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If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.
There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.
An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.
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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.
SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintStrip.
Hurdle Word 1 answerSWATH
Hurdle Word 2 hintPretend.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerFEIGN
Hurdle Word 3 hintFeminine.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 8, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Meanings for each word for Oct. 8, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerGIRLY
Hurdle Word 4 hintFound in public restrooms.
Hurdle Word 4 answerSTALL
Final Hurdle hintFondle.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerGROPE
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier for who watch Italian soccer.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight, and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Da Bears
Green: Indoor sports venue names
Blue: Italian soccer
Purple: Sports associations
Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Teams with Bear Nicknames
Green: Words Used in NBA Venue Names
Blue: Serie A Clubs
Purple: ___League
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #745 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?Teams with Bear Nicknames: BAYLOR, BROWN, CALIFORNIA, CHICAGO
Words Used in NBA Venue Names: ARENA, CENTER, FORUM, GARDEN
Serie A Clubs: ATALANTA, COMO, INTER, NAPOLI
___League: CHAMPIONS, IVY, MAJOR, NATIONAL
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalog.
Released in August 2025, Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move on to the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play PipsIf you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity with how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 8, 2026The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible — and common — for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 8, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for October 8 PipsGreater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.
Equal (5): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.
Equal (1): Everything in this dark blue space must be equal to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.
Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.
Medium difficulty hints, answers for October 8 PipsNumber (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 0-5, placed vertically.
Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.
Equal (3): Everything in this orange space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.
Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 1-2, placed vertically.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.
Hard difficulty hints, answers for October 8 PipsNumber (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.
Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed horizontally.
Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.
Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.
Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 2-0, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.
Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.
Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.
Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally.
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.
Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.
While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 8, 2026 Autocruise meaningAn electronic system in a vehicle that automatically controls the throttle to maintain a steady, driver-set speed.
Foolhardy meaningTaking unnecessary, foolish or silly risks without thinking about the dangerous results.
Mulholland meaningA name famously associated with places in Los Angeles named after Irish-American engineer William Mulholland.
Thanks meaningAn informal expression used to show gratitude, appreciation or to accept or politely refuse an offer.
Heeds meaningTo pay close attention to, listen to and follow advice or a warning.
Minds meaningTo heed, watch out for or be cautious.
Regards meaningFriendly greetings or a courteous way to sign off an email or letter.
Respects meaningA feeling of high regard, particular details or aspects of something or polite greetings and expressions of esteem.
Cheers meaningA friendly expression used to make a drinking toast, say "thank you" or bid someone goodbye
Stooges meaningA person who is used, controlled or fooled by someone else to do unpleasant, dishonest or foolish work.
Strikes meaningAn intentional hit, a planned work stoppage by employees, or a sudden military attack
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Wishes meaningDesires, hopes or friendly greetings.
Best meaningSurpassing all others in quality, excellence or advantage.
Eclipse meaningAn astronomical event where one celestial body moves into the shadow of another or blocks light from or to another viewer.
Surpass meaningTo be better, greater, or higher than someone or something else.
Top meaningThe highest point, part, or surface of something.
Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're not rebellious.
Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 8, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categoriesWant a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
Yellow: Goody Two-Shoes
Green: Exceed expectations
Blue: All good things come in these
Purple: Hollywood stars
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Here are today's Connections categoriesNeed a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:
Yellow: Follows, as rules
Green: Outdo
Blue: Things that come in threes
Purple: Ending in actors named Tom
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections #1214 is...
What is the answer to Connections todayFollows, as rules: HEEDS, MINDS, REGARDS, RESPECTS
Outdo: BEST, ECLIPSE, SURPASS, TOP
Things that come in threes: CHEERS, STOOGES, STRIKES, WISHES
Ending in actors named Tom: AUTOCRUISE, FOOLHARDY, MULHOLLAND, THANS
Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.
Today's NYT Strands hints will be easy if you want to be famous.
Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on MashableBy providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.
If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.
SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 8, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: A star is bornThe words are related to notoriety
Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explainedThese words describe being well-known.
NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.
Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.
NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Luminary.
NYT Strands word list for October 8Renown
Repute
Fame
Luminary
Acclaim
Celebrity
Eminence
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!
Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.
Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're scatterbrained
If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 8, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.
Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.
What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.
What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.
Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.
Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Scattered.
Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no recurring letters.
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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.
The Wordle answer today is...Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.
Drumroll please!
The solution to today's Wordle is...
STREW
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.
Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.
Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today
If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.
Alexander Skarsgård’s wicker man is getting the full 4DX treatment. Make of that what you will.
Black Bear announced that Wicker, the upcoming romantic comedy starring Olivia Colman and Skarsgård, will screen in 4DX for one night only on Oct. 28. The studio says the event follows mass fan requests prompted by the trailer. Even the technology's TikTok account, 4DX, posted about the idea back in August.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Directed by Eleanor Wilson and Alex Huston Fischer, the film follows an ostracized fisherwoman (Colman) who commissions the local Basketmaker (Peter Dinklage) to make her a husband out of wicker. Her romance with the creation, played by Skarsgård, sparks jealousy and upsets the village's social order.
