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Elon Musk Helped Elect Trump. What Does He Expect in Return?

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 16:57
The world’s richest man gave his money and time in campaigning for the president-elect and now is putting in his requests for a friendlier regulatory environment.

Best Buy is already going hard with QLED TV deals ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 14:45
A quick look at the best early Black Friday TV deals Best 55-inch deal Hisense 55-inch QD5 QLED TV $249.99 at Best Buy (save $150) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV deal TCL 65-inch QM7 QLED 4K TV $699.99 at Amazon (save $400) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV deal LG 75-inch 85 Series QNED TV $999.99 at Best Buy (save $500) Get Deal

As one of the OG items being stampeded after in those old Black Friday clips you're picturing right now, we've known for most of our adult lives that Black Friday is one of the best times of year to buy a TV.

The types of TVs spotlighted in the pre-holiday sale have shifted, however. The biggest factor when upgrading your TV this year will probably be the normalization — and subsequently, affordability — of QLED. Over the past few years, QLED TVs have officially gone from "the TV that only the fanciest people you know have" to quite accessible for the average household. Finding a 55-inch QLED under $300 or a 65-inch QLED under $500 during an event like Black Friday isn't hard at all.

Are TV deals better at Amazon or Best Buy?

At any rate, the types of TV deals you can find might depend on which retailer you're looking at. In our experience, Best Buy focuses on large screens and has a bigger selection of premium QLED and OLED models from Samsung, Sony, and LG on sale. Amazon gears its TV discounts more toward 43-inch to 65-inch Fire TVs, especially its in-house models. Walmart is known for doorbusters on one or two models that'll make your jaw drop, but are likely to sell out quickly.

SEE ALSO: We track Apple deals year-round — here are the best ones leading up to Black Friday

If you'd rather have your new TV for the entire month of November, you're in luck — a ton of TVs are on sale weeks ahead of Black Friday. We're already seeing a ton of prices within $20 or $30 of October Prime Day prices, with a select few models matching or beating their Prime Day price. This list will be refreshed regularly as we inch closer toward Black Friday week, so remember to check back.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 55-inch QD5 QLED 4K Google TV $249.99
$399.99 Save $150.00 Get Deal Why we like it

Remember when we said QLEDs are becoming way more accessible for the average household? At $249.99, this 55-inch QLED is hovering around the same price point that many regular LED TVs were a few years ago — back then, $250 was a great price for a mid-sized TV even if it wasn't 4K. Now, we can see this 55-inch Hisense QLED being baby's first adult TV purchase for a ton of people.

The difference between those two cheap TVs is that the "Q" in QLED stands for quantum dots, which form a layer of extra light over the traditional LED panel to pump more saturated colors through the screen. QLED TVs are also significantly brighter than regular LED TVs, making them ideal for watching sports, especially in the daytime.

More TVs on sale ahead of Black FridayTV deals at Amazon

43-inch TVs

50- to 55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

TV deals at Best Buy

43-inch TVs

55-inch TVs

65-inch TVs

75-inch TVs and up

'Mario & Luigi: Brothership' review: Good combat and great visuals aren't enough

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 14:30

If you just watched someone play Mario & Luigi: Brothership for an hour or so, you might come away thinking it’s one of the best Switch games and/or RPGs of the year. Unfortunately, the game is much longer than an hour.

Brothership, the latest in the long-running brotherly RPG series starring Nintendo’s mascot and his idiot brother, has most of the component parts you need for an enjoyable adventure. The turn-based combat is as fun as ever, especially when paired with some of the most charming visuals ever in a 3D Mario game. It’s got a pretty solid set of build-crafting mechanics for a game aimed at a younger audience, too. 

Combined with an endearing nautical setting, Brothership should be great — or at least really good. Unfortunately, it settles for something around “fine,” which still falls short of carrying it the distance.

SEE ALSO: 'The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom' review: Princess Zelda shines in her protagonist debut Brotherhip says bon voyage to the Mushroom Kingdom, for better or worse

The latest Mario & Luigi adventure (which does not involve original series development studio AlphaDream, which closed in 2019) has a propulsive enough premise to keep the player going, at least for a while.

Could really use some sea shanties. Credit: Nintendo

There’s not much to it: Everyone gets whisked away from the Mushroom Kingdom to a new place called Concordia. At some point in the recent past, Concordia was a big continent united by the power of the Uni-tree. Of course, some bad things happened and now Concordia is a series of disconnected, drifting islands in a giant ocean. Mario and Luigi must journey across Concordia, reconnecting each island to the Uni-tree to restore harmony.

Mario’s various role-playing adventures have generally favored charm and humor over serious, grandiose storytelling à la Final Fantasy — and Brothership is no different. The bulk of the game is spent going from one island to another, spending anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes solving whatever their quirky local problem happens to be, and reconnecting it to the big tree. Most of the islands have pun names, as do many of the characters and enemies you’ll fight. It’s goofy and often clever.

Unfortunately, that’s kind of where the charm ends, at least in the writing. Brothership isn’t anywhere near as witty and outright funny as previous series entries like Bowser’s Inside Story were. It tries, and is never aggressively unfunny or anything like that, but it’s just kind of … there. Much of the dialogue failed to elicit any kind of response in me. 

