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Fans of Shayla Palmer (@mesamistoys) know her for her next-level crochet projects. With more than 650k followers on TikTok and over 1.1 million on Instagram, she's made a name for herself one stitch at a time, creating big, fluffy toys, including Stitch, Batman, and Mario. But on Sept. 19, 2026, Palmer took on her biggest challenge yet: stitching a 10-foot-long Appa toy, based on the flying bison from Avatar: The Last Airbender.

In the first episode of her series on its making, she revealed the yarn but not who she'd be stitching for. Fans were quick to recognize Appa's signature color scheme. Fifteen more episodes followed, detailing the process, including the times when Palmer hit a few snags. Then, just last week, Palmer revealed this particular toy was created for a special event, tied to New York Comic Con.

Paramount Games Studio hosted a double-elimination tournament for the newly launched video game Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game at OS NY on Oct. 9. The special event invited gamers to compete for a cash prize, surrounded by food carts offering treats from the four nations (Water. Earth. Fire. Air), boxes of cabbages with a certain beloved cart vendor on them, and Palmer's completed Appa.

You can see images from this tournament below.

While the gaming kicked off, Mashable spoke with Palmer about her journey from that first video to its big debut. And she's got pointers for any fan looking to make toys of their own.

Images from the Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game at OS NY event on Oct. 9. Credit: Kristy Puchko Mashable: We've finally seen the unveiling of your completed Appa. Tell us about what the process has been like for you.

Shayla Palmer: Oh my gosh, the process was long, but not as long as you would expect. I had 16 days to complete a 10-foot-long Appa. It was a lot of time every single day. It was, let's say, 10-16 hours a day for 16 days straight.

It was kind of crazy. But it was so much fun. I encountered a lot of issues, though, like forgetting to create a hole for the head and then having to pivot from there. It's just like a lot of things that I've had to pivot with. But all in all, it was so much fun. I had a great time, and I'm so happy that the end result is here, and the people who have seen the process can now see it in person. It's so surreal. I love it.

It's amazing to see your Appa in person. What was it like to finally see it set up inside?

Seeing it set up inside was like, 'Oh my god, this looks so much bigger here than it did in the space that I was creating it in!' I can't even comprehend it fully right now.

I also created a mini Appa that is now sitting on top of it, and it's so crazy to see that the mini one looks so small compared to the big one, and it's really not that tiny. But yeah, it's just a full-circle moment, I can say.

For people who are interested in crochet through your work, where would you say they should start?

I actually do sell crochet kits. If you do want to start crocheting, I have beginner, beginner plus, intermediate, and intermediate plus kits, and I teach you everything you need to know to start crocheting toys.

One thing I will say, though, is you need to be very, very, very patient and very forgiving with yourself. It's so much fun, and it can be so calming. You just have to understand that there's going to be a lot of hiccups. There will be a lot of times when you have to tear out your work. You just have to forgive yourself.

But yeah, I highly recommend it. It's the best hobby ever.

As a content creator, what is it that you depend on to make your content on your level?

I would say intuition. It's a lot of trusting my gut. It's a lot of pivoting, being very comfortable with the Plan B, being very able to immediately scrap your Plan A and just restart everything you need to restart.

And honestly, I'm very transparent in my content. I like showing people that not everything I plan on doing is gonna happen. So yeah, it's just very transparent. It's very authentic. I don't do any crazy editing. It's just here's my camera and here's what I'm doing. I just want you to be a fly on the wall and see everything that's going on.

Images from the Avatar Legends: The Fighting Game at OS NY event on Oct. 9. Credit: Kristy Puchko That's great. I think, especially with crafting, people can be really intimidated if they're not good at it right away. So when you're having those moments where you're like, 'I need to trust the process,' what gets you through those points?

Knowing that it will probably take me longer to stick to Plan A than it would to pivot and go with Plan B. It happens almost every single time I'm in a series. And I show people, "This is what I wanted to do. It's not working, so I have to do this because this is time-dependent."

I don't have 100 days to work on these things, and, quite honestly, I don't want to be working on them for that long anyway. So yeah, just trusting the process, honestly.

Who's your favorite Avatar character?

Is it crazy if I say Appa? Is it crazy? If it's not Appa, it's gotta be Sokka. I don't know what it is. He's just so, like, he's just so angry. But it's just so funny to see it all happen. So yeah, Appa then Sokka.

Is there anything else you want people to know about the process of making your Appa?

So it's actually really funny. I'm a huge believer... I literally just had to ask God. I said, "I want something really exciting. Like for the rest of the year, I want something really exciting. Something that's gonna make me feel reassured."

Then I got a message from Jordan [Chalmers] from Black Flag NYC (the experiential marketing firm). Great guy, love him, love him, love him. I got a message from him. He said, "Hey, have you ever watched Avatar?" I'm like, "Please tell me you want me to make Appa."

So the way that it all came to be was just like, I literally cried. I cried three times, and then I called my mom immediately. I was like, "Hey, um, can you get on a flight? Because I'm gonna need help running errands. I need to feed myself, and I can't do this right now."

So yeah, the way that it came to me was honestly such a dream come true. I was so happy with that.

On the final day, when I finished my six-legged statue, I always like to show myself sitting on it. And as soon as I finished [Appa], I got a chair. I like jumped on it, and I was like, "Appa, yip yip!"

Honestly, I've been waiting, like, 14 years to do that!

If you've used dating apps, you've probably gotten an off-the-wall message or two and wondered if the sender just lacked basic social skills. Or maybe you sent a joke that fell flat. Either way, Hinge has a new strategy for handling "well-intentioned" daters who send inappropriate messages: mandatory re-education.

