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Amazon is home to good MacBooks deals year-round (more so than any other kind of laptop), but its selection sees especially deep discounts during certain sitewide savings events. Next up is Prime Big Deal Days, the retailer's members-only "October Prime Day" sale on Oct. 8 and 9, which will likely bring dramatic price drops across Apple's lineup ahead of a possible M4 refresh.
In the lead-up to the event, Amazon has discounted several models across the M2 and M3 generations — most notably, the 14-inch M3 Apple MacBook Pro from last fall. Three configurations were sitting at record-low prices at the time of writing.
SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Official dates, the competition, and moreSeveral variants of the MacBook Air are also on sale on Amazon before Prime Big Deal Days, though none of them have hit or surpassed their previous all-time lows just yet. As such, shoppers who aren't in dire need of an upgrade may want to hold off on buying them until Prime Big Deal Days formally begins, in case they get even cheaper then. (We also recommend keeping a close eye on Best Buy, Amazon's toughest competition when it comes to laptop markdowns.)
Read on for a closer look at the best early October Prime Day deals on MacBooks. Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.
Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) 🔥 $1,699.00 at AmazonRead Mashable's full review of the 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro (M3).
The latest 14-inch MacBook Pro features an M3 chip that supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing for rendering lifelike lighting, plus a bright 120Hz mini-LED display, tons of ports (including an SDXC card slot), and a battery that lasted over 16 hours per charge in our testing. It's a Mashable Choice Award winner and our favorite laptop for video editing.
All configurations of the 14-inch M3 Pro are now on sale at all-time lows on Amazon (including the base model, which is now just $1,399). However, we're partial to the bumped-up version with 16GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage: That extra RAM is necessary if you're going to be using it for multitasking and/or creative work. Normally $1,999, it's now just $1,699 — a 15% savings. Best Buy was matching that offer when we last checked.
Best MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799.00 at AmazonRead Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M2).
Another Mashable Choice Award winner, the 13-inch MacBook Air from mid-2022 combines "[rock]-solid battery life" with "a keyboard that’s to die for, and enough horsepower to handle everyday tasks with ease," wrote Mashable tech and games reporter Alex Perry. It's our current favorite "budget" MacBook, and it's even cheaper than usual on Amazon (though not cheaper than ever before):
You can snag the base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $799, or $200 off. That's $50 away from its all-time low of $749, which briefly appeared at Best Buy over Labor Day weekend and required a paid My Best Buy membership. Let's see if Amazon matches that for Team Prime next week.
More MacBook Airs on saleApple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,006.99 $1,099 (save $92.01)
Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M3, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,299 (save $150)
Robot vacuums have been a backbone of Prime Day for years now, but the type of robot vacuums on sale for Prime Day looks a little different now than it did five years ago.
While self-emptying robot vacuums on sale at all were few and far between back then, almost every single robot vacuum on sale during Prime Days present can empty themselves. That includes Prime events not officially called Prime Day, like Prime Big Deal Days coming up on Oct. 8 and 9. (Though for all intents and purposes, it's October Prime Day.)
SEE ALSO: I've tested over 20 robot vacuums and these are the best for every budget in 2024The universalization of the self-emptying dock has also made it a much more affordable feature in general, even when no discount is present — so Prime Day deals on these robovacs means you may not have to pay more than $300 or $400 to be off dustbin duty for a few weeks.
If you do have a more flexible budget, though, the automatic maintenance feature to look for this Prime Day would be self-washing and drying mopping pads. iRobot, Shark, Roborock, Eufy, Ecovacs, and more all have at least one robot vacuum and mop combo that deals with its own dust and dirty mopping pads all in the same dock. These are obviously pricier than hybrids that make you do this manually, so to have a few hundred dollars knocked off the price during (or before) Prime Day is game-changing.
We've pulled all of the best early deals on self-emptying robot vacuums live at Amazon ahead of the official Prime Big Deal Days kickoff on Oct. 8. This list will be updated daily as more options go on sale, so be sure to check back throughout the next week.
Best early Prime Day self-emptying vacuum and mop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot T30S with handheld vacuum All-in-One Station $949.99 at AmazonEcovacs wasn't lying when it came up with the term "all-in-one cleaning hub" here, considering that this robot vacuum not only empties itself and washes and dries its own mopping pads, but also has another sweet feature tacked onto the dock: a handheld cordless vacuum. If your main hesitation with robot vacuums was that they can't scale a staircase, sweep under couch cushions, or detail corners up to your standards, this is the one robot vacuum purchase that can — now for less than $1,000.
