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Oh Arcane, how I've missed you.
Netflix's League of Legends-based series rocked my world when it first came out in 2021 — and I didn't even know the first thing about League! But despite my lack of knowledge of the source material, I found that Arcane had everything I wanted in a fantasy series: a richly developed world, distinct factions full of nuanced relationships, and breathtaking magical powers and action sequences. Plus, there's no beating that animation.
SEE ALSO: You don't have to play 'League of Legends' to enjoy the masterful animation of Netflix's 'Arcane'With Arcane Season 1 setting the bar so high, I was worried there was no way its second (and tragically final) season would live up to that standard. Thankfully, Season 2 measures up in every conceivable way and then some, with the first six episodes made available for review raising the stakes to stunning, often unexpected new heights. Brutal, gorgeous, and absolutely devastating, Arcane Season 2 demands to be seen right when each new batch of episodes drops.
What's Arcane Season 2 about? Jinx causes mischief in "Arcane." Credit: Courtesy of "Arcane."Let's start with the primary reason for wanting to watch Arcane Season 2 as soon as possible: to find out who lived after the explosion at the end of Season 1.
For three years, we've wondered whether Hextech creator Jayce (voiced by Kevin Alejandro), Piltover Councilor Mel (voiced by Toks Olagundoye), and inventor Viktor (voiced by Harry Lloyd) survived Jinx's (voiced by Fallout's Ella Purnell) shark rocket attack on the Council of Piltover. Arcane wastes no time informing us that there were, in fact, survivors (I'll give you time to learn their exact identities for yourself). However, there were also several catastrophic casualties, and these losses drive Piltover's reaction to the blast.
SEE ALSO: 'Flow' review: An animated animal adventure unlike anything you've seen beforeWhile the Council voted to give the undercity of Zaun sovereignty mere seconds before Jinx's rocket hit, that chance at peace is now officially off the table. Now, the twin cities threaten to spill into all-out war. Mel's mother and Noxian warlord Ambessa (voiced by Ellen Thomas) is ready to crack down with martial law. But Enforcer Caitlyn (voiced by Katie Leung), herself recovering from deep loss, has other plans. She assembles a strike force that includes herself and Jinx's sister Vi (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld) to take Jinx down for good, especially since she's become a symbol of resistance for the Zaunites. Now, the stage is set for a knockdown, drag-out fight between sisters.
Arcane Season 2 offers a painful look at war, and so much more. Ambessa rallies her troops to war in "Arcane." Credit: Courtesy of NetflixThat Vi-Jinx showdown, when it comes, is a perfect encapsulation of what makes Arcane's approach to conflict so brilliant. Yes, there's an undeniable cool factor here: We're watching two great fighters pummel each other with supercharged gauntlets and guns, complete with prolonged slow-mo shots to emphasize the badassery on display. Yet all the character work that has led us here is on display too, with Jinx and Vi's every move informed by the love they once shared and the horror at what the other has become. It's the tragedy that wins out over the coolness, and that's the same with Arcane's larger portrayal of war in the League world.
That's because war pushes every Arcane character to an extreme, sometimes taking them in the total opposite direction from Season 1. Vi joins up with the Enforcers, even though they killed her parents, because she thinks it's an unavoidable necessity. A grief-stricken Caitlyn becomes a destructive monster in her pursuit of Jinx, unleashing hell upon the Zaunites. The latter is particularly painful to watch, as chemical warfare and police brutality become the norm in Zaun, and as characters we've grown to love grow corrupted by power and the need for vengeance.
Jinx and Vi battle it out in "Arcane" Season 2. Credit: Courtesy of NetflixBut as much as Arcane's marketing pushes that this season is all about war and how it links to the rift between Vi and Jinx, Season 2 actually makes some strides into more cosmically weird territory. Innovations in the Hextech space push the boundaries of what is possible in Piltover, igniting discussions about transhumanism in ways that are both disquieting and utopic. That these conversations are happening alongside the Piltover-Zaun war is a reminder that the world of Arcane is so much bigger than these two cities — and so much stranger.
SEE ALSO: The 5 best fantasy shows to watch if you liked 'House of the Dragon' and 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power'That strangeness also manifests in the arrival of new forms of magic and new factions for Arcane's players to contend with. And as exciting as that expansion is, it also threatens to cause issues for the series in terms of sticking the landing. Can the three episodes of the season that I still haven't seen wrap up these many loose ends, especially given with Arcane's breakneck pacing? (Sometimes, I do wish these episodes were an hour long instead of 40 minutes, and I don't say that often.) Arcane has yet to steer me truly wrong, but the jury's still out on whether it can fully stick the landing while juggling so many complex ideas and storylines.
Arcane continues to push the boundaries of animated TV. Hextech gets weird in "Arcane" Season 2. Credit: Courtesy of NetflixEven if Arcane doesn't fully nail its ending, there's no doubt about how incredible it looks. Fortiche's animation was always masterful, but Arcane Season 2 somehow levels up.
Once again, we're treated to the show's combination of hand-painted and computer-animated visuals, which bring Piltover's soaring towers and Zaun's grimy underground to life. Now, though, Arcane plays further with animation styles that speak to specific characters' points of view. We saw a bit of this in Season 1, with scribbled line drawings and text overlaid on certain scenes bringing Jinx's perspective to life. In Season 2, it's a whole new ballgame.
Once again, we get Jinx's frenzied drawings. But we also get entire sequences made up of black-and-white charcoal drawings, neon panels straight out of a comic book, and watercolor flashbacks. Strange glitches in Hextech allow animators to go buck-wild with flesh-and-metal fusions, trippy space scapes, and bizarro architecture that calls to mind the warped biology of Annihilation. In one of Season 2's biggest swings, the series places us within the perspective of the beastly wolf-creature Warwick, to the point where all we see is a nightmarish frenzy of red blood trails and the clawed hands carrying us forward.