A love story involving a handcrafted husband is already an unusual night at the movies. Now, audiences can add moving seats and environmental effects to the experience.
For the uninitiated, 4DX synchronizes motion seats with the action onscreen and uses effects such as vibration, wind, water, scents, and flashes of light. Which effects accompany Wicker’s particular brand of romance? The announcement leaves that to your imagination.
"We were surprised how much 4DX enhances the experience of watching our film. The comedy is so much more hilarious while you’re being rocked out of your chair, and the more subtle environmental shifts really situate you in our strange world," Wilson said in a statement.
Fischer added, "We thought this was a joke. But now it's real. And it's spectacular."
4DX has become part of the entertainment around a movie, as of recent. In 2024, Twisters screenings proved so popular that Regal brought the film back for another week alongside the original Twister. Regal’s head of film said most of the sequel’s opening-week 4DX showtimes had quickly sold out. Other popular showings have been Final Destination Bloodlines, Spider-man: Brand New Day, and The Odyssey over in the summer.
SEE ALSO: 'The Odyssey' in 4DX has viewers fighting for their livesTornadoes and horror-movie mayhem are one thing; a romance involving Skarsgård as a basket husband invites a different set of questions about what, exactly, those seats will be doing.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.Wicker opens in theaters on Oct. 23 with the special 4DX event following five days later. If you’ve ever wanted a wicker husband (or Alexander Skarsgård) to sweep you off your feet, this theater experience may be for you.
We're approaching the final few hours of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, if you can believe it.
Hopefully, at this point, you've done the majority of your shopping. However, if you're left with a nagging feeling that you're not taking advantage of the best things to buy on Prime Day, checking out trending deals can be a good place to make any final checks.
SEE ALSO: October Prime Day 2026 live updates: Amazon is still dropping 50% discounts in the final hoursBelow, we rounded up 17 of the top trending deals of October Prime Day, including everything from red light masks to Lego sets, and high-powered blenders to laptops.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark CryoGlow LED Face Mask $299 at AmazonThe Shark CryoGlow mask is the best red light mask we've tested at Mashable, even after nearly a year of regular use. While it's one of the most accessibly priced masks even at its list price, this October Prime Day deal makes it especially enticing, knocking $50 off its full price.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark FlexStyle in Black Cherry $249.99 at AmazonThe Vitamix 5200 isn't fancy and doesn't have smart features, but it's a damn strong blender. Not only does it produce thoroughly pulverized smoothies, but also emulsified soups and creamy nut butters. While it's an investment, it's built to last for years, and at over $150 during Prime Big Deal Days, it's at a much more palatable price for entry.
Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Ninja Ninja CREAMi $169.99 at AmazonAs much as we love the new generation of the Bose QuietComfort headphones, it's hard to beat a pair of Bose headphones well under $200. These ones in particular were long one of our favorite pairs of Bose headphones, and still maintain their spot as one of the most comfortable pairs we tested, all the while providing solid sound quality and thorough active noise cancellation.
Check out more headphones deals still live during October Prime Day.
Opens in a new window Credit: Beats Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 $179.95 at AmazonApple's price hikes this summer brought the MacBook Air's list price up $200. Thankfully, this deal, which marks $200 off, makes the price hike null and allows you to grab our favorite MacBook for college students (and most people, tbh) down at its price point from the days of yore. The zippy performance, clear speakers, and, of course, impressive portability make it an excellent daily driver.
Check out more Apple deals still live during October Prime Day.
Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Mac Mini (M6, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $949.99 at AmazonOut of all the OLED TVs on sale this October Prime Day, the Samsung S90H is our pick for the best of the best. Yes, that's partially because at $400 off, it's at its lowest ever price. However, it's also because its glare-free screen comes with rich color and contrast, alongside the NQ4 AI Gen3 Processor, which optimizes the picture and sound.
Opens in a new window Credit: Roku Roku 65-Inch Pro Series OLED 4K Smart TV $799.99 at AmazonAmazon can help you find a vacuum, a pair of leggings, or your next book. Apparently, it can also offer an unsolicited assessment of your butt.
Shoppers are sharing screenshots of Amazon's "About You" feature, which lets users review and edit the information used to personalize their shopping experience. The observations range from ordinary preferences to oddly specific descriptions of their bodies, relationships, and habits.
The feature isn’t new — Amazon introduced it in May — but a viral Oct. 5 Threads post has people checking what the retailer thinks it knows about them. And some of those profiles read less like shopping preferences and more like a roast.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed."I stumbled upon a page of assumptions that Amazon has made about me based on my purchases and I’m literally speechless," Threads user @fangirlinmegan wrote in the Oct. 5 post. In a red circle, she marked where Amazon clearly wrote, "has flat buttocks" under her Product Preferences.
