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Mashable is a leading source for news, information & resources for the Connected Generation. Mashable reports on the importance of digital innovation and how it empowers and inspires people around the world. Mashable's 25 million monthly unique visitors and 10 million social media followers have become one of the most engaged online news communities. Founded in 2005, Mashable is headquartered in New York City with an office in San Francisco.
Updated: 24 min 48 sec ago

EA shuts down BioWare, the gaming studio behind Mass Effect and Dragon Age

3 hours 36 min ago

One of the most influential RPG developers of all time is no more. And just like that, another beloved gaming studio is closing its doors for good.

Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that powerful video game publisher Electronic Arts is shutting down RPG studio BioWare, which had been around in some form or another since 1995. This move came as part of a wider layoff of around 400 employees. According to reporter Jason Schreier, BioWare's headcount at the end was around 50.

Minutes after Bloomberg broke the news, the BioWare X account shared a heartfelt message with gamers:

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Whether or not you've ever played a BioWare game, you've most likely heard of them or played something inspired by them. The studio made its name in the late 90s and early 2000s with hit RPGs like the original Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, and Neverwinter Nights. All of those games, as well as the studio's later works, helped pioneer and popularize storytelling that was shaped by player choices.

SEE ALSO: 'Final Fantasy Resonance' doesn't hit as hard as the classics, but it's still a fun throwback

BioWare arguably hit the apex of its popularity in the late 2000s and early 2010s with the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series. Both franchises saw massive success early on before waning a bit with controversial entries like Andromeda and Veilguard, but you do not have to look far on the internet to find people who love every single game BioWare made. A new Mass Effect was in the works at BioWare when the studio was shut down, but that title has been canceled, per Bloomberg.

Some gamers will argue that this development was inevitable given the events of the past few years. As Variety and Bloomberg reported last year, after the release of Veilguard, EA laid off some BioWare employees. EA was recently acquired by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. Cuts were always a possibility after a big acquisition like that, and BioWare evidently found itself in the crosshairs once more.

The best iPhone Duo cases for protecting your precious new foldable, starting from just $30

3 hours 57 min ago

If you're buying the new iPhone Duo, Apple's first-ever foldable, the first thing you should do is marvel at its opening animation. The very next thing you should do is get a case for it. Not only is the Duo an expensive phone, but it's also a slippery one, according to Mashable's Stan Schroeder.

Since regular iPhone cases won't fit its passport-style design, you'll have to buy a brand-new protective case for your Duo. Below, I've rounded up over a dozen of the best iPhone Duo cases available ahead of its release on Friday, Oct. 23, including options from popular brands like OtterBox and Casetify with kickstands, MagSafe, and/or hinge protection. Prices range from $30 to $129.

If you haven't locked in your iPhone Duo preorder yet, you can save up to $1,200 with various carrier offers. Just know that it might be a couple weeks until yours arrives: The Duo sold out almost instantly when preorders opened on Oct. 16, and it's currently on backorder pretty much everywhere.

The best iPhone Duo cases so far Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Case $79 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand $129 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify iPhone Duo Impact Case $88 at Casetify.com
  Shop Now at Casetify.com Opens in a new window Credit: Casely Casely iPhone Duo Bold Flex Case + MagSafe $80 at Casely.com
  Shop Now at Casely.com Opens in a new window Credit: dbrand dbrand Grip Case with MagSafe for iPhone Duo $54.90
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: kate spade new york kate spade Protective iPhone Duo Case with MagSafe $64.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox iPhone Duo Lumen Series Case $69.99 at Best Buy
  Shop Now at Best Buy Opens in a new window Credit: OtterBox OtterBox Foldable iPhone Duo Defender Series Pro XT Case $89.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Pitaka Pitaka iPhone Duo Edge Case $49.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Torras Torras Ostand Q3 VegSkin for iPhone Duo $71.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $18   Get Deal at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Speck Speck Presidio Perfect-Clear Fold MagSafe iPhone Duo Case $64.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen Nano Pop MagFit Case for iPhone Duo $29.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen Ultra Hybrid Pro MagFit Case or iPhone Duo $39.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Opens in a new window Credit: Spigen Spigen Slim Armor Pro MagFit Case for iPhone Duo $69.99 at Amazon
$89.99 Save $20   Get Deal at Amazon

PHP vulnerability: Which websites and services are affected?

4 hours 42 sec ago

If some of your usual websites aren’t working today, their operators may have temporarily shut them down to keep hackers out.

Two serious security flaws have been discovered in PHP, a programming language that helps websites run. On vulnerable servers, those flaws could allow hackers to run their own commands or access sensitive information. Because PHP is used across so many different websites, the same security problem has left operators around the world scrambling to protect their systems.

A fix became available on Oct. 21, but releasing it doesn’t automatically secure every affected site. Website operators and hosting providers still need to install the update on their servers. Some have taken sites offline or restricted features while they do that work, creating disruptions for visitors along the way.

SEE ALSO: PHP vulnerability: PHP security issues today explained From gaming services to government websites

Those precautions have disrupted everything from online forums to gaming services. 4chan switched to read-only mode while awaiting a PHP security update, while Wikimedia, the organization behind Wikipedia, took supporting tools offline until they could be safely patched. In a statement to Mashable, the Wikimedia Foundation confirmed its recent downtime was related to the PHP security issues.

Fur Affinity, Pinboard, and Miraheze also announced precautionary shutdowns, while games including Umamusume: Pretty Derby, Granblue Fantasy, and Princess Connect! Re:Dive announced maintenance to address PHP vulnerabilities.

Government websites have taken similar precautions. Reuters identified the Port of Rotterdam, Dutch football association KNVB, government portal Overheid.nl, and the Dutch National Cyber Security Centre among those taken offline. Finnish government public web services, Belgian foreign ministry websites, French prefecture websites, and several German federal websites also underwent preventive shutdowns. Taking these services offline doesn’t necessarily mean they were hacked — it can help prevent that from happening.

Other disruptions haven’t been publicly linked to PHP. Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon HOME, and Pokémon Champions underwent emergency maintenance, but a PHP connection remains unconfirmed. GOG also announced maintenance without specifying a cause, while Duolingo reported increased errors without mentioning the vulnerability. In addition, DownDetector users are reporting problems with popular tools such as the Internet Archive and Asana, though those issues couldn't be directly linked to the PHP security update.

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Here’s what we know about the PHP-related disruptions and the other outages happening alongside them.

Which websites are affected by the PHP security update?

