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Twice as nice: Buy one Samsung Odyssey G8 OLED gaming monitor and get a 27-inch monitor for free

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 10:50

SAVE $529.99: As of Nov. 6, buy a 32-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K gaming monitor at Samsung for just $999.99, down from its usual price of $1,529.98. You also get a free 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD gaming monitor free with purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung 32-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K gaming monitor $999.99 at Samsung
$1,529.98 Save $529.99 Get a 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD gaming monitor free with purchase Get Deal

A great gaming monitor can totally transform your favorite titles. Whether you're cruising through Dragon Age: The Veilguard or getting in some Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 matches, seeing games in rich, crisp 4K can be an awesome experience. And when it comes to monitors, the bigger the better, and two are always better than one — especially when you can buy one and get the other totally free. And right now, thanks to Samsung, you can do just that.

As of Nov. 6, you can get the 32-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K gaming monitor on sale for $999.99 at Samsung. That's $529.99 off its normal price of $1,529.98 and a 38% discount. You also get the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD gaming monitor (a $229.99 value) completely free with purchase. That's two monitors for less than the price of one.

SEE ALSO: Save on an Acer PC gaming setup with this BOGO deal at Best Buy

The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8 4K monitor is no slouch when it comes to displays. It boasts 4K OLED visuals with a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.02ms response time, all of which are absolutely essential to creating the best possible gaming experience, especially if you play multiplayer matches. That all goes toward giving you the best picture possible, with glare-free visuals, G-Sync compatibility, and a dynamic cooling system that can auto-dim logos and other imagery on-screen to stave off burn-in. Plus, at 32 inches, it's large and in charge so you can immerse yourself further in your game.

The smaller 27-inch Samsung Odyssey G3 FHD monitor may be a bit less souped-up, but it makes for a great secondary display or a unit you might want to use with your daily driver PC to get some work done. But however you use it, it's an excellent deal.

Prime members: Kick off cozy season with free reads from Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 10:36

GET A FREE E-BOOK: Prime members can cash in on one free e-book in November from the selection of Amazon First Reads titles. Non-Prime members can grab one title for just $1.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Free e-book and short read with Prime membership Non-Prime members can purchase each for $1.99 Get Deal

We're now well into soup season, which also means it's time to cozy up with some good books. If you're in a money-saving mood to prep for Black Friday sales, Amazon is offering Prime members some free reads during the month of November.

The Amazon First Reads program gifts Prime members one free e-book title this month and tosses in an additional free short story. If you're not a Prime member, you can score one Amazon First Reads title and the short story for just $1.99 each.

SEE ALSO: Amazon deal of the day: The new Fire HD 8 tablet is back down to a record-low $54.99

This month's selection of First Reads covers tons of genres, so all readers are likely to find something that's appealing. Historical fiction title White Mulberry by Rosa Kwon Easton is included in the deal, as is the suspenseful tale Mirror Me by Lisa Williamson Rosenberg. There's also women's fiction, a phycological thriller, true crime, and a contemporary fiction title included in this month's First Reads picks.

November's bonus short read is also free for Prime members, which means you can laugh along with The Answer is No by Fredrik Backman.

Joining the Amazon First Reads program is free, and signing up means you'll get a monthly email with details about the latest First Reads picks. To read these Kindle titles, you'll want either an e-reader or the Kindle app downloaded on a tablet or your smartphone. We're partial to the Kindle Paperwhite, but you certainly don't need a Kindle to dive into these titles.

In a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive, a free deal is something worth celebrating. Prime members get a free e-book and short story this month from the Amazon First Reads program, while non-members can purchase each for just $1.99. Kick off cozy reading season ASAP.

Best 'Wordle' starting word? Step up your game today.

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 10:29

Trying to game Wordle isn't my bag, I'll admit.

My ideal daily Wordle session starts with me plucking a legible five-letter combination out from my stream of consciousness and seeing where that random guess takes me.

The game becomes a sort of linguistic Magic Eye at that point: If I loosen my focus and look past the initial guess to imagine all the words that might be formed from any yellow- or green-marked letter, I'll eventually find the answer. Or not! And that's OK, I'm fine with a loss.

Some people like to win under any circumstances, though, and I get it. It feels great to maintain that daily streak, especially as it jumps into the double digits and beyond.