Other shoppers replied in the thread in with screenshots of their own. One profile noted that a shopper "has a husband" and that the "husband has skinny legs." Another listed "Has cats," followed by "treats cats as biological children," and then "has husband." A revealing household hierarchy, perhaps?
One particularly specific observation said a shopper "Uses phone in the shower to read Kindle books."
"I mean yes but wtf," the user replied.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Where does the information come from?According to Amazon, personalization draws on purchase history, searches, saved Lists, product reviews, and conversations with Alexa for Shopping. "Understanding your preferences is fundamental to providing you with high-quality, relevant recommendations," the company wrote when introducing About You.
Amazon's own examples are considerably gentler than the viral screenshots: Buying non-dairy milk might lead to recommendations for other non-dairy products, while discussing a cat’s favorite foods could help it suggest treats.
About You gives shoppers a place to inspect and change the details behind those recommendations. Amazon says users can update information, provide feedback, or remove details they don’t want used for personalization.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How to find your Amazon 'About You' profileAmazon provides these instructions:
On mobile: Open the Amazon Shopping app or mobile website, navigate to the Me tab, select your name, and tap About You.
On desktop: Hover over your name above Account & Lists, then select your name or Who’s shopping? Choose your profile and click About You.
You can also ask Alexa for Shopping, "What do you know about me?" Once inside, review the details and update or remove information you don’t want shaping your recommendations. At least the emotional damage comes with free two-day delivery!
Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale is down to its last day. The 48-hour event started Oct. 6 and ends at midnight PT tonight, Oct. 7, and plenty of deals are still live until then. We've been sorting through Amazon's listings since the sale started to find the discounts worth your money, and smartphones have some of the biggest price cuts of the sale.
If you're shopping for deals on some of the best smartphones of the year, Google and Samsung both have unlocked flagships on sale that you'll definitely want to snap up ASAP. But be quick about it, because all bets are off when the clock counts down, and these prices will rocket back up to their normal baseline. While it's true there may be some stragglers here and there after the sale ends, this is your best opportunity to upgrade your phone without breaking the bank.
Below are some of the best Prime Day smartphone deals still available before the sale ends that you can shop right now.
Best smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Pixel 11 Pro $834 at AmazonAndroid fans will absolutely love what Google's cooked up here. The Pixel 11 Pro puts Google's Tensor G6 chip inside a 6.3-inch body with an OLED display that adjusts from 1Hz to 120Hz and reaches up to 3,600 nits of peak brightness. For photos, its triple camera has a 50MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide lens, and a 48MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom. There's also a 42MP ultrawide selfie camera on the front. Google added a HiLight notification light with this iteration of the phone as well, and the 4,850mAh battery supports 30W wired charging and 25W Qi2.2 magnetic wireless charging. It's a great all-rounder, but especially good on the photography front.
Best budget smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Motorola Moto G Play LTE $99.99 at AmazonNot every phone has to cost an entire paycheck to function as a reliable piece of tech. The Moto G Play LTE has a 6.5-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate for smoother scrolling, and its stereo speakers support Dolby Atmos when you're watching videos or listening to music. It has a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM to keep things running smoothly, with a 5,000mAh battery that recharges at up to 15W. Its 50MP rear camera uses Quad Pixel technology to pull in more light, and if the 64GB of built-in storage fills up, you can add more with a microSD card. Plus, it's an attractive phone that'll look unlike much of the competition for much, much less.
Best premium smartphone deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra $1,179.99 at AmazonIf you're looking for a premium phone, this one should more than do the trick. The Galaxy S26 Ultra has a 6.9-inch QHD+ AMOLED screen with a built-in privacy display. When it's on, the screen looks normal straight ahead but gets harder to read from the side. You can even set it to switch on automatically when notifications arrive, when you type a password, or when you open specific apps. A 200MP main camera with an f/1.4 aperture sits alongside a 50MP ultrawide and two telephoto lenses at 3x and 5x, and the S Pen slides right into the phone. It also comes with a slew of Galaxy AI features.
More smartphone dealsSamsung Galaxy A17 — $189.99 $269.99 (save $80)
Motorola Edge — $299.99 $379 (save $79.01)
Motorola Razr Ultra — $299.99 $379 (save $79.01)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 — $1,549.99 $1,899.99 (save $419.01)
October Prime Day is nearing the end of its 48 hours. But if you've been AFK or haven't felt like shopping, there's still some time to score a deal. In fact, plenty of other retailers are offering competing sales, or sales that just so happen to fall on the same days. Who's to say how that happened? But a savings is a savings, and we're all ears on deals in 2026.
Aside from Amazon, we have Techtober deals at Best Buy, gigantic creepy but also maybe adorable Halloween skeletons at Home Depot, and high-quality sheets on sale at Brooklinen. Keep in mind, some of these sales are set to end tonight, so it might be wise to do some shopping during your evening scrolling.
We've rounded up our favorite October deals below from places other than Amazon.
