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Get home security cameras up to 60% off and feel extra cozy this winter

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 12:30

SAVE UP TO 60%: Home security camera for indoor and outdoor use from brands like Arlo and Tapo TP-Link are up to 60% off at Amazon.

Home security camera deals Best security camera deal overall Arlo Pro 5S spotlight security camera (white) $99.99 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Best camera for pet owners TP-Link Tapo 1080P indoor security camera (white) $14.55 at Amazon (save $10.44) Get Deal Best security camera for indoor or outdoor use Tapo TP-Link 2K QHD security camera $24.99 at Amazon (save $15) Get Deal

Now that we're officially in the dark months, you might be considering upping your home security system. One of the most affordable options is adding in a security camera, either inside your home or outside. Place it near the driveway to check on package deliveries, or place it inside to make sure the dog is just sleeping on the couch and not destroying it.

While some holiday shopping is best kept on hold until Black Friday sales drop, Amazon has major discounts on home security cameras during the week of Nov. 5. Here are some of the best deals to shop.

Best security camera deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Arlo Arlo Pro 5S spotlight security camera (white) $99.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

With sharp 2K resolution, the Arlo Pro 5S is a great choice if you need an upgraded outdoor home security camera. While the camera usually costs $249.99, it's on sale at Amazon today for just $99.99, which means you'll get a sweet 60% discount.

Not only does the Arlo record and offer live-streaming in 2K, its built-in spotlight is great for illuminating dark nights. You can also use a zoom function for spotting small details. The Arlo can connect to either 2.4 GHz WiFi or 5GHz, automatically connecting to whichever option is stronger.

The wireless design and included mount means set up is simple.

Best camera for pet owners Opens in a new window Credit: Tapo TP-Link TP-Link Tapo 1080P indoor security camera (white) $14.55 at Amazon
$24.99 Save $10.44 Get Deal Why we like it

If you're hoping to keep an eye on pets while you're away at work or want to put a camera in the baby's nursery, the TP-Link Tapo 1080P indoor security camera is a great option. Usually priced at $24.99, it's already an affordable model but, today's discount brings the camera to just $14.55, or 42% off.

The TP-Link Tapo indoor camera uses motion detection to give you real-time alerts, allowing you to view live footage in 1080p resolution. The two-way audio means you can tell the dog to stop chasing the cat, or let the baby know you'll be right in.

Best security camera for indoor or outdoor use Opens in a new window Credit: Tapo TP-Link Tapo TP-Link 2K QHD security camera $24.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $15.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Tapo TP-Link 2K QHD security camera comes with some impressive features. Not only does it record in 2K, the night vision view includes color instead of the typical black and white.

With a magnetic mount and flexible arm, you can use the camera indoors or out and get the angle you need. Should conditions get dark, the camera has two internal spotlights to give you a better view. With two-way audio, you'll be able to give the delivery person instructions about where to leave the package even if you're not home.

The camera has a wired connection and comes with a 9.8-foot power cord to give you better flexibility when it comes to choosing the best location.

These presidential election results maps update in real time

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 12:15

If you've already cast your vote, it's time to find a comfortable seat and pull up your favorite interactive 2024 Election results map: The big moment has arrived.

SEE ALSO: 6 election results livestreams to follow the latest updates online

It's not clear yet how long it will take to call an official winner — and post-2020 technological investments could speed up the counting process. In the lead up to the election, interactive predictive maps and visuals, like 538's extensive polling visualizations, have provided a lens for Americans to conceptualize the potential tightness of this year's race. As the tense wait continues, resources like 270toWin's Interactive Presidential Election Map, PBS' Electoral College Map, and ABC's Interactive Electoral Map, have let election watchers make their own predictions and forecasts as the results come in.

But Americans want the official results, and they wan't them as soon as possible. So here's more live-updated visual aids to follow for updates as Election Day charges on.

Associated Press Elections Map

The Associated Press' elections map displays both geographic and electoral results, with the latter envisioned as large squares taking up each state. The page will also be tracking outcomes in battleground areas and the percentage of votes counted by state after polls close.

Reuters U.S. Election Live Map

Reuters' election map similarly breaks down the count electorally and geographically, but also includes visualizations of the candidate's margins and how many votes are left to be counted.

