Mashable

What is SOS?

You try to make phone call or post on social media on your iPhone – but you can't. Do you have bad service? No – in fact, you have no service. The service bars on your iPhone aren't just low, they are completely missing. 

In place of the bars? "SOS."

What does 'SOS' mean?

SOS mode is a way for your iPhone to make emergency calls even when you are completely out of service. 

It's obviously good that this SOS feature exists. But seeing it often means that something is wrong with your cellular service and your iPhone can't make calls, receive calls, send messages, access the internet, nor do anything else that requires a cellular connection.

But even without any cellular service, SOS mode allows iPhone users to call 911 and share their location in the case of an emergency.

How does SOS mode work?

If you have no cellular connection, how do calls to emergency services still receive calls?

SOS mode has evolved a bit with newer iPhone models. Previously, if SOS mode was activated, your iPhone would be able to access any service provider's network – not just your service provider – in order to connect with 911.

Since iPhone 14 and later, Apple has been able to utilize satellites in order to connect with emergency services when needed.

Based on spiking trends on search engines, it appears many users are still unaware of the SOS mode features. Seeing "SOS" on your iPhone usually means doom at first sight. There are outages with your carrier and you won't be able to use your phone at the moment.

But the fact that iPhone users can still get help in an emergency should still be a welcome sign – even if the "SOS" message itself isn't.

Check out our live blog coverage on the Verizon outage for more up-to-date details on the major cellular network issue.

Verizon users are in the midst of a major disruption, as a massive nationwide outage has left millions disconnected. Whether you're working remotely, attending virtual classes, or just trying to get through Monday with a functioning phone, Verizon's widespread network failure has thrown a wrench in the day for many.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has already signaled its intention to investigate the outage, aiming to get to the bottom of the issue.

But as we all wait for that elusive signal to return (I’m on AT&T, so no complaints here), here's a look at the states hit hardest by the outage, according to DownDetector (which shares the same parent company as Mashable):

Outage map: States affected by Verizon's network issues Credit: DownDetector.com

• Alabama

• Alaska

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• California

• Colorado

• Connecticut

• Delaware

• Florida

• Georgia

• Hawaii

• Idaho

• Illinois

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Louisiana

• Maine

• Maryland

• Massachusetts

• Michigan

• Minnesota

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• Nevada

• New Hampshire

• New Jersey

• New Mexico

• New York

• North Carolina

• Ohio

• Oklahoma

• Oregon

• Pennsylvania

• Rhode Island

• South Carolina

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Vermont

• Virginia

• Washington

• West Virginia

• Wisconsin

Cities hardest hit by Verizon outage

According to DownDetector, the cities that have submitted the most reports regarding the Verizon outage are the following:

• Chicago

• Seattle

• Minneapolis

• Phoenix

• Los Angeles

• Omaha

• Denver

• Indianapolis

• Las Vegas

DownDetector did not arrange these cities in any particular order.

States NOT affected by Verizon outage

• North Dakota

• South Dakota

• Wyoming

Note: This doesn’t mean that these states aren’t feeling the impact, just that there's no one in these areas reporting an outage.

Keep checking back for more Verizon outage updates via our live blog as more news flow into Mashable.

Check out our live blog coverage on the Verizon outage for more up-to-date details on the downed cellular network.

Is your iPhone running on Verizon's network stuck in SOS mode? The government wants to do something about it.

Monday saw scores of U.S. Verizon customers report a complete inability to connect to Verizon's cellular network. As a result, the FCC is investigating the huge outage, per Reuters. The federal agency is "working to determine the cause and extent of these service disruptions."

That's not what you want to see. Credit: Downdetector

Since the outage is ongoing, and the investigation only just started, it's hard to say what will come of it, if anything. But at least someone is looking into it.

SEE ALSO: Massive Verizon outage: Customers nationwide left without service, phones in 'SOS mode'

Reports of service problems started rolling into Verizon's Downdetector page on Monday morning and, at the time of writing, the problem still hasn't been totally resolved. I have an iPhone 16 running on Verizon's network and have been unable to access a cellular network for about five hours. There is, unfortunately, no solid word on when the problem will be fixed yet.

Check out our live blog coverage on the Verizon outage for more up-to-date details on the major cellular network issue.

UPDATE: Sep. 30, 2024, 5:29 p.m. EDT Verizon's customer support account on X posted around 5 p.m. ET that engineers were "making progress on our network issue and service has started to be restored." Though it would appear that some customers were still having issues, the company noting it would "continue to work around the clock to fully resolve this issue."

Verizon customers nationwide reported network outages on Sept. 30, with many iPhone users saying their phones have been stuck in SOS mode. This is a massive problem for many folks trying to work and get about their lives on a Monday, and it is unclear when the issue will be resolved.

