Mashable

Australia is set to ban social media for kids under 16, in a stated attempt to minimise "harms that are being caused to young people" through the platforms.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measures on Thursday, after a decision by his government on Monday.

"Social media is doing harm to our kids and I'm calling time on it," Albanese said in a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. "I've spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online."

"We don't argue that the changes that we will be legislating will fix everything immediately," he added. "We have laws such as people can't buy alcohol if they're under 18, and from time to time that can be broken. But those laws set what the parameters are for our society and they assist in ensuring the right outcomes."

SEE ALSO: Teens feel burnt out. Social media can make it worse.

Albanese said the law will not allow exemptions for users under 16 who have parental consent, nor will it accept "grandfathering arrangements" for young people already on social media.

The government intends to put "the onus will be on social media platforms" instead of parents and teens. Big tech companies are making slow progress in this space — for example, Instagram recently added Teen Accounts, a more restricted way for teens under 16 to use the app.

Most social media platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat don't let users under 13 make accounts, with varying levels of restriction for users under 16 and 18. However, in August, the U.S. Justice Department sued TikTok for allegedly violating the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), for allowing kids to create accounts without parental consent and collecting personal information from children under 13. It's one of several lawsuits across the U.S. against TikTok on the grounds of child safety.

Studies around teens, mental health, and social media aren't in short supply. In his address, the prime minister specifically called out campaigns run by Australian media organisations around the legislation, in particular the debated "Let Them Be Kids" campaign run by NewsCorp. Social change initiative 36Months, who have campaigned to ban social media for under-16s in Australia, were also present at Parliament House on Wednesday.

So, what's the timeline on Australia's social media ban?

The Australian government will determine the details of the law in a virtual national cabinet meeting on Friday, the legislation will be introduced to Parliament in two weeks time, and will come into force 12 months after passage. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said "social media companies have been put on notice", and emphasised there is a one-year lead time before the law would be implemented.

The law's new definition of age restriction on social media will be adapted from Australia's current Online Safety Act. Passed in 2021, it's the country's online harms protection law, much like the UK's version. The eSafety Commissioner, Australia's independent regulator for online safety, will "provide oversight and enforcement" by issuing regulatory guidance for social media platforms.

OK, which social media platforms will be covered under Australia's ban?

When asked about specific social media platforms, Rowland clarified, "In terms of the services that will be covered, there will be a definition in the Act. But I think it is commonly understood that those definitions of what constitutes social media include ones such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and X. YouTube would likely fall within that definition as well."

How will the social media ban be enforced in Australia?

In a nutshell, it's currently unclear exactly how the social media ban will be regulated, as the prime minister said "there will be no penalties for users." When asked about age restrictions and the practicalities around it (how identification will work etc), Rowland said an "age assurance trial" would happen over the next year, with the government examining the platforms' individual measures and whether they're enough.

"There will need to be measures put in place to ensure that reasonable steps are being taken by the platforms to ensure that that age limit is complied with," she said.

"These platforms know their users better than anyone. These platforms understand their habits, their capabilities, what sort of content should be driven to them and what their behaviours are. So in this year that we will take in terms of implementation, that will be the key focus."

For more on internet safety for kids, Mashable's got you covered.

This beastly 16-inch MacBook Pro, packed with Apple's new herculean M4 Pro chip, is not designed for amateurs like myself — people who think "intensive" means opening 100 Google Chrome tabs and praying one's laptop doesn't self combust.

No ma'am.

This mammoth of a laptop is, instead, for professional power users. I'm talkin' 3D designers, seasoned animators, skilled video editors, and veteran music producers — folks who need a powerhouse that can handle heavy workloads without a single stutter.

However, thanks to the 16-inch MacBook Pro's eye-popping power efficiency, I'd argue that normies can splurge on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, particularly if they prefer laptops with Energizer Bunny-like endurance. (And I mean, who doesn't?)

You won't believe how long the 16-inch MacBook Pro lasted on a charge. It doesn't quite beat the record-breaking Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, but it's pretty darn impressive.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) price and specs

The 16-inch MacBook Pro in this review costs a whopping $3,649, and it comes with the following:

• M4 Pro chip

• 14-core CPU

• 20-core GPU

• 48GB of RAM

• 2TB of storage

• Nano-texture display

Ouch! My wallet is screaming just looking at that price tag. Luckily, the cheapest 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro has a more palatable cost of $2,499. Although it's still pricey, there's less sticker shock. This configuration comes with the same M4 Pro chip, but knocks you back down to 24GB of memory and 512GB of SSD storage.

If you’re a video editor, or any other professional handling massive files, you might need to bite the bullet and upgrade to at least 1TB of storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) $2,499.99
Shop Now Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) design

I mean, it's a 16-inch laptop, so don't expect it to be a featherweight. It weighs nearly five pounds and it's 0.66 inches thick.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Compared to its last-generation counterpart (i.e., 16-inch M3 Pro MacBook Pro), the new model is pretty much the same when it comes to design. It still sports a 100% recycled aluminum enclosure and that shiny, tell-tale logo on the lid that yells, "Yes, I'm an Apple laptop!"

It comes in Space Black and Silver.

My review unit sports the Space Black colorway. With a name like that, I was expecting the deepest, darkest black — think inky, onyx, obsidian vibes. After all, isn’t space, as in the vast, empty void beyond Earth, pitch dark? Apparently, I was wrong. Not to get all nerdy, but NASA says that “space isn’t absolutely black; the universe has a faint, suffused glimmer.”

Space Black is quite dark to the naked eye, but under bright lighting, it has a deep gray hue.

This colorway diminishes fingerprints, but it doesn't completely fend them off. Keep a microfiber cloth handy.

Other than that, the M4 Pro shares the same design as its predecessor. In fact, it's got the same design as far back as the 2021 model, But I can't blame Apple; consumers love it. The MacBook Pro continues to be a solid and sturdy dream machine.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) display

This configuration comes with a new nano-texture display option.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This doesn't come with the laptop. You have to pay an extra $150 to snag one. Is it worth it? It depends. Do you work in a sun-drenched office? Are you always working outdoors? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you'd benefit from a nano-texture display, as it's designed to handle challenging lighting situations while still providing decent visibility for users.

I couldn't wait to take the MacBook Pro outside in my backyard to test the nano-texture display, and I must say, I'm impressed!

The Apple laptop remained crystal clear, even as dappled sunlight attempted to wash out the screen. I didn't have to squint, adjust angles, nor play hide-and-seek with shadows — the display stood its ground, refusing to surrender to the sun’s relentless glare.

If you’re someone who spends a lot of time working in bright, unpredictable lighting, this nano-texture display might just be the unsung hero you didn’t know you needed.