The versatility of Arcane's art style is just one of many reasons why it's going to hurt so much to say goodbye to this series, even if it's getting a conclusive ending. However, according to a Nov. 6 report by Variety, the series was originally budgeted for a five-season arc. Variety also reported that Arcane cost roughly $250 million to produce, making it the most expensive animated show of all time. Due to its hefty price tag, it's unlikely we'll see anything quite like it again — at least, not for a few more years. Until then, we can continue to appreciate Arcane for the marvel that it is: a true Hextech gem in the rough.
TL;DR: Live stream the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts for free on Sport1. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
Clear your schedule, because the Grand Slam of Darts has got you covered for the foreseeable future. Close the door, roll down the blinds, gather together enough snacks to last you all week, and settle in for a marathon of live darts action. It couldn't get any better.
If you want to watch the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
What is the Grand Slam of Darts?The Grand Slam of Darts is one of the last major tournaments of the year before the World Darts Championship. 32 players compete for £650,000 in prize money.
The tournament is held at the WV Active Aldersley, Wolverhampton.
When is the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts?The 2024 Grand Slam of Darts is the 18th edition of the tournament. This year's tournament takes place from Nov. 9 to Nov. 17.
How to watch the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts for freeThe 2024 Grand Slam of Darts is available to live stream for free on Sport1 in Germany.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock Sport1. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Germany, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Grand Slam of Darts from anywhere in the world.
Live stream the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts on Sport1 by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in Germany
Connect to Sport1
Watch the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the tournament before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for live sport?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including Germany
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream the 2024 Grand Slam of Darts for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Angers vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free on TV5Monde. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There are many interesting games in this weekend's batch of Ligue 1 fixtures, but PSG's game is always top billing. PSG visit Angers in the next round of games, and will be expected to secure three points against a team struggling near the bottom of the table.
If you want to watch Angers vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Angers vs. PSG?Angers vs. PSG in Ligue 1 kicks off at 8 p.m. GMT on Nov. 9. This fixture takes place at the Stade Raymond Kopa.
How to watch Angers vs. PSG for freeAngers vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on TV5Monde.
TV5Monde is geo-restricted to Europe, but anyone from around the world can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can unblock TV5Monde to stream Ligue 1 for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Angers vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in France
Sign in to TV5Monde
Watch Angers vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of Ligue 1 action without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Angers vs. PSG (plus more Ligue 1 fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for TV5Monde?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TV5Monde, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including France
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Angers vs. PSG in Ligue 1 for free with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream Gauff vs. Zheng in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The final of the 2024 WTA Finals is here, with Gauff taking on Zheng for the chance to win millions in prize money. Both players have looked really impressive in this end-of-season showdown, but it all comes down to this electric finale. It's going to be a battle.
If you want to watch Gauff vs. Zheng in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
How to watch Gauff vs. Zheng in the 2024 WTA Finals for freeThe 2024 WTA Finals are available to live stream for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand, including the final between Gauff and Zheng.
If you're abroad for this game, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.
Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand
Visit TVNZ+
Watch Gauff vs. Zheng in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading services do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of Gauff vs. Zheng without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure
Fast connection speeds
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream Gauff vs. Zheng in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
TL;DR: Live stream France vs. Japan in the Autumn Nations Series for free on TF1+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
The Rugby World Cup is obviously the biggest event on the rugby calendar, but the Autumn Internationals deserve their moment in the spotlight. This series of fixtures brings together the best international sides from both sides of the equator.
The next match from the Autumn Nations Series sees France welcome Japan to the Stade de France. France will be favorites to win this one, but don't count out Japan. They've surprised a lot of teams in recent years, and will be coming into this game with no fear.
If you want to watch France vs. Japan in the Autumn Nations Series from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is France vs. Japan?France vs. Japan in the Autumn Nations Series kicks off at 8:10 p.m. GMT on Nov. 9. This fixture takes place at the Stade de France.
How to watch France vs. Japan for freeFrance vs. Japan is available to live stream for free on TF1+ in France.
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TF1+. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in France, meaning you can unblock TF1+ to stream the Autumn Nations Series for free from anywhere in the world.
Live stream France vs. Japan for free by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in France
Visit TF1+
Watch France vs. Japan for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the Autumn Nations Series without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream France vs. Japan (plus more Autumn Nations Series fixtures) before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for TF1+?ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TF1+, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including France
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.
Live stream France vs. Japan in the Autumn Nations Series for free with ExpressVPN.
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for November 9's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: Hints and answers for November 9 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 8 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Excellent; very good.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There is one letter that appears twice.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
SWELL.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 8Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for November 9's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for November 9 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Out of shape
Green: Just a little bit
Blue: Math
Purple: Places to use the toilet
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Contorted
Green: Smallest Amount
Blue: Algebra Terms
Purple: Words Before "Room" To Mean Lavatory
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #516 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayContorted: ANTIC, CAPER, EXPLOIT, STUNT
Smallest Amount: DILL, KOSHER, SOUR, SWEET
Algebra Terms: ADULT, BLUE, SPICY, SUGGESTIVE
Words Before "Room" To Mean Lavatory: CHEESE, CORD, DECK, MUSTARD
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 8Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
While the presidential election was the big national news story this week, a major natural disaster has gone under the radar: southern California's Mountain Fire.
The enormous blaze has burned at least 19,643 acres, destroyed homes, forced the evacuation of residents, and blanketed cities like Santa Barbara in shrouds of smoke, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom recently proclaimed Ventura County — north of Los Angeles — in a state of emergency.