The Guardian U.S. Election Results

The Guardian will be tracking called races on its election results live page, which includes an interactive map that shows state and county results, electoral college percentages, and popular vote margins.

Spacecraft watches lonely Earth and moon fade into the distance

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 11:54

Earth is a profoundly isolated rock.

The European Space Agency's Hera craft, en route to an asteroid, recently captured footage of our planet and the moon, set against the black ether of space. The two objects gradually shrink as Hera journeyed from some 860,000 to 2.4 million miles (1.4 to 3.8 million kilometers) away in October.

"As #HeraMission sped away from its homeworld it witnessed the Moon orbiting Earth," the agency posted online.

Tweet may have been deleted

For reference, the moon is located about 239,000 miles from us.

Our greater solar system is extremely isolated, too. There are huge distances between the stars. "In fact, if you were to shrink the sun to the size of a sand grain, the distance to the nearest star would be measured in miles," Sally Dodson-Robinson, a planetary scientist at the University of Delaware, previously told Mashable. The nearest solar system is Alpha Centauri, located 25 trillion miles from Earth.

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

The car-sized Hera spacecraft, however, isn't traveling too far — in cosmic terms. The mission will rendezvous with the asteroid Dimorphos in December 2026, at a distance of some 121,167,000 miles, or 195 million kilometers, from Earth. It's a planetary defense expedition: Hera will use a slew of cameras and instruments to survey the impact site of NASA's successful asteroid-deflection test, which proved humanity can alter the path of a potentially menacing asteroid. Dimorphos, which is no threat to Earth, is about the size of a stadium, at 525 feet (160 meters) across.

The asteroid Dimorphos, on right, after impact by NASA's DART spacecraft in 2022. Dimorphos orbits the asteroid Didymos as part of a binary asteroid system. Credit: ASI / NASA

"By gathering close-up data about the Dimorphos asteroid, which was impacted by NASA’s DART spacecraft in 2022, Hera will help turn asteroid deflection into a well understood and potentially repeatable technique," ESA explained.

To prepare for all sorts of future contingencies — such as a colossal asteroid or one that surprises us — researchers are also investigating the potential of detonating a nuclear device near an asteroid to change such a menacing rock's trajectory.

Although there's no known threat from an asteroid for at least the next century, it behooves us to be prepared, even if the odds of an impact are exceedingly small.

"You wouldn't want to take chances on an asteroid the size of a city," Nathan Moore, a physicist at Sandia National Laboratories, previously told Mashable.

6 election results livestreams to follow the latest updates online

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 10:46

The sun has risen on Election Day 2024, and it's a race to the finish line.

Americans will be following closely to see just how near the predicted margins are in today's Presidential race, and who will inevitably become our new commander-in-chief amid an embattled political environment. There's no guarantee that a winner will be called this evening, but at least one small town's results are already in — it was a 3:3 tie.

SEE ALSO: When will we know who won the 2024 election?

Today's political excitement may trickle into Wednesday or beyond, and you may just decide to log off, but here's how to catch an election day livestream if you're sticking close to your devices.

Live election coverage streamsCNN

CNN's live coverage will begin at 4 p.m. ET. Viewers can watch online using their TV provider log-in, or follow results on CNN's Presidential results page and Live blog.

CBS

Those interested in following CBS' election results coverage can tune in online with CBS News 24/7 or the CBS News app, available for mobile devices and smart TVs.

ABC

ABC will be updating its Live Election coverage blog with results as they come in, and viewers can tune in to the news channel's live reporting directly on the site. Election coverage is also available for Hulu subscribers via ABC News Live.

NBC

Catch NBC's results updates via NBC News Now and their Live Election blog. NBC's "Decision 2024" programming is also available for Peacock subscribers.

FOX

Fox News will be updating its Live results map as races are called, and viewers can watch online or on the Fox News Go app.

C-SPAN

C-SPAN will be kicking off 17-hours of non-stop, commercial-free coverage at 7 p.m. ET. Tune in online or download the C-Span Now app.

Other live streaming options

Election results coverage will also be available to new and existing DirecTV customers on its new Election HQ, which will live feeds from FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, and NewsMax, as well as predictions from the Associated Press.

