Mashable

Archive of Our Own (AO3) is down again, leaving countless fan fiction fans bereft of their much-needed escapism for the second time in two days. They are handling it as well as can be expected.

Reports that popular fan fiction platform AO3 was suffering an outage previously poured in on Sunday evening, as thousands of readers suddenly found themselves cut off from their favourite slow burn enemies to lovers coffee shop AUs. Crowdsourced outage tracker Down Detector (which has the same parent company as Mashable) began receiving reports of the outage from around 5.30 p.m. EST / 2.30 p.m. PST.

SEE ALSO: Archive of Our Own is down, and it could be offline for weeks

AO3 soon acknowledged the outage on its official status update X account, stating that they were "looking into some issues that are causing 503 errors for some folks." The issue was resolved within the hour— though not before many readers have took to social media to yearn for their fics, wondering when their beloved AO3 would return from the war.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Now AO3 has gone down yet again, stranding fan fiction fans in bitter reality once more. Reports of the second outage began pouring in to Down Detector from around 7 p.m. EST / 4 p.m. PST today. AO3 hasn't yet acknowledged the outage, though fans have turned to social media for a communal freak out.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Fortunately, it seems that Monday's AO3 outage may also be fixed within the hour, with several users since reporting that their stories have now returned to them.

No other fan fiction platform offers quite the same experience as AO3. However, if you need a quick fan fiction fix to tide you over whenever the popular platform goes down, there are a few other options.

UPDATE: Nov. 19, 2024, 11:46 a.m. AEDT This article has been updated to note that Monday's outage appears to have since been fixed.

Perplexity searches are now shoppable with a Perplexity Pro subscription.

Today, the AI-driven search engine unveiled "Buy with Pro," a shopping assistant within Perplexity searches that gives you a one-click shopping experience. If you're researching products, or some kind of shopping-related query, Perplexity includes products in its responses that can be bought on the page — as long as your payment info is saved in the app.

Search results include relevant product info to inform your purchases by comparing prices and features. To sweeten the deal, Perplexity is also offering free shipping.

SEE ALSO: ChatGPT Search is now live. Here's how to use it. How Perplexity compares to Google and OpenAI

Buy with Pro is available with a Perplexity Pro subscription, which costs $20 a month. But notably, Perplexity doesn't earn a commission from purchases like Google Shopping — for now. "We have no concrete plans to introduce affiliate revenue," said Perplexity spokesperson Sara Platnick. "But it's also not off the table." At least for now, it sounds like a way to entice Perplexity users to upgrade to Pro.

Perplexity has gained attention as competitor to Google and OpenAI by offering a combination of AI-generated and real-time responses from the web. It's like a hybrid of Google Gemini and Google's AI overviews or OpenAI's new ChatGPT Search. However, like other generative AI chatbots trained on publicly available content, it has faced accusations of violating copyright and trademark laws. While Perplexity battles infringement lawsuits, it is charging forward with monetizing AI-powered search results.

It's not an AI agent, as in, it doesn't perform multi-step tasks — a feature that's shaping up to be a big theme in the coming year. But shoppable search results could be a stepping stone to this autonomous feature that companies like Google and OpenAI are expected to launch soon.

In conjunction with the AI shopping assistant, Perplexity also announced a Merchant Program for retailers to share product specs with the app. In turn, participating merchants will get an increased chance of product recommendations and purchasing data about their products. Perplexity isn't sharing specific user browsing habits with merchants, Platnick confirmed to Mashable.

Americans increasingly get their news from online influencers, and a new study found those creators are predominantly men and more likely to be conservative.

Pew released a detailed study on Monday that examined news influencers in America. Among the key takeaways was that 21 percent of U.S. adults — and 37 percent of those under the age of 30 — said they regularly got their news from social media influencers. Overall, the study found that news influencers were majority men and more likely to be conservative.

The Pew study found that 63 percent of news influencers — a significant majority — were men. When it came to politics, meanwhile, 27 percent were right-leaning, compared with 21 percent who identified as left-leaning. Forty-eight percent, meanwhile, had "no clear orientation."

The fact that a plurality of news influencers identified as having no political orientation may be related to how Pew defined a news influencer. A news influencer was defined as: "[Individuals] who regularly post about current events and civic issues on social media and have at least 100,000 followers on any of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter) or YouTube. News influencers can be journalists who are or were affiliated with a news organization or independent content creators, but they must be people and not organizations."

SEE ALSO: Are the 2024 presidential campaigns Too Online?

Of the 500 popular news influencers included in the study, 23 percent were or had been employed in the news industry. Those current or former journalists proved much more likely to eschew explicit political bias. Most news influencers with no news background said they did lean one way or the other.

The more granular takeaways from the study were interesting as well. For instance, if Facebook seems more conservative, the study would agree. There were three times as many conservative influencers on the platform (39 percent) compared with liberal ones (13 percent). TikTok had the most equitable distribution of news influencers when it came to both politics and gender. Forty-five percent of news influencers on TikTok were women compared to 50 percent men. And 28 percent were liberal compared with 25 percent conservative.

The data from Pew seems to back the reporting and notion that there's a growing ecosystem of right-wing influencers. The 2024 election, after all, seemed to be, in part, proof of that idea.

Black Friday is upon us once again. Though the official shopping holiday is on Nov. 29, Amazon's Black Friday shopping event kicks off Thursday, Nov. 21, and runs through (Cyber) Monday, Dec. 2. Exciting deals await on electronics, toys, kitchen gadgets, and more. In fact, many are already live, as in years past.