Sure, you could always cheat and look up the answer, but there's no sense of accomplishment in that. Gaming Wordle is the only agreeable middle-ground there, and the best place to find that comfort zone is starting word strategy.

So let's get into it. The internet has lots of thoughts.

Looking for the Wordle answer today? Here are hints and the answer for the Wordle on November 6.

How should we think about Wordle starting word strategies?

Let's think about this holistically first. You've got 26 letters in the alphabet. Of those, five (plus the letter "Y" at times) are vowels, the basic building block for most words.

So at a very basic level, any five-letter combination that helps you rule out more vowels early is going to trim down the galaxy of possible answers.

With that basic reality in mind, we can immediately pick out a few ideal starting words There are others, but ADIEU, AUDIO, and OUIJA all cover four vowels. You won't know if any yellow or green letters appear twice, say if the answer is "sweet" or "radar," but you can at least spot some critical letters right at the start.

Credit: Brandon Bell / Staff via Getty Images

That's good enough for most people. Starting with vowel-heavy words will give you an edge with Wordle's puzzle-solving every time. But it's also not that simple, since not every letter is created equally. Yes, vowels appear in basically every word, but some are more or less common. The same goes for consonants.

There's also the Wordle dictionary. There are more than 10,000 words the game will recognize as allowable guesses, but there's a much smaller list of words — only a few thousand — that qualify as possible solutions. The NYT even trimmed down that solution list after it acquired Wordle. So while you could use a more obscure word like AUREI (the plural form of aureus, an ancient Roman gold coin, for those who are curious!) as a guess, it's not going to be the day's answer.

If going vowel-heavy isn't enough and you want to cover some of the more common consonants as well, RAISE is an ideal starting word since it covers the three most common vowels and the two most common consonants as they appear in dictionaries.

14 Wordle clones: Because one Wordle a day just isn't enough

What is the best Wordle starting word, really?

For those who don't want to risk feeling like they're cheating Wordle, you might want to stop reading here. You can use the strategies and ways of thinking above to give yourself an edge in every day's new puzzle, and that's plenty for most players.

For those who want to dive deeper down the rabbit hole, however, there's an excellent video from Grant Sanderson, a mathematician and computer scientist who goes by 3Blue1Brown on YouTube. Sanderson applied his knowledge of "information theory" to Wordle, and he coded some testing programs that measure things like letter frequency to determine the best of the best starting words.

It's a dense 30 minutes of explanation that's heavy on the math talk, but Sanderson's friendly demeanor and willingness to take the time necessary to break down complex ideas for viewers makes it a fascinating watch.

In this initial video from Sanderson (you didn't think it was going to be as easy as one video, did you?), the ultimate takeaway leaves us with CRANE as the best Wordle starting word. But it's not that simple. Because Sanderson's breakdown focuses on letter frequency, CRANE is just the first stage of information gathering. It's only the "best" if you use what you know about the right and wrong letters in that first word to inform a perfect second guess.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Is your head swimming yet? Do you wish you'd just tapped out after the first section?? That's where I'm at! But wait, we're not even done yet.

A week after the above video post, Sanderson dropped another one, titled "Oh, wait, actually the best Wordle opener is not 'crane'...." It turns out, there was a slight bug in his original test program. He says right up front that the bug "affects a very small percentage of cases," so it doesn't undermine the substantive lessons from the first video.

Without getting into the heavy math, the bug relates specifically to solutions that have multiples of the same letter, and how Wordle handles that.

Sanderson felt the need to put out a second video because, while "very little of substance actually changes" from the original video, the final conclusion relating to optimal starting word is affected. The same caveat from before applies here as well: An optimal starting word is only as good as how the guess that follows uses the information gleaned from the first one.

With that context in mind, Sanderson's amended ideal starting word is SALET (which is an alternate spelling for "sallet," a type of helmet worn during the Middle Ages #themoreyouknow), though TRACE and CRATE work nearly as well. Especially since both of those latter options are potential Wordle solutions.

Honestly, one of the most important takeaways from all these dives down math-y rabbit holes is the notion I mentioned above: Your first guess is only strong in the context of the guesses that follow. That's the whole game of Wordle in the end: A single guess provides you with information that you then need to use to narrow down the list of subsequent guesses.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL.

