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A pigeon-inspired flying robot is solving avian mysteries that may help create more stable aircrafts.

While birds seem to seamlessly maintain stability during turbulence, airplanes need rudders and vertical tails to avoid being rocked from side to side. Scientists have suspected that birds maintain balance by reflexively adjusting their wings and tails but this hypothesis has been hard to prove with real birds in field studies.

To overcome this challenge, scientists at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), developed PigeonBot II, a robot equipped with morphing wings, pigeon-like wingtips, and even 52 real pigeon feathers. Just like a real bird, it can elevate, spread its wings, and control its tail.

The study, led by Eric Chang, tested PigeonBot II in both indoor and outdoor conditions, and, according to the researchers, confirms the theory and could help inspire more efficient, rudderless aircrafts.

There's no better way to tell an unwelcome party to move along than with one word: SCRAM!

It's a word with a long, meandering history, and one singlehandedly resurrected by TikTok creator, comedian, actor, and writer Kel Cripe (@reallygoodimpressions). Their viral post from September, in which they send "a message to all the guys tryin' to talk to my girl," has over 9.4 million views. In the video, the Los Angeles-based comedian is standing in front of a hedge, wearing a mystical wolf tee, and holding raised a fist, ready to hypothetically deliver a fresh knuckle sandwich.

"Scram! Leave her alone! She...she doesn't want to talk to you! Get outta here!" Cripe says in the video, as a piano version of Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" plays and the camera recedes. Cripe describes the vibe to Mashable as "not-so-threatening, soft threat" which is spot on.

SEE ALSO: Why Delaney Rowe's cringe TikTok videos are so good

Since posting, Cripe's meme has had the viral CapCut edit treatment, been shared by SZA, and most recently ended up onstage at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, fittingly screamed by fan-favourite dancer Kameron Saunders during Swift's GFY anthem "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."

But while TikTok and "Scram!" has opened up new audiences for Cripe, their comedy isn't contained to the platform. In 2024, Cripe was featured in Netflix Is a Joke Fest's comedy showcase, having been on the streaming service's related radio spot on SiriusXM, and appeared on the podcast Lovett or Leave It. An illustrator, theatre writer, and short filmmaker, they're also one third of comedy trio Babe Motel, and they've appeared at New York Comedy Festival and SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival.

With sold-out headlinling standup shows coming up, Cripe chatted with Mashable about how they started on TikTok, how the platform has intersected with their comedy, and the very sweet origin of their viral post that changed everything. Girlfriends rule.

Shannon Connellan: Where did the idea for your viral "Scram!" video come from? 

Kel Cripe: Like a lot of couples, my girlfriend and I love to use silly voices and words to make each other laugh. When I'd show her mean comments on my videos, she'd wave her fist at my phone and say "Scram!" It always cheered me up and made me feel cared for.

One morning after waking up from a bad dream, my girlfriend made me giggle with her classic catchphrase and I said, "Hey, that'd be a funny video." We went about our day, doing chores and tasks together (it was laundry day, hence the kismet wolf shirt) and when we finally returned home, I said, "Would you mind filming that video we talked about?" In one take, we got the shot. I was too tired to overthink it.

"I never imagined an inside joke with my girlfriend could be what changed my life. I owe my Scram legacy to her, she's the best. - Kel Cripe

The next day, I added some music that I thought ironically matched the tone of "not-so-threatening, soft threat" (A piano cover of "Where is My Mind" by The Pixies) and hit post. I never imagined an inside joke with my girlfriend could be what changed my life. I owe my Scram legacy to her, she's the best. 

SC: What’s been the general response you’ve seen to your viral clip? People seem to really find power incorporating “Scram” in their own lives (and videos), and I’ve seen you’ve spoken about it in your standup too! 

KC: Initially, Scram wasn't reaching the kind audiences it eventually found. The clearly satirical video was an easy target for internet bullies and bozos. I was tempted to delete it, but in an unexpected turn, SZA reposted the video on her Instagram story the night of the VMAs and it sent thousands of new views to the video (Thank you SZA

Tens of thousands of people started making their own Scram videos and it was so cool to see. The videos people made were all rooted in a goofy positivity, with the intention of spreading laughter, exactly like how I intended the original. So many parents told me how much their kids love saying "scram", which really warmed my heart. I got dozens of DMs from people that dressed up as me for Halloween (someone even linked an Amazon kit for a Scram costume). Companies started using Scram for their products, I think because it became such an easily adaptable and relatable concept. I've gotten to work with some amazing brands and create tons of new content.

Outside of the internet, I've been doing standup comedy for five years and I decided to make a joke about Scram at the top of my set. Hearing and watching audiences react to realizing I'm an actual person and not just a meme is really quite funny and starts the set with such a fun energy.

Scram has allowed me to connect with more people than I ever could have imagined. I've gained over 100k followers on Instagram and over 150k on TikTok in about two months. Spreading joy and cheering people up on hard days is one of my biggest goals as a comedian, and I will always be so grateful to Scram for allowing me to do that on such a larger scale.

SC: How did you find out about the Eras Tour video? And what was your first reaction?

KC: I was updating my calendar in my room (I love calendars) when my girlfriend said, "Uh, hey Kel, I think something happened at the Eras tour...people are commenting on your video that Kam said Scram." I put the dry erase marker down and very calm, cool and collected said, "WHAT?!??! ARE YOU KIDDING?!?!?"

We sat on my bed scrolling through videos of the legendary "We Are Never Getting Back Together" performance with our jaws completely dropped. My heart was pounding and I felt like I was gonna pass out, in a good way. I started texting my friends and they all Facetimed me within seconds. So many of Taylor's fans sent me messages, I think we were all in a joyous shock. I still can't believe it happened, it was so freaking cool. Hearing the amount of people in the audience that also screamed and laughed was so epic. If Taylor ever wants a "Scram" in person for one of her shows, I'd be there in a heartbeat salute emoji.

SC: Your Scram tees have been sold out on your website, are there plans to restock? 

KC: The first batch of Scram shirts were so successful, we sold out in just a few days! Don't tell anyone, but a little birdie told me that we may in fact be having a special Early Black Friday Sale starting on November 20, 2024...And for real don't spread this, but a second little birdie also told me there may even be more merch next year :)

SC: How did you get started on TikTok? 

KC: I got started on TikTok in 2020 after I graduated college and had to move home because of the pandemic. Making videos online was the only way to stay active in comedy, and it also provided a fun mental escape. It took awhile for the ball to start rolling, but I just kept trying new styles of videos to see what fit. I made a lot of friends online who also made videos and we continue to stay in touch and support each other. Slowly but surely I started finding my voice, and I enjoyed learning internet/editing skills in the process.

SC: Your videos on TikTok are another avenue for your comedy and standup, how has your comedy evolved or changed since being on the platform?  

KC: Posting videos online has been such a crucial step in growing my audience. Having a larger audience has allowed me the chance to perform on more shows, in cities all across the country. I feel so grateful for the chance to share my comedic voice with others, it's a privilege I do my best not to take for granted. Comedy/entertainment can be such a vulnerable and exhausting industry, but having supporters who come to shows and send me words of encouragement has really helped me push through the ebbs and flows.

In my experience, the internet values shorter content with higher shareability, so it's fun to have different mediums of comedy to play and explore my voice within. Since I started making videos online, I've also written a play, acted in movies and performed stand-up, sketch and improv. I love performing, and as I grow I'm honored to follow the projects and fellow collaborators that align with where I'm at in life. The internet has definitely helped me build a thicker skin, gain confidence and find my voice faster than I think I would have without it. 

SC: What’s up next for you?

KC: I'm currently working on my half hour stand-up special! My first headlining show sold out in two days, thanks to the exposure of Scram. Next year, I'll also be opening on tour for the amazing musical artist Corook! We'll be traveling all around the U.S. (Canada too!) and I'm so unbelievably excited.

I also am in an awesome comedy group, Babe Motel, with two of my best friends, Avery Girion and Haley Stiel. We write and perform live/digital sketch comedy and we have some really exciting projects in the works. I also have dreams of writing books and acting in films. In the meantime, I plan to continue posting silly videos from an earnest place of uplifting authenticity. I hope being myself proudly can encourage others to do the same. I'm so excited and grateful for what's ahead.

Check out more interviews in Mashable's Small Talk, a series where we catch up with the internet's favorite Extremely Online individuals offline.

Astronomers have been able to look at the sun and a handful of other stars in the Milky Way up close, thanks to modern advances in telescopes.

But getting a detailed view of a star outside the galaxy has eluded top scientists in the field, until now. 

Using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope Interferometer, astronomers have captured the first close-up picture of an extragalactic star. The image showcases WOH G64, a star some 160,000 light-years away from Earth in space. It beams in the constellation Dorado from the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small galaxy on the periphery of the Milky Way. 

And it seems researchers have caught it just in time. The image documents the star as it was 160,000 years ago, not as it is today. That means the star has likely already died, Jacco van Loon, reader in astrophysics at Keele University in the United Kingdom, told Mashable.

It's as if the astronomers had a time machine and were able to travel back to the moment just before certain doom.