Fubo and Sling fans can catch all of the major network's election live streams, as well. And Prime Video customers can tune into their own private show, Election Night Live with Brian Williams, starting at 5 p.m. ET.

Save 50% on Amazon Fire Kids' tablets and start checking off the holiday shopping list

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 10:29

SAVE 50%: The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids and Fire HD 8 Kidfs Pro tablets are just $69.99 at Amazon, down from the normal price of $139.99. That's a savings of $70.

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

We're just a few weeks away from the beginning of holiday travel season. If you're coming up with ways to keep the kids happy while en route to the grandparents, Amazon is here to save the day (or car ride or plane journey.)

As of Nov. 5, both the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids and the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro tablets are just $69.99 at Amazon, down from the typical price of $139.99. That's an impressive 50% discount or a savings of $70.

Both of these Amazon Fire tablets designed for kids are great for keeping minds busy during holiday travel or during school breaks. The Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids is designed for kids between the ages of 3 and 7, and the Amazon Fire HD 8 Pro is meant for older kids that are between the ages of 6 and 12.

Both tablets come with an 8-inch HD screen and 32GB of storage space for plenty of downloaded shows, games, and books. Amazon mentions both models get about 13 hours of battery life with each charge, so you should be good to go for any holiday journey.

Parents get ultimate access to the tablets, with the ability to review activity on the tablet, approve or deny purchases, and manage download requests.

Since a few tablet tumbles are bound to happen, Amazon includes a protective kid-friendly case. Both tablets also come with Amazon's worry free warranty which covers the tablet for two years should it break or get damaged. Within those two years, Amazon will replace the tablet at no charge.

If you'll be heading off on holiday travel soon or you're shopping for a curious kiddo, an Amazon Fire tablet could be the perfect gift. They're not only a great way for kids to watch their favorite shows while traveling, they can be a terrific learning device. Snag either the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids or the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro for 50% off today at Amazon and beat the holiday shopping rush.

How FTC Chair Lina Khan Became an Election Hot Topic

NYT Technology - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 10:10
The Federal Trade Commission chair drew increasing political vitriol as the presidential vote neared. Her political future hangs in the balance.

'Scram!' just made it to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 10:07

It's almost the end of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour (almost 150 shows later), and dancer Kameron Saunders is still stealing the show every night. This week in Indianapolis, he delighted fans with a sublime TikTok shout out.

That's right friends, "Scram!" made the Eras Tour, the TikTok-viral delight made by comedian, actor, and writer Kel Cripe (@reallygoodimpressions).

SEE ALSO: The 'hear me out' cake TikTok trend, explained

During the live version of Swift's GFY anthem "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together," Saunders has carved a fan-favourite moment in the Eras Tour. In particular, it's the part of the song when Swift does her spoken monologue — "Ugh, so he calls me up and he's like, "I still love you" / And I'm like, "I just, I mean, this is exhausting, you know / Like, we are never getting back together, like, ever."

Every night of the Eras Tour, Swift hands the mic over to Saunders for the final "like, ever," which he delivered to script for the U.S. dates. But for the international shows, Saunders has shaken up the line each show, and it's become one of the most anticipated moments for fans.

So this week, at a show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Saunders used the line to scream one very online word: "Scram!"

TikTok fiends will immediately recognise Saunders' reference, Los Angeles based-comedian Kel Cripe's viral post in which they send "a message to all the guys tryin' to talk to my girl" wearing an outstanding wolf tee and holding raised fist, ready to deliver a freshly made knuckle sandwich.

At the time of writing, the video has 9.3 million views on TikTok. And it rules so hard.

"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. Honestly, it's the perfect accompaniment to Swift's song about telling someone to absolutely piss off — or else.

Cripe indeed saw the Eras Tour moment and crafted a lip-synched post to celebrate the occasion.

"scram is also my ringtone. I'm never changing it," commented @mrs.jessi.g.

"This is like, bigger than going viral?! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!" wrote @essmeow.

"My fiance and I can’t stop saying scram to our kids and animals 😂😂😂" wrote mandynvr04.

If their official "Scram" tee wasn't already sold out, it'd be near impossible now.