To its credit, Brothership does try to tell a somewhat socially relevant story about the power of connection. Electricity is the aesthetic theme of the day here, with most of the NPCs either looking like living ports or connectors with legs. Everything you do is in the service of bringing a divided people back together, whether in the micro on each island, or in the macro across the entire adventure. 

Unfortunately, it doesn’t dig too deep beyond the surface on any of that, and often feels like window dressing to justify having a bunch of enemies and NPCs who look like HDMI connectors. Nearly every friendly NPC in Concordia has a power outlet for a face, which is fun in theory, but in practice, it makes most of them look like interchangeable Funko Pops. They lack personality, broadly speaking.

Compared to the colorful cast of the recent Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door remake, it’s no contest.

That Mario & Luigi combat can still sing

Thankfully, Brothership is still a pretty good RPG at its core. The part where you fight enemies is fun, and that was almost enough for me. Almost.

The hammer attacks are super satisfying. Credit: Nintendo

Battles remain turn-based, as they always have been, and the basic premise of the older games still holds true here. Every attack involves both Mario and Luigi, so when they attack, they attack together. Every attack, from regular jump attacks to the more flashy Bros. Moves, requires timed button presses of some kind, and the same goes for dodging, defending, and countering enemy attacks.

This structure allows for two fundamental truths that keep the combat in Brothership engaging for most of its runtime. Watching Mario and Luigi do stuff together is really charming, and putting quick-time events in turn-based battles makes the proceedings feel just a bit more exciting. Stats don’t dictate whether an attack lands, you do. 

All of these mechanics have been staples of previous Mario & Luigi games, so there’s nothing particularly novel here — even if they work well. Plugs do a lot to alleviate that problem. Eventually, a few hours too many into the game, you unlock the ability to craft and set plugs into a gradually expanding set of personal power outlets. Each plug has a different unique combat effect; one of them adds fire to every attack, while another automatically does quick-time events for you. 

Each plug has a limited number of charges, and once those are depleted, it needs time to recharge. Once you’re deep enough into Brothership, this becomes pretty exciting. Hot-swapping plugs in and out during fights (blessedly, this doesn’t cost a turn) to fit each situation is tactically compelling. You have to consider which plugs you want to be active at the same time because there are hidden combos with bonus effects, too. 

This plug makes it so attacks hit multiple enemies. Credit: Nintendo

Juggling plugs wound up being the most fun part of Brothership for me, but it takes entirely too long (think 15 hours or so) to get to the point where you have an adequate number of both outlets and plugs to make this system work as intended. 

Boss fights are also a highlight, though they also put a spotlight on one of Brothership’s shortcomings: There just aren’t enough of them. So many islands end with Mario and Luigi anticlimactically winning the day without any kind of dramatic confrontation at the end. 

The really big, set-piece story boss fights are great, but I’d estimate there’s a single-digit number of those. What makes them cool is that they use “Luigi Logic,” a new mechanic that mostly manifests as ordering Luigi to smash boxes or hit switches outside of combat. In boss fights, though, Luigi Logic always opens up a unique, bespoke mechanic that can turn the fight on its head. 

Here’s the problem: There’s not enough tactical depth to these. Picking the Luigi Logic action is always the right move when it’s available — and doing it right will always stun the boss, opening it up for huge damage. There’s no real consideration to be made about holding it for a big moment or anything like that. And again, this is something that happens far too infrequently in Brothership.

Still, once it starts hitting the right notes, the combat in Brothership does indeed become the best thing about the game. It’s just not without its flaws.

But this adventure asks too much of the combat The platforming here is pleasant, if not especially demanding. Credit: Nintendo

It’s problematic, then, that most of the stuff outside the combat ain’t great. 

When you’re not fighting enemies, you’re most likely running around a series of relatively small islands that each have their own little stories to tell. Sometimes, you’re helping a star dancer find the right hair wax to keep his groove going, and other times, you’re helping a tribe of ice people become friends with a tribe of fire people. 

But in practice, this usually means running to the next objective indicator while fighting enemies and solving relatively simple puzzles along the way. I do dig that Brothership plays more like a simple puzzle-platformer outside of combat than a traditional RPG. Generally speaking, the flow of fighting and puzzle solving is inoffensive, and at times, it’s actively pretty interesting.

The real downfall lies in the side quests. There are a decent number of these peppered throughout the game, and aside from "Very Important" ones that the game marks with red text, almost none of them are really worth doing. They almost all involve going back to some island you’ve already cleared out, talking to one or two people, maybe fighting an enemy, and then getting healing items as a reward.

If you really like Concordia’s characters, maybe that’s enough for you. Over time, though, it becomes tedious, especially in the instances when you have to manually sail somewhere. Sailing is not mechanically dense in Brothership whatsoever, as it mostly involves opening a map and clicking on where you’d like to go. The ship navigates itself very slowly by default, or very quickly if you optionally turn on fast sailing.

The idea, as explicitly stated by the game, is for you to set a destination and then go do other stuff for a while as your boat slowly makes its way over there. This would be fine if the side quests were interesting, but by and large, they are not. On a practical level, you’ll spend a lot of time turning on fast sailing and just staring at the map until your ship gets to its destination.

Wind Waker, this is not.

