After announcing its robotaxi service in Abu Dhabi last year, Uber and WeRide are finally deploying fully autonomous vehicles in in the city, Uber announced. If you request an UberX or Uber Comfort vehicle in designated parts of the city, you’ll now get an option for a driverless WeRide vehicle.
Uber first launched its service with Chinese robotaxi operator WeRide back in 2024, but only with safety drivers aboard at first. Now, the fully driverless service will be offered in a 12 square mile tourist area called Yas Island, with expansion planned for other parts of the city down the road.
Anyone in the Yas Island area can select the “Autonomous” option in the Uber app, though it doesn’t guarantee a driverless vehicle. The cars in use, shown above, are WeRide’s five-place GXR model (based on Geely’s Farizon SuperVan) with more than 20 sensors and cameras.
Uber has partnered with multiple robotaxi operators including Waymo in Atlanta, Baidu in Asia and the Middle East and Momenta in Europe. With those, Uber focuses on the consumer ride-matching part of the service while its partners supply the vehicles. For WeRide, though, Uber is handling fleet operations in collaboration with taxi company Tawasul Transport, including maintenance, charging and more. Uber and WeRide intend to launch in an additional 15 cities over the next several years.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/uber-and-werides-abu-dhabi-robotaxi-service-is-now-fully-driverless-133013746.html?src=rss
Character.ai has introduced Stories, its first format that was specifically created to “enhance [teens’] experience,” on the same day the company removed their ability to engage with its chatbots. Stories works similarly to choose-your-own-adventure apps that offer interactive visual novels users can play. The company describes Stories as a “visual, narrative-first format.” Players can choose two to three characters, pick a genre and then write their own premise or auto-generate one. From there, users can steer the story with their decisions on every branching path. That means they can keep replaying the game for different outcomes based on the paths they choose.
While the Stories experience is a lot more customizable than the typical visual novel app, it still doesn’t offer the same open-ended, back-and-forth conversations Character.ai’s chatbots do. The narrative will be guided by the AI, though the company promises that players will be asked to make choices frequently.
AI companies are under scrutiny from authorities, who are pushing them to put safeguards in place to protect younger users. Character.ai announced in October that it was going to ban users under 18 from accessing its open-ended bots. The company has also introduced a new age-check tool to ensure users will only be able to access experiences appropriate for them. In addition, the company is facing a wrongful death lawsuit involving the suicide of a teenage girl in Florida. Her family alleged that the girl confided in one of the website’s chatbots about feeling suicidal, but it did not point her towards any resources or report it to authorities.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/characterai-launches-guided-stories-format-after-banning-teens-from-its-chatbots-133000131.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.
At $464.99, the Insta360 X5 has hit its lowest price on record, according to price trackers—$85 off its usual $549.99. That alone might tempt anyone looking to up their action cam game, but it’s the sheer versatility of the X5 that justifies a closer look.
This is a 360-degree camera that gets you crisp 8K footage, buttery slow-mo at 4K120fps, and even 72MP stills, notes PCMag’s “outstanding” review of the Insta360 X5 (they also deemed it the best action cam of 2025). The camera is waterproof up to 49 feet, with a durable build that’s lighter and slightly taller than its predecessor. Insta360 also added user-replaceable lenses this time, a welcome upgrade for anyone who’s ever worried about scratching a $500-plus camera lens while hiking or biking.
Still, this isn’t a pick-up-and-go kind of gadget, at least not if you want to get the most out of it. Yes, the large 2.7-inch touchscreen and upgraded app make basic shooting and editing pretty intuitive. But editing 360-degree video, even with presets, comes with a learning curve. It’s not impossible, just something to factor in. On the plus side, the editing tools now include AI-powered templates and a Highlights Assistant that helps you find key moments while shooting. That, plus the voice and gesture controls, shows Insta360 is clearly trying to bridge the gap between advanced features and ease of use. And if you’re already familiar with the X4, the changes here—better waterproofing, a bigger battery, wind reduction upgrades—feel meaningful, not cosmetic.