John Oliver reacts to a 2015 clip of himself saying he doesn't 'give a s**t' about Trump

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 09:01
John Oliver appeared on "The Late Show" and reacted to a 2015 clip of himself talking about Donald Trump.

F1 racer takes life-size Lego car for a spin

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 08:53
Lando Norris took a life-size LEGO-made McLaren P1 for a spin. Watch.

How to watch Swiatek vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals online for free

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 08:00

TL;DR: Live stream Swiatek vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The WTA Tour is reaching a dramatic conclusion in Riyadh. The best singles and doubles players in the world are battling it out in a round-robin tournament, followed by knockout games to decide the winner. And you can watch the biggest games from this end-of-season showdown without spending anything.

If you want to watch Swiatek vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Swiatek vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free

Fans can live stream the 2024 WTA Finals for free on TVNZ+ in New Zealand.

If you're abroad for this tournament, you might need to use a VPN to unblock TVNZ+. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other countries, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2024 WTA Finals by following these simple steps:

  1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

  2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

  3. Open up the app and connect to a server in New Zealand

  4. Visit TVNZ+

  5. Watch Swiatek vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer incentive deals such as free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. You can leverage these offers to access free live streams of Swiatek vs. Gauff without actually spending anything. This isn't a long-term solution, but it gives you enough time to watch every WTA Finals match before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the WTA Finals?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the WTA Finals for free, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries including New Zealand

  • Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

  • Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

  • Fast connection speeds

  • Up to eight simultaneous connections

  • 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Swiatek vs. Gauff in the 2024 WTA Finals for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Upgrade your PC setup with this BOGO deal on LG monitors at Best Buy

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 07:49

BOGO LG MONITORS: As of Nov. 5, Best Buy has a BOGO offer on select LG monitors. If you buy one select 24-inch or 27-inch LG monitor, you'll get a second for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG BOGO on LG Monitors at Best Buy Get Deal

Having a dual monitor setup can be incredibly helpful. Whether you use them for gaming or work, it's always nice to have the extra screen space so you aren't squishing everything into one display. However, investing in two monitors can set you back a big chunk of cash. Thankfully, Best Buy has come around with a nice little early Black Friday BOGO deal on select LG monitors that'll help you double your display for less.

Right now, you can buy one select 24-inch or 27-inch LG monitor at the retailer and get a second for free. With this offer, you'll get two of the chosen monitor sizes for just their solo price, which is an incredible offer and a nice way to start upgrading your PC setup for cheaper.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy is offering a "buy one, get one free" promotion on Samsung TVs

These LG monitors have some nice specs as well that make them worthy pickups. If you've been looking for a solid FHD display that can tackle both work and play for you, these have just what you need, complete with 1920x1080 resolution, 100Hz refresh rate, and 5ms response time. They also feature AMD FreeSync for a smoother gaming experience.

This is a nice little holiday deal ahead of the Black Friday sale event. Make sure to take advantage of this BOGO deal on LG monitors at Best Buy before it's gone.

And speaking of Black Friday, Best Buy isn't the only location dropping a few seasonal sales early in the month. Target and Walmart are also celebrating the sales event with their own early offers that are worth checking out. If you're hoping to find even more monitor deals, now's an excellent time to be keeping an eye out for them.

Apple's 'Atlas': What is it and what does it mean for Vision Pro?

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 07:19

Just a few days ago, we heard rumors that Apple is cautiously looking into launching its own version of smart glasses sometime in the (distant) future.

Now, it appears that the company is getting a bit more serious about the product.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has launched a new initiative, codenamed "Atlas," with the aim to see where the competition, as well as Apple's own employees, stand on the topic of smart glasses.

SEE ALSO: Apple Intelligence gets ChatGPT Plus upgrade with iOS 18.2 beta: 3 features the paid version gets you

It's unclear whether the company has started building a product yet. For now, the Atlas initiative reportedly consists of "gathering feedback from Apple employees," with additional focus groups planned for the future. Bloomberg's report claims the actual product could be "years away."

This is fairly typical for Apple, which often tests the waters of a new product category with internal focus groups, to get a better understanding of how they use existing products. Keeping it all in-house allows Apple to officially stay silent about the products it plans to develop.