Last and certainly not least, with regards to gameplay, Brothership is just too long. The runtime can exceed 30 hours and probably a decent amount more if you feel like doing everything, but it runs out of tricks around hour 20. 

Brothership is one of the best-looking Mario games

This Mario & Luigi game might lack charm in its characters and writing, but the visuals almost make up for that.

Those are my little guys right there. Credit: Nintendo

Simply put, these are the most charming 3D renditions of Mario and Luigi I can remember. Most of Brothership’s world is lovingly rendered in the style of the old Game Boy Advance Mario & Luigi box/instruction manual art, with flat, solid colors and black outlines around everything. It looks like a polygonal cartoon, and both Mario and Luigi move around the world in exceedingly charming ways. Their proportions bend and stretch during battle animations, and these are by far the most expressive faces the two brothers have ever had. 

One caveat, though: Performance isn’t great. The Switch is showing its age because this game occasionally chugs below its 30 frames per second target, even at times when there’s not much going on. Combat is mostly safe from this, at least. 

The audio presentation is solid, too, if not quite as spectacular. Most of the music is brassy and jaunty, as one would expect from a modern Mario game. Very little (if any) of it will stick around in my brain for long, but that’s fine. I also enjoy that Mario and Luigi speak to people in fake Italian-sounding gibberish, which I’m pretty sure would get Nintendo canceled if it were done with almost any other language on Earth.

Is Mario & Luigi: Brothership worth getting?

I suspect where a given individual lands on Brothership will have a lot to do with how they feel about previous Mario & Luigi games.

If you’ve never played one, this could be a good starting point. Brothership’s brotherly combat is a real highlight, something that’s consistent across the whole series. Good combat and great visuals will likely be enough to hold your interest. I feel that it overstays its welcome, but you might not.

But anyone with any reverence for previous entries like Superstar Saga and Bowser’s Inside Story may feel like this is a case of too little, too late from Nintendo. Brothership is the first new game in this series in nearly a decade, and in some respects, it’s one of the worst. That doesn’t make it a bad game, but it’s merely OK, and by the standards of its predecessors, that’s not good enough.

Mario & Luigi: Brothership launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch on Nov. 7.

The best Apple Watch deals ahead of Black Friday: New models are already on sale

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 13:58
The best Apple Watch deals ahead of Black Friday Best Series 10 deal Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $354.28 at Amazon (Save $44.72) Get Deal Best Series 9 deal Apple Watch Series 9 (45mm, GPS) $329 at Amazon (Save $100) Get Deal Best Ultra deal Apple Watch Ultra 2 (49mm, GPS + cellular) $721.89 at Amazon (Save $77.11) Get Deal

Black Friday season is officially upon us, meaning if you want to avoid the chaos of the actual sale, shopping early deals is the way to go.

Apple Watches have a decent showing of deals so far, with a near $45 markdown on the brand new Series 10 and $100 off the Series 9. We don't anticipate the latter watch to stay in stock past the shopping holiday for long, if at all, so grabbing it early is a great way to make sure you get your hands on one.

SEE ALSO: Best Buy is treating most of November like Black Friday

Below, you'll find all the best Apple Watch deals live in the weeks leading up to Black Friday.

Best Apple Watch deal ahead of Black Friday Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (42mm, GPS) $354.28 at Amazon
$399.00 Save $44.72 Get Deal Why we like it

Read more from Mashable about the Apple Watch Series 10.

Just two months after its release, the Series 10 is down to a record-low price. We've seen fall Apple Watch releases get marked down $50 closer to Black Friday in years past, but this is a solid early deal if you want to avoid the chaos of the actual day. The Series 10 upgrades include a larger display, a slightly thinner watch, and an inbuilt speaker for playing audio directly from your watch. At the time of writing, this price is only available on the rose gold aluminum watch with a plum band.

More Apple Watch deals

Series 10

Series 9

SE

Ultra

An influencer was disqualified from the NYC Marathon for bringing a filming crew onto the course

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 13:48

Influencers run marathons. Or maybe marathon runners become influencers? It's a chicken and the egg kind of question, but it's a scenario that has been a constant since the dawn of running culture online — especially on TikTok — and one that has only picked up since the pandemic.

This is normally not a problem — in fact it's a benefit. Marathons have gotten more popular, in part, because of influencers, which most people see as an overall positive addition to the sport. But something hit the fan over the weekend when one influencer was disqualified from the New York City Marathon after running the course with what was basically a team of folks filming him.

"After a review and due to violations of World Athletics rules, and New York Road Runners' Code of Conduct and Rules of Competition, NYRR has disqualified Matt Choi from the 2024 TCS New York City Marathon and removed him from the results," the New York Road Runners, which organizes the marathon, said in a statement, according to Runner's World. "He has been banned from any future NYRR races."

Choi is a Texas-based influencer who finished the marathon in under three hours — 2:57:15, to be exact. It's a pretty killer time, but not one that will be reflected in official results because the 29-year-old "ran with the assistance of two unauthorized people riding the course on electric bicycles, obstructing runners," the statement said, Runner's World reported.

There has been mixed reactions from social media. In one video with nearly half a million views, TikTok creator Michael Brandt said Choi "inspires a lot of people to go sign up for their first marathon or their next marathon."

"It's fundamentally driving a lot of attention to ... a sport that can be boring," Brandt said in the video. "He's making it really electric and exciting."