The 2,400mAh battery clocks up to 185 minutes of footage in endurance mode, though real-world use will vary. There’s also a long list of shooting modes (Road, TimeShift, Starlapse, Bullet Time, and more) for anyone who likes getting creative. Audio is solid, with improved wind noise reduction and Bluetooth mic support, though serious creators might still prefer external recording gear. All told, this is the kind of device that rewards experimentation. It’s ideal for travel vloggers, extreme sports fans, or just anyone willing to learn the ropes. It’s not cheap, and it’s not simple. But if you’re looking to shoot outside the standard frame and maybe even underwater, this deal is worth considering.
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.
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
Sony’s A7 IV and A7R V cameras are top picks in Engadget’s camera buying guide and they’re both now on sale at all-time lows for the holidays. Sony’s A7 IV, which I said has “the best combination of image quality, performance and video powers” is on sale for $1,998, or 26 percent off the regular price. And the A7R V, which shoots beautiful 61MP images and offers fast and accurate autofocus, has hit at an all-time low of $3,298 or 21 percent ($898) off.
With a superb score of 90 in my review, Sony’s A7 IV is still one of the best hybrid cameras you can get thanks to the high resolution, fast shooting speeds and 4K 60p video. Autofocus is incredible for both video and stills, and it comes with in-body stabilization to help smooth your shots. And for photographers, image quality has never been better thanks to the high dynamic range and enhanced resolution compared to the previous model. Although it does see occasional discounts, I’ve never seen it drop below $2,000, so if you’ve been looking, now is a perfect time to buy.
Sony’s A7R V garnered a similarly superb Engadget review. With a 61-megapixel sensor, it shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that’s much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap. Again, there’s never been a better time to buy one, as Sony told me this is the lowest price it has ever been sold at.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/sonys-a7r-iv-and-a7r-v-cameras-are-on-sale-for-all-time-low-prices-for-black-friday-132107036.html?src=rss
Back in 2018, Xiami launched Poco as a sub-brand that specializes in mid-range smartphones. Now, Poco has launched its first premium flagship phone series, the F8 Ultra and the F8 Pro, at an event in Bali. Both devices will use Sound by Bose technology, thanks to a partnership with the brand, and runs Xiaomi HyperOS 3. Kang Lou, Poco Global’s Senior Product Marketing Manager and Spokesperson, said the F8 Ultra sets “a new benchmark for true flagships.” Meanwhile, the F8 Pro will make “all-round flagship experiences accessible to more users.”
The 6.9-inch Poco F8 Ultra has a dual-chipset architecture, consisting of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s latest flagship mobile platform, and the VisionBoost D8 chipset that enables “AI Super Resolution for crisper, more detailed images.” It uses Poco’s new HyperRGB display, which the company says uses a full RGB subpixel structure wherein red, green and blue subpixels are fully used. Another notable feature is its 6500mAh battery, which is the largest yet on a Poco F series phone. The Ultra version comes in a “Denim” variant, though it doesn’t actually use denim: Its back was merely designed to look like it’s covered in the fabric, but it actually uses a special Xiaomi nanotech material.
Meanwhile, the 6.59-inch Poco F8 Pro has a subtle micro-curved design, wherein its edges transition into its back panel. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform and comes with a 6210mAh battery that can last for 16 hours of continued use. Both models are now out in the UK. The Poco F8 Ultra will set you back at least £749, while the F8 Pro will cost you at least £549. In the US, the F8 Ultra with 12GB of memory and 256GB of storage will cost you $729, while the one with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage will cost you $799. It will be $579 for the F8 Pro with the lower specs and $629 for the one with the higher specs. Poco is giving discounts that shave at least $50 off their price for early buyers, but it has yet to announce a release date for the US.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/pocos-new-flagship-phone-has-a-bose-subwoofer-and-a-denim-option-130811181.html?src=rss
Subscription boxes are the rare gift that keeps its charm long after the wrapping paper is gone. You make the choice once, but the surprises keep landing on their doorstep for months after that. For anyone who loves the buzz of a delivery, these are gifts that extend the season well past December. Each box on this list combines a bit of discovery with something tangible, such as gadgets, books, collectibles, snacks or clever projects. Some appeal to hardcore hobbyists, others to the curious or the comfort seekers, but all offer that same spark of delight that comes from unboxing something unexpected. If you want a present that’s part experience, part surprise and fully enjoyable, this is a solid place to start.
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.