The report has no other details on what Apple's smart glasses might look like, other than the (hypothetical) assumption that the company might combine a simpler form of smart glasses — à la Meta's Ray Bans — with AirPods-like audio capabilities.

Featured Video For You iOS 18: 8 cool new features you can try right now, including Apple Intelligence

But it's probable that Apple will be taking a good, long look at Orion, Meta's recently unveiled smart glasses which look almost like regular glasses, while allowing the wearer to see and interact with virtual objects overlaid on the real world. Snap also recently introduced a new version of its augmented reality glasses Spectacles, but don't expect to see either model on the market for at least a few more years.

Apple, of course, is not without experience when it comes to mixed reality. Its own Vision Pro has been lauded as the best you can buy, though the high price and lack of truly compelling use cases has kept the user base small. Rumors swirl about the follow-up to the Vision Pro; right now, it appears that we'll get an upgraded version next year, while the rumored cheaper variant has been internally delayed.

Tweet may have been deleted

Despite the Atlas initiative, there's no indication that Apple's smart glasses will hit the market any time soon, so it's likely that the Vision Pro — or perhaps an upgraded version with a new chip — will remain the company's only headset for the next couple of years.

Stephen Colbert and Tim Walz gleefully watch a YouTube restoration video together

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 06:42
Stephen Colbert sat down for an interview with Tim Walz, which included watching a restoration video on YouTube and playing a game of paper football.

Bitcoin and Crypto, Promoted by Trump, Brace for Election Volatility

NYT Technology - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 06:34
Many crypto investors hope that a victory for Donald Trump could propel the price of Bitcoin to new heights, though a loss could cause a fall.

Prime Video launches AI-generated recaps for TV shows

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 06:27

Amazon's Prime Video has a new AI-generated tool that will recap TV shows for you — and it's supposed to be "spoiler-free".

Announced on Monday, the streaming service's "X-Ray Recaps" use Amazon's generative AI platform Bedrock to get you up to speed with shows, whether it's a whole season, an episode, or even parts of one episode. The company says these summaries will bring up key plot moments, twists, and cliffhangers somehow without spoilers, and are "personalized down to the exact minute of where you are watching."

Say, if you wanted to catch up on what's happened in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power or The Wheel of Time (because a lot happens in both), you could just pull up the Recap and select specific episodes, the previous season, or the latest season so far. Or, we've got you covered.

SEE ALSO: The 22 best shows on Amazon Prime streaming free right now

The Recaps, now out in beta, are an extension of Prime Video's existing "X-Ray" feature, which pulls up information about the show or film you're watching when you pause it, like cast details, production facts, songs, and statistics (if you're watching sports). You'll find the new Recaps within the X-Ray feature, or when you select "Details" on a Prime Video title.

Featured Video For You The 'Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' cast debates whether Sauron is "brat"

Recaps are powered by Amazon's generative AI platform Bedrock, which runs on both Amazon Web Services (AWS) and custom AI models trained on cloud-based machine-learning platform Amazon SageMaker.

According to Amazon, "X-Ray Recaps analyzes various video segments, combined with subtitles or dialogue, to generate detailed descriptions of key events, places, times, and conversations. Guardrails are also applied to ensure the generation of spoiler-free and concise summaries."

While this tool is undeniably handy, remember while you're watching your latest show to visit your own not AI-generated human pals in online journalism for critical analysis, deep dives, interviews, and reviews. Pretty please.

Best Buy is offering a "buy one, get one free" promotion on Samsung TVs

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 06:19

BOGO SAMSUNG TVS: As of Nov. 5, Best Buy is offering a BOGO deal on select Samsung TVs. If you buy a select Samsung 85-inch or 98-inch class TV, you'll get a 40-inch TV for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung BOGO on Samsung TVs at Best Buy Get Deal

As we inch closer to Black Friday, numerous retailers are starting to drop some early holiday deals for consumers to check out. Best Buy is one such location getting into the holiday spirit with a few Buy One, Get One offers that are definitely worth checking out ahead of the big shopping event. In particular, they have a great deal right now on Samsung TVs.