But, on the other hand, Brandt admits, "a lot of people try to get tickets and can't get tickets. Space is very limited, and so to just add a couple of friends on bikes onto the course that you're not supposed to be on goes against the rules."

Choi, for his part, apologized on TikTok on Wednesday admitting he endangered people and got in the way of other participants.

"I have no excuses, full stop," he said. "I was selfish on Sunday."

Choi added that he would not appeal NYRR's decision to ban him.

"I made my bed, so I'm going to lay in it," he said.

Overall, the general consensus on TikTok and on Reddit within the running community is that people are not happy with Choi's choice to bring other people onto the course — even if he is trying to make a statement about the importance of the sport. After all, dozens of influencers ran the race this year, and they found ways to make their race inclusive of their fans without alienating people who were actually racing it, too.

PS5 Pro reviews: Top 3 complaints about the new console

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 13:24

Sony's PlayStation 5 is finally here and the reviews are in.

Sony’s refresh of the PlayStation 5 is garnering moderate applause across the tech world as reviewers dive into its features. Early impressions from The Verge, IGN, Tom’s Hardware, and others suggest the PS5 Pro has leveled up and is now the ultimate way to experience gaming on the console. All that said, the biggest standout so far has been PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR) — Sony’s new AI-powered upscaling tool.

SEE ALSO: 'Metaphor: ReFantazio' review in progress: The 'Final Fantasy XV' I've always wanted

Not only is the PS5 Pro a performance beast, but it’s also a feat of thoughtful redesign. It’s smaller, lighter, and operates more quietly than its predecessor, addressing a few of the more common critiques of the original PS5.

In The Verge’s review, Senior Editor Sean Hollister summed it up well: “In every title I tried — while sitting no more than eight feet away from a 65-inch TV — the PS5 Pro was clearly the better place to play.”

However, just because the graphical fidelity is more visually appealing doesn't mean it's an easy recommendation. Here's the bad:

1. The PS5 Pro is too expensive

It’s no shocker that the price tag has become a sticking point across reviews. At $700, the PS5 Pro isn’t an easy sell for the more casual gamer who might be content with the base PS5’s already impressive performance. For most players, the jump in visual fidelity may not feel quite worth the extra cash, especially when the base model continues to deliver a stellar experience at a far more accessible price.

As Rory Mellon from Tom’s Hardware put it, "It’s an extravagant purchase that doesn’t offer the same value for money that can be found in the base PS5, which remains an extremely capable console." Many echo this sentiment. While the PS5 Pro brings enhancements, it doesn’t fundamentally change the gaming experience enough to warrant a premium for those outside the enthusiast bracket.

2. There's no disc drive

On top of the high barrier to entry, the PS5 Pro doesn't come with a disc drive. "Considering its price, you’ll be disappointed to find that the PS5 Pro does not come with every possible bell and whistle," said Michael Higam in his IGN review.

However, Sony has tossed in some marginally good news. If you’re in the physical media camp, you can add a disc drive to the PS5 Pro. But brace yourself — that’ll run you an extra $80. The vertical stand is another separate purchase, too. It’s a curious move by Sony, considering that if there were a Venn diagram of hardcore console fans ready to drop $700 on the Pro, and those who still prize physical copies of games, it’d likely be one big circle.

For a company banking on its most devoted players, charging extra for essentials feels like a tone-deaf strategy.

3. Lack of games

Not to add to the annoying "but PS5 has no games" discourse, one of the minor complaints of the Pro is that, well, there aren't any games to sell you on buying the console.

Sony’s flagship first- and third-party titles have received quality patches to take advantage of the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities, but they’re just that — patches.

As Polygon's reviewer Cameron Faulkner notes in his review, the graphical improvements between the 50 Sony games that got patches are a "mixed bag."

The consensus among reviewers is that, with the next few years of the PS5's life cycle, games in 2025 and beyond will be able to take full advantage of the graphical and performance enhancement of the console. If they're able to do that, maybe the Pro won't be such a hard sell for its price tag.

How to take a mental health day after Election Day

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 13:18

With Election Day finally over, you might find yourself scrolling social media for hours on end — either elated that Donald Trump won, or devastated that he defeated Kamala Harris.

Either way, you might instead consider a hard-earned break from the 2024 election altogether.

Whether you call the act of signing off next Wednesday a mental health day, social media detox, or simply touching grass, there is nothing you can gain from election-related hypervigilance, says Dr. Richard E. Cytowic, author of Your Stone Age Brain in the Screen Age: Coping with Digital Distraction and Sensory Overload.

SEE ALSO: Jon Stewart shares a powerful post-election night message

"Whether you're obsessed about it or not, the vote count is going to be what it's going to be," Cytowic told Mashable prior to Election Day.

Still, many people have spent the past several weeks or months agitated and anxious about the election.

They're not just experiencing average stress, either. The American Psychological Association's recent poll of U.S. adults found nearly three-quarters of respondents worried that the election results could lead to violence, and more than half believe this election could be the end of democracy in America. With such incredibly high stakes in mind, it's no surprise that people have struggled with the uncertainty of knowing who will become president of the United States, and under what circumstances.

Yet, Cytowic says people also need an off-ramp from this anxiety, rather than letting it persist and fester. You may become fearful for other reasons now that the election results are clear, but at least you'll have a reprieve before new worries fully dominate your thoughts.