More early deals on self-emptying robot vacuumsRobot vacuums that don't mop
Eufy L60 — $299.99 $398.99 (save $99 with Prime)
Shark AV2501AAE AI — $299.99 $419 (save $119.01)
Roborock Q5 DuoRoller+ — $359.99 $599.99 (save $240 with Prime)
Robot vacuums that do mop
Eufy G30 Hybrid — $239.99 $429.99 (save $190)
Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 — $349.99 $450 (save $100.01)
iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ — $444.99 $729.99 (save $285)
Dreame L10s Ultra with self-cleaning station — $499.99 $899.99 (save $400 with on-page coupon)
Roborock Q8 Max+ — $519.99 $819.99 (save $300 with on-page coupon)
Roborock Qrevo S — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200 with Prime)
Narwal Freo — $649.99 $1,399.99 (save $750 with on-page coupon)
Ecovacs Deebot N30 Omni with self-cleaning station — $649.99 $799.99 (save $150)
Shark PowerDetect NeverTouch Pro with self-cleaning station — $299.99 $419 (save $119.01)
Roborock Qrevo Pro — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200 with on-page coupon)
Ecovacs Deebot T30S with handheld vacuum All-in-One Station — $949.99 $1,199.99 (save $250)
Dreame X40 Ultra with self-cleaning station — $1,599.99 $1,899.99 (save $300 with Prime)
We're closing in on being just one week away from the start of Prime Day yet again, but as is Amazon's style, early deals are cropping up ahead of the sale's official start.
Among the many items marked down already, you'll find a decent variety of iPads, from M2 Airs to the ninth generation iPad. Although the retailer hasn't deemed any of the below official deals from the member-exclusive Prime Big Deal Days sale (aka the official name for this October Prime Day), we still think they're worth checking out ahead of time.
SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Amazon's October Prime Day sale: Official dates, the competition, and moreAs always, we'll be updating this post with the best iPad deals throughout this Prime Day season, so make sure to check back often.
Best iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (10th generation, WiFi, 64GB) $299.00 at AmazonEven at full price, the 10th generation iPad is our pick for the best Apple tablet if you're on a budget. Marked down $50, this iPad becomes about half the price of the iPad Air at full price. Sure, it isn't powered by an M2 chip, and it may not be the tablet we recommend for artists or designers, but for most people, the 10th generation will more than power you through note taking, browsing the web, and streaming video for a fraction of the cost of other options.
More iPad deals ahead of Prime DayApple iPad (9th generation, WiFi, 64GB) — $224 $329 (save $105)
Apple iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) — $389 $499 (save $110)
Apple iPad Mini (WiFi, 256GB) — $539.99 $649 (save $109.01)
Apple iPad Air (11-inch, WiFi, 128GB) — $549 $599 (save $50)
Apple iPad Air (11-inch, WiFi, 256GB) — $649 $699 (save $50)
Roomba is one of the more popular robot vacuum models, and honestly, it's for a good reason: They make really great products. Ahead of October's Prime Day event next week, a bunch of different Roomba models are on sale at pretty steep discounts. There will probably be more during the actual event when it begins on Oct. 8, but they're still worth checking out ahead of time. If you're interested in one of the more premium Roomba companions, we're actually hoping to see better deals on those during the Prime event now that the new Combo 10 Max is out.
If you hate doing chores as much as we do, check out our top Roomba deals ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, including price cuts on regular vacuums, mop combos, and more.
SEE ALSO: The best Dyson vacuums: A guide to the latest versions of stick, ball, and handheld cleaners Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Q011 robot vacuum $139.99 at AmazonIf you've never had a robot vacuum and don't want to blow a ton of money on one before you even know if you like it, this budget Roomba vac is only $139.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days ($110 in savings). It's got all of the basics you need: Powerful suction, smart navigation, smartphone app controls, self-recharging, and Alexa support. It's easy to clean, too.
Best combo pick Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba j5+ self-emptying robot vacuum and mop $450.00 at AmazonCombo robot vacuums are much more well-rounded devices compared to their vacuum-only counterparts. The Roomba j5+, for example, is also a mop and can clean itself. It's also $279.99 off ahead of October Prime Day, just $450. The j5+ features more powerful suction over Roomba's more budget-friendly options, smart mapping, and a sensor that'll help the vacuum steer clear of any pet-related accidents. If you want to knock three items off your chore list with one device (vacuuming, mopping, and cleaning the machine), you'll want to consider picking up this Roomba model.
More early October Prime Day robot vacuum dealsiRobot Roomba Q0120 robot vacuum — $179 $249.99 (save $70.99)
iRobot Roomba Y0140 robot vacuum and mop — $199 $274.99 (save $75.99)
iRobot Roomba i3+ EVO robot vacuum — $249.99 $430 (save $180.01)
iRobot Roomba i5 robot vacuum and mop — $299 $349.99 (save $50.99)
iRobot Braava Jet M6 robot mop — $399 $449.99 (save $50.99)
iRobot Roomba j9+ self-emptying robot vacuum — $599 $899 (save $300)
iRobot Roomba j9+ self-emptying and auto-fill robot vacuum and mop — $799 $1,399 (save $600)
Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days doesn’t officially kick off until October 8, but we’ve been seeing deals on everything from pet tech to smart home gadgets for at least three weeks. And it looks like the deals just keep coming — right now, you can find tons of drone models for $200+ off at Amazon.
