smartphone and one of the top models in the Galaxy range. Upgrade for the eye-catching 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the 200MP main camera, the ultra-wide, telephoto, and periscope lenses, or even just for the super-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.

The 5,000 mAh battery will keep you going all day, even if you're streaming, working, gaming, or simply browsing. Plus, it supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, so when it’s time to charge, you won’t have to wait long.

Convinced yet? Grab this great Prime Day deal before it's too late.

Listen up, losers: We can tell when your posts are made with an audience in mind and we don't like it. It sounds like ChatGPT, it is the lowest possible denominator of posting, and, worst of all, it's boring.

I come to you with a solution: Delete your drafts. 

It’s a strategy I learned with a fair bit of hesitance — why work so hard just to trash it all — but one that’s paid off. 

My journey in deleting began in 2022 when I attended a writers workshop in need of a creative reset. I was paralyzed not with fear but with an obligation to an imagined reader. After years of getting paid to write, I had stopped writing it for the good of the story and started writing it for an audience — the Mashable audience, the NPR audience, or some other invented audience that might enjoy the piece, take something from the piece, and, importantly, give me money for writing the piece. Soon enough, a good idea had been reduced to something boring, watered-down from its initial promise.  

The pressure creatives feel to constantly produce content for an audience — and ultimately for validation — can ruin our ability to actually create interesting work.

My mentor at the workshop recommended I try something new: Write the work and let my brain take it where it takes it, whether that's with an audience in mind or not, and when I felt it was perfected — that moment I would typically send it to an editor — delete it. Never read it again. Keep nothing. As a visual artist, I took that practice into my painting, too. The fear of perfection stopped me from starting altogether until I started each painting with the knowledge that it was bound for the trash.

It didn't happen immediately but, eventually, I stopped thinking about other people and my art got more courageous and exciting. It wasn't always better, but it was always weirder and riskier. The creation also kind of sucked, because when I did make something I loved, I still had to throw it away — if I didn't, the strategy wouldn't work.

Of course, writing is my job. So all the while, I was writing for public consumption to keep paying rent. But the flair I earned in my garbage writing bled into the pieces published for the world. I was no longer beholden to the anxiety of perfectionism that is so often tied to attention and monetary gain. I recognized that the risks I was taking in the trash pieces weren't actually that crazy — and it encouraged me to take more risks in my pieces I created for the public. Removing the external audience encouraged experimentation, play, and mistakes. Discarding completed work shifted my relationship with creativity and got rid of that nasty attachment to a story.

The real lesson it taught me? Think less. Just do the work.

There's some scientific backing to this idea as well. A 2020 study of jazz guitarists found that experienced guitarists playing better improvisations relied on mechanisms that "were largely automatic and unconscious, and they came from the left posterior part of the brain," the American Psychological Association wrote. In other words, they weren't thinking about what to create, they were just creating.

I've since taken this approach to social media, and, my god, I am in desperate need of you birdbrains to do it too. If you have to think about if you want to post something on X for more than 20 seconds, don't post it. If you have anything sitting in your drafts, delete them. It's a create and delete or create and immediately post kind of world now. Think of most of the best things you’ve seen online. They’re often in the moment and unique — something only that person could do — rather than someone squeezing the life from the latest trend. When Jools LeBron created “very demure, very mindful” it worked because it was her voice and her personality shining through. Then the world got ahold of it and, as the internet does, watered it down to a mind-numbing trend. 

SEE ALSO: Which streaming service should you cancel? All of them (most of the time).

The best things online aren’t the workshopped-to-death TikToks hoping to be the next viral sound or a tweet asking "name a '90s movie you loved as a kid." If you’re agonizing over a draft thinking of who it’s for, then it’s probably time to send it into the ether.

If you need to really lean into this, create a new account on your favorite social media site. Tie it to nothing personal. Follow no one. Keep it on private. Make everything auto-delete after 24 hours. Post the first thoughts that pop into your mind. And, when you're ready, the posts will eventually flow.

Not every piece needs to be destroyed or hidden from the world, but this approach can ultimately make your work more meaningful.

The pressure some artists have to constantly post content online, particularly if they need to maintain visibility, limits artistic risk-taking and encourages safe, boring, algorithm-friendly content. Disconnect from the cycle!!

Liberate yourself!!! Delete your drafts!!! 