To help create this break, Cytowic, who is also a clinical professor of neurology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, recommends the following strategies:

Accept that you don't have control over what happens. If you voted, try considering that the end of your election season journey, because you did what was within your power to help determine the outcome, Cytowic says.

You may want to start or continue activism and organizing, but much of that work involves direct action, not impulsively checking social media. Plus, you'll need to come to that work rested and ready to engage; self-care is a political act and always has been.

There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved in politics in the coming months (remember: the Women's March didn't happen until the January after the November 2016 election).

Log off as much as possible. Cytowic says that people are overwhelmed because they're being bombarded by political advertising, social media content, and media coverage about the election, all of which can make them more anxious. Now that the election is over, you may be scrolling for election post-mortems, as well as guidance for how to cope with what the New York Times described on Wednesday as the "precipice of an authoritarian style of governance never before seen in [the United States'] 248-year history."

You can try pausing or silencing notifications, so your phone doesn't lure you back into a vicious cycle of checking for updates. If it's helpful, decide in advance to only check the news at certain times, such as after meals.

Tweet may have been deleted

Spend time with someone you care about. Social media and tech devices tend to pull us away from in-person interactions. But being with a friend or loved one with whom you enjoy spending time can be restorative, Cytowic says. So the days after the election could be a great time to grab coffee with a co-worker (you can choose to avoid politics), invite a friend to dinner, or speak to a family member (instead of texting them).

Do non-purposeful activities. Cytowic says that the human brain needs time to do nothing, because it's straining to be constantly stimulated. Bonus points if you're able to go outside to clear your mind.

The Dutch refer to such idling as Niksen, Cytowic says. The point is to shift your mental focus and use this time as an opportunity to reset the brain's proverbial circuit breakers. Cytowic particularly recommends looking at trees or the sky, or listening to birds. Even a quiet minute under a tree in a park can be beneficial.

Do a meditative activity. Quitting your device and social media for the day won't be easy if you don't plan alternative activities. Cytowic recommends hobbies that help you stay in the present moment or achieve a sense of flow. These can include meditation, cooking, playing cards, gardening, sports, and other engaging pursuits.

However you choose to give yourself a break after Election Day, just be sure to give yourself a meaningful opportunity to transition away from any stress or anxiety you've been living with for days, weeks, or months.

Cytowic says that if people can seize that chance, they'll be much happier than if they never stop their "relentless exposure" to screens, politics, and the turmoil they often create.

UPDATE: Nov. 6, 2024, 9:46 a.m. PST This story was written prior to Election Day. It was updated to reflect the election's results.

Uber and Lyft Drivers in Massachusetts Win Right to Unionize

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 13:06
A state ballot measure was the first of its kind in the United States, but labor advocates worry it could lock Uber and Lyft drivers out of full-time employment status.

MacBooks deals are scarce ahead of Black Friday, but there are a few worth checking out

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 12:25
Best early Black Friday MacBook deals Best MacBook Pro deal Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,599.99 at Best Buy (save $50) Get Deal Best MacBook Air deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749 at Amazon (save $250) Get Deal

Well folks, it's about that time. Black Friday 2024 is just around the corner, and the deals are already starting to trickle in, especially on big-ticket tech items.

If you're hoping to pick up a new laptop during the holiday sales, you're in luck, because Black Friday (and pre-Black Friday) is always a great time to snag some fantastic offers. MacBooks normally show up to the Black Friday party in a big way, and the discounts are already brewing (even the latest M4 MacBook Pro is on sale).

SEE ALSO: M4 Pro and M4 Max benchmarks just leaked — the new MacBook Pro should terrify Windows laptops

While they may be scarce at the moment, there are some worthwhile MacBook deals out in the wild as we speak. Here are the best ones we could find so far, but be sure to keep checking back, as we'll be updating this page as new deals go live.

Best MacBook Pro deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M4,16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) $1,549.00 at Best Buy
$1,599.00 Save $50.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The newest MacBook Pro is here, and it's already on sale. The M4-chip-equipped powerhouse is the fastest the MacBook has ever been, and you can save $50 on one at Best Buy ahead of Black Friday. You do have to be a My Best Buy Plus member, though — just log in to your account before you check out, and bask in the savings.

More early Black Friday MacBook Pro dealsBest MacBook Air deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00 Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to MacBooks, going back a few generations isn't a huge sacrifice, and it'll almost always save you a bunch of money. The M2 Air is still a fantastic laptop, and you can snag one for just $749 ahead of Black Friday. That's $250 off the original price and a pretty sweet deal if you need some new tech on short notice.

More early Black Friday MacBook Air deals

Pre-order 'Stray' for Nintendo Switch and experience your inner feline

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 12:14

PRE-ORDER NOW: As of Nov. 6, you can pre-order Stray for Nintendo Switch for $39.99 at Amazon and get 6 free art cards with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon 'Stray' for Nintendo Switch $39.99 at Amazon
Pre-Order Here

There are tons of great games out right now, whether you want to explore a fantasy world or hang out with your buddies and fish — and there's still more to come before the year ends. But there's another game you might have missed when it debuted a few years ago that's well worth getting into now that it's headed to Nintendo Switch: Stray. After racking up accolades and awards, it's making the leap from PS5, Xbox, PC, and Mac to the handheld Nintendo console later this month. If you love cats, you're not going to want to miss this one.

