Feed aggregator

What Is Agentic A.I., and Would You Trust It to Book a Flight?

NYT Technology - Tue, 11/25/2025 - 05:02
Companies are racing to develop artificial intelligence tools that can make reservations for flights, hotels and more on your behalf. Here’s what to know.

A.I. Can Do More of Your Shopping This Holiday Season

NYT Technology - Tue, 11/25/2025 - 05:01
New tools and features from retailers and tech companies use artificial intelligence to help people find gifts and make decisions about their shopping lists.

I’m a Professor. A.I. Has Changed My Classroom, but Not for the Worse.

NYT Technology - Tue, 11/25/2025 - 05:00
My students’ easy access to chatbots forced me to make humanities instruction even more human.

RealPage Agrees to Settle Federal Rent-Collusion Case

NYT Technology - Mon, 11/24/2025 - 19:39
The Justice Department had accused the real estate software company of enabling landlords to charge tenants more than free-market rates.

An Auto Holy Grail: Motors That Don’t Rely on Chinese Rare Earths

NYT Technology - Mon, 11/24/2025 - 12:06
Weary of being captive to geopolitics, car companies are looking for ways to replace powerful rare-earth magnets in electric motors.

What is Blockchain: Everything You Need to Know (2025)

Tech Crunch - Mon, 11/24/2025 - 04:21
window.location.href = "https://matrixdigests.blogspot.com/2025/11/what-is-blockchain-everything-you-need.html";

If you are not redirected, click here .

X Displays Users’ Locations, Fueling Scrutiny Over Political Accounts

NYT Technology - Mon, 11/24/2025 - 03:49
Online sleuths quickly found that some accounts posting about U.S. politics, including those in support of the MAGA movement, appeared not to be based in the United States.

How OpenAI’s Changes Sent Some Users Spiraling

NYT Technology - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 05:01
OpenAI adjusted ChatGPT’s settings, which left some users spiraling, according to our reporting. Kashmir Hill, who reports on technology and privacy, describes what the company has done about the users’ troubling reports.

What OpenAI Did When ChatGPT Users Lost Touch With Reality

NYT Technology - Sun, 11/23/2025 - 05:00
In tweaking its chatbot to appeal to more people, OpenAI made it riskier for some of them. Now the company has made its chatbot safer. Will that undermine its quest for growth?

A.I. Toy Bear Speaks of Sex, Knives and Pills, Consumer Group Warns

NYT Technology - Sat, 11/22/2025 - 16:10
The chatter left startled adults unsure whether they heard correctly. Testers warned that interactive toys like this one could allow children to stray into inappropriate exchanges.

Cryptology Group Held an Election, but Can’t Decrypt the Results

NYT Technology - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 17:13
A global group of researchers was unable to read the vote tally, after an official lost one of three secret code keys needed to unlock a hyper-secure election system.

The Fate of Google’s Ad Tech Monopoly Is Now in a Judge’s Hands

NYT Technology - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 15:19
A judge queried lawyers about whether a breakup made sense during closing arguments on how to fix the tech giant’s dominance in online advertising.

We Asked Roblox’s C.E.O. About Child Safety. It Got Tense.

NYT Technology - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 07:00
This week the company announced that it would require users to undergo an A.I.-powered age estimation process in order to chat with others on the platform. Will this change reassure parents?

Shop the best Samsung The Frame TV deals over Black Friday — record-low prices are live right now on Amazon and Best Buy

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 06:20
Best early Black Friday Samsung The Frame TV deals Best 55-inch Samsung The Frame TV deal Samsung 55-Inch Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K TV (2024) 799.99 (save $700) Get Deal Best 65-inch Samsung The Frame TV deal Samsung 65-Inch Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K TV (2024) 999.99 (save $1,000) Get Deal Best 75-inch Samsung The Frame TV deal Samsung 75-Inch Class The Frame Pro LS03FW 4K Neo QLED Mini LED TV (2025) 1997.99 (save $1,000) Get Deal

Black Friday doesn't officially start until Nov. 28, but most retailers have been dropping deals throughout the month. Best Buy and Amazon are leading the charge at this early stage, and that includes some of the most popular TVs from the biggest brands.