SEE ALSO: Crisis hotlines see huge increase before and after Trump win"This is a dangerous fire that's spreading quickly and is threatening lives," Newsom said in a statement. "California has mobilized state resources, including personnel, engines and aircraft from CAL FIRE and Cal OES, to protect communities as our fire and emergency response teams work around the clock to combat this fire. Stay safe and remain alert for instructions from local authorities as dangerous fire weather conditions continue."
State officials advise those looking for the latest information to visit the CAL FIRE website (fire.ca.gov), which includes the latest details on warnings and evacuation warnings. CAL FIRE includes updates on all California wildfires, of which there are 10 listed as of Friday, though many of them are nearly fully contained. The website includes detailed maps of the fires' paths, the number of acres they're burning, the causes when known, which fire departments are battling them, and the most recent updates, which include road closures and summaries of the fires' situations.
Of the Mountain Fire, the website notes, "The fire is burning in steep, rugged terrain, with dry and receptive fuels, which have challenged containment efforts. Fire activity moderated due to the decrease in winds over the fire. The fire continued to back in areas where it had not been tied into control lines."
As of Friday afternoon, "The fire remains a threat to critical infrastructure. Islands of unburned fuel will continue to burn within the fire footprint."
As OpenAI enters the search engine market with ChatGPT Search, Google is ramping up its AI efforts to maintain its search engine dominance.
The latest move? A real-time, conversational, voice-to-search feature right within Google Search.
Google app tipster @AssembleDebug on X posted a video of a new feature that Google is currently testing out, which allows users to talk to Google Search within the Google mobile app.
Tweet may have been deleted How to use the new AI voice-to-search featureYou must provide a question or search query to Google by speaking into your device — and Google will provide search results in response. You can then ask follow-up questions and Google Search will update in real-time to provide relevant search results for those queries, too.
While Google already offers voice-to-search capabilities, it was previously limited to one query at a time. To ask another question, the user had to restart the process by tapping the microphone button. With this new update, voice-to-search will now be contextual and conversational. Once a user starts the process, they can continue to ask follow-ups without further manual input.
In return, Google will continuously provide search links and AI-powered summaries in response to those queries.
The feature is not yet publicly available in the Google app — and it’s uncertain whether it will be released. However, as OpenAI and other AI companies move toward voice-to-text capabilities, Google will likely also release similar features to keep up, so expect this one, or some version of it, sometime in the near future.
Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.
Presented by
AI apps can organize your life, and it’s more cool than scaryBy Rebecca Ruiz
These services help families level up when it comes to scheduling and planning.
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Enhanced with AI, this laptop is a powerful partner for creativesSponsored by Lenovo
Makers are doing more with Lenovo’s Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition. Here’s how your work can benefit.
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30 of the best AI courses you can take for freeBy Joseph Green
This is your chance to kickstart a new career, learn how to generate engaging content, and much more.
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Learn more Meet the Lenovo Auto Twist: A voice-activated laptop that responds to ‘Open,’ ‘Close,’ and even ‘Dance’By Kimberly Gedeon
Twist and shout.
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Smarter solutions for creative minds on the moveSponsored by Lenovo
Elevate your creativity with Lenovo's latest — the Aura Edition. With AI tools that simplify your workflow, you can keep your ideas flowing and focus on what truly inspires you.
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These AI laptop features will supercharge your work and playBy Christian de Looper
Bleeding-edge tech is now at your fingertips.
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1194 #rev_slider_100_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows{cursor:pointer;background:#3b2170;width:40px;height:40px;position:absolute;display:block;z-index:1000; border-radius:50%}#rev_slider_100_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows.rs-touchhover{background:#74248c}#rev_slider_100_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows:before{font-family:'revicons';font-size:20px;color:#ffffff;display:block;line-height:40px;text-align:center}#rev_slider_100_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows.tp-leftarrow:before{content:'\e82c'; margin-left:-3px}#rev_slider_100_1_wrapper .hesperiden.tparrows.tp-rightarrow:before{content:'\e82d'; margin-right:-3px}Some iPhone users are reporting the sudden disappearance of content from the Notes app. Luckily for them, there seems to be a quick fix for it.
According to 9to5Mac, this insidious little glitch can happen to anyone running an iPhone with any version of iOS 18 installed on it. I haven't been able to recreate it, but the way it reportedly works is that users are losing all of their notes after agreeing to new iCloud terms and conditions. The prompt comes up, people hit "agree," and the notes vanish.
SEE ALSO: Apple is planning a massive iPhone camera upgrade, but it won't come soonSounds awful, right? The good news is you most likely didn't actually lose all of your notes.
Notes app fixThe issue has been rectified for some users, but if you want to execute the fix manually, here's what you should do, per 9to5Mac:
Go to Settings
Tap on your name
Tap "iCloud"
Tap "Notes"
Enable "Sync this iPhone" if it's not toggled on
If you wait a minute or two after doing this and open the Notes app, your notes should start downloading from the cloud. One potential issue is that "Sync this iPhone" may already be toggled on for you. If that’s the case, turn it off, then back on, and reboot the phone.
If all goes well, you should get your notes back eventually. If not, it might be time to reach out to Apple support.
Explore how AI can elevate your 9-to-5 — and energize your 5-to-9.
You've chatted with ChatGPT and imagined with MidJourney, but you might still be wondering how AI can fit into your daily life. AI-powered devices like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition laptop have some fantastic features that can really transform the way you work and have fun. Keep reading to discover how an AI-powered portable PC can boost your productivity and expand your creative horizons.