As of Nov. 6, you can pre-order Stray on Nintendo Switch at Amazon for $39.99. This price is for the physical edition of the game, which comes with six full-color art cards depicting Stray's feline protagonist.

SEE ALSO: Snag a Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma controller for $90 off, plus more gaming deals at Amazon

Stray puts you into the paws of a stray cat, as you may have surmised by the title. Said cat accidentally falls down into a strange cyber city, apparently the aftermath of an apocalyptic event, and must find a way to return to the surface. Of course, this kitty isn't alone. With the help of a drone named B-12 and an adorable kitty backpack, the cat can navigate the city by jumping from roof to roof, climbing, and other catlike moves.

There are plenty of puzzles to solve as well, most of which use items the cat can store in its backpack, all while staying out of reach of enemies known as Sentinels and Zurks. Oh, and there's bacteria and machines everywhere, too. What happened to this city? There's a gorgeous story that plays out throughout your feline adventure that makes Stray such an exciting and inspirational play. Oh, and cats — because that's all we really need to know to want to play.

Stray is out on Nintendo Switch on Nov. 19. Be sure to pre-order your copy with free art cards before then.

What a Trump Victory Means for Tech

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 12:08
Another Trump presidency will be good for crypto and Elon Musk, but every big tech company may not benefit from a more hands-off approach to antitrust.

Save 50% on Calm Premium and focus on serenity

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:59

SAVE 50%: An annual membership to Calm Premium is just $34.99, down from the typical price of $69.99. That's a savings of $35.

Opens in a new window Credit: Calm Calm Premium annual membership $34.99 at Calm
$69.99 Save $35.00 Get Deal

There's a lot going on in the world that feels overwhelming. On top of that, we're coming into the holiday season, which can be stressful for many of us. If you're looking for some serenity and chill vibes, check out this early Black Friday deal on mental health app Calm.

As of Nov. 6, an annual membership to Calm Premium is just $34.99 for new members, down from the list price of $69.99. That's 50% off, or a savings of $35.

SEE ALSO: Grab a great deal on the Apple AirPods 4 before Black Friday

The Calm app focuses on mental health, offering solutions for anyone who deals with stress, anxiety, or struggles to fall asleep at night. Calm offers two tiers of membership, with the Premium version offering unlimited access to the entire Calm library. Calm's catalog includes over 500 Sleep Stories that are designed to lull you into a calm and restorative sleep. You can also take advantage of hundreds of guided meditation practices or put some calming nature sounds on in the background.

The app also has specific music that caters to your needs and moods, including playlists to help with focus, relaxation, or sleep. For kids, Calm Premium has a collection of lullabies and sleep stories, which means this could make for a great holiday gift for parents.

Conveniently, the Calm app is available in many forms. You can download it on your iOS or Android smartphone, use the web service, or connect it to your Apple TV, Google Home, or Samsung Health, to name a handful.

If you're focusing on mental health and wellness, a Calm Premium subscription could be a great way to add in relaxation and meditation. New users can sign up for Calm Premium for just $34.99, which is 50% off the usual price. Before the hectic holiday season kicks off, add the Calm App to your toolbox of relaxation techniques.

Did Google accidentally leak its new AI tool that browses the internet for you?

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:53

Google accidentally leaked its AI agent that browses the internet.

According to The Information, an "internal preview" of the AI agent, internally dubbed Jarvis, was briefly made available to download as an extension in the Chrome web store on Tuesday. The outlet reported that the extension was described as "a helpful companion that surfs the web with you."

The prototype was downloadable, but it didn't work due to access permissions. Later in the day, the extension was removed from the web store.

SEE ALSO: Google Maps is using Gemini to help you make plans

The unintentional appearance of Jarvis on the Chrome web store confirms previous reports of what Google is working on.

The AI agent is expected to browse the web on behalf of users and perform tasks like buying products and booking flights. Google reportedly plans to publicly introduce Jarvis in December, alongside the latest version of its Gemini large language model.

Google isn't the only one developing AI agents. Last month, Anthropic introduced a new feature for its Claude LLM that can essentially take over your computer to read and write JavaScript code. OpenAI is reportedly working on AI agents, too.

In a recent Reddit AMA, OpenAI CPO Kevin Weil hinted that ChatGPT will have the ability to message users first and that performing tasks for users will be a "big theme in 2025."

The Crypto Industry’s Spending on the Election Pays Off

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:53
The spending spree fueled a string of victories on Tuesday for congressional candidates who had expressed support for cryptocurrencies.

Snag a Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma controller for $90 off, plus more gaming deals at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:45

SAVE UP TO 61%: As of Nov. 6, you can score up to 61% off gaming deals on controllers, headsets, a gaming mouse, and more from top brands like Logitech and Razer at Amazon.

Our top picks: Best overall Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma gaming controller $59 at Amazon (save $90.99) Get Deal Best headset deal Logitech G733 wireless gaming headset $106.99 at Amazon (save $43) Get Deal Best mouse deal Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse $87.99 at Amazon (save $62) Get Deal

Need a gift for the gamer in your life? Or maybe you're looking to upgrade your own gaming setup? Either way, Amazon has a ton of gaming gear on sale ahead of the Big Day (aka Black Friday). It's a great chance to save on a gaming mouse, keyboards, headsets, and more.