Plus, compared to the last generation, the M4 Pro MacBook Pro's screen is brighter. It can hit a peak SDR brightness of 1,000 nits, up from 600 nits. The HDR brightness score continues to be 1,600 nits.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro, like the previous model, features a 16.2-inch, 3,456 x 2,234-pixel resolution display with ProMotion technology (i.e., up to 120Hz refresh rate). As expected, the display looked gorgeous while I feasted my eyes on the new Squid Game 2 trailer. It's rich, vibrant, and pure visual eye candy.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) ports

The M4 Pro MacBook Pro now has Thunderbolt 5 ports, an upgrade from the previous generation's trio of Thunderbolt 4 ports. Thunderbolt 5 offers double the bandwidth of Thunderbolt 4 at 120Gb/s, which means faster data transfer speeds for your peripherals.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Over Thunderbolt, the 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro supports up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.

You'll also get an HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, a 3.5mm headset jack, and a MagSafe 3 port.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) audio

If music were a dish, the 16-inch MacBook Pro would be a gourmet apple pie, straight out of grandma’s oven — piping hot, golden, and worth every sinful calorie.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Packed with a high-fidelity, six-speaker sound system (with fore-cancelling woofers), Era Istrefi's "Bonbon" sounded delicious to my ears. Yum!

The MacBook Pro is one of the most recommended laptops for music producers — and I see why. The laptop perfectly captured the gritty, exotic undertones and the pulsating, driving beat.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) keyboard and trackpad

I'd describe my typing experience on the 16-inch MacBook Pro in two words: snappy and responsive. Plus, it's got enough key travel to make typing comfortable over long periods of time.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Just make sure you're not sitting next to someone who prefers piece and quiet. The keyboard emits some loud clacks.

Apple’s glass-covered Force Touch trackpad is, as always, a pleasure to use. It's spacious, responsive, and perfectly balanced between smoothness and resistance. Every swipe and click feel effortless.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) benchmarks and performance

Somebody call the coroner because the M4 Pro chip inside the 16-inch MacBook Pro has obliterated the competition.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

On Geekbench 6, which tests CPU prowess, the 16-inch MacBook Pro delivered a multi-core score of 22,758. For reference, the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro notched a score of 15,199 on the same test.

This is the best Geekbench 6 score we've seen at Mashable for a laptop. Coming in close second is the Razer Blade 18, which sports an Intel Core i9-14900HX. So yeah, the MacBook Pro just torched a gaming laptop.

Here are some other scores:

Cinebench R3 - 23,336 (multi-core)

Blender GPU test - 2,533.57

Once again, for reference, the entry-level M4 chip notched scores of 13,891 and 1,065, respectively, for Cinebench R3 and Blender. The M4 Pro chip is fast!

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) webcam

The M4 Pro MacBook Pro’s 12MP webcam is a step up, delivering sharper video quality with less artifacting in various lighting conditions. FaceTime calls looked great, and my fiancé was quick to notice the improvement in clarity.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Desk View is the real star, allowing a top-down perspective of your desk setup using only the built-in webcam. I assumed I’d need a secondary camera, but the 12MP webcam handles it all on its own. Whether you’re presenting or demoing, Desk View is a clever addition that’s both fun and functional.

The updated webcam also supports Center Stage, which may be familiar to those who own iPads. For the uninitiated, Center Stage ensures that you're kept in frame at all times, even if you lean a little bit to the left or shuffle over to the right.

Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) battery life

The 16-inch MacBook Pro lasted an eye-popping 20 hours and 51 minutes in our video rundown test. In other words, this laptop nearly lasts 21 hours on a single charge.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As mentioned at the outset, it doesn't quite beat our reigning champ (i.e., Microsoft Surface Laptop 7), but it's nipping at its heels.

Is the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) worth it?

The 16-inch M4 Pro MacBook Pro didn't come to play. With jaw-dropping performance, impressive battery life, and a gorgeous nano-texture display option, this laptop is geared for professionals who need powerhouse specs and are willing to pay for them. If you’re a video editor, a 3D designer, or someone who needs serious firepower, this MacBook is as good as it gets.

Even if you're just an internet surfer and a Netflix browser, get it for the 20-hour+ battery life — if you have the money to blow, of course.

Either way, the M4 Pro is a future-proof machine that won’t leave you disappointed, as long as you’ve got the budget for it.

The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro has officially entered the chat — and it’s here to remind Windows who's boss.

For those who haven't been closely following the PCs vs. MacBooks battle in recent months, Windows laptops began to gain the upper hand with the introduction of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite processor. Machines with this new chip delivered shockingly long battery life and jaw-dropping performance — so much so that they began to eclipse the M3 MacBooks.

But that was then. This is now. The M4 chip is here and its presence is monstrous — it's a beastly gem that is the pride of Apple, but a scary-fast rival for the Windows world.

The Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip may have sparked whispers of Windows’ comeback, but Apple’s M4 has arrived to make those whispers vanish. This MacBook Pro is everything we hoped for and more — and it’s ready to prove that Windows’ short-lived bragging rights end here.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) price and specs

The 14-inch MacBook Pro in this review costs $1,799 via Apple's official website and comes with the following specs:

• 10-core CPU

• 10-core GPU

• 16GB of RAM

• 1TB SSD

If that’s too pricey for you, the cheapest configuration has a price tag of $1,599, but you’ll have to downgrade your storage to 512GB of SSD storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 14-inch) $1,599.99 at Apple
Get Deal Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) design

My 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro comes in Space Black, but it's not quite black enough, if that makes sense.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If you’re hoping this colorway would scream "Batmobile black," you might be a bit disappointed. But it’s still deep enough to deliver that brooding, refined vibe.

My Space Black M4 MacBook Pro gives off the vibe of a mysterious man in the corner, smoking a cigar and sipping a bitter Old Fashioned — the kind of guy who doesn’t want company, but you can’t help being drawn to him. That said, I wish this hue leaned more toward a true inky black. Under certain lighting, it veers into dark gray territory, leaving me craving an even darker, sexier, more enigmatic finish.

Space Black is a new option for MacBook Pro models with the vanilla M-series chip. Last year, the Space Black colorway was reserved for the M3 Pro and M3 Max configurations — not for the entry-level, vanilla M3 models. However, it looks like Apple is being a little more generous this year. This onyx finish is now available for the base M4 models. Woot! (Last year, I begged Apple to bring Space Black to more Apple products, so this is likely a forecast that my wish may be coming true.)

While this color variant minimizes fingerprints, it doesn't get rid of them completely. You'll have to keep a microfiber cloth handy anyway.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can also get the M4 MacBook Pro in Silver.

Other than that, there aren't any other notable gen-over-gen design changes for the M4 MacBook Pro. And why should there be? It's just fine the way it is, with Apple's signature logo on the lid and an island-style keyboard on the deck. The new MacBook Pro continues to feature a 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure.

