Mashable

Influencers run marathons. Or maybe marathon runners become influencers? It's a chicken and the egg kind of question, but it's a scenario that has been a constant since the dawn of running culture online — especially on TikTok — and one that has only picked up since the pandemic.

This is normally not a problem — in fact it's a benefit. Marathons have gotten more popular, in part, because of influencers, which most people see as an overall positive addition to the sport. But something hit the fan over the weekend when one influencer was disqualified from the New York City Marathon after running the course with what was basically a team of folks filming him.

"After a review and due to violations of World Athletics rules, and New York Road Runners' Code of Conduct and Rules of Competition, NYRR has disqualified Matt Choi from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and removed him from the results," the New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, said in a statement, according to Runner's World. "He has been banned from any future NYRR races."

Choi is a Texas-based influencer who finished the marathon in under three hours — 2:57:15, to be exact. It's a pretty killer time, but not one that will be reflected in official results because the 29-year-old "ran with the assistance of two unauthorized people riding the course on electric bicycles, obstructing runners," the statement said, Runner's World reported.

There has been mixed reactions from social media. In one video with nearly half a million views, TikTok creator Michael Brandt said Choi "inspires a lot of people to go sign up for their first marathon or their next marathon."

"It's fundamentally driving a lot of attention to ... a sport that can be boring," Brandt said in the video. "He's making it really electric and exciting."

But, on the other hand, Brandt admits, "a lot of people try to get tickets and can't get tickets. Space is very limited, and so to just add a couple of friends on bikes onto the course that you're not supposed to be on goes against the rules."

Choi, for his part, apologized on TikTok on Wednesday admitting he endangered people and got in the way of other participants.

"I have no excuses, full stop," he said. "I was selfish on Sunday."

Choi added that he would not appeal NYRR's decision to ban him.

"I made my bed, so I'm going to lay in it," he said.

Overall, the general consensus on TikTok and on Reddit within the running community is that people are not happy with Choi's choice to bring other people onto the course — even if he is trying to make a statement about the importance of the sport. After all, dozens of influencers ran the race this year, and they found ways to make their race inclusive of their fans without alienating people who were actually racing it, too.

Sony's PlayStation 5 is finally here and the reviews are in.

Sony’s refresh of the PlayStation 5 is garnering moderate applause across the tech world as reviewers dive into its features. Early impressions from The Verge, IGN, Tom’s Hardware, and others suggest the PS5 Pro has leveled up and is now the ultimate way to experience gaming on the console. All that said, the biggest standout so far has been PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) — Sony’s new AI-powered upscaling tool.

SEE ALSO: 'Metaphor: ReFantazio' review in progress: The 'Final Fantasy XV' I've always wanted

Not only is the PS5 Pro a performance beast, but it’s also a feat of thoughtful redesign. It’s smaller, lighter, and operates more quietly than its predecessor, addressing a few of the more common critiques of the original PS5.

In The Verge’s review, Senior Editor Sean Hollister summed it up well: “In every title I tried — while sitting no more than eight feet away from a 65-inch TV — the PS5 Pro was clearly the better place to play.”

However, just because the graphical fidelity is more visually appealing doesn't mean it's an easy recommendation. Here's the bad:

1. The PS5 Pro is too expensive

It’s no shocker that the price tag has become a sticking point across reviews. At $700, the PS5 Pro isn’t an easy sell for the more casual gamer who might be content with the base PS5’s already impressive performance. For most players, the jump in visual fidelity may not feel quite worth the extra cash, especially when the base model continues to deliver a stellar experience at a far more accessible price.

As Rory Mellon from Tom’s Hardware put it, "It’s an extravagant purchase that doesn’t offer the same value for money that can be found in the base PS5, which remains an extremely capable console." Many echo this sentiment. While the PS5 Pro brings enhancements, it doesn’t fundamentally change the gaming experience enough to warrant a premium for those outside the enthusiast bracket.

2. There's no disc drive

On top of the high barrier to entry, the PS5 Pro doesn't come with a disc drive. "Considering its price, you’ll be disappointed to find that the PS5 Pro does not come with every possible bell and whistle," said Michael Higam in his IGN review.

However, Sony has tossed in some marginally good news. If you’re in the physical media camp, you can add a disc drive to the PS5 Pro. But brace yourself — that’ll run you an extra $80. The vertical stand is another separate purchase, too. It’s a curious move by Sony, considering that if there were a Venn diagram of hardcore console fans ready to drop $700 on the Pro, and those who still prize physical copies of games, it’d likely be one big circle.

For a company banking on its most devoted players, charging extra for essentials feels like a tone-deaf strategy.

3. Lack of games

Not to add to the annoying "but PS5 has no games" discourse, one of the minor complaints of the Pro is that, well, there aren't any games to sell you on buying the console.

Sony’s flagship first- and third-party titles have received quality patches to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities, but they’re just that — patches.

As Polygon's reviewer Cameron Faulkner notes in his review, the graphical improvements between the 50 Sony games that got patches are a "mixed bag."

The consensus among reviewers is that, with the next few years of the PS5's life cycle, games in 2025 and beyond will be able to take full advantage of the graphical and performance enhancement of the console. If they're able to do that, maybe the Pro won't be such a hard sell for its price tag.