If a user violates Hinge's harassment guidelines in a chat, human moderators will weigh the context and severity of the message. If it's deemed a minor infraction, the user gets a warning and must complete a brief "educational walkthrough" to continue using the app. Severe or repeated offenses, however, will still get you permanently banned. An example of a minor infraction in Hinge's Oct. 1 blog announcing the change is the message: "Great dress. I think I have an outfit that will match perfectly," along with a winking emoji.

SEE ALSO: Hinge won't ban users for a single piece of problematic content anymore

Hinge says the walkthrough covers basic messaging etiquette, complete with examples of harmful language and reminders on how to express interest without being weird. Users might get prompts reminding them to build mutual interest before making things sexual, keep jokes playful instead of personal, or refrain from making unsolicited comments about someone's body.

The goal is to help daters recognize how their words land. While Hinge notes that cultural or generational gaps often shape how people communicate, intent doesn't negate the impact of unwanted behavior — especially for women, LGBTQIA+ daters, and people of color, who bear the brunt of online harassment.

The new educational walkthrough joins Hinge's existing suite of safety tools, including its "Are You Sure?" feature (which prompts users to reconsider potentially harmful text before sending), the "Did This Bother You?" feedback prompt, and customizable comment filters. This also builds on Hinge's policy not to ban users for a single piece of problematic content, and instead removes the content and explains why.

Hinge's CEO, Jackie Jantos, mentioned the curb-cut effect at the Heads Up With Hinge conference this month: features created to help the most vulnerable can lead to broader benefits for the general population. We'll see if this bears out with better-educated daters.

The new models, Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, are meant to compete with cutting-edge A.I. models from rivals like Anthropic and OpenAI.

Before generative artificial intelligence took off, the process of jailbreaking a video game console was a slow, tedious ordeal. That's not the case anymore.

Within the PS5 homebrew scene on Reddit, the forums have been lit up with posts about PS5SX2, an app that lets jailbroken PS5s play PlayStation 2 games. It's a big deal, given that Sony removed backward compatibility from its consoles starting with the release of the PS4 in 2013.

PS5SX2 is part of a larger wave of PS5 jailbreaks, which are coming at a furious pace in 2026.

SEE ALSO: Leaker claims the PlayStation 6 costs Sony $960 to manufacture

Version 1.00 of PS5SX2 had plenty of early bugs, with commenters trading fixes for crashes and missing-game errors. Within roughly two weeks, a 2.00 update had added frame generation and multi-disc support. Another post in the jailbreak community claimed that PS3 games can now run on jailbroken PS5s as well.

Additionally, there's another public jailbreak called Relapse. Released in late September, the exploit chain was published by developer Nathan Fargo and works on firmware versions 7.00 through 13.60. The previous public jailbreak topped out at 12.70, so Relapse covers a big chunk of recent consoles. It works on any PS5 that hasn’t been updated to firmware 14.00, which Sony released on Sept. 16.

For decades, console jailbreaking moved slowly for a reason. As reported by Gizmodo, it’s both legally risky and technically demanding. In the U.S., circumventing a console’s copyright protection runs afoul of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. The Librarian of Congress grants exemptions every three years for devices like smartphones and smart TVs, but consoles aren’t among them.

Finding an exploit has also required deep knowledge of a console’s firmware, which historically limited the work to a small group of skilled hackers. So normally, hackers will find an exploit, release a jailbreak, Sony patches it, and hackers start back at the beginning.

But that cycle is speeding up, and AI coding assistants may be part of the reason why. There’s no confirmation that the Relapse developers used AI, but it fits a broader pattern that has exploded over the past few weeks.

The AI decompilation boom

Decompilation is huge in the homebrew gaming scene at the moment. Decompiling means working backward from a game’s compiled code to rebuild readable source code that produces the same game. It’s how fans have created unofficial PC ports of classics like Super Mario 64, and it traditionally took volunteers years of tedious work.

From a technical standpoint, it's a grueling process. In the context of video games, those are shipped in compiled code that consoles can run, but humans can't easily read. However, AI is speeding up the tedious grunt work of doing so.

Hundreds of vibe-coded, AI-decompiled emulators and games have appeared in just the past couple of weeks, crediting Anthropic’s latest model, Claude Opus 5.5. That includes browser-based ports of games like Halo: Combat Evolved, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, and Skate 3, some of which Kotaku said run surprisingly well.

The results have also produced some truly unhinged mashups. One of the first to go viral added skateboarding from Skate to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, letting players kickflip across the shooter’s maps. Others have put Minecraft inside Elden Ring (and Grand Theft Auto V) and Mario Kart vehicles into Call of Duty Zombies.

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While fun stuff to be sure, not everyone is a fan. The developers behind the fan-made Zelda: Recompiled and Banjo: Recompiled projects have publicly rejected AI and called AI-generated knockoffs of their work disrespectful. Other critics say many of these AI ports come from amateurs with little programming experience, leaving behind a pile of buggy, broken releases.

Altogether, a faster jailbreak cycle isn’t much of a surprise. If AI tools can rebuild entire games from compiled code overnight, digging through console firmware for exploits starts to look a lot more approachable. It helps that AI agents like Claude thrive on verifiable loops, ie, being able to write, test, and repeat ad nauseam until it gets it right with no fatigue involved.