Plus, it brings a lot of power in such a portable package (more on that later); I could see this being my new travel companion for sure.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) display

You may be wondering, "Did Apple make any upgrades with the display?" The answer is yes, but they're minor.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Similar to the M3 MacBook Pro, the M4 MacBook Pro sports a 3,024 x 1,964-pixel display that continues to be quite striking to the eye. While watching Netflix’s Time Cut on the new laptop, I was blown away by the vivid, lush colors that brought the early-2000s sci-fi slasher to life. The Ugg boots, Victoria’s Secret PINK tracksuits, and Rollie Sneakers gave me flashbacks of peak Y2K cringe — but thankfully, the display’s stunning visuals made up for the throwback fashion fails.

The M4 MacBook Pro continues to sport a 16:10 aspect ratio, slim bezels, and that controversial notch that gets people in a tizzy. Do I love the notch? No. Will you get over it and forget it's there? Yes. My only complaint is that the notch should make itself useful and add Face ID to the mix.

The gen-over-gen improvement featured on the M4 MacBook Pro's display is brightness. Like its predecessor, the M4 MacBook Pro emanates 1,000 nits of sustained brightness for general use as well as 1,600 nits peak brightness for HDR content. However, the difference lies in the brightness offerings for SDR (Standard Dynamic Range). The M3 MacBook Pro delivered SDR content at 600 nits, but the M4 MacBook Pro is now more brilliant, now emanating SDR content at up to 1,000 nits.

There's also a new nano-texture display option. My review unit doesn't sport this feature, but I've had experience with this panel offering on the iPad Pro as well as the M4 Pro MacBook Pro. Its mission is to ensure that the display remains highly visible, even in challenging lighting situations (e.g., a sun-drenched room).

It holds up impressively well in bright settings, but the trade-off is a slight dip in the vividness and saturation you’d get from the non-nano-texture display.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) ports

You'll now find three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the MacBook Pro. Compared to its last-generation counterpart, that's one additional Thunderbolt 4 option for you to play with.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The M4 MacBook Pro also sports an HDMI port (supports TVs and 4K displays at up to 240Hz or 8K TVs up to 60Hz), a full-size SDXC card slot, as well as MagSafe 3 charging.

No, the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro doesn't come with Thunderbolt 5; you'll have to upgrade to configurations with M4 Pro and M4 Max for that. As it stands now, the 14-inch M4 MacBook supports up to 40Gb/s of throughput for accessories. (With Thunderbolt 5, however, you can get faster data transfer up to 120Gb/s). The M4 MacBook Pro, in addition to the built-in display, can handle up to two high-res external displays. For example, the M4 MacBook Pro can support two 6K external displays at 60Hz.

This is awesome for anyone who desires a multi-monitor setup. The last-generation 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro could only support one external display at up to 6K at 60Hz. Womp, womp!

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) audio

The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro continues to have angelic audio that sounds like it's been tuned by a choir of heavenly beings.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I listened to "Timeless" by The Weekend and Playboi Carti, and as incredible as my M2 MacBook Air sounds, nothing on the entire planet beats the MacBook Pro's six-speaker sound system with four force-cancelling woofers and two tweeters.

I've been reviewing laptops for several years now, and nothing comes close to what the MacBook Pro has been able to do with sound. "Timeless" sounded so good that it gave me chills — as if the music danced around me in 3D.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) keyboard and trackpad

Apple didn't change a darn thing about the built-in Magic Keyboard. As a reviewer who has tested countless laptops, I wouldn't say the MacBook Pro sports the best keyboard (that praise is reserved for the HP OmniBook X), but it's up there.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The keys are spacious and well-placed with a black-and-white theme that provides high contrast for peak visibility. Plus, there's still Touch ID support, which is always a breeze to setup (unlike Windows PCs).

Still, I can’t quite crown this keyboard as king. While it’s undeniably snappy and clicky, I’ve tested plenty of laptops with a springier feel that gives my fingers a more satisfying launch from letter to letter.

I have no notes for the glass-covered Force Touch trackpad. It's roomy and has the right balance of smoothness and resistance for highly responsive swiping.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) benchmarks and performance

The M4 chip is a monster that must be haunting Windows PCs' dreams.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Long story short, in the realm of Windows, Qualcomm has been bragging about its energy efficiency and performance numbers, claiming that it's better than the M3 chip. And according to our testing, Qualcomm was right; it does, indeed, have an edge over M3-based MacBooks.

As such, Qualcomm-based laptops, particularly those packed with Snapdragon X Elite processors, have been enjoying praise from laptops reviewers, like myself, who were blown away by their performance scores.

However, Apple dropped the M4 chip and obliterated Windows laptops in one fell swoop. On Geekbench 6, the MacBook Pro notched a sweet multi-core score of 15,199. This beats our most powerful non-gaming PC laptop, Microsoft Surface Laptop 7, which delivered a score of 14,548 on the same test.

We also tested the MacBook Pro on other benchmarks (higher is better):

• Cinebench R3 (multi-core) - 13,891

• Blender GPU score - 1,065

(Just a note: while we don’t yet have competitor scores for Cinebench R3 and Blender, this gives you a look at the MacBook Pro’s own impressive results.)

And hallelujah, the entry-level MacBook Pro now has a starting configuration of 16GB as opposed to 8GB, which means the risk of slowdowns while multitasking has decreased. Feel free to flood Google Chrome with as many tabs as you want.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) webcam

Apple upgraded the webcam from yawn-worthy 1080p to a better-quality 12MP.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

To test the new webcam, I made two FaceTime calls with my fiancé: one using my M2 MacBook Air with its 1080p webcam and the other using the M4 MacBook Pro with the upgraded 12MP camera. He accurately identified the 12MP webcam. However, he noted that the difference between the two wasn’t dramatic, aside from a slightly sharper image. He observed "less artifacting" on the new camera, which handles varying lighting conditions much better than the 1080p webcam.

Personally, I'm lovin' the updated camera, which supports Center Stage, a feature that was once limited to newer iPad models and Macs connected to an Apple Studio Display.

What's Center Stage? It's a feature designed to automatically keep you centered in the frame, even as you move around during video calls. (This is available on video-conferencing apps like FaceTime and Zoom.)

Whether I swayed to the left or shuffled over to the right, the updated webcam followed me like a loyal dance partner.

The real star of the show, however, is Desk View, which lets the webcam capture a top-down view of whatever’s on your desk. Initially, I thought a second camera might be required to make Desk View work, but it turns out you don’t need one. With just the 12MP camera, I was able to activate Desk View during a FaceTime call. It’s pretty impressive.

Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) battery life

Apple claims that the MacBook Pro can provide up to 24 hours of video streaming on a single charge.