With Election Day finally over, you might find yourself scrolling social media for hours on end — either elated that Donald Trump won, or devastated that he defeated Kamala Harris.

Either way, you might instead consider a hard-earned break from the 2024 election altogether.

Whether you call the act of signing off next Wednesday a mental health day, social media detox, or simply touching grass, there is nothing you can gain from election-related hypervigilance, says Dr. Richard E. Cytowic, author of Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age: Coping with Digital Distraction and Sensory Overload.

SEE ALSO: Jon Stewart shares a powerful post-election night message

"Whether you're obsessed about it or not, the vote count is going to be what it's going to be," Cytowic told Mashable prior to Election Day.

Still, many people have spent the past several weeks or months agitated and anxious about the election.

They're not just experiencing average stress, either. The American Psychological Association's recent poll of U.S. adults found nearly three-quarters of respondents worried that the election results could lead to violence, and more than half believe this election could be the end of democracy in America. With such incredibly high stakes in mind, it's no surprise that people have struggled with the uncertainty of knowing who will become president of the United States, and under what circumstances.

Yet, Cytowic says people also need an off-ramp from this anxiety, rather than letting it persist and fester. You may become fearful for other reasons now that the election results are clear, but at least you'll have a reprieve before new worries fully dominate your thoughts.

To help create this break, Cytowic, who is also a clinical professor of neurology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, recommends the following strategies:

Accept that you don't have control over what happens. If you voted, try considering that the end of your election season journey, because you did what was within your power to help determine the outcome, Cytowic says.

You may want to start or continue activism and organizing, but much of that work involves direct action, not impulsively checking social media. Plus, you'll need to come to that work rested and ready to engage; self-care is a political act and always has been.

There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in politics in the coming months (remember: the Women's March didn't happen until the January after the November 2016 election).

Log off as much as possible. Cytowic says that people are overwhelmed because they're being bombarded by political advertising, social media content, and media coverage about the election, all of which can make them more anxious. Now that the election is over, you may be scrolling for election post-mortems, as well as guidance for how to cope with what the New York Times described on Wednesday as the "precipice of an authoritarian style of governance never before seen in [the United States'] 248-year history."

You can try pausing or silencing notifications, so your phone doesn't lure you back into a vicious cycle of checking for updates. If it's helpful, decide in advance to only check the news at certain times, such as after meals.

Tweet may have been deleted

Spend time with someone you care about. Social media and tech devices tend to pull us away from in-person interactions. But being with a friend or loved one with whom you enjoy spending time can be restorative, Cytowic says. So the days after the election could be a great time to grab coffee with a co-worker (you can choose to avoid politics), invite a friend to dinner, or speak to a family member (instead of texting them).

Do non-purposeful activities. Cytowic says that the human brain needs time to do nothing, because it's straining to be constantly stimulated. Bonus points if you're able to go outside to clear your mind.

The Dutch refer to such idling as Niksen, Cytowic says. The point is to shift your mental focus and use this time as an opportunity to reset the brain's proverbial circuit breakers. Cytowic particularly recommends looking at trees or the sky, or listening to birds. Even a quiet minute under a tree in a park can be beneficial.

Do a meditative activity. Quitting your device and social media for the day won't be easy if you don't plan alternative activities. Cytowic recommends hobbies that help you stay in the present moment or achieve a sense of flow. These can include meditation, cooking, playing cards, gardening, sports, and other engaging pursuits.

However you choose to give yourself a break after Election Day, just be sure to give yourself a meaningful opportunity to transition away from any stress or anxiety you've been living with for days, weeks, or months.

Cytowic says that if people can seize that chance, they'll be much happier than if they never stop their "relentless exposure" to screens, politics, and the turmoil they often create.

UPDATE: Nov. 6, 2024, 9:46 a.m. PST This story was written prior to Election Day. It was updated to reflect the election's results.

Best early Black Friday MacBook deals Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,599.99 at Best Buy (save $50) Get Deal Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal

Well folks, it's about that time. Black Friday 2024 is just around the corner, and the deals are already starting to trickle in, especially on big-ticket tech items.

If you're hoping to pick up a new laptop during the holiday sales, you're in luck, because Black Friday (and pre-Black Friday) is always a great time to snag some fantastic offers. MacBooks normally show up to the Black Friday party in a big way, and the discounts are already brewing (even the latest M4 MacBook Pro is on sale).

SEE ALSO: M4 Pro and M4 Max benchmarks just leaked — the new MacBook Pro should terrify Windows laptops

While they may be scarce at the moment, there are some worthwhile MacBook deals out in the wild as we speak. Here are the best ones we could find so far, but be sure to keep checking back, as we'll be updating this page as new deals go live.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,549.00 at Best Buy
$1,599.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The newest MacBook Pro is here, and it's already on sale. The M4-chip-equipped powerhouse is the fastest the MacBook has ever been, and you can save $50 on one at Best Buy ahead of Black Friday. You do have to be a My Best Buy Plus member, though — just log in to your account before you check out, and bask in the savings.

