Drug maker Novo Nordisk says semaglutide, the active ingredient for the weight loss jab Wegovy, does not slow Alzheimer’s — despite initial hopes that it might help against dementia. From a report: Researchers began two large trials involving more than 3,800 people after reports the medicine was having an impact in the real world. But the studies showed the GLP-1 drug, which is already used to manage type 2 diabetes and obesity, made no difference compared to a dummy drug. The disappointing results are due to be presented at an Alzheimer’s disease conference next month and are yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
You’re supposed to replace your running shoes after 300 to 500 miles, but I’ve discovered that some shoes can take a lot more mileage than that. Now, the shoe that lasted so long for me—the Nike Downshifter—is on sale for $50 or less, depending on the color.
You can read the full saga of my 1,000 mile shoes here. Briefly, I wore a pair of Nike Downshifter 12s for nearly every road run I did for about a year, putting 1,024 miles on the shoes by the time I wrote about them. (I’ve worn them a few times since then, as well.) Since these are a budget shoe to begin with, the value was incredible—6.5 cents per mile, according to my calculations.
The current model is the Downshifter 13, which I also own, although I’ve only put a few dozen miles on mine so far. But they seem to be a very similar type of shoe, and I won’t be surprised if they make it into the quadruple digits as well. The Downshifter 13 is the one that’s on sale right now.
How to get the best price on Nike Downshifters
Both the men’s and women’s version of the Downshifter 13 are on sale at Nike’s website. (While you can find them at other retailers as well, I like to buy direct from Nike if I can find a good price, because of their excellent return policy.)
The regular price is $80 for each version, and the sale price varies by color. I’m seeing prices from $48.97 to $68.97. But there’s an additional discount—Nike is also offering a code, BFRIDAY, that gives you 25% off. I threw one of those cheaper pairs into my cart, applied the code, and the price dropped to $36.73. There’s an $8 shipping charge, but that means the total is just $44.73. That’s less than 45 bucks, shipped, for a pair of shoes that with luck might last a thousand miles.
Does Apple do Black Friday?
Yes, Apple participates in Black Friday, though you may want to compare their sales with other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart. Apple is offering an exclusive $250 gift card for eligible purchases, but so far, the best Black Friday sale on an Apple product is the M4 MacBook on sale for cheaper than ever.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Apple has made some significant hardware and software updates this year, with the debut of the ultra-thin iPhone Air and overhauled user interface of its operating systems with the Liquid Glass design language. The company will be focusing on stability and performance for the next version of iOS, however, while attempting to bolster its AI
If you feel like Windows 11 has been trending less and less stable over the last few months, you’re not imagining things. Microsoft has confirmed a nasty bug in Windows 11 version 24H2 (stemming from cumulative updates starting in July 2025) that’s knocking out critical system components. According to support article KB5072911, several core
For the uninitiated, Skate Story can only be described as a Lynchian take on skateboarding. Players control a glass avatar and they perform tricks to, well, swallow the moon and defeat the devil. It was announced all the way back in 2020. We got to play it last year and came away impressed. The game was made by Sam Eng, who was behind the indie shooter Zarvot.
It’s also being published by Devolver Digital, a company that knows its way around unique gameplay concepts. It published the utterly sublimeCult of the Lamb and one of our recent favorites, Ball x Pit. The former lets you feed poop to cult followers, which makes performing kickflips as a glass-bodied demon seem downright normal.
Looking to see what all of the fuss is about? There’s a demo right now on Steam. The game’s also available for purchase on the PS5, for those who don’t wanna pony up for a PS Plus subscription.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/skate-story-grinds-its-way-to-playstation-plus-on-december-8-193034939.html?src=rss
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
It’s almost Black Friday, and the deals are rolling in, including at the likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Amazon, and Target. And while it’s nice to save money on a big-ticket item, if you’re looking to score a bargain on a budget, I’ve used all my resources to find the best Black Friday tech deals under $25.