To test this proclamation, we kicked off our 1080p video rundown with the Tears of Steel film at 50 percent brightness. The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro didn't quite reach 24 hours, but it survived for 16 hours and 32 minutes, which is still quite good. That's nearly 17 hours of battery life.

Is the Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M4) worth It?

The 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro basically said, "In your face!" to Windows laptops after they made noise with the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite chip this year.

From its impressive battery life to its monstrous M4 chip performance, this machine is built to dominate. But let’s be real — at a starting price of $1,599, it’s an investment that’s not for the faint of heart.

If you’re a creative professional who thrives on serious power in a sleek, portable package, this MacBook Pro is your best friend. But if you’re only using it to browse the web or stream Netflix, you might want to save your cash for a more budget-friendly option. (Perhaps wait for the next-generation MacBook Air.)

For those ready to embrace Apple’s latest powerhouse, though, the M4 MacBook Pro won’t disappoint.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro (M4, 14-inch) $1,599.99 at Apple
Get Deal

As Walmart gears up for its initial Black Friday sale next week (yes, there will be multiple), the big-box store has shared a further look at some of its top holiday doorbusters.

The first Walmart Black Friday Deals event gets underway on Monday, Nov. 11, bringing "deep savings on toys, tech, home, fashion, and more" to the retailer's website and mobile app, per a press release. Paid members of the Walmart+ program can start adding deals to their carts at noon ET, or five hours before they open to the general public at 5 p.m. ET. Non-members interested in joining for that head start can save 50% on an annual Walmart+ membership through Dec. 2.

SEE ALSO: When do Black Friday sales start? Be on the lookout for early holiday deals.

New deals will drop randomly throughout the week as the first Walmart Black Friday Deals event progresses and eventually pops up in stores on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6 a.m. local time.

Walmart previously teased a handful of its best deals from the sale upon announcing its holiday plans in late October — and with just a few days left until go time, it's dropped another batch. Here's what shoppers can expect to see, with newly revealed deals flagged with an asterisk (*) and links added when available:

• Samsung 65-inch DU69 4K TV — $398 (Special Buy)

• TCL 75-inch 4K Roku TV — $378 (Special Buy)*

• Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 — $429 $599 (save $170)*

• Apple MacBook Pro, 13.3-inch (Restored) — $299 $499 (save $200)

• Apple iPhone 13 — $199 $399 (save $200 with Straight Talk wireless plan)

• Beats Solo 3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones — $69 $99 (save $30)

• Shark Pet Pro WZ250 Stick Vacuum — $144 (Special Buy)

• Dyson V12 Detect Slim — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250)

• BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium High-Speed Dual Ionic Dryer (Matte Black) — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)

• Contixo 10-inch Android Kids Tablet and Smart Watch Bundle — $76.99 $133.99 (save $57)*

• Toy Dyson Supersonic Styling Set — $19.50 $30 (save $10.50)*

• Lego Friends Autumn’s Horse Stable Building Set — $30 $59.99 (save $29.99)

• Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Crash Crew, 5-pack — $10 (Special Buy)

• Squishmallows 8-inch Disney Boo — $5 (Special Buy)

• Franklin Pickleball Set — $25 (Special Buy)*

• Treetopia Heritage Balsam Spruce, 6ft. — $269 $359 (save $90)*

Walmart's holiday programming continues later this month with a second Black Friday Deals event, which goes live online and in the app on Monday, Nov. 25 before continuing in stores on Friday, Nov. 29. (That's Black Friday proper.) The same five-hour, members-only early access period will be in play.

Walmart will wrap things up with a Cyber Monday sale that starts on Sunday, Dec. 1 at 5 p.m. ET for members and 8 p.m. ET for everyone else. That event runs through Cyber Monday proper on Dec. 2.

The battle for the thinnest flagship phone has, apparently, begun.

Late last month, Korea's ET News published a report that Samsung is working on a slim smartphone that could launch "several months" after the launch of the Galaxy S25 series, which is likely to happen in the first quarter of 2025.

It appears that the report was accurate, as Smartprix (via MacRumors) has discovered a mysterious new Galaxy S25 model, listed in the GSMA IMEI database under the model number SM-S937U. The phone is listed under the Galaxy name, and there's no mention of it being called "slim," but there's a good chance that this is an entirely new Galaxy phone model, developed alongside the already existing new Galaxy phones.

Why would Samsung be working on a "slim" variant of its Galaxy flagship? Well, rumors say that Apple plans to launch a super-thin and light version of the iPhone, potentially under the name iPhone Air or iPhone 17 Air.

The new iPhone, which might be a replacement for the iPhone Plus variant, could have a 6.5 to 6.6-inch display, and a far thinner profile than any other existing iPhone.

As for the "slim" Samsung phone, we have no details, but can glean some clues from Samsung's Galaxy Alpha, a 2014 smartphone that was a lot thinner than other Galaxy models at the time. That device had a very slim body, reinforced by a metallic frame, a smallish 4.7-inch display, and it wasn't received particularly well. Samsung later incorporated some of the design elements from the Alpha into the Samsung Galaxy S6, which also had a thin profile and a metal frame.

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone 17 will come with a huge RAM upgrade, report claims

One thing is certain: Neither Samsung nor Apple have lately changed their winning formulas much when it comes to flagship phones. Perhaps it's time to shake things up a little with some super-slim smartphones.

SAVE $26: As of Nov. 7, the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite is on sale for $63.99 at Amazon. That's 29% off its list price of $89.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Govee Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite $63.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $26.00 Get Deal

Govee's lights are a great investment when you want to add a pop of color into your room. Their TV backlights, in particular, can elevate whatever you're watching into a colorful, immersive experience. If you've been hoping to pick up lights like these to make an impression for your next movie night, Amazon currently has the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite for 55-65-inch TVs on sale.

Right now you can get the Govee TV Backlight 3 Lite for $63.99, 29% off its list price of $89.99. Amazon has these lights marked as a limited-time deal, so there's no better time to scoop them up. This box also comes with everything you need to get started.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy is already going hard with QLED TV deals ahead of Black Friday

Alongside the light strip, you'll get an easy-to-setup camera that's placed just above your TV to capture all of the colors on screen. And controlling the lights is simple, too. You can do it all right from the Govee Home App or they can even be paired with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control.

Lights like these can really improve a watching experience, so don't miss out on this deal at Amazon.

If you're looking for even more deals to check out, you're in luck with Black Friday right around the corner. Some retailers have been getting in the seasonal sale spirit early — like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy — so it's worth checking out our breakdowns for each to learn more about what they've got planned for the sale event and when their sale events are expected to kick off.

When it comes to streaming options, the list goes on and on: Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at their vast libraries of movies and television within each one!

It can be overwhelming. So Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more. But maybe you don't know what you want beyond something new and entertaining. No worries.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024 (so far)

Mashable's Entertainment Team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least to most watchable. Whether you want horror documentaries, awaited animation, or directorial debuts, we've got you. 