If you've been looking to upgrade the screens in your home, this BOGO deal can get you setup with two TVs at once. Best Buy's currently giving away a free 40-inch Samsung class TV with purchase of a select 85-inch or 98-inch Samsung class TV. Their selection of bigger TVs include the 85-inch DU7200 Crystal UHD 4K Smart TV, the 98-inch DU9000 Crystal UHD Smart TV, and the 85-inch DU8000 Crystal UHD Smart TV, while the 40-inch you'll get for free is Samsung's Class 5 Series LED Full HD Smart TV.

SEE ALSO: NordVPN just dropped its bumper Black Friday deal

Normally the 40-inch costs $249.99, so you'll get to pocket quite a bit with this offer. Some of the bigger TVs are also on sale, like the massive 98-inch model. That one is currently marked down $1,000, which is a huge discount on top of an already great BOGO deal. The 40-inch is an excellent size for a smaller space as well, or could even double as a computer monitor, if you want.

BOGO deals like this don't pop up very often. If you've been hoping to upgrade your TV setup, there's no better time than now to take advantage of this BOGO offer at Best Buy.

As stated earlier, Black Friday is coming up soon, meaning plenty more TV discounts will be on the way. Alongside Best Buy, Target and Walmart are also starting up the season of savings a bit early in the lead-up to Black Friday. It's worth having a look at them to see what's available before everything officially kicks off.

Meta's ban on new election ads is no longer ending on election day

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 06:09

Meta's ban on new election ads will be extended for a few more days.

The tech company, which owns Facebook and Instagram, will continue to block political adverts until a few days after the polls have closed, per a report from Axios.

SEE ALSO: Here's how OpenAI plans to address election misinformation on ChatGPT and Dall-E

Meta's policy, which has been in place since 2020, means that "new social issue, electoral, and political ads" are blocked during the final week of the U.S. general election. The decision to extend this block, according to Axios, will take into account the post-election period when votes may still be being counted.

"While new ads will not be able to run during this restriction period, ads that have served at least one impression prior to the restriction period will be allowed to continue running with limited editing capabilities," reads a Facebook developer blog post. "The rationale behind this restriction period remains the same as previous years — in the final days of an election, we recognize there may not be enough time to contest new claims made in ads."

These are Meta's provided dates and times for ad restriction:

Between Tuesday, October 29, 2024 and Tuesday, November 5, 2024: The ad restriction period will be in effect. We will not allow any new ads to run about social issues, elections or politics in the US starting 12:01 AM PT on Tuesday, October 29th, 2024 through 11:59 PM PT on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.

At 12:00 AM PT on Wednesday, November 6, 2024: We will allow new ads about social issues, elections or politics to be published. At this time, you will also be able to start making edits to your ads again.

Misinformation is clearly a hot topic over at Meta right now. Two weeks ago the tech giant's oversight board — which consists of policymakers, academics, and journalists — said it had "serious concerns" about Meta's political content moderation, following a decision by the platform to remove (and later restore) a post comparing Democratic candidates Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the main characters from Dumb and Dumber.

Beyond Meta, election misinformation continues to be an issue. The FBI recently issued a warning about election disinformation videos, and over on X (formerly Twitter) Community Notes is failing to flag election misinformation.

Netflix is pulling interactive titles from its platform

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 05:51

Netflix's interactive titles were all the rage a few years ago, but the company is set to remove most of them from its platform.

First reported by The Verge, Netflix's "Interactive Specials" will be cut by the company down to four titles: Black Mirror's groundbreaking 2018 choose-your-own-adventure film Bandersnatch, the Daniel Radcliffe-starring special of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Kimmy vs. the Reverend, and two Bear Grylls titles, Ranveer vs. Wild and You vs. Wild. All of these titles, which offer multiple endings determined by plot choices made by the viewer, will remain on the platform.

SEE ALSO: How to get all the endings in Netflix's 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. The Reverend'

But it's curtains for the rest of the catalogue after Dec. 1. That means the rest of Grylls' titles, Headspace's Unwind Your Mind (the show Headspace Guide To Meditation is staying), interactive quiz game Triviaverse, and a lot of kids' franchise titles like Carmen Sandiego: To Steal or Not to Steal, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure, Captain Underpants Epic Choice-o-Rama, Spirit Riding Free: Ride Along Adventure, Johnny Test's Ultimate Meatloaf Quest, and more will be unavailable to play.