Unlike Prime Day, which is exclusively for Prime members, shoppers aren't required to have a Prime membership to enjoy Black Friday deals at Amazon. Of course, it never hurts, though. With Prime, you'll have access to some exclusive savings, free and fast delivery, and access to the Black Friday NFL game on Nov. 29. The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Las Vegas Raiders at 3 p.m. ET in a game exclusive to Prime Video. New discounts on toys, electronics, and apparel will be up for grabs during the game.

Here's how shoppers can sign up for Amazon Prime:

Total Time

• 5 minutes, email address or phone number

What You Need

• Internet access

Step 1: Go to the Amazon Prime sign-up page and click on Start your free 30-day trial.

Head to Amazon Prime's sign-up page.

Step 2: Input your email if you have an existing Amazon account or click on Create Your Amazon account.

A new sign-in page will open up on the website. Input your email or mobile number and password if you have an existing Amazon account or click on Create Your Amazon account. If you make a new account, you'll need to provide some basic information such as name, email, and password.

Step 3: If you're creating a new account, follow the steps to verify your email with a One-Time Password.

If you choose to create a new account, Amazon will send an OTP to your respective email address or mobile number for account verification. If you are using an existing account, skip to Step 5.

Step 4: Input the OTP and click on Verify.

Once the OTP verification page appears on the screen, input the code and click on Verify.

Step 5: Sign up for your free one-month trial or purchase a full subscription.

Now users have two options: sign up for a free one-month trial or purchase a full subscription, though many users might not qualify for a free trial if they have already availed it in the past with the same email or phone number. If you are purchasing a subscription, click on one of these four plans to become a prime member: Monthly Prime Membership — costs $14.99 per month Annual Membership — costs $139 per year or under $12 monthly Student Monthly Membership — costs $7.49 per month; students are eligible for exclusive offers including a 6-month free Prime trial. Prime for government assistance recipients — costs $6.99 per month (must verify eligibility)

When it comes to shopping for the best cheap laptops, you can do a lot with $1,000. (Heck, even $500 cuts some mustard nowadays.) But you'll probably have to make some compromises along the way to stay below that price point.

That doesn't mean you have to settle for a total clunker that doesn't tick any of the boxes on your must-have specs list. It just means you have to shop a little smarter than someone with unlimited funds.

That's where we come in. The Mashable team is constantly reviewing new laptops with different operating systems and use cases, and we recommend several affordable machines that meet most, if not all of our performance and build quality standards.

Our top picks

As of Nov. 2024, we believe the best cheap MacBook is the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air powered by the previous-generation M2 chip. It's speedy enough for most people, it lasts all day, has an excellent keyboard, and it starts at $999 (though it's often on sale for well under $900). What's more, it just got a welcome base configuration bump to 16GB of RAM.

Among Windows PCs, the Lenovo Yoga 7i 14 (Gen 9) is currently the best laptop under $1,000 that we've tried. It has a peppy processor and a good battery life, it doubles as a tablet, and it starts at $899.99.

If you're really into Microsoft machines, look into the Surface Laptop Go 3. The company's current cheapest offering is a super portable notebook with a chic look and a clicky keyboard — though I'd encourage shoppers to find it on sale, given its older CPU. It otherwise starts at $799.99.

SEE ALSO: The best laptops of 2024, tested and approved by Mashable staff

The best cheap Chromebook is the $499 HP Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, with its big, vibrant display and competent everyday performance. It also supports some useful AI features and multimedia editing apps.

Cheap gaming laptops don't get much better than the Acer Nitro V 15, which combines a cool design with cool Triple-A performance for $999 as tested. (The base model is only $749.) We also now recommend the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE as an even cheaper "cheap gaming laptop" pick — which shouldn't be a huge surprise, given how much we liked its very similar predecessor. It costs the same $649, too.

Other cheap laptops on our radar

We currently have the Asus Chromebook Plus CX34 in hand for testing (specifically, the 2023 model with a 12th-generation Intel processor that retails for $399.99). If it feels like a better value than HP's Chromebook Plus 15.6-inch, it could be a new "best cheap Chromebook" contender.

We'll also test the Asus Vivobook S 14, a new Copilot+ PC with a Lunar Lake CPU and an OLED display, as well as the latest Framework Laptop 13, a repairable laptop that seems like a solid long-term value. We were big fans of an older version.

Look for extra-cheap laptops on Black Friday

Tech retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Walmart, HP, Dell, and Lenovo save the bulk of their year-round lows for Black Friday season. (That's why we've deemed it the best time of year to score a great deal on a laptop.) For the next couple of weeks, we expect our favorite cheap laptops to be even cheaper than usual.

SEE ALSO: The best early Black Friday laptop deals on Apple, HP, Dell, Lenovo, and more

Don't want to scour the myriad listings yourself? Bookmark Mashable's guide to the best Black Friday laptop deals. We'll be updating it constantly throughout the holidays with vetted discounts on MacBooks, gaming laptops, Chromebooks, and more.

Read on for Mashable's in-depth guide to the best cheap laptops of 2024. FYI: We've listed the pricing and specs of our testing units, which may not apply to each laptop's base model.

Apple is reportedly working on an upgraded version of AirTags.

In his latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, prominent Apple insider Mark Gurman revealed that the first hardware update for AirTags is expected to arrive in mid-2025.