Gizmodo writes that this could be Sony's Napster moment — an existential crisis for the gaming industry just like the music business faced in the early 2000s. It's one thing to sue a bunch of hackers, but Sony doesn't have much goodwill with the public at the moment. It helps, though, that jailbreaking a console requires having it in the first place, and that jailbreaking any console risks bricking it.

Given that RAMageddon is causing a GPU shortage, one might exercise caution, as a second-hand PS5 Pro could cost $1,300 or more.

SAVE $762: As of Oct. 12, the Sunseeker X3 Plus robot lawn mower is on sale for $836.98 instead of its usual $1,598.99. That's nearly 50% in savings and its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sunseeker Sunseeker X3 Plus robot lawn mower $836.98 at Amazon
$1,598.99 Save $762.01   Get Deal

Lawn-mowing season might be wrapping up, but if you're looking to invest in a robot mower for next year, the Sunseeker X3 Plus is nearly half off its usual cost.

As of Oct. 12, the Sunseeker X3 Plus robot lawn mower is down to just $836.98 instead of $1,598.99. That's $762 or 48% in savings, marking its lowest price on record.

Mashable's sister site CNET tested the Sunseeker X3 Plus and specifically recommended buying it if you can score it on sale. Well, today's your lucky day — but only if you act fast. It's already selling out at Amazon.

It's designed for small to medium-sized residential lawns up to 0.3 acres and requires little to no setup. No buried perimeter wires or digging is necessary; just use the app to map out your yard and create virtual boundaries. The Sunseeker X3 Plus will handle the rest.

An on-board camera with dual AI vision and ultrasonic sensors can detect potential objects in the Sunseeker's path and it'll adjust its route accordingly. Of course, if there's certain spots you want it to avoid altogether, you can also set up a custom path in the app. The app also allows you to manage schedules, adjust cutting height, and monitor mowing progress.

If you're ready to hand off your most annoying chore and gain hours of your time back next summer, grab the Sunseeker X3 Plus while it's half price (and while it's still in stock!).

Notorious Grand Theft Auto VI leaker Cyberleek is back with a vengeance, it seems.

The anonymous video poster went dark after the big Netflix trailer in late August, but returned last week with a big, chunky 24-minute clip that featured story cutscenes, auto races, and the male protagonist Jason fully nude. Over the weekend and into Monday morning, Cyberleek shared some more clips that we won't link to, but can be easily found on social media. The new clips largely revolve around the female protagonist Lucia, and also show her completely nude, doing things like walking around Vice City or parachuting off a tall building.

SEE ALSO: 'GTA 6' official merch is live, and it's already selling out: Where to buy

In addition, Cyberleek posted a warning on their website claiming that if their memecoin reached a market cap of $30 million, they would release a video showing a full playthrough of the game's story prior to release. The same post also included a demand for publisher Take-Two to apologize for not releasing the game on disc and to rectify that issue. It is extremely unlikely the company could fire up disc manufacturing for GTA 6 in a timely fashion, even if the publisher wanted to negotiate with the leaker. At this point, there is no sign of that happening.

Just like in the videos featuring a nude Jason, the nude Lucia videos seem a little fishy in the sense that NPCs don't react to their nudity at all. Given that recent Rockstar games are built entirely around believable NPC interactions, that would suggest the nudity is not a regularly accessible feature in the final game and is being achieved through the use of developer tools.

It's only about a month until the game is in all our hands, and we won't have to worry about GTA 6 leaks spoiling the story anymore.

SAVE $201.99: The Sony XM5 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $198, down from the list price of $399.99. That's a 50% discount that matches the lowest ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 $198
$399.99 Save $201.99   Get Deal

I'm not saying a pair of headphones can change your life, but I will stand by the notion that headphones can make a major difference in daily life quality. If you've been getting by with a pair that's not super comfortable, check out this deal.

As of Oct. 12, the Sony XM5 headphones are on sale at Amazon for $198, down from the list price of $399.99. That's a 50% discount that takes $201.99 off the price. It also matches the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

SEE ALSO: Budget-friendly Sony headphones are under $100 at Amazon — shop Sony WH-CH720N for $88

On Mashable's list of the best headphones, the Sony XM5 earn an honorable mention as a Mashable Choice product. While they're an older model, the ANC still stands up as some of the best around, and the call quality is an added bonus. Since the new XM6 headphones come with a price of $458, going with the sale $198 XM5 is a budget option that doesn't drop you into sacrificing on quality.

Since this is the lowest price we've seen, make the upgrade to the Sony XM5 headphones for under $200. They'll be perfect for fall walks in crunch leaves.

SAVE $100: As of Oct. 12, you can get the DJI Mini 5 Pro for $679, down from $759, at Amazon. That's an 11% discount, or $80 in savings.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro $679 at Amazon
$759 Save $80   Get Deal

If you were hoping to buy a drone during Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days event but couldn't make it in time, a few legit drone deals are still lingering on the site — including some DJI models.

Right now, you can get the DJI Mini 5 Pro for $679, down from $779, at Amazon. Not only is that a full $80 off, but it actually beats the drone's previous all-time low of $683 by $4. The Mini 5 Pro isn't available on the DJI website, so this is the best way to get this model on sale.

SEE ALSO: The October Prime Day drone deals are flying: Get $90 off the DJI Flip before the sale ends

OK, so let's talk specs. If you already own the Mini 4 Pro, an upgrade actually makes a lot of sense this time around. But if you're new to droning and want something lightweight and easy to fly, the Mini 5 Pro is a really solid option.