Apple EarPods Wired Headphones With Lightning Connector
$15.96 at Amazon
$19.00 Save $3.04
$15.96 at Amazon
$19.00 Save $3.04
Soundcore by Anker P20i True Wireless Earbuds, 10mm Drivers with Big Bass, Bluetooth 5.3, 30H Long Playtime, Water-Resistant, 2 Mics for AI Clear Calls, 22 Preset EQs, Customization (White)
$18.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $21.00
$18.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $21.00
Apple AirTag
$19.99 at Amazon
$29.00 Save $9.01
$19.99 at Amazon
$29.00 Save $9.01
Amazon Echo Pop Alexa Smart Speaker (2023)
$21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00
$21.99 at Amazon
$39.99 Save $18.00
INIU 10000mAh 45W Power Bank with USB-C Cable
$11.21 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $18.78
$11.21 at Amazon
$29.99 Save $18.78
Bluetooth Speaker with HD Sound, Portable Wireless, IPX5 Waterproof, Up to 24H Playtime, TWS Pairing, BT5.3, for Home/Party/Outdoor/Beach, Electronic Gadgets, Birthday Gift (Black)
$18.98 at Amazon
$26.99 Save $8.01
$18.98 at Amazon
$26.99 Save $8.01
Apple and Anker wired earbuds are nicely discounted
Wired earbuds are very early 2000s, but on the other hand, they never run out of batteries. If you’re still rocking an iPhone 14 Plus or below (or an iPhone SE 3rd generation), you’ll be able to pick up some official Apple EarPods Headphones with a Lightning connector for $15.96 (originally $19), or one with USB-C connector for a few cents more.
If you prefer wireless earbuds but don’t want to pay too much for something you might end up losing, the Soundcore by Anker P20i are a solid pair with some impressive features for their $18.99 price (marked down from $39.99). You get Bluetooth 5.3, 30 hours of battery, water resistance, and a full EQ with its companion app.
AirTags are a bargain for a four-pack
You don’t need to be a spy to use tracking devices. As an Apple user, you can use AirTags and Find My to track anything that you can attach one of these little devices to. Right now, Amazon has single AirTags for $19.99 (originally $29) or a four-pack for $64.99 (originally $99), bringing the cost down to $16.25 each.
Echo Pop speakers are $15 off
The Amazon Echo Pop is Amazon’s most budget-friendly smart speaker. You can use the multi-room music feature if you have multiple speakers in different rooms, so grab a few: You can get one for $24.99 right now (originally $39.99).
This Iniu portable phone charger is 40% off
I recently lost my Iniu Portable Charger while traveling in Europe. Fortunately, it was at the end of my trip, and it had served its purpose well, saving my phone’s battery (and therefore my life) multiple times. You can get one now for $18.68 (originally $29.99) after the 40% discount at checkout.
A BolaButty portable outdoor speaker for less than $20
If you’re looking for a cheap portable outdoor speaker that can get wet, consider the BolaButty Portable Speaker, currently going for $18.98 (originally $26.99). It’s waterproof with an IPX5 rating and will last 20 hours before running out of juice.
This TP-Link TL-SG105 ethernet switch is 48% off
I have many PoE security cameras, smart hubs, and other devices that need an Ethernet connection. I’ve been using the TP-Link TL-SG105 switch for over a year, and it has worked great for me. You can get it for $12.99 (originally $24.99).
A Kasa Smart Plug Mini for $6 off
I’ve been using the Kasa Smart Plug Mini to automatically turn on and off my backyard string lights on a schedule. You can get it for $23.99 (originally $29.99).
The Roku Streaming Stick HD is 50% off
The Roku Streaming Stick HD is the most basic Roku Stick you can buy, and it’s 50% off right now, making it a great time to upgrade your TV’s OS to my favorite one. You can get it for $15 (originally $29.99).