PerformanceAI isn’t just a secret weapon for drafting emails or generating images — it’s also helping personal computers operate more efficiently. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is built around a Lenovo AI core, which incorporates the latest Intel® Core™ Ultra processor to balance energy use among key components like the central processing unit (CPU), neural processing unit (NPU), integrated graphics processing unit (iGPU), and random access memory (RAM) so that work (and play) gets done faster.
Tip: Does your work generate temporary files that pile up annoyingly and slow down your PC? Set up a cleanup schedule to automatically delete them and save yourself time spent trawling the trash bin. If you’re using Windows 10 or 11, Storage Sense can be configured to do this at an interval you set yourself: just go to Settings - System - Storage to activate it.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura EditionCrafting your next big idea takes time, and you’ll want to keep it top secret until it’s ready to change the world. As data thieves are getting smarter, so are the lengths some makers are going to thwart them. Yoga Slim 7i’s AI Core includes Lenovo’s Trusted AI Controller (TAC), a device-level security solution designed to lock down personal files and keep them clear from unauthorized online attention.
Tip: USB flash drives are a common way for hackers to swipe data from your laptop when you’re not around. A small USB port lock, inserted into the drive when you’re not using it, is a simple way to prevent any unwanted entry. It’ll come with a key you can keep while you’re away from your PC.
ConnectivityCreatives know that inspiration comes from interaction with people, places, and thoughts. That means great ideas often arise when your computer isn’t in reach. For those times, the Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s Smart Share feature can help you keep those big ideas pinned down until you’re ready to develop them fully.
Using an AI virtual sensor, you can share photos captured on your Android or iOS smartphone instantly and securely to your laptop with just a tap. It also works in the other direction — sending and receiving texts using Intel® Unison™ when your phone isn’t at hand.
Tip: Are good ideas getting away from you? Organizing them consistently can be a big help. When you take down your thoughts, try sorting your notes by where you were when inspiration struck. Experts say that relying on spatial memory, your ability to store and recognize details about your environment will help you recall faster.
LongevitySome laptops never leave their desks, but getting the most out of your device means taking it for a ride every now and then. AI has helped improve that, too. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s AI core balances battery usage to ensure you get the most out of your portable PC for longer. With a long-lasting power source, creating out in the real world, unattached to a wire, shouldn’t be too worrisome.
Tip: You probably knew you could extend your laptop’s battery life by turning down the brightness and closing unused programs, but were you aware that temperature matters, too? A battery’s internal chemistry works harder when it’s hot, so a cooling pad or other method to ensure good airflow can lengthen your PC’s time off the digital leash.
As AI grows in usefulness, it’s proving to be much more than a word or image generator: it’s a tool transforming computing and machine learning entirely. While there’s no replacing your creative mind, there are many ways an AI-enhanced laptop like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition can support you, making it a partner worth considering.
The tools of the creative trade are always changing. Just ask a 50-year-old graphic designer how they worked before Photoshop. We’ve come a long way since then; with AI in hand, artists of all stripes are now producing innovative work with fewer hurdles between their vision and the final product.
But the physical devices they use can still make a major difference. Whether you’ve been at it for years or are just getting your feet wet, an AI-ready laptop like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition is intended to open up a world of possibilities, both fantastical and practical. See how creators can use AI to take their passions to new — and sometimes unexpected — places.
Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition $1,279.99 at LenovoWhen design is your business, no two jobs are the same. One day, you’re defining the visual language for a nascent startup; the next, you’re recharging a hallowed legacy brand.
As you’re balancing ideas in your head, some mundane but crucial tasks might not get the TLC they need. We’ve all seen how messy an artist’s studio can get, and a digital workspace can generate datasets that are just as difficult to manage.
It can be tough to control the flow of inspiration; you’ve got great ideas, but how many fall through the cracks or don’t get enough time to truly cook before you can make them a reality?
AI-infused project management tools running on a Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition can help creative leaders better balance their ideation time with the equally necessary job of keeping it all in order. That could mean writing detailed proposals, making sense of customer reviews, or turning a big idea into real-world deliverables. Such tools also automate tedious tasks like transcription, help allocate resources, and can even draw on advanced analytics to help determine what’s useful and what isn’t.
Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / PeopleImages.com - Yuri AThe Yoga Slim 7i’s Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor works the same way, balancing power allocation to maximize efficiency and put the laptop’s substantial digital brainpower to best use while preserving battery life. AI works best when it’s got real strength behind it, and a smart processor was built to deliver just that.
And when it’s time to spark fresh ideas, Smart Share can be your go-to tool. Lenovo’s AI-grounded device sync makes sharing files between your Android or iOS phone and your computer easy. An intriguing smartphone snap can be shared directly into your computer’s files, and it’ll be ready to inspire you when you need it.
A photographer’s pixel-pushing partnerIn the professional photography landscape, skill and creativity go hand in hand, but efficiency is equally crucial. Today’s photographers are leveraging AI tools to reduce blur, streamline editing, and enhance their workflow, allowing them to focus more on their vision.
An AI-enhanced PC can take this a step further, providing the power needed to tackle demanding tasks quickly and effortlessly. This means more time spent on creating stunning images and less on the technical side of things.
Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / Anuchit kamsongmueangLenovo’s Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition’s 15.3-inch PureSight Pro display is built for the clarity and color that photo pros are after. Whether an image was snapped on a DSLR or fine-tuned with generative AI, this machine aims to reproduce it in lifelike quality on a screen big enough to see detail but not so big that it sacrifices portability.
It's got the specs photographers dream about, like Delta E 1 color accuracy, 100 percent sRGB, and 100 percent P3 coverage, with Lenovo’s bespoke Auto Color Management to ensure this wide color gamut is reproducing your work to an exact degree.