The bundle includes the full VR2 setup and a copy of Horizon Call of the Mountain, a title built specifically to show off what the hardware can do. PCMag gave the PS VR2 an “outstanding” rating for good reason—this is a big leap from Sony’s first attempt at VR, with sharper visuals, better motion tracking, and more immersive gameplay.
The PS VR2 runs at a resolution of 2,000 x 2,040 per eye, with a 120Hz refresh rate and full 6DOF (six degrees of freedom) tracking. Translation: It feels smooth and looks sharp, even during fast-paced movement. The eye-tracking tech is surprisingly useful, helping menus feel more intuitive and making foveated rendering possible (basically, games focus the highest resolution where you’re actually looking). Setup is easy, and the build is lightweight, so it doesn’t take long to get going, and it doesn’t weigh your head down during longer sessions. The included Sense controllers are responsive and add physical feedback that makes everything from climbing to archery in Horizon feel a bit more tactile.
That said, there are a few caveats. The PS VR2 only works with a PlayStation 5, and it isn’t backward-compatible with original PS VR games. So, if you already have a VR library from the first generation, you won’t be able to carry it over. The game library is growing, but it’s still catching up to PC-based systems. Even so, for anyone new to VR or upgrading from older hardware, this bundle is one of the best values we’ve seen. At $299, you’re getting one of the most polished VR experiences available right now, without diving into PC setups or spending double the price.
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 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.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
Texas has purchased $5 million worth of BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF as an initial step toward creating the first state-level bitcoin reserve in the U.S.
“[O]ther states having previously invested in such funds with public-employee retirement money,” notes CoinDesk. “Michigan has been building such an investment, and Wisconsin sold its $350 million pension-fund stake in the BlackRock ETF in May. From the report: A few weeks ago, Texas moved past its deadline to “capture the industry’s best practices so it can utilize these practices in the implementation and management” of its bitcoin BTC reserve, according to its formal request for information issued in September. Entities across the industry provided input on how it could set up and manage the stockpile conceived of in the Texas Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Investment Act.
Last week, the state comptroller’s office moved to secure $5 million in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as a placeholder, a spokesman for the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts told CoinDesk on Tuesday. It’s an opening move as the state continues to work toward a contract with a custodian, he said, which will take place after it develops its formal request for proposal.
The Radio City Rockettes will be among the performers at this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. Here’s how to watch. (Peter Kramer/NBC via Getty Images)
NBC via Getty Images
Every holiday has corresponding must-watch TV associated with it, from It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown at Halloween, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer at Christmas, and the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade airing on the last Thursday in November.
This year marks the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. ET this Thursday, Nov. 27. The parade will be broadcast on NBC and streams live – with a three-angle multi-view option – on Peacock. Performers will include Wicked‘s Cynthia Erivo, Lainey Wilson, Ciara, and more. Oh, and if you’ve got KPop Demon Hunters fans in your life, not only will there be balloons featuring Derpy and Sussie, the parade will feature a performance by EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI, the singing voices of HUNTR/X.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade live this week, and how to catch the encore if you miss it.
When is the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
The 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is held this year – and every year – on Thanksgiving Day. This year, the parade is on Thursday, November 27, starting at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. There will be an encore broadcast at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
How long is the Macy’s Parade?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will last roughly 3.5 hours, ending at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT. An encore broadcast will air on NBC at 2 p.m. ET/PT.
What channel is the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on?
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade will air on NBC and stream on Peacock on Thanksgiving Day from 8:30 a.m. to noon in all time zones. An encore airing of the parade will also begin at 2 p.m. on NBC. If you have access to live TV, you may be able to watch NBC for free over the air. If not, here’s what we recommend for how to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade.
How to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade without cable:
Who is performing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Wicked star Cynthia Erivo will open the parade, which will also feature performances from Country artist Lainey Wilson, EJAE, Audrey Nuna, and REI AMI (the singing voices of HUNTR/X from Netflix’s KPop Demon Hunters), Drew Baldridge, Matteo Bocelli, Colbie Caillat, Ciara, Gavin DeGraw, Meg Donnelly, Mr. Fantasy, Foreigner, Debbie Gibson, Mickey Guyton, Christopher Jackson, Jewel, Lil Jon, Kool & the Gang, Darlene Love, Roman Mejia, Taylor Momsen, Tiler Peck, the Radio City Rockettes, Busta Rhymes, Calum Scott, Shaggy, Lauren Spencer Smith, Luísa Sonza and Teyana Taylor.