More early Black Friday MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199.99 $1,599 (save $399.01 with on-page coupon)

• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M3 Max, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,268.75 $3,999 (save $730.25)

Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to MacBooks, going back a few generations isn't a huge sacrifice, and it'll almost always save you a bunch of money. The M2 Air is still a fantastic laptop, and you can snag one for just $749 ahead of Black Friday. That's $250 off the original price and a pretty sweet deal if you need some new tech on short notice.

More early Black Friday MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $799 $999 (save $200)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $949 $1,199 (save $250)

• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,299 (save $199.01 with on-page coupon)

PRE-ORDER NOW: As of Nov. 6, you can pre-order Stray for Nintendo Switch for $39.99 at Amazon and get 6 free art cards with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Stray' for Nintendo Switch $39.99 at Amazon
Pre-Order Here

There are tons of great games out right now, whether you want to explore a fantasy world or hang out with your buddies and fish — and there's still more to come before the year ends. But there's another game you might have missed when it debuted a few years ago that's well worth getting into now that it's headed to Nintendo Switch: Stray. After racking up accolades and awards, it's making the leap from PS5, Xbox, PC, and Mac to the handheld Nintendo console later this month. If you love cats, you're not going to want to miss this one.

As of Nov. 6, you can pre-order Stray on Nintendo Switch at Amazon for $39.99. This price is for the physical edition of the game, which comes with six full-color art cards depicting Stray's feline protagonist.

SEE ALSO: Snag a Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma controller for $90 off, plus more gaming deals at Amazon

Stray puts you into the paws of a stray cat, as you may have surmised by the title. Said cat accidentally falls down into a strange cyber city, apparently the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, and must find a way to return to the surface. Of course, this kitty isn't alone. With the help of a drone named B-12 and an adorable kitty backpack, the cat can navigate the city by jumping from roof to roof, climbing, and other catlike moves.

There are plenty of puzzles to solve as well, most of which use items the cat can store in its backpack, all while staying out of reach of enemies known as Sentinels and Zurks. Oh, and there's bacteria and machines everywhere, too. What happened to this city? There's a gorgeous story that plays out throughout your feline adventure that makes Stray such an exciting and inspirational play. Oh, and cats — because that's all we really need to know to want to play.

Stray is out on Nintendo Switch on Nov. 19. Be sure to pre-order your copy with free art cards before then.

SAVE 50%: An annual membership to Calm Premium is just $34.99, down from the typical price of $69.99. That's a savings of $35.

Opens in a new window Credit: Calm Calm Premium annual membership $34.99 at Calm
$69.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

There's a lot going on in the world that feels overwhelming. On top of that, we're coming into the holiday season, which can be stressful for many of us. If you're looking for some serenity and chill vibes, check out this early Black Friday deal on mental health app Calm.

As of Nov. 6, an annual membership to Calm Premium is just $34.99 for new members, down from the list price of $69.99. That's 50% off, or a savings of $35.

SEE ALSO: Grab a great deal on the Apple AirPods 4 before Black Friday

The Calm app focuses on mental health, offering solutions for anyone who deals with stress, anxiety, or struggles to fall asleep at night. Calm offers two tiers of membership, with the Premium version offering unlimited access to the entire Calm library. Calm's catalog includes over 500 Sleep Stories that are designed to lull you into a calm and restorative sleep. You can also take advantage of hundreds of guided meditation practices or put some calming nature sounds on in the background.

The app also has specific music that caters to your needs and moods, including playlists to help with focus, relaxation, or sleep. For kids, Calm Premium has a collection of lullabies and sleep stories, which means this could make for a great holiday gift for parents.

Conveniently, the Calm app is available in many forms. You can download it on your iOS or Android smartphone, use the web service, or connect it to your Apple TV, Google Home, or Samsung Health, to name a handful.

If you're focusing on mental health and wellness, a Calm Premium subscription could be a great way to add in relaxation and meditation. New users can sign up for Calm Premium for just $34.99, which is 50% off the usual price. Before the hectic holiday season kicks off, add the Calm App to your toolbox of relaxation techniques.

Google accidentally leaked its AI agent that browses the internet.

According to The Information, an "internal preview" of the AI agent, internally dubbed Jarvis, was briefly made available to download as an extension in the Chrome web store on Tuesday. The outlet reported that the extension was described as "a helpful companion that surfs the web with you."

The prototype was downloadable, but it didn't work due to access permissions. Later in the day, the extension was removed from the web store.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is using Gemini to help you make plans

The unintentional appearance of Jarvis on the Chrome web store confirms previous reports of what Google is working on.

The AI agent is expected to browse the web on behalf of users and perform tasks like buying products and booking flights. Google reportedly plans to publicly introduce Jarvis in December, alongside the latest version of its Gemini large language model.

Google isn't the only one developing AI agents. Last month, Anthropic introduced a new feature for its Claude LLM that can essentially take over your computer to read and write JavaScript code. OpenAI is reportedly working on AI agents, too.

In a recent Reddit AMA, OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil hinted that ChatGPT will have the ability to message users first and that performing tasks for users will be a "big theme in 2025."

SAVE UP TO 61%: As of Nov. 6, you can score up to 61% off gaming deals on controllers, headsets, a gaming mouse, and more from top brands like Logitech and Razer at Amazon.