Videographers can play here, too, with a 120Hz refresh rate that shines on the 2.8K display. The Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 processor comes in handy when tackling video edits on the move, and for those who work best with their hands, the touchscreen adds full-scale interactivity.
Soundscapes on smart technologyOn a Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, Dolby Atmos Audio is custom-tuned to an array of four built-in speakers for clear, consistent playback. So, audio engineers and producers can get studio sound wherever they may be.
That’s crucial for a sector where AI looms large; engineers are increasingly using AI to automate once-tedious tasks, like taming out-of-control frequencies, reducing noise, and syncing up dialogue.
Credit: Mashable composite; Shutterstock / DCStudioThat’s the kind of efficiency that Lenovo aims for with the Yoga Slim 7i, with a processor working in tandem with bleeding-edge tech specs tuned specifically for creative jobs. Intel’s latest chipset was designed to save hours on editing, with speed and responsiveness that lets audio mavens focus on the sound, not the chatter.
Even if you’re not an audio pro, you’ll likely make good use of the noise-cancelling quad-microphone array during audiophile-worthy video and voice calls. And it’s got a battery that’s designed to last long, so all-night jam sessions can happen wherever the music takes you.
While AI is still growing in its capabilities, here and now, it’s empowering creatives to do what they do best — just better. Wherever your skills lie, there’s a good chance AI can make your work simpler and the results stronger.
Consider a laptop like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition, built to incorporate the best of AI with the processing power to keep it running smoothly. You’ll be ready to go further, no matter where inspiration takes you.
I've been seeing spaghetti squash recipes all over TikTok — even Martha Stewart recently shared her own spin on it over on X.
Many of us love pasta — just not the refined carbs that often comes with it. And if there's one thing the internet loves, it's finding clever ways to keep the pasta vibes without the carb guilt.
Remember the zoodles trend? Everyone was shoving zucchini through hand-crank spiralizers to recreate spaghetti noodles. Then came Chickpea pasta, sending health-conscious foodies into a frenzy. Now, it looks like spaghetti squash is beginning to bubble up as the talk-of-the-town on FoodTok.
To be clear, spaghetti squash isn't some new discovery; it's been touted as a pasta alternative for decades. But search interest for the gourd-bashed dish has been getting a big spike this year, with a late October peak, according to Google Trends,
Spaghetti squash may be the new zoodles Credit: New Africa / Shutterstock.comThe zoodles obsession exploded in 2018, per Google Trends, but it looks like spaghetti squash has taken over.
TikTok creator SarahKraffty, for instance, shared her spaghetti squash recipe and the video garnered 1.2 million views. She calls it a "high-protein" alternative, though well-informed sources like Very Well Fit claim that spaghetti squash is not, on its own, high in protein. It is, however, a "low-calorie, low-glycemic food that provides fiber and important micronutrients including manganese, vitamin A and vitamin C."
It's worth noting, though, that SarahKraffty does add a creamy cottage cheese-and-pesto sauce to her dish — and cottage cheese is known to be high in protein.
A typical spaghetti squash recipe requires the following ingredients:
One medium spaghetti squash (yes, it's actually called "spaghetti squash" due to its noodle-like, fibrous flesh)
Olive oil
Salt and peper
Cut the spaghetti squash length-wise, scoop and discard the seeds, brush the insides with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast the halves inside the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and scrape the flesh to create spaghetti-like strands.
Traditional recipes suggest adding grated Parmesan cheese and a tomato-based sauce. SarahKraffty's dish features the aforementioned cottage cheese-and-pesto sauce, as well as plum tomatoes, red onions, and an Italian herbs and garlic seasoning mix. She also added ground turkey to the dish.
The TikTok creator ate the spaghetti alternative inside the pumpkin cousin, but you can scrape it out and put on a plate, too.
Social media's fixation with ditching carbsSocial media is buzzing with low-carb alternatives to pasta, from cauliflower rice to spaghetti squash, all in a quest to satisfy cravings without the carbs. But as Andrew Odegaard, associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at UC Irvine, pointed out, carbs aren’t inherently bad. The key lies in choosing high-quality carbs over low-quality ones, as they make up an essential part of our diet — federal guidelines recommend that 45% to 65% of our daily calories come from carbs.
Instead of cutting out carbs entirely, experts suggest swapping refined pasta for whole-grain options, which are typically higher in fiber and lower in calories. While it might sound cliché, moderation is indeed crucial. According to the Mayo Clinic, skimping on carbs can be as problematic as overindulging. The goal? Aim for balance and prioritize nutrient-rich, high-quality carbs.
Black Friday is just around the corner, but retailers aren't waiting to bring headphones down to record-low prices.
While we haven't spotted any new record lows so far, several headphones, including the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones and the Sony WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5 earbuds are back down at their lowest prices ever (and the same sale prices we saw during fall's Prime Day sale).
SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better?We're hoping this means that Black Friday brings new low prices, but it also gives a good opportunity to people who want to shop early and still grab a good deal. Check out our top picks below for the best headphone and speaker deals:
Best headphones deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones $329.00 at AmazonRead our full review of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones.
The Bose QC Ultra headphones are our favorite noise-cancelling headphones (even at full price), but at $100 off, they're even easier to recommend. Admittedly, they have some finnicky controls, but for $329, their comfort and all-day battery life comes at an even better value. At $100 off, these headphones are also down to their record-low price (aka the same price we saw live during Prime Big Deal Days and Prime Day earlier this year).