It features a 50MP 1-inch image sensor (a noticeable step up from the 1/1.3-inch sensor on the 4 Pro) with 4K/60fps HDR video. The gimbal rotates 225 degrees for full-sensor vertical video and photos (you know, for the Gram), and it includes up to 42GB of internal storage and 36 minutes of battery life out of the box.

That said, there are a few drawbacks. While it is lightweight, manufacturing variances mean some units may weigh 251 grams with the standard battery. (Keep in mind that the FAA measures weight at takeoff, not the box specification!) It doesn't go any faster than 40 mph and has less wind resistance than larger models, like the DJI Air 3S. And Redditors are currently complaining about a firmware bug that makes the Mini 5 Pro detect distant clouds as obstacles, which will abruptly halt your waypoint flights.

Many pet owners know the feeling of panic that sets in when they realize their dog or cat has slipped out of the house or backyard. Now you’re faced with the daunting task of tracking down a pet that could be anywhere.

Life360, the app families use to stay connected through location sharing, now includes pet safety with Life360 Pet GPS. You can see your pet’s location on the same map as the rest of your household. And if they go missing, you can call on the Life360 community to help with the search. 

How does Life360 Pet GPS work? Opens in a new window Credit: Life360 Life360 Pet GPS $99
Includes one-year Silver membership Shop Now

Life360 Pet GPS attaches to your pet's collar and uses GPS and LTE connectivity to show their location in real time. Instead of wondering where your dog went, you can open the app and see for yourself. 

You can also set a geofence around your home, and anytime your pet crosses it, your family receives an escape alert, so you know to start looking immediately. This is a good option for anyone who shares pet-caring responsibilities with a roommate, partner, or other family members.

For new users, the $99 Pet GPS bundle includes the device and a year of Life360 Silver membership. That means your first year of tracking costs less than $100 since the subscription is already included. 

Battery backup when you need it

Pet GPS includes up to 14 days of battery life per charge, plus a reserve designed for those times when the battery gets low. Once the battery drops below 6%, the tracker enters Reserve Mode. 

This switches from real-time GPS to Bluetooth tracking through the Tile network, allowing occasional location updates when a nearby phone detects the device. That reserve can last up to six months. 

Additional ways to find your pet

If your pet goes missing, Life360’s Pet Finder Network draws on its global community of more than 100 million members. Sending a Lost Pet Alert shares your pet’s photo and details with nearby members who may be able to help you. 

Life360 also offers Pet Tag, a scannable ID that attaches to your pet’s collar. If someone finds your pet, they can scan the tag with their smartphone to contact you, and there’s no app to download on their end. You’ll manage your pet’s information on the Life360 app, so you can update your contact information without replacing the tag.

You can start with a free Pet Profile and access to the finder network, add Pet Tag for identification, or choose Pet GPS for real-time location tracking with a membership. Whichever option works for your household, Life360 Pet GPS gives you multiple ways to find your pets. 

PREORDER TO SAVE $30: The Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 and Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro are $30 off with preorders. The Sleep 4 earbuds are set to launch in October and the Sleep 4 Pro later in November.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 $199.99 at Anker
$229.99 Save $30   Pre-order Here Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro $319.99 at Anker
$349.99 Save $30   Get Deal

As much as we try to fight it, sleep is essential for life. For so many reasons, it can be a struggle to get good sleep. If you're not sleeping well because the environment is too noisy, there's help to be had. Sleep earbuds are designed to be comfortable enough for wearing all night while helping to mask noise that'll keep you awake. In more good news, there are two new Anker models coming soon and preorders get a special discount.

Sign up to reserve either the new Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 or the Anker Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro with a $1 deposit and save $30. That means you can get the Sleep 4 earbuds for $199.99, down from the normal price of $229.99 or the Sleep 4 Pro earbuds for $319.99, down from the list price of $349.99.

In Mashable's review of the best sleep earbuds, the Anker Sleep 30A Special earn the top spot. While Anker went in a new direction with naming, the new Sleep 4 Series will take over as the newest models. Both models come with an upgraded design for more comfort and smaller inner wingtips.

SEE ALSO: The fan-favorite Owala FreeSip Twist water bottle is down to $19.99 on Amazon — beating its Prime Day price

Both models also come with a built-in alarm, Bluetooth 6.0, and a Find Me feature from the app should you misplace an earbud under the bed. Anker rates noise reduction on both models as three to five decibels better than the previous Sleep A30 Special model when it comes to masking noise. Adding to their functionality, both support wireless charging.

The Sleep Earbuds 4 Plus come with some elevated features compared to the standard Sleep Earbuds 4. One of the most obvious is the AMOLED touch case. This'll give users instant access to sleep tracking metrics without looking at a phone. You can also set alarms and adjust the audio from the touchscreen. The Pro models also supports in-ear sleep tracking and insights.

As of the time of writing, Anker doesn't have firm launch dates set. The brand says the Sleep Earbuds 4 are coming in October and the advanced Sleep Earbuds 4 Pro will come in November. Whichever model you're eyeing, better sleep is just a few clicks away.

SAVE $650: As of Oct. 12, the Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV is still on sale for its October Prime Day price of $649.99 at Amazon. That's 50% off its list price of $1,299.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV $649.99 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $650   Get Deal

If you want an aesthetic TV that works double duty as artwork on your wall, but you don't quite have the budget for The Frame, Hisense's Canvas TV is our favorite dupe. And it's currently sitting at half off its usual price at Amazon.

As of Oct. 12, the Hisense 50-inch S7 Canvas Hi-QLED 4K TV is still on sale for its October Prime Day price of $649.99. That's 50% or $650 off its usual cost of $1,299.99. That's its second-best price of 2026.