There will also be performances from the Broadway casts of Buena Vista Social Club, Just in Time and Ragtime.
What floats are in the Macy’s parade this Thanksgiving?
There will be 32 balloons, three “balloonicles,” 27 floats, 33 clown groups, 11 marching bands and plenty of performances at the 2025 Macy’s parade.
2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade new floats
Six new floats are debuting at this year’s parade:
The Land of Ice & Wonder by Holland America Line
Brick-tastic Winter Mountain by The LEGO Group
Master Chocolatier Ballroom by Lindt
Upside Down Invasion: Stranger Things by Netflix
Friends-giving in POPCITY by Pop Mart
The Counting Sheep’s Dream Generator by Serta.
2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade balloons
In 2025, there will be four new featured character balloons making their debut in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade:
Buzz Lightyear by Pixar Animation Studios
PAC-MAN by Bandai Namco Entertainment America, Inc.
Shrek’s Onion Carriage from Universal Pictures’ DreamWorks Animation;
Mario by Nintendo.
Derpy Tiger and Sussie from Netflix’s K-Pop Demon Hunters will also join the line-up as a mid-sized balloon and balloonicle.
Who is hosting this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade?
Today’s Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb and Al Roker of The Today Show will host NBC’s broadcast of the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade again this year.
Ways to watch the 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade free:
Want to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thanksgiving football and more on live TV this holiday season for free? Here are a few platforms offering free trials around this time of year.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/2025-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade-how-to-watch-start-time-where-to-stream-and-more-124520584.html?src=rss
Many dog breeds are noted for their personalities and behavioral traits, from the distinctive vocalizations of huskies to the herding of border collies. People have worked to identify the genes associated with many of these behaviors, taking advantage of the fact that dogs can interbreed. But that creates its own experimental challenges, as it can be difficult to separate some behaviors from physical traits distinctive to the breed—small dog breeds may seem more aggressive simply because they feel threatened more often.
To get around that, a team of researchers recently did the largest gene/behavior association study within a single dog breed. Taking advantage of a population of over 1,000 golden retrievers, they found a number of genes associated with behaviors within that breed. A high percentage of these genes turned out to correspond to regions of the human genome that have been associated with behavioral differences as well. But, in many cases, these associations have been with very different behaviors.
Gone to the dogs
The work, done by a team based largely at Cambridge University, utilized the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, which involved over 3,000 owners of these dogs filling out annual surveys that included information on their dogs’ behavior. Over 1,000 of those owners also had blood samples obtained from their dogs and shipped in; the researchers used these samples to scan the dogs’ genomes for variants. Those were then compared to ratings of the dogs’ behavior on a range of issues, like fear or aggression directed toward strangers or other dogs.
An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Guardian: Nearly a century ago, scientists proposed that a mysterious invisible substance they named dark matter clumped around galaxies and formed a cosmic web across the universe. What dark matter is made from, and whether it is even real, are still open questions, but according to a study, the first direct evidence of the substance may finally have been glimpsed. More work is needed to rule out less exotic explanations, but if true, the discovery would go down as a turning point in the decades-long search for the elusive substance that is said to make up 27% of the cosmos.
“This could be a crucial breakthrough in unraveling the nature of dark matter,” said Prof Tomonori Totani, an astrophysicist at the University of Tokyo, who said gamma rays emanating from the centre of the Milky Way appeared to bear the signature of the substance. […] To search for potential dark matter signals, Totani analysed data from Nasa’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, which detects the most energetic photons in the electromagnetic spectrum. He spotted a pattern of gamma rays that appeared to match the shape of the dark matter halo that spreads out in a sphere from the heart of the galaxy. The signal “closely matches the properties of gamma-ray radiation predicted to be emitted by dark matter,” Totani told the Guardian. Details are published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics.