The following sites and services have announced PHP-related restrictions or shutdowns, or have been reported to have taken them. These disruptions occurred at different points on Oct. 21, so some services may have returned as operators completed their updates.

  • OpenStreetMap’s wiki and secondary services: Its operations team temporarily shut down several supporting services, including its wiki. The announcement concerns those services, rather than the main map.

  • Choice of Games: The interactive fiction publisher announced an overnight shutdown of its website while awaiting the security update.

  • GrapheneOS forum: The project temporarily took its discussion forum offline. This concerns the forum, rather than the GrapheneOS phone operating system.

  • Umamusume: Pretty Derby: The game’s maintenance notice identified a PHP vulnerability on its servers, according to Dexerto.

  • Something Awful: The forums posted a maintenance notice linking their temporary shutdown to the PHP vulnerability. The forum homepage was accessible during our check.

  • 4chan: The imageboard switched to read-only mode while awaiting an urgent PHP security update, according to reporting quoting its notice. That limits posting without necessarily preventing people from reading existing threads.

  • Wikimedia supporting services: The organization behind Wikipedia took services including Toolforge and Cloud VPS offline. Wikimedia also warned that users might encounter wiki outages during the work. (Its announcement does not describe a complete shutdown of Wikipedia.)

  • Fur Affinity: The art community announced it would take its site offline until it could apply a patch, citing the PHP vulnerability.

  • Miraheze: The wiki hosting service said it was taking all services offline to protect its systems while awaiting a PHP patch.

  • Pinboard: The bookmarking service said it had taken itself offline to protect users' data until patches became available.

  • Granblue Fantasy: The game issued a maintenance notice related to the PHP vulnerability.

  • Princess Connect! Re:Dive: The game also announced maintenance to address the PHP issue.

  • Shadowverse: Worlds Beyond: The game underwent emergency maintenance that Japanese technology outlets linked to the PHP security issue.

  • CHUNITHM: The rhythm game’s international account announced emergency maintenance following reports of a PHP vulnerability.

  • Pokémon Sleep, Pokémon HOME, and Pokémon Champions: The games underwent emergency maintenance, though a direct connection to the PHP vulnerabilities has not been confirmed.

  • Port of Rotterdam: Its website was taken offline as a precaution.

  • KNVB: The Dutch national football association’s website was taken offline.

  • Overheid.nl: The Dutch government portal was taken offline.

  • Dutch National Cyber Security Centre: The cybersecurity agency took its public-facing website offline as a precaution.

  • Finnish government public web services: State IT provider Valtori shut down the services as a precaution.

  • Belgian foreign ministry: The ministry temporarily took its websites offline.

  • French prefectures: The Interior Ministry temporarily took local administrative offices’ websites offline.

  • German federal websites: Federal IT provider ITZBund temporarily deactivated several websites as a preventive measure.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI says GPT-5.6-Sol helped find the PHP flaws now shaking the internet When will affected websites be back?

There’s no single restoration time. Each operator needs to update its affected systems and make sure its services can safely return.

That process can be more complicated for organizations hosting tools managed by different people. Wikimedia, for example, said some volunteer-run services require their individual owners to make changes before they can come back online, potentially extending their downtime.

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How O’Neil Thomas turned his love of performing into a creator career

4 hours 2 min ago

Before O'Neil Thomas had millions of followers, he had a third-grade Christmas production and a serious case of stage fright.

But the nerves didn’t last past curtain call. Watching family members, faculty, and staff stand and applaud, he knew he wanted to keep performing. "I felt something really warm in my heart," Thomas tells Mashable. "I was like, 'I think this is something I want to do for the rest of my life.'"

By high school, he was studying performing arts, writing scripts, and filming YouTube sketches between classes and auditions. And as new platforms arrived, he kept finding new places to perform, learning what audiences responded to and how his comedy could work differently on each app.

Over the past decade, Thomas, 29, has grown his audience to more than six million across social media platforms, with fans following his social commentary, comedy sketches — like his YouTube series Shady Family — and viral recreations, including his take on Beyoncé's Grammy-award-winning album Cowboy Carter's cover art (which earned a shoutout from her team). But his latest project brings that work back to the passion that started it all: acting.

His vertical "microdrama", the 7:33 minute Investigator, Investigator, was selected for New York's inaugural Alza Film Festival, held Oct. 16–18, where he also joined a conversation aptly titled "What Does Creator Even Mean" to discuss the increasingly blurred lines between creators, filmmakers, actors, and producers, especially as the vertical series boom is getting bigger.

For Mashable's Creator Playbook, Thomas sat down with deputy editor Olivia Tauber ahead of the festival to explore his beginnings as a performer, how he brings an actor's approach to content creation, the comedians who inspire him, and how he gives viewers a reason to keep coming back.

Credit: O'Neil Thomas/Mashable

Mashable: You started out as an actor before becoming a creator. What drew you to acting, and how did that transition happen?

O’Neil Thomas: Honestly, it all started in the third grade. That’s when I found my calling for acting. I was in our first-ever Christmas production, and it was my first time ever onstage. I was terrified when I was first doing it.

But something about doing the lines, getting off the stage, and then, at the end, for curtain call, where all the cast and crew are on the stage, and I see all the family, the faculty, staff just standing up and clapping — I felt something really warm in my heart. I was like, "I think this is something I want to do for the rest of my life."

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Ever since that moment, I just went full-fledged into learning about comedy and acting, sketch comedy and everything. When I got into high school, I went there for performing arts. Whenever I wasn’t auditioning or in classes, I was just putting myself on camera. So I kind of learned the ropes as I went along.

I’d write my own little scripts and make my own little YouTube sketches, and just really enjoyed doing that. Over time, as more apps came to grow, I kept finding myself on a new platform, really testing it out and learning how to write my own stuff.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. 

What did you learn about making content for different platforms?

I learned that each platform has its own purpose, which I do love, because you don’t want different platforms to all serve the same way.

I like to credit my previous work on other platforms, like Vine and YouTube growing up. I really learned to study the algorithm and study what the audience is saying in the comment section. From there, I can learn, okay. This short-form works best on this platform. This long-form works best on this platform.

It’s a really fun challenge. One of my series that’s really popular now is a short-form series, Shady Family, but I’ve been able to transition it into a full-fledged, long-form episodic series.

I think that’s definitely something I've learned while cross-posting. Each thing has its own purpose, and once you know how to reach your audience and meet them where they are, you’re good.

Take me through your creative process.

It depends on the day, the week, the planning. There are some times that I do fully strategize and execute, like, here’s this episode that’s going to release this day, this week, this month. I have that scripted series that I take more time to nurture and really grow.