"The signal of the explosion is on its way," said van Loon, one of the co-authors of the study. "WOH G64 is losing mass at such a high rate, it wouldn't last 160,000 years, and the extreme red supergiant phase it is in, for such a massive star, also doesn't last as long. The changes we are seeing now suggest we may see it explode within the next few thousand years, or even within our lifetime."

SEE ALSO: NASA thinks it found a moon light-years away spewing gas The first detailed image of an extragalactic star, left, is presented next to an artist's interpretation of what's going on in the dusty cocoon around it. Credit: ESO / K. Ohnaka et al., L. Calçada

WOH G64 is what's known as a red giant, a star nearing the end of its life, running out of hydrogen fuel. Through this process, aging stars expand about 100 to 1,000 times their original size. But this particular star is what's sometimes called a red supergiant because it's so exceptionally huge. 

Nicknamed the "behemoth star," WOH G64 is actually about 2,000 times larger than the sun. Like other red giants, it has shed outer layers of gas and dust. Curiously, the star appears to have grown dimmer over the past decade, encouraging scientists to keep a closer eye on it. 

"The signal of the explosion is on its way."

That relative faintness probably means the end is nigh. More and more heavy material will build up on the core. The pile eventually reaches a tipping point, causing the core to collapse under its own gravity. The outer layers of the star then blast into the cosmos as a supernova. Such a violent explosion can sometimes appear brighter than a whole galaxy. 

To the research team's surprise, the star is wrapped in an egg-like cocoon of dust. The odd stretched shape of the dusty nebula could be due to the shedding process. Another possible explanation is that an unseen companion star is influencing it. The scientists' findings are described in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. 

"We are excited because this may be related to the drastic ejection of material from the dying star before a supernova explosion," said Keiichi Ohnaka, lead author from the Universidad Andrés Bello in Chile, in a statement. 

To take the picture, the team used one of the telescope's sophisticated instruments, dubbed GRAVITY, which can capture the light of four telescopes. But as the starlight grows fainter, getting new images will become even more challenging. A planned upgrade to the instrument should enhance its sensitivity soon, according to ESO, allowing researchers to continue monitoring the behemoth at its bitter end.

The holidays are in full swing at the Home Depot — and have been for some time. The 12-foot skeleton home improvement retailer kicked off its 2024 Black Friday sale on Nov. 7, which ushered in discounts across its website and throughout its stores. The sale continues all the way through Wednesday, Dec. 4, or two days after Cyber Monday.

Snagging Black Friday deals at the Home Depot means crossing things off your shopping list that help you cross things off your to-do list. Shoppers can save up to 40% on select appliances, which includes up to 30% off certain vacuums and up to 25% off select mini fridges. A bunch of Blink and Google Nest smart home devices are also heavily discounted; the Home Depot has actually managed to beat the Google Store's Black Friday deal on a Nest Cam by $10.

SEE ALSO: Home Depot is giving away free cordless tools for Black Friday

Perhaps most notably, the Home Depot is giving away free cordless power tools with the purchase of select tool or battery kits by Milwaukee, Dewalt, Makita, Ridgid, and Ryobi. They're worth $34.97 to $219 apiece.

The Home Depot joins Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and Kohl's in releasing Black Friday deals well ahead of the actual shopping holiday, which falls extra late on Nov. 29 this year.

Without any further ado, here's a running list of the best deals we've spotted online from the Home Depot's 2024 Black Friday ad.

Free power tool deals at Home Depot

Dewalt

• Dewalt 18-Volt Jigsaw — free with select DeWalt Tool or Battery Kits

• DeWalt 18-Volt Planer — free with DeWalt Tool or Battery Kits

• DeWalt 18-Volt Router — free with DeWalt Tool or Battery Kits

Makita

• Makita 18-Volt Angle Grinder — free with select Makita Tool or Battery Kits

• Makita 18-Volt Jigsaw — free with select Makita Tool or Battery Kits

• Makita 18-Volt Square-Drive Ratchet Nut Driver — free with select Makita Tool or Battery Kits

Milwaukee

• Milwaukee 18-Volt Angle Grinder — free with select Milwaukee Tool or Battery Kits

• Milwaukee 18-Volt Cordless Jig Saw — free with select Milwaukee Tool or Battery Kits

• Milwaukee 18-Volt Cordless Router — free with select Milwaukee Tool or Battery Kits

Ridgid

• Ridgid 18-Volt Circular Saw — free with select Ridgid Tool or Battery Kits

• Ridgid 18-Volt Orbiting Sander Tool — free with select Ridgid Tool or Battery Kits

• Ridgid 18-Volt Oscillating Tool — free with select Ridgid Tool or Battery Kits

Ryobi

• Ryobi 18-Volt Oscillating Tool — free with select Ryobi Tool or Battery Kits

• Ryobi 18-Volt Power Scrubber — free with select Ryobi Tool or Battery Kits

• Ryobi 18-Volt Reciprocating Saw — free with select Ryobi Tool or Battery Kits

Best air purifier deals at Home Depot

• Shark Air Purifier MAX — $179.99 $279.99 (save $100)

• LG PuriCare 360 — $198 $299.99 (save $101.99)

• Shark NeverChange Air Purifier — $199.99 $249.99 (save $50)

• Shark NeverChange Air Purifier MAX — $299.99 $329.99 (save $30)

• Dyson Purifier Cool TP07 — $349.99 $649.99 (save $300)

Best smart home deals at Home Depot

Smart speakers

• Google Nest Audio — $49.99 $99.99 (save $50)

Smart thermostats

• Google Nest Thermostat — $84.99 $129.99 (save $45)

• Google Nest Thermostat + Nest Thermostat Trim Kit — $99.98 $144.98 (save $45)

• Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) — $229.99 $279.99 (save $50); add an extra temperature sensor for $10 more

Mesh WiFi systems

• Google Nest Wifi Pro (2-pack) — $199.99 $299.99 (save $100)

• Google Nest Wifi Pro (3-pack) — $279.99 $399.99 (save $120)

Best home security deals at Home Depot

Security cameras

• Blink Mini — $17.99 $29.99 (save $12)

• Blink Mini 2 — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20)

• Blink Outdoor 4 — $39.99 $99.99 (save $60)

• Google Nest Cam (Indoor, Wired) — $69.99 $99.99 (save $30)

• Google Nest Cam (Outdoor/Indoor, Battery) — $119.99 $179.99 (save $60)

• Google Nest Cam with Floodlight — $189.99 $279.99 (save $90)

Video doorbells

• Blink Video Doorbell — $29.99 $59.99 (save $30)

• Google Nest Doorbell (Battery) — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)

• Google Nest Doorbell (Wired) — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)

Bundles

• Blink Mini (2-pack) — $29.99 $49.99 (save $20)

• Blink Mini 2 (2-pack) — $34.99 $69.99 (save $35)

• Blink Outdoor 4 (2-pack) — $74.99 $179.99 (save $105)

• Blink Outdoor 4 (3-pack) — $99.99 $259.99 (save $160)

• Google Nest Cam (Outdoor/Indoor, Battery) + Weatherproof Cable — $159.98 $219.98 (save $60)

• Blink Outdoor 4 (5-pack) — $159.99 $399.99 (save $240)

• Google Nest Cam (Battery, 2-pack) — $229.99 $329.99 (save $100)

• Google Nest Cam (Outdoor/Indoor, Battery, 2-pack) + 2 Weatherproof Cables — $309.97 $409.97 (save $100)

Best ice maker deals at Home Depot

• Magic Chief 27 lbs. Portable Countertop Ice Maker — $89 $129 (save $40)

• GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker — $399 $549 (save $150)

• GE Profile Opal 2.0 Nugget Ice Maker with Side Tank — $449 $599 (save $150)

Best mini fridge deals at Home Depot

• Magic Chef 1.7 cu. ft. Freezerless Mini Fridge — $99 $119 (save $20)

• Magic Chef 2.6 cu. ft. Mini Fridge — $119 $159 (save $40)

• Frigidaire 3.2 cu. ft. Retro Vintage Compact Mini Fridge — $129 $159 (save $30)

• Magic Chef 3.3 cu. ft. Mini Fridge — $149 $189.99 (save $40.99)

• Magic Chef 2-Door Retro Mini Fridge — $149 $269.99 (save $120.99)

• Magic Chef 4.4 cu. ft. Mini Fridge — $169 $229.99 (save $60.99)

• Frigidaire 3.2 cu. ft. Mini Retro Fridge with Freezer — $189 $244.99 (save $55.99)

• Magic Chef 4.5 cu. ft. Mini Fridge with True Freezer — $199 $249.99 (save $50.99)

• Frigidaire 4.5 cu. ft. 2 Door Retro Platinum Mini Fridge — $249 $309 (save $60)

• Frigidaire 7.5 cu. ft. Top-Freezer Refrigerator — $349 $479 (save $130)

Best vacuum deals at Home Depot

Robot vacuums and vacuum/mop hybrids

• Shark ION Robot RV763 — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• iRobot Roomba Essential — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100)

• iRobot Roomba Combo i5 — $229.99 $399.99 (save $170)

Self-emptying robot vacuums and vacuum/mop hybrids

• Shark Matrix — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150)

• iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ — $399.99 $729.99 (save $330)

• Shark Q8 Max+ — $419.99 $819.99 (save $400)

• iRobot Roomba j9+ — $599 $899 (save $300)

• Roborock Q Revo — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

• Roborock S8+ — $619.99 $999.99 (save $380)

• Roborock Qrevo MaxV — $899.99 $1,399.99 (save $500)

Stick vacuums

• Shark Rocket Pet Corded Stick Vacuum — $129 $199 (save $70)

• Shark Pet Pro Cordless Stick Vacuum — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120)

SAVE $500: As of Nov. 22, Sony's 85-inch X77L 4K Ultra HD TV is on sale for $998 in Amazon's Black Friday sale. That's 33% off its list price of $1,498.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony 85-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV $998.00 at Amazon
$1,498.00 Save $500.00 Get Deal

If you've been waiting for a good time to upgrade your TV, Black Friday is one of the best times of year to do it. Amazon's Black Friday sale features quite a few TV deals at the moment, including on some of the bigger models. If you're looking to make the jump to an extra large screen for your home, look no further than this offer on an 85-inch Sony X77L 4K TV.