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is not to buy anything.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
The latest Windows Insider build for Windows 11 features numerous performance fixes and additions, especially for File Explorer. One of the fixes, pictured below, is a reorganized right-click context menu in File Explorer. Perhaps the most interesting change is that Microsoft is considering pre-loading File Explorer in an effort to improve
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
The Pixel Watch is Google’s answer to the Apple Watch. It’s designed to be a health and fitness companion to your Android phone, and is actually pretty good at that, based on Lifehacker’s own hands-on experience. Even though this model was launched just a few months ago, it’s already on sale, too. You can grab the Pixel Watch 4 for a record low price this Black Friday. The discounts range from 15% to 22%, depending on which variant you pick, but all are tempting.
Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, WiFi)
$300.00 at Amazon
$350.00 Save $50.00
$300.00 at Amazon
$350.00 Save $50.00
Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, LTE)
$350.00 at Amazon
$450.00 Save $100.00
$350.00 at Amazon
$450.00 Save $100.00
Pixel Watch 4 (45mm, WiFi)
$400.00 at Amazon
$400.00 at Amazon
Pixel Watch 4 (45mm, LTE)
$400.00 at Amazon
$500.00 Save $100.00
$400.00 at Amazon
$500.00 Save $100.00
The Black Friday 2025 prices for the Pixel Watch 4 are as follows:
Lifehacker’s Senior Health Editor Beth Skwarecki reviewed the Pixel Watch 4 and gave it a score of 4/5. She praised the Pixel Watch 4’s charging speed in particular, as the device went from 0 to 94% in just 31 minutes. The device also has a useful new magnetic charging dock that holds it sideways while it charges. This means that it can act as a small desk clock while it’s charging, which is very convenient. Beth also highlighted the Pixel Watch 4’s support for satellite SOS on the LTE models, which is a useful life-saving feature in certain emergencies, where you might not have access to a cellular signal.
The review also points out the watch’s addition of dual band GPS, which means that tracking your outdoor runs or rides will be much more accurate. Even the Apple Watch Series 11 doesn’t have this feature, but the more expensive Apple Watch Ultra has it. As for the Pixel Watch 4’s downsides, the battery life isn’t that great, the display could be brighter, and the Fitbit app has quite a few limitations. Still, this is a fairly solid hardware, now with a sweet deal.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Google’s long-rumored plan to merge ChromeOS and Android into a single desktop operating system now has a name: Aluminium OS, AndroidAuthority reports, citing a job listing.
The job listing explicitly tasks applicants with “working on a new Aluminium, Android-based, operating system.” The job listing confirms Google intends to eventually replace ChromeOS entirely, though the two platforms will coexist during a transition period. Aluminium OS won’t be limited to budget hardware — the listing references “AL Entry,” “AL Mass Premium,” and “AL Premium” tiers across laptops, detachables, tablets, and mini-PCs.
AlmaLinux 10.1 has been released. In
addition to providing binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise
Linux (RHEL) 10.1, the most notable feature in AlmaLinux 10.1 is
the addition of support
for Btrfs, which is not available in RHEL:
Btrfs support encompasses both kernel and userspace enablement, and it
is now possible to install AlmaLinux OS on a Btrfs filesystem from the
very beginning. Initial enablement was scoped to the installer and
storage management stack, and broader support within the AlmaLinux
software collection for Btrfs features is forthcoming.
In addition to Btrfs support, AlmaLinux OS 10.1 includes numerous
other improvements to serve our community. We have continued to extend
hardware support both by adding
drivers and by adding a secondary version of AlmaLinux OS and EPEL
to extend support of x86_64_v2 processors.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Black Friday is a great time for tech deals, but the items discounted are often last year’s models; it’s rare to see a good discount on the newest and best gear and devices. And yet, if you’re in the market for one of those phone-shaped e-readers all the cool kids are TikTok-ing about, you can actually save quite a bit right now on a device that hasn’t even been out for a month: The Viwoods AiPaper Reader, which was just released on Nov. 10, is currently $238, or $42 off the usual price.