Apple AirTags debuted in April 2021. While a four-year hardware update might typically promise significant new features, Gurman suggested that this may not be the case for the upcoming revision.

SEE ALSO: Apple makes iPhone 6s Plus and XS Max vintage as obsolete list updated Apple AirTags: Updates to expect in 2025

According to Gurman, the next-generation AirTags will reportedly offer improved range, but the standout feature will be a design tweak making it harder to disable the onboard speaker — a key safeguard for detecting unknown AirTags placed on you. Gurman also said the new AirTags will improve privacy in general, but it's difficult to know right now if there will be other measures beyond protecting the speaker from removal.

Other than that, it sounds like the new AirTags will be a more incremental revision than some might like. The new model will also reportedly look similar to the old ones, so you won't even get a visual upgrade. But at least Apple is fixing the speaker issue.

SAVE UP TO 58%: As of Nov. 18, you can score up to 58% off select board games at Amazon.

Best board game deals as of Nov. 18 Best board game deal overall Operation $12.49 (save $7.50) Get Deal Best runner-up board game deal Twister $10.99 (save $9) Get Deal Best budget board game deal Sorry! $5 (save $6.99) Get Deal

With Thanksgiving coming up in just a week, you might be scrambling to find something for the kids to do (that doesn’t involve a screen) while relatives visit or to keep everyone occupied and entertained as you host friends and family for the upcoming holiday season.

SEE ALSO: The best board games that we played and loved

Luckily, Amazon has a pretty sizeable selection of board games currently on sale — from family-friendly classics to the latest strategy and party games. And as of Nov. 18, you can score up to 58% off popular titles like Catan, Ticket to Ride, and Twister.

Here are the best board game finds that caught our eye:

Best board game deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Operation $12.49 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $7.50 Get Deal Why we like it

Operation is a game of skill and precision that’s fun for kids and adults. In this classic game (which I also had growing up), players use a pair of metal tweezers to carefully remove tiny plastic body parts from the patient's body without touching the sides and setting off the buzzer. Each successful removal earns them a paper $50 or $100, and the player who racks up the most dough by the end of the game wins.

Pro tip: This also makes for a fun drinking game for older crowds!

Best runner-up board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Twister $10.99 at Amazon
$19.99 Save $9.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Twister is a party game that ties you up in knots (literally!). To play, you spin the wheel and twist your body to put your hands and feet on whatever color it lands on. It's perfect for rainy days, family game nights, or any time you need a good laugh and a bit of a stretch, and with up to four players, it’s ideal for small groups or a double date. It’s also portable and 45% off right now, so you can’t lose (monetarily, at least).

Best budget board game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Hasbro Sorry! $5.00 at Amazon
$11.99 Save $6.99 Get Deal Why we like it

For just $5, you and your friends or family can get in on Sorry! — a classic that teaches strategy, planning, and friendly competition. This game board includes 12 pawns, 44 cards, and instructions. Just be warned: If you can’t take a joke or are a sore loser, this might not be the game for you.

More board game deals

• Candy Land Kingdom Of Sweet Adventures — $8.99 $11.99 (save $3)

• Guess Who? — $10.49 $16.99 (save $6.50)

• Monopoly (Token Vote Edition) — $14.97 $21.99 (save $7.02)

• the Uzzle — $49.99 $70.99 (save $21)

Black Friday is back, babes.

This year, Amazon is hosting a "Black Friday Week" savings event that kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 21, and runs through Friday, Nov. 29 — aka Black Friday proper. Later that day, the mega-retailer will shift into Cyber Monday mode, which will run through Monday, Dec. 2. Expect to see "millions of deals across more than 35 categories" throughout the event, including all-time low prices on brands like Yeti, Beats, and Ninja.

Of course, it's Amazon, so plenty of early deals are already live. And there's a chance that thing you've been eyeing is already on sale. If you want to ensure you score the best deals on your must-have items this Black Friday season, we've got a shopping hack for you: Create a wishlist.

Curating your personal list of must-have items and setting price alerts can help you stay on track and avoid adding things to your cart just because they were on sale.

Get your scroll on and find out how to create an Amazon wishlist for Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Black Friday vs. Cyber Monday: Which day is better for shopping? Tip No. 1: Organize your Amazon wishlist

If it’s news to you that Amazon even offers such a feature, here’s how it works:

Every product page on the retail giant’s website has a little “Add to List” button right near “Add to Cart.” Click on the list button and you can add said product to your personal Amazon wishlist, or any other saved list that you’ve created on your profile.

Do this with all of those items that you've been eyeing, but can't seem to make a move on unless they're on sale. Then, you can view your definitive list at a glance, or even rank each item based on how badly you want it.

Then — and here's the important part — be sure to check back on your wishlist when Black Friday 2024 kicks into high gear. You’ll be able to see which products have gone on sale and snatch them up before they’re gone.

WARNING: Only add the necessities to your wishlist or risk critical failure and end up with mass shipments of stuff you don’t need, never needed, and will never need.

Tip No. 2: Turn on wishlist alerts

That’s not where the perks of "wishlisting" cap out. If you download Amazon’s mobile companion app, you’ll be granted the added benefit of "wishlist alerts."

These alerts notify you when an item on your wishlist becomes a “lightning deal,” as well as when a sold-out item on your wishlist goes back in stock.