A stellar Kindle alternative that comes with free books Opens in a new window Credit: Kobo Kobo Clara Colour Bundle with free books $239.97 at KoboThe Kobo Clara Colour is one of Mashable's favorite color e-readers, and you can grab a useful bundle right now that comes with free books. The Kobo Clara Colour, the fantastic Kobo Remote, a Sleep Cover, and books one through five of A Court of Thorns and Roses e-book bundle comes in at $239.97, which works out to getting the books for free.
Cozy and durable sheets, towels, robes, plus more Opens in a new window Credit: Brooklinen Brooklinen Surprise Sale take 15% off sitewide and up to 30% off bundles Get Deal Why we like itSleep is powerful. If you're not getting good rest, maybe you need some luxurious sheets? Brooklinen sheets, bedding, towels, robes, comforters, and pillows are all on sale for at least 15% off. If you feel like grabbing a bundle of bedding, you might be in for a 30% discount. The brand's new arrivals feature great colorway options for fall and cozy bedding to get you through the winter.
More sleep dealsCozy Earth: Take 15% off sitewide and 20% off bundles
Brooklyn Bedding: Save 30% sitewide
Baloo Bedding: Take 20% off all weighted bedding with code FALL20
Is Skelly adorable or creepy? In either case, the 6.5-foot version is on sale for today only at The Home Depot. In addition to Skelly, you can snag deals on friends like a nine-foot color-changing wicked tree or a three-piece set of LED ghosts.
If none of those match your decor vibes, check out the selection of Disney Halloween items on sale.
Gear up for fall adventures with REI deals Opens in a new window Credit: Rumpl REI fall clearance sale take up to 30% off outdoor gear and up to 50% off clothing Get Deal Why we like itFall outdoor adventures are now in the running for the best of the year. Sweaty summer is over, and those leaves aren't gonna crunch themselves. Get outside with these October deals at REI that take up to 50% off outdoor clothing and up to 30% off outdoor gear. You'll find a wide selection from brands like The North Face, Kelty, Patagonia, Yeti, Rumpl, and more.
More outdoor dealsOoni: Take up to 29% off outdoor pizza ovens
Lands' End: Take 50% off sitewide
Solo Stove: Save 10% on smokeless firepits, pizza ovens, and accessories
Ruggable's selection of washable rugs is expansive, and for a few more hours, you can shop to save up to 25% off. That includes some of the brand's best collaborations and new seasonal releases. Don't forget the brand has a Star Wars collection.
More home dealsCrate&Barrel: Take up to 20% off sofas, 35% off kitchen brands, and 25% off storage and dining
Govee: Take up to 50% off smart lighting
Getting healthier apparently requires a lot of purchases. At least, that’s the impression your social media feed can leave. There’s always another supplement to take or coaching program to join, and a discount code to make it all a little more tempting.
New research from Pew Research Center shows how often wellness content comes with a promotion. Researchers analyzed more than half a million Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube posts from over 6,000 health and wellness influencers. Some 38 percent contained a sponsorship or another appeal to use a product, service, or subscription. Among posts directly discussing health and wellness, the share was nearly half.
You might follow a creator for their personality, recipes, or workout advice. But when those posts lead to product recommendations, you’re also a potential customer. At least according to the report, released Oct. 7, which examined posts published between February and April 2026. It found that 92 percent of the influencers included promotions at least occasionally, and around a third of them include ads in a majority of their posts.
Pew’s definition of a promotion includes disclosed sponsorships, product and service recommendations, and free resources such as workout guides. Creators promoting their own offerings can also qualify.
Credit: Screenshot: Pew Research CenterPromotions also appeared in 66 percent of posts about nonprescription medications and supplements, 56 percent about appearance, 56 percent about men’s health, and 52 percent each about nutrition and longevity. They were more frequent in posts from self-described dietitians and nutritionists; complementary, alternative, and integrative health professionals; authors; business owners; and coaches. Athletes and activists included them less frequently.
The commercial side is easy to spot, from a viewer's point of view. Kayla Itsines (15 mil on Instagram) offers workout programs through the subscription-based Sweat app, while Joe Wicks (2.9 mil on YouTube) sells Body Coach app subscriptions featuring workouts and meal plans. Mari Llewellyn co-founded Bloom Nutrition, which sells "Greens & Superfoods" powders, and physician/podcast host Mark Hyman's online store sells supplements and offerings such as his "10-Day Detox" program.
What’s actually in the wellness feed?Just over half of the posts discussed healthy living, compared with about a third discussing medical issues. Fitness appeared in 25 percent, healthy habits in 20 percent, nutrition in 19 percent, and appearance in 14 percent. And if it feels like everyone is talking about protein; 42 percent of nutrition posts mentioned it directly. Thirty percent of posts didn’t discuss wellness at all, instead covering personal life or other subjects.
The report also complicates the idea that wellness influencers are simply nonexperts dispensing medical advice. Self-described healthcare professionals discussed medical conditions and treatments requiring professional involvement most frequently. Those topics appeared much less often in posts from creators who didn’t claim a medical background.