More headphone dealsSony WH-CH720N — $98 $149.99 (save $51.99)
Beats Solo 4 — $99.99 $199.95 (save $99.96)
Beats Studio Pro — $169.99 $249.95 (save $79.96)
Bose QuietComfort headphones — $199 $349 (save $150)
Sony WH-1000XM4 — $228 $348 (save $120)
Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e — $279 $399 (save $120)
Sony WH-1000XM5 — $298 $399.99 (save $101.99)
The Sony WF-1000XM5 earbuds offer some of the best sound on the market, in our opinion. Though they sound great out of the box, they go to the next level when you adjust your audio settings on the companion app (made even easier with the app's "find your equalizer" feature). These on-ear controls are touch based, but unlike the new Bose QC earbuds, we found that these weren't too sensitive (and likely to disrupt your listening experience). And just like our top headphones picks, these earbuds are down at their lowest price ever.
More earbuds dealsSamsung Galaxy Buds FE — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)
Shokz OpenRun Pro — $99.99 $159.99 (save $60)
Beats Studio Buds + — $129.99 $169.95 (save $39.96)
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2 — $179 $229 (save $50)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen) — $189.99 $249 (save $59.01)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds — $229 $279 (save $50)
Bose Ultra Open earbuds — $249 $299 (save $50)
The JBL Clip 5 is the latest version of our favorite portable speaker, the JBL Clip 4. It's ultra-slim profile and built-in carabiner makes bringing it on the go incredibly easy (JBL claims the Clip 5's carabiner is larger than the one on previous models, giving you more options as to where you clip it). Though this speaker is tiny, it has no trouble getting loud. If you're looking for a budget-friendly option you can comfortably take along on hikes or to the beach, the Clip 5 is an excellent option, especially at just under $50.
More speaker dealsSony ULT Field 1 — $98 $129.99 (save $31.99)
Ultimate Ears Boom 4 — $119.73 $149.99 (save $30.26)
Bose SoundLink Max — $299 $399 (save $100)
Ultimate Ears Epicboom — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
Sony XV500 — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)
With the announcement of this year's Grammy nominations, Beyoncé has officially made history.
The music superstar picked up 11 nominations, the most of the year, officially becoming the most-nominated artist in Grammy history. On top of her 99 career nominations, Beyoncé is also the artist with the most Grammys ever (32), a lead she could very well extend on Feb. 2, 2025, during the next Grammys.
SEE ALSO: Social media feeds toxic fandoms. Is there a solution?Beyoncé isn't the only artist with reason to celebrate this year's Grammy nominations. From the continued relevance of Charli XCX's brat to a surprise Beatles nomination, here are five takeaways from the nominations from the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Beyoncé and Taylor Swift will face off in top categories.Women cleaned up at the Grammy nominations, with Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Taylor Swift all picking up nods for Album of the Year. (André 3000's New Blue Sun and Jacob Collier's Djesse Vol. 4 round out the list.)
Two of the biggest names from that list, Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, will square off in key categories like Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. (Swift picked up six nominations to Beyoncé's 11 for her album The Tortured Poets Department.)
SEE ALSO: Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter': Who are the featured Black country artists?But as Beyoncé's Grammy dominance continues, one question remains: Can she finally win Album of the Year, this time for her country-Americana opus Cowboy Carter? The award has eluded her for her entire career, to the point that she singles it out on the song "SWEET ★ HONEY ★ BUCKIIN'" ("A-O-T-Y, I ain't win"). However, given the Academy's love for the album, with seven different songs nominated in four genres, 2025 could very well be the year Beyoncé takes home the top prize. About damn time.
The Grammys clearly had a brat summer.Charli XCX has been a steadily innovative artist for years now, but would you believe she only had two Grammy nominations prior to this year? (Both were for "Fancy," her 2014 collaboration with Iggy Azalea.)
SEE ALSO: Charli XCX's 'Brat and it's completely different but also still brat' is here and hype lives onThis year, though, Charli XCX picked up seven nominations. That's the power of brat, her internet-beloved album that spawned the brat summer phenomenon, powered Kamala Harris's Presidential campaign, and gifted us a banger remix album months after its release. Nominations include Album of the Year, Record of the Year (for 360), Best Pop Solo Performance (for "Apple"), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (for "Guess" with Billie Eilish), and Best Dance Pop Recording (for "Von Dutch").
Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan celebrate their breakout years.2024 was the year of Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, two artists who have been releasing great work for years and finally reached superstardom over the summer. The two picked up seven nominations apiece, including Best New Artist, where they're the likely frontrunners.
SEE ALSO: Tegan and Sara share words of wisdom for Chappell Roan that they got from Neil YoungSabrina Carpenter's other nominations include Album of the Year (for Short n' Sweet), Record of the Year (for "Espresso"), and Song of the Year (for "Please Please Please"). Chappell Roan's other nominations include Album of the Year (for The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess), Record of the Year, and Song of the Year (both for "Good Luck, Babe!").
The Beatles get a nomination with the help of AI.The Beatles will compete against Beyoncé and Taylor Swift for Record of the Year thanks to the release of their final song, "Now and Then."
John Lennon wrote and recorded a demo for "Now and Then" prior to his death in 1980. But it's only just now being released thanks to AI technology, which separated his voice from the demo's instrumental. The two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, consented to the use of AI and were involved in the song's creation from beginning to end. They also sing and play instruments on the song themselves. The late George Harrison is also featured on "Now and Then," as it uses some of his older guitar recordings.
Kendrick Lamar and Drake's rap beef makes it to the Grammys.If you needed any more proof as to who won the rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, look no further than this year's nominations. Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us" picked up five nominations, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap Performance. Drake, for his part, has declined to submit to the Grammys in past years. Still, Kendrick Lamar's nominations here — and potential Grammy performance — are just another victory lap.