Verizon has not made it clear how long this will last.

"We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers," the company's customer support X account posted around noon Eastern time. "Our engineers are engaged, and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue."

SEE ALSO: Massive Verizon outage: Customers nationwide left without service, phones in 'SOS mode'

Hours have passed, and folks are still reportedly experiencing the same problem. Down Detector still shows a high volume of user-reported issues. The replies from the Verizon account also seem to indicate that many folks are still having issues and that a fix has not yet been rolled out.

It's unclear when the problem will be fixed, but it could take a while. We will update you as developments occur.

This is a developing story … Check back at Mashable for updates.

Verizon customers across the country have reported a network outage that has left their phone stuck in SOS mode. There might not be an immediatet fix — that will likely require Verizon's network resolving its issue — but there are some steps you can take to try to get your phone working again.

Mashable's Kimberly Gedeon has all the details on the outage, but the gist of it is that many iPhones are stuck in SOS mode. That's the feature from Apple that allows you to call or text emergency services — even without service. It's intended for users who are in poor coverage areas.

This suggests that significant portions of Verizon’s network are down. Verizon has said its working on the problem.

"We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers," it said in a statement on X. "Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue."

Not every Verizon customer is experiencing this issue — both my Verizon phone and WiFi are currently in working order — but it does appear to be a big problem. Here's what you can do.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted Phone stuck in SOS mode: What to do

To be honest, there is no real fix beyond Verizon's network coming back online. We will update this story when that is the case.

You could try putting your phone in airplane mode — or turning it off entirely — to try to reconnect to the network. Though if the network remains down, you will likely still be unable to connect.

You could also use Wi-Fi calling. This method will let you send text messages and make calls over Wi-Fi. You'll have the option to use popular communication apps such as FaceTime or WhatsApp.

Otherwise you can keep trying to restart your iPhone or, more likely, wait for Verizon to fix its problem.

For all the latest regarding the network issue, check out our live blog on the Verizon outage.

Generative artificial intelligence is reviving the terrifying legacy of bigots, including former German dictator Adolf Hitler, as TikTok users harness the app's AI tools to reanimate xenophobic speeches from long-dead leaders.

The phenomenon was recently documented in two different reports, one by nonprofit watchdog group Media Matters for America and another in an investigation by the Institute for Strategic Dialogue and the SITE Intelligence Group, published by the Washington Post. Both unveiled a small network of accounts creating and disseminating translated, AI-dubbed versions of Hitler's speeches.

SEE ALSO: Why teens are telling strangers their secrets online

According to Media Matters' research, AI-generated audios have accumulated millions of views, which include videos mocking the leader or those that have turned the audio into a meme. Other accounts appeared to be dedicated to creating and sharing these audios earnestly, sometimes with outrightly anti-Semitic messaging. Popular videos using said audio, often stylized with slowed down and "reverbed" audios, go as far back as April 2024, with several improperly translated. Following the publishing of the report, TikTok removed the account of one known uploader and began directing related searches to a "Facts About the Holocaust" page, which documents Hitler's slaughter of millions of civilian Jews, disabled people, political prisoners, LGBTQ+ people, and those of Romani origin.

The Washington Post reported that known fascist groups have praised the use of AI to spread bigoted propaganda, citing a growth in "red-pilled" young people engaging with hate speech and right-wing communities online. Experts told the publication that they worry platform moderation tools, including those on Meta sites and X, won't be able to keep up with the AI-assisted spread.

Both reports noted a slew of positive sentiments in the videos' comment sections, with some users outrightly praising the historical figure and his policies, and flagged that many of these videos don't flaunt obvious white supremacist dog whistles, prompting fear that users are unknowingly being radicalized by the content.

Similar attempts to rewrite historical figures' legacies have made their way onto TikTok over the last year, spurred by AI. In June, a mistakenly-leaked internal version of the app's new AI digital avatar tool — which allowed its users to generate advertisements using creators' likenesses — led to the circulation of several AI-generated videos featuring avatars reciting various white supremacist rhetoric, including excerpts of Mein Kampf and Osama Bin Laden's "Letter to America." In 2023, TikTok videos reciting the same Bin Laden statement, sometimes associated with white supremacist sentiment, stirred a cross-app panic, as users re-contextualized the speech as an anti-imperial treatise in light of Israel's besiege of Palestinians in Gaza and the nation's U.S. backing.

Generally, watchdog groups have documented repeated instances of both domestic and foreign actors spreading disinformation on the app through the use of generative AI tools, including synthetic digital forgeries (or "deepfakes") of political leaders. White supremacist, pro-Nazi accounts have also proliferated on the platform, operating in tandem with networks across sites like Telegram to boost their content within social media algorithms.