The Canvas TV isn't quite as bright as Samsung's The Frame, but aside from that, it's a better value in a lot of ways. It has a higher refresh rate at 144Hz (versus 120Hz), two HDMI 2.1 ports, the intuitive Google TV interface, and free access to its gallery with over 1,000 works of art and immersive screensavers. On The Frame models, you have to pay a monthly fee to gain access to the artwork.

The Canvas TV comes with an anti-glare, hi-matte finish, a teakwood magnetic frame (more options sold separately) and an ulta-slim wall mount that lies flush to make the TV look as close as possible to framed artwork. "The TV itself looks stupid good in a gallery wall and really does blend in with other artwork and wall hangings, especially in art mode," Deputy Shopping Editor Miller Kern writes.

If you're in the market for a new TV and want something that'll enhance your living room aesthetic, the Hisense Canvas TV is one of the best picks — especially while it's half its usual cost.

Did you think that the chaos around limited-edition Starbucks drinkware was over? You fool! It has only just begun.

Last year’s viral Bearista glass cup sold out in a flash. For the 2026 holiday season, the bear is making a comeback. And this time, it’s teaming up with one of Mashable's favorite brands — Owala.

When does the Starbucks Bearista Owala drop?

Mark your calendar, clear your schedule, and mentally prepare for Nov. 5. The Bearista collection officially hits Starbucks stores nationwide with the return of the seasonal holiday menu. It's important to note that, unlike some of these viral drops, this collection will also be available online via the Starbucks Shop. That could be an absolute game-changer.

How to buy the Starbucks Bearista Owala

Unfortunately, there is no way to guarantee success against scalpers. There are, however, some things you can do to maximize your chances on launch morning.

The most obvious recommendation we can make is to check the Starbucks Shop while waiting in line at your local coffeehouse. You could save yourself a lot of time and effort by simply shopping online if the stock exists. If that doesn't work out for you, make sure you're well-positioned in the queue by arriving at least 30 minutes before doors open.

Lastly, the sensible move is to call your local store before Nov. 5 to check whether they have received any stock and how many Owala units were allocated. That way, you can get an idea of whether or not it's worth standing out in the rain.

How much will the Starbucks Bearista Owala cost?

Starbucks has not yet confirmed the price of the Bearista Owala. A standard Owala FreeSip bottle typically retails for $29.99 (although deals are live). Last year's Bearista glass cup sold for $29.95. Expect pricing to land somewhere around those figures (if not a little more).

What's all the fuss? At the end of the day, this is a stainless steel water bottle with a cute bear print. If you just want a leak-proof, insulated tumbler with a built-in straw, a standard 24-oz Owala FreeSip on Amazon delivers the exact same experience without forcing you to wake up at dawn or deal with line-cutters. But if you are an avid Starbucks collector or looking for the ultimate holiday gift for an Owala fan, Nov. 5 is your day to shine.

Google is all-in on fitness trackers in 2026. In May, we got the Fitbit Air, followed by the Pixel Watch 5 in August. And now, in October, we're welcoming the new Fitbit Edge, a fitness tracker that feels like it lands in a nice middle ground.

Preorders are already live for the newest Fitbit model, but before you decide if you're all-in on the Edge, check out some of the specs below.

Highlights of the Google Fitbit Edge

Unlike the Fitbit Air, Google went with a design that offers plenty of on-display info on the Edge. The AMOLED color display measures 1.34 inches and only weighs 17.7 grams without the band. Google kept it slim with the Edge, which measures just 11.58 mm. Like the Air, it aims to offer a comfortable fit for wear 24/7. The watch face on the Edge marks the largest and brightest ever on a Fitbit.

Credit: Google

Google says the battery can last up to 7 days, with a recharge time of about 90 minutes. A five-minute recharge will earn you an additional day of use. A first for Fitbit, the Edge's battery is replaceable should you wish to extend your watch's lifespan.

While the Fitbit Air was a scaled-back fitness tracker focused on simplicity, the Fitbit Edge adds features I missed with the Air. For one, it has an onboard altimeter, so it'll track the floors climbed and give you elevation info on hikes.

The Fitbit Edge also has onboard GPS for tracking your runs, walks, and bike rides. By comparison, the Air lacks onboard GPS and instead relies on your smartphone's GPS.

The IP68 waterproof rating means this model is swim friendly, won't mind going on a rainy fall run, and you won't have to take it off to shower.

Like the Air and Google Pixel 5, the Fitbit Edge comes with the Google Health Coach. While I'm not one to lean into AI, I enjoy the Google Health Coach's insight. I especially like the sleep tracking metrics that come with Fitbits.

It looks like anything but a fitness tracker

Order the Fitbit Edge, and it'll come with the silicone Active Band, which Google designed to be extra breathable thanks to the large cutouts. But you can also swap out the band for other options like the Performance Loop band, my preferred option on the Fitbit Air. It's a micro-adjustable option that allows for ultimate comfort. And somehow, it's pretty resistant to dirt.

There are also the elevated Metal Links and Magnet bands that make the Edge look much more like a watch and less like a fitness tracker. Google also launched the Fitbit Edge with a special Stephen Curry edition. It comes with a custom basketball watch face and a Rye colorway band, similar to the Stephen Curry edition of the Fitbit Air.