This massive 4K Sony TV has dropped $500 in price, from its list price of $1,498 to $998. To be able to score such a large 4K TV like this one for just under $1,000 is a fantastic deal worth considering. And, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is also its lowest-ever price, so there's no better time to grab it.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Fire HD 10 tablet has dropped to its lowest-ever price for Black Friday

Alongside vibrant and crisp 4K picture quality, this TV is also packed with smart features thanks to Google TV. With this, you'll be able to access all of your favorite apps in one spot. And that's not all, you can also utilize Google Assistant for voice control, which is a very nice bonus. It's also a perfect fit for those with a PlayStation 5, offering up exclusive features like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode to make for a better quality gaming experience.

This Black Friday TV deal is one you definitely don't want to miss. Check out Sony's 85-inch X77L 4K Ultra HD TV on sale at Amazon for Black Friday.

Looking for even more TV deals? It's worth checking out our breakdowns for Walmart, Target, and Best Buy's Black Friday sale events to learn more about what other retailers have in store during this period. The big day may not be until next Friday, but there's plenty of deals already available that are worth checking out.

SAVE $65: As of Nov. 22, the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet has dropped to its lowest-ever price of $74.99 in Black Friday sales. This is 46% off its list price of $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet $74.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $65.00 Get Deal

Black Friday sales are in full swing at Amazon. If you've been hoping to pick up some high-quality tech that you've had your eye on throughout the year, there's a plethora of options to choose from. Tablets, in particular, have seen some great discounts in the sale, including the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet.

If you've been hoping to pick this one up, its dropped back down to its lowest-ever price in Black Friday sales, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel. It's currently on sale for $74.99, 46% off its list price of $139.99. That saves you $65 on a tablet we consider to be one of the best in 2024.

SEE ALSO: Home Depot is giving away free cordless tools for Black Friday

Featuring a 10.1-inch 1080p Full HD display and a 13-hour battery life, this tablet is the perfect companion for those looking to have a portable streaming powerhouse. We had plenty of praise for it in our review, as writer SaVanna Shoemaker said the "Fire HD 10 tablet is lighter and faster than its predecessors, with a long battery life and vivid picture that makes it great for on-the-go entertainment." And, as said before, its made our list of the best tablets in 2024 as the best pick for apps.

This Black Friday tablet deal is a steal. Don't miss out on 46% off the Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet.

There are plenty more deals to see outside of Amazon right now, too. Best Buy, Target, and Walmart are all offering early Black Friday discounts that are worth reading up on. Have a look at our individual breakdowns for each to learn more. And for an overall look at the sale event, check out our big breakdown of Black Friday 2024.

SAVE OVER $350: As of Nov. 22, the Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum is on sale for $349.99 at Amazon, saving you 50% on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum $349.99 at Amazon
$699.99 Save $350.00 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum is on your wishlist, Amazon's Black Friday event is your time to pounce. The retailer's Black Friday sale kicked off on Nov. 21 and there are already huge discounts across everything from coffee machines to TVs. And of course, robot vacuums. If you've been lusting over one for a while, and love the idea of no more manual vacuuming, check out this deal on the Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum.

As of Nov. 22, this model is reduced by 50% to $349.99. Of course, this is still a high price tag, but you're getting more than just a simple dust picker-upper with this machine.

SEE ALSO: Need a robot vacuum that aces carpet? Look out for these 3 on Black Friday.

The Shark Matrix Plus Robot Vacuum doesn't just pick up dirt, it has a built-in mop to clean your floors too. It uses Sonic Mopping to scrub hard floors 100 times per minute, and if you know it's about to encounter an extra deep stain, head to the app and initiate Matrix Mop to get 50% better stain cleaning in certain spots. This vacuum also boasts an impressive precision matrix grid, meaning it will take several passes over dirt and debris to ensure it is all removed. Think muddy shoeprints that are deep into your carpet, or a mess of crumbs strewed across a rug.

And the smart features don't end there: the CleanEdge Detect system uses blasts of air and corner recognition to remove debris from hard-to-reach edges and corners pulling the debris into the cleaning path. Plus, there's no need to manually map out the path for this vacuum, it uses 360-degree LiDAR vision to learn your space, detect obstacles, and pick up dirt. Yes, it really makes your life that easy.

Like many high-end vacuums, this machine self-empties, self-charges, and holds up to 60 days' worth of dirt, so you don't need to empty it after each use, or even daily. The base is bagless, so both useful and environmentally friendly as it eliminates the need for waste bags.

Convinced? Head over to Amazon to grab this great Black Friday deal.

SAVE $170: As of Nov. 22, the Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K is on sale for $279.99. That's a 38% discount on the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV 50-Inch 4-Series 4K $279.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $170.00 Get Deal

There couldn't be a better excuse to upgrade your tech than Amazon's Black Friday sale. There are discounts across hundreds of brands and products, but the discounted Amazon Fire TV 50-inch 4-Series 4K is a deal that has really caught our eye.

As of Nov. 22, you can grab this TV for $279.99, saving you $170 for Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: The Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV just got its biggest-ever discount

There's a lot to shout about this TV, including 4K Ultra HD, HDR 10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Plus, all creating incredible clarity, brighter colors, and vivid detail in your favorite movies and shows. Like most Amazon devices, it has Alexa built-in, so you can easily find your favorite movie, launch apps, and control content. It's much easier than manually checking each streaming service. Enjoy shows from Netflix, Disney+, and of course, Prime Video thanks to the TV's Fire operating system.

This TV can also work with your smart home Alexa devices, including doorbells, lightbulbs, and speakers. For example, pair up your TV with your Echo speakers to create an immersive home theater atmosphere.

Plus, there are four HDMI inputs to connect gaming devices, sound accessories, cables, and other equipment seamlessly.

Down the stairs, out the doors and onto the sidewalk, a Broadway show hits the street. Here’s how they pull it off.

SAVE $500: As of Nov. 22, the Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV is on sale for $799.99 at Amazon. That's 38% off the list price for Black Friday.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch Canvas TV $799.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $500.00 Get Deal

A range of retailers have already kicked off their Black Friday campaigns, including the likes of Walmart and Best Buy. And Amazon's long-awaited Black Friday deals officially kicked off on Nov. 21. There's a range of incredible discounts that are worth your attention, including laptops, tablets, and phones. And as always, TVs are a popular discounted product, and as the discounts pour in we couldn't help but share the love for this stylish Hisense Canvas TV deal.

As of Nov. 22, you can find it on sale at Amazon for just $799. Not only are you saving 38%, but this is the lowest price it has ever been. This deal is exclusive to the 65-inch TV. However, the 55-inch is also discounted to $699.99.

SEE ALSO: Save $800 on Samsung’s 65-inch OLED 4K TV this Black Friday

The quality of this TV is next to none. With 4K QLED TV, it delivers a range of sharp, vibrant colors. The big selling point is that when you’re not watching, the TV can be transformed into a digital gallery, displaying a single image or shuffling through a slideshow of your favorite photos or artwork. The hi-matte display makes the digital gallery look like the real thing, and you can even swap out the "frame" for different colors and styles.

This TV is also ideal for gamers, boasting a 144Hz Game Mode PRO. This is designed with top gaming technology, with a Variable Refresh Rate of 48Hz to 144Hz.

Head to Amazon now to snag this great Black Friday deal.

On Tuesday, November 5, Donald Trump secured a second term as President of the United States. While Trump won the Electoral College comfortably, the popular vote was much closer, with Trump winning just 50 percent (compared to Harris's 48.3 percent) — a remarkably slim margin.

This signals something we already know: Our communities are deeply divided regardless of which industry you work in or the demographic group you're a part of. The porn industry — which has been in the spotlight more than years past thanks to a far-right proposal to ban explicit content — is no exception.

SEE ALSO: How porn performers feel about Trump, Harris, and Project 2025

"I think that the industry has always been hard to pin down ideologically. There are people in the industry who are very progressive and there are people who are very conservative, despite the fact that we're dealing with sex and sexuality," Mike Stabile, director of public policy for the Free Speech Coalition — a trade association for the adult entertainment industry — told Mashable.

"I think that sometimes seeing people voice support for a candidate that is infringing on our livelihoods and making things less safe, I think it does come as a bit of a surprise sometimes to performers," performer Renee Olstead said.