8. A Man Called Otto

Seeking something feel-good? This American adaptation of Fredrik Backman's darkly comic Swedish novel A Man Called Ove aims to provide. But be warned, it misses the balance of grief and good humor that the book (and its Swedish movie version) manage. A Man Called Otto shaves off a lot of the saddest bits of the plotline, including casting America's Dad, Tom Hanks, in the lead role of a recently widowed curmudgeon, who reluctantly becomes a part of his neighbors lives.

For Mashable's review, I jeered, "Sadly, this feel-good movie falls flat because it never allows us to feel that bad. Gestures at grief and regret are not enough to make the emotions hit us at our core…. Hanks in the lead role, though committed, cannot escape his generations-long persona to be a believable son of a bitch. Without such saltiness, which made A Man Called Ove exhilarating, A Man Called Otto feels infuriatingly inert and frankly idiotic."
— Kristy Puchko, Entertainment Editor

Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Mike Birbiglia, and Rachel Keller

How to watch: A Man Called Otto is now streaming on Hulu.

7. Poolman

Chris Pine swings big with his directorial debut. For one thing, he pulls triple duty, co-writing the screenplay, helming the production, and headlining as the titular poolman, Los Angeles native Darren Barrenman. Bolder yet, he's crafted a neo-noir comedy that references everything from Chinatown to Golden Girls to Erin Brakocovich with equal enthusiasm. And yeah, that makes for a movie that's humor can be confounding to those not tapped into L.A. culture. The result is a movie that is an absolute mess of ideas.

In Mashable's review out of the film's Toronto International Film Festival premiere, I wrote, "That the plot barely makes sense might’ve been forgivable if Pine could elicit from his performers the kind of exhilarating energy and distinctive wackiness we’ve seen in the works of the Coens and Anderson. Instead, his cast, while charismatic, dances between a blurry line of broad comedy and nuanced parody that can't find its footing. Theirs is a world vaguely interesting but never sharply realized. And as such, we, the audience are always treated as outsiders. In the end, Poolman plays an inside joke that never let its audience inside."— K.P.

Starring: Chris Pine, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Danny DeVito, Annette Bening, John Oritz, and DeWanda Wise

How to watch: Poolman is now streaming on Hulu.

6. Meet Me Next Christmas

Netflix's 2024 slate of cheesy Christmas rom-coms kicks off with Meet Me Next Christmas. Christina Milian plays Layla, who hits it off with James (Kofi Siriboe) when they meet at an airport on Christmas. They decide to reunite next Christmas at a Pentatonix concert (very specific, I know), but Layla isn't able to score tickets to the sold-out show in time. Now, it's a race against the clock for Layla to secure her fairytale ending. But when sparks fly with the concierge (Devale Ellis) she hires to help her out, she may just have to re-evaluate what she truly wants.* — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

Starring: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Tymika Tafari, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado, Kevin Olusola, Matt Sallee, Kalen Allen, Nikki Duval, and Wesley French

How to watch: Meet Me Next Christmas is now streaming on Netflix.

5. The Lost City

Does it ever feel like nothing will fix your problems but a Sanda Bullock romantic comedy? Enter 2022’s The Lost City, which is streaming on Netflix from Saturday. Is it a perfect movie? No. Is it a ridiculously fun adventure chock-full of charismatic actors and one iconic sequin jumpsuit? Heck yes, it is!

Bullock is Loretta Sage, a reclusive romance novelist who has given up on love in her own life after the death of her husband. Channing Tatum is simply perfect as the himbo cover model for her books who is secretly in love with her. When an unhinged billionaire kidnaps Loretta because her latest book recalls similar details to a lost treasure he’s hunting, Tatum takes it upon himself, and his zero useful skills, to rescue her.* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Writer

How to watch: The Lost City is streaming on Netflix from Nov. 9.

4. The J Horror Virus

If you watched Ring back in the day and were both forever afraid of technology and straight onto The Grudge, watch The J Horror Virus on Shudder. Directed by Sarah Appleton and Jasper Sharp, the film tracks the evolution of Japanese supernatural horror that specifically embeds sinister forces within modern tech — think Ju-On, Cure, Marebito, Pulse, Shutter, Psychic Vision: Jaganrei and more. Yes, you'll need to watch it on a screen. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Shimizu, Rie Inoo, Shinya Tsukamoto

How to watch: The J Horror Virus is now streaming on Shudder.

3. Black Cab

Nick Frost as a creepy cab driver? We're in. Directed by Bruce Goodison and written by Virginia Gilbert, Black Cab sees a couple's cab home from a night out turn into a terrifying ordeal. Anne (Synnøve Karlsen) and Patrick (Luke Norris) are the imperilled passenger protagonists, whose driver (Frost) takes a turn into a creepy stretch of possibly haunted road. — S.C.

Starring: Nick Frost, Synnøve Karlsen, Luke Norris

How to watch: Black Cab is streaming on Shudder Nov. 8.

2. My Old Ass

Getting a visit from your future self sounds intimidating and fascinating. They're also two words I'd personally use to describe Aubrey Plaza, who plays a young woman's future self in My Old Ass, directed by Megan Park and produced by Margot Robbie. The film sees Plaza as a woman who emerges when pre-college attendee Elliott (Maisy Stella) enjoys a psychedelic trip. There's a lot to learn here, from both past and present.

As Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko writes in her review, "Though among this year's Sundance darlings, the coming-of-age comedy — from Margot Robbie's LuckyChap Entertainment — doesn't fall into maudlin navel-gazing or complicated artsy twists. Instead, it's a briskly funny time-travel movie that bucks genre convention and allows its characters to be as charming as they are messy." — S.C.

Starring: Aubrey Plaza, Maisy Stella, Kerrice Brooks, Maddie Ziegler, Percy Hynes White

How to watch: My Old Ass is now streaming on Prime Video.

1. Arcane Season 2

It's been three years since League of Legends-based series Arcane first rocked our world with gorgeous animation, kick-ass fight scenes, and a truly devastating story of lost sisters. Now, with its heavily anticipated second — and final — season in November, we'll finally be able to see what happened after Jinx blasted the Council of Piltover with her shark rocket.

Any chance of Mel, Jace, and Viktor surviving is slim, and an action-packed Season 2 teaser promises that things will only get darker from there. With Piltover and Zaun in an all-out war, is there any hope for Vi and Jinx to reconcile? Or is their sisterly bond gone for good? Either way, you can bet we're in for the return of one of the best fantasy series on TV.* — B.E.

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, Ella Purnell, Katie Leung, Reed Shannon, Amirah Vann, Mick Wingert, Ellen Thomas, and Brett Tucker

How to watch: The first three episodes of Arcane Season 2 premiere Nov. 9 on Netflix, with three new episodes dropping on Nov. 16 and Nov. 23.