The Stephen Curry edition of the Fitbit Edge has its own custom watch face option. Credit: Google How to preorder the Google Fitbit Edge

The Fitbit Edge is available for preorder at Amazon and Google for $179.99 with a launch date set for Oct. 27. It comes with free access to Google Health Premium for three months. The special Stephen Curry edition of the Fitbit Edge is also available for preorder for $219.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Fitbit Edge $179.99 at Amazon
  Pre-order Here

SAVE $10: As of Oct. 12, the Owala FreeSip Twist Stainless Steel Water Bottle (24 oz) in select colorways is down to $19.99 at Amazon. That’s 33% off its regular $29.99 list price, marking a rare drop that beats out Prime Day deals.

Opens in a new window Credit: Owala Owala FreeSip Twist 24 oz $19.99 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $10   Get Deal

If there’s one piece of hydration gear Mashable readers consistently obsess over, it’s anything with an Owala logo on it. In fact, the Owala FreeSip Twist recently earned a spot on our list of the top 10 most popular products readers bought during October Prime Day. While the classic push-button FreeSip gets plenty of hype, the Twist version offers a sleeker, leak-proof spin on the original — and right now, select colorways are priced lower than they were over Prime Day.

You can grab the 24 oz FreeSip Twist for just $19.99 on Amazon, saving $10 off its usual $29.99 price tag. Getting a top-tier insulated bottle under twenty bucks is already a solid win, but beating major shopping holiday event pricing makes this a no-brainer if your current water bottle has seen better days.

What makes people fall in love with this bottle is Owala’s 2-in-1 spout design. Unlike standard bottles that force you to choose between a straw and a wide opening, the FreeSip spout lets you do both. You can sip upright through the built-in straw when you're working or driving, or tilt it back to swig directly from the spout when you're super thirsty.

Thanks to triple-layer vacuum insulation, cold drinks stay chilled for hours, and the twist lid safely handles hot coffee or sparkling water without spraying when opened. The protective top creates a tight seal that won't leak inside a backpack or gym bag, and the built-in loop makes it easy to carry around on a finger.

Just keep in mind that the 24 oz version has a slightly wider base than ultra-slim bottles, so while it slides easily into tote bags, it might only fit into larger or specialty car cup holders.

If you want a leak-proof, multi-purpose bottle that lives up to the hype, head over to Amazon to grab the Owala FreeSip Twist for $19.99 while the discount is still live.

Apple's upcoming iPad mini will be a major upgrade, but will come with an equally major price increase.

This is according to a new report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claims that the 2026 iPad mini will cost close to $799, up two hundred bucks from the $599 starting price of the previous model.

SEE ALSO: Apple to launch touchscreen MacBook and iPad mini in October

The new device will reportedly be the first iPad mini to come with an OLED display, and it will also be equipped with Apple's new A20 Pro chip, a new speaker system, and a horizontally-placed FaceTime camera.

At $799, the iPad mini might still be good value, but it would be significantly pricier than the $449 iPad and even the $749 iPad Air (assuming, of course, that those devices remain at those price points, which isn't certain given the memory supply crunch that's driving gadget prices up).

Featured Video For You AI slop is killing the internet

Given the imminent advent of Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, we'd hoped that the iPad mini/iPhone combo would be a cheap alternative to the Duo's $1,999 starting price. Carrying two devices around instead of one elegant foldable is not the same thing, but you do get similar functionality for less money, at the expense of some practicality. But the new iPad mini pricing, if accurate, sours that deal quite a bit.

The new iPad mini is likely to launch in late October, alongside the company's first-ever touchscreen MacBooks as well as a new iMac computer.

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TL;DR: Sony has officially launched new colorways for its Fnatic-collaborated gaming lineup, including the Inzone H9 II Wireless Headset in Fnatic orange ($348) and the Inzone E9 Wired In-Ear Monitors in glass purple ($129.99, marked down from $149.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Inzone H9 II Wireless Headset $348 at Amazon
  Shop Now Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Inzone E9 $129.99 at Amazon
$149.99 Save $20   Shop Now

If you're still relying on crusty stock headphones or cheap earbuds that turn competitive Valorant matches into an audio guessing game, Sony is offering a solid reason to upgrade. The tech giant just dropped fresh, bold colorways for its pro-tier Inzone lineup — and the new E9 earbuds are already hitting Amazon with an early launch-day price cut.

The flagship Inzone H9 II Wireless Headset gets a bright, high-vis Fnatic orange edition (joining its standard black and white options), while the Inzone E9 Wired In-Ear Monitors debut in a sleek glass purple. Both models were co-developed with elite esports organization Fnatic, so they’re tuned specifically to help you pinpoint enemy footsteps before you even see them.

Credit: Sony

If you want complete active noise cancellation without feeling like your skull is in a vise during marathon sessions, the H9 II is built like absolute royalty. Sony actually pulled the sound drivers straight out of its flagship XM6 noise-canceling headphones, packing high-end flagship audio tech into a lightweight 260g frame.

Beyond raw audio quality, it comes loaded with FPS equalizer presets developed along with Fnatic pros to make positional cues hit with pinpoint accuracy, plus toggleable ANC to drown out ambient household chaos. You also get ultra-low-latency 2.4GHz wireless via a USB-C dongle, Bluetooth LE, 30 hours of battery life, and a detachable cardioid mic with AI noise reduction so your team hears your callouts instead of your mechanical keyboard.

If heavy over-ear clamping force gives you headaches — or you just prefer to rock compact in-ears under external ear defenders — the Inzone E9s are a lethal alternative. As Sony’s first fully enclosed sealed IEM design, they pair custom noise-isolating tips with an included USB-C audio box to unlock 360 Spatial Sound and deep EQ tweaking via the PC Inzone Hub.