In particular, some of Samsung's The Frame TVs have dropped to seriously low prices. If you're unfamiliar with these TVs, they double as an art display when you're not watching, so you can throw up some nice artwork or photos to display when the TV isn't being used.

SEE ALSO: 2025 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, Kohl's, Target, Home Depot, and more

If you've had your eye on one of these sleek displays, we've gathered up some of the best early Black Friday deals from the likes of Best Buy, Amazon, and Walmart right now. As Black Friday continues, we'll be sure to update this with even more The Frame TV deals that cross our radar.

For now, check out our top discounted picks below. And for even more discounts on TVs, check out our breakdown of the best early Black Friday TV deals.

Best early Black Friday 55-inch Samsung The Frame TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-Inch Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K TV (2024) $799.99 at Best Buy
$1,499.99 Save $700   Get Deal Why we like it

If you're not looking to splash out on a massive TV ahead of the holidays, the 55-inch Samsung The Frame is a nice size to work with. And this discount is absolutely worth taking advantage of. Best Buy has slashed $700 off this model, making for almost 50% off its list price (46.7%, to be exact).

Down to $799.99, this TV will set you up with a 4K resolution, QLED display to catch all of your favorite shows and films in crisp, colorful quality. And for when it's not being used, it can display some lovely art, such as some pieces from New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Best early Black Friday 65-inch Samsung The Frame TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 65-Inch Class LS03D The Frame Series QLED 4K TV (2024) $999.99 at Best Buy
$1,999.99 Save $1,000   Get Deal Why we like it

For those looking to invest in a slightly larger TV for their home, Best Buy's also offering an excellent discount on its 65-inch Samsung The Frame TV. This model has dropped by a whopping $1,000 as part of the retailer's Black Friday sale, allowing you to scoop it up for $999.99 instead of $1,999.99.

Best early Black Friday 75-inch Samsung The Frame TV deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 75-Inch Class The Frame Pro LS03FW 4K Neo QLED Mini LED TV (2025) $1,997.99 at Amazon
$2,997.99 Save $1,000.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Samsung's 75-inch The Frame Pro is a great pickup for anyone hoping to go big this year. Over at Amazon, the Samsung 75-inch The Frame Pro has dropped from $2,997.99 to $1,997.99, saving you $1,000. It's worth noting that this TV is being sold by Walts TV. We generally don't recommend shopping with third-party sellers, so buyer beware. Check reviews and make your decision carefully.

This display is a Neo QLED TV, which Mashable's Leah Stodart described in her CES 2025 coverage as, "Samsung's term of endearment for mini LED, which offer more precise lighting due to their ability to be individually controlled, and the fact that there are more of them (compared to larger LED bulbs)." It also comes with Samsung's Vision AI and Pantone Validated Artful Color. To learn more, check out our breakdown of what to know about Samsung's The Frame Pro from when it was released.

More early Black Friday Samsung The Frame TV deals

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 06:10

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be a good time if you're familiar with Florida sports.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

  • Yellow: Splashing about

  • Green: Scoring

  • Blue: Player-related

  • Purple: Same first word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

  • Yellow: Four primary swimming strokes

  • Green: Touchdown

  • Blue: Associated with John Elway

  • Purple: Big ____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #424 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Four primary swimming strokes - BACK, BREAST, FLY, FREE

  • Touchdown - 6, PAYDIRT, TD, TUDDY

  • Associated with John Elway - 7, BRONCOS, NO. 1 PICK, STANFORD

  • Big ____ - 12, DANCE, LEAGUES, TEN

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for November 21, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 06:04

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Friday, Nov. 21, 2025:

AcrossPump iron

  • The answer is Lift.

Peer

  • The answer is Equal.

Like the music of Rick James and James Brown

  • The answer is Funky.

Animal that can't change its stripes, per an old adage

  • The answer is Tiger.

Pointed part of a fork

  • The answer is Tine.

DownDominant hand for Shohei Ohtani when batting, but not pitching

  • The answer is Left.

Resignation proclamation

  • The answer is I Quit.