SEE ALSO: The best early gaming laptop deals you can snag ahead of Black Friday 2024

Here are our top picks as of Nov. 6:

Best gaming deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Razer Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma gaming controller $59.00 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $90.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma gaming controller is on sale for $59, which is $90.99 off and a crazy good deal. It’s also the lowest price we’ve seen on this controller, ever. It looks like it dropped on Halloween this year, so you might want to jump on this one before it disappears.

This controller, though wired, is pretty impressive. It has remappable buttons, interchangeable thumbsticks, mecha-tactile action buttons, and a D-pad with hyper-responsive technology for precise and accurate control.

It’s compatible with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC: RGB Lighting.

Best gaming headset deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G733 wireless gaming headset $106.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $43.00 Get Deal Why we like it

You can get the Logitech G733 wireless gaming headset for $106.99 at Amazon. That’s a 29% discount, or $43 off the usual price of $149.99.

With a 20-meter (or approximately 65.62 feet) wireless range, lightspeed audio transmission, and 29 hours of battery life, this little headset is more than worth $106.99 if you're looking for a premium gaming headset.

You can customize the RGB lighting and download the G HUB app to fine-tune the EQ and save profiles. The advanced mic filters also help reduce background noise and make your voice sound clearer during gameplay.

It’s compatible with PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch in Dock.

SEE ALSO: Prime members can score free PC games — here's November's lineup and how to get in on the action Best gaming mouse deal Opens in a new window Credit: Logitech Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse $87.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $62.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The Logitech G502 Lightspeed wireless gaming mouse with Hero25K sensor is only $87.99 at Amazon. That’s a 41% discount, or $62 off the usual price of $149.99.

This mouse features PowerPlay wireless charging, so you’ll never have to worry about battery life again. It also has 25,600 max DPI sensitivity, 11 customizable buttons, and RGB lighting.

Amazon deal of the day: The fancy Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is $700 off, matching its all-time low price

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:29
Check out the best Amazon deals of the day as of Nov. 6: OUR TOP PICK Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $899.99 at Amazon (save $700 with on-page coupon) Get Deal BEST MONITOR DEAL ASUS ZenScreen Go portable monitor (MB16AWP) $299 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal BEST TABLET DEAL Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro $69.99 at Amazon (save $70) Get Deal BEST SPEAKER DEAL Bose TV speaker and soundbar $199 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal

We're still over a few weeks out from Black Friday, but Amazon has already started dropping deals for all the early birds out there. So, whether you want to start checking off your shopping list or do a little retail therapy to get you through the week, we've rounded up the best discounts we could find at the mega retailer on Nov. 6.

Here are our top picks for the best Amazon deals of the day. If you don't see anything that catches your eye, take a look at our picks from Nov. 4 and Nov. 5. Many of those deals are still live, including a record-low M3 MacBook Pro and the new Bose Smart Soundbar's first price drop.

Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock S8 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $899.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $700.00 with on-page coupon Get Deal

On paper, the Roborock S8 Pro Ultra is one of the fancier robot vacuum and mop combos you can get. It dropped in April 2023 with self-washing and self-drying mopping pads, above-average suction power, reactive 3D obstacle avoidance, floor type customization, and liftable brushes and mopping pads that adapt to different tasks. When former Mashable intern Stacia Datskovska tested it out, she found that the high-tech vacuum was packed with many perks, but overall it was hard to live up to its extremely high price tag of $1,599.99. Fortunately, as of Nov. 6, you can pick it up for just $899.99, thanks to an on-page coupon. That brings it back down to its record low from October Prime Day.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ZenScreen Go 15.6-inch portable monitor (MB16AWP) $299.00 at Amazon
$449.00 Save $150.00 Get Deal

Having extra screen real estate to spread out your work on is a game changer — particularly on the go. The ASUS ZenScreen offers an extra 15.6 inches of monitor space in a slim 11.55mm package that allows you to bring it along wherever your work takes you. It comes with its own built-in battery that'll last about 3.5 hours, embedded speakers, a fold-out adjustable stand for comfortable viewing, and wireless mirroring via WiFi, Miracast, or AirPlay. Plus, it even packs two USB-C ports, one mini HDMI port, and an earphone jack for connectivity. As of Nov. 6, it's on sale for just $299 at Amazon — that's 33% in savings and its lowest price on record.

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

Like its non-kids specific counterpart we featured yesterday, the new Fire HD 8 Kids Pro just dropped ahead of October Prime Day. It features a better camera, new generative AI-powered features, and 50% more RAM for better performance. That means kids can get the most out of the books, games, videos, and apps with the included Amazon Kids+ subscription. It's also $10 cheaper than the previous version at full price, which we dubbed "an ideal first tablet for your kids." As of Nov. 6, however, you can get it for even less — just $69.99 at Amazon. That's 50% in savings and matches its Prime Big Deals Day pricing.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose TV Speaker Soundbar $199.00 at Amazon
$279.00 Save $80.00 Get Deal

Since built-in TV speakers aren't much to write home about, we're big fans of adding soundbars to your home entertainment setup. If you're new to the soundbar world, the Bose TV Speaker is a solid introductory option to add some serious sound without serious bulk. It's small, but mighty, delivering a balanced and natural-sounding audio experience and enhancing dialogue and bass performance. Plus, it's super simple to set up. As of Nov. 6, you can grab it on sale for just $199. That's 29% in savings.