But! (Yeah, we're not done here.) There's another school of thought on how to approach solving Wordle. Instead of playing the game as intended and using each previous guess to inform the next one, you instead stick to the letter frequency game and try to rule out the most common letters, consonants and vowels both, up front, irrespective of any clues you pick up.

This approach effectively "wastes" your starting stretch of guesses on locked-in choices that are meant to narrow down the number of possible letters you have to work with. Just know that if you play Wordle in "hard mode," this strategy won't work, since each successive guess needs to include any letters that are confirmed to be in the solution by the previous guess.

Is there a best Wordle starting word that doesn't go so hard on all the math?

As the top commenter on Sanderson's original video legendarily notes: "Interesting video, real good stuff. Gonna keep using PENIS but this was really cool and informative!"

For those who want to skip the long and winding road into math-land, YouTuber Bentellect has a short, sweet breakdown of his starting strategy.

So RATIO first, then MENDS, then LUCKY. That's it. With those three choices, you'll have slimmed down the list of possible letters to the point that figuring out the solution with your final guesses becomes significantly easier. It's not a surefire winning strategy for every day's puzzle. I'm not sure there is one, and even if there is, knowing it would essentially break the game.

Mashable's own Wordle expert Caitlin Welsh prefers a different three-word starter combination: SCALY, GUIDE, and THORN. The premise is the same though: Caitlin, like Bentellect, is narrowing down the list of possible letters that could appear in the solution by casting the widest net possible, alphabetically speaking, with her first three guesses.

SEE ALSO: 14 of the best 'Wordle' clones, because one word a day isn't enough

So there you have it. There's no single perfect starting guess for Wordle. There's a whole spectrum of them, along with a long list of caveats that basically boil down to: How much do you want to break the game? I said it at the start and I'll say it again: Stream of consciousness is the way to go. Use Wordle like I do, as a meditative brain-bender to loosen up those thinking muscles at the start of your day.

For those who want to win at any cost, though, hopefully this extended rundown of what works best will get you closer to climbing that daily streak into the triple digits.

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

Tesla’s Stock Jumps After Trump’s Victory

NYT Technology - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 10:06
Investors believe that the electric car company led by Elon Musk will benefit from his support of the president-elect.

Save on an Acer PC gaming setup with this BOGO deal at Best Buy

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 07:35

BOGO ACER GAMING PC AND MONITOR: As of Nov. 6, Best Buy is offering a BOGO promotion on an Acer PC gaming setup. You can get 55% off an Acer Nitro Curved Gaming Monitor with the purchase of an Acer Predator Orion RTX 4070 Super gaming PC.

Opens in a new window Credit: Acer 55% off Acer Gaming Monitor with Acer Gaming PC Get Deal

Ahead of the Black Friday shopping event, Best Buy's been dropping some truly excellent Buy One, Get One deals for shoppers to consider. If you've been itching to find some good gaming PC deals this month, the retailer has you covered with this Acer BOGO deal.

With this offer, you get 55% off an Acer Nitro 31.5-inch Curved Gaming Monitor when you purchase the Acer Predator Orion RTX 4070 Super gaming PC. This would normally save you $220, but the added bonus of this deal is the PC is currently discounted by $300 on its own right now, so you're actually saving $520 in total, bringing the total price to $1,629.98 from $2,149.98.

SEE ALSO: Save over $300 on this gaming-friendly laptop from Lenovo

This is a worthy PC to invest in as well. Fitted with an RTX 4070 Super graphics card, Intel Core i7 processor, 32GB RAM, and 1TB SSD, it's ready to power through all of your favorite games. The monitor has plenty to offer as well, with 2560x1440 resolution, a 180Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time, and large 31.5-inch curved screen. That's not all, though. The gaming PC also comes with a USB keyboard and USB mouse, so you can be ready to start playing on it right away.

This is an excellent offer to take advantage of ahead of Black Friday, so make sure to check out Acer's BOGO deal at Best Buy before it's gone.

Best Buy's been on a roll with its BOGO deals lately. Alongside this one, they're also offering a BOGO promotion on Samsung TVs and LG monitors. These are great discounts to check out before Black Friday kicks off, but Best Buy has plenty planned for that sale event as well. Target and Walmart are also ahead of the game with their own Black Friday deals throughout the month, so there's plenty to check out for this season of savings.