This isn’t a notification setting that's turned on by default, so you’ll have to go in and check it off yourself. All you have to do is open up the Amazon app, go into your settings, then to your notifications, and click on “your watched and waitlisted deals.”

It's this one. Credit: Screenshot: Amazon Tip No. 3: Turn on Alexa's advanced deal alerts

As it turns out, newer Echo smart speakers are good for more than just bumping out your playlists. They can also notify you of a sale on an item in your wishlist, shopping cart, or "saved for later" queue up to 24 hours before it even goes live.

• Open up the Alexa mobile app to turn on the advanced deal alerts feature. You'll find it under More > Settings > Notifications > Amazon Shopping

• Once you're there, click Shopping Recommendations and then Deal Recommendations. Since you already have your wishlist organized and ready to go, that's all there is to it.

• You'll see a pop-up alert or a yellow ring light on your Echo device whenever Alexa finds out about an upcoming deal on products in your wishlist. Ask, "Alexa, what are my notifications?" to get the scoop.

You can either have Alexa let you know once the deal is live or even give her the go-ahead to order it for you ("Alexa, buy it for me"). Your default payment and delivery address on file will be used automatically.

Voilà — now you’ll never miss a deal for something you want. Your Amazon wishlist is one of the most useful tools that you have at your disposal to ensure a successful shopping experience.

When you're done curating your list, you can even share it with your friends. You can also view wishlists created by other Prime members. Just click the "Invite" button in your wishlist or click over to the "Your Friends" tab in your profile.

Bonus tip: Get ready for Black Friday 2024 with Mashable

We like to think we're just as on top of tracking deals on the stuff you care about as a wishlist is. Follow along with our Black Friday and Cyber Monday coverage (which has already started!), where we'll be highlighting all of the most important intel from the sale, from record-low price alerts to any invite-only deals for Prime members that may pop up to giant lists of the best deals in categories like TVs, Apple stuff, robot vacuums, headphones, and kitchen gear.

Meta announced yet another pair of smart glasses back in September — and now we have an idea of what researchers are doing with it before it's ready for consumers.

As part of its research-focused Project Aria initiative, Meta released a list of research projects that are being performed with its Orion smart glasses that were revealed at Meta Connect a couple of months ago. Orion isn't even close to being available to the public yet, but when it is, there are a few things that it might be able to do to help you out in daily life.

Here are four of the most interesting research projects being done with Orion right now via Project Aria.

SEE ALSO: Meta Quest 3S vs. Meta Quest 3: What are the differences? Meta Project Aria: Four futuristic things Orion might be able to do

This will encompass pretty much everything Meta talked about in its project list, but they're all worth knowing about.

Driving assistance

Researchers at IIIT Hyderabad in India are using machine learning and Orion to help people ideally become better drivers. For example, they are able to use the glasses to detect what the user is and isn't looking at. What this means is that the glasses could potentially be able to warn you before you take a right turn into a pedestrian you didn't see.

Help for the visually impaired

Investigators at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute have also done some work with Project Aria. What they showcased in Meta's post is tech that can help those with visual impairments navigate complex indoor spaces using audio cues. The example given was that they were able to create a 3D indoor map of Pittsburgh's airport — and someone wearing the Orion glasses would theoretically be able to get around and find where they're going, thanks to the onboard audio assistant.

Help for those with hearing loss

At the University of Iowa, Orion research is seemingly a little more straightforward, but no less useful in everyday life for some people.

Researchers in Hawkeye country have come up with a way to use the Orion glasses to provide visual cues for those with hearing loss. For instance, if a noise is made, the glasses could use their HUD to show the user which direction the noise came from. It's not the most complicated or out-of-this-world application of Orion technology, but it's one that could easily become important for some users — if it's done properly.

Help with performing complex tasks

Finally, researchers at the University of Bristol have captured data from "highly skilled people" (think chefs and mechanics), which can be used to help the less-skilled among us perform complex tasks with visual aid. For example, in the future, Orion could guide you step-by-step on which components to install, the order to install them, and their exact placement.

Currently, Orion is just a prototype, so don’t expect a consumer version anytime soon. If it’s any consolation, a market-ready version should be available by 2030 at the latest.

Get $200 off: As of Nov. 18, This 75” Samsung Smart TV Black Friday deal is available for $549.99. Get it now to take 27% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75” Class DU6950 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV $549.99 at Best Buy
$749.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal

At Best Buy, Black Friday has basically already begun. No need to wait — this Smart TV deal was registered to go live on Thursday, November 28th as a Black Friday doorbuster, but the sale price is already available three days early. Be quick and get this sneaky deal on a behemoth TV.

If you’re looking for an exceptional screen for a once-a-year price this UHD 75” smart TV packs all the visual juice your eyes crave. With 4K resolution, it delivers the crispness you expect in 2024, and even upscales content to 4K so that you can take advantage of its Crystal detail on older, lower resolution content.

SEE ALSO: When do Black Friday sales start? Early holiday deals are already here.

HDR 10+ pairs with a wide color gamut to ensure that video looks striking in all light conditions. For those who play games, the TV delivers 60Hz screen refresh times, ensuring it can keep up with the action.

Get the Samsung 75” Class DU6950 Series Crystal UHD 4K Smart Tizen TV now for $549.99 and take advantage of early Black Friday sale pricing for $200 off.

A Tizen operating system lives within, giving you access to apps, games, and streaming services natively. This smart TV has two speakers built-in, but uses virtual surround sound to create atmosphere. It’s optimized for connection to Samsung sound bars for more immersive sound.