Mushrooms, mold, mildew, etc.

  • The answer is Fungi.

"Is this seat ___?"

  • The answer is Taken.

U-shaped instrument in ancient Greece

  • The answer is Lyre.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

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

Nintendo Switch deals are live ahead of Black Friday: Best-ever prices on games, controllers, accessories, and more

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 06:03
Best early Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals at a glance: Best Nintendo Switch game deal Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition (Switch 1) $39.99 (save $45) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch Controller deal 8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Controller $55.99 (save $14) Get Deal Best Nintendo Switch Storage Deal Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express Card $99.49 (save $20.50) Get Deal

Wait a minute, before you go and waste your money on things you actually need this Black Friday like a washing machine and rent, you need to check out these Nintendo Switch/Switch 2 Black Friday deals. I'm just messing around, but there are some truly amazing early Black Friday Switch deals on controllers, accessories, and most importantly, games.

SEE ALSO: The 17 best Advent calendars to buy in November. Take advantage of early Black Friday sales.

Frankly, it's great to see deals on Nintendo Switch 2 games considering it hasn't been available for that long. There's plenty of stocking fillers and backlog stuffers to choose from right now. I've also labelled which each deal is compatible with the Switch 1, Switch 2, or both consoles, so you know exactly what you're buying.

Best early Black Friday Nintendo Switch game deal Opens in a new window Credit: Square Enix Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition (Switch 1) $39.99 at Amazon
$74.99 Save $35.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Nearly half off for every 2D Final Fantasy game? Yes please.There's some great quality of life upgrades spread across FF I-VI including an updated HUD, HD character sprites, a rearranged soundtrack by original composer Nobuo Uematsu, and auto battle options. Plus you get a free sticker sheet. Winner!

More Black Friday Nintendo Switch game dealsBest early Black Friday Nintendo Switch controller deal Opens in a new window Credit: 8BitDo 8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Controller $55.99 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.00   Get Deal Why we like it

Nice button action, amazing erganomics, and plenty of features such as complex macros, interchangable A, B, X, and Y buttons, and adjustable triggers. It's a very close call between the Pro 3 and the Ultimate 2 from 8BitDo, and don't get me started on the Arcade stick, but the Pro 3 wins for me personally. This gets picked up over my Switch Pro controller every day of the week.

More budget Black Friday Nintendo Switch controller dealsBest early Black Friday Nintendo Switch accessory deal Opens in a new window Credit: Lexar Lexar 512GB Play PRO microSD Express Card $99.49 at Amazon
$199.99 Save $100.50   Get Deal Why we like it

Getting twice the normal storage to plug into your Nintendo Switch 2 is a godsend if you're bringing a big Nintendo Switch library with you. This 512gb Lexar option does the job well with $20.50 knocked off, so you're getting all of this extra storage for less than $100. That's enough room to fit an extra 20-51 Nintendo Switch 2 games between 10-25GB in size and even more Switch 1 titles.

More Nintendo Switch accessory deals

The 5 best noise-cancelling earbuds include the most comfortable buds weve ever tested

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 06:00

Every top brand has its own take on ANC earbuds, each with a unique style and a plethora of features. Since you can't possibly try all the latest earbuds, the Mashable team has taken on the task of reviewing the best ANC earbuds for you.

We've recently updated this guide with our new favorite picks, including the Apple AirPods Pro 3 and second-generation Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds. The latter have already gone on sale ahead of Black Friday, but don't worry if the others haven't just yet — our team will be tracking the best headphones and earbuds deals all the way up to and through the shopping holiday.

SEE ALSO: I found 30+ early Black Friday tech deals I'd recommend to friends and family: Save on Apple, Samsung, DJI What are the best noise-cancelling earbuds? Not all earbuds are created equal — some are far more comfortable than others. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

While there are plenty of audio brands that provide good sound quality and noise cancellation, audio leaders Bose and Sony are in a league of their own. Not only do they offer phenomenal ANC, but they also make music and podcasts sound better. On a good pair of headphones, "Espresso" by Sabrina Carpenter sounds even catchier, somehow.