You don’t have to be a tech nerd or hobbyist to appreciate a good drone deal. These little things aren’t just fun to fly; they can be used for everything from aerial photography to inspecting hard-to-reach areas to monitoring crop health.
Whether you’re shopping for your first drone, looking to upgrade your current setup, or trying to find a holiday gift that doesn’t suck, you'll want to check out these Prime Day drone deals.
Here are our top picks:
Best drone deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Holy Stone Our pick: Holy Stone GPS drone HS175D RC Quadcopter $169.99 at AmazonIf you’re really into drones, the name Holy Stone should be on your radar. This brand is known for making high-end drones that are feature-packed and, at times, super affordable.
The Holy Stone GPS drone HS175D RC Quadcopter is currently $159.99 at Amazon, which is 25% off the listing price. It’s a solid mid-range drone option that shoots 4K videos, has a 46-minute flight time, and a special flight mode where you can direct its movement — whether you want it to follow you or fly along a specific path.
Best runner-up deal Opens in a new window Credit: Potensic Our pick: Potensic Atom SE GPS Drone $229.99 at AmazonThe Potensic Atom SE GPS Drone is $229.99 at Amazon right now. That’s a $70 discount and, according to our price hunting tool CamelCamelCamel, its record-low price.
This budget-friendly drone is lightweight (less than 249g) and features level-5 wind resistance. It’s so small that you can fold it up and pop it into your jacket pocket. The 4K EIS camera (with Sony CMOS sensor) can capture 12mp stills and 30fps HD video. Plus, the ShakeVanish technology makes for a smooth shot even when there’s a lot of movement.
The Potensic Atom SE has four flight modes, including a beginner mode that adjusts the drone’s speed and stability for newbies. It can last for up to 62 minutes on a single charge and has an auto-fly back function in case you lose sight of it (or if it loses signal or is about to run out of juice).
Best budget pick Opens in a new window Credit: Velcase Our pick: Velcase Quadcopter $49.99 at AmazonIf you’re a beginner or shopping for a kid, the Velcase Quadcopter is 80% off and priced at just $49.99. That’s a pretty sweet deal for a drone with a 4.3-star rating and more than 1K reviews.
While it might not be as impressive as a Holy Stone or Potensic model, this budget-friendly drone has some cool features, including three speed modes, voice control, and one-key take-off and landing. It can also do flips and rolls, which is fun.
More drone dealsOviliee Mini Drone — $39.99 $175.99 (save $136)
Hiturbo Quadcopter — $49.99 $224.99 (save $175)
Holy Stone GPS Drone HS720 — $150.99 $249.99 (save $99)
Holy Stone GPS Drone HS360S — $189.99 $209.99 (save $20)
On the far-right, some have developed an obsessive fixation on two things: interracial relationships and pornography.
If you've ventured into the conspiracy-laden world of X (formerly Twitter), you'll find disturbingly prevalent discussions of the Great Replacement Theory. This white supremacist conspiracy theory — pushed on the site by owner Elon Musk himself — suggests that an ominous "they" (an antisemitic euphemism for Jewish people) is secretly bringing people of color into the country to vote for Democrats and ultimately "replace" the white population.
When it comes to pornography, this conspiracy takes a twisted turn. The belief is that the same ominous group "importing immigrants to vote for Democrats" (re: Jewish people) is using interracial cuckold pornography as a tool to emasculate white men and manipulate them into accepting interracial relationships. It sounds absurd and it is.
SEE ALSO: How Big Tech is approaching explicit, nonconsensual deepfakesMeanwhile, statistics reveal that Americans are consuming cuckold porn — a scenario where a man watches his wife engage in sexual activity with another man — in staggering numbers. According to a spokesperson from the adult video site Clips4Sale, sales of cuckold content have skyrocketed — up 191 percent since 2020 and 75 percent in just the past year. Meanwhile, Blacked, a site known for its high-definition interracial content, has become Pornhub's second most popular channel according to its Channels page, boasting three million subscribers and 2.6 billion views.
The reality is that interracial porn, particularly featuring Black men and white women, is one of the most popular porn genres and stands at the center of one of the alt-right's most contradictory kinks.
The origins of racist tropes in pornWhile cuckold pornography doesn't necessarily have to involve race, it often does, sex worker advocate Mike Stabile told Mashable. "The underlying idea is that you're being humiliated by your wife having sex with a Black man, who, according to the stereotype, is more well-endowed and more sexual," he explained.
This stereotype, which portrays Black men as hypersexual and possessing larger genitalia, is rooted in racism and can be traced back to the Elizabethan era. European colonizers spread these racist tropes in travel books, blending fact and fiction in their depictions of African people. According to accounts from this time, Black men were often described as having "enormous" penises, with one writer claiming that African men were "furnisht with such members as are after a sort burthensome unto them," as detailed in a Guardian article by Afua Hirsch.