As I previously reported, "credential catfishing" involves fabricating the education, career, or status that signals authority online. Back in September, Mashable covered the story of influencer Angel Victoria Murdock who spent nearly two years documenting her supposed experience in Duke University’s Physician Assistant Program. Followers saw scrubs, medical notes, apparent Duke Health identification, and "get ready with me" videos for supposed rotations. She even posed in graduation attire outside Duke Chapel. But, spoiler alert: She had never attended the program. Murdock also promoted fashion and beauty products and participated in TikTok Shop’s affiliate program.
SEE ALSO: Welcome to the age of 'credential catfishing'Even genuine experience has limits, as certified medical exercise specialist and personal trainer Courtney Babilya told the Associated Press in May. "We have to be careful with people who have an experience in one thing and suddenly become a 'coach' on that," she cautioned.
You don’t even have to follow a wellness creator to encounter their recommendations. Earlier Pew research found that 40 percent of U.S. adults get health and wellness information from influencers or podcasts. Among those consumers, 67 percent mostly encountered it rather than searching for it.
Some viewers are tired of the pitches. In a recent Reddit thread titled "Too many ads," one user wrote: "oh my god i love tiktok but im starting to get irritated that every video is either a regular ad, an undisclosed ad, a partnership, or a brand deal."
A promotion doesn’t automatically make advice bad SEE ALSO: How influencers and politicians built an unregulated supplement empireCreators have bills to pay, too, and brand partnerships can help them keep making the content people follow them for. Plenty of viewers find that content useful: Pew’s earlier research found that 54 percent of people who get health and wellness information from influencers or podcasts said it helped them better understand how to be healthy.
But as viewers, it helps to be discerning about the advice we take. Disclosures are one thing to check: Look for a "Paid partnership" label, a clear #ad or #sponsored in the caption, or a disclosure within the video itself. You shouldn’t have to dig through someone’s profile or a pile of hashtags to find it. The Federal Trade Commission says influencers should clearly disclose brand relationships, including payments and free products, "even if you think your evaluations are unbiased."
Platforms have their own requirements, too. Instagram requires a paid partnership label for branded content involving an exchange of value. TikTok requires its disclosure setting for promotional content, labeling posts "Paid partnership" or "Promotional content." And YouTube requires creators to flag commercial relationships, which adds a disclosure at the beginning of the video.
Those requirements don’t guarantee that every promotion is labeled. And even a clearly disclosed partnership doesn’t tell you whether the health advice is sound. Sometimes the healthiest thing you can do for yourself — and your wallet — is let a discount code expire.
The Home Depot 12-foot skeleton has become an icon of lawns all across America since its debut in 2020, but it's far from the only oversized Halloween decoration in the home improvement store's lineup.
In fact, as of Oct. 7, plenty of giant monsters of various ilk are on sale at the store (perhaps in the spirit of October Prime Day). Though the 12-foot "Skelly" won't be on sale, you can pick up a six-foot app-controlled Skelly, several Nightmare Before Christmas characters, spooky trolls, dead brides, plague doctors, a nine-foot tree named Dry Rot Dennis — all of your basic Halloween essentials. (Some of these creatures are brand new to the 2026 lineup).
Below, we've rounded up the 15 best deals on Home Depot's Halloween giants, on sale just in time for you to spruce up your Halloween decoration game.
Best Home Depot Halloween decoration deal Opens in a new window Credit: Home Accents Holiday Home Accents Holiday 6.5-Foot Grave & Bones Animated LED App Controlled Ultra Skelly with LCD LifeEyes $179 at Home DepotIt may not be the tallest skeleton from Home Depot or the tallest monster on this list, but boy, does this six-and-a-half-footer still bring the heat. For starters, it features the same LCD LifeEyes that stand out in the dark of night, and give you 18 options for color customization, including "blue human," "brown human," flames, and hearts. The motion sensor skeleton also comes with five preset sounds, or the option to record up to 30 personalized recordings (with 30-second limits). Plus, the head, arm, mouth, and torso move — and can be controlled remotely via the app, in addition to customizable LED controls and colors. Best of all? Usually, it's only $20 cheaper than its 12-foot sibling, but with this deal, it's $120 less than the larger skeleton.
Opens in a new window Credit: Haunted Hill Farm Haunted Hill Farm 6-Foot Animated LED Hanging Clown Halloween Animatronic $39.99 at Home DepotGoogle wants the next hit browser game to start with a prompt. The company launched Playground on Oct. 7, an experimental platform for creating, playing, and sharing custom games.
"Playground lowers the barriers to creation, so bringing game ideas to life can now be as easy as describing it through a few prompts — no coding experience required," Google software engineer Maryam Karimzadehgan wrote in the announcement.
Creators can start from scratch, remix starter prompts, or use guided support to shape an idea, then test and revise it through a conversational interface. "Want to tweak the physics, rewrite the rules, customize the characters, or overhaul the environment? Just ask," Karimzadehgan adds. "You stay in complete control of the creative direction from rough concept to final product."