Tensions have escalated among performers on social media platforms publicly in recent weeks, as well as in emails and text messages obtained by Mashable. This comes amid new questions about how President-elect Donald Trump will treat the porn industry. Some Trump loyalists want porn outlawed and its creators imprisoned — while some within the porn industry voted for him.

Will Trump ban porn?

If the conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation gets its way, the answer is yes. The foundation is behind Project 2025, a far-right conservative wish list for the next Trump term.  One of the measures calls for an outright pornography ban. 

While Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 during the campaign, he has already made key appointments of prominent Project 2025 authors and advisors since his win. 

President-elect Trump said his deputy chief of staff for policy will be Stephen Miller, who was featured prominently in a Project 2025 ad. He is the founder of America First Legal Foundation, a group that sat on the advisory board of Project 2025 at the time of its publication. Tom Homan is set to be appointed as White House border czar. He is one of the authors of Project 2025 as is John Ratcliffe, Trump's nominee for CIA director. This week, Trump nominated yet another Project 2025 author, Brendan Carr, to lead the Federal Communications Commission.

In 2021, Vice President-elect JD Vance said he would get behind an outright ban on porn.

Despite these appointments, some factors are working against such a ban — which is why some performers told us that they're not too worried as Mashable previously reported.

In 2016, Trump signed a pledge that called on him to ban adult entertainment, which didn't happen. And if Trump did decide to move forward with a porn ban this time, his administration would still run into significant hurdles. 

To outright ban pornography, he would need help from Congress and the Supreme Court to redefine what porn is due to a case in 1973 that defined what "obscenity" means and was upheld by another case in 1985 that said that banned material must fit outside "only normal, healthy sexual desires." Ultimately, the highest court has the last word on what is "obscene" and thus not protected by the First Amendment. 

Fringe Republicans in Congress have already tried to get around this by trying to "ban" porn — limit access — several times on the federal level in the last few years alone, and none of these efforts materialized.

Utah Senator Mike Lee, for example, introduced The Interstate Obscenity Definition Act (IODA) and Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) in 2022. The combined legislation would have broadened the definition of porn and expanded age-verification laws, which force sites to require ID to enter if over a third of the content they host is explicit. Neither bill made it past the House Subcommittee on Innovation, Data, and Commerce. The SCREEN Act was reintroduced in the most recent legislative session, but it met the same fate. 

At the state level, it's a different story. Far-right conservatives in states like Texas and Indiana have been able to successfully push age-verification laws, a move that privacy experts say is a trojan horse for privacy violations. "We're essentially creating this immediate requirement for people to share their private information alongside their pornography preference with companies that don't necessarily have a system in place to protect that data," the Electronic Frontier Foundation's Jason Kelley told Mashable in 2023.

Since some states introduced these laws, porn sites have pulled out their services from the state saying that essentially, the risk is not worth their time. Pornhub is no longer available in states like Texas, for example.

"In some ways, these states have made it so difficult and so potentially hazardous for companies to operate in a state that they would pull out entirely," Stabile said.

In a secret recording, Project 2025 author Russell Vought suggested that's the point. "We've got a number of states that are passing this…and you know what happens is the porn company then says, 'We're not going to do business in your state.' Which of course is entirely what we were after, right?" he said, according to The Intercept. Vought also said, "We'd have a national ban on pornography if we could, right?" 

Trump has recently tapped Vought to return to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term.

Fighting back against porn bans

The existing age verification laws already face legal scrutiny. The Free Speech Coalition sued the state of Texas for what the advocacy group says is a First Amendment violation. The group said it's taking the issue to the Supreme Court. 

Arguments are expected to begin in front of the court on January 15th. 

The American Civil Liberties Union has also challenged these laws. 

"Adults in America have a First Amendment right to read about sexual health, see R-rated movies, watch porn, and otherwise access information about sex if they want to. They should be allowed to exercise that right as they see fit, without having to worry about exposing their personal identifying information in the process," Vera Eidelman, staff attorney with the ACLU Speech, Privacy and Technology Project said in a release in September. 

The Trump transition team didn't reply to our request for comment. 

Tensions bubble over in the porn industry 

While most sex workers planned to vote for Kamala Harris, according to research firm SWR Data, Trump supporters were a strong contingent. The stark political divide, along with the high stakes and open questions, is now a recipe for open hostility. And after election night, tensions began to boil over inside the porn industry.

Em Indica, a liberal-leaning performer, created a running Google Doc of Trump-supporting performers only days after election night. 

"I think people deserve to know who they're working with and what they're saying online. People need to be held accountable," Indica told Mashable.

"This is not about disagreeing on things like economics. This is about moral choices. Women are being affected. Trans people are being affected. Minorities are being affected. He's said terrible things about these groups," Indica continued. "If they voted for Trump, they decided to look the other way when it came to his rape allegations [and] to him being a felon; just all the other stuff that they decided that was not a deal breaker for them. To me, that speaks volumes," she added. 

Some opponents of the list see it as a way to shame conservative performers out of work.

"What we're witnessing right now is a cultural shift of alienating people for their political beliefs, saying that these people are bad people to cut them off, to not work with them. It's no different than saying white versus black, except for now it's Kamala versus Trump," performer Adira Allure told Mashable. 

Other conservative performers we spoke to, many of which opted not to be named, echoed her sentiment. 

Indica, however, defends her position. 

SEE ALSO: How to unblock Pornhub for free

"People that say it puts a target on their back, then I just ask them why. They tweeted [their Trump support] out. They put it on the internet to begin with. People are entitled to their own opinion. If you don't want to receive backlash, then don't post it on the internet," Indica said.

But it's not just conservatives that have taken issue. A liberal-leaning performer, who opted to remain unnamed out of fear of retaliation, told Mashable that she disagrees with the list and thinks it's counterproductive.

"It is going to push people to continue to vote red and to vote for people like Trump. It gives people who did vote for Trump to be like, 'See, I told you,'" the liberal performer told Mashable.  

"It just perpetuates the same hate that we're supposed to be fighting against," she added.

Not all performers who identify as conservative see the list as a bad thing. 

"It [is] free promotion. So I appreciate her making it," Ashley Sinclair, a very outspoken pro-Trump performer, told Mashable. 

Sinclair, who uses platforms including OnlyFans, said, "Instead of losing money, sales, clients, it immediately increased with this type of content and cam shows." Sinclair didn't provide data to Mashable to support her claims. 

A well-known male performer, who identifies as a political moderate, told Mashable that he believes in the porn industry, there is a silent majority that leans to the right and does not say so publicly out of fear of retaliation. 

The performer, who opted not to be named, however, spoke in vague terms so Mashable was unable to verify the legitimacy of his remarks independently. 

Mashable spoke to half a dozen performers who say the opposite, signaling the divide amongst the porn industry is as stark as the country as a whole. SWR Data also says the opposite but its findings are only based on a poll of around 200 sex workers.

The same firm has data to prove that potential political attacks from Project 2025 have fueled major concerns among adult content creators, especially those within historically disenfranchised communities. Ninety-three percent of trans performers, 94 percent of creators of color, and all gay and lesbian creators voiced fears.

Many industry insiders were involved with a campaign called Hands Off My Porn which was supported by several top performers ahead of the election including Maddy May (who has since called for hostility amongst performers to stop), Remy LaCroix, and Allie Awesome. 

The campaign spent $200,000 on ads in swing states to raise awareness about Project 2025's agenda and Trump's connections with it. 

"I'm just really terrified of Project 2025...the fact that the existence of the Department of Education is already up for debate shows that [it's] really insane," performer Addis Fouché told Mashable. 

"I think people will find a way to do sex work and have sex regardless. You're just going to make it more taboo and more unsafe," she added. "I think it'll change what restrictions we may have and how people are able to film, if at all, and how people see the industry."

But amid the noise, the places that provide the work including production companies, modeling agencies, and distributors have been noticeably quiet. We reached out to several companies including Vixen Media Group, Adult Time, and Hussie Models — all of which declined to speak.

OnlyFans, valued at $18 billion, has more than 43 percent of its users in the United States as of publication. The company didn't reply to our request for comment on this story.

If Project 2025 or anything close becomes the law of the land, it could cause a remarkable negative impact on these businesses — and thousands of people's livelihoods. 

The best Sonos Black Friday deals at a glance: BEST SPEAKER DEAL Sonos Era 300 $359 (save $90 at Amazon) Get Deal BEST HEADPHONES DEAL Sonos Ace $349 (save $100 at Amazon) Get Deal BEST SOUNDBAR DEAL Sonos Beam Gen 2 $369 (save $130 at Amazon) Get Deal BEST PORTABLE SPEAKER DEAL Sonos Roam 2 $139 (save $40 at Amazon) Get Deal

We're major fans of the Sonos audio lineup. From the classic speakers and soundbars to its first pair of headphones, the Sonos ecosystem is hard to beat. Our only complaint is the steep pricing.

Black Friday — along with Prime Day and related events — is one of the only times throughout the year that we see sales on Sonos products. So, needless to say, we've had our eyes open waiting for this year's Sonos Black Friday deals to drop. And as of Thursday, Nov. 21, the Sonos sales event of the year is finally live, both at the official Sonos store and at retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.