(*) denotes a blurb has been lifted or modified from a prior TV preview.

SAVE $90: As of Nov. 7, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch Chromebook is on sale at Target for $139.99 as part of its early Black Friday sale. That's 39% off its list price of $229.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch Chromebook $139.99 at Target
$229.99 Save $90.00 Get Deal

Over the years, Black Friday has grown to take over a large chunk of November. There are many retailers that like to jump on the seasonal sale bandwagon early, and Target's offering just that this year with an early Black Friday sale running until Nov. 9. There are some excellent offers included in this early sale, like this deal on a Lenovo Slim Chromebook.

You can score this Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 14-inch Chromebook for just $139.99. That's $90 off its list price of $229.99, and worth picking up if you're in need of a budget-friendly upgrade.

SEE ALSO: Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 714 review: Google Gemini practically lives here rent free

This laptop is a great fit for students or those just looking to have a nice new work laptop. It's got a thin, lightweight design with a 14-inch FHD display, MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor, 4GB RAM, and 64GB storage capacity. It also offers up to 13.5 hours of battery life, which is nice for those who need a laptop to last them throughout the work day.

Target is not the only location offering some excellent early Black Friday deals. Walmart and Best Buy have their own sale plans for the month that are worth catching up on. These retailers are bound to have a wide variety of discounts up their sleeves as we inch closer to the sale event itself.

SAVE $50: As of Nov. 7, Bose's Ultra Open wireless earbuds are on sale for $249.99 at Target, $50 off their list price of $299.99. This deal is part of Target's early Black Friday sale event.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open-Ear True Wireless Bluetooth Open Earbuds $249.99 at Target
$299.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

It may only be the start of November, but quite a few retailers are jumping into the Black Friday shopping season early. Target is one such spot that has already launched its early Black Friday sale event that runs through Nov. 9, and this first wave of deals has some real gems. In particular, this discount on the Bose Ultra Open earbuds caught our eye.

Right now, you can score the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for $249.99 as part of Target's early Black Friday sale. This is $50 off their list price of $299.99. This sale is only running until Nov. 9, so if you've been looking to upgrade your earbuds, now's your chance. They're worth the investment, too.

SEE ALSO: Save $70 on Bose QuietComfort Ultra noise-canceling earbuds

In our review of Bose's Ultra Open earbuds, writer RJ Andersen said that not only are these earbuds "cool and functional, but the sound quality is great, the fit is incredible, and the comfort level is off the charts." We've also ranked them as great earbuds for working out due to their noise transparency. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino said that, "they're super comfortable even for long periods of time, and they're ideal if you hate the clogged-up feeling of traditional earbuds."

This early Black Friday deal won't stick around for long, so pick up the Bose Ultra Open earbuds at Target before the offer is gone forever.

This Back Friday sale at Target is just the beginning of a month of delightful deals. Other retailers are jumping in on the action as well with more early sale events. Check out our breakdowns of Walmart and Best Buy's Black Friday events to learn more about what to expect from them in the coming weeks.

SAVE OVER $100: As of Nov. 7, the Apple iPad (9th Gen) is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 39% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (9th Gen) $199.99 at Amazon
$329.00 Save $129.01 Get Deal

You can find a wide range of tablets from top tech brands out there, but if you really want the best model on the market, you should consider investing in an iPad. When it comes to stunning visuals, impressive features, and slick style, the Apple iPad is tough to beat.

As of Nov. 7, the Apple iPad 9th Generation is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. This deal saves you 39% on list price — a total discount of over $100. It's worth noting that this deal is exclusive to the 64GB, WiFi-only version.

SEE ALSO: The best Apple Watch deals ahead of Black Friday: New models are already on sale

The 9th Gen Apple iPad offers a stunning 10.2-inch retina display and all the latest Apple smart features, such as Touch ID. Everything is powered by Apple’s A13 Bionic chip, delivering incredible graphics and fast performance. And this iPad comes with 12mp and 8mp cameras, front and back respectively.

Beat the Black Friday rush and save over $100 on this iconic iPad.

SAVE $70: As of Nov. 7, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise-Canceling Earbuds are on sale for $229 at Amazon, down from $299 — a 23% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort Ultra Noise-Canceling Earbuds $229.00 at Best Buy
$299.00 Save $70.00 Get Deal

Ready to up your on-the-go audio game? Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are tough to beat. These earbuds combine Bose’s world-class noise-canceling technology with an impressive spatial audio feature, bringing music and podcasts to life more immersively. Normally priced at $299, they’re now available at Best Buy for just $229 — a saving of $70, or 23% off. If you’ve been considering upgrading, now’s a great time to jump.

The QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are engineered to give you peace and quiet wherever you go. Bose’s CustomTune technology adjusts the sound and noise cancelation specifically to your ears, creating a uniquely personalized listening experience. From working from a noisy café to blocking out everyday distractions, these earbuds are designed to make everything sound better.

SEE ALSO: The most comfortable headphones we've ever tested will take care of your ears

But these earbuds aren’t just about canceling noise. Bose’s new Immersive Audio shifts the soundstage from “inside your head” to “right in front of you,” creating a more natural listening experience. With up to six hours of playtime per charge (or four hours with Immersive Audio), plus three extra charges from the case, you can keep the music going all day long.

Comfort and fit are also key, and Bose doesn’t disappoint here. With nine combinations of ear tips and stability bands, you’re sure to find a fit that’s both secure and comfortable. Plus, the Bose app offers Adjustable EQ settings, letting you fine-tune bass, mid-range, and treble to match your preferences.

Features like Aware Mode allow you to stay connected to your surroundings without removing an earbud, and intuitive touch controls make it easy to manage playback, volume, and calls on the go. Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity also keeps your devices paired and connected within 30 feet.

The powerful James Webb Space Telescope has revealed a phenomenon once thought impossible.

Astronomers trained the instrument on a number of galaxies in deep space, and at the center of one galaxy spotted a young, dwarf black hole triggering enormous outbursts of gas. Cosmic material traveling near a black hole can get pulled around these gravitationally powerful objects, and some of it gets eaten. But black holes are awfully messy eaters, leading to ejections of gas in potent "outflows." Yet this particular black hole, dubbed LID-568, is feeding ravenously on matter at a rate 40 times faster than thought possible.

"This black hole is having a feast," Julia Scharwächter, an astronomer at the International Gemini Observatory who coauthored the new research published in Nature Astronomy, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: NASA scientist viewed first Voyager images. What he saw gave him chills.