October Prime Day: Here's the latest news on the deals

More on Prime Day: Here are all the best deals to shop so far

SAVE $49.96: As of Oct. 9, the Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 25% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $149.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $49.96 Get Deal

Beats is one of the most recognizable names in the audio field, so you know that with these products comes great quality. There are few options as reliable when it comes to upgrading your sound quality. And is there any better excuse to upgrade than Amazon's October Prime Day?

As far as wireless earbuds go, there are plenty of incredible offers to be had over the remaining 24 hours, but as you can tell from our review, we're big fans of the Beats Fit Pro.

SEE ALSO: The all black Beats Studio Pro headphones are down by 51% on October Prime Day

With immersive sound quality, incredible noise cancellation, and a seriously impressive battery life (we're talking days, not hours), any deal on these earbuds is a win. The design is another big win, especially for fitness enthusiasts. The silicon tip slides into your ear seamlessly, staying put for all types of activity and all intensities — runners to Pilates lovers, you're all safe with these.

And as of Oct. 9, you can save 25% at Amazon and pick these up for just $149.99. But move quick, Prime Day is coming to an end.

Shop more headphones deals

• Amazon headphones deals

• Best Buy headphones deals

• Walmart headphones deals

SAVE $110: As of Oct. 9, the iRobot Roomba Q011 robot vacuum is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 44% on list price, and the lowest it's ever been on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roomba iRobot Roomba Q011 $139.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum is on your wish list, you'll probably have heard of Roomba. One of the top robot vacuum manufacturers, the devices are both useful and smart.

As of Oct. 9, you can shop the iRobot Roomba Q011 as part of Amazon's October Prime Day. Reduced by $110, you can swap out your manual model for just $139.99.

The Q011 features self-docking and has a power-lifting suction that adjusts based on the type of floor. But our favorite feature of this model is its compatibility with Alexa. With this, you can control the vacuum using simple voice commands so you can start, stop, or schedule cleaning sessions without lifting a finger. Yes, you can boss around your vacuum.

SEE ALSO: Plenty of self-emptying robot vacuums are on sale this October Prime Day

However, it's worth noting that this model does not have self-emptying capabilities nor does it map out your space with AI (rather, it uses basic navigation sensors to avoid bumping into obstacles), so this one requires slightly more upkeep. But for the low sale price, we reckon you can't go wrong.

Ready to remove vacuuming from your list of chores? Move fast before this deal runs out.

SAVE $110: As of Oct. 9, the iRobot Roomba Q011 robot vacuum is on sale for $139.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 44% on list price, and the lowest it's ever been on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roomba iRobot Roomba Q011 $139.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum is on your wish list, you'll probably have heard of Roomba. One of the top robot vacuum manufacturers, the devices are both useful and smart.

As of Oct. 9, you can shop the iRobot Roomba Q011 as part of Amazon's October Prime Day. Reduced by $110, you can swap out your manual model for just $139.99.

The Q011 features self-docking and has a power-lifting suction that adjusts based on the type of floor. But our favorite feature of this model is its compatibility with Alexa. With this, you can control the vacuum using simple voice commands so you can start, stop, or schedule cleaning sessions without lifting a finger. Yes, you can boss around your vacuum.

SEE ALSO: Plenty of self-emptying robot vacuums are on sale this October Prime Day

However, it's worth noting that this model does not have self-emptying capabilities nor does it map out your space with AI (rather, it uses basic navigation sensors to avoid bumping into obstacles), so this one requires slightly more upkeep. But for the low sale price, we reckon you can't go wrong.

Ready to remove vacuuming from your list of chores? Move fast before this deal runs out.

SAVE $85: As of Oct. 9, the Kindle Scribe is on sale for $254.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 25% on the list price of $339.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Kindle Scribe (16 GB) $254.99 at Amazon
$339.99 Save $85.00 Get Deal

If reading and writing are your thing, then you'll love this October Prime Day deal. Combining reading and note-taking, the Amazon Kindle Scribe is an e-reader and a digital notebook all in one. And thanks to Prime Big Deal Days, this Kindle is at its lowest price in months.

The Kindle Scribe is the newest e-reader in Amazon's lineup. The Scribe comes with a stylus so you can jot down notes and convert them to text as easily as writing in a notebook. Besides its note-taking abilities, it has a 10.2-inch 300 ppi Paperwhite display.

Its lightweight design also makes it portable and easy to carry around on your travels. And let's not forget the impressive battery life, lasting weeks on just a single charge.