Save over $300 on this gaming-friendly laptop from Lenovo

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 06:46

SAVE $270: As of Nov. 6, Lenovo's Ideapad 1 laptop is on sale for a limited time at $309.99. That's a discount of $270 on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lenovo Lenovo Ideapad 1 15.6-Inch Full HD Touchscreen Laptop $309.99 at Best Buy
$579.99 Save $270.00 Get Deal

Gaming laptops come with a wide range of price tags. If you're just looking to get started with an entry-level pick that won't break the bank, there are thankfully quite a few options to choose from. Right now, Best Buy is offering a discount on a Lenovo Ideapad 1 laptop as part of its Deal of the Day. This most certainly fits the bill as a more affordable entry-level pick.

This Lenovo Ideapad 1 is currently on sale for $309.99, $270 off its list price of $579.99. This offer is part of Best Buy's Deal of the Day, so you'll only have through the rest of Nov. 6 to jump on it. It's well worth investing in as well, given its specs.

SEE ALSO: Save $400 on this gaming-ready TV from TCL

This Full HD laptop is fitted with an AMD Ryzen 5 7520U processor, AMD Radeon graphics, a 256GB SSD, and 8GB RAM, making it a great pick for more casual gamers or those just looking for a reliable work laptop. It also features a touchscreen for ease of use, which is a nice bonus.

Don't miss out on this offer for the Lenovo Ideapad 1 at Best Buy.

If you're hoping to find even more gaming laptop deals, you won't have to wait too long with Black Friday coming up in a few weeks. Retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy are prepping for the seasonal sale event with some exciting discounts, so keep your eyes out for laptop deals as they appear.

Watch how Jon Stewart reacted to the election results on 'The Daily Show'

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 06:17
Jon Stewart and the "Daily Show" correspondents were live on election night as the results came in. Watch.

Bitcoin hits all-time-high as Trump wins election

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:55

UPDATE: Nov. 6, 2024, 5:38 a.m. UTC Donald Trump has been elected the 47th president of the United States, declared by the Associated Press at 05:37 a.m. ET. This article has been updated to reflect this.

It's been a long and winding road, but it finally happened: Bitcoin price has hit a new all-time-high.

The most popular cryptocurrency traded at $75,358 early on Wednesday according to CoinGecko, surpassing the previous all-time-high price of $73,097, which Bitcoin had set in March.

Looking back, it may not sound too long a wait for the crypto faithful, but Bitcoin has been zig-zagging on a downward sloping trajectory ever since that March peak, before finally picking up ahead of the U.S. election. At these prices, Bitcoin's total market cap (the value of all coins on the market) is about $1.5 trillion.

Bitcoin's price pulled back a little after Donald Trump claimed victory in a speech to supporters after winning third battleground state Pennsylvania. The cryptocurrency is currently trading at $73,923.

Trump has now been elected the 47th president of the United States, declared by the Associated Press at 05:37 a.m. ET, winning 277 electoral votes over Democratic opponent Kamala Harris' 224 (at the time of writing). Republicans also look poised to sweep both the Congress and the Senate, removing the largest political uncertainties that typically make the markets jittery. U.S. stocks are also rallying in premarket on Wednesday, with TSLA pumping more than 12 percent ahead of markets opening.

Tweet may have been deleted

Trump's campaign mentioned cryptocurrencies and, specifically, Bitcoin in the past couple of months, with Trump claiming he would make it easier for crypto mining companies to operate in the U.S., and promising America would be the nation to "lead the way" as crypto goes "to the moon."

SEE ALSO: An AI is getting very rich off crypto. It gets weirder.

Another big winner emerging from these elections is the cryptocurrency DOGE, which started as a joke but found a footing as it got embraced by Elon Musk, who's a major supporter of Trump's presidency — the billionaire and X owner has donated millions toward getting Trump re-elected, campaigned at his rallies, and offered million-dollar swing state payouts to Trump voters. DOGE is currently trading at $0.198, up 17.7 percent compared to yesterday's price.

The best gift ideas for him in 2024

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:51

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

The myth that men are simple creatures is just that… a myth. They are complicated beasts, which is evident when trying to choose a gift for the man (or indeed any man) in your life.