Credit: Screenshot: Google PlaygroundUsers can choose genres such as trivia or racing, select 2D or 3D graphics, and upload visuals for the AI to transform into game assets. An upcoming Unity Spark integration promises "robust, professional-level mechanics, high-fidelity 3D capabilities, and the flexibility of the Unity runtime."
Games work in browsers on phones and laptops. Creators can keep projects private, share links, or publish to the Explore gallery, which highlights games based on ratings and play activity. Select genres support leaderboards and multiplayer, while Play Games profiles let users follow creators. Google says published games always undergo safety screenings.
Playground is initially available to U.S. adults, with creation access rolling out based on Google AI subscriptions. Browsing and playing are free; creation uses weekly tokens, with higher limits for Google One AI subscribers.
Credit: Screenshot: Google PlaygroundGoogle joins competitors, including Roblox, which announced its prompt-based Build tool in July, and Rosebud AI, which offers conversational game creation. You can also build games through general-purpose AI assistants. ChatGPT’s Sites tools can also create and host browser games, while Claude’s Artifacts lets users generate, revise, and share playable prototypes through conversation.
Google calls Playground an "early experiment," but the browser-game format may feel familiar to anyone who spent afternoons playing games on the family computer. This time, you can build the game you wish you'd found.
While I love a beach read, nothing beats being inside on a chilly evening, all cozied up with a good book. If you've made your way through your summer TBR, it's time to build your fall stack. Luckily, Prime Big Deal Days is underway with hundreds of book deals.
Amazon's October Prime Day is underway, running until Oct. 7, marking down bestselling titles. The sale on books spans physical copies and ebooks too. And speaking of ebooks, if you're interested in Amazon's e-readers, tons of Kindles are on sale too. And don't forget to pick up a Kindle Click too, a crucial device for your coziest season of reading yet.
Ready to shop? These are the best book deals to shop during Prime Big Deal Days.
Best book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Circe by Madeline Miller $2.99 at AmazonIf the The Odyssey revived your love of mythology, then you need to check out Madeline Miller's greek reimaginings. Her novel The Song of Achilles is a BookTok hit and her retelling, Circe, is now just $2.99 on Kindle during Prime Big Deal Days. This epic tale reimagines the live of Circe as she comes into her own power as some of the most famous figures in Greek mythology cross her island.
It's a page-turner, perfect for cozy reading season. Looking for something else? We've rounded up dozens of great book deals to shop whether you love a physical copy or want to stuff your Kindle.
More book dealsPhysical books
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall — $10.83 $28.99 (save $18.16)
Dark Matter by Blake Crouch — $11.65 $20 (save $8.35)
The Divorce by Freida McFadden — $9.29 $18.99 (save $9.70)
Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah — $9.03 $19 (save $9.97)
The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah — $7.64 $20 (save $12.46)
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore — $10.88 $30 (save $19.22)
Isola by Allegra Goodman — $9.01 $19.00 (save $9.99)
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser — $14.25 $29 (save $14.75)
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali — $10.53 $18.99 (save $8.47)
The Love Hypothesis: Collector's Edition by Ali Hazelwood — $12.81 $35 (save $22.19)
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood — $7.21 $17 (save $9.79)
None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell — $7.94 $18.99 (save $11.05)
One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad — $13.71 $28 (save $14.29)
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller — $7.84 $18 (save $10.16)
The Reformatory by Tananarive Due — $9.44 $19.99 (save $10.55)
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid — $6.85 $17 (save $10.15)
The Wager by David Grann — $8.73 $21 (save $12.27)
The Will of the Many: Deluxe Edition by James Islington — $12.49 $35 (save $22.51)
Cookbooks
Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics by Ina Garten — $11.78 $40 (save $28.12)
Dessert Person by Claire Saffitz — $13.73 $37.50 (save $23.77)
Martha: The Cookbook by Martha Stewart — $14.59 $40 (save $25.41)
Something from Nothing by Alison Roman — $17.14 $37.99 (save $20.85)
Soups, Salads, Sandwiches by Matty Matheson — $12.40 $35 (save $22.60)
The Wishbone Kitchen Cookbook by Meredith Hayden — $12.81 $35 (save $22.19)
Kindle Books
A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman — $3.99 $13.99 (save $10)
All the Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott — $1.99 $12.99 (save $11)
Brimstone by Callie Hart — $3.99 $11.99 (save $8)
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)
Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — $0.99 $4.99 (save $4)
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix — $1.99 $12.99 (save $11)
The Invitation by Lucy Foley — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison — $1.99 $10.99 (save $9)
The Night We Met by Abby Jimenez — $3.99 $14.99 (save $11)
Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)
One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid — $3.99 $12.99 (save $9.99)
Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby — $2.99 $11.99 (save $9)
Reasons to Be Loved by You by Hannah Brown — $3.99 $14.99 (save $11)
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams — $2.99 $9.99 (save $7)
Mashable's shopping team loves to help our readers stretch their dollars further. During October Prime Day (and every other day, for that matter), we're relentlessly scanning product listings, tracking prices, and curating the best deals for y'all so you can get more bang for your buck. We'll shout about our favorite tech deals, which Apple products are at all-time lows, and what deals we think are actually worth it. But when it comes down to it, one of the best ways to decide what to add to your cart is to see what other people already added to theirs.