Our top picks: Best overall Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma gaming controller $59 at Amazon (save $90.99) Get Deal Best headset deal Logitech G733 wireless gaming headset $106.99 at Amazon (save $43) Get Deal Best mouse deal Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse $87.99 at Amazon (save $62) Get Deal

Need a gift for the gamer in your life? Or maybe you're looking to upgrade your own gaming setup? Either way, Amazon has a ton of gaming gear on sale ahead of the Big Day (aka Black Friday). It's a great chance to save on a gaming mouse, keyboards, headsets, and more.

SEE ALSO: The best early gaming laptop deals you can snag ahead of Black Friday 2024

Here are our top picks as of Nov. 6:

Best gaming deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma gaming controller $59.00 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $90.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma gaming controller is on sale for $59, which is $90.99 off and a crazy good deal. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen on this controller, ever. It looks like it dropped on Halloween this year, so you might want to jump on this one before it disappears.

This controller, though wired, is pretty impressive. It has remappable buttons, interchangeable thumbsticks, mecha-tactile action buttons, and a D-pad with hyper-responsive technology for precise and accurate control.

It’s compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC: RGB Lighting.

Best gaming headset deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G733 wireless gaming headset $106.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $43.00 Get Deal Why we like it

You can get the Logitech G733 wireless gaming headset for $106.99 at Amazon. That’s a 29% discount, or $43 off the usual price of $149.99.

With a 20-meter (or approximately 65.62 feet) wireless range, lightspeed audio transmission, and 29 hours of battery life, this little headset is more than worth $106.99 if you're looking for a premium gaming headset.

You can customize the RGB lighting and download the G HUB app to fine-tune the EQ and save profiles. The advanced mic filters also help reduce background noise and make your voice sound clearer during gameplay.

It’s compatible with PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in Dock.

SEE ALSO: Prime members can score free PC games — here's November's lineup and how to get in on the action Best gaming mouse deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse $87.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $62.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse with Hero25K sensor is only $87.99 at Amazon. That’s a 41% discount, or $62 off the usual price of $149.99.

This mouse features PowerPlay wireless charging, so you’ll never have to worry about battery life again. It also has 25,600 max DPI sensitivity, 11 customizable buttons, and RGB lighting.

Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Nov. 6: OUR TOP PICK Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $899.99 at Amazon (save $700 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL ASUS ZenScreen Go portable monitor (MB16AWP) $299 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $69.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Bose TV speaker and soundbar $199 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal

We're still over a few weeks out from Black Friday, but Amazon has already started dropping deals for all the early birds out there. So, whether you want to start checking off your shopping list or do a little retail therapy to get you through the week, we've rounded up the best discounts we could find at the mega retailer on Nov. 6.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If you don't see anything that catches your eye, take a look at our picks from Nov. 4 and Nov. 5. Many of those deals are still live, including a record-low M3 MacBook Pro and the new Bose Smart Soundbar's first price drop.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $899.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $700.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

On paper, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is one of the fancier robot vacuum and mop combos you can get. It dropped in April 2023 with self-washing and self-drying mopping pads, above-average suction power, reactive 3D obstacle avoidance, floor type customization, and liftable brushes and mopping pads that adapt to different tasks. When former Mashable intern Stacia Datskovska tested it out, she found that the high-tech vacuum was packed with many perks, but overall it was hard to live up to its extremely high price tag of $1,599.99. Fortunately, as of Nov. 6, you can pick it up for just $899.99, thanks to an on-page coupon. That brings it back down to its record low from October Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ZenScreen Go 15.6-inch portable monitor (MB16AWP) $299.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

Having extra screen real estate to spread out your work on is a game changer — particularly on the go. The ASUS ZenScreen offers an extra 15.6 inches of monitor space in a slim 11.55mm package that allows you to bring it along wherever your work takes you. It comes with its own built-in battery that'll last about 3.5 hours, embedded speakers, a fold-out adjustable stand for comfortable viewing, and wireless mirroring via WiFi, Miracast, or AirPlay. Plus, it even packs two USB-C ports, one mini HDMI port, and an earphone jack for connectivity. As of Nov. 6, it's on sale for just $299 at Amazon — that's 33% in savings and its lowest price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $69.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal

Like its non-kids specific counterpart we featured yesterday, the new Fire HD 8 Kids Pro just dropped ahead of October Prime Day. It features a better camera, new generative AI-powered features, and 50% more RAM for better performance. That means kids can get the most out of the books, games, videos, and apps with the included Amazon Kids+ subscription. It's also $10 cheaper than the previous version at full price, which we dubbed "an ideal first tablet for your kids." As of Nov. 6, however, you can get it for even less — just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 50% in savings and matches its Prime Big Deals Day pricing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose TV Speaker Soundbar $199.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Since built-in TV speakers aren't much to write home about, we're big fans of adding soundbars to your home entertainment setup. If you're new to the soundbar world, the Bose TV Speaker is a solid introductory option to add some serious sound without serious bulk. It's small, but mighty, delivering a balanced and natural-sounding audio experience and enhancing dialogue and bass performance. Plus, it's super simple to set up. As of Nov. 6, you can grab it on sale for just $199. That's 29% in savings.