None of these deals catching your eye? Check out Amazon's daily deals for even more savings.

Nintendo Switch 2 still unannounced, but this big official reveal about the handheld may excite fans

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:27

On Tuesday evening, Nintendo's president Shuntaro Furukawa took to X to make a grand declaration about the Switch 2.

He confirmed that "the successor to Nintendo Switch" will be fully backwards compatible with original Switch software. Additionally, the Nintendo Switch Online service will carry over, likely allowing your account to stay consistent across both platforms and potentially preserving your purchase history.

Tweet may have been deleted

Ideally, the catalog of classic Nintendo games included with a Switch Online subscription will carry over, too.

SEE ALSO: New 'Nintendo Music’ app lets you listen to 40 years of video game tunes — here’s how to get it

And that's pretty much all we've got. The post reiterated that we will hear more about the Switch 2 "at a later date," which is beginning to feel like it may not happen in 2024 after all. Earlier rumors suggested a spring launch (similar to the original Switch), but since there’s been no reveal yet, the timeline might be shifting.

For now, Nintendo seems content to focus on things like a music app for phones, a remaster of an obscure Wii U classic, and an alarm clock.

When your current console has sold nearly 150 million units, perhaps you can afford to take your time with the follow-up.

Black Friday is coming — and Amazon is already rolling out Echo device deals

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:19

SAVE UP TO 55%: Amazon Echo devices are on sale ahead of Black Friday. Get the Amazon Echo Pop for 55% off, bringing it back down to its lowest price ever of $17.99.

Best Echo Device Deals Best Echo deal Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon (Save $22) Get Deal Best Echo Show deal Amazon Echo Show 5 $49.99 at Amazon (Save $40) Get Deal Best Echo alarm clock deal Amazon Echo Spot $49.99 at Amazon (Save $30) Get Deal Best Echo Kids deal Amazon Echo Pop Kids $24.99 at Amazon (Save $25) Get Deal

"Alexa, when do Black Friday deals start?" Right now.

This year, Black Friday falls on Nov. 29, 2024, and while we're still weeks away, the early deals are here. Apple is already unleashing deals across its products, and big ticket items like robot vacuums are dipping in price ahead of the big event. So if you're looking to make your home a little smarter, now is the time to shop Amazon's Echo devices.

Echos are some of the easiest (and most affordable) ways to upgrade your smart home, helping you do everything from play music to set daily lighting routines. Just one month ago, we were tracking deals during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days, and we saw the lowest price ever on Echo Devices. Way ahead of Black Friday, we're already seeing those deals swing back around.

Here are the best deals on Amazon Echo Devices to shop ahead of Black Friday.

Best Echo device deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Echo Pop $17.99 at Amazon
$49.99 Save $32.00 Get Deal Why we like it

The line-up of Amazon Echo devices is sprawling. You can find everything from a multitasking smart speaker to a touchscreen smart home hub. The absolute best deal on Echo devices right now is on the Amazon Echo Pop. This small but mighty device with a quality speaker and built-in assistant so you can play music just by calling out to Alexa.

Currently, it's down to $17.99 — its lowest price ever. That knocks 55% off the regular price for $22 in savings. While we expect this price to hang around through Black Friday, you can rest assured you're getting it at a great deal when you buy now.

More Amazon Echo deals

Slash $360 off the Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop combo

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 11:06

SAVE $360: As of Nov. 6, the Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $459.99 at Amazon. That's a $360 discount off the regular price of $819.99 and a record-low price for this model.

Opens in a new window Credit: Roborock Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop combo $459.99 at Amazon
$819.99 Save $360.00 Get Deal

Black Friday is nearly here (it’s only a couple of weeks away), and Amazon’s celebrating the season early with price drops on some of the most popular tech and home goods.

As of Nov. 6, you can score a Roborock Q8 Max+ robot vacuum and mop combo for just $459.99 at Amazon and the Roborock website. That’s 44% off and a $360 price drop from the original MSRP of $819.99. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for this model.

SEE ALSO: There are actually a lot of notable robot vacuum deals live ahead of Black Friday

This robot vac-mop combo features an auto-empty dock, 5,500 Pa high suction power via HyperForce technology, and a 180-minute runtime, making it an ideal pick for big households with little ones or pet parents tired of pulling out an upright every few hours.

It’s smart enough to know when it’s vacuuming carpet and features a fast-cleaning mode for quick cleanups between deeper cleans. With 30 water flow levels, it can adjust to different floor types and clean hard floors and low-pile carpets.

The Roborock app lets you set no-go zones and cleaning schedules so you can vacuum your home while you're running errands or at work. (Coming home to a just-vacuumed floor sounds pretty good, doesn't it?) You can also ask Alexa or Google Assistant to send your robot into action when your hands are full.

Political Betting Markets See Vindication in Trump Victory

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 10:52
Prediction markets, which surged to prominence during the presidential campaign, started reflecting a likely Trump win several weeks ago, even as opinion polls showed a tight race.

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