The alt-right's obsession with Black men's bodies isn't new — it's a modern twist on an old fear that twentieth-century psychoanalyst Frantz Fanon called "Negrophobia." In his 1952 work Black Skin, White Masks, Fanon dissected how racism is driven by a toxic mix of fear and sexual desire, where Black men are reduced to hypersexual threats. This fixation is linked to the "Mandingo" stereotype, born from post-abolition anxieties that painted Black men as dangerously virile. White men feared not just their political and economic power but also their perceived sexual threat to white women. This fear fueled anti-interracial marriage laws and an obsession with maintaining "racial purity," often leading to brutal acts of violence.
As Mashable Features Editor Rachel Thompson explains in Rough: How Violence Has Found Its Way Into the Bedroom and What We Can Do About It, these anxieties date back to slavery when rape was considered a crime only if it involved a white woman. Under the chattel slavery system, particularly in Louisiana, the rape of a Black woman — whether enslaved or free — was not considered a crime. In stark contrast, the rape or attempted rape of a white woman by an enslaved Black man could result in capital punishment.
Films like The Birth of a Nation (1915) later revived and mainstreamed these racist stereotypes, helping to rekindle the Ku Klux Klan and perpetuate the dangerous myth of the hypersexual Black man.
This same fear was at the heart of tragic events like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921, where a false accusation of sexual assault by a Black man against a white woman sparked one of the deadliest outbreaks of racial violence in American history. Similarly, in 1955, the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, who was lynched for allegedly flirting with a white woman, became a powerful symbol of the deadly consequences of these racist fears and the systemic violence they perpetuated.
Even today, these fears manifest in phrases like "white women tears," in which white women use their perceived hierarchical status in situations against people of color that would be advantageous for them. For example, the Amy Cooper incident in Central Park, where Cooper falsely claimed she was being threatened by an "African-American man," despite no actual threat being present.
Given the historical context, interracial cuckold porn taps into these old anxieties, turning them into a modern spectacle of sexual racism. What might seem like a simple act of humiliation — a husband watching his wife with another man — is laden with the weight of these deep-seated fears.
Content produced by sites like Blacked perpetuates the narrative that white women are "betraying their race" by engaging in sexual relationships with Black men, a dynamic rooted in the racist fear of interracial mixing. The implication is that by choosing a Black partner, these women are rejecting white men and, by extension, undermining the so-called "purity" of the white race.
Given the historical context, interracial cuckold porn taps into these old anxieties, turning them into a modern spectacle of sexual racism.According to Stabile, "At that point, the husband represents the entire white race," reinforcing the idea that this act of "betrayal" goes beyond personal relationships and taps into long-standing racial anxieties about power, sexuality, and dominance.
Donald Trump and the "cuckservative"The term "cuck," a shorthand for cuckold, was aggressively co-opted by the alt-right during Trump's first presidential run in 2016 and then picked up steam within the manosphere, evolving from its 13th-century origins as "the husband of an adulterous wife." When used by the alt-right, the word becomes a pejorative — a weaponized insult for anyone perceived as weak, emasculated, or insufficiently committed to the cause of white supremacy. As Maureen Kosse, a PhD candidate in linguistics at the University of Colorado, Boulder, explained, "What [the far-right] is actually saying when they use the term 'cuck' is that white men are being humiliated or undermined by Black and brown men, who are taking what is rightfully theirs — namely, white women."
This narrative gained traction during the 2016 election, a period that saw the rise of former President Donald Trump. Trump's ascension to the Republican presidential nomination and eventual win, with his aggressive rhetoric and rejection of political correctness, provided the perfect backdrop for these terms to flourish.
Thus, "cuck" became a litmus test within right-wing circles, used to measure one's dedication to the preservation of white male dominance. The use of "cuckservative" — a portmanteau of "cuckold" and "conservative" — further cemented this insult within the political lexicon, specifically targeting those on the right who were perceived as betraying their race or conservative values.
Kosse notes that figures like Jeb Bush, who faced the insult frequently due to his marriage to Columba Bush, born in Mexico, and his relatively moderate stance on immigration, became prime targets. For the far-right, interracial relationships symbolize the ultimate threat to white male supremacy. To a lesser extent, the same problem has been happening to current Republican vice presidential nominee JD Vance and his wife Usha, who is of Indian descent.
"Control over white women is as central to white supremacy as whiteness itself," argued Kosse. "White men have always been obsessed with the idea of Black men having sex with white women because it inverts their entire worldview, creating a kind of erotic charge that they both fear and fetishize."
The dichotomy between fear and fetishization is common within the alt-right, where public postures of strength mask private insecurities. As explained by Kosse, by indulging in these fantasies, they both confront and reinforce their fears. The scenario of a white man being humiliated by a Black man serves as both a nightmare and a confirmation of their twisted worldview.