The AiPaper Reader is a strong competitor to the more established Boox Palma family (which also has a new addition—the Boox Palma 2 Pro—which is not on sale for the shopping holiday). It’s got the same 6.13-inch screen, mimicking most smartphones, but with a black-and-white e-ink display that’s far easier on the eyes than your iPhone or Android’s bright OLED. Though it’s currently far cheaper than the Palma 2 Pro, the AiPaper Reader has many of the same features, including 128GB of storage, Google Play compatibility, and mobile data when you insert a SIM card (though the Viwoods device does Boox one better: It’s also a secret phone.) It also has a lot of smart AI integrations, if you like that sort of thing (if you only want to use it to read books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and any other source you like, you can also just ignore it.)
This is currently your most affordable option for an e-reader with the form factor of a phone—it’s even cheaper than the year-old Palma 2 ($270 at Amazon), which does not have mobile data but does have the temperature-adjustable front light the AiPaper Reader lacks. If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to stop spending so much time crashing out on your phone, a super portable e-reader you can stuff into any pocket is a great tool to help you do it.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Nothing is, first and foremost, a smartphone brand, but some of its best products are actually its affordable earbuds. A good example is the Nothing Ear (a) true wireless earbuds, which are cheaper than Apple’s AirPods, but still have advanced features like active noise cancellation. Even better, the Nothing Ear (a) are going for $60 this Black Friday, which is 46% off their list price of $109, and is the cheapest they’ve ever been.
Like many other Nothing products, the Ear (a) use a clear case. This works quite well for wireless earbuds, because you can actually see if the buds are inside the case without opening it. These earbuds earned a 4/5 in a PCMag review, and have been praised for that transparent design, plus their balanced audio with a focus on bass, their app that lets you adjust an EQ, and their strong support for codecs. The reviewer did say that the Ear (a)’s noise cancellation falls a bit short when compared with the competition, but just having ANC at all is pretty impressive for earbuds that you can get for $60.
This product is available in three finishes: black, yellow, and clear. All three are available at the Black Friday deal price. Nothing claims the Ear (a)’s battery can provide around 9.5 hours of uninterrupted music listening on a single charge if you turn off noise cancellation. With ANC enabled, that number drops to 5.5 hours, which is still quite good. You can also fast charge the case for 10 minutes, which adds enough charge to power your earbuds for up to 10 hours of playback.
Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?
Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
If there’s anything my time on Zwift has taught me, it’s that trying to pedal while juggling a keyboard and mouse is awkward. A while back, I picked up a Stream Deck hoping for a better way to interact with Zwift, and I haven’t looked back since.
For the unfamiliar, the Elgato Stream Deck is a customizable set of programmable macro buttons that comes in several sizes. Since adding it to my setup, my keyboard and mouse have been collecting dust. It’s been a game-changer for convenience, immersion, and overall enjoyment.
What’s Wrong With the Usual Setup
As a frequent racer, group rider, and occasional ride leader, there’s always a lot happening during a ride. For what the Companion App does, it does well, but it doesn’t do much. Keyboard shortcuts help a bit but are still limited. And using a mouse or trackball? Forget it. Unless you’re willing to stop pedaling, you’re not clicking anything.
That just covers Zwift. If you’re also managing music, voice chat, or other apps, you can quickly find yourself off the back.
For me, the Stream Deck solved all of these problems. It gives me control of Zwift and every other app I need from one interface, all at the push of a button… or several. Between its built-in functionality and the add-ons available through the Elgato Marketplace, the possibilities are practically endless.
Making Zwift Control Effortless
Before diving into the cool functionality I’ve uncovered, I want to give a quick shout-out to a few developers whose tools have been key to my setup:
While I’ve done some fun customization with my deck, it’s people like this who have the real skills and are providing genuine benefits to the Zwift community.
With that out of the way, here are the controls I’ve found most useful:
Ride Controls – Directional arrows, select, back, Ride On (including a continuous “Ride On bomb”), powerup, U-turn, skip workout block, and a camera toggle for TTT events.
Communications – Push-to-talk for Discord (no more heavy breathing into the mic), Spotify controls, and in-game chat using voice input.