Earbuds usually aren't as comfortable as over-the-ear headphones. I know this well, as I've found many pairs of earbuds that just plain don't fit in my ear. Others are downright uncomfortable. Once again, Bose offers the most comfortable headphones and earbuds. However, Bose and Sony aren't the only brands out there. That's why we set out to test the best the market offers and see what makes a great pair of wireless earbuds.

How do noise-cancelling earbuds work? Noise-cancelling earbuds are small enough to slip in your pocket. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

All noise-cancelling headphones, including earbuds, have some passive noise cancellation. While over-the-ear headphones naturally block out noise by wrapping around the ears, earbuds don't block sound as effectively. Instead of covering your ears, wireless earbuds deliver sound directly into the ear canal to drown out other noises. They rely more on active noise cancellation (ANC) to reduce environmental noise.

ANC is an electronic process within the headphones. Internal microphones listen to your surroundings and then invert the sound, effectively canceling it. Sometimes, with noise-cancelling headphones and earbuds, you'll hear a slight buzzing or humming in the background, and that's the ANC at work. The best ANC earbuds shouldn't have this buzzing, however.

20+ early Black Friday gaming laptop deals: Score record lows on Alienware, ASUS, MSI, and more

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 05:42
Best early Black Friday gaming laptop deals at a glance: Best Budget Gaming Laptop Deal Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop $579.99 (save $170) Get Deal Best mid-range gaming laptop deal Acer Nitro V 16S AI Gaming Laptop $1,099.99 (save $200) Get Deal Best high-end gaming laptop deal ASUS ROG Strix G18 $2,109.99 (save $390) Get Deal

There's no better way to celebrate the holidays than getting an awesome Black Friday deal on a gaming laptop and ignoring the entire family. I'm only half joking, but Black Friday really is the best time of year to upgrade your gaming setup. And if you don't fancy having a big gaming PC dominating the corner of your front room, a gaming laptop is a perfect alternative.

Not only is it a space saver, but it can still work alongside gaming monitors, keyboards, mice, and all the other essentials you'll need if you decide you prefer a desktop setup down the line. You can even extend your laptop display for some dual screen action, because two screens is always better than one. How else will you watch YouTube whilst working?

SEE ALSO: The 17 best Advent calendars to buy in November. Take advantage of early Black Friday sales.

I've had both gaming laptops and gaming PC setups, so I know a thing or twelve about a decent setup. Here's my breakdown of the best gaming laptop deals I've found for Black Friday so far:

Best early Black Friday budget gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V Gaming Laptop: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050, Intel Core i5-13420H, 8GB DDR5 $579.99 at Amazon
$749.99 Save $170   Get Deal Why we like it

So you're not getting a 5000 series RTX card, but DLSS 3 is still brilliant at generating frames, and there's some great workarounds out there to run DLSS 4 on 4000 series GPUs if you surf github. 8GB DDR5 RAM is enough for 1080p gaming and so is the i5 processor. In all honesty, a gaming laptop for $579.99 isn't going to run Cyberpunk 2077 at full settings with ray tracing, but who cares at this price point. It's more than capable and you can simply upgrade the RAM down the line if you fancy.

More budget Black Friday gaming laptop dealsBest early Black Friday mid-range gaming laptop deal Opens in a new window Credit: Acer Acer Nitro V 16S AI Gaming Laptop: Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, AMD Ryzen 7 260, 32GB DDR5, 1TB SSD $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $200   Get Deal Why we like it

It looks like an RTX 5060 is the sweet spot for mid-range gaming laptops, which is absolutley fine. You're always going to get less performance from a gaming laptop GPU compared to it's full-fat desktop alternative, but you have the power of native DLSS 4 to generate those extra frames you're looking for and best-in-class image upscaling. That simply means you can set your games to a lower resolution, then RTX 5060 pumps up the resolution artificially so you're getting more performance. The AI side of this laptop will help with that, too. The Ryzen 7 260 is built to handle the extra load and a massive 32GB DDR5 RAM is overkill. This is a cracking Black Friday deal for a gaming laptop that won't break the bank (much).