"The fear of humiliation is a big reason that they watch [interracial porn]. But also because it does, in their own weird way, prove their own worldview," Kosse said.
Let's clear something up: Not every white guy who clicks on interracial porn is some alt-right, neo-Nazi incel. But if you've been following the lawsuits, think pieces, Reddit threads, and academic deep dives about this content, it's pretty obvious that it's not exactly made with Black men or white women in mind as the primary viewers.
The anti-porn party's porn habitsAs the manosphere and its influencers like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson have gained traction in recent years since COVID, a perpetual line between them all is their anti-porn and anti-masturbation stance.
The manosphere's disdain for pornography and masturbation is deeply rooted in its obsession with power, dominance, and traditional gender roles. Within these communities, porn is viewed as a tool that weakens men, both physically and psychologically, by promoting a passive, pleasure-seeking behavior that is seen as antithetical to the ideals of masculinity.
The manosphere's anti-masturbation stance intersects with broader right-wing ideologies, such as those championed by initiatives like Project 2025, which aims to eliminate pornography on moral and cultural grounds. Both the manosphere and these right-wing groups view pornography, especially interracial porn, as a threat to the social fabric, believing it undermines traditional values and weakens male dominance.
Despite the moral outrage conservatives often express about pornography, however, data consistently shows that interest in porn is higher in conservative states. While limited, research suggests that residents of these areas are among the most avid consumers of adult content, particularly in regions with strong religious and political conservatism.
As one study noted, while individual religiosity and political conservatism generally predict lower rates of pornography consumption, evangelicals living in more politically conservative states actually report higher rates of porn use.
"When you're obsessed with power, you're also going to be obsessed with dominance," noted Stabile. "But often, our sexual fantasies and fetishes articulate our anxieties. So while publicly they may speak of dominance, privately, they may be exploring fantasies of submission."
The value of X (formerly Twitter) continues to circle the toilet at an impressive rate.
The social media platform is now worth 79 percent less than what it was worth when Elon Musk purchased it, according to analysis by investor Fidelity.
SEE ALSO: Elon Musk's X is losing users in the U.S., UK, and EU. X's own data proves it.The financial platform should know what it's talking about, too, because it helped Musk acquire X back in 2022 and owns a stake in the company. Fidelity's initial investment, per TechCrunch, was $19.66 million. Fidelity's latest financial report, meanwhile, lists the value of its X stake as $4,185,614.
That's a yikes-inducing decrease of around 79 percent.
In fairness, the writing has been on the wall for a while. In January 2024 Fidelity already valued its stake in X at 71.5 percent less, and recent documents made it clear just how much X's revenue has plummeted. Meanwhile, a new report has suggested that advertisers — who were already fleeing Musk's platform en masse — are planning to spend even less on X in 2025.
Elsewhere Brazil is battling the platform, and the number of X users in the U.S. and the UK is decreasing.
Not looking great, is it?
Apple's smart home products are about to become a lot more futuristic.
This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who detailed the company's plans for the smart home market over the weekend. Apple is reportedly working on a new operating system called homeOS, as well as two smart displays.
The more advanced of these will have a robotic limb, Gurman claims, and a large, "iPad-like" display. It might cost $1,000 or more, and it probably won't be ready very soon.
SEE ALSO: Apple reportedly backs out of OpenAI funding roundBut Apple is also reportedly working on a cheaper smart home display, which won't have the robotic arm, and will be intended mainly for controlling home appliances and using FaceTime. That one might arrive as early as 2025.
Ultimately, the cheaper display might be a sort of a companion to the more advanced device, though details on how this could work are scarce.
Of course, these devices will run Apple Intelligence, as Apple's idea is to bring AI features into the home. Apple's current lineup of smart home devices, such as HomePod and Apple TV, does not pack the necessary hardware to run AI.
Apple recently launched its new flagship smartphones, the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro, with a strong emphasis on Apple Intelligence features. However, those features are mostly delayed while Apple irons out the kinks, and works out how they'll work in Europe and China, countries which have more stringent AI rules than the U.S.
As far as homeOS goes, it will reportedly be based on the already existing tvOS, and the two operating system will ultimately be merged to become the operating system that powers all of Apple's smart home devices.
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 MashableHere are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, September 30, 2024:
AcrossWhat Jacuzzis, airports and the N.F.L. all have in commonThe answer is Jets.
The answer is Alien.
The answer is Weave.
The answer is Screw.
The answer is Tans.
The answer is Jaws.
The answer is Elect.
The answer is Tiara.
The answer is Seven.
The answer is News.
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 GamesAre 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.
TL;DR: Learn to make games in the Ultimate Unity Game Development Bundle for $24.99 (reg. $1,000) in this 5-course online learning bundle.