Trump is running down his list of administration appointees, landing this week on Brendan Carr as the new pick for Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair.

Carr, current FCC commissioner and its top Republican member, was nominated for the FCC by Trump in 2017 after serving as general counsel and as an advisor to former Chair Ajit Pai. His term has since been extended to 2029, and in the seven years he's served on the commission, Carr has been a vocal, partisan opponent to Net Neutrality and the Biden Administration's tentpole broadband subsidies.

Carr is also the author behind the controversial Project 2025 mandates for the FCC, focused heavily on Communication Act's Section 230 and content moderation online — he's also buddies with leader of the new "Department of Government Efficiency" Elon Musk.

SEE ALSO: PSA: Your Twitter/X account is about to change forever

Calling Carr a "warrior for Free Speech" in a battle against "regulatory Lawfare" — a phrase used by Carr to refer to the revocation of a $885 million FCC grant to Musk's Starlink — Trump applauded the commissioner's plan for a revamped FCC landscape. "He will end the regulatory onslaught that has been crippling America’s Job Creators and Innovators, and ensure that the FCC delivers for rural America," the president-elect wrote.

Tweet may have been deleted

So where does the new Chair stand on the big issues?

Net Neutrality and Section 230

The new Trump appointee was a central opponent to the FCC's restoration of landmark Net Neutrality laws, previously repealed during Trump's first administration and former chair Pai. Carr argued at the time that such regulations would have a negative impact on rural areas, increasing rates and slowing down infrastructure builds. The increasingly partisan issue has drawn clear lines between Republican and Democrat FCC members, and as the fate of Net Neutrality gets batted back and forth in court, many proponents of an "Open Internet" fear a Republican-controlled FCC could doom its fate.

Carr has also taken a hard line against the immunities included in Section 230. Included among a list of Project 2025 recommendations, the commissioner wrote, "The FCC should work with Congress on more fundamental Section 230 reforms that go beyond interpreting its current terms. Congress should do so by ensuring that Internet companies no longer have carte blanche to censor protected speech while maintaining their Section 230 protections. Reforms that prohibit discrimination against core political viewpoints are one way to do this... [Congress] could focus legislation on dominant, general-use platforms rather than specialized ones. This could include excluding comment sections in online publications, specialized message boards, or communities within larger platforms that self-moderate."

Carr singled out tech giants like Facebook, Google, Apple, and Microsoft as a "censorship cartel," pledging to take them on under a new administration. Additionally, Carr has backed a total federal ban on TikTok.

Free speech, diversity, and accessibility

Shortly after the announcement, Carr posted to X that he would end its promotion of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the agency's "second-highest strategic goal" outlined in its recent budget proposal. "When it comes to the FCC's promotion of DEI, I have just one thing to say: Afuera!" added Carr.

Tweet may have been deleted

Carr has previously echoed Trump's stance against "political bias" and moderation within "mainstream media." After the announcement, Carr posted: "We must dismantle the censorship cartel and restore free speech rights for everyday Americans."

One potential hit? Broadcast media's use of public airwaves. In yet another X post, Carr wrote, "Broadcast media have had the privilege of using a scarce and valuable public resource—our airwaves. In turn, they are required by law to operate in the public interest. When the transition is complete, the FCC will enforce this public interest obligation."

The commissioner has publicly aligned himself with Trump's desire to slash regulations, revoke licenses, and punish media networks for publishing with "bias."

Tweet may have been deleted

Garmin might have just spilled the beans on its next project, which is big news for outdoor enthusiasts.

A leak from Garmin Spain’s website has unveiled key details about the Instinct 3, the latest addition to its lineup of adventure-ready smartwatches.

SEE ALSO: The Garmin fēnix 7 Pro is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon

The Instinct series has long been a favorite for hikers, climbers, and survivalists. It combines durability with Garmin’s knack for hardcore outdoor tech. If the leaked repair codes are anything to go by, the Instinct 3 will have the following trio of features: a 45mm case, a solar-charging option, and a classic black design.

As reported by Fitness Tracker Test, this marks the second Instinct 3 leak in just a matter of days. The earlier leak hinted at a significant new feature: support for rucking, a growing fitness trend where participants hike with weighted backpacks. It also teased a potential release timeline, suggesting the Instinct 3 might hit shelves before the end of this year.

With Instinct 2 celebrating its two-year anniversary, it wouldn’t be surprising if these rumors were on point. Garmin seems poised to refresh its lineup. If these leaks are accurate, the Instinct 3 could bring some serious upgrades for outdoor and fitness enthusiasts alike.

Shop Purple, Nectar, and more mattresses ahead of Black Friday. Check out our top picks:

Best mattress deals ahead of Black Friday Best mattress deal overall Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress $949 (save $1,337) Get Deal Best runner-up mattress deal Purple Mattress $1,299 (save $200) Get Deal Best budget deal Casper The One Premium Foam Mattress $799 (save $200) Get Deal

Black Friday is still over a week away, but we’re already seeing crazy deals on everything from laptops to home goods. If you’ve been putting off getting a new mattress, now might be the perfect time to take advantage of early sales.