Below, we're breaking down the top 10 deals Mashable readers purchased during Prime Big Deal Days this year. If you're still looking to do some shopping, the official October Prime Day event wraps up at the end of the day on Oct. 7. Although, you may still be able to snag a few lingering discounts in the days following.
Here are the most popular items Mashable readers are adding to their carts:
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration swag Opens in a new window Credit: Pokémon Pokemon TCG: 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box (invite only) $159 at AmazonThe Pokémon 30th Celebration expansion has been fluctuating in price since it came out, but you can request to buy it at $159.99 (just $11 above market price) for October Prime Day. And Mashable readers have been submitting invite requests left and right. It comes with nine titular booster packs, a full-art foil Nidorina promo, 16 foil Basic Energy trading cards, 65 sleeves, dice, a coin, dividers, a player’s guide, and a Pokémon TCG Live code card. The Booster Bundle is also a hot ticket item for Prime Day, which includes six booster packs from Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time pre-orders Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo Switch 2) $59.88 at AmazonWhile preordering the physical edition of Nintendo's upcoming remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 typically costs $69.99, Amazon has it on sale for $59.88 for Prime Big Deal Days. Many Mashable readers have already secured the game for less, so don't miss your shot ahead of its Nov. 5 launch.
A pastel pink Owala FreeSip Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip Twist (24-ounce) $19.97 at AmazonThe Owala FreeSip is the water bottle of the moment and the 24-ounce Twist, which easily slips into backpack side pockets and cup holders, is on sale for under $20 for Prime Big Deal Days. This baby pink (referred to as angel food cake) has particularly called to Mashable readers, but several other color options are discounted as well.
A swanky 3D printer Opens in a new window Credit: Bambu Lab Bambu Lab P1S Combo $499 at AmazonWe love a good splurge, and the popularity of this swanky 3D Printer from Bambu Labs shows our readers do also. As Mashable contributor Soumya Kumar puts it, "The Bambu Lab P1S earns our top spot because it nails the trifecta: speed, output quality, and pure convenience." It's approachable for newbies, but powerful enough for seasoned vets.
The latest AirPods Pro Opens in a new window Credit: Apple AirPods Pro 3 $179 at AmazonThere's no denying the AirPods Pro 3 are great earbuds, but we like them significantly more when they're on sale. While we regularly see the price tag drop to $199, it's rarer to see them at $179, making this a smart purchase.
The 11-inch classic iPad Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, 128GB, WiFi) $399 at AmazonOver 20 Apple gadgets are at record-low prices this October Prime Day, but none of those gadgets are iPads. Still, there are plenty of iPad deals worth grabbing and readers are flocking to the classic iPad. It's on sale for just $399, making it the most affordable iPad option by a long shot.
Sony's flagship noise-cancelling headphones Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM6 noise-cancelling headphones $378 at AmazonThe latest flagship headphones from Sony come with a steep price tag, so any chance to get them at a discount is worth taking. For what it's worth, Mashable's tech editor says they mostly justify their full cost, thanks to elite noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, a travel-friendly design, and close to the best sound he's ever heard.
This cutie mini power bank Opens in a new window Credit: UGREEN UGREEN Nexode Pro mini power bank $36.07 at AmazonWe all suffer from low-battery anxiety, so it's no shock here that readers are scooping up this mini power bank. Plus, it's pretty cute and small enough to fit in your palm.
A hefty Yeti cooler in violet Opens in a new window Credit: Yeti Yeti Tundra 45 hard cooler $243.75 at AmazonYeti deals are rare, so this 25% discount on the classic Tundra 45 hard cooler is certainly worth adding to your cart. And if you're a big Yeti fan like me, several other deals on drinkware, camping gear, and more are worth a second look.
Kindle e-readers and accessories Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle (2024) $103.99 at AmazonLiteracy crisis be damned. Mashable readers are buying Kindles (particularly the last-gen basic Kindle, the last-gen Kindle Paperwhite, and the brand new Kindle Paperwhite) in droves. Plus, we're seeing folks securing their pre-orders for the new Kindle Click, aka the page-turner of our dreams.