For a limited time, you can save 20% on Sonos speakers, soundbars, and — yes — the brand-new Ace headphones. Below, we've rounded up the best Black Friday Sonos deals that are live. If any new deals pop up throughout Cyber Week, we'll update this guide with any worthy additions.

Best Sonos speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Era 300 $359.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $90.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sonos Era 300.

The first Sonos speaker to support spatial audio, the Sonos Era 300 is the "king of sub-$500 smart speakers," according to Mashable's Stan Schroeder. While it might look a bit bland on the outside, the inside is packed with fancy audio technology, including six amps, four tweeters, and two woofers. It also features Sonos Voice Control, as well as Alexa, customizable sound in the Sonos app, and the ability to connect seamlessly with other audio products from Sonos.

The Era 300 truly delivers on sound quality and power. As Schroeder wrote in his review, "It singlehandedly produces sound that can often match larger speakers, perhaps even entire hi-fi systems." Usually $449, it's back down to its all-time low of $359 for Black Friday across multiple retailers: Amazon, Sonos, and Best Buy.

Best Sonos headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Ace $349.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $100.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Read Mashable's full review of the Sonos Ace.

It's no surprise that the first Sonos headphones — the Sonos Ace — are hella impressive. Sonos already makes some of our favorite audio equipment, and these cans were three years in the making. Our biggest complaint about the Ace headphones? Once again, it's the price, so this $100 Black Friday discount is more than welcome. Usually $449, they're down to just $349 at Sonos, Amazon, and Best Buy — their lowest price ever.

They're an aesthetic knockout, have exceptional sound quality and spatial audio, and last for 30 hours with ANC. We do wish the ear cup seal was tighter to improve noise cancellation, but overall, Mashable's Deputy Reviews Editor Miller Kern said she would recommend them to "true audiophiles who value incredible sound quality above all else."

Best Sonos soundbar deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sonos Sonos Beam Gen 2 $369.00 at Amazon
$499.00 Save $130.00 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're looking to enhance your movie marathons, binge-watch sessions, or sporting events, a soundbar makes a great addition to your home theater setup. And our favorite soundbar to pair with your TV, the Sonos Beam Gen 2, happens to be on sale for just $369 for Black Friday. It's usually $499, so that's 26% in savings — and also a new all-time low price.

The second-generation soundbar boosts the already excellent design of the original Beam, which Mashable's reviewer said "hits the sweet spot on price, design, sound quality, and features." It features a better processor, a new grill, and Dolby Atmos compatibility on top of its already immersive audio, crystal clear clarity, and convenient voice assistant support. Snag it at Amazon, Sonos, or Best Buy.

More Sonos Black Friday deals

• Sonos Roam 2 — $139 $179 (save $40)

• Sonos Ray — $169 $279 (save $110)

• Sonos Era 100 — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Sonos Sub Mini — $343 $429 (save $86)

• Sonos Move 2 — $359 $449 (save $90)

• Sonos Sub 4 — $679 $799 (save $120)

• Sonos Arc — $699 $899 (save $200)

A rapidly spinning, profoundly dense object is blasting a "flame-like" beam into space.

It's a type of neutron star — the remnants of a collapsed, exploded star so dense that just a sugar cube-sized piece of this extremely compact material weighs 1 billion tons — called a "pulsar." That's because the star shoots out "pulses" of energy at regular intervals (kind of like a cosmic lighthouse). Astronomers have used NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and other instruments to watch this pulsar's behavior for over two decades, and it shows a vibrant interstellar scene.

"Normally found only in heavy metal bands or certain post-apocalyptic films, a 'flame-throwing guitar' has now been spotted moving through space," the space agency said in a statement.

Why a "flame-throwing guitar"?

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

As the image and clip below show, the fast-spinning pulsar, formally named "pulsar PSR B2224+65," is blasting out a 12-trillion-mile-long beam of energized particles and energy, which is colored reddish-orange. But that's not all. Beneath the pulsar is a colossal guitar-shaped cloud, made of hydrogen gas. This cloud, called a nebula, formed when particles shooting out from the pulsar blew gaseous bubbles over eons, ultimately amassing into the great cloud.

"The guitar shape is undeniable, and is traced by a thin white line in the labeled composite image," NASA wrote. It's located some 2,700 light-years from Earth in the constellation Cepheus.

The "Guitar Nebula" outlined beneath the filament-shooting pulsar. Credit: X-ray: NASA / CXC / Stanford Univ. / M. de Vries et al.; Optical: (Hubble) NASA / ESA / STScI and (Palomar) Hale Telescope / Palomar / CalTech; Illustrated outline: NASA / CXC / K. DiVona; Image Processing: NASA / CXC / SAO / L. Frattare Tweet may have been deleted

Pulsars make themselves known to us by the two jets of energized particles emanating from their poles (which are produced by the particles rapidly moving around the neutron stars' potent magnetic fields). From our vantage point many light-years away, these beams of light can pulse in seconds or even milliseconds. The fastest known pulsars spin at some 716 times per second.

Sometimes, two neutron stars collide, a dramatic event that can produce the most enigmatic object in the universe — a black hole, a realm so gravitationally powerful, not even light can escape.

It's a wild universe out there.

TL;DR: Give the gift of universal charging with the Statik 360 Pro, a magnetic cable for all devices, on sale for the early Black Friday price of $19.99 (reg. $23).

Opens in a new window Credit: KeySmart Statik 360 Pro 100W Universal Magnetic Charging Cable $19.99
$23.99 Save $4.00 Get Deal

Need a stocking stuffer that won’t end up in a drawer by New Year’s? The Statik 360 Pro 100W Universal Magnetic Charging Cable is here to simplify their charging routine and make life a bit easier.

Designed to work with just about all devices, this cable comes with interchangeable magnetic tips for USB-C, Lightning, and micro-USB — so they can power up phones, tablets, laptops, and more with just one cable. And right now it's on sale for just $19.99.

No more fumbling for the right charger or dealing with worn-out cables. The Statik 360 Pro’s magnetic connection swivels 360 degrees, making it easy to plug in from any angle without the usual wear-and-tear. Its durable design means it shouldn't fray or bend like traditional cords, so it’s built to last. With 100W power delivery, it’s strong enough to fast-charge everything from smartphones to larger devices, letting them power up in record time without switching cables.

This 3-foot cable is compact and travel-friendly, the perfect length for desks, nightstands, or on-the-go charging. It’s the kind of stocking stuffer that actually gets used, solving everyday charging hassles for anyone who juggles multiple devices.

For the early Black Friday price of $19.99, the Statik 360 Pro 100W Universal Magnetic Charging Cable is on sale — a gift that combines versatility, convenience, and speed.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: There's no need to wait for Black Friday — lifetime access to Babbel is now $149.97 (reg. $599) through Dec. 1.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $149.97
$599.00 Save $449.03 Get Deal

Have you seen social media? There's a consensus that Americans are (arguably) bad travelers and unknowledgeable tourists. You could avoid falling into this category (and enjoy a more enriching trip abroad) by learning the local language of your destination or at least a few key phrases to navigate your destination more expertly.

Whether you're planning to stroll through the Champs-Élysées or surf in Indonesia, you don't have to look any further than Babbel to learn a new language. It's an App Store favorite, boasting 10 million users worldwide and counting. You don't need to wait for Black Friday to save, either, since a lifetime subscription is available for only $149.97 (reg. $599) through December 1.

Babbel's language lessons aren't the ones you had in school. These are 10 to 15 minutes long and can be studied at your own pace, providing a more sustainable learning experience to get you from beginner to speaker. Just select one of its 14 languages, which include Spanish, Dutch, and Indonesian. 

You'll gain practical conversational skills that you can apply in your international adventures, or maximize in your job hunt to land your dream job. Learn how to order food, ask for directions, and more to make navigating your vacation destination more easily. You don't necessarily have to be fluent to reap all the benefits of a second (or third) language, either.

While learning a language online does offer flexibility, it can pose a challenge when it comes to figuring out pronunciation and accents. Fortunately, Babbel offers speech-recognition technology that listens to and analyzes your speech to help you improve. Personalized review sessions are also available to ensure your learning actually sticks.

Why wait for Black Friday to start your language-learning journey? Grab this $149.97 Babbel lifetime subscription while supplies still last. No coupon is needed, but this price drop ends December 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT!

StackSocial prices subject to change.

When it comes to streaming, viewers are spoiled for choice between Hulu, Netflix, Max, Disney+, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Shudder, Paramount+, Peacock, and more. And that's before you even look at the vast libraries of movies and television within each one!

Don't be overwhelmed or waste an hour scrolling through your services trying to determine what to watch! We've got your back whatever your mood. Mashable offers watch guides for all of the above, broken down by genre: comedy, thriller, horror, documentary, animation, and more.

But if you're seeking something brand spanking new (or new to streaming), we've got you covered there, too.

SEE ALSO: The best Netflix TV shows of 2024

Mashable's Entertainment Team has scoured the streaming services to highlight the most buzzed-about releases of this week and ranked them from worst to best — or least worth your time to most watchable. Craving something history-based that reimagines true events? In need of a funhouse horror or deep sea documentary? Even if you're seeking one of the most meta shows of the year or an unfathomable reality competition newcomer, we've got what you're looking for.