Netflix's Interactive Specials page will look less stacked Credit: Netflix / Mashable screenshot

Notably, the first ever interactive game Netflix launched seven years ago in 2017, Puss in Book: Trapped in an Epic Tale, will also be removed. At the time, Netflix's press release for the title read:

We’ve done extensive research and talked to lots of kids and parents, collecting qualitative data to better understand if this is something viewers will like. While we’ve gotten positive feedback (for example, parents like the fact their child has the ability to make decisions and take a seat in the director’s chair, if you will), we're eager to learn how our members will engage with the experience.

Netflix spokesperson Chrissy Kelleher told The Verge, "The technology served its purpose, but is now limiting as we focus on technological efforts in other areas."

Score a 65-inch Hisense CanvasTV at its lowest-ever price

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 05:20

SAVE $300: As of Nov. 5, the 65-inch Hisense QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV is marked down to $999.99, $300 off its $1,299.99 list price. That's a 23% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-Inch Class QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300.00 Get Deal

4K TVs come in many different styles and sizes. For those looking to have something that blends in a bit more with a living space, you may have gravitated towards the options that double as frames for art pieces, like The Frame TVs from Samsung. However, those screens can come with quite a hefty price tag. If you want a slightly cheaper alternative that delivers a lot of the same features, the Hisense CanvasTV is here to help.

It's even better when TVs like this are on sale, and Amazon is here to assist. Right now, you can get Hisense's 65-Inch QLED 4K S7N CanvasTV for $999.99, $300 off its list price of $1,299.99. On top of that, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, this is also its lowest-ever price. So if you've had your eye on getting an artsy TV for your home, now's your chance to scoop one up.

SEE ALSO: Save $170 on this stunning gaming-friendly LG TV

Alongside a sleek design with a frame that can blend in as just another piece hung up on your wall, this TV also features 4K QLED for rich, vibrant colors and an anti-glare panel with a hi-matte display that showcases the art pieces without any pesky reflections getting in the way. And the art is where it truly shines. You can show off your favorite pieces or photos when not using it for watching shows, films, or playing games.

It's an excellent two-in-one TV and worth jumping on at this all-time low price. Don't miss out on this deal at Amazon.

And if you're hoping to find even more deals on TVs, you're in luck with Black Friday on the way. The sale event normally boasts discounts on a wide variety of TVs, so there will be plenty of options to pick through. Some retailers are already getting in on the seasonal sale action — like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy — so you can have an early look at what deals they've got up their sleeve.

The Hisense 65-inch Class U8 TV is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon

Mashable - Tue, 11/05/2024 - 05:06

SAVE $600: As of Nov. 5, the Hisense 65-inch Class U8 TV is on sale at Amazon for $899.99. That's a saving of 40% on list price, and its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 65-inch Class U8 TV $899.99 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $600.00 Get Deal

There couldn't be a better time to upgrade your TV than right now. As nights draw in and Christmas movie rewatches approach, check out this great deal on the Hisense 65-inch Class U8 TV.

As of Nov. 5, not only is this fantastic TV reduced to $899.99 (saving you $600) but it's the lowest it has ever been priced at Amazon, a real score. This particular deal is specific to the 65-inch model, but you can find discounts on the 55-inch, 75-inch, and 85-inch options.

SEE ALSO: Save $170 on this stunning gaming-friendly LG TV

This TV benefits from a Google operating system so you can organize movies, shows, live TV, and more from your apps and subscriptions, giving you personalized recommendations based on what you enjoy. It also benefits from 2.1.2 multi-channel sound with Dolby Atmos, surrounding you with a rich, deep, and immersive sound. And the five-speaker setup means don't need to invest in any additional sound systems.

The picture quality is top-notch too, combining Mini-LED Pro+ and QLED technology to deliver sharp, vibrant images with deep contrast and over a billion colors. Perfect for movies and gaming alike.

And as a bonus, with the purchase of this TV you'll also get NBA 2K25 for free.

This is a limited-time deal at Amazon, so don't miss out.

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