More mid-range Black Friday gaming laptop dealsBest early Black Friday high-end gaming laptop deals Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2025): Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, 32GB DDR5, 2TB SSD $2,109.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $390   Get Deal Why we like it

I picked this deal as the extra you'll be paying to get into RTX 5080 territory simply isn't worth it. This is a perfect 1440p gaming machine, which if we're being honest is the sweet spot for PC gaming right now. If you're looking for 4k 60 FPS+ gaming, you're going to save a fortune just buying or building a gaming PC. The 3ms response time and 240Hz refresh rate on this 2.5k screen means you can push well over 200 FPS at 1440p for most games, and RTX 5070 alongside the Ultra 9 275HX processor will get you there. With DLSS 4 tech baked in, there's no reason why you can't play the biggest and best games on max settings at 1440p with this setup, with possible headroom left over for decent ray tracing performance on some titles.

More early Black Friday high-end gaming laptop deals

10+ early Black Friday deals on air fryers: Huge deals on Ninja, Cuisinart, and Instant pot

Mashable - Fri, 11/21/2025 - 05:29
Best early Black Friday air fryer deals at a glance: Best Premium Air Fryer Deal Ninja XL $89.99 (save $90) Get Deal Best Budget Air Fryer Deal Chefman TurboFry Touch $49.99 (save $50) Get Deal Best Family Air Fryer Deal Ninja Foodi XL $179.99 (save $50) Get Deal

As we get closer to Black Friday, it’s time to start thinking about all those products you’ve always wanted but never quite had the cash to splurge on. For us, that includes new kitchen essentials such as the air fryer. It’s an increasingly popular (not to mention healthier) way of cooking, but not every kitchen is stocked just yet. It’s one of those countertop appliances that feels like a luxury purchase — but once you’ve got one, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to invest.

SEE ALSO: The 17 best Advent calendars to buy in November. Take advantage of early Black Friday sales.

That’s exactly what Black Friday is all about. And even though there’s still a week to go until the year’s biggest sale event begins for real, there are plenty of early Black Friday deals already live. So, if you are in the market for your first air fryer — or perhaps you need to upgrade from one that’s already served you well — here’s a deliciously priced selection of air fryers for everyone.

Best early Black Friday premium air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja XL $89.99 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $90.00   Get Deal Why we like it

When it comes to air fryer technology, there’s one name that cooks the competition — not to mention fries, wings, meat, fish, vegetables, baked treats, and pretty much anything else you can think of. That name, of course, is Ninja. There are several Ninja air fryer models included in the early Black Friday deals, but the Ninja XL is the best all-rounder for most households: A 5.5 quart multifunctional fryer that offers five cooking — Air​ Fry, Air Roast, Bake, Reheat, and Dehydrate. It’s easy to control the settings and temperature, with plenty of room for healthily frying hefty meals.

Best early Black Friday budget air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Chefman Chefman TurboFry Touch $49.99 at Amazon
$94.99 Save $45.00   Get Deal Why we like it

The Chefman TurboTouch Fry isn’t the only budget air fryer included in the early Black Friday deals — there are even cheaper models available — but this gets our pick for overall brand quality at such a brilliantly low price. It has a 4 quart capacity, which is plenty for regular households, plus a selection of preset cooking modes. It’s already good value at the list price of $99.99, but with a full 50% off ahead of Black Friday, this is a bargain at just $49.99 — perfect if you’re looking to try healthier air frying for the first time.

Best early Black Friday family air fryer deal Opens in a new window Credit: Ninja Ninja Foodi XL $179.99 at Amazon
$229.99 Save $50   Get Deal Why we like it

It’s another brilliant air fryer from the always impressive Ninja, but this one is made for larger households and big hungry families. It costs more than the above Ninja, but it’s packing almost twice the capacity with two cooking baskets and DualZone cooking — which essentially means you can fry up two different foods with different modes and temperatures. It intelligently syncs the cooking so both foods finish cooking at the same time, and each basket is big enough for a whole chicken. This one has six cooking modes, throwing an Air Broiling option into the mix.

More early Black Friday air fryer deals

Pages

Subscribe to Page Integrity, Inc. aggregator