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

On Tuesday evening, Nintendo's president Shuntaro Furukawa took to X to make a grand declaration about the Switch 2.

He confirmed that "the successor to Nintendo Switch" will be fully backwards compatible with original Switch software. Additionally, the Nintendo Switch Online service will carry over, likely allowing your account to stay consistent across both platforms and potentially preserving your purchase history.

Tweet may have been deleted

Ideally, the catalog of classic Nintendo games included with a Switch Online subscription will carry over, too.

SEE ALSO: New 'Nintendo Music’ app lets you listen to 40 years of video game tunes — here’s how to get it

And that's pretty much all we've got. The post reiterated that we will hear more about the Switch 2 "at a later date," which is beginning to feel like it may not happen in 2024 after all. Earlier rumors suggested a spring launch (similar to the original Switch), but since there’s been no reveal yet, the timeline might be shifting.

For now, Nintendo seems content to focus on things like a music app for phones, a remaster of an obscure Wii U classic, and an alarm clock.

When your current console has sold nearly 150 million units, perhaps you can afford to take your time with the follow-up.

SAVE UP TO 55%: Amazon Echo devices are on sale ahead of Black Friday. Get the Amazon Echo Pop for 55% off, bringing it back down to its lowest price ever of $17.99.

Best Echo Device Deals Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $49.99 at Amazon (Save $40) Get Deal Best Echo alarm clock deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon (Save $30) Get Deal Best Echo Kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $24.99 at Amazon (Save $25) Get Deal

"Alexa, when do Black Friday deals start?" Right now.

This year, Black Friday falls on Nov. 29, 2024, and while we're still weeks away, the early deals are here. Apple is already unleashing deals across its products, and big ticket items like robot vacuums are dipping in price ahead of the big event. So if you're looking to make your home a little smarter, now is the time to shop Amazon's Echo devices.

Echos are some of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to upgrade your smart home, helping you do everything from play music to set daily lighting routines. Just one month ago, we were tracking deals during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, and we saw the lowest price ever on Echo Devices. Way ahead of Black Friday, we're already seeing those deals swing back around.

Here are the best deals on Amazon Echo Devices to shop ahead of Black Friday.

Best Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. While we expect this price to hang around through Black Friday, you can rest assured you're getting it at a great deal when you buy now.

More Amazon Echo deals

• Amazon Echo Pop Kids — $24.99 $49.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Auto — $24.99 $54.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Dot — $27.99 $49.99 (save $22)

• Amazon Echo Dot Kids — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Echo Spot — $49.99 $79.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Echo Show 5 —$49.99 $89.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Echo — $64.99 $99.99 (save $35)

• Amazon Echo Show 8 — $99.99 $149.99 (save $50)

SAVE $360: As of Nov. 6, the Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $459.99 at Amazon. That's a $360 discount off the regular price of $819.99 and a record-low price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop combo $459.99 at Amazon
$819.99 Save $360.00 Get Deal

Black Friday is nearly here (it’s only a couple of weeks away), and Amazon’s celebrating the season early with price drops on some of the most popular tech and home goods.

As of Nov. 6, you can score a Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop combo for just $459.99 at Amazon and the Roborock website. That’s 44% off and a $360 price drop from the original MSRP of $819.99. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for this model.

SEE ALSO: There are actually a lot of notable robot vacuum deals live ahead of Black Friday

This robot vac-mop combo features an auto-empty dock, 5,500 Pa high suction power via HyperForce technology, and a 180-minute runtime, making it an ideal pick for big households with little ones or pet parents tired of pulling out an upright every few hours.

It’s smart enough to know when it’s vacuuming carpet and features a fast-cleaning mode for quick cleanups between deeper cleans. With 30 water flow levels, it can adjust to different floor types and clean hard floors and low-pile carpets.

The Roborock app lets you set no-go zones and cleaning schedules so you can vacuum your home while you're running errands or at work. (Coming home to a just-vacuumed floor sounds pretty good, doesn't it?) You can also ask Alexa or Google Assistant to send your robot into action when your hands are full.

SAVE $529.99: As of Nov. 6, buy a 32-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K gaming monitor at Samsung for just $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,529.98. You also get a free 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD gaming monitor free with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 32-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K gaming monitor $999.99 at Samsung
$1,529.98 Save $529.99 Get a 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD gaming monitor free with purchase Get Deal

A great gaming monitor can totally transform your favorite titles. Whether you're cruising through Dragon Age: The Veilguard or getting in some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 matches, seeing games in rich, crisp 4K can be an awesome experience. And when it comes to monitors, the bigger the better, and two are always better than one — especially when you can buy one and get the other totally free. And right now, thanks to Samsung, you can do just that.

As of Nov. 6, you can get the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K gaming monitor on sale for $999.99 at Samsung. That's $529.99 off its normal price of $1,529.98 and a 38% discount. You also get the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD gaming monitor (a $229.99 value) completely free with purchase. That's two monitors for less than the price of one.