SEE ALSO: 300+ October Prime Day deals selected by our shopping experts

The bright display is perfect for reading in any light, indoors or outdoors, and you can store up to 16 GB of content. That means you can stock up on plenty of Prime Day e-book deals and barely make a dent in the storage.

Again, as of Oct. 9, the Kindle Scribe is marked down to $254.99, so you're saving $85 — all the more money for books. This is the final day of October Prime Day, but you can check out our Prime Day live blog to stay up to date on all the final deals, including a handful of deals on Kindle e-readers.

SAVE $200: As of Oct. 9, the Breville Barista Express espresso maker is on sale for $549.95 at Amazon. That's a saving of 27% on the regular list price of $749.95.

Opens in a new window Credit: Breville Breville Barista Express $549.95 at Amazon
$749.95 Save $200.00 Get Deal

If there’s one thing guaranteed to improve that morning coffee — which, let’s be honest, is already a highlight of the day — it’s knowing that you got it for an absolute bargain. That’s what you’ll get with the Breville Barista Express, on sale for day two of Amazon’s October Prime Day. It’s a pro-level espresso machine that has a current markdown of $200.

Sure, you can find some bargain bin espresso makers on Amazon, but this is the type of appliance worthy of a more serious investment — at least if you care about your coffee. The Breville Barista Express is a luxe espresso machine with a brushed steel exterior, and it's marked down to $549.95 for a total savings of 27%. So, don’t miss your chance to pick up this professional-quality appliance while it's heavily discounted. Remember: Oct. 9 is the final day of Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days.

SEE ALSO: The new Apple AirPods Max 2 just got their first discount for October Prime Day

The Breville Barista Express has all the features you need to make high-quality coffee drinks at home, including a precision conical burr grinder, expertly tuned water pressure, digital temperature control, a powerful steam wand for milk, and lots more.

For coffee lovers, this is one of the best Prime Day deals we’ve seen so far. Don't miss your chance to get a superb, top-rated espresso machine at its lowest price of the year.

Want to stay up to date with all the latest savings? Follow our live blog with up-to-the-minute coverage on all of the latest October Prime Day deals at Amazon and beyond.

October Prime Day: Here's the latest news on the deals

More on Prime Day: Here are all the best deals to shop so far

SAVE $49.96: As of Oct. 9, the Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $149.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 25% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Fit Pro $149.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $49.96 Get Deal

Beats is one of the most recognizable names in the audio field, so you know that with these products comes great quality. There are few options as reliable when it comes to upgrading your sound quality. And is there any better excuse to upgrade than Amazon's October Prime Day?

As far as wireless earbuds go, there are plenty of incredible offers to be had over the remaining 24 hours, but as you can tell from our review, we're big fans of the Beats Fit Pro.

SEE ALSO: The all black Beats Studio Pro headphones are down by 51% on October Prime Day

With immersive sound quality, incredible noise cancellation, and a seriously impressive battery life (we're talking days, not hours), any deal on these earbuds is a win. The design is another big win, especially for fitness enthusiasts. The silicon tip slides into your ear seamlessly, staying put for all types of activity and all intensities — runners to Pilates lovers, you're all safe with these.

And as of Oct. 9, you can save 25% at Amazon and pick these up for just $149.99. But move quick, Prime Day is coming to an end.

Shop more headphones deals

• Amazon headphones deals

• Best Buy headphones deals

• Walmart headphones deals

SAVE OVER $300: As of Oct. 9, the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is on sale for $1,046.58 at Amazon. That's a saving of 26% on list price and it's lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra $1,046.58 at Amazon
$1,419.99 Save $373.41 Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is a great opportunity to upgrade your tech. With deals across Apple, Samsung, and more big names, you don't have to look far to grab a bargain. And if a new phone is on your horizon, check out this incredible discount on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Reduced by 21% to $1,046.58, this phone is now at its lowest-ever price at Amazon, and one of the best October Prime Day deals we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day unlocked phone deals from Samsung, Google, and more

The Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra is an incredible smartphone and one of the top models in the Galaxy range. Upgrade for the eye-catching 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display, the 200MP main camera, the ultra-wide, telephoto, and periscope lenses, or even just for the super-fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor.

The 5,000 mAh battery will keep you going all day, even if you're streaming, working, gaming, or simply browsing. Plus, it supports 45W wired charging and 15W wireless charging, so when it’s time to charge, you won’t have to wait long.

Convinced yet? Grab this great Prime Day deal before it's too late.