Then there’s also the occasion where I’m scrolling, and something really funny is going on. There’s a really funny conversation happening, and I want to throw my hat into the race.

When it comes to my scripted stuff, I really have to sit down in my own writers' room. I’m on my laptop somewhere in my house, and I break it down into an outline. What’s the overall story that I want to tell for this episode, and how do I see myself from start to finish?

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From there, I’m able to put in some jokes. I love writing the jokes in real time because I’m able to test it out. I kind of know how it’s going to respond, so I’m able to add a joke in, take something out. Maybe it’s not working well, or maybe this one isn’t the right time for it.

It’s more of a full-fledged showrunner process when it comes to my scripted stuff. I can just pop my camera in front of my face and press record [for other videos].

Are there comedians, actors, or creators who inspire you?

Honestly, I want to say it kind of changes. But as of right now, Druski is a huge one. I love Druski’s commitment to his craft, and it’s something that I find really admirable, especially in the social landscape that we’re in.

He’s someone I can really admire, who can take my concept to the next level and hire a whole production company for it.

SEE ALSO: Is Druski hosting 'SNL'? Here's why it would be a big deal for internet creators.

Quinta Brunson is also a huge role model for me because she’s able to navigate the social landscape and transition into the traditional TV space, which I absolutely love. I love the writing styles. I love their comedy, and I’m really inspired by them, for sure.

Building an audience is one thing, but getting people to stick around is another. What do you think has helped you do both?

I feel, number one, it’s how I show up on the platform, and I show up as authentically myself.

I think we’re in an age now where a lot of people do want to try this, and they see the success behind it. We’re still in the really scary world of perception, and I do not care about being perceived at all.

I think that resonates really well with my audience. They love seeing me whenever I show up. I can see a trend and add my own funny twist to it to really make it my own.

They say that they see a lot of themselves in me. It also makes me feel like that’s another good reason why they want to stick around, just to see what else I’m up to, what else I’m creating, and what else I’m doing.

Read more of our creator coverage, sign up for our Trending Now and Top Stories newsletters or get Mashable push alerts to discover the internet's most exciting voices. 

OpenAI says GPT-5.6-Sol helped find the PHP flaws now shaking the internet

4 hours 6 min ago

OpenAI says its AI models helped uncover the critical PHP security flaws that have websites across the internet scrambling.

In a blog post on Wednesday, the company said it had spent the past two months leading a coalition of PHP maintainers, security researchers, and security companies to deal with the vulnerabilities, now nicknamed "PHP2SHELL." In its own Wednesday blog post, the PHP foundation thanked OpenAI, among other industry partners and cybersecurity researchers.

The newly exposed flaws could allow attackers to take over servers running PHP, the programming language behind a large share of the web. OpenAI called the bugs one of the most impactful security problems in recent memory.

SEE ALSO: PHP vulnerability: PHP security issues today explained

According to OpenAI, security firm Calif found one of the critical flaws using the company’s GPT-5.6 Sol model as part of Patch the Planet, an OpenAI security program. Security company Wiz also discovered and reported both vulnerabilities on its own, OpenAI said. PHP’s maintainers led the work on the fixes. OpenAI, Wiz, Cloudflare, and other partners contributed research and helped prepare protections before the flaws went public.

OpenAI President Greg Brockman added more detail in a post on X. He said PHP was the first programming language he learned, which gave him a personal connection to the work.

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According to Brockman, the bug had existed in PHP for 14 years. A smaller version of it was found in 2024, but wasn’t treated as serious at the time. Calif found a version of the bug in August, and OpenAI’s own team independently found a more complete version in September.

The coalition planned to disclose the flaws on Oct. 22, Brockman said, but details leaked early, and PHP’s maintainers released the fixes a day sooner. He said the two months of preparation still mattered, because the fixes were complicated and an earlier leak could have caused far more damage.

OpenAI said it also worked with U.S. government agencies on the response, including the White House’s Super Intelligence Force, the Office of the National Cyber Director, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

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OpenAI says PHP won’t be the last case of this kind. The company said it has already found several other serious vulnerabilities and expects similar discoveries to rise sharply in the coming months. Brockman pointed to a separate remote code execution flaw that Node.js, another widely used web technology, disclosed on Wednesday.

This year, new AI models like GPT-5.6-Sol and Claude Mythos have led to a rapid rise in bug discoveries, pushing some zero-day bug initiatives to shut down entirely, as Mashable reported previously.

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Brockman wrote that the current way of handling bugs like these is "slow and manual," and won’t scale as AI gets better at finding them. OpenAI is now asking the security community for feedback on a new process for coordinating disclosures. One idea that floats is having governments or other authorized defenders constantly scan the internet for vulnerable systems. They would warn site owners when they find one and, in extreme cases, patch the systems themselves.

OpenAI also acknowledges the risk in its pitch. The same AI capabilities that helped find these bugs could help attackers build exploits faster. To put more of those tools in defenders’ hands, the company says it has committed $1 billion toward subsidized access to its security tools for organizations that protect essential services. It is also releasing a tool that helps site operators check whether they’re running a vulnerable version of PHP.

Meanwhile, the internet is having a week

The patch scramble has been very visible. Wikipedia went down Wednesday morning, and the Wikimedia Foundation confirmed to Mashable that the outage was tied to the PHP vulnerabilities. The foundation said it had taken other systems offline as a precaution until they could be safely patched.

Other popular sites have also gone down or posted maintenance notices. According to Downdetector, sites having trouble in the midst of the PHP issues include Asana, GOG, Duolingo, Capital One, Bitbucket, Moodle, Quest Diagnostics, Final Fantasy XIV, War Thunder, and the Internet Archive. Most haven’t said whether their problems are connected to PHP, but, again, the programming language runs much of the internet.

Even outside of the response from the cybersecurity arm of the U.S. government, other world leaders are getting involved too. Japan’s prime minister made an unusual public appeal on X, urging anyone who runs a website to act that night, according to a translation of the Japanese-language post.

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The PM asked site owners to check whether their public websites use PHP and to install the fix as soon as it was released at 11 p.m. Japan time on Oct. 21, which matches PHP’s 10 a.m. ET release.

For most people, the impact should be limited to some sites being temporarily unavailable. Regular users don’t need to install anything, since the fix is up to the companies running the sites.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

Delivery robots scan faces and collect customer biometric data, lawsuit alleges

4 hours 11 min ago

Two Chicago men are suing delivery robot companies Coco Robotics and Serve Robotics for allegedly collecting their biometric information without consent.