Score $1,000+ off a brand-new mattress before Black Friday hits

Wouldn’t you like to cash in for a restful night before the stress of the holidays sets in? Thanks to these early Black Friday mattress deals, you can skip the post-Thanksgiving shopping wars and still score a top-of-the-line mattress at a deep discount — we’re talking $1,000 (or more) off premium mattresses from brands like Nectar, Purple, Casper, and more across major retailers like Amazon, Mattress Firm, and Wayfair.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online

Below, we’re tracking the best mattress deals ahead of Black Friday. Deals are organized by brand, and all deals within each category are ordered by price from the most affordable to the most expensive.

We’ll be updating this list in the days leading up to Black Friday week, so be sure to check back regularly. New offers may become available, or existing deals may change.

Best mattress deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Nectar Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) $949.00 at Nectar
$2,286.00 Save $1,337.00 Get Deal Why we like it

We’re shocked by how many mattress deals are popping off this early in the game. While there are great discounts across the board, the Nectar Premier Memory Foam Mattress (Queen) has our vote as the best deal ahead of Black Friday.

This 13-inch-thick mattress has twice as much pressure-relieving memory foam as the Nectar Classic, 60% more cooling, and is currently 50% off. With five layers of premium OEKO-TEX-certified materials, this mattress will provide an incredibly comfortable and supportive night's sleep. There’s also a 365-day trial and forever warranty, so if you don’t absolutely love it, you can return it.

Even more early Black Friday mattress deals

Here are the best early Black Friday mattress deals across a selection of top brands:

Avocado

• Avocado Eco Organic Mattress (Queen) — $1,169 $1,299 (save $130)

• Avocado Green Mattress (Queen) — $1,699 $1,999 (save $300)

• Avocado Luxury Organic Mattress (Queen) — $3,679 $4,599 (save $920)

Bonus Avocado Mattress deals:

• Save 10% on pillows

• Save 10% on all furniture

• Save up to 50% on bedding

Brooklyn Bedding

• Brooklyn Bedding Brooklyn Essential Mattress (Queen) — $652.40 $932 (save $279.60)

• Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling Mattress (Queen) — $1,585.50 $2,265 (save $679.50)

• Brooklyn Bedding Sedona Elite Mattress (Queen) — $1,679.30 $2,399 (save $720)

Casper

• Casper The One Premium Foam Mattress (Queen) — $799 $999 (save $200)

• Casper Snow Cooling Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $1,745 $2,495 (save $750)

• Casper Snow Max Cooling Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $2,620 $3,745 (save $1,125)

Leesa

• Leesa Sapira Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $1,499 $1,999 (save $500)

• Leesa Legend Chill Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $2,099 $2,799 (save $700)

• Leesa Reserve Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $2,774 $3,699 (save $925)

Purple

• Purple Mattress (Queen) — $1,299 $1,499 (save $200)

• Purple Plus Mattress (Queen) — $1,599 $1,899 (save $300)

• Purple RestorePlus Hybrid Mattress (Queen) — $2,599 $2,999 (save $400)

JBL portable speakers are on sale for Black Friday, with deals up to 40% off or more from retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and Amazon.

Best early Black Friday JBL portable speaker deals: Best large JBL portable speaker deal JBL - PartyBox 310 $349.99 (Save $170) Get Deal Best small JBL portable speaker deal JBL Go 4 $39.95 (Save 20%) Get Deal Best budget JBL portable speaker JBL Go 3 $29.95 (Save 40%) Get Deal

JBL is the brand for portable outdoor sound. Whether you’re looking for an amped-up speaker like the JBL - PartyBox 310 to bring the party to your dock or campsite, or a clip-on like the JBL Go 4 that will transport the vibe with you as you bike through the city, JBL is the pick.

JBL's portable Bluetooth speakers have become a modern classic, but the brand is also known for solid headphones, which offer another approach to portability. Whatever you choose, early Black Friday deals offer standout opportunities to save on portable sound.

Best large JBL portable speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL - PartyBox 310 $349.99 at Best Buy
$519.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When you’re looking for big-sound outdoors, the JBL - PartyBox 310 is the one. With 240 watts for up to 18 hours, this portable Bluetooth speaker stays booming. Splash proof, you won’t have to worry about it getting a little wet, so beach and boat parties are fair game. This speaker connects with Bluetooth or auxiliary. The same versatility applies to its battery: just plug it in to keep going when the 18 hour battery life runs low.

A customizable light show is part of the package with the PartyBox 310. Lights will pulse to the music with different settings that will augment your playlist, whatever the energy is. Right now, the JBL - PartyBox 310 is available for $349.99 for a savings of $170.

Best small JBL portable speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Go 4 $39.95 at Amazon
$49.95 Save $10.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When you’re looking for maximum portability, the JBL Go 4 is an easy choice. Made to clip onto a backpack or bike, this portable waterproof speaker sports 7 hours of battery life. It will follow you into the backcountry, or keep you energized while you cruise the city.

Today, you can get the JBL Go 4 from Amazon for $39.95 and save 20%.