SAVE $300: As of Oct. 9, the ASUS ROG Strix gaming laptop is on sale for $1,099.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 21% on list price — and its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix gaming laptop $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

If a new gaming laptop has been on your wishlist, now is the time to pounce. With 24 hours left of Amazon's October Prime Day, you'll find surprising deals on laptops of all sorts, including impressive gaming rigs.

The ASUS ROG Strix is a solid gaming laptop, with a sleek design and strong performance. It's a great option if you're new to the world of gaming. It's built with impressively powerful hardware, including high-end graphics cards and processors. The Strix series also has great cooling features, customizable RGB lighting, and plenty of ports for additional gear. Not to mention, it looks cool too. With a 17-inch screen and a 16:10 aspect ratio, you can enjoy high-quality and immersive gaming.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Prime Day laptop deals are ramping up: Shop record-low prices on Apple, LG, and Acer

As of Oct. 9, you can purchase this device for its lowest-ever price at Amazon. Down from £1,399.99, you can shop for $1,099.99 on Amazon. And even better, this discount is exclusive to the newer, 2024 model.

You deserve only the best for your gaming setup, so act fast before this deal runs out.

Ahoy, mateys! The Wendy's Krabby Patty, the real-world version of Bikini Bottom's most popular burger, is now available in restaurants nationwide as of Tuesday, Oct. 8.

The cartoon-turned-IRL burger consists of ground beef, American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, and a "super special secret sauce" served on a toasted bun — and the internet has thoughts, particularly SpongeBob SquarePants superfans.

Keep in mind that, according to a press release from Wendy's, the Krabby Patty Kollab Burger (as it's officially called) is "inspired" by the swashbuckling, under-the-sea animation. In other words, it's not meant to be an exact replica, but it still has Krusty Krab devotees in a tizzy.

SEE ALSO: SpongeBob SquarePants heads to Texas in 'Saving Bikini Bottom: The Sandy Cheeks Movie' trailer Wendy's Krabby Patty: Does it look like the cartoon version?

When promo images of the Krabby Patty first hit the internet, some were disappointed that it didn't match the cartoon variant.

Tweet may have been deleted An X user hates to "be that guy," but pointed out the inaccurate order of the ingredients. Credit: @MrDylanKrug on X

"What's different about this burger? Looks like a regular Wendy's cheeseburger," a Reddit user with the moniker @Blue_Wave_2020 said.

"Doesn't even have a sesame seed bun," another Reddit user said.

Several commenters in the official SpongeBob subreddit voiced dissatisfaction that it's not plant-based. Not necessarily because they're vegans, but according to SpongeBob SquarePants producer Vincent Waller, "there is absolutely no meat in the Krabby Patty; there is no animal product in there."

Others pointed out that, true to Wendy’s style, the meat inside the IRL Krabby Patty has a squarish shape. The Krabby Patty in Bikini Bottom, on the other hand, is round. "A square patty!?" said ConclusionDouble3962, who claims that they purchased the Krabby Patty Kollab Burger. "It was basically just an overhyped Dave's Single."

(For the uninitiated, a Dave's Single is a classic burger from Wendy's named after Dave Thomas, the chain's founder.)

Dave's Single at a Wendy's in Georgia, USA Credit: Deutschlandreform / Shutterstock.com

According to a SpongeBob SquarePants fandom page, aside from the missing plant-based round patty and sesame seed buns, the IRL Krabby Patty has all the other ingredients found inside the cartoon burger.

Wendy's Krabby Patty has decent reviews

Perusing through X (formerly Twitter), many people who looked past the fact that it’s not an exact recreation of the Bikini Bottom burger seemed to enjoy it.

Credit: @Caylaisawesome on X

"I'd get it again and that frosty was on another level," @Caylaisawesome said. This X user is referring to the Pineapple Under the Sea Frosty that comes with the total Krabby Patty Kollab Meal. It has fries, too.

"Was good," @MORSxGAMING said.

Credit: @MORSxGAMING on X

However, you can't please everyone. One X user wondered why the meal lacked a toy and a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed wrapper.

Credit: @KidKinsey on X

Another agreed with the aforementioned Redditor that it's "just a rebranded Dave's Single with special sauce," adding that it's "not bad, just not as spectacular."

Credit: @JoshGamnChannel on X

As for the "super special secret sauce" that accompanies the Wendy's Krabby Patty, several reviewers, including reporters from El Paso Times and Delaware Online, say that it simply tastes like Thousand Island dressing.