If Totani has seen dark matter at work, the observations suggest it is made from elementary particles 500 times more massive than the proton. But far more work is needed to rule out other astrophysical processes and background emissions that could explain the signals. Totani said the “decisive factor” would be detecting gamma rays with the same spectrum from other regions of space, such as dwarf galaxies. According to Prof Justin Read, an astrophysicist at the University of Surrey, the lack of significant signals from such galaxies strongly argues against Totani having seen gamma rays emitted from dark matter particle annihilation. Prof Kinwah Wu, a theoretical astrophysicist at UCL, urged caution, saying: “I appreciate the author’s hard work and dedication, but we need extraordinary evidence for an extraordinary claim,” he said. “This analysis has not reached this status yet. It is a piece of work which serves as an encouragement for the workers in the field to keep on pressing.”
Qualcomm just revealed the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, the appropriately-named second member of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 line. This follows the Gen 5 Elite, which was first revealed back in September.
The standard Gen 5 is still a powerful mobile system-on-a-chip (SoC) with a top clock speed of 3.8GHz. That’s slightly lower than the Elite’s top speed of 4.6GHz, but still nothing to sneeze at. It includes a custom-built Oryon CPU and boasts speed-enhancing features like matrix acceleration. The company says the platform offers a 36 percent performance improvement when compared to Snapdragon 7, along with a 76 percent increase in web browsing responsiveness.
Qualcomm
The SoC also features the Qualcomm Adreno GPU, just like the Elite, which “unlocks higher clock speeds and boosts gaming and graphics performance by 11 percent.” This is a chip intended for modern smartphones, so it also has been designed for AI. It boasts the company’s proprietary Sensing Hub technology that combines microphone and sensor inputs to detect a user’s intent to speak.
It’s capable of on-device AI processing due to the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU. The company says this will enable “agentic AI assistants to deliver context-aware interactions and personalized suggestions.” That’s corporate speak for “it does stuff and says stuff.”
Qualcomm
Qualcomm says these chips will begin showing up in mobile devices in “the coming weeks.” The company named OnePlus as a partner and that organization did just announce a brand-new smartphone that was suspiciously devoid of any real specs.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/the-snapdragon-8-gen-5-is-a-cut-down-version-of-qualcomms-flagship-elite-chipset-063050786.html?src=rss
The UK is seeking to fast-track new atomic development to meet soaring energy demands driven by AI and electrification. According to a new report published by the government’s Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce, excessive regulation has made Britain the most expensive place in the world to build nuclear projects. The report is calling for a sweeping overhaul to accelerate reactor construction — everything from “streamlining regulation” to relaxing environmental and safety constraints. The Register reports: The document outlines 47 recommendations for the government, which come under five general areas: providing clearer leadership and direction for the nuclear sector; simplifying the regulatory approval process for atomic projects; reducing risk aversion; addressing incentives to delay progress; and working with the nuclear sector to speed delivery and boost innovation. Among the recommendations is that a Commission for Nuclear Regulation should be established, becoming a “unified decision maker” across all other regulators, planners, and approval bodies. The report also talks of reforming environmental and planning regimes to speed approvals, echoing the government’s earlier decisions to streamline the planning process to make it easier for datacenter projects to get built.
It recommends amending the cost cap for judicial reviews and limiting legal challenges to Nationally Strategic Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), while indemnifying nuclear developers against any damages they might incur as a result of proceeding with their project while a judicial review is still being decided. Another recommendation that may be cause for concern is that the government should modify the Habitats Regulations to reduce costs. These are rules created to protect the most important and vulnerable natural sites and wildlife species across the UK. The report also states that radiation limits for workers are overly conservative and well below what could be appropriately considered “broadly acceptable,” claiming that they are many times less than what the average person in the UK normally receives in a year.
Plex is beginning to enforce new restrictions on remote streaming for its TV apps, requiring either a Plex Pass or the cheaper Remote Watch Pass to watch media from servers outside your home network. How-To Geek reports: Plex is now rolling out the remote watch changes to its Roku TV app. This means that you will need a Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass for your Plex account if you want to stream media from a server outside your home. If you’re only watching media from your own server on the same local network as your Roku device, or the owner of the server you’re streaming from has Plex Pass, you don’t have to do anything.
Plex says this change will come to the other TV apps in 2026, such as Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV. Presumably, that will happen when the redesigned app arrives on those platforms. Roku was just the first TV platform to get the new app, which caused a wave of complaints from users about removed functionality and a more clunky redesign. Plex is addressing some of those complaints with more updates, but adding another limitation at the same time isn’t a great look.