Best budget JBL portable speaker Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Go 3 $29.95 at Walmart
$49.95 Save $20.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The JBL Go 3 is also a great pick. With a similar clip-on design, this Bluetooth speaker may be one generation behind the 4, but it's certainly not left behind. It sports 5 hours of battery life and the same IP67 weather resistance that you'll find on the JBL Go 4. A generation behind the 4, you can often find it for less. That's true now: take advantage of Walmart’s early Black Friday sale and get the JBL Go 3 for $29.95, saving 40%.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Nov. 18: OUR TOP PICK JBL Clip 5 $49.95 (save $30) Get Deal BEST FITNESS TRACKER DEAL Oura Ring 3 Horizon $349 (save $100) Get Deal BEST TV DEAL Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED 4K TV $897.99 (save $600) Get Deal BEST SMARTWATCH DEAL Garmin vívoactive 5 $199.99 (save $100) Get Deal

While Black Friday isn't technically until Nov. 29, Amazon's official sale kicks off in just a couple of days. But, as per usual for the mega retailer, deals have been popping up left and right for days (weeks, even!). You can jump start your shopping and grab gadgets from top brands like Samsung, Garmin, Oura, and JBL at record-low prices.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day on Nov. 18. Be sure to keep an eye out the rest of the week as well — we'll be selecting new deals every day.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Clip 5 $49.95 at Amazon
$79.95 Save $30.00 Get Deal

The definition of portable, JBL's Clip 5 speaker can "clip" onto any bag, belt loop, or keyring with its built-in carabiner, which has been redesigned on the latest model with a wider opening. That means it can clip onto even more stuff. The newest iteration of our favorite portable Bluetooth speaker, it boats up to 12 hours of battery life, a "Playtime Boost" mode that gives you an extra 3 hours of listening, an IP67 waterproof and dust-proof rating, and impressively loud and crisp sound for its size. Usually $79.95, it's on sale ahead of Black Friday for only $49.95. That's 38% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Oura Oura Ring 3 Horizon $349.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $100.00 (gold) Get Deal

Read our full review of the Oura Ring 3.

Now that the Oura Ring 4 is out, it's no surprise that the Oura Ring 3 is seeing some big discounts. The latest drops the price of the Horizon style Oura Ring in gold down to just $349 instead of $449. That's the lowest price we've seen on this particular model, although we saw a few other colors drop to this price on October Prime Day. The third-generation ring is still very much worth grabbing. It features a low-profile design and offers in-depth info about sleep, workouts, recovery, mindfulness, and more through a variety of sensors, though sleep tracking is truly where it shines.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch LS03D The Frame QLED 4K TV $897.99 at Amazon
$1,497.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal

Gone are the days of having a boring black rectangle that hangs on your wall when your TV is switched off. The Frame has revolutionized the TV experience with its ability to look like artwork hung on the well when it's not in use. The 2024 version also added some noteworthy upgrades to make it even better, most importantly a new eco-friendly setting that kicks down the refresh rate in art mode from 120Hz to 60Hz. It won't affect the image, but it could save you some money on your energy bill. The updated Art Store also includes 20 new complimentary pieces of art per month. The price is still steep — $1,497.99 for the 55-inch version — but as of Nov. 18, you can slash 40% off. That brings the price down to just $897.99 at Amazon — its lowest price to date and $2 cheaper than at the Samsung store.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin vívoactive 5 $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100.00 Get Deal

It may not be as fancy as the Venu 3, but the Garmin vívoactive 5 is still a powerful smartwatch. We haven't reviewed it yet, but we have tested the previous model and loved it. As per our reviewer: "The vívoactive 4 is an excellent smartwatch for active people wanting to be more in tune with their bodies, and for less active individuals who have the desire but need a little nudging to stick to their goals." The newer model adds even more fancy features, an upgraded AMOLED display, improved heart rate sensor, upgraded sleep and stress coaching, and over 30 sports apps. It's usually $299.99, but as of Nov. 18, it's on sale for just $199.99. That's 33% in savings and its lowest price on record — it even beats its Prime Day price by $50.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Instagram is reportedly moving Story Highlights to its very own dedicated tab on your profile grid, similar to Reels.

Social media expert Lindsey Gamble posted on Threads on Sunday that the feature is currently testing but should go live on Tuesday. Instagram did not immediately respond to Mashable's request for comment.

"Creators will be able to choose which Highlights appear and can remove Highlights from their main grid," Gamble posted.

SEE ALSO: Instagram gets rid of annoying disappearing video 'rug pull'

As Instagram head Adam Mosseri said in a recent AMA, the choice is likely due to the platforms efforts to consolidate the user profile.

"We're trying to figure out a way to improve the profile and try to get more of the content above the fold and simplify it," Mosseri said on an Instagram Live. "And one of the ideas we're exploring is integrating highlights into the grid."

He admits that "this one is contentious" and that he "might not be able to make it work."

It makes sense. Instagram users are much more likely to post on their Story than they are to post on their grid, and from personal experience, users don't often watch someone's highlights. Adding in another tab on a profile, similar to Reels, increases the amount of time you might spend snooping around someone's profile.

SEE ALSO: Instagram launches new way to share your profile

There are complaints that it takes away the ephemeral nature of an Instagram Story, but a Highlight already does that — this just makes it easier to see.

Apple has updated its list of vintage and obsolete devices, relegating some of the older iPhone and Apple Watch models to officially "old" status.

The list of vintage iPhone models now includes the iPhone 6s Plus and iPhone XS Max. The smaller iPhone XS and iPhone 6s still count among the active models. But as MacRumors reported, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus with 32GB configurations were previously moved to the obsolete list. As for the Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Series 2 models made from aluminum and stainless steel were moved to the obsolete list.

SEE ALSO: Apple's new iPhone update is locking law enforcement out of phones

Vintage and obsolete status refers to whether Apple and Apple-certified repair services can fix devices with expired warrantees and supply parts for those models. A vintage model is when it "stopped distributing them for sale more than five and less than seven years ago," according to Apple.