SEE ALSO: Save on an Acer PC gaming setup with this BOGO deal at Best Buy

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K monitor is no slouch when it comes to displays. It boasts 4K OLED visuals with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.02ms response time, all of which are absolutely essential to creating the best possible gaming experience, especially if you play multiplayer matches. That all goes toward giving you the best picture possible, with glare-free visuals, G-Sync compatibility, and a dynamic cooling system that can auto-dim logos and other imagery on-screen to stave off burn-in. Plus, at 32 inches, it's large and in charge so you can immerse yourself further in your game.

The smaller 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD monitor may be a bit less souped-up, but it makes for a great secondary display or a unit you might want to use with your daily driver PC to get some work done. But however you use it, it's an excellent deal.

GET A FREE E-BOOK: Prime members can cash in on one free e-book in November from the selection of Amazon First Reads titles. Non-Prime members can grab one title for just $1.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free e-book and short read with Prime membership Non-Prime members can purchase each for $1.99 Get Deal

We're now well into soup season, which also means it's time to cozy up with some good books. If you're in a money-saving mood to prep for Black Friday sales, Amazon is offering Prime members some free reads during the month of November.

The Amazon First Reads program gifts Prime members one free e-book title this month and tosses in an additional free short story. If you're not a Prime member, you can score one Amazon First Reads title and the short story for just $1.99 each.

SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: The new Fire HD 8 tablet is back down to a record-low $54.99

This month's selection of First Reads covers tons of genres, so all readers are likely to find something that's appealing. Historical fiction title White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton is included in the deal, as is the suspenseful tale Mirror Me by Lisa Williamson Rosenberg. There's also women's fiction, a phycological thriller, true crime, and a contemporary fiction title included in this month's First Reads picks.

November's bonus short read is also free for Prime members, which means you can laugh along with The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman.

Joining the Amazon First Reads program is free, and signing up means you'll get a monthly email with details about the latest First Reads picks. To read these Kindle titles, you'll want either an e-reader or the Kindle app downloaded on a tablet or your smartphone. We're partial to the Kindle Paperwhite, but you certainly don't need a Kindle to dive into these titles.

In a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive, a free deal is something worth celebrating. Prime members get a free e-book and short story this month from the Amazon First Reads program, while non-members can purchase each for just $1.99. Kick off cozy reading season ASAP.

Trying to game Wordle isn't my bag, I'll admit.

My ideal daily Wordle session starts with me plucking a legible five-letter combination out from my stream of consciousness and seeing where that random guess takes me.

The game becomes a sort of linguistic Magic Eye at that point: If I loosen my focus and look past the initial guess to imagine all the words that might be formed from any yellow- or green-marked letter, I'll eventually find the answer. Or not! And that's OK, I'm fine with a loss.

Some people like to win under any circumstances, though, and I get it. It feels great to maintain that daily streak, especially as it jumps into the double digits and beyond.

Sure, you could always cheat and look up the answer, but there's no sense of accomplishment in that. Gaming Wordle is the only agreeable middle-ground there, and the best place to find that comfort zone is starting word strategy.

So let's get into it. The internet has lots of thoughts.

Looking for the Wordle answer today? Here are hints and the answer for the Wordle on November 6.

How should we think about Wordle starting word strategies?

Let's think about this holistically first. You've got 26 letters in the alphabet. Of those, five (plus the letter "Y" at times) are vowels, the basic building block for most words.

So at a very basic level, any five-letter combination that helps you rule out more vowels early is going to trim down the galaxy of possible answers.

With that basic reality in mind, we can immediately pick out a few ideal starting words There are others, but ADIEU, AUDIO, and OUIJA all cover four vowels. You won't know if any yellow or green letters appear twice, say if the answer is "sweet" or "radar," but you can at least spot some critical letters right at the start.

Credit: Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images

That's good enough for most people. Starting with vowel-heavy words will give you an edge with Wordle's puzzle-solving every time. But it's also not that simple, since not every letter is created equally. Yes, vowels appear in basically every word, but some are more or less common. The same goes for consonants.

There's also the Wordle dictionary. There are more than 10,000 words the game will recognize as allowable guesses, but there's a much smaller list of words — only a few thousand — that qualify as possible solutions. The NYT even trimmed down that solution list after it acquired Wordle. So while you could use a more obscure word like AUREI (the plural form of aureus, an ancient Roman gold coin, for those who are curious!) as a guess, it's not going to be the day's answer.

If going vowel-heavy isn't enough and you want to cover some of the more common consonants as well, RAISE is an ideal starting word since it covers the three most common vowels and the two most common consonants as they appear in dictionaries.

14 Wordle clones: Because one Wordle a day just isn't enough

What is the best Wordle starting word, really?

For those who don't want to risk feeling like they're cheating Wordle, you might want to stop reading here. You can use the strategies and ways of thinking above to give yourself an edge in every day's new puzzle, and that's plenty for most players.

For those who want to dive deeper down the rabbit hole, however, there's an excellent video from Grant Sanderson, a mathematician and computer scientist who goes by 3Blue1Brown on YouTube. Sanderson applied his knowledge of "information theory" to Wordle, and he coded some testing programs that measure things like letter frequency to determine the best of the best starting words.

It's a dense 30 minutes of explanation that's heavy on the math talk, but Sanderson's friendly demeanor and willingness to take the time necessary to break down complex ideas for viewers makes it a fascinating watch.