The two separate class action lawsuits were filed earlier this month. Both claim that the robots' external cameras and internal LiDAR technology are used to scan and collect measurements of customers' faces and hands as they approach the devices. That data was then retained and used to train AI systems, according to the plaintiffs, and attached to personally identifiable information like names and addresses.

SEE ALSO: Judge asked to toss 60-year prison sentence over use of Flock cameras

One suit filed against Coco Robotics claims the company didn't disclose to customers that its device would scan and collect information, thereby violating Illinois privacy laws. It also extends the privacy violation claim to the use of remote human operators, who were allegedly able to watch the delivery and scanning in real-time.

The two cases similarly hinge on the fact that neither customer chose to use delivery robots will ordering food, but were instead assigned to robots by the company after placing their orders. Their data was then sold to third parties, including OpenAI, the plaintiffs claim. The lawsuits cite company disclosures indicating that video and sensor data can be licensed for AI training.

Both Serve Robotics and Coco Robotics provide robotic delivery services for popular food delivery platforms, including DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. The companies have denied the claims in the lawsuits, stating that the data they collect is navigational and shared with third parties to improve their services.

"This lawsuit fundamentally misunderstands our technology, we have not collected biometric data in Chicago," a spokesperson for Coco Robotics said in a statement.

A Serve Robotics spokesperson said that the company does not use sensor data to identify customers or create biometric profiles.

Early Black Friday deals from Samsung include gaming monitors, TVs, and the Galaxy S26 Ultra

5 hours 46 min ago
Early Black Friday Samsung deals at a glance Best TV deal Samsung 65-Inch Class S85H Series OLED 4K TV $1,297.99 (save $300) Get Deal Best gaming monitor deal Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 $329.99 (save $170) Get Deal Best Samsung unlocked phone deal Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra (256GB) $979.99 (save $420) Get Deal Best Samsung storage deal Samsung SSD 990 PRO 2TB $409.99 (save $220) Get Deal

Black Friday has come earlier than ever this year. We have great options if you're shopping for outdoor gear, kitchen upgrades, and the best toys of the year. Black Friday creeping earlier and earlier isn't such a bad thing. That simply gives us shoppers more time to find the perfect gift at the best price.

Samsung's lineup of TVs, gaming monitors, phones, and internal storage are all seeing nice discounts. Shopping these early deals means you'll be in great shape for streaming new fall shows, playing upcoming game releases, and keeping family entertained during their holiday visits.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday 2026 deals: See holiday gift guides from Amazon, The Home Depot, Nordstrom, Ulta, and more

We've collected the best Samsung deals below if you're ready to get holiday shopping off your to-do list.

Best Samsung TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch Class S85H Series OLED 4K TV $1,297.99 at Amazon
$1,597.99 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Since winter is hibernation season, it's important to go in with plenty of entertainment options. You have your streaming services all set up and gaming options on hand, but if your TV isn't up to the task, the entertainment can suffer. Before the holidays begin, upgrade to the 65-inch Samsung Class S85H Series OLED 4K TV. The OLED display is perfect for clarity and crisp images, whether that's Christmas movies or playing the new GTA 6.

Best Samsung gaming monitor deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey OLED G5 $329.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $170   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Without going wild on price or size, the 27-inch Samsung Odyssey OLED G5 gaming monitor is the perfect winter upgrade. Refresh rate reaches 180Hz and response time measures 0.03ms for a smooth gaming experience. Plus, it'll be a great additional monitor for working from home during the holdiays.

Anthropic’s AI safety bill would pause AI models if 50+ people could die

5 hours 52 min ago

As concern grows regarding the dangers of artificial intelligence, AI regulation has become a hot topic in both Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C.

AI giant Anthropic, the maker of Claude, has been pitching its own set of AI safety rules to lawmakers, and Politico recently obtained a confidential draft of the company's proposals.

So, what's in Anthropic's proposed AI safety bill? Let's just say at least some of these proposals is eye-opening, to say the least.

According to the document obtained by Politico, Anthropic's AI safety bill would only allow the government to block the release of an AI model if it posed a "foreseeable, imminent risk" of causing more than $1 billion in damages or the death or serious injury of more than 50 people.

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Furthermore, the risk from the AI model must be related specifically to a cyberattack, a developer losing control over a model, or the creation or release of a biological weapon.

How would such risks be determined?

According to the proposal seen by Politico, independent evaluators would periodically analyze an AI lab and its models. If the evaluators find that there is an "imminent enumerated risk" from a model, they would report it to the U.S. Commerce Department within 72 hours. The Commerce Department would then decide if the threshold for a risk requires a request for a judge to block the release of the model. 

Under Anthropic's bill, only a federal judge in Washington, D.C., could suspend a model. In fact, the bill specifically prohibits any other "department, agency, or officer" from having the authority to suspend an AI model.

Interestingly, what's not prohibited is who funds the independent evaluators. In fact, Anthropic's proposal explicitly states that evaluators can be paid by AI labs, as long as the payment does not influence their findings, according to Politico.

This raises an obvious question: How would one prove that an evaluator isn't influenced by where their funding comes from? In addition, it seems that, based on this reported bill, $999,999,999 in damages or the death of 49 people would not trigger the process necessary to pause a model. 

As numerous outlets have pointed out, Anthropic's AI bill closely resembles bills that recently passed in California, like SB 53. With that said, though, AI companies such as Anthropic all provided input that led to the creation of the final bill.

With the number of "rogue" AI agent incidents seemingly increasing, it does seem like AI safety laws and regulation are a necessity at this point. But it's unclear just how much of a role AI companies themselves should play in crafting those laws, especially if we're seeing proposals that include supposedly neutral regulators being paid by the very companies they are supposed to regulate.

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Travel in style with 15% off a set of Samsonite Octiv Pro luggage

6 hours 2 min ago

SAVE $94.50: As of Oct. 21, get the Samsonite Octiv Pro 3-Piece Hardside Luggage for $535.49 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $629.99. That's a discount of 15%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Samsonite Octiv Pro 3-Piece Hardside Luggage $535.49 at Amazon
$629.99 Save $94.50   Get Deal at Amazon

Thinking of getting some traveling in over the holidays? You'll want to be prepared with a good set of luggage to help get you from point A to point B. Amazon is already offering several deals you can shop ahead of the rush to make sure you're in good shape to see family and the world throughout the rest of the year, and we've found one deal you won't want to miss.