According to a July report from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, TikTok hosts "hundreds" of pro-Nazi accounts, which cumulatively garner millions of views. The company, the organization says, hasn't moved quickly enough to stop their spread.

A massive Verizon outage has caused widespread, nationwide connectivity issues for customers across the U.S.

Based on Google Trends, there's been an uptick of people searching for, "Why is my phone in SOS?" This captures the experience many Verizon users are reporting; many have claimed that their phones are now limited to SOS service.

Verizon Down: Widespread outage disrupts customers across U.S.

As of 12:00 p.m. ET, DownDetector (a site that shares the same parent company as Mashable) shows that there have been over 100,000 reports of Verizon outages. Fifty percent say that the issue involves their mobile phone, 35 percent say they're not getting any signals, and 14 percent say they're experiencing a total blackout.

DownDetector percentages regarding Verizon outage Credit: DownDetector

According to DownDetector's heat map, it appears that outages are concentrated in the states of New York, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, and North Carolina.

DownDetector map shows where the Verizon outage is concentrated Credit: DownDetector

A site that has been tracking the issue claims that outage reports began piling up at around 9:04 am ET.

On X, users have been flooding Verizon Support, the company's official help page, regarding the issue.

"We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue," Verizon said on X.

Phones stuck in SOS mode

Your phone being in SOS mode is an indication that your device cannot connect to a network, but it can reach certain personnel via satellite connectivity.

SOS mode is Apple's "Emergency SOS via Satellite" feature that lets users connect to satellites to reach emergency services in poor coverage areas.

Verizon has not yet acknowledged that there is a widespread outage. The company, according to CNN, has 114 million subscribers in the United States.

Check out our live updates page on the massive Verizon outage to keep an eye on any new details from the company.

This story is developing ...

Robert Eggers's "Nosferatu" stars Bill Skarsgård, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, and Willem Dafoe. The horror film hits theaters on December 25.

The best early October Prime Day MacBook deals at a glance: Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M3, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) $1,699 at Amazon (save $300) Get Deal Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 at Amazon (save $200) Get Deal

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 more

Several 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 Amazon
$1,999.00 Save $300.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read 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 Amazon
$999.00 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read 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 sale

• Apple 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)

Best early self-emptying robot vacuum deals ahead of October Prime Day Best non-mopping self-emptying robot vacuum deal Shark AV2501AAE AI $299.99 at Amazon (save $119.01) Get Deal Best self-emptying robot vacuum and mop deal Ecovacs Deebot T30S with handheld vacuum All-in-One Station $949.99 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal

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 2024

The 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 Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Ecovacs 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 vacuums

Robot 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)

Netflix has dropped its teaser for "No Good Deed", Liz Feldman's new dark comedy about a couple trying to sell their LA home.

Best iPad deals ahead of October Prime Day Best deal for most people Apple iPad (10th generation, WiFi, 64GB) $299 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal Best upgraded pick Apple iPad Air (11-inch, WiFi, 128GB) $549 at Amazon (Save $50) Get Deal Best for portability Apple iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) $389 at Amazon (Save $110) Get Deal

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 more

As 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 Amazon
$349.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Even 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 Day

• Apple 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)

Best early October Prime Day robot vacuum deals Best budget pick iRobot Roomba Q011 robot vacuum $139.99 at Amazon (save $110) Get Deal Best combo pick iRobot Roomba j5+ self-emptying robot vacuum and mop $450 at Amazon (save $279.99) Get Deal

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 Amazon
$249.99 Save $110.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If 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 Amazon
$729.99 Save $279.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Combo 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 deals

• iRobot 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)

Early Prime Day drone deals: Best drone deal overall Holy Stone GPS drone HS175D RC Quadcopter $159.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best runner-up deal Potensic Atom SE GPS Drone $229.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal Best budget pick Velcase Quadcopter $49.99 at Amazon (save $200 ) Get Deal

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 Amazon
$229.99 Save $60.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If 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 Amazon
$299.99 Save $70.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The 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 Amazon
$249.99 Save $200.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If 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 deals

• Oviliee 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 deepfakes

Meanwhile, 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 porn

While 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 habits

As 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 round

But 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 Mashable

Here 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 common

• The answer is Jets.

Film franchise featuring Facehuggers

• The answer is Alien.

Use a loom

• The answer is Weave.

Threaded fastener

• The answer is Screw.

Gets kissed by the sun

• The answer is Tans.

DownFilm that was the highest-grossing of all time before "Star Wars" was released

• The answer is Jaws.

Vote into office

• The answer is Elect.

Headwear at a pageant

• The answer is Tiara.

Number used to spell "L" on a calculator

• The answer is Seven.

"I want the ___, not the weather"

• 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 Games

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

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

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 fun

Learning 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.

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TL;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). 

StackSocial prices subject to change

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 Shop
$799.00 Save $399.01 Get Deal