They're built for pure endurance, offering four ear tip sizes, flexible ear hooks, and an ultra-thin 1.8m cable that slips comfortably under headgear without digging into your ears.

Both new colorways are available on Amazon right now, with early savings on the IEMs. Head over to grab the Inzone H9 II for $348 or the Inzone E9 for $129.99.

Believing in magic as an adult is the stuff of eldritch terror when it comes to the world of LAIKA. The stop-motion animation studio scared the shit out of us with Coraline, a twisted, whimsically macabre web that made a nightmare of the uncanny.

Now, with Wildwood, directed by creative chief Travis Knight, LAIKA once again leans into the dark and extraordinary world of fantasy and magic, this time nestled right across the river from the American Mecca of weird: Portland, Oregon. With handcrafted animation blended with painterly digital tech, the LAIKA team draws you into the Impassable Wilds, a magical realm where the forces of nature cannot be underestimated.

Though a fantasy tale, Wildwood's emotional core lies in reality. And in such a real world, where artificial intelligence is invading systems of creativity like the film's all-powerful ivy, LAIKA's hand-wrought, tactile artistry feels truly remarkable.

SEE ALSO: LAIKA's stop-motion 'Wildwood' featurette is the perfect antidote for AI content Wildwood is a dark coming-of-age tale that sees magic for its darkness and light  Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) and Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay). Credit: LAIKA

From Wildwood's magnificent opening scene, adapted by screenwriter Chris Butler (LAIKA's Kubo and the Two Strings), it's clear this is not a fairy tale for children. Based on the novel of the same name by The Decemberists' frontman Colin Meloy and illustrator Carson Ellis, the film begins with a gothic tragedy involving a governess, Alexandra (voiced by Carey Mulligan), and her only son, one that recalls Tim Burton's Wednesday story "Tale of the Skull Tree" — and it sets the macabre tone for the film. For now, the film brings us back into a safe haven: a cosy kitchen in Portland where teen Prue McKeel (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) is leaving the magic of childhood behind her, despite her parents' (Maya Erskine and Jake Johnson) encouragement to believe.

Tasked with babysitting her brother Mac (Arthur Knight, the director's infant son), Prue's wish for adulthood is cruelly granted when he's kidnapped by a Hitchcockian murder of crows, flown deep into the forest that lies beyond St. John's Bridge. The Impassable Wilds, her father calls them, and along with adventure game-loving nerd Curtis Mehlberg (Jacob Tremblay), the pair manage to venture beyond the mist.

Into the woods... Credit: LAIKA

What ensues is a thrilling, dark, and oftentimes uproarious careen into the realm of Wildwood, where the stakes are toweringly high (honestly, don't think your favourite character can't die a horrible death) and the emotional complexity of its residents runs deep. War is brewing, as a ruthless coyote mercenary army and displaced people branded as "bandits" wage bloody land battles within the realm. The conflict affects the entire realm, from an Endor-like avian principality to a grassroots community of mystics ("hippies" Prue calls them). However, there's something even more sinister afoot, and "outsiders" Prue and Curtis must be careful who they trust to get her baby brother back.

As the geopolitical tension of Wildwood comes into focus across the North and South Woods, Prue and Curtis will meet a glorious array of familiar-voiced characters: Brendan the mighty Bandit King (Mahershala Ali), helpful wise-cracking rat (Awkwafina), glorious golden eagle General (Angela Bassett), rage-fuelled coyote lieutenant Maksim (Tom Waits), the flustered yet wise Owl Rex (Richard E. Grant), sage mystic leader Iphigenia (Tantoo Cardinal), fierce warrior Niamh (Amandla Stenberg), snivelling politician's henchman Roger (Jemaine Clement), a accidental soldier Dmitri (Charlie Day), and more.

And at the heart of it all lies someone torn apart by grief, who'll do anything to reclaim what was lost. 

Wildwood's extraordinary animation is at once magnificent and brutal Prue and the General (Angela Bassett), LAIKA's largest puppet to date. Credit: LAIKA

This is LAIKA, one of the most lauded studios working in animation today, so if you're expecting Wildwood to be visually magnificent, you won't be disappointed (and Dario Marianelli's soaring score seals the emotional deal).

Through ancient ruins, coyote-patrolled forests, heaving halls of neverending bureaucracy, and dank dungeons adorned with hanging cages, we're treated to wondrous worldbuilding from production designer Nelson Lowry and superb visual detail from principal character designer Thibault Leclercq, costume designer Deb Cook, and head of character and practical effects Oliver Jones. Frame after frame of sublime, handmade landscapes (there were 132 sets) are populated by 233 unique character puppets, painstakingly brought to life by head of animation Brad Schiff and his small army of animators, with Brian McLean's Rapid Prototype (RP) and Benoit Dubuc's CG Facial Animation teams. And they're all boasting hundreds of intricate costumes from Cook and head of costume Anja Poland.

All shot to perfection by cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and edited by Christopher Murrie-Green, the meticulous detail within each scene is nothing short of extraordinary — from the Bandit King's dreadlocks to Prue's tears (yes, stop-motion animated tears!) to the General's majestic flapping wings — and results in a world so resplendent, so visceral, and sometimes so shockingly violent you'll want to pause the screen or run from it. Within Wildwood, animals and people live alongside each other, with human governors, farmers, and bandits existing alongside rabbit constables, coyote commandants, and bear lumberjacks. The effect is one of harmony, tension, and fascination, with each character rendered with such individuality and detail that you could follow any one of them into their own Wildwood spinoff storyline. 