Here's what's new on streaming, from worst to best.

12. Human vs Hamster

Yes, you read that title right. There is a new reality competition show on Max that pits human against hamster in a variety of challenges, from hot dog eating contests to a hamster wheel race. (Duh.) And based on its trailer, Human vs. Hamster looks as ridiculous as it sounds.

Hosts Sarah Sherman (Saturday Night Live) and Kyle Brandt, along with "hamster expert" Brian Balthazar, are here to guide us through the madness, as pairs of humans — ranging from nurses to firefighters to magicians — battle it out against these pint-sized pets. Thanks to its premise alone, I can safely say that Human vs. Hamster takes the title for 2024's most coveted prize: Show That Sounds The Most Like A 30 Rock Joke. — Belen Edwards, Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Human vs Hamster is now streaming on Max.

11. Spellbound 

Netflix's star-studded animated fantasy adventure Spellbound is flying onto the platform, with West Side Story's Rachel Zegler voicing and singing the leading princess Ellian. She's a regular 15-year-old in a lot of ways, but in others — namely she rides a giant, fluffy winged cat, has royal duties in the kingdom of Lumbria, and has two literal monsters for parents — she's a little different. That last detail forms the core of Spellbound, a tale in which Ellian goes on a quest to free her mother (Nicole Kidman) and father (Javier Bardem) from their beastly curse. — S.C.

Starring: Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, John Lithgow, Jenifer Lewis, Nathan Lane, Titus Burgess

How to watch: Spellbound is now streaming on Netflix.

10. Smile 2

If you thought smiling was safe again, there's a sequel to Smile, Parker Finn's buzzy 2022 horror film in which people suddenly engage in brutal violence wearing broad grins. "It's not often that a sequel exceeds its original, but Smile 2 delivers the thrills and chills of its predecessor with an even more pronounced funhouse feel," writes Monica Castillo in her review for Mashable. In Smile 2, popstar Skye Riley (Charlie's Angels star Naomi Scott) is at the centre of such smile-adorned traumatic events linked to a sinister curse. If you didn't get enough nightmare fuel last time, dive in. — Shannon Connellan, UK Editor

Starring: Skye Riley, Rosemarie DeWitt, Kyle Gallner, Lukas Gage, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Peter Jacobson, Raúl Castillo, Dylan Gelula, and Ray Nicholson.

How to watch: Smile 2 is now available to rent/buy on Prime Video.

9. Our Oceans

If the latest headlines have you wanting to get in the sea, Netflix's beautiful new docuseries Our Oceans will give you both a visual respite and a reminder that the drama doesn't cease at the surface. Narrated by Barack Obama and produced by the Obamas' Higher Ground company, the series will remind you of the vast, highly populated expanse that is our deep, dark oceans — one long under threat thanks to human-induced climate change. But there's wonder among the harsh reality; enjoy playful baby humpback whales, a spring cuttlefish ball, and the general sense that most regular humans have no real clue about what's beneath the surface. If you love David Attenborough’s Blue Planet, you should check this out. — S.C.

How to watch: Our Oceans is now streaming on Netflix.

8. James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome

James Acaster's first HBO special embraces chaos. The comedian invites his audience to heckle him throughout, with results ranging from a devastating Kermit the Frog dig to the most polite heckle ever. As Acaster feeds off the energy from the crowd, he also dissects his own relationship to stand-up comedy, weaving in stories from his childhood (including his lackluster Prince Charles impression) and his first gigs. Gloriously meta and bursting with contagious energy, James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome is a perfect streaming choice for this weekend if you're craving a laugh. — B.E.

How to watch: James Acaster: Hecklers Welcome is streaming on Max from Nov. 23.

7. Joy

Set in the late '60s, early '70s, Ben Taylor's Joy follows the British scientists who pioneered in vitro fertilisation, and enabled the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the first baby born through IVF, on July 25, 1978. The film not only tracks the team — nurse/embryologist Jean Purdy (Thomasin McKenzie), scientist Robert Edwards (James Norton), surgeon Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy), and operating theatre supervisor Muriel Harris (Tanya Moodie) — but shows the battle they faced against church, state, and media at the time. A poignant, moving, and deeply timely film about the right to choose, Joy is a gem on Netflix's film slate this year. — S.C.

Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Bill Nighy, James Norton, Tanya Moodie, Joanna Scanlan, Charlie Murphy, Ella Bruccoleri, Rish Shah

How to watch: Joy is now streaming on Netflix.

6. Blitz

British film writer-director Steve McQueen delivers a powerful World War II drama with the London-set Blitz, which centers on a family torn apart by the threat of unpredictable German bombs. Hoping to save her young son George (mesmerizing newcomer Elliot Heffernan) from the violence of war, single mum/factory worker Rita (Saoirse Ronan) sends him off by train to be safe in country. But the headstrong boy runs away from this route, charting his own course back home to his mother and grandfather. Along the way, he'll meet warm-hearted heroes, and sticky-fingered villains. Meanwhile, she'll struggle with how to use her voice as the world around her falls apart.

While McQueen's film has received mixed reviews overall, Blitz comes alive through Dickensian characters, poignant musical moments, and the astonishing lead performances from Ronan and Heffernan. As Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards wrote in her review out of the New York Film Festival, "Ronan imbues Rita with both magnificent warmth and deep worry for her son, and Heffernan shines in his breakout role, bringing a still thoughtfulness to even the most harrowing scenes."

If you're seeking a drama that both confronts the horrors mankind is capable of and the hope, resilience, and love of humanity as well, you'll treasure Blitz. But have tissues at the ready. — Kristy Puchko, Film Editor

Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Elliot Heffernan, Harris Dickinson, Benjamin Clementine, Kathy Burke, Paul Weller, and Stephen Graham

How to watch: Blitz is now available on Apple TV+.

5. A Man on the Inside

The Good Place creator Mike Schur and star Ted Danson reunite for A Man on the Inside, a charming new Netflix sitcom. Danson plays Charles, a retired professor and widower who's grown distant from everyone around him. So when his daughter Emily (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) challenges him to find a new project that excites him, he does the unexpected: He teams up with private investigator Julie (Lilah Richcreek Estrada) to go undercover at a retirement home and recover some stolen jewelry.

What follows is a delightful spy caper that, in true Schur fashion, quickly becomes a tale of Charles letting his guard down and finding a new community. You'll laugh plenty, but you'll also find yourself sobbing too, as A Man on the Inside delves into the issues many of its elderly characters face, like absentee family members or the beginnings of dementia. As I wrote in my review for Mashable, "[the show's] ensemble boasts incredible chemistry right off the bat, with Danson proving a rock-solid ringleader. These are things you'd expect from a Schur show, and they build A Man on the Inside's wonderful foundation. But it's the show's thoughtful portrayal of aging that really makes it stand out, and turns A Man on the Inside into something remarkable." — B.E. 

Starring: Ted Danson, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Stephanie Beatriz, Lilah Richcreek Estrada, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Sally Struthers, Eugene Cordero, Margaret Avery, John Getz

How to watch: A Man on the Inside is now streaming on Netflix.

4. Missing

Fast-paced and unpredictable, Missing is an exhilarating new mystery for the modern age, where amateur detectives can be teens as long as they're techno-savvy. Storm Reid plays June Allen, an 18-year-old waiting to pick up her mother, Grace (Nia Long), and her mother’s boyfriend, Kevin (Ken Leung), at LAX after the pair’s trip to Colombia. Unfortunately, they never arrive. And when the FBI fails to make any headway investigating their whereabouts, June decides to use her Gen Z digital native powers to track them down with her friend Veena (Megan Suri).* — Kristina Grosspietsch, Writer

SEE ALSO: Directors Nick Johnson and Will Merrick talk 'Missing' and the real meaning behind its whirlwind ending

Starring: Storm Reid, Nia Long, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, Daniel Henney

How to watch: Missing is now streaming on Hulu.

3. Alien: Romulus

The Alien franchise returns to its roots with Alien: Romulus, a stone-cold horror fest that pits a group of young space colonists against the scariest creatures in the galaxy: good ol' Xenomorphs. Chests will burst. Faces will be hugged. And director Fede Álvarez will deliver what might be the most gonzo, gross-out third act of an Alien film to date. The only thing holding Alien: Romulus back from true perfection? Too much fan service, including a cameo that's sickening — and not in a good way.

Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko said as much in her review. While she praised everything from the sound design ("you don't just watch Alien: Romulus; you are absorbed into it") to the film's gore ("this movie had me dry-heaving") to David Jonsson's performance as android Andy ("David Jonsson steals this movie"), she also noted that its deference to what came before felt stifling.

"Alien: Romulus won't be sunk by its flimsy final act," she wrote, "but some of the thrill is lost amid the clutter of callbacks." — B.E

Starring: Cailee Spaeny, David Jonsson, Archie Renaux, Isabela Merced, Spike Fearn, Aileen Wu

How to watch: Alien: Romulus is now streaming on Hulu.