Not every man spends their days dreaming of fine whiskey and home gym gear, trying to level up their masculine ways. In fact, old school male stereotypes are a thing of the past, and it's time we started embracing modern, multi-faceted manliness (which includes our non-binary friends, too).

Even when you do find something that you think might be a good option, you can still be left with doubt. Do they even like this sort of thing? Do they already have something similar? It's worth remembering that no two guys are the same.

Before parting with your hard-earned cash (and worrying about whether you need to include the receipt with their gift), we can help out with some pressie-buying pointers. Whether that lucky fella is into cooking, style, self-care, or something more specialist, we’ve got him, and you, covered.

Check out this list of gift ideas that’ll make any man happy, no matter the occasion.

These are the best gifts for men in 2024.

Score a Sony 65-inch XR 4K TV for under $1,000 at Amazon

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:46

SAVE OVER $300: As of Nov. 6, Sony's 65-inch 4K UHD X90L BRAVIA XR TV is on sale for $998. That's 23% off its list price of $1,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD TV X90L Series TV $998.00 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $301.99 Get Deal

Black Friday is right around the corner and that means an abundance of deals for people to check out as we near the holiday season and the end of the year. If you're on the hunt for a new TV, you don't even have to wait until the official sale event. Amazon is offering some excellent discounts ahead of time that are worth checking out, like this deal on a Sony BRAVIA XR TV.

The 65-inch Sony 4K Ultra HD X90L BRAVIA XR TV is currently discounted by 23% to $998, from its $1,299.99 list price. That saves you over $300 overall, which is a fantastic deal on a high-quality television. And this screen has the specs that make it worth every cent, too.

SEE ALSO: Save $400 on this gaming-ready TV from TCL

Alongside vibrant 4K resolution and smart features with Google TV, it's also a perfect gaming match for those with a PlayStation 5. It offers 4K at 120fps, VRR, and ALLM so you can have a smooth gaming experience, along with features for picture quality like Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. Whether you want it for gaming or as a streaming machine for your favorite movies and TV shows, this pick from Sony will set you up well.

Amazon has this TV listed as a limited-time deal, so there's no better time than now to pick up this Sony TV.

Amazon isn't the only retailer offering some great deals ahead of the big seasonal sale event. Best Buy, Walmart, and Target are also dropping some early discounts that are worth checking out this month. If you're hoping to find some more TV deals, it's worth having a look at what they've got on offer, too.

Save over $100 on this seriously luxurious coffee machine

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:12

SAVE $195: As of Nov. 6, the De'Longhi Magnifica Plus is on sale at Amazon for $1,004.64. That's 16% off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: De'Longhi De'Longhi Magnifica Plus $1,004.64 at Amazon
$1,199.95 Save $195.31 Get Deal

Barista-style coffee from the comfort of your own home doesn't have to be a dream, and you don't need to wait for the arrival of Black Friday deals for a well-priced home coffee either. At Amazon, De'Longhi has treated us to a series of early discounts, including the Eletta coffee machine, and now the Magnifica Plus.

As of Nov. 6, you can get this fully kitted-out machine for the reduced price of $1,004.64, saving you nearly $200 on list price. This is definitely on the higher end of the price range for coffee machines, but the features it offers are worth every dollar.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade your morning cup with this discounted De'Longhi coffee machine

With one-touch recipes on the touch screen display (yes, a coffee machine with a touch screen), you can make your favorite brew with literally the touch of a finger. Enjoy lattes, espressos, and cappuccinos just how you like them with the built-in milk frother. You can even create up to four user profiles so you can store customized drink options such as an extra shot latte, or an extra dry cappuccino.

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

Content creators, this Sony vlogging camera is reduced by over $100

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:08

SAVE OVER $100: As of Nov. 6, the Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera is on sale at Amazon for $398. That's a 20% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera $398.00 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal

If you're a content creator, you'll know all too well the importance of high-quality content, and this isn't just limited to your ideas, but the actual quality of your images and vlogs too. If a new vlogging camera has been high on your wishlist, you'll be glad to know you don't need to wait around for Black Friday. There are deals to be had before the rush, including on the Sony ZV-1F Vlog Camera.

As of Nov. 6, you can find this camera at Amazon for $398, saving you over $100 on list price. This deal is available in both the black and white models, but there are also bundle deals to consider.