Scientists found this black hole has exceeded the "Eddington limit," which is basically the maximum brightness an object can achieve and how rapidly it can consume matter. Such a feat could be why astronomers are finding black holes, born early on, that are more massive than such a young object ought to be. (This black hole dwells in a galaxy born around 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang — which is means it's relatively young. The universe is some 13.8 billion years old.) It's possible that black holes may grow massive in a single bout of dramatic feeding.

"This black hole is having a feast."

"This extreme case shows that a fast-feeding mechanism above the Eddington limit is one of the possible explanations for why we see these very heavy black holes so early in the Universe," Scharwächter explained.

An artist's conception depicting the ravenously feeding black hole at the center of an early dwarf galaxy. Credit: NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. da Silva / M. Zamani Tweet may have been deleted

Black holes are fascinating objects. They're unimaginably dense: If Earth was (hypothetically) crushed into a black hole, it would be under an inch across. This profound density gives black holes phenomenal gravitational power. Famously, even light that falls in (meaning passing a boundary called the "event horizon") cannot escape.

To observe the extremely distant black hole LID-568, scientists employed the Webb telescope's Near InfraRed Spectrograph, or NIRSpec, to observe the faint but powerful light from gas emissions beaming from the black hole.

The investigation of LID-568, however, has just begun. Astronomers want to know how this black hole broke its Eddington limit, which means more viewing with the Webb telescope.

The Webb telescope's powerful abilities

The Webb telescope — a scientific collaboration between NASA, ESA, and the Canadian Space Agency — is designed to peer into the deepest cosmos and reveal new insights about the early universe. It's also examining intriguing planets in our galaxy, along with the planets and moons in our solar system.

Here's how Webb is achieving unparalleled feats, and likely will for decades to come:

- Giant mirror: Webb's mirror, which captures light, is over 21 feet across. That's over two-and-a-half times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's mirror. Capturing more light allows Webb to see more distant, ancient objects. The telescope is peering at stars and galaxies that formed over 13 billion years ago, just a few hundred million years after the Big Bang. "We're going to see the very first stars and galaxies that ever formed," Jean Creighton, an astronomer and the director of the Manfred Olson Planetarium at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, told Mashable in 2021.

- Infrared view: Unlike Hubble, which largely views light that's visible to us, Webb is primarily an infrared telescope, meaning it views light in the infrared spectrum. This allows us to see far more of the universe. Infrared has longer wavelengths than visible light, so the light waves more efficiently slip through cosmic clouds; the light doesn't as often collide with and get scattered by these densely packed particles. Ultimately, Webb's infrared eyesight can penetrate places Hubble can't.

"It lifts the veil," said Creighton.

- Peering into distant exoplanets: The Webb telescope carries specialized equipment called spectrographs that will revolutionize our understanding of these far-off worlds. The instruments can decipher what molecules (such as water, carbon dioxide, and methane) exist in the atmospheres of distant exoplanets — be they gas giants or smaller rocky worlds. Webb looks at exoplanets in the Milky Way galaxy. Who knows what we'll find?

"We might learn things we never thought about," Mercedes López-Morales, an exoplanet researcher and astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics-Harvard & Smithsonian, told Mashable in 2021.

Already, astronomers have successfully found intriguing chemical reactions on a planet 700 light-years away, and have started looking at one of the most anticipated places in the cosmos: the rocky, Earth-sized planets of the TRAPPIST solar system.

TL;DR: Protect unlimited devices with a Windscribe VPN 3-Year Pro Plan on sale for $79 (reg. $207). 

Opens in a new window Credit: Windscribe Windscribe VPN Pro Plan: 3-year subscription $79.00
$207.00 Save $128.00 Get Deal

Remember when privacy online was easy to come by? Unfortunately, just like MySpace, web rings, and LAN parties, those days are behind us. Now, if you want to protect your anonymity and get a little taste of the internet without borders, you need a VPN, and a good one, too. 

Windscribe has been around for a while, and there's a good reason for that. With Windscribe, you can browse anonymously on servers spread over 69 countries, break through geo-restrictions, and browse like nobody's watching (because they aren't). It sounds like it should be expensive, but there's actually a sale going on that takes a Windscribe VPN 3-Year Pro Plan down to $79 (reg. $207). 

What can Windscribe do?

Windscribe takes its protection a step beyond what you'd find with basic VPNs. As both a desktop app and a browser extension, Windscribe protects your entire device and browsing experience, blocking intrusive ads, pesky trackers, and even malware with its signature R.O.B.E.R.T. tool.

R.O.B.E.R.T. alone acts as a first line of defense, blocking IPs and domains across your devices. Windscribe also boasts top-tier encryption, using AES-256 cipher with SHA512 authentication and a 4096-bit RSA key. This level of encryption, along with a strict no-logging policy and anonymous sign-ups, means you’re surfing in a truly secure bubble.

How many smart devices do you have at home? With Windscribe, you can protect all of them. This Windscribe lets you connect unlimited devices on one plan. Whether it’s your phone, laptop, or even your Fire TV, Windscribe has you covered.

And thanks to split tunneling, you can choose which apps need the VPN connection and which ones don’t, allowing flexibility for things like streaming and online gaming. With split tunneling, you can let certain apps access local content while others stay on the VPN, giving you better control without slowing down your experience.

Protect all your devices. Get a Windscribe VPN three-year Pro subscription while it's still on sale for $79. 

StackSocial prices subject to change. 

TL;DR: Through November 10, you can get a lifetime subscription to Matt's Flights Premium Plan for just $79.97 and save a ton on domestic and international travel.

Opens in a new window Credit: Matt's Flights Matt's Flights Premium Plan (Lifetime Subscription) $79.97
$1,800.00 Save $1,720.03 Save up to 90% on domestic & international flights Get Deal

Many of us dream of exploring new destinations near and far. However, the passion for travel can be met with resistance in the way of funding. There's only so much money you can make and save and spend on getting to those locations. But there are ways to ensure you have cheaper flights so you can stretch that travel budget further.

Matt's Flights is a flight alert service that takes the work out of finding affordable airfare. For just $79.97, this lifetime subscription offers you the chance to save up to 90% on domestic and international flights, making travel more accessible than ever.

Matt is like a virtual travel fairy, constantly on the lookout for airline mistakes and deeply discounted fares. His keen eye for deals means you get notified the moment a bargain hits the market, and you get a low-cost flight option right in your inbox, ready to whisk you away on your next adventure.

Travel can be complicated depending on where you're going and when, but with Matt’s one-on-one flight and travel planning support, you never have to do it alone. Whether you're unsure about a particular route or need advice on the best time to book, Matt is there to help.

As a premium member, you'll receive five times more deals than free users. This translates to more options and a higher likelihood of getting that perfect, wallet-friendly flight. And if you have a specific destination in mind, you can submit unlimited custom search requests, and Matt will dig deep to find the best airfare available. Whether it's a spontaneous weekend getaway or a long-awaited international journey, Matt’s Flights can help make it happen.