2. The Piano Lesson

August Wilson's Pulitzer-winning 1987 play The Piano Lesson has been adapted by the Washington family — it's the directorial debut for Malcolm Washington (who co-wrote it with Virgil Williams), his brother John David Washington stars, and their father Denzel Washington is producing. Set in the '30s in post-Depression Pittsburgh, The Piano Lesson centres on the looming sale of a piano, passed down through the Charles family, an instrument carved with intricate detail by their enslaved ancestor, and emblematic of generations of Black trauma, loss, and resilience.

As Siddhant Adlakha writes in his review for Mashable, "Rather than simply filming a stage show in three dimensions, as was the case with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom and Fences, Washington uses his camera to interrogate the confines of the text, and builds on Wilson's Pulitzer Prize–winning play in impeccable ways." — S.C.

Starring: John David Washington, Samuel L Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, Ray Fisher, Corey Hawkins

How to watch: The Piano Lesson is now streaming on Netflix.

1. Interior Chinatown

Adapted from Charles Yu's National Book Award-winning novel of the same name, Interior Chinatown centers on Willis Wu (Jimmy O. Yang), a waiter in Chinatown who feels like a background character in someone else's story. (The "someone else" being the lead detectives in the cop show Willis and everyone in Chinatown are unknowingly trapped in, titled Black & White). But when Willis witnesses a crime, he'll team up with Detective Lana Lee (Chloe Bennett) to uncover the sinister truth at the heart of Chinatown.

Featured Video For You How 'Interior Chinatown' made the invisibility of Asian Americans visible

What follows is one of the most stylish, ambitious, and super meta shows of the year, which also doubles as an examination of Asian representation in media. As I wrote in my Mashable review, "between its [police procedural] parodies and its musings on identity, Interior Chinatown already proves that it's a sharply constructed show with a lot to say. But with the help of its dizzying genre switch-ups and some dynamic direction from episode directors like Taika Waititi, Alice Wu (The Half of It), and more, the show jumps into the realm of fearlessly unique, making a place all for itself." — B.E.

Starring: Jimmy O. Yang, Ronny Chieng, Chloe Bennet, Sullivan Jones, Lisa Gilroy, Archie Kao, Diana Lin

How to watch: Interior Chinatown is now streaming on Hulu.

Echo Dot vs. Echo Pop: Specs Credit: Chart: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable Design: We like color options

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop are nearly the same size, but while the Echo Dot is round, the Echo Pop has a flat face. It basically looks like a cross-section of the Dot.

The Echo Dot (left) and Echo Pop (right) — as you can see, the Dot has been graced by toddler spaghetti fingers. Credit: SaVanna Shoemaker / Mashable

The Echo Dot also comes in three fairly muted colors (gray, white, and blue), but the Echo Pop is available in some, well, poppier colors (lavender and teal in addition to gray and white).

Overall, I like the appearance of the Echo Pop a little better. The brighter colors add a cute splash of color to a corner shelf. The Pop can serve as a more discreet Alexa assistant than the Echo Dot (which is fairly universally recognized as a smart home gadget).

Both have a modern, sleek appearance that can easily complement or blend into your home decor.

Winner: Echo Pop

Setup and ease of use

Amazon has made setting up these devices extremely easy. You’ll need the Alexa app on your phone, and it walks you through setup step-by-step. The app is also where you’ll connect other apps like Spotify or Audible to stream them on your Echo devices using Alexa voice commands.

SEE ALSO: The 10 best Bluetooth speaker deals ahead of Black Friday

The devices themselves are also very straightforward. The physical buttons on them allow you to mute and unmute the microphone and adjust the volume. Everything else is done through voice commands or through the Alexa app. I had no problems setting up either device and both were highly responsive to my “Hey, Alexa’s.”

Winner: Tie

Sound quality is almost identical

Amazon describes the Echo Pop’s sound as a “full sound” that’s a good fit for bedrooms and small spaces and the Echo Dot’s sound as a “bigger vibrant sound” for any room.

In my side-by-side comparisons of the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop, I couldn’t detect a difference in sound quality between the two devices. Both devices were excellent for playing background music in my office or listening to podcasts while doing housework, providing fuller, clearer sound and increased volume compared to my smartphone.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better?

The Echo Pop does have an ever-so-slightly larger speaker. However, the Dot’s round shape can help it to fill a space with sound no matter where it’s placed.

Winner: Echo Dot

Alexa integration and smart home connectivity

Both the Echo Dot and the Echo Pop integrate with Alexa through the Amazon Alexa app. You can use Alexa to ask questions, check the weather, set timers and alarms, and open connected apps (like music or streaming apps including Spotify, Pandora, Audible, and Amazon Music). 

Personally, I have always found Alexa devices most handy in the office and in the kitchen. They provide a hands-free, screen-free way to set timers (for productivity or pizza) or to stream audio. A centrally-located Echo device is also a great way to free up space in your brain. I’ve used Alexa to remind me to water my plants, put birthday cards in the mail, and check the water level in the pool at regular intervals when filling it up for the season.

However, the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop here in two key ways: temperature sensing and motion detection. So your Echo Dot can execute Alexa Routines that involve temperature or motion, while the Echo Pop can’t. Some examples: 

• The Echo Dot can adjust your smart thermostat settings when it reaches a certain temperature

• The Echo Dot can turn on smart lightbulbs when it senses motion in a room

Winner: Echo Dot

Considering additional features

The Echo Dot and the Echo Pop can both serve as WiFi extenders if you have an existing Amazon Eero network, adding up to 1,000 square feet of additional WiFi coverage.

However, once again the Echo Dot edges out the Echo Pop in terms of extra features. As mentioned above, the Dot comes equipped with motion and temperature detection capabilities. 

Winner: Echo Dot

UPDATE: Nov. 22, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with information on Amazon's Black Friday sale, which includes a discount on the new 2024 Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition (12th gen).

The Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, despite the fancy name, is a simple device. It's exactly the same as the fifth-generation Kindle Paperwhite, but it costs $40 more and has four upgrades: 32GB of memory (up from 16GB), wireless charging, an automatically adjusting front light, and no ads.

Since we already established that the standard Paperwhite is a great e-reader, the focus of this review is simple: To figure out whether these four improvements are worth the extra money.

SEE ALSO: We tried every Amazon Kindle to find the best for every bibliophile A thoroughly great e-reader

My colleague Alex Perry reviewed the regular fifth-gen Paperwhite, but here are my basic impressions (coming from someone whose primary e-reader before now was a second-gen Paperwhite).

The new Kindle Paperwhite is just the right size and sat perfectly in my hand. It's also beach-ready, with an IPX8 rating, which is a big deal to me, especially when compared to my iPad mini, which officially isn't water-resistant at all.

The USB-C charging port on the bottom was a much-needed upgrade from the microUSB port on previous Paperwhites. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

I have only one beef with the device's design, and that's the fact that Amazon moved the power button to the bottom from the top, which took some getting used to. (It's worth noting that this change happened on a previous iteration of the Paperwhite.)

The new Paperwhite is a lot faster than my old model, but it could be faster still, especially when browsing through menus. The battery lasts forever, and having a USB-C port instead of the old microUSB connector is a blessing.

SEE ALSO: Everything you need to know about Kindle Rewards Best Black Friday Kindle deals

Amazon's Prime Day and Black Friday sales are always a great time to grab a discounted Kindle. Here are some of the best deals during Black Friday 2024:

• Amazon Kindle — $84.99 $109.99 (save $25)

• Amazon Kindle Kids — $94.99 $129.99 (save $35)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite — $129.99 $159.99 (save $30)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Kids — $139.99 $179.99 (save $40)

• Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition — $154.99 $199.99 (save $45)

So, what do you get for that extra $40? Compared to my ancient, 3rd generation Paperwhite, the new one is shaped a bit more like a typical book, which isn't a bad thing. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

One thing you won't get on this Kindle is ads. Compared to ads on certain other devices, advertisements on the Kindle's homescreen aren't nearly as intrusive, but I still prefer zero ads on something I paid for. You can remove the ads from the base model Kindle for an extra $20, but then the price difference between the two is a mere $20, which means you should really look at the other extras you get with the Signature Edition.

You know what they say about memory: More is always better. That said, unless you're a voracious reader, or you constantly send a bunch of periodicals to your Kindle, you won't need more than 8GB. The Kindle Paperwhite SE has 32GB, which is overkill, but it is comforting to know you'll never have to worry about storage.

When this review was originally published, the Kindle Paperwhite cost $139.99 for 8GB of storage. That configuration is no longer offered, and the current base model includes 16GB for $149.99. So, there's an even smaller price gap between the standard model and Signature Edition now at $40 compared to the previous $50, making these bonus features even more worth the upgrade.

Whether wireless charging will be worth it for you depends entirely on whether you normally use it in other scenarios. All Kindles have great battery life, so you won't be charging them very often. I do have wireless chargers in my car and scattered all around the house, so the ability to just toss the Kindle onto them and have it charge is a nice, if marginal, improvement.

The MagSafe isn't the best way to charge your Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition, but it works! Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Fun fact: I tried to charge the Kindle Paperwhite SE using Apple's MagSafe magnetic charger for the iPhone, and not only does it work, but the charger sticks (though just barely) to the Kindle like it does to the iPhone. Pretty great.

The display, automated

The last big improvement on the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is the display.