SEE ALSO: Apple will repair this camera problem for free

The camera boasts an ultra-wide 20mm lens, perfect for capturing wide shots, even when shooting at arm’s length. It has a large 1-inch sensor and F2 lens, meaning it handles low-light shots well, creating nice, defocused backgrounds.

Eye-AF and autofocus tracking keep the focus sharp on your subject, while the moveable, touchscreen LCD makes taking selfie shots easy. For clear audio, there’s a directional 3-capsule mic that is designed to reduce background noise, along with a windscreen accessory for outdoor shots.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal before it runs out.

Jon Stewart shares a powerful post-election night message

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:01
Jon Stewart has shared his reaction to the election results, sharing a warning and a message of hope on "The Daily Show".

Get a great deal on the Beats Fit Pro ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:01

SAVE $40: As of Nov. 6, the Beats Fit Pro are on sale for $159.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 20% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Beats Fit Pro $159.99 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $39.96 Get Deal

Beats are undeniably some of the best headphones and earbuds on the market. Beloved for their design and famous punchy bass, there really are few names as reliable. And you don't need to wait until Black Friday to score a deal on new headphones, as you can already find a lot of discounts on top products. And this includes the Beats Fit Pro.

As of Nov. 6, you can find these earbuds at Amazon for $159.99, reduced by 20%.

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

They may be little, but they are a powerhouse of sound. With an immersive sound quality and incredible noise cancellation, these are an excellent choice for sound connoisseurs. There is also the option of varying degrees of sound cancellation, with modes to help keep you aware of your surroundings — perfect for exercising outdoors.

They also boast a seriously impressive battery life, with a single charge lasting days. But the big plus for us is the fit. The silicon tip slides into your ear seamlessly, staying put for all types of activity and all intensities — for runners to Pilates, these are a fantastic choice.

Head to Amazon now to secure this low price.

Scientists just found a mind-boggling object in deep space

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:00

NASA says it best: "Neutron Stars Are Weird!"

They are extraordinarily compact. Just a sugar cube-sized piece of this extremely dense material — the remnants of a collapsed, exploded star — weighs 1 billion tons. They're known to rotate quickly, but scientists just found an extreme example of a neutron star spinning faster than a blender:

716 times per second. You read that right.

"If future observations confirm this, the 4U 1820-30 neutron star would be one of the fastest-spinning objects ever observed in the universe, matched only by another neutron star called PSR J1748–2446," Gaurava K. Jaisawal, an astrophysicist in the Department of Space Research and Technology at the Technical University of Denmark, said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: If aliens harnessed solar power, could we detect them? NASA investigated.

Jaisawal is a lead author on the research, which was recently published in The Astrophysical Journal.

The researchers used an instrument attached to the International Space Station, called the NICER X-ray telescope (NICER stands for Neutron star Interior Composition Explorer), to identify the rapidly-spinning object. Neutron stars can blast pulses of X-rays, a type of radiation, into space. This neutron star is only about 7.5 miles (12 kilometers) across, but is 1.4 times the mass of the sun, an object 865,000 miles wide.

It's also not alone.

NASA's NICER X-ray telescope attached to the International Space Station. Credit: NASA A neutron star compared to Manhattan, New York. These objects are like "crushing half a million times Earth's mass into a sphere about 12 miles across," NASA says Credit: NASA

The neutron star , located some 26,000 light-years away in the Milky Way galaxy, is part of a binary star system, meaning it has a companion. In this case, it's companion is a "white dwarf," which is a sun-like star that has grown old and shed its outer layers. Just a dense Earth-sized core remains. And they have a volatile relationship. The extremely massive neutron star, wielding profound gravity, rips material away from its white dwarf companion. Eventually, this amassing material triggers "thermonuclear blasts" that can forge heavy elements such as gold and platinum.

"During these bursts, the neutron star becomes up to 100,000 times brighter than the Sun, releasing an immense amount of energy," Jerome Chenevez, who coauthored the research, explained. "So we are dealing with very extreme events, and by studying them in detail, we get new insights into the existing life cycles of binary star systems and the formation of elements in the universe."

Here's a drone deal you'll love: Get two 4K drones for the price of one

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Until Nov. 10, you can get a great deal on two 4K drones — the Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO and Blade K — for only $139.99 at the Mashable Shop.