The Remote Watch Pass costs $2 per month or $20 per year, but there’s no lifetime purchase option. You can also use a Plex Pass, which normally costs $7 per month, $70 per year, or $250 for a lifetime license. However, there’s currently a 40% off sale for Plex Pass subscriptions.
It feels like 2025 is the year of corporate standoffs and stalemates among TV providers, with the latest being a contract dispute between streaming provider Fubo and NBCUniversal which has led to a blackout of all the latter’s networks on the service. Channels like NBC, USA Network, Telemundo, and Bravo went dark on Fubo at 5PM ET on November 21, 2025, and as of now, there’s no projected date for their return.
A message released by Fubo to their customers explains, “Fubo believes customers should have the option to choose among multiple distributors to access the content they love. Unfortunately, NBCU has offered terms regarding pricing and packaging that are egregiously above those offered to other distributors.” A statement from an NBCU spokesperson adds, “Fubo has chosen to drop NBCUniversal programming despite being offered the same terms agreed to by hundreds of other distributors. Unfortunately, this is par for the course for Fubo — they’ve dropped numerous networks in recent years at the expense of their customers, who continue to lose content.” (Fubo, for instance, cut Warner-owned channels back in 2024.)
While the companies are continuing discussions to come to an agreement, audiences might have to go without this week’s midweek NBA game, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and Bengals vs. Ravens Thanksgiving Day game, a new episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Bravo, and much more.
Fubo has already begun emailing customers to note that a $15 credit will be applied to their bills starting “on or after December 1.” But in the meantime, if you’re a Fubo customer and are wondering what to do, here’s everything you need to know about the Fubo-NBC blackout, which channels are missing and your options for where to watch them.
Which channels are no longer available on Fubo?
The following is a list of channels owned or operated by NBC that are not currently available on Fubo:
Local Channels:
NBC Local Affiliates
Telemundo Local/National
Regional Sports Channels:
NBC Sports 4K
NBC Sports Bay Area
NBC Sports Bay Area Plus
NBC Sports Boston
NBC Sports California
NBC Sports California Plus
NBC Sports California Plus 3
NBC Sports Philadelphia
NBC Sports Philadelphia Plus
National Channels:
American Crimes
Bravo
Bravo Vault
Caso Cerrado
CNBC
CNBC World
Cozi
Dateline 24/7
E! Entertainment Television
E! Keeping Up
Golf Channel
GolfPass
LX Home
Million Dollar Listing Vault
MS NOW (formerly MSNBC)
NBC NOW
NBC Sports NOW
NBC Universo
True CRMZ
New England Cable News
Noticias Telemundo Ahora
Oxygen True Crime
Oxygen True Crime Archives
Real Housewives Vault
SNL Vault
Syfy
Telemundo Accion
Telemundo al Dia
The Golf Channel
Today All Day
Universal Movies
USA Network
Why are these NBC-owned channels currently unavailable?
Per Fubo, NBC channels were pulled from the platform because of a disagreement over their long-standing content distribution agreement that has yet to be resolved.
When will the missing channels return?
There is no information available as to when NBC’s lineup of channels will return. Negotiations between the companies are ongoing.
Is Fubo offering a rebate while these channels are missing?
In a message to subscribers, Fubo stated, “If NBCU programming remains off of Fubo for an extended period, we will directly credit $15 to your Fubo account.” At least one Fubo customer on our staff received an email confirming the credit would be automatically applied in the December billing cycle.
What alternatives do viewers have in the meantime?
Looking to switch from Fubo? You’ve got plenty of options, including Peacock, DirecTV, and Hulu + Live TV. Here are some of your choices:
Watch NBC on Peacock
Get a deal on Peacock with Walmart+
Try DirecTV free for 5 days, and get $30 off your first month
Try Hulu + Live TV for free
Other services to watch NBC
If I switch to a different service, can I cancel or pause Fubo in the meantime?