Those models can be repaired as long as supplies for relevant parts are available. Obsolete models are devices that haven't been distributed for over seven years. Hardware for obsolete products are discontinued and service providers can no longer order parts for them.

Active Apple devices that aren't on the vintage or obsolete lists are still supported by OS updates. However, some new capabilities, like Apple Intelligence, aren't compatible with the older still-active models. The iPhones that support Apple Intelligence are the full iPhone 16 generation and iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

ESPN is working on a plan to add generative AI to its SEC football coverage. The network recently debuted an AI avatar dubbed FACTS, which is set to be tested with ESPN's college football show SEC Nation.

ESPN debuted FACTS at its Edge conference in New York late last week. The network didn't commit to a timeline for when it'll fully integrate the AI avatar into its broadcasts — in other words, we don't know FACTS will actually be on our TV screens. But the plan, ESPN noted, was to use it as a supplement the network's analysts. Basically, the idea is for the avatar to present some of the more complicated stats and analytics from ESPN.

SEE ALSO: People really don't like Coke's AI holiday commercial

"FACTS is designed to test innovations out in the market and create an outlet for ESPN Analytics’ data to be accessible to fans in an engaging and enjoyable segment," Baron Miller, coordinating producer, SEC Network/ESPN, said in a blog on ESPN's press site. "It complements our journalists and on-air talent, providing additional insights."

Tweet may have been deleted

ESPN's chief stressed at the Edge conference that it was not planning to use AI to replace its journalists.

"There are ways for us as an enterprise to really benefit from AI. And don’t get me wrong, AI is disruptive, but I see it as disruptive in a good way and kind of pushing the sports fan experience forward. I do not see this as displacing jobs," ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said during his opening remarks, according to The Wrap.

The actual avatar for FACTS, in case you were wondering, is a somewhat nerdy looking cartoon guy with an athletic build. He has glasses, a tie with numbers on it, and a pencil behind his ear. So, at some point, you can expect that cartoon to tell you all about the detailed stats in SEC football. Personally, I prefer my college football analysts to simply yell "run the dang football," but I'm open to new things.

SAVE $801.99: As of Nov. 18, Sony's 85-inch Bravia 7 4K TV has dropped to $2,498 at Amazon. This is a 24% discount from its $3,299.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Bravia 7 85-Inch 4K TV $2,498.00 at Amazon
$3,299.99 Save $801.99 Get Deal

Black Friday is a great time of year to invest in a new TV. Several retailers offer incredible discounts on them during this time, so you can save big on some high-end models. While their official Black Friday sale hasn't kicked off yet, Amazon has quite a few TV deals available now that are still worth your time, like this discount on a massive Sony Bravia 7 TV.

If you've been looking to upgrade to an even bigger TV, look no further than this discount on the huge 85-inch Sony Bravia 7 4K TV. It's currently marked down to $2,498 at Amazon, 24% off its list price of $3,299.99. This also marks the lowest-ever price for this TV, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, which is a massive bonus.

SEE ALSO: Kohl's Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online

It's got the specs to make it worth the price tag, too. Alongside its extra large size, which is perfect for those who want a cinematic experience for their next movie night, it also features QLED technology and XR Triluminos Pro, alongside 4K resolution, to bring you crisp and colorful images across your screen.

Not to mention, you're also getting smart features with this TV as it comes with Google TV. With this, you can access all of your favorite apps in one place, which is incredibly convenient. And since its a Sony TV, it's also a perfect pairing with a PlayStation 5 console, offering Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode for better picture quality.

Deals like this one don't come around often. Amazon even has it listed as a "limited-time deal," so jump on this 85-inch Sony Bravia 7 4K TV offer before it's gone.

If you're curious when the official Black Friday sales kick off at Amazon, you can expect to see the first wave of deals drop on Nov. 21. Retailers like Target, Best Buy, and Walmart are also offering some early discounts that are worth checking out ahead of the big Black Friday sale event. Keep your eyes out for even more deals dropping over the next week.

Beyoncé fans, consider this your Christmas gift. Say thank you.

The music monarch and Cowboy Carter icon is set to headline Netflix's first-ever NFL Christmas Gameday, announced by the streaming service on Instagram on Sunday.

View this post on Instagram

Netflix will show two NFL games on on Dec. 25 from 1 p.m. ET — Kansas City Chiefs vs. Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens — with Beyoncé performing at 4:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 GMT between them.

In an absolute treat for fans, Beyoncé will perform songs from her latest album live from Houston, Texas; the first time the 11-time Grammy-nominated Cowboy Carter has been performed live. Plus, special guests featured on the album are set to join, with names TBC. It's being produced by Netflix and Beyonce's own Parkwood Entertainment.

Beyonce has plenty of NFL history on the shelf already; she headlined Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 with Destiny’s Child joining her onstage, and also Super Bowl XV in 2016, with Bruno Mars and Coldplay. It's not her first Netflix foray either, with the artist landing a three-project deal with Netflix worth $60 million in 2019. Her 2018 Coachella performance behind-the-scenes film Homecoming: A Film By Beyoncé still one of the best music documentaries on the platform.

The Netflix Christmas Day games will also stream through the NFL+ app and air on broadcast TV in team cities. It's a major sports move for Netflix, which has announced NFL games for 2025 and 2026. The platform just streamed the high profile boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, which saw issues during the match but nonetheless saw a reported 60 million households tuning in.