So maybe you're looking for a new hobby as we approach the start of 2025. Why not combine two of your favorite things: photography and being outdoors? One way to do that is by flying a camera drone. But what's better than one drone? Two flying machines for the price of one.

This bundle incldues the Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO and Blade K 4K drones. It's been marked down from $299.99 to $139.99 through Nov. 10, but only while supplies last.

The Phantom Eagle

The HD ESC three camera is a game-changer, offering both vertical and horizontal shooting to capture crystal-clear images and smooth videos. With four-way obstacle avoidance, this 4K drone effortlessly detects and dodges obstacles, ensuring a safe and smooth flight every time.

The optical flow feature provides rock-solid stability for precise hovering and accurate positioning. Perfect for all levels, it's designed for professional photographers and videographers but is also beginner-friendly with built-in safety features. Plus, it can perform a 360-degree roll in the air, allowing you to ascend, fly in any direction, and fly in a full circle. The headless mode means you don't have to fuss with adjusting the aircraft's position before taking off, and its foldable arms make it easy to store and carry.

The Blade K

The 4K front and bottom cameras on this drone let you capture cinematic, crisp visuals from every angle. Like the Phantom Eagle, it features four-way anti-collision to confidently navigate through obstacles and an optical flow sensor for precise hovering. This one is especially beginner-friendly with intuitive controls, including one-key takeoff and landing, and headless mode. It also features 360-degree flying capabilities and has a 1,800mAh battery providing 10 to 12 minutes of flight time. It also has foldable arms for easy storage and portability.

Fly your new hobby home

Until November 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT, get outside and enjoy this Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO 4K and Blade K drone bundle on sale for $139.99 (reg. $299.99). Supplies are limited, so act now before it's sold out.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Dragon Ninja Dragon Phantom Eagle PRO 4K with Blade K Drone Bundle $139.99 at the Mashable Shop
$299.99 Save $160.00 Get Deal

It's color matching magic: Get the Nix Mini 3 color sensor for only $79.99

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Match colors precisely every time with the Nix Mini 3 color-matching sensor, on sale for just $79.99 (reg. $97) for a limited time at the Mashable Shop.

We’ve all been there — a color grabs your attention, and you can’t shake the idea of bringing it into your own space. Maybe it’s the striking blue of a vintage vase you spotted at a flea market, or the warm, earthy tone of a café wall that would look amazing in your living room remodel.

The Nix Mini 3 is a portable color sensor with a built-in light source that can make your life a lot easier. It delivers accurate, reliable color matching wherever you go, but supplies are limited. Right now, it's on sale for $79.99 (reg. $97) at the Mashable Shop.

The Nix Mini 3 is ideal for professionals who need to identify colors, including interior designers, graphic designers, those in the construction and architecture fields, artists, and more. It's also terrific for DIYers and homeowners.

Here's how it works: You hold the Nix Mini up to any flat surface and press scan. That's it. The Mini works with the Nix Toolkit app to match it to more than 200,000 brand-name paints. It will also help you find color codes such as RGB, HEX, and CMYK. You can even opt for advanced color system access via a premium subscription, which could be helpful if you need it for professional reasons.

This latest version of the Nix Mini has fine-tuned the color readings for accuracy. It also uses a USB-C for charging and is dust- and water-resistant. It's compatible with both iOS and Android devices, and the accompanying app is available on both app shops. The battery also holds a longer charge than previous models.

Pocket-sized, so it's super easy to take with you anywhere, this little color sensor could be just the thing to help you recreate that color you love so much.

For a limited time, the Nix Mini 3 color-matching sensor is on sale for $79.99 (reg. $97) until Nov. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nix Sensor Nix Mini 3: The #1 Color-Matching Sensor for Designers, Contractors, Architects, & Homeowners $79.99 at the Mashable Shop
$97.00 Save $17.01 Get Deal

Study automation scripting and PowerShell with this $15 bundle

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Learn PowerShell scripting, task automation, and more with this $14.97 (reg. $78) online course bundle, on sale at the Mashable Shop through Nov. 10.

Automation is getting more common for most businesses, and for good reason. Who wants overly complicated operations and hefty workloads? To stay on top of this growing trend in the IT world, you may want to look into learning Windows PowerShell.

PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation and configuration management program designed to make your professional life easier. Learn automation, PowerShell scripting, and more with this 2024 training bundle, now available for only $14.97 (reg. $78).

This training collection contains six courses spearheaded by Vijay Saini, an IT professional with years of experience working in multiple industry domains. Saini specializes in tackling small- to large-scale automation, which results in cost benefits for various businesses. In short, he's someone who knows his stuff.

Beginners can start with the Anybody Can Script course. Here, you'll discover the basics of creating and using scripts with lessons on the fundamentals of automation for simple tasks. Some of the other topics you'll dive into are basic command lines and how to integrate PowerShell with non-Microsoft products.

If you're familiar with Windows PowerShell already, the Advanced Scripting and Tool Making course might be a more practical starting point. You'll explore more advanced scripting techniques and learn about advanced file handling, database interactions, and creating graphical user interfaces (GUIs) using PowerShell.

At the end of each course, students will earn a certificate of completion, which they can add to their LinkedIn profile or resume to impress employers.

Grab this 2024 Windows PowerShell training bundle for just $14.97 while supplies are still available. This offer ends Nov. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The 2024 Windows PowerShell Certification Bundle $14.97 at the Mashable Shop
$78.00 Save $63.03 Get Deal

This top-rated PDF management tool lets you edit, sign, and encrypt PDFs for $30

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 05:00

TL;DR: Manage PDFs more easily on Windows devices with PDF Reader Pro, now on sale for just $29.97 (reg. $59.99) through Nov. 10 at the Mashable Shop.

Are you dealing with more PDFs than you know what to do with? Whether it's signing off on a vendor contract, wrapping up a report, or getting through a lengthy manual, it seems like PDFs are dominating our daily lives.

While skimming through them is manageable with just a web browser, things get complicated when you have some editing, signing, and annotating to do. If you're a Windows user, you can trust PDF Reader Pro to be your trusty sidekick when it comes to handling a PDF file. Eliminate some of the stress of from your life by grabbing a lifetime license for only $29.97 (reg. $59.99), its lowest online price to date.

Installed on more than 60 million devices in more than 200 countries around the world, PDF Reader Pro is a one-stop solution for managing PDFs. Whether you need to edit text, annotate a few lines, password-protect a file, create forms, or convert scans into editable documents, this app can help you with all sorts of tasks.

Have to process a large batch of PDFs? The app has a built-in converter, compressor, and encryptor to save you time. You can even add watermarks, headers, and footers on multiple documents simultaneously. You can also conceal confidential text and images by blanking them out with an irremovable black box.

The program also gives you the option to create fillable forms complete with radio buttons and combo boxes, as well as the ability to sign documents with a legally binding digital signature that you can personalize.

Grab a lifetime license to PDF Reader Pro for Windows for just $29.97 through Nov. 10 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Opens in a new window Credit: PDF Technologies PDF Reader Pro Premium License For Windows: Lifetime Subscription $29.97 at the Mashable Shop
$59.99 Save $30.02 Get Deal

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

Mashable - Wed, 11/06/2024 - 04:56

SAVE $10: As of Nov. 6, the Apple AirPods 4 are on sale at Amazon for $119, that's a 8% saving on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $119.00 at Amazon
$129.00 Save $10.00 Get Deal

A new pair of AirPods doesn't need to break the bank, and you don't need to wait weeks for Black Friday deals if you're in need of some earbuds ASAP. You can find deals already.

As of Nov. 6, you can find the Apple AirPods 4 for $119 at Amazon, saving you $10 on list price. It's not a huge discount, but this model was only released in September, so we're delighted to see any savings so soon.

SEE ALSO: Save over $10 on an official Apple MagSafe Charger

This particular deal is for the AirPods without active noise cancellation or AppleCare+, but there are discounts across all variations. Powered by the H2 chip, these AirPods create an incredibly immersive listening experience. Personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking makes it feel like the sound is all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience.

And the microphone audio is incredible too. It uses advanced computational audio to reduce background noise while isolating and clarifying the sound of your voice. Perfect for those long, juicy voicenotes.

Battery life will remain strong for a good five hours on a single charge, and the case adds a total of 30 hours of listening time. If you're not convinced yet, check out our review to see how impressed we were.

Head to Amazon to grab this deal before it runs out.

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