In this initial video from Sanderson (you didn't think it was going to be as easy as one video, did you?), the ultimate takeaway leaves us with CRANE as the best Wordle starting word. But it's not that simple. Because Sanderson's breakdown focuses on letter frequency, CRANE is just the first stage of information gathering. It's only the "best" if you use what you know about the right and wrong letters in that first word to inform a perfect second guess.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Is your head swimming yet? Do you wish you'd just tapped out after the first section?? That's where I'm at! But wait, we're not even done yet.

A week after the above video post, Sanderson dropped another one, titled "Oh, wait, actually the best Wordle opener is not 'crane'...." It turns out, there was a slight bug in his original test program. He says right up front that the bug "affects a very small percentage of cases," so it doesn't undermine the substantive lessons from the first video.

Without getting into the heavy math, the bug relates specifically to solutions that have multiples of the same letter, and how Wordle handles that.

Sanderson felt the need to put out a second video because, while "very little of substance actually changes" from the original video, the final conclusion relating to optimal starting word is affected. The same caveat from before applies here as well: An optimal starting word is only as good as how the guess that follows uses the information gleaned from the first one.

With that context in mind, Sanderson's amended ideal starting word is SALET (which is an alternate spelling for "sallet," a type of helmet worn during the Middle Ages #themoreyouknow), though TRACE and CRATE work nearly as well. Especially since both of those latter options are potential Wordle solutions.

• This unhinged DIY might be the most Wordle you can play in a day

• The Wordle group chat is the easiest way to stay in touch

• Heardle is Wordle, but make it music

Honestly, one of the most important takeaways from all these dives down math-y rabbit holes is the notion I mentioned above: Your first guess is only strong in the context of the guesses that follow. That's the whole game of Wordle in the end: A single guess provides you with information that you then need to use to narrow down the list of subsequent guesses.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

But! (Yeah, we're not done here.) There's another school of thought on how to approach solving Wordle. Instead of playing the game as intended and using each previous guess to inform the next one, you instead stick to the letter frequency game and try to rule out the most common letters, consonants and vowels both, up front, irrespective of any clues you pick up.

This approach effectively "wastes" your starting stretch of guesses on locked-in choices that are meant to narrow down the number of possible letters you have to work with. Just know that if you play Wordle in "hard mode," this strategy won't work, since each successive guess needs to include any letters that are confirmed to be in the solution by the previous guess.

Is there a best Wordle starting word that doesn't go so hard on all the math?

As the top commenter on Sanderson's original video legendarily notes: "Interesting video, real good stuff. Gonna keep using PENIS but this was really cool and informative!"

For those who want to skip the long and winding road into math-land, YouTuber Bentellect has a short, sweet breakdown of his starting strategy.

So RATIO first, then MENDS, then LUCKY. That's it. With those three choices, you'll have slimmed down the list of possible letters to the point that figuring out the solution with your final guesses becomes significantly easier. It's not a surefire winning strategy for every day's puzzle. I'm not sure there is one, and even if there is, knowing it would essentially break the game.

Mashable's own Wordle expert Caitlin Welsh prefers a different three-word starter combination: SCALY, GUIDE, and THORN. The premise is the same though: Caitlin, like Bentellect, is narrowing down the list of possible letters that could appear in the solution by casting the widest net possible, alphabetically speaking, with her first three guesses.

SEE ALSO: 14 of the best 'Wordle' clones, because one word a day isn't enough

So there you have it. There's no single perfect starting guess for Wordle. There's a whole spectrum of them, along with a long list of caveats that basically boil down to: How much do you want to break the game? I said it at the start and I'll say it again: Stream of consciousness is the way to go. Use Wordle like I do, as a meditative brain-bender to loosen up those thinking muscles at the start of your day.

For those who want to win at any cost, though, hopefully this extended rundown of what works best will get you closer to climbing that daily streak into the triple digits.

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

BOGO ACER GAMING PC AND MONITOR: As of Nov. 6, Best Buy is offering a BOGO promotion on an Acer PC gaming setup. You can get 55% off an Acer Nitro Curved Gaming Monitor with the purchase of an Acer Predator Orion RTX 4070 Super gaming PC.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer 55% off Acer Gaming Monitor with Acer Gaming PC Get Deal

Ahead of the Black Friday shopping event, Best Buy's been dropping some truly excellent Buy One, Get One deals for shoppers to consider. If you've been itching to find some good gaming PC deals this month, the retailer has you covered with this Acer BOGO deal.

With this offer, you get 55% off an Acer Nitro 31.5-inch Curved Gaming Monitor when you purchase the Acer Predator Orion RTX 4070 Super gaming PC. This would normally save you $220, but the added bonus of this deal is the PC is currently discounted by $300 on its own right now, so you're actually saving $520 in total, bringing the total price to $1,629.98 from $2,149.98.

SEE ALSO: Save over $300 on this gaming-friendly laptop from Lenovo

This is a worthy PC to invest in as well. Fitted with an RTX 4070 Super graphics card, Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD, it's ready to power through all of your favorite games. The monitor has plenty to offer as well, with 2560x1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and large 31.5-inch curved screen. That's not all, though. The gaming PC also comes with a USB keyboard and USB mouse, so you can be ready to start playing on it right away.