Game development has grown into a dynamic and accessible field, making it easier than ever to create your own projects, whether for personal satisfaction or to build a career. One of the best tools to learn if you're diving into this space is Unity, a popular game development engine known for its wide range of capabilities.
Whether you’re creating simple 2D games or more complex 3D environments, Unity has the flexibility to support both, making it a go-to platform for developers at all levels, and you can learn to use it when you study the Ultimate Unity Game Development Bundle. The game development courses in this bundle are designed to take you through each step of the process, and it's only $24.99 to get all 48 hours of course materials for life.
What will you learn?In the Ultimate Guide to 2D Mobile Game Development, you’ll learn how to set up your first project, navigate Unity’s interface, and work with the various tools you’ll need to build your game’s environment. Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can explore mechanics like coding movement, designing levels, and integrating assets into your game world. The lessons are hands-on, so you'll be working on actual game projects instead of just studying theory.
The bundle also includes The Unity C# Survival Guide, where you dive into C#, the key programming language behind Unity. This course breaks down how to script character movements, manage physics, and create dynamic interactions within your game. You’ll also cover essential techniques for optimizing performance, ensuring that your games run smoothly across various platforms.
It’s not all about the technical side either. This bundle also shows you how to craft engaging gameplay, balance difficulty levels, and create experiences that keep players hooked. Plus, it even walks you through the entire process of getting your game ready for platforms like the App Store or Google Play, giving you insight into everything from prototyping to publishing.
Study game design for funLearning game design can be as fun as playing the games you're building.
Get the 5-course Ultimate Unity Game Development Course Bundle while it's on sale for $24.99 (reg. $1,000).
StackSocial prices subject to change.
Opens in a new window Credit: Jonathan Weinberger The Ultimate Unity Game Development Bundle $24.99 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Get a near-mint refurbished iPad Pro on sale for $399.99 (reg. $799).
Traveling as a family can be filled with great memories, but keeping everyone entertained and organized during long trips is key to a smooth journey. Whether you're managing your kids' screen time, capturing family moments, or keeping important travel details at your fingertips, having a reliable device that does it all is a must.
This 12.9-inch iPad Pro is great for families on the move, offering a balance of power, convenience, and entertainment at a super affordable price: just $399.99 (instead of the usual $799).
What can this iPad do?Powered by Apple’s A12X Bionic chip, this iPad can handle multiple demanding tasks at once, making it great for switching between different apps without any slowdowns. For instance, parents can stream movies or TV shows for the kids while using a travel itinerary app, ensuring you’re never out of the loop with your plans. Its ability to handle high-performance apps like Netflix, educational games, or interactive storybooks means you can keep children entertained, too.
The iPad’s 12.9-inch Liquid Retina display is large enough to enjoy a full family movie or play engaging multiplayer games, all in stunning clarity. With its P3 wide color gamut and True Tone technology, the display adjusts to lighting conditions around you, ensuring that whether you're indoors, outdoors, or on the move, the visuals remain sharp and vivid. Kids can enjoy watching their favorite shows, while parents might use the same iPad to check on flight details, browse the web, or read an e-book without compromising performance.
What’s more, the iPad Pro’s 4K video recording allows families to document their entire trip. Whether you're visiting a national park, theme park, or exploring a new city, you can capture videos in ultra-high definition, giving you a portable tool for making and editing family videos on the fly.
Battery life is always a concern on long trips, but with the iPad Pro's long-lasting battery, you can rely on it to keep running throughout the day, powering everything from games and media to maps and travel guides. And despite this model being from 2018, it's been refurbished to Grade A standards in near-mint condition.
Save 49% on a 12.9-inch Apple tablet and get a refurbished iPad Pro for $399.99 (reg. $799).
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Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch 3rd Gen Refurbished (2018, 64GB, Space Gray) $399.99 at the Mashable ShopTL;DR: Avoid roaming charges while travelling with an aloSIM lifetime mobile data plan on sale for $34.99.
When traveling internationally, avoiding expensive roaming fees can be tricky, and traditional SIM cards often become inconvenient, especially when moving between different countries. That's why you use an eSIM like aloSIM as a digital alternative, eliminating the need for physical SIM swaps while allowing you to connect to data networks seamlessly across regions. Plus, it's only $34.99 to get aloSIM for life, and it even comes with a $50 credit for mobile data plans.
So, how does aloSIM's eSIM work? Once you’ve purchased a data package from aloSIM, the eSIM is activated digitally on your phone. There’s no need to wait for a physical SIM card to arrive. Through a simple setup, you download the eSIM profile directly to your device via a QR code or by manually entering the necessary details.
This eSIM profile acts like a local SIM, letting you access mobile data in over 175 countries without paying for international roaming. Unlike standard SIM cards that need to be physically inserted and removed for each country, an eSIM allows you to switch between regions effortlessly. You can even have multiple eSIM profiles stored on your phone, though only one can be active at a time.