More popular deals Mashable readers boughtAmazon Smart Plug — $12.98 $24.99 (save $12.01)
Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Select — $17.99 $49.99 (save $32)
Apple AirTag (2nd gen) — $24 $29 (save $5)
Anker Nano Smart Display charger — $25.99 $39.99 (save $15)
SanDisk Extreme 1TB portable SSD — $209.99 $299.99 (save $90)
Anker Solix C1000 power station — $469.99 $599.99 (save $130)
Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,099.99 $1,299.99 (save $200)
Mammotion LUBA 3 AWD 3000 Robot Lawn Mower — $2,109 $2,608 (save $499)
Apple has long been criticized for the iPhone's "walled garden," the closed ecosystem that the company has built with iOS that gives Apple tight control over which apps and services can run on its smartphone. Android devices have long been viewed as the more "open" option, giving users more control over what's on their smartphone.
But, when it comes to bloatware, that may not be the case. In fact, a recent study from cybersecurity company Surfshark found that iPhone users can remove more pre-installed apps from their devices than users of phones from some of the top Android smartphone makers like Samsung and Google.
According to the study, the iPhone comes with up to 50 pre-installed apps. Users in the EU can remove 48 of these apps or 96 percent of them. (The Phone app and the Settings app are the only two pre-installed apps that cannot be deleted in the EU.) In the U.S., iPhone users are able to delete 44 of these apps or 88 percent of them.
Samsung devices, on the other hand, come with a whopping 88 pre-installed apps and only 50 of them or 57 percent were marked safe to remove. For Google's Android devices, the database listed 71 pre-installed apps, but only 38 percent of them or 27 apps were marked as safe to remove.
The report states that the average smartphone user has between 60 and 90 apps installed on their device. However, they use roughly 10 of these apps on a daily basis and around 30 of them each month. That leaves many apps unused and taking up space.
But, even worse than that, these apps may not just sit there. They can operate in the background, collecting personal data, making bloatware a privacy risk too.
Apple apps collected on average 8 data types per pre-installed app, which includes location data, behavioral data, and other sensitive information. Apple Music and the Apple Store app collected the most user data types, according to Surfshark, listing 17 and 18 data types, respectively, out of 35 different data types.
The pre-installed apps analyzed on Google devices collected an average of 13 data types per app. Google Gemini and the Google app list the most data types, with each disclosing 29 of 38 different data types, which is more than double the average of the other apps.
The average pre-installed app analyzed on a Samsung device also collected 13 data types. However, the Samsung dataset includes Facebook and Instagram, which are the worst offending apps in the report. These apps disclosed a whopping 37 out of 38 data types.
"Data collection practices by popular applications, particularly social media platforms and chatbots, raise privacy concerns," said Surfshark's Chief Security Officer Tomas Stamulis in a statement. "While certain data points are necessary for basic operational functionality, entities may harvest information for targeted advertising or may even share it with undisclosed third parties. Even never-used applications can gather personal data and link to your device."
"Relying entirely on pre-installed applications can affect your privacy, as apps don't always protect user data as you might expect," Stamulis continued. "Shifting to third-party alternatives that are privacy-focused can help minimize data collection, limit overall exposure, and reduce unwanted targeted ads. It can also mitigate the risks associated with potential data breaches as your personal data is not stored in a single database."
Employers in the Golden State can't offload the hard parts of running a business to AI, according to a new state law.
Signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom last week, SB 947 sets restrictions on the use of the novel technology in disciplinary decision making, including firing employees. SB 947 may sound like an obvious regulatory move as industries continue to worry about AI's impact on employment, but the "No Robo Bosses Act" marks the first law of its kind in the nation.
SEE ALSO: Report: OpenAI should pause ChatGPT for Teens over safetyOther states, including California, have enacted bans on AI-enabled discrimination and laws that restrict the authority of automated systems in hiring and benefits decisions. The federal government has clarified that existing employee discrimination law also covers the use of AI systems. Still, AI remains an elusive element in modern workplace management.
What does the new law do?Under SB 947, California employers can't exclusively rely on Automated-Decision Systems (“ADS”), including AI, to determine a worker's continued employment or disciplinary status. The bill also limits the use of AI as a "principal tool" in such decision-making.
Any use of AI must be disclosed to the affected employee, including details on personal data given to the model to determine company action.
If an AI tool is a "primary" element of a termination decision, the law mandates that an employer provide a human reviewer who can go over the decision with an employee. The reviewer must provide additional corroborating information, such as evaluations, disciplinary records, and witness testimony.
Newsom vetoed a previous version of the bill in 2025, citing concerns that its notification terms were too broad. The initial text of the bill included mandatory advance notice, which was later struck, alongside language that would have included gig workers. Gig workers are excluded from the new law.
How will the new law affect employers?All employers in California, no matter their size, are subject to the law.
Employers cannot continue using ADS in ways that may violate state employment law or an employee's protected status, or move forward with an ADS decision that can't be corroborated by a human.
An ADS is defined by the state as "any computational process derived from machine learning, statistical modeling, data analytics, or artificial intelligence that issues simplified output, including a score, classification, or recommendation, that is used to assist or replace human discretionary decision-making and materially impacts natural persons."
If the California Labor Commissioner’s Office finds that a company has violated the law or retaliated against an employee exercising their rights under the law, the employer could face civil penalties.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2027.
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