As of Oct. 21, get the Samsonite Octiv Pro 3-Piece Hardside Luggage for $535.49 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $629.99. That's $94.50 off and a discount of 15%.

SEE ALSO: It's Black Friday again — here's how to use a Visa gift card to shop

This 3-piece lightweight hardsided luggage set has everything you need to pack for your trip, from start to finish. There's a perfectly-sized carry-on bag as well as both medium and large checked luggage bags. All are expandable and use spinner wheels as well, so you can carry them around the airport or to your destination with ease.

The telescopic handle on each piece of luggage can adjust to 8 different lengths so you can comfortably adapt, no matter what your height. Plus, the spinner wheels absorb shock to make for steadier movement across the airport or on bumpy terrain if you've got to hoof it to your car. There's also a TSA-approved lock on each bag for another layer of added protection, just in case you need additional security.

Pack up all your things with peace of mind and save some cash while you're at it with this deal and you'll be more than ready to travel now that the year is coming to an end.

Hello Nancy put over $248 worth of sex toys in a $79 Halloween mystery box — and Im here for it

6 hours 13 min ago

Halloween is about a week and a half away, and I'm definitely in the spooky szn spirit (now that it's socially acceptable to be; please see my thoughts on premature pumpkin spicing). Meanwhile, brands across every industry are doing the most to get your attention and your cash.

One brand that's yet to let me down is Hello Nancy, and they've got the cutest Halloween treat for their customers (literally no tricks in this one): a brand-new three-toy Halloween collection launching with a special-edition blind box drop. More on the toys below.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 100+ sex toys. Here are the 15 most mind-blowing toys I've ever owned.

This is Hello Nancy's first-ever mystery box, and each one comes with two toys: a brand-new, exclusive Halloween toy valued at $149.99 and a Hello Nancy fave worth at least $99, according to the brand. That's over $248 worth of goodies for $79!

If you want first dibs, you can sign up for priority access — but you'd better hurry. Only 5,000 mystery boxes are available, and as of this writing, just 970 were left. The priority-access link expires today, Oct. 21, and the public sale opens tomorrow, Oct. 22, at 8 a.m. ET. According to the website, there won't be a restock, so this isn't one to leave sitting in your cart. My review sample is already in the mail, so I'll report back.

Bonus: 10 "Golden Lem" tickets are hidden at random among the boxes. If you get one, you can redeem it for an exclusive gold-plated collectible inspired by Hello Nancy's Lem toy (read: a display piece, not a functioning toy). It's like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but like, so much better.

Meet the monsters

So, who's potentially coming home with you? The Halloween collection includes three new toys: Jack, Lemmy, and Medusa. You won't get to pick which one lands in your mystery box, but here's a peek at the lineup.

Jack The cutest little sucker. Credit: Hello Nancy

Jack is a pumpkin-shaped suction vibrator with no face (thank God). I haven't tried it yet, but if it's anything like the Lem, I'd be pretty happy to find this one in my box. It has 11 levels of pulsating air suction, plus seven vibration speeds and three patterns, and you can use the suction and vibration separately or together. It's also 100 percent waterproof and charges via USB-C.

Lemmy Quite the mouth on this one. Credit: Hello Nancy

Lemmy is a little freakier-looking, but the design totally makes sense. The soft lips form a seal around your clitoris, while a little "tongue" inside does the licking. There are three suction levels and a long-suction mode for those of you who like a longer pull, plus three licking speeds and six patterns. You can use the suction and the licking separately or together.

Medusa Looks scary. I'm into it. Credit: Hello Nancy Medusa

Medusa is the scariest-looking of them all (rightfully so), but it's also the one I'm most hoping to get. This dual-stimulation toy has an insertable pink tentacle that swirls inside you and a vibrating yellow tip that stimulates your clitoris. It has three speeds and seven patterns, and you can use either function on its own or together.

If you miss out on a mystery box, the Halloween toys will also be available individually — so yes, you can get all three.

PHP vulnerability: PHP security issues today explained

6 hours 16 min ago

The team behind PHP released emergency security updates on Wednesday to fix two critical vulnerabilities, a day after details about the flaws leaked online.

The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is urging organizations to install the fix immediately.

What is PHP?

PHP is a programming language that runs on web servers. When you load a webpage, PHP often runs behind the scenes, retrieving data from databases and building the page before it reaches your browser. BleepingComputer notes that it powers many websites, including content management systems, online stores, and custom web services. According to the NCSC, PHP is also built into a range of other products.

The NCSC says the two flaws, tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, could allow an attacker to run their own commands on a PHP-based server without logging in. This is called remote code execution, and it’s one of the most serious kinds of security bugs.

According to the NCSC, an attacker could overload PHP’s memory to corrupt it, then, under certain conditions, use that corruption to take control of the server. One of the flaws involves how PHP processes form submissions and file uploads.

PHP rated each flaw 9.2 out of 10 on CVSS, the industry’s standard severity scale. Security firm watchTowr described them as a perfect 10, BleepingComputer reported, and so did an anonymous Hacker News post that has since been deleted. Researchers have started calling the bugs "PHP2SHELL."

The fixes were originally planned for a coordinated release later this week, so companies would have time to prepare. Then, information about the flaws leaked early. Speaking to BleepingComputer, watchTowr CEO Benjamin Harris said the vulnerabilities are "indeed real" and affect PHP versions 5 through 8. The firm said it had reproduced one of them.

PHP moved its release up to 10 a.m. ET Wednesday. As of Tuesday, watchTowr said it hadn’t seen anyone exploiting the flaws. By Wednesday, Cloudflare CTO Dane Knecht said on X that the company was seeing early attacks, according to BleepingComputer.

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The NCSC says organizations running PHP 5 or later are affected and should update to the latest fixed version. Anyone still using an older, unsupported version should move to a supported one.

Wikipedia impacted by PHP vulnerability

Wikipedia went down for a time on Wednesday, and the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that runs the site, confirmed to Mashable that the outage was tied to the PHP vulnerabilities.

In a statement to Mashable through email, the foundation said it is working to address the flaws in PHP, which it described as the programming language behind most wikis, including its own projects. "This issue affects all known versions of PHP, and is not specific to the Wikimedia Foundation," the statement said.

The foundation added that all of its PHP-based systems are affected, along with volunteer-run systems that use PHP. It has also taken several other systems offline as a precaution until they can be safely patched. Wikipedia was back up as of this writing.

Who else is affected, and what should you do?

If you only browse the web, there’s nothing for you to install. The fix is up to the people who run websites.