Ride Leader Controls – Announcements at the start of a ride, a random dad-joke generator, and route info pulled dynamically from the Sauce API.
Sauce Controls – Lap button, toggle windows on/off, and change profiles.
System Controls – Launch Zwift (one button starts all apps and logs in), shut down PC, reload apps, and access my audio mixer so I can play music during team events without drowning out voice chat.
Below are a few screenshots of how I have my primary pages configured. It’s not perfect, a bit of a mess of subfolders, but with time and muscle memory, I’ve made it work. For something that works well right out of the box, the Zwift Stream Deck profile (linked above) is an excellent starting point that will get you 95% of the way there.
My primary Stream Deck pages:
I’m sure there’s still plenty of potential I haven’t unlocked yet. The Sauce API is easy to work with and opens up tons of possibilities. With a few simple scripts, it’s possible to pull in and use ride data creatively, something I’d like to spend more time exploring.
As great as it is, there are still a few things the Stream Deck can’t quite handle. Pressing buttons within the Zwift interface is… well, a bit meh. There aren’t hotkeys for common actions like joining events or ending a ride, which I’ve tried to work around with macros, with limited success. I’ve mostly resigned to navigating the UI manually.
There’s also no steering, shifting, or braking like the Zwift Click or Play controllers offer. While the deck wouldn’t be ideal for those functions, it would definitely be a neat alternative.
Why I Can’t Ride Without It Now
After more than a year of using it full-time as my only way to control Zwift, I don’t think there’s any going back. Once I fine-tuned my layout and built the exact functions I needed, the experience just clicked. Now everything feels natural… smooth, consistent, and ready for any kind of ride.
The biggest difference is how it lets me stay focused on the ride instead of fumbling for the right key. It doesn’t necessarily make me faster, but it does make Zwift feel more immersive, like I’ve found a hidden upgrade most people overlook. At this point, it’s as essential to my setup as my trainer or fan.
Going Beyond the Basics
Even after all this time, I’m still finding new ways the Stream Deck could evolve with Zwift. I haven’t yet tried PedalGames, an add-on that ties gameplay elements to ride data, but there’s a lot of potential there. Being able to trigger in-game actions or mini-game events directly from the Stream Deck could make for a fun and interactive experience. It’s on my list to explore when I have some tinkering time.
That said, the Stream Deck isn’t exactly cheap. Between the hardware cost, time investment, and a bit of technical know-how, it’s not for everyone. If you’re curious but hesitant to spend the money, there are a few alternatives worth considering:
Stream Deck Mobile– Elgato’s app version gives you nearly all the same functionality on your phone or tablet. It’s freemium, and the free tier is great for testing.
Touch Portal or Deckboard – Software alternatives for phones or tablets that offer similar customization, often for free or a small one-time cost.
Alternative hardware decks – Off-brand macro pads can offer much of the same functionality. They’re a bit more DIY but great if you want physical buttons on a budget.
No matter which route you take, the key is finding something that reduces friction between you and the ride. There are plenty of approaches depending on your setup, budget, and how much you like to experiment.
Final Thoughts from the Pain Cave
Looking back, this little project has become one of my favorite tweaks to my Zwift setup. What started as curiosity has turned into something I now use every single ride without even thinking about it. The Stream Deck might not make me faster, but it makes every session smoother, more immersive, and more fun.
It’s not a perfect solution, and it’s definitely not the cheapest, but for anyone who enjoys tinkering, automating, or just personalizing their indoor setup, it’s hard to beat. The best part is that it grows with you: whether you’re just using it to launch Zwift or diving deep into APIs and scripting, there’s always something new to try.
Anything that helps you spend less time fiddling with menus and more time riding is a win. And for me, that’s exactly what this setup delivers.
What About You?
Do you use Stream Deck with Zwift? What are your favorite features? Got questions? Comment below!