Travel more for less with this easy-peasy service. Pick up a lifetime subscription to Matt's Flights Premium Plan for just $79.97. This deal ends November 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Mini Desktop (2.2GHz i5-9500T, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) with a keyboard and mouse on sale for just $279.97 while supplies last.

Opens in a new window Credit: HP HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Mini Desktop (2.2GHz i5-9500T, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $279.97
$379.99 Save $100.02 2015 with Windows 10 Pro Get Deal

Your laptop is great, but sometimes you want something with more power at home. If you’re looking for a performance, ergonomics, and battery upgrade, a refurbished HP EliteDesk 800 G5 Mini Desktop is a great choice — especially while it's on sale for just $279.97.

Here are five reasons to grab this HP mini desktop computer:

1. Price: It’s $279.97 (reg. $379.99) because it’s a refurbished model, though it’s in grade “A” condition. 

2. Performance: An Intel Core i5 and 16GB of RAM make this model suitable for demanding everyday tasks or even gaming.

3. Accessories: It comes with a keyboard and mouse, so you only have to add a monitor. This allows you to select one that meets your exact needs.

4. Storage: 256GB SSD lets you download programs or save photos, videos, and other files locally.

5. Built-in security: Windows 10 Pro comes pre-installed with BitLocker device encryption and Windows Information Protection services, which are not available on the free Home version.

Build a desktop setup with the HP EliteDesk mini desktop for $279.97 (reg. $379.99) while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium — delivering quick, powerful insights from popular nonfiction books — on sale for $59.97 until November 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: GTHW App Limited Headway Premium: Lifetime Subscription $59.97
$299.95 Save $239.98 Get Deal

For those of us with big goals but little time, Headway offers a clever shortcut to wisdom. Imagine getting the main takeaways from bestselling books all in short summaries that fit into your day, learning on your schedule.

With a lifetime plan to Headway Premium for a one-time payment of $59.97, you can tackle new skills, boost your knowledge, and feel like a lifelong learner without diving into hours of reading.

Users can choose from a wide variety of topics, including health, nutrition, finances, real estate, self-help, and more. There are more than 1,500 different summaries to choose from, and up to 50 more are added monthly. A very helpful feature allows you to get personalized recommendations according to your goals and preferences.

While this won't replace reading the actual book, it can clarify some of the more important points and let you know if it's something you'd like to know more about. Plus, you can choose to learn by reading, listening, or watching, which can keep things interesting, and allows you to listen to Headway summaries while you drive to work.

Until Nov. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, you can score a lifetime subscription to Headway Premium and start your self-growth journey right.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Jimmy Kimmel has shared his reaction to Donald Trump winning the 2024 US election.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, November 7, 2024:

AcrossAlternative to Saran wrap

• The answer is Foil.

Get on the nerves of

• The answer is Annoy.

Depart

• The answer is Leave.

Highway divisions

• The answer is Lanes.

Winter holiday gift that's hard to wrap

• The answer is Sled.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 7 DownNiagara attraction … whose last letter can be moved to the end of 7-Across to spell two timely words

• The answer is Falls.

Basketball star who co-hosts the ABC game show "Lucky 13"

• The answer is O'Neal (without the ').

Silly as all get-out

• The answer is Inane.

Gave a ❤️ in a text thread

• The answer is Loved.

"Of course!"

• The answer is Yes.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $518: As of Nov. 7, the Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station is on sale for $549.99 at Amazon, down from $1,068 — a 49% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station $549.99 at Amazon
$1,068.00 Save $518.01 Get Deal

When it comes to backup power, the Anker SOLIX C1000 Portable Power Station is a big deal — literally. Normally priced at $1,068, it’s now available for $549.99 at Amazon, knocking a hefty 49% off its original cost. That’s $518 in savings, the lowest price we’ve seen. So, whether you’re prepping for an emergency power outage or planning a week in the great outdoors, this power station has you covered.

The Anker SOLIX C1000 has features ideal for home, camping, and RV use. With its 1,056Wh LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) battery, you’re getting a device with serious longevity — think 3,000 battery cycles over a 10-year lifespan. It’s built to last, and it’s tough, too, coming with a water-resistant carry bag that protects against unexpected rain showers (thank you, IP54 rating.). The bag’s rubber feet also lift the unit off the damp ground, and its Velcro design lets you access all the outlets without ever taking it out of the cover.

SEE ALSO: Save up to 50% on camping gear at REI and enjoy the vibrant fall colors this year

One of the SOLIX C1000’s standout features is its UltraFast recharging capability, which gets you up to 80% battery in just 43 minutes and fully recharged in less than an hour. Pair it with Anker’s compatible solar panels for a quick 600W solar recharge, fully charging the unit in under two hours — perfect for those remote camping trips when you’re off the grid.

This power station packs serious wattage, with a 1,800W output and a 2,400W surge capacity. This means it can handle most home appliances and electronic devices. Its 11 versatile ports allow you to plug in everything from a mini-fridge to your smartphone, so you’re ready for almost any power need. As always, Amazon Prime members can take advantage of free returns if the item is not the right fit.

SAVE $161: As of Nov. 7, the Sony ECM-S1 Wireless Microphone is available for $258 at Amazon, down from its list price of $419.99. That's a 39% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ECM-S1 Wireless Microphone $258.00 at Amazon
$419.00 Save $161.00 Get Deal

Suppose you’re a content creator, streamer, or someone spending too much time on virtual meetings. In that case, you already know nothing kills the vibe faster than poor audio quality. Enter the Sony ECM-S1 wireless microphone, a game-changer for crystal-clear sound now available at Amazon for $258. With a 39% discount off the $419.99 list price, this deal brings you the lowest price in the past 30 days. That’s $161 in savings for picking up a mic stand, comfy chair, or just some snacks to fuel those long recording sessions.

Sony has packed the ECM-S1 with features that make it a fantastic choice for anyone looking to level up their audio without the hassle of a complicated setup. Equipped with an omnidirectional polar pattern, the mic captures sound from all directions, so you can move around without sacrificing audio quality. It connects easily to laptops, cameras, and more with USB Type-C and 3.5mm jack options, plus Sony’s Multi-Interface (MI) shoe, making it incredibly convenient for Sony camera users.

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This isn’t just some primary plug-and-play mic. Sony has thought of everything from a battery indicator light to prevent a mid-session shutdown to a mute button for those uh-oh moments and volume control for precision adjustments. A built-in pop guard controls those “P” and “B” sounds, ensuring a polished, professional sound.

If you’ve been eyeing Amazon’s credit card, you can get $60 off upon approval, bringing the price down to $198. And don’t worry if it doesn’t end up being a fit, Amazon Prime offers free returns. Grab this deal before it’s gone, and get back to sounding like the pro you are.