This is an excellent offer to take advantage of ahead of Black Friday, so make sure to check out Acer's BOGO deal at Best Buy before it's gone.

Best Buy's been on a roll with its BOGO deals lately. Alongside this one, they're also offering a BOGO promotion on Samsung TVs and LG monitors. These are great discounts to check out before Black Friday kicks off, but Best Buy has plenty planned for that sale event as well. Target and Walmart are also ahead of the game with their own Black Friday deals throughout the month, so there's plenty to check out for this season of savings.

SAVE $270: As of Nov. 6, Lenovo's Ideapad 1 laptop is on sale for a limited time at $309.99. That's a discount of $270 on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Ideapad 1 15.6-Inch Full HD Touchscreen Laptop $309.99 at Best Buy
$579.99 Save $270.00 Get Deal

Gaming laptops come with a wide range of price tags. If you're just looking to get started with an entry-level pick that won't break the bank, there are thankfully quite a few options to choose from. Right now, Best Buy is offering a discount on a Lenovo Ideapad 1 laptop as part of its Deal of the Day. This most certainly fits the bill as a more affordable entry-level pick.

This Lenovo Ideapad 1 is currently on sale for $309.99, $270 off its list price of $579.99. This offer is part of Best Buy's Deal of the Day, so you'll only have through the rest of Nov. 6 to jump on it. It's well worth investing in as well, given its specs.

SEE ALSO: Save $400 on this gaming-ready TV from TCL

This Full HD laptop is fitted with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, AMD Radeon graphics, a 256GB SSD, and 8GB RAM, making it a great pick for more casual gamers or those just looking for a reliable work laptop. It also features a touchscreen for ease of use, which is a nice bonus.

Don't miss out on this offer for the Lenovo Ideapad 1 at Best Buy.

If you're hoping to find even more gaming laptop deals, you won't have to wait too long with Black Friday coming up in a few weeks. Retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy are prepping for the seasonal sale event with some exciting discounts, so keep your eyes out for laptop deals as they appear.

Jon Stewart and the "Daily Show" correspondents were live on election night as the results came in. Watch.

UPDATE: Nov. 6, 2024, 5:38 a.m. UTC Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, declared by the Associated Press at 05:37 a.m. ET. This article has been updated to reflect this.

It's been a long and winding road, but it finally happened: Bitcoin price has hit a new all-time-high.

The most popular cryptocurrency traded at $75,358 early on Wednesday according to CoinGecko, surpassing the previous all-time-high price of $73,097, which Bitcoin had set in March.

Looking back, it may not sound too long a wait for the crypto faithful, but Bitcoin has been zig-zagging on a downward sloping trajectory ever since that March peak, before finally picking up ahead of the U.S. election. At these prices, Bitcoin's total market cap (the value of all coins on the market) is about $1.5 trillion.

Bitcoin's price pulled back a little after Donald Trump claimed victory in a speech to supporters after winning third battleground state Pennsylvania. The cryptocurrency is currently trading at $73,923.

Trump has now been elected the 47th president of the United States, declared by the Associated Press at 05:37 a.m. ET, winning 277 electoral votes over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris' 224 (at the time of writing). Republicans also look poised to sweep both the Congress and the Senate, removing the largest political uncertainties that typically make the markets jittery. U.S. stocks are also rallying in premarket on Wednesday, with TSLA pumping more than 12 percent ahead of markets opening.

Tweet may have been deleted

Trump's campaign mentioned cryptocurrencies and, specifically, Bitcoin in the past couple of months, with Trump claiming he would make it easier for crypto mining companies to operate in the U.S., and promising America would be the nation to "lead the way" as crypto goes "to the moon."

SEE ALSO: An AI is getting very rich off crypto. It gets weirder.

Another big winner emerging from these elections is the cryptocurrency DOGE, which started as a joke but found a footing as it got embraced by Elon Musk, who's a major supporter of Trump's presidency — the billionaire and X owner has donated millions toward getting Trump re-elected, campaigned at his rallies, and offered million-dollar swing state payouts to Trump voters. DOGE is currently trading at $0.198, up 17.7 percent compared to yesterday's price.

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

The myth that men are simple creatures is just that… a myth. They are complicated beasts, which is evident when trying to choose a gift for the man (or indeed any man) in your life.

Not every man spends their days dreaming of fine whiskey and home gym gear, trying to level up their masculine ways. In fact, old school male stereotypes are a thing of the past, and it's time we started embracing modern, multi-faceted manliness (which includes our non-binary friends, too).

Even when you do find something that you think might be a good option, you can still be left with doubt. Do they even like this sort of thing? Do they already have something similar? It's worth remembering that no two guys are the same.

Before parting with your hard-earned cash (and worrying about whether you need to include the receipt with their gift), we can help out with some pressie-buying pointers. Whether that lucky fella is into cooking, style, self-care, or something more specialist, we’ve got him, and you, covered.

Check out this list of gift ideas that’ll make any man happy, no matter the occasion.

These are the best gifts for men in 2024.