The Grammy Awards air Feb. 2 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS and Paramount+.
You've never quite sure what food TikTok is going to obsess over next. One month it's cottage cheese in everything, the next it's a dense bean salad.
Right now TikTok is really into — of all things — onions. Most notably lots of folks are cooking a dish colloquially dubbed an "onion boil," which is effectively all the things you'd see in a seafood boil — lots of butter and seasoning — stuffed inside an onion.
SEE ALSO: The best TikTok food trends of 2024 (so far)Videos of folks making onion boils have racked up millions of views. And it really is as simple as I wrote earlier: You core an onion, stuff it with butter, and season it to all hell. Then it is baked in foil for a bit and served. This TikTok from @stephpappas, for instance, racked up nearly 10 million views.
Or here's another from @thishealthytable that has some 3 million views.
To be honest — and this is my opinion — they kind of look like soggy gut bombs. But I imagine onion plus butter plus seasoning served over a starch — let's say rice — would be tasty.
Lots of folks in the comments of viral TikToks have pointed out onion boils are quite similar to a dish called a dolma, which is basically a stuffed onion. But the onion boils are quite simplified, relying only on butter and seasoning. But, because onions are in via the boil recipe, you can see folks basically doing a true dolma recipe and going viral as well.
So it's not just one onion recipe going viral — you might even say this trend has ... "layers."
Google Maps users with cars are getting even more customization options soon.
Four years(!) after Google introduced the ability to change what your vehicle looks like on the navigation screen, Google is expanding those options even further, per Android Police. An upcoming update to the Google Maps app will include the option to choose from five new car models — including a hatchback, a Jeep, and something resembling a Tesla — along with eight new colors, giving users more control than before over the visual representation of their car in the app.
SEE ALSO: Did Google accidentally leak its new AI tool that browses the internet for you?Previously, users could only choose between four options: a regular arrow, a yellow SUV, a red car, and a green pickup truck. Now, they'll have eight vehicles (if you want to call the arrow that) and eight colors for each. It should be noted that Android Police was only able to access this on the iOS version of Google Maps, and even then, it's not widely available yet. Since Google makes Google Maps, it stands to reason that the Android version will get this update at some point soon, too.
Google Maps continues to be the de facto navigation app for a lot of folks, and Google keeps supporting it accordingly. The iPhone version got a redesign a few months ago, for example. Just remember that there are alternatives.
UPDATE: Nov. 8, 2024, 10:34 a.m. EST Target's Black Friday deals are officially live. We're tracking the sale as products come in and out of stock.
Best Target early Black Friday deals Best Apple Deal Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 (Save $130) Get Deal Best headphone and speaker deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones $199.99 (Save $150) Get Deal Best TV and Soundbar deal Westinghouse 65-inch 4K Ultra HD Roku TV $299.99 (Save $100) Get Deal Best Kitchen and Home deal KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer $279.99 (Save $170) Get Deal Best Toy deal Target Play Cash Register $20.99 (Save $9) Get DealThis year, if you want to get your holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving, it's certainly possible. With Black Friday falling at the very end of this month, it's no surprise that retailers are starting sales way earlier. This week, Target joined Amazon and Best Buy in launching a monthlong sale.
The deals are just about as good as it gets. We're seeing discounts across categories including headphones, TVs, robot vacuums. Ahead of Black Friday, start shopping these deals on Apple, Bose, Ninja, and more.
When does Target's Black Friday sale start?While Black Friday falls on Friday, Nov. 29, Target has kicked off their Black Friday sale now. The early Black Friday deals run until Saturday, Nov. 9, so it's a mad dash of deals to kickstart your holiday shopping.
However, Target has announced deals running all the way through Dec. 24, so we're eager to see what sales stay in place through Black Friday. Plus, the retailer is offering a holiday season price match. If you purchase an item at Target and it goes on sale leading up to Dec. 24, the brand will refund you the difference. It's also price-matching competitors' pricing within 14 days of your purchase.
What are Target's Black Friday hours?Unlike Amazon, which operates entirely online, you can shop Target deals online and in-stores. If you're looking forward to shopping in-person this season, Target is a great place to do just that.
Target stores will be opening at 6 a.m. local time on Nov. 29, for those looking forward to joining the crowds.
Best Apple deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 9th generation (A13, 64GB, WiFi) $199.99 at TargetIf you're looking to update your tech or treat a loved one to the ease and convenience of a tablet, Apple's 9th generation iPad is under $200. While you could go for the brand's newest models, the 9th generation iPad is your best bet on a budget. For just $199.99, you'll get a speedy table that's compatible with the Apple Pencil so you can stream, work, or read. This early Black Friday deal saves you $130, knocking 39% off the price.
More Apple dealsApple AirPods Pro 2 — $189.99 $249.99 (save $60)
Apple Watch SE — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)
Apple iPad, 10th generation (A14, 64GB, WiFi) — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
— $349.99 $479.99 (save $130)
Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) — $379.99 $429.99 (save $50)
Amazon Fire 7 Kids (16GB) — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50)
Amazon Fire HD 8 — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)
Amazon Fire HD (32GB) — $74.99 $139.99 (save $65)
Amazon Fire HD Kids (32GB) — $109.99 $189.99 (save $80)
Amazon Fire Max 11 (64GB) — $139.99 $229.99 (save $90)
Fitbit Versa 4 Smartwatch — $119.95 $199.95 (save $80)
Fitbit Sense 2 Smartwatch — $179.95 $249.95 (save $70)
Google Pixel Watch 2 (WiFi) — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70)
Google Pixel Watch 3 (WiFi) — $329.99 $399.99 (save $70)
Undeniably, Bose makes some of the best headphones we've ever tested. They don't slack on comfort or audio quality, but they are pricey. While we would endorse buying them at full-price, we also know you don't have to.