If you run a website, blog, or online store, check whether it uses PHP and make sure it’s up to date. If a hosting company manages your site, contact them to confirm they’ve applied the patch.

For organizations, the NCSC recommends:

  • Finding every system that runs PHP, starting with the ones reachable from the internet.

  • Watching for updates from vendors whose products include PHP.

  • Taking systems offline if they can’t be fixed quickly.

  • Checking any system that couldn’t be updated right away for signs of a break-in.

Cloudflare has added emergency firewall rules designed to block suspicious requests linked to the flaws. The rules are available to all its customers, including those on free plans.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters or get Mashable push alerts today.

Android 17 QPR3 Beta 2: Everything new, everything fixed

6 hours 18 min ago

There's a new Android beta out there for your perusal.

Google has released the second beta for the third quarterly platform release of Android 17, available for installation on Pixel devices now. You can install it now by enrolling your device in Google's beta program. Sometimes, these betas come packed with lots of exciting new toys to play with, on top of various bug fixes. This is not necessarily one of those times.

SEE ALSO: iPhone vs. Android on privacy-invasive bloatware: Which lets users remove pre-installed apps?

According to Google's release notes, as well as some reporting by 9to5Google, there are a couple of small new features and a bunch of fixes in this update. One new feature is the ability to require a phone unlock in order to change quick settings like Bluetooth, WiFi, and airplane mode. Normally, you can do that from the lock screen. There are also new themes, custom icons, and weather effects for your phone's wallpaper to play around with.

As for the rest of the update, it sounds like it's mostly unexciting (but probably necessary) bug fixes. Google fixed an issue that caused phones to crash and reboot during normal use, as well as another one that caused devices to shut down unexpectedly during WhatsApp video calls. Apparently, paired smartwatches were also seeing an issue where they would continue ringing even after a phone call was answered. That has been fixed, among other smaller issues.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Why you cant see You Can See Everything (and when that might change)

6 hours 21 min ago

A24's You Can See Everything has swiftly become the must-see movie in theaters across the U.S.

Opening on Oct. 16, the critically acclaimed documentary from Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim about Elizabeth Holmes made a remarkable $15 million over the weekend, coming in #2 behind Street Fighter. More incredibly, You Can See Everything managed to earn the biggest opening of any documentary of the decade, while running nearly three hours and debuting in limited release.

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Yes, the internet is obsessed with You Can See Everything, championing the doc as a movie one must see in theaters with a crowd. But opening in fewer than 1,000 theaters, the film has become a hard-to-get ticket. The New York Times reported the film sold out over 2,000 showtimes so far.

"You Can See Everything showtimes" is a trending search term on Google, and aspiring moviegoers are expressing frustrations online about sold-out screenings.

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And yet those are the lucky ones, as others on X lamented that You Can See Everything is not playing at a theater near them.

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But there's good news for those desperate to get tickets.

When is You Can See Everything expanding to more theaters?

A24 took to X to announce You Can See Everything will expand to more than 2,500 screens in its second weekend.

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And if you don't know why A24 used an image of hands holding a yellow bowl to accompany the announcement, just you wait.

Mashable has reached out to A24 for more details on You Can See Everything's theatrical expansion, and will update accordingly.

You Can See Everything is now playing in theaters. Find available showtimes at Fandango. 

Internet Archive, Wikipedia outages: What we know

6 hours 21 min ago

Updated on Oct. 21 at 12:03 p.m. ET — A spokesperson for the Wikimedia Foundation, which runs Wikipedia, told Mashable that the outage was related to newly discovered security vulnerabilities in PHP, which is what Wikipedia is built on.

“The Wikimedia Foundation is currently in the process of addressing security vulnerabilities in PHP, the programming language that underpins most wikis, including the Wikimedia projects. This issue affects all known versions of PHP, and is not specific to the Wikimedia Foundation," the spokesperson said. "All Foundation-supported systems and volunteer-run systems that use PHP are affected. We have taken down a number of other systems as a precautionary measure until they can be safely patched.”

Two of the best internet repositories of information appeared to go down on Wednesday morning.

Visitors to both the Internet Archive and Wikipedia, to be more specific, reported outages at the start of hump day. According to DownDetector, both sites started experiencing problems sometime around 10 or 11 a.m. ET. Mashable reached out to the Internet Archive for comment, and we will update this article if we hear back.

As of this writing, the Internet Archive website, the host of the popular Wayback Machine, which lets users see historical versions of popular webpages, returned a connection timeout error message for Mashable reporters. (The Wikipedia website was still accessible, however.)

The Internet Archive confirmed the site was experiencing problems in a message posted to X on Wednesday morning:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

The Wikimedia status page listed an ongoing incident for Oct. 21 with the following message: "Unresolved incident: Emergency Maintenance."

SEE ALSO: Google Cloud outage: Revolut down as multiple services experience issues That's less than ideal. Credit: Screenshot: DownDetector So is that. Credit: Screenshot: DownDetector

It's unclear if these outages are related to each other in any way, aside from the fact that both sites are famous places to find access to information online.

This story is developing...

Dunkin is giving away 1 million free coffees on Oct. 21 — how to claim with live code

6 hours 27 min ago

TL;DR: Dunkin' is giving away 1 million free coffees on Oct. 21. Enter the code SIZEDOESNTMATTER in your app's "Offers & Rewards" section. The free coffee certificate is valid for five days after the promo code is entered, with a limit of 1 redemption per customer.

Here we go again.

Dunkin’ is giving away 1 million free coffees on Oct. 21. Is that déjà vu? Dunkin' does this sort of thing fairly regularly, and the process of claiming your freebie remains the same.

How to get a free coffee from Dunkin'

The promo code SIZEDOESNTMATTER was dropped by Dunkin on Oct. 21. The first 1 million customers to enter the promo code in the “Offers & Rewards” section of the Dunkin’ Donuts app can redeem a free coffee. The free coffee certificate is valid for five days after it is entered.

Here are the steps you need to take to claim:

  • Make sure you're a Dunkin' Rewards member

  • Open the Dunkin' app and go to the "Offers & Rewards" section

  • Enter the code SIZEDOESNTMATTER to claim your free coffee

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB is way under market price at Amazon — shop now for just $59.99

6 hours 50 min ago

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is available for $59.99 at Amazon. Due to high demand, shoppers need to request an invite to buy.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box $59.99 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon

Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box preorders first dropped for $89.99 at Amazon. We've then been stuck at $159.99 for some time, but now Amazon has dropped a stunning deal.

The Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box is currently listed for just $59.99 on Amazon, with shipping and sales handled directly by Amazon. Demand for the product remains high, so Amazon is still routing orders through its "request invite" system.

At $59.99, Amazon’s price is way under TCGplayer’s $120 market price. We expect the deal to sell like wild, so we suggest that anyone interested should request an invite to buy immediately. Seriously, do not delay. This deal could disappear at any time.

The 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box offers nine 30th Celebration booster packs, an exclusive full-art foil Nidorina promo card, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, 65 custom card sleeves, damage-counter dice, a condition marker, card dividers, a collector’s player guide, and a code card for Pokémon TCG Live.

Shop the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration ETB for just $59.99 at Amazon.

Score discounts on appliances, tools, and more with the best early Black Friday Home Depot deals

6 hours 51 min ago
The best early Black Friday Home Depot deals Best Early Black Friday Home Depot Refrigerator Deal LG 3-Door French Door Refrigerator $1610 (Save $1489) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Home Depot Range Deal GE 4-Burner Free-Standing Electric Range $649 (Save $289) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Home Depot Washer Deal LG Stackable SMART Front Load Washer $902 (Save $350) Get Deal Best Early Black Friday Home Depot Tool Deal DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $179 (Save $60) Get Deal

Looking to pick up new home appliances, tools, or something to make your home life easier? Look no further, because The Home Depot’s early Black Friday sale is already live, more than a month ahead of the Nov. 27 holiday.

The retailer has already slashed prices on a number of tools, appliances, smart home gear, and much more, so you don't have to wait until you're stuffed to the gills with turkey to score some fantastic deals.

We’ve been sorting through some of the early deals to find the ones that are most worth your money, and there’s a lot to work with. If you’ve got a renovation planned, a kitchen to upgrade, or a house to decorate before the in-laws show up, this is a good time to start filling a cart.

Keep reading to check out some of the best early Black Friday Home Depot deals if you want to beat the crowds both online and offline.

Best early Black Friday Home Depot refrigerator deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot LG 3-Door French Door Refrigerator $1,610 at The Home Depot
$3,099 Save $1,489   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

This 28-cubic-foot French door refrigerator fits a 36-inch opening, so it's compact enough for smaller kitchens while still offering plenty of storage space. Its stainless finish wipes clean without showing fingerprints, and a vent at the top of each door pushes cold air toward the bins where condiments and drinks usually warm up first. At the bottom, the full-width freezer drawer has a sliding upper tray that keeps smaller items from getting lost in the pile. Plus, it makes slow-melting round Craft Ice alongside regular cubes, so you’ve got the right ice for a cocktail or water bottle without a separate machine. It's a great addition to your kitchen and won't cost an arm and a leg.

Best early Black Friday Home Depot range deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot GE 4-Burner Free-Standing Electric Range $649 at The Home Depot
$929 Save $280   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

Looking to get more cooking done? Be more efficient with this 30-inch electric range with four elements under a smooth glass cooktop, including one that switches between a 6-inch and 9-inch ring. It has a a steam clean cycle that loosens light spills with water and a short heating run instead of the hours and heat of a traditional self-clean. Plus, its stainless steel knobs are a nice touch that you can match to other aspects of your kitchen.

Best early Black Friday Home Depot washer deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot LG Stackable SMART Front Load Washer $902 at The Home Depot
$1,299 Save $397   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

Give yourself a laundry upgrade with this stackable front loader. It has a TurboWash 360 cycle that can get a full load of clothes clean in under 30 minutes by spraying from five jets at once. The machine even connects to LG’s ThinQ app, which lets you start a cycle from your phone or get a notification when the load finishes. Get through that massive basket of clothes or towels in record time with the extra space and additional features and spend less at the same time.

Best early Black Friday Home Depot cordless tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot DeWalt 20V Max Cordless Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit $179 at The Home Depot
$239 Save $60   Get Deal at The Home Depot Why we like it

The drill/driver and impact driver in this DeWalt kit are both compact enough to fit between studs and under cabinets, so it can handle a variety of jobs. It has an LED light that illuminates whatever you’re working on as well, so you don't have to struggle with visibility when handling each project. The drill uses a 1/2-inch ratcheting chuck that holds bits tight without a key, while the impact driver’s hex chuck lets you load and swap bits with one hand. You also get two 20V Max batteries, a charger, and a carrying bag to make a complete tool kit that's perfect for DIY jobs or handing over to repair enthusiasts.

More early Black Friday Home Depot deals

When is You Can See Everything streaming? What we know.

6 hours 51 min ago

Nathan Fielder teamed with director Lance Oppenheim for the Elizabeth Holmes documentary You Can See Everything. And as bonkers as this configuration of facts sounds, the resulting three-hour movie is even wilder than you can predict.

SEE ALSO: Does 'You Can See Everything' live up to the hype?

Critics are raving. Audiences are selling out showtimes to the tune of 2,000 over the opening weekend. And soon, more moviegoers will have a chance to see You Can See Everything as distributor A24 expands its U.S. theatrical release.

But what if you'd rather ignore the advice from fans saying this movie is a must-see in theaters with a crowd and experience it at home? Or perhaps you just want to know when you can see it again to replay, pause, and freak out on every tiny detail in your own time?

Want more film and TV news and reviews delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable’s Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

When will You Can See Everything be streaming?

A24 has not yet announced plans for You Can See Everything's streaming release.

However, in terms of speculation, Forbes notes that this distributor tends to release titles to digital streaming via premium video-on-demand 31 to 38 days after their theatrical debut. Recent examples using such a streaming strategy include The Drama, The Death of Robin Hood, and Tony.

However, when an A24 movie is crushing at the box office — as You Can See Everything currently is — that window tends to be longer. For instance, the horror hit Backrooms opened on May 29 and didn't come out until July 14 — 46 days later.

Then there's the Oscar campaign question. If You Can See Everything is going to contend for Academy Awards, A24 might keep it off streaming for longer. That strategy would encourage potential voters to see the film in theaters. This not only improves the audience's focus on the film (being less distracted by their phones for one thing), but also offers viewers the chance to enjoy the community experience of seeing You Can See Everything with a crowd.

SEE ALSO: Why the internet says 'You Can See Everything' must be seen in theaters

Last year, when A24 was campaigning Marty Supreme for award season, the studio withheld a digital release for 45 days. However, that movie opened on Christmas Day. So, between You Can See Everything's box office promise, its awards potential, and its fall release date, Fielder fans might have to wait even longer for this title to be available at home if Oscar gold is A24's goal.