One key feature of aloSIM’s service is its flexibility in adding data whenever needed. Let’s say you’re visiting a country and your initial data allocation runs out—there’s no need to worry. You can log into your aloSIM account via the app or website and top up your data package instantly. You don’t need to visit a local store or insert a new card; everything happens digitally. Data packages are prepaid, meaning there are no surprise charges at the end of your trip. You only pay for the data you need, which is calculated based on the country you're in, and prices start at $4.50 for a 7-day package. That's what the $50 credit is for, and it can take you pretty far.
No more travel chargesYou can roam, but make sure your phone feels right at home.
Get an aloSIM Traveler's Mobiele Data Plan for $34.99 (reg. $50).
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Opens in a new window Credit: Affinity Click aloSIM Traveler's Mobile Data Plan: Pay $34.99 for $50 Credit $34.99TL;DR: Get the full Adobe Creative Cloud Suite for three months for just $75 (reg. $179.97).
Opens in a new window Credit: SoftwareDiscount Adobe Creative Cloud — 3-Month Subscription $75.00Creativity isn't bound by tools, but the right software can make all the difference in bringing your ideas to life. Whether you’re designing graphics, editing photos, or creating professional-grade videos, having a versatile set of digital tools is crucial for turning concepts into polished projects.
The Adobe Creative Cloud Suite is a comprehensive set of tools that allows users to work across various creative fields — from graphic design and photography to video editing and web development — and it's only $75 to get the whole bundle for three months. Here's what's included.
What comes in the Adobe Creative Cloud SuiteOnce you subscribe to Adobe Creative Cloud, you gain immediate access to more than 20 applications through your Adobe account. That includes popular apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro, and each one can be accessed directly from your desktop, while cloud-based features help keep your software up to date.
All the apps are part of the same ecosystem, meaning files can easily be shared or transitioned from one app to another. For example, you might design an illustration in Illustrator and then import that vector graphic directly into After Effects for animation.
What makes Adobe Creative Cloud particularly versatile is its ability to sync across multiple devices. For instance, you could start editing a project on your desktop and then continue working on it on your tablet, picking up right where you left off.
The Creative Cloud platform provides 100GB of storage, enabling you to store large files like high-resolution images or video projects in the cloud rather than taking up space on your hard drive. This storage solution also helps with collaboration, allowing team members to access and edit files in real time from different locations.
Not a design pro? No problem. Adobe's apps are designed with both beginners and professionals in mind. Each application includes detailed tutorials within the software, so you can learn how to use specific tools, features, or even entire workflows as you go. Whether you’re an amateur looking to edit your first video or a seasoned designer working on complex layouts, the apps offer flexibility to scale your skill level.
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Music lovers are having a turbulent time online right now. Not only did Spotify suffer an outage on Sunday (though it was quickly fixed), YouTube has also suddenly stopped serving many popular tunes. Unfortunately, it seems as though this issue won't be rectified as easily.
YouTube users in the U.S. received an unwelcome surprise this weekend, with the video streaming platform suddenly blocking a significant swathe of music. Numerous videos are now unavailable, replaced by a black screen and dour notification where they had previously been readily accessible.
"This video contains content from SESAC," reads YouTube's notice. "It is not available in your country."
SEE ALSO: TikTok Music is finally shutting downSESAC is a music licensing organisation which handles the performance rights and royalties of thousands of artists. Though initially founded as the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers, SESAC has since branched out to represent many non-European artists.
Unfortunately, the licensing agreement between YouTube and SESAC is nearing its end, and the two have struggled to agree on a new deal. Without an agreement in place, YouTube will no longer be able to host songs covered by SESAC.
"Over the last few months, our teams have been working hard to renew our agreement with SESAC," wrote the official TeamYouTube account. "Unfortunately, despite best efforts, we haven't been able to reach an agreement on terms for a new deal yet. For this reason, we need to block certain music content on YouTube in the US."
A wide variety of music has been impacted by the block, from Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," "Problem" by Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea, and Green Day's "American Idiot", to iconic tunes such as R.E.M.'s "Losing My Religion," and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, and "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" by Bob Dylan.
Official videos aren't the only ones affected either. All videos which use SESAC-licensed audio are no longer accessible, taking out fan-edited music videos alongside ones from the artists themselves. Covers are being blocked as well, so you won't even be able to enjoy KIDZ BOP's rendition of "Wake Me Up When September Ends."
It isn't clear when this issue might be resolved. TeamYouTube has stated that while discussions with SESAC are ongoing, they "don't have any exact dates for future updates yet," However, a source speaking to Variety has claimed that YouTube's deal with SESAC doesn't actually expire until next week, speculating that the early takedown may be a negotiating tactic.
If so, it's one that won't earn them any goodwill. Many YouTube users have expressed anger at being suddenly cut off from their music videos, with some threatening to cancel their YouTube Premium subscriptions.
Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deletedMashable has reached out to YouTube and SESAC for comment.