The 6.8-inch, 300ppi display is sharp, crisp, beautiful to look at, and won't tire your eyes even after long reading sessions. The bezels on the sides and top of the device are far smaller than on the previous iteration, but there's still enough room to rest your fingers without accidentally flipping the page.

The display now makes brightness adjustments on its own. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Now for the big difference between the regular and the SE version of the Paperwhite: Automatically adjusting front light. The best way to explain the importance of this feature is to think of smartphones: Literally every single modern smartphone has this feature. You don't think about it much, but if someone took the feature away, you'd definitely notice.

It's similar on the Paperwhite. The display automatically sets brightness depending on the amount of light in your environment. I like reading in very dim light, and the Kindle set the screen's brightness pretty much as I would do. The device supports dark mode (bright text on dark background), and if I switched to that, it readjusted the brightness accordingly. I love the feature and though I could live without it, I'd be slightly annoyed about having to adjust brightness manually again.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition battery life

A single charge should have the Kindle Paperwhite lasting up to 10 weeks. While we didn't run the e-reader for 10 weeks until it died, we can say it had excellent battery life based on our usage.

Is the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition worth it?

This may be because I'm biased from reviewing Apple devices — Apple charges an arm and a leg for upgrades and extra features — but I feel like the Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition is worth it.

For $50, you get no ads (a $20 value), wireless charging, 32GB, and an improved display. None of it is essential, but it does feel like you're getting a decent value for your money.

Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition $189.99 at Amazon
Shop Now

UPDATE: Jul. 9, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EDT This review has been updated to reflect that the base Kindle Paperwhite model now houses 16GB and retails for $149.99. Previously, the device started at 8GB for $139.99. That means there's now a $40 difference between the standard Paperwhite and the Signature Edition, rather than $50.

Featured Video For You Kindle Paperwhite vs. Kobo Clara Colour: Which one is better?

It can be exciting when a brand like Amazon drops new versions of its devices, but it can also be overwhelming to figure out which one is best for you (and if it's worth paying more than its original version). After testing the second generations of both the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8, I'll walk you through what’s the same, what’s different, what they bring to the table compared to the first gen versions — and which one you should buy during Black Friday 2024.

While these smart displays don’t have the portability or functionality of an iPad or a Surface tablet, they work flawlessly with Alexa and serve as a smart home HQ to make your day-to-day life just a little bit more streamlined.

Black Friday pricing and discounts

While the 2nd gen Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8 are no longer available, the newest Echo Show 5 retails for $89.99 and the current Echo Show 8 goes for $149.99. For Prime Day, the prices dropped to $49.99 and $84.99 respectively. However, their Black Friday discounts are even better.

As of Nov. 21, these smart displays are now priced at $44.99 and $79.99.

Size: It's in the name

The most noticeable difference between the Echo Show 5 and the Echo Show 8 is, of course, their size. The Echo Show 5 has a 5.5-inch screen and 6-inch x 3-inch footprint, while the Echo Show 8 is significantly larger — boasting an 8-inch screen and an 8-inch x 4-inch footprint.

Echo Show 5 (2nd gen) is smaller and would work better in a bedroom or office. Credit: Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) is significantly larger — best for a central house hub. Credit: amazon

In my opinion, that makes the Echo Show 8 way better suited to be your family “hub” — located in a central location like the kitchen or dining room for easy video calls with the grandparents using Alexa. All you have to do is add contacts you’d like to call in the Alexa app on your phone. However, it may not be a necessary purchase if you already have a tablet with great video functionality. And if you want a larger device as your smart home hub, the Echo Show 10 is an even better choice.

Regardless, the Echo Show 8 offers some other advantages for video calls in addition to its size.

On the other hand, the Echo Show 5 would be better in places where you want the device's functionality, without it being front and center — like your desk or nightstand.

And if you're a sucker for colorways, the Echo Show 8 only comes in the glacier white and charcoal color options. You can get more variety with the new Echo Show 5, which comes in glacier white, charcoal, and deep sea blue. The Echo Show 5 Kids comes in chameleon green.

Camera and video calling

The Echo Show 5 got a decent camera upgrade from its 1st gen version — increasing the megapixels from one to two. However, it was a whole different ball game for the Echo Show 8. While the 1st gen Echo Show 8 offered a 1 MP camera, the revamped 2021 model came equipped with a 13 MP camera, which carried over into the 2023 model.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's Echo Show 15 is a smart hub for connected homes

The image is incredibly crisp, and alongside the larger screen makes the Echo Show 8 the video call winner. But that’s not even the best part: The Echo Show 8 features auto-framing functions that automatically pan and zoom the camera to keep it focused on the people in view.

Both devices also feature some handy connectivity features, like intercom to page every Alexa device in the house (“We’re leaving in 15 minutes, so be ready!”) and drop-in, which allows you to video chat with any connected Alexa device.

Zoom calls

The Echo Show 8 can also join Zoom calls, while the Echo Show 5 can’t. To be totally honest, I could not get the Zoom call feature to work after several tries because none of the calls I joined had a dial-in number.

I’ll still say the Echo Show 8 wins on this one just because it’s theoretically possible, and I’m really hoping to be able to join Zoom calls from it soon to free up my laptop and extra monitor for in-meeting multi-tasking.

Kid-friendly content

During the initial setup, you can choose to make any Echo Show device a dedicated device for a kid. This gives you access to some expanded parental controls, which is great for older children, tweens, and teens that you still want to shield from some of the worst things the internet has to offer.

However, the Echo Show 5 Kids is the first and only Echo Show that’s bottom-to-top and side-to-side designed for kids. It features a fun design (the chameleon color looks like dinosaur scales, according to my 5-year-old), and comes with a free year of Amazon Kids (usually $5.99 per month) — which offers curated books, games, and videos just for kids far beyond what’s available through a basic Prime membership. In addition, it comes with souped-up parental controls so you can tweak things even more.

Alexa functionality

Both the 2nd gen Echo Show 5 and the 2nd gen Echo Show 8 have some Alexa abilities that their 1st gen counterparts don’t.

First up is the home monitoring function, where you can remotely access the camera on your device from the Alexa app just to check in on things. You’ll need a WiFi connection to do it, but I had no problems getting it to work. I can imagine it would be great to check in on pets, the babysitter, or just to take a peek at your home while on vacation to make sure everything is on the up and up.

Next is the addition of motion-enabled routines. This allows Alexa to detect when you enter or leave a room and use that activity to start a routine. Fair warning, this can open a can of worms re: privacy, but it also opens up some exciting possibilities for the smart home buff. You could have Alexa read your calendar when you walk into your office, or turn off all smart-enabled devices when there’s no motion detected in the living room — and those are just two simple ideas. With the addition of Alexa-enabled devices or smart plugs, your options open up even more. Amazon does offer ways to manage these settings if you'd like to delete recordings or manage your data.

All of these devices feature the same Alexa functionality you came to expect from the previous iteration of Echo Show devices.

SEE ALSO: Amazon Prime Day vs. Black Friday: When are the deals better? Echo Show 5 vs. Echo Show 8: Which one is better?

For only $45 more, the Echo Show 8 was the clear winner for me. Not only does it have a larger screen and a 13 MP camera with auto-framing (making it the best for video calling), it also allows you to hop on Zoom meetings, if/when you can get that function to work properly.

If video calls and Zoom meetings aren’t your concern, then the Echo Show 5 is still a great choice — like the 2nd gen Echo Show 8, the new Echo Show 5 boasts many of the same expanded Alexa functions, like home monitoring and motion detection routines. And of course, if you want one made for kids, then you’ll want to go with the Echo Show 5 Kids.

Overall, I’m a fan of both, but the Echo Show 8 came out on top for our home.

Amazon Echo Show 8 $79.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $70.00 Shop Now

Editor's note: This comparison originally focused on the 2021 models of the Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8. New models (with only modest changes) were released in 2023, so the older versions are no longer available to purchase as new. We've updated our links to take you to the current Echo Show 5 and Echo Show 8.

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 22, Beats Solo 4 are on sale for $99.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 50% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Solo 4 $99.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $99.96 Get Deal

The discounts are just getting started and Amazon's Black Friday event has officially kicked off. Running from Nov 21. through to Dec. 2, there are plenty of deals and savings to be had across TVs, headphones, tablets, and much more. And if you're on the hunt for a new set of headphones, why not check out this great deal on the Beats Solo 4.

As of Oct. 11, you can grab these headphones for just $99.99, saving $100 on list price. This deal is available across all colorways at Amazon, including matte black, black/gold, cloud pink, and state blue. However, this price is only available when purchasing without AppleCare+. You can add this on for a price of $118.99 (down from $228.95).

SEE ALSO: Don't miss grabbing an Apple Magic Mouse for its lowest price ever

The Beats Solo 4 were only released earlier in the year, so to see such a big discount already is truly a win. This latest model in the Solo range boasts a battery life of up to 50 hours, a super-quick 10-minute charge time, and personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking. This is a technology that creates a 3D surround sound, and a more immersive listening experience by adjusting sound based on your head movements, so music, movies, and calls feel more lifelike. As with all Beats devices, the sound quality is stellar for all types of listening.

Interested? Head to Amazon to grab this deal.