But let's say, theoretically, that A24 follows Backrooms or Marty Supreme's digital release plan. That would mean You Can See Everything would hit digital on Dec. 1.

Mashable has reached out to A24 for comment and will update this story when possible.

You Can See Everything is now playing in theaters. Find available showtimes at Fandango. 

Anker Black Friday deals are live: Save on earbuds, headphones, power banks, and more

7 hours 12 min ago
Best early Black Friday Anker deals at a glance Best headphones deal Soundcore Anker Space 2 $106.49 (save $23.50) Get Deal Best earbuds deal Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 $199.99 (save $30) Pre-Order Here Best robot vacuum and mop deal Anker Eufy E35 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $999.99 (save $300 with on-page coupon) Get Deal Best speaker deal Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth Speaker $22.99 (save $12) Get Deal Best charger deal Anker 100W Max Ga-N Charger $59.99 (save $10) Get Deal Best smart home deal Anker Eufy Permanent Outdoor Lights E22 (150 feet) $279.99 (save $210) Get Deal Best projector deal Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Portable Projector $599.99 (save $150) Get Deal Best security deal Anker Eufy Security Smart Lock C220 $99.97 (save $70.09) Get Deal

It's still October, but Black Friday from Anker has arrived. Early Black Friday deals are coming in hot this year, and that means it's time to get shopping. While the selection is good and shipping times are still normal, shopping early means you'll have tons of time to sip eggnog while relaxing.

SEE ALSO: Early Black Friday 2026 deals: See holiday gift guides from Amazon, The Home Depot, Nordstrom, Ulta, and more

Anker makes some of Mashable's favorite portable power stations, earbuds, headphones, charging devices, and even sleep earbuds for those who struggle with noise at night. If you're in need of any tech upgrades or have holiday gifts to purchase for tech-lovers, Anker is a great place to start.

Below, we've collected our favorite early Black Friday Anker deals. Check back as we keep this page updated with fresh deals as the holiday shopping season continues.

Best headphones deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Soundcore Anker Space 2 $106.49
$129.99 Save $23.50   Get Deal Why we like it

The Anker Soundcore Space 2 headphones are Mashable's top pick for the best budget noise-cancelling headphones. Lead Shopping Reporter Bethany Allard reviewed the headphones and noted they offer great performance, especially considering the price point. Battery life can last for up to 50 hours with ANC turned on and the memory foam ear cushions make for a comfortable experience.

Best earbuds deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 $199.99
$229.99 Save $30   Preorder Why we like it

Sleep is essential during the hectic holiday season. If you're having a hard time getting restorative sleep on account of environmental noise, a pair of sleep earbuds could help lull you off to sleep. With a launch date set for October, the new Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 mask noise disruptions like snoring.

They're designed to be comfortable enough to wear while sleeping, even for side sleepers. As a bonus for pre-ordering, Anker is offering $30 off.

Best portable power station deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix C1000 $499.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $100   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Fall and winter storm season is here. Instead of looking at a dwindling phone battery while sitting in the dark, plug your phone and a lamp into the Anker Solix C1000. It comes with 1,056Wh of battery capacity which can keep your devices charged up when grid power fails. The C1000 comes with six standard AC ports, two USB-C, and two USB-A which gives you room for plenty of simultaneous recharging.

Anker released a new Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station which is smaller and lighter than the original. However, I still enjoy the original more than the newer model in many ways, including a built-in lightbar and its ability to expand with extra batteries.

Best robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Eufy E35 Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo $999.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $300   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Coming with a major 35,000Pa suction power, the 2026 Eufy E35 is on sale for under $1,000 thanks to the on-page coupon at Amazon. Not only will it suck up dust and debris, the hot water mopping reaches up to 140 degrees. This model is great for those who deal with allergies since it's earned the prestigious Asthma & Allergy Friendly Certification from the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America.

Best projector deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Portable Projector $599.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $150   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

If you'll be spending the holidays watching your favorite Christmas movies or hosting parties, impress with a laser projector. The Anker Nebula Capsule 3 Laser projector weighs just two pounds but can project on a screen (or a wall) at up to 120 inches. I've packed along the Anker Nebula with me on a trip to Japan, camping adventures, and weekends away at the lake. It's a great entertainment companion, espeically when it's on sale.

Best speaker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go Bluetooth Speaker $22.99 at Amazon
$34.99 Save $12.00   Get Deal at Amazon Why we like it

Waterproof enough to take into the shower, the Anker Soundcore Select 4 Go speaker is one of Mashable's favorite Bluetooth speakers. The battery life on this budget model beats many high-end models and the sound is both vibrant and impressive when it comes to bass.

How to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance

7 hours 18 min ago

Dust off those Amazon gift cards — It's Black Friday season once again. With the best deals of the year at your fingertips, it's the perfect time to use that gift card you've had in your wallet for months. It's also a good way to stay within a budget.

If you want to check how much money you're working with on an existing gift card or reload one you've previously redeemed, we've got you covered. Follow the steps below to make sure your Amazon gift cards are ready for the biggest shopping event of the year. Happy shopping!

How to check your Amazon gift card balance on your desktop

Follow these quick steps to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance from your computer browser:

Total Time
  • 2 minutes
What You Need
  • Computer

Step 1: Navigate to Amazon

Open the Amazon website.

Step 2: Accounts & Lists

Click on Accounts & Lists in the top right corner of the screen.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website

Step 3: Select Gift cards

A new menu page will open on the website. Select Gift cards.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website

Step 4: Redeem or reload gift card

Once you click, you'll be able to see the existing balance on your gift card. If you are checking the balance on an unredeemed gift card and wish to redeem it, you can click on Redeem a Gift card. You can also opt to Reload your card in this menu or check your transaction history, which is listed below the gift card balance.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon website How to check your Amazon gift card balance in the app

Follow these simple steps to check or reload your Amazon gift card balance from your phone or tablet:

Total Time
  • 2 minutes
What You Need
  • Smartphone

Step 1: Go to Account

Open the app and click on the account icon at the bottom of the landing page (the little person illustration). Then choose Account at the top of the landing page.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 2: Navigate to Wallet

Under your Amazon highlights, click on the arrow to the right of the Wallet section.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

Step 3: Balances & rewards

In your Wallet, scroll down to the Balances & rewards section and select Amazon Gift Card.

Step 4: Check balance or reload

Use the new menu that opens to check your available gift card balance, redeem your gift card, reload your balance, or check past activity.

Credit: Screenshot: Amazon

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