TikTok ran into a similar music licensing issue with Universal Music Group (UMG) earlier this year. UMG pulled its catalogue from the platform after their partnership expired, bringing TikTok's trending sound economy to a standstill as countless videos were muted. The two finally reached an agreement in May, returning music from UMG's clients to TikTok, but it was certainly a weird few months on the video sharing app.
Until YouTube and SESAC can also reach an agreement, the former's musical landscape is going to sound very different.
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Opens in a new window Credit: Joseph Delgadillo The 2024 Premium Learn to Code Certification Bundle £29.89 at the Mashable ShopIf you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.
Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 30 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 30 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Words with weightThese words are pugilistic divisions.
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThe answers are weight classes in boxing
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Boxing.
Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 30Feather
Heavy
Light
Boxing
Cruiser
Bantam
Middle
Welter
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Industry's Season 3 finale is both a blessing and a curse for viewers who ship Robert Spearing (Harry Lawtey) and Yasmin Kara-Hanani (Marisa Abela).
After three seasons of buildup, the pair finally admit their love for each other and have sex for the first time. Then, just hours later, Sir Henry Muck (Kit Harington) announces that he and Yasmin are engaged. Talk about whiplash.
SEE ALSO: 'Industry' stars Myha'la and Marisa Abela break down Harper and Yasmin's big fight: 'This is the end for them'The announcement comes at a lavish birthday dinner for Henry's uncle, Otto Mostyn (Roger Barclay). Dozens of guests gather around a long table, chattering loudly and enjoying the rich feast before them. But in the moments following the news of the engagement, the revelers disappear, leaving only Yasmin and Robert staring at each other from across the table.
"I'm sorry," Yasmin tells Robert.
"I understand," he replies. And so do we: For Yasmin, the entire season has been built around trying to find security in the wake of her father's disappearance and various legal troubles. Marriage to Henry would mitigate these woes, especially since Otto all but told her that if she stayed with Henry, he'd ensure none of his tabloids would run stories about her involvement in her father's death. Matchmaking by blackmail, if you will.
The exchange between Yasmin and Robert is only two lines long, but the decision to clear everyone else from the room for it speaks volumes. For almost all of its run, Industry has rooted itself in realism. With Season 3, it's begun taking more stylistic swings, like Robert's surreal ayahuasca trip and now this near-fantasy moment with Robert and Yasmin. As the world narrows to just the two of them, we feel like we're watching something out of a period drama — think the dance scene between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice, when all the other dancers fall away. Yasmin and Robert's entire stay in Henry's manor plays out like a period drama overall, so the choice to depart briefly from reality here is further proof of the show's playing with genre.
SEE ALSO: How the Pet Shop Boys became the soundtrack to 'Industry' Season 3However, as Lawtey revealed in an interview with Mashable, the sequence wasn't originally scripted that way. Instead, the disappearance of the rest of the crowd came about as a request from Lawtey and Abela.
"[Marisa and I] were both talking about that scene a lot days in advance. We knew it was a really significant moment, perhaps the climactic moment of their relationship thus far, and we really wanted to get that right," Lawtey said. "Even though it was only two lines, it was all in the atmosphere and connection of that instant."
In order to nail the scene, Abela and Lawtey asked co-showrunners and finale directors Mickey Down and Konrad Kay whether they could be the only two actors in the room for their close-up coverage, since the supporting cast wouldn't be in frame.
"We thought it might be easier to have some stillness in the room and really find that moment organically," Lawtey said.
Down and Kay agreed, and once they'd shot the close-ups, they ended up liking the visual of the almost-empty room so much they realized they wanted to incorporate it into the show.
"It was a very instantaneous, almost impulsive decision that came from what was ultimately a practical request from Marisa and I. I think that really speaks to [Down and Kay's] freedom as showrunners, and this 'best idea wins' kind of culture and ability to just go with the flow of shooting, which can be very unpredictable and hard to restrain," Lawtey said. "If what is often a very technical process can generate something that feels creatively interesting, then we all have license to pursue that and follow it."
Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for September 30's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 30 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Floating condensed water vapor.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no reoccurring letters.
Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
CLOUD.
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Connections is the latest New York Times word game that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for September 30's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for September 30 What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Tweet may have been deletedEach puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer. If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Tweet may have been deletedPlayers can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for September 30 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hit about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Cooking with water
Green: Used to make nice-smelling dupes
Blue: Has a cool pet
Purple: Sounds like a city
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Cook with Heat and Water
Green: Common Perfume Ingredients
Blue: Characters with Pet Dogs
Purple: Capital City Homophones
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #477 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayCook with Heat and Water: BLANCH, BOIL, POACH, STEAM
Common Perfume Ingredients: AMBERGRIS, MUSK, ROSE, VANILLA
Characters with Pet Dogs: CHARLIE, DOROTHY, SHAGGY, WALLACE
Capital City Homophones: KETO, ROAM, SOPHIA, SOUL
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
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