The Bose QuietComfort headphones are a budget-friendly option in Bose's line-up. Having tested them myself, they're comfortable and easy to use with top-notch active noise cancellation.
Ahead of Black Friday, find them marked down to $199.99 at Target, taking 43% off for $150 in savings.
More headphone dealsBeats Powerbeats Pro Earbuds — $159.99 $249.99 (save $90)
Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $199.99 $349.99 (save $150)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds — $229.99 $299.99 (save $70)
Sony WF-1000XM5 Earbuds — $229.99 $299.99 (save $70)
Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Headphones — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)
Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones – $329.99 $429.99 (save $100)
JBL Clip 5 Speaker — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)
Sony ULT Field 1 Speaker — $99.99 $129.99 (save $30)
Black Friday conjures images of doorbusting deals, with shoppers racing to the TVs to fight over the inventory. Luckily, you don't have to be in the stampede for TV deals with Target's early Black Friday sale.
This 65-inch Westinghouse Roku TV is just $299.99, knocking $100 off the price for 25% savings. It provides 4K picture and a built-in Roku interface, which is already our preferred streaming device.
More TV dealsTCL 50-inch Class S5-Series 4K LED Smart TV — $239.99 $299.99 (save $60)
— $299.99 $399.99 (save $100)
Vizio 65-inch 4K LED Smart TV — $379.99 $429.99 (save $50)
TCL 65-inch Class Q6-Series 4K QLED Google TV — $449.99 $549.99 (save $100)
Samsung 65-inch 4K LED Smart TV — $699.99 $999.99 (save $300)
Samsung 65-inch Class Q60D 4K QLED Smart TV — $799.99 $899.99 (save $100)
Samsung 3.0Ch Soundbar — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)
Bose TV Speaker and Soundbar — $199.99 $279.99 (save $80)
If you're getting ready to whip up dozens of Christmas cookies, don't even think about doing it all by hand. Sure, it will be a great arm workout, but at what cost? Upgrade your kitchen tools ahead of the holiday season with the KitchenAid 5.5-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. It has twice the power of KitchenAid's standard tilt head mixer and can mix batches of 11 dozen cookies at a time. This mixer is no joke.
You can beat the savings ahead of Black Friday as it's marked down to $279.99, saving you $170 for 38% off.
More kitchen dealsNinja Foodi Power Mixer System — $79.99 $99.99 (save $20)
Cuisinart Air Fryer & Toaster Oven — $99.99 $229.99 (save $130)
Ninja 7-Speed Blender & Kitchen System — $99.99 $199.99 (save $100)
Ninja 8.5-Quart Foodi Slow Cooker with Sous Vide — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)
Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer — $119.99 $169.99 (save $50)
Ninja Flip Toaster Oven & Air Fryer — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)
Ninja Creami — $179.99 $199.99 (save $20)
Ninja Creami Deluxe — $219.99 $229.99 (save $10)
KitchenAid 4.5-Quart Ultra Power Plus Stand Mixer — $259.99 $399.99 (save $140)
— $279.99 $449.99 (save $170)
KitchenAid Hearth & Hand with Magnolia Artisan 10-Speed Stand Mixer — $329.99 $449.99 (save $120)
Google Nest Doorbell — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)
Google Nest Doorbell — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)
Dyson Digital Slim Cordless Stick Vacuum — $249.99 $499.99 (save $250)
Blueair Pure 211i Max 100 Air Purifier — $299.99 $349.99 (save $50)
This play Target Cash Register is absolutely adorable for the tiny shoppers in our lives. It comes with play money and objects that actually scan. Not to mention, this battery-powered register comes with a working calculator and both English- and Spanish-language options.
This play register is just $20.99 for hours of fun. Ahead of Black Friday, it's 30% off, saving you $9.99.
More toy dealsJurassic World Hammond Collection Delta Velociraptor Action Figure — $10.49 $14.99 (save $4.50)
Target Toy Shopping Cart — $15.99 $19.99 (save $4)
Jurassic World Battle Roarin' Becklespinax Action Figure — $17.14 $34.99 (save $17.85)
Barbie Pink Passport Holland Doll Set — $20.99 $29.99 (save $9)
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Finally some good news for iPhone and Android users in the same group chat. Emoji reactions, or Tapbacks, now work properly between iPhone and Android messages.
According to The Verge, which discovered this quiet update, when an Android user sends a reaction to an iPhone via RCS message, the emoji displays inline instead of as a separate message. The same goes for when an iPhone user reacts to a message sent from an Android.
SEE ALSO: The DOJ accuses Apple of a 'green bubble' problem. Here's why they're right.We tested this out for ourselves with Mashable Tech Editor and resident Android user Kim Gedeon — and it worked for both of us. For iPhone users just make sure you have the latest iOS 18 update.
Emojis work normally between our resident Android user and this iPhone user. Credit: Screenshot: Mashable And it works for Android users too. Credit: Screenshot: MashableIncompatibly between iPhones and Androids, which cause the dreaded green bubble, have tested relationships for years. Androids rely on RCS messages, an end-to-end encrypted method that relies on connectivity provided by your carrier.
Apple uses its proprietary iMessage, an encrypted service that operates over Wi-Fi and cellular data networks, but it lacks seamless compatibility with RCS messaging. However, partly due to the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), which enforces interoperability of devices, Apple finally relented and enabled RCS message support with the iOS 18 update.
Unfortunately, while messaging between iPhone and Android is starting to feeling somewhat normal, the green bubble remains.
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