Hot on the heels of Google’s Gemini 3 Pro release, Anthropic has announced an update for its flagship Opus model. Now at version 4.5, the new system offers state-of-the-art performance in coding, computer use and office tasks. No surprise there, those have been some of Claude’s greatest strengths for a while. The good news is Anthropic is rolling out a handful of existing tools more broadly alongside Opus 4.5. It’s also releasing one new feature.
To start, the company’s Chrome extension, Claude for Chrome, is now available to all Max users. Anthropic is also introducing a feature called infinite chat. Provided you pay to use Claude, the chatbot won’t fall to context window errors, allowing it to maintain consistency across files and chats. According to Anthropic, infinite chat was one of the most requested features from its users. Then there’s Claude for Excel, which brings the chatbot to a sidebar inside of Microsoft’s app. The tool is now broadly available to all Max, Team and Enterprise users, with support for pivot tables, charts and file uploads built-in.
A table comparing Opus 4.5’s efforts in various benchmarks.
Anthropic
On the subject of Excel, Anthropic says early testers saw a 20 percent accuracy improvement on their internal evaluations and a 15 percent improvement in efficiency gains. As a complete Excel noob, I’m excited to for the company to trickle down that expertise to its more consumer-oriented models, Claude Sonnet and Haiku.
Elsewhere, Opus 4.5 also delivers improvements in agentic workflows, with the new model excelling at refining its own processes. More importantly, Anthropic is calling Opus 4.5 its safest model yet. It’s better at rejecting prompt injection style attacks, outpacing even Gemini 3 Pro, according to Anthropic’s own evaluations.
If you want to try Opus 4.5 for yourself, it’s available today through all of Anthropic’s apps and the company’s API. For developers, pricing for the new model starts at $5 per million tokens.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropics-opus-45-model-is-here-to-conquer-microsoft-excel-190000905.html?src=rss
The US space agency ended months of speculation about the next flight of Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, confirming Monday that the vehicle will carry only cargo to the International Space Station.
NASA and Boeing are now targeting no earlier than April 2026 to fly the uncrewed Starliner-1 mission, the space agency said. Launching by next April will require completion of rigorous test, certification, and mission readiness activities, NASA added in a statement.
“NASA and Boeing are continuing to rigorously test the Starliner propulsion system in preparation for two potential flights next year,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, in a statement.
Curiosity Stream, the decade-old science documentary streaming service founded by Discovery Channel’s John Hendricks, expects its AI licensing business to generate more revenue than its 23 million subscribers by 2027 — possibly earlier. The company’s Q3 2025 earnings revealed a 41% year-over-year revenue increase, driven largely by deals licensing its content to train large language models. Year-to-date AI licensing brought in $23.4 million through September, already exceeding half of what the subscription business generated for all of 2024.
The streaming service’s library contains 2 million hours of content, but the “overwhelming majority” is earmarked for AI licensing rather than subscriber viewing, CEO Clint Stinchcomb said during the earnings call. Curiosity Stream is licensing 300,000 hours of its own programming and 1.7 million hours of third-party content to hyperscalers and AI developers. The company has completed 18 AI-related deals across video, audio, and code assets.
Building off the release of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10.1 from two weeks ago, AlmaLinux 10.1 is now available in GA form for this community-oriented RHEL10 downstream. Making AlmaLinux 10.1 all the more interesting is the project’s decision to promote Btrfs file-system support…
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
Although it’s not my favorite Kindle, there’s definitely a place in the market for the Kindle Scribe. It’s an ebook reader and a digital notebook combined, and it could be a great tool for people who like making notes on a device that mimics a paper notebook. It’s typically on the more expensive end, but now you can get the Kindle Scribe on sale as part of Amazon’s Black Friday 2025 deals. It’s currently down to a record low price of $280, a full 30% off its list price.
The device is available in three storage variants: 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB. You can get the 16GB and 32GB versions for $280 right now, while the 64GB variant is going for $310, which is 31% off. That means the highest discount is on the 32 GB variant (33% off), so if you’re buying a Kindle Scribe this Black Friday, 32GB is probably your best bet.