Respect the ivy... Credit: LAIKA

One of the major players in the film, a sprawling, interconnected mass of ivy stretched across the Impassable Wilds, is a feat of animation in itself, with every climbing vine, every veined leaf, moving as one powerful entity. This sense of gravitas extends to every scene in Wildwood, whether animating a rat swimming in a bowl of venison soup or rain falling on emerald mansion steps.

However, nothing compares to one of the most exceptional battle sequences you'll ever see on screen, a masterpiece of animation whose meticulous production boggles the mind. The largest ever created for a stop-motion feature film, the 12-minute battle scene is 411 thrilling, violent, and awe-inspiring shots that are sure to land this film an Oscar.

Wildwood's secret star is the city of Portland Prue's family live in Portland and you won't miss it. Credit: LAIKA

If there's one hidden character within Wildwood, it's the city of Portland, Oregon, America's nucleus of alternative living, where the history of magic has ancient roots. 

In Wildwood's Portland scenes, the team hide Easter eggs and references that build a portrait of the city's weird and wonderful elements: from Prue enjoying the magic of Voodoo Doughnut to cycling past drag queen story hour at legendary independent bookstore Powell's. A bagpipe-playing Darth Vader on a unicycle? Yep, we're in Portland.

Within Prue's teen bedroom, inclusions of The Decemberists' posters pay homage to the Portland band whose "The Better Part Of Bravery," lies on the soundtrack — and whose frontman wrote the book Wildwood is based on. Prue's parents are so Portland they won't even say what happened at Burning Man and mention "medical doctors" as a last resort. Yes, it's reductive and stereotypical, but it renders the city a place where it makes sense there'd be a magical wilderness on the other side of the Willamette River.

It's this familiarity that anchors Wildwood in its most brutal moments, knowing a world of war, violence, and magic lies just beyond a city bridge. LAIKA doesn't treat its audience like glass, presenting the cruelty of magic as one of finality, of life and death. Find the biggest screen you can and ride boldly across the bridge into Wildwood, where magic is just as beautiful as it is brutal. 

Wildwood was reviewed out of BFI London Film Festival and will hit cinemas Oct 23.

SAVE OVER $500: As of Oct. 12, the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station is on sale for $649.98 at Amazon. That's $549.02 off its full price of $1,199.

Opens in a new window Credit: Anker Anker Solix S2000 Portable Power Station $649.98 at Amazon
$1,199 Save $549.02   Get Deal

Winter is not too far off, and if you're a bit worried about power outages from severe weather during those months, a portable power station is a helpful item to have around the house. The Anker Solix S2000 is a model designed to keep appliances powered up in moments like those, and this is a perfect time to grab it, as Amazon has slashed 46% off its list price.

Normally priced at a hefty $1,199, this portable power station is down to $649.98. That's a cent cheaper than the price we saw during last week's October Prime Day sale, and it may not be on sale for much longer, since it's marked as a "limited time deal."

SEE ALSO: The 6 best power stations for camping keep you both online and off-grid

With a continuous output of 1,500W and a peak output of 3,000W, the Anker Solix S2000 can power up a variety of household appliances, including fridges. It can keep a fridge powered for up to 35 hours, which is great news if you run into an emergency outage. Its battery also has a 15-year lifespan, so it will last for many years to come.

It also has a variety of ports, including AC outputs, an AC input, a 12W USB-A port, an XT60i input, a 15W USB-C port, and a 100W USB-C port. It weighs 35.7 pounds and measures 8.2 × 11.1 × 12.7 inches, so you can move it around to where it's most needed.

Don't let this deal pass you by. Be quick to save on the Anker Solix S2000 portable power station at Amazon while it's still on sale.

TL;DR: New and existing AT&T customers can get up to $1,200 off the iPhone Duo with an eligible trade-in. Customers who switch to AT&T can also get up to $800 toward their current device balance.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple AT&T: iPhone Duo for $1,200 off   Shop Now

Preorders for Apple’s iPhone Duo officially kick off this week, and AT&T is coming out of the gate with one of its most aggressive carrier promotions of the year.

Starting on Oct. 16, the Apple iPhone Duo will be available for preorder at AT&T before general availability opens on Oct. 23. To sweeten the launch, AT&T is offering up to $1,200 in bill credits with an eligible trade-in for both new and existing customers. If you are switching carriers, AT&T is also stacking an extra $800 credit to cover your remaining phone balance with your current provider, plus an exclusive $200 discount per line when you complete your order online.

To unlock the maximum $1,200 savings, you will need to trade in a qualifying smartphone with a minimum trade-in value of $230, activate or maintain your line on an eligible unlimited plan, and purchase the phone on a 36-month installment agreement.

Getting $1,200 off Apple's $1,999 flagship foldable brings your monthly cost down from $55.56/month to just $22.23/month. You are still required to pay state sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, plus AT&T's standard $35 device connection fee. The $1,200 discount is distributed as 36 monthly bill credits. If you cancel your plan, downgrade to an ineligible tier, or switch carriers before the three years are up, the remaining balance becomes due immediately.

Score the best preorder deal for the iPhone Duo at AT&T.

Danny Dyer hosted SNL UK on Saturday, and it was only right that the TV hard man beat up a few people on his way to the stage.

In the clip above he does his best to keep the language as live TV-friendly as possible with a little help from Rivals co-star Lisa McGrillis, before showing off his (slightly limited) range of UK accents.

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