Fubo does not allow customers to pause their subscriptions, so if you’re looking to make a change, you can cancel your plan outright.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/missing-nbc-and-bravo-on-fubo-here-are-your-alternatives-during-the-channel-dispute-014052749.html?src=rss
HP plans to cut 4,000-6,000 jobs by 2028 “as part of a plan to streamline operations and adopt artificial intelligence,” reports Reuters. From the report: HP’s teams focused on product development, internal operations and customer support will be impacted by the job cuts, CEO Enrique Lores said during a media briefing call. “We expect this initiative will create $1 billion in gross run rate savings over three years,” Lores added. The company laid off an additional 1,000 to 2,000 employees in February, as part of a previously announced restructuring plan. Demand for AI-enabled PCs has continued to ramp externally, reaching over 30% of HP’s shipments in the fourth quarter ended October 31.
Warner Music Group has reached a licensing deal with Suno that will let users create AI-generated music using the voices and likenesses of artists who opt in. WMG says participating artists will have “full control” over how their likeness and music are used. “These will be new creation experiences from artists who do opt in, which will open up new revenue streams for them and allow you to interact with them in new ways,” Suno says, adding that users will be able to “build around” an artist’s sounds “and ensure they get compensated.” WMG is also dropping its previous lawsuit accusing Suno of scraping copyrighted material.
“Along with the licensing agreement, Suno is planning to use licensed music from WMG to build next-gen music generation models that it claims will surpass its flagship v5 model,” adds The Verge. “It will also start requiring users to have a paid account to download songs starting next year, with each tier providing a specific number of downloads each month.”
Further reading: First ‘AI Music Creator’ Signed by Record Label. More Ahead, or Just a Copyright Quandry?
An anonymous reader quotes a report from PCMag: Four new features are coming to Google Maps, including a way to hide your identity in reviews. Maps will soon let you use a nickname and select an alternative profile picture for online reviews, so you can rate a business without linking it to full name and Google profile photo. Google says it will monitor for “suspicious and fake reviews,” and every review is still associated with an account on Google’s backend, which it believes will discourage bad actors.
Look for a new option under Your Profile that says Use a custom name & picture for posting. You’ll then be able to pick an illustration to represent you and add a nickname. Google didn’t explain why it is introducing anonymous reviews; it pitched the idea as a way to be a business’s “Secret Santa.” Some users are nervous to publicly post reviews for local businesses as it may be used to track their location or movements. It may encourage more people to contribute honest feedback to its platform, for better or worse. Further reading: Gemini AI To Transform Google Maps Into a More Conversational Experience
Poland has launched a new antitrust investigation into Apple’s App Tracking Transparency rules, questioning whether Apple misled users about privacy while giving its own apps a competitive advantage over third-party developers. AppleInsider reports: On November 25, Poland’s UOKiK has started another investigation into App Tracking Transparency, and whether Apple had restricted competition in mobile advertising. Reuters reports that, to the anti-monopoly regulator, ATT may have limited advertisers’ ability to collect user data for advertising purposes while simultaneously favoring Apple’s ad program. On November 25, Poland’s UOKiK has started another investigation into App Tracking Transparency, and whether Apple had restricted competition in mobile advertising. Reuters reports that, to the anti-monopoly regulator, ATT may have limited advertisers’ ability to collect user data for advertising purposes while simultaneously favoring Apple’s ad program.
This is not the first time that Poland has looked into ATT rules. In December 2021, the regulator held a similar probe following criticism from advertisers. It’s not clear what that complaint determined, or if it is still ongoing. Regardless, in the new complaint, the logic is that Apple had a competitive advantage since its own apps were not subject to ATT rules, but third-party apps did have to deal with ATT. Since Apple didn’t visibly ask for consent for its first-party apps in the same way, there is a presumption that Apple’s rules only applied to other companies.
This is despite Apple’s repeated insistence that it doesn’t use the same kinds of collected data in its own apps and services for marketing purposes, as well as its stance on privacy in general. In short, Apple apps don’t use the data, so it doesn’t pop up a dialog box asking the user if the app can use the data. There is also the argument that, in setting up an account with Apple, users are providing blanket consent to the company. Implementing ATT on its own apps would therefore be a waste of time, since that consent was already granted. Apple said that it will work with the regulator on the matter, but warned that it could force them to withdraw the feature “to the detriment of European consumers.”
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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 generally a great time to buy tech, and laptops are frequent highlight items during doorbuster sales. But there are so many deals (and “deals”) right now that it can be hard to know which ones are worth buying and which might be a little misleading. Luckily, I review laptops for a living, and I’ve narrowed down my favorite Black Friday laptop deals for you, whether you’re looking for a productivity machine, a gaming buddy, or just a cheap little clamshell to go online with.