You can get the Scribe in black or green colorways (Amazon calls them Tungsten and Metallic Jade, respectively). Unfortunately, the green variant is only available with 64GB storage, so you’ll have to spend $30 more to grab it.
Be aware that a newer generation of the Kindle Scribe is just around the corner and will be available at $500. To me, this means now’s a great time to grab a deal on the older one, but for some people, it may make sense to save up and buy the upgraded one instead.
The current-gen Kindle Scribe scored a 3.5/5 in Lifehacker’s review. Deputy Editor Joel Cunningham called it a great ebook reader but a disappointing digital notebook. He praised the Scribe’s build quality, the natural writing experience it offers, and its stylus. On the other hand, he wasn’t too happy with the limited note-taking functions, clunky refresh rate, occasional ghosting issues, or the lack of waterproofing.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
You can get the iRobot Braava Jet M6 Smart Robot Mop, currently on sale for $119.99 on StackSocial. PCMag gave it an “excellent” rating for good reason: it mops in straight, efficient rows, maps your home, and can be controlled via the app or Alexa.
The m6 is ideal for homes with hardwood, tile, or stone floors and works well in open layouts or multi-room setups. It uses vSLAM navigation to create a smart map of your space, where you can also set “Keep Out Zones” to avoid dog bowls or play areas. The battery lasts for about 150 minutes, and it’ll automatically return to its dock and resume cleaning where it left off. You also get two cleaning modes (wet mopping and dry sweeping) and a 15-ounce water tank that handles most messes without frequent refills. The app lets you schedule cleanings, choose specific rooms, or just send it off to mop up a spill on command.
Still, don’t expect miracles. While it does a solid job on everyday grime and dried spills, it won’t scrub out stubborn stains the way a human can. You’ll also need to buy the cleaning pads and solution separately. That said, at under $120 for a Grade “A” refurbished model with a one-year warranty, it offers a lot of functionality in a small, quiet package. It’s especially useful if you already own a Roomba vacuum—the two can work together to vacuum and mop your floors in a seamless sequence. For anyone looking to minimize daily maintenance without sacrificing clean floors, this robot mop makes a compelling case. It also comes in white.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Black Friday sales officially start Friday, November 28, and run through Cyber Monday, December 1, and Lifehacker is sharing the best sales based on product reviews, comparisons, and price-tracking tools before it’s over.
Follow our live blog to stay up-to-date on the best sales we find.
Browse our editors’ picks for a curated list of our favorite sales on laptops, fitness tech, appliances, and more.
Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.
The Sonos Arc Ultra is our pick for the best soundbar overall, and you can get it bundled with the Sub 4 subwoofer for a record low price of $1,499 right now for Black Friday. At 25% off, that’s the best deal we’ve seen on the combo, according to price-tracking tools.
Sonos dominates the soundbar space, with some of the best smart speakers and surround sound systems on the market. The Arc Ultra is the brand’s latest flagship soundbar and comes with all the premium features you’d expect at this price point, like Bluetooth connectivity, Dolby Atmos support, spatial audio, voice assistant from Amazon Alexa, and Sonos Voice Control. It has excellent audio quality and impressive bass, and its minimalist design looks great on any TV stand or wall. PCMag gives the Sonos Arc Ultra an “outstanding” rating.
The Arc Ultra alone performs better than most soundbar and subwoofer combos, but the deal currently available includes the also-excellent Sub 4 for an even more immersive experience.
Note that the Arc Ultra is a large soundbar—measuring in at 2.95 by 46.38 by 4.35 inches and 13 pounds—so you’ll need plenty of space for it.
How long do Black Friday deals really last?
Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.
What stores have the best sales on Black Friday?
Nowadays, both large retailers and small businesses compete for Black Friday shoppers, so you can expect practically every store to run sales through Monday, December 1, 2025. The “best” sales depend on your needs, but in general, the biggest discounts tend to come from larger retailers who can afford lower prices: think places like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, and Home Depot. You can find all the best sales from major retailers on our live blog.
Are Black Friday deals worth it?
In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.
Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?
Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.