The Wendy's Krabby Patty Kollab Burger, in partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount, celebrates SpongeBob SquarePants' 25th anniversary. By the way, the burger won't be around for long — it's a limited-edition meal.

If you had a chance to try the new Krabby Patty, let us know what you think in the comments.

Cold, dry, and barren: Mars doesn't look like it could be a haven for life — at least not the kind humans are familiar with. 

Despite the Red Planet's appearance, scientists have wondered for decades about the possibility of microbial life inhabiting Mars in the distant past. Now a new study, based on data collected by NASA's Curiosity rover, is peeling back another layer of the mystery. For the first time, researchers measured the isotopic composition of carbon-rich minerals found in Gale Crater, a region laced with dried rivers and gullies and being explored by the rover.

The findings Curiosity beamed millions of miles back to Earth were not optimistic, at least in terms of the potential for life above ground. 

"Our samples are not consistent with an ancient environment with life (biosphere) on the surface of Mars," said David Burtt, lead author of the study, in a statement, "although this does not rule out the possibility of an underground biosphere or a surface biosphere that began and ended before these carbonates formed."

The new paper, published in the National Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, suggests two possible ways carbon-rich minerals could have formed at Gale crater: a series of alternating wet and dry periods at the site or salty-ice conditions. These two different ancient climate scenarios could be summed up as bleak and bleaker when it comes to supporting life. 

SEE ALSO: NASA's Mars rovers had a gangbusters summer of rocks NASA's Curiosity rover snaps a selfie image on lower Mount Sharp in Gale crater in August 2015. Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / MSSS

In an environment that swings like a pendulum from wet to dry, the region would intermittently shift from more habitable to less habitable, said Jennifer Stern, a co-author. In frigid temperatures near the planet's equator, the environment would be hostile for living things because most water would be frozen and inaccessible for chemistry or biology.

"And what is there is extremely salty and unpleasant for life," she added in a statement.

This isn't the first time scientists have theorized these possible climate scenarios for ancient Mars. Computer modeling of the planet, based on the presence of certain minerals and rock formations, have led scientists down this path before, but this is the first time they've had isotopic evidence from Martian rocks to bolster those ideas. 

An artist interprets what Gale crater on Mars might have looked like during one of its ancient, wet periods. Credit: NASA illustration

Scientists have sought life on Mars since the first spacecraft touched down on its surface in 1976. Mounting evidence from robotic explorers, especially from Curiosity and its twin Perseverance, has shown the Red Planet to have once been warmer and wetter, perhaps more than 3 billion years ago. 

The rover pair had a highly productive summer, including Perseverance's discovery of a spotted rock with the most compelling signs of ancient dead Martian life yet, though a sample would need to be shipped back to Earth for confirmation. A research team also recently published more evidence of a vast ocean of water below the planet’s surface. And where there's water on Earth, there's often life.

Scientists are interested in Mars' carbon-rich rocks because they are like climate time capsules. Their minerals can hold onto clues about the environments in which they formed, such as the temperature and acidity of the water, and the ingredients within the water and air. Curiosity made the isotope measurements by heating the samples to over 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit and analyzing the released gasses. 

Isotopes are versions of an element with different masses. As water evaporates, light versions of carbon and oxygen are more likely to escape into the atmosphere, while heavier versions tend to remain and get incorporated into rocks. 

The isotope values of the sampled materials indicate lots of evaporation, the team says, suggesting that they probably formed in a climate that could only support transient liquid water — that is, water that comes from melted ice when temperatures rise and the surface pressure is right. 

The heavy isotope values in the samples are much higher than what’s seen on Earth for carbonate minerals. Furthermore, they are the heaviest carbon and oxygen isotope values recorded for any Martian materials. Although evaporation can cause oxygen isotope changes on Earth, the changes measured in the Martian samples were two to three times greater, Burtt said. 

Astrobiologists believe caves like this one on Mars could potentially harbor life. Credit: NASA / JPL / Univ. of Arizona

"The fact that these carbon and oxygen isotope values are higher than anything else measured on Earth or Mars points towards a process (or processes) being taken to an extreme," he said. 

But this doesn't discount the possibility of life. The Red Planet appears to have a network of deep caves formed by ancient volcanic vents. Within them could be liquid water, traces of long-deceased bacteria or fungi, or, some scientists believe, perhaps even existing microbial life. 

Caves can host complex ecosystems, inhabited by extremophiles that munch on rocks and convert the material into energy for life. Because of this, many astrobiologists want nothing more than to go spelunking on Mars.