Best thin and light laptops
M4 Apple MacBook Air
$749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00
$749.00 at Amazon
$999.00 Save $250.00
M5 Apple MacBook Pro
$1,399.99 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $199.01
$1,399.99 at Amazon
$1,599.00 Save $199.01
Microsoft Surface Laptop with Snapdragon X Plus (10-core)
$749.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $450.00
$749.99 at Amazon
$1,199.99 Save $450.00
Dell 14 Plus Laptop
$799.99 at Dell
$1,249.00 Save $449.01
$799.99 at Dell
$1,249.00 Save $449.01
Productivity laptops are going to be some of the most common sales you’ll see this Black Friday, especially if you’re looking at premium, thin, and light devices.
Apple laptops
Almost every MacBook Air is on sale, for instance, starting at $749 for the most recent model, with the M4 chip. This deal will net you 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, which should be enough for light use. Or, you could bump up to the 24 GB RAM/512GB storage MacBook Air for $1,149.
If you need more power and a built-in fan, the M5 MacBook Pro starts at $1,399 this Black Friday, which will net you 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. There are plenty of models of this laptop available, you could get the model with an M4 Max chip, 48GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage for $3,499. Don’t worry—it’s actually more powerful than the M5, even if it sounds weaker. It’s just that Apple has yet to release an M5 Max chip.
Windows laptops
If Windows is more your thing, you could opt for Microsoft’s take on the MacBook, with the Microsoft Surface Laptop. This starts at $750, although there are currently two models selling for that price point, the 2024 one and the 2025 one. My pick is actually the 2024 one, as it’s mostly identical, but the CPU has slightly more cores. Speaking of, this laptop has a Snapdragon X Plus chip, a touchscreen, and comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. That chip is actually somewhat unique against most other Windows laptops, as it’s built on mobile architecture, which means it sacrifices a bit on program compatibility but makes up for it on battery life.
Finally, if you need a more traditional Windows laptop, the Dell 14 Plus is a solid choice. By default, it’s $799 and comes with a solid workhorse of a chip in the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V, and packs a generous 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. There are numerous configuration options as well, although discounts vary on each.
Best gaming laptops
Asus Tuf Gaming A16 with RTX 5070
$1,199.99 at Best Buy
$1,699.99 Save $500.00
$1,199.99 at Best Buy
$1,699.99 Save $500.00
Lenovo LOQ Gaming Laptop with RTX 5050
$649.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $450.00
$649.99 at Best Buy
$1,099.99 Save $450.00
MSI Vector 16 HX AI 400 with RTX 5080
$1,899.99 at Best Buy
$2,499.99 Save $600.00
$1,899.99 at Best Buy
$2,499.99 Save $600.00
Gaming laptop deals are a bit more rare on Black Friday, mostly because there are so many options out there that you can’t necessarily expect the one you want to be on sale, or for those that are to come with the most attractive specs. However, I’ve found a few compelling options this Black Friday, across a number of price points.
Starting on the low end of the spectrum, there’s the Lenovo LOQ, which is on sale at Best Buy for $650. This comes with an entry level RTX 5050 graphics card, a strong enough Intel Core i5-13450HX chip, and the standard budget gaming loadout of 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. The screen is also a simply 1,920 x 1,080, but given that this is meant more for lightweight games, that shouldn’t be an issue. It’s a good choice if you mostly play smaller indie games, or competitive games like Fortnite, which tend to optimize for users with all types of machines.
If you want a more middle-of-the-road option, try the Asus TUF Gaming A16, which is $1,200 at Best Buy. This will bump you up to an AMD Ryzen 9 chip, an RTX 5070 GPU, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a 1,920 x 1,200 screen. It should be able to play most AAA titles, assuming you’re willing to play with settings on some of the more demanding titles.
Finally, if you want to splurge a bit, there’s theMSI Vector 16 HX AI 400 for $1,900 at Best Buy. Mouthful of a name aside, this is actually one of the cheaper ways to get the high-end RTX 5080 laptop this Black Friday. It packs an Intel Core Ultra 9-275HX chip, an RTX 5080 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Yes, that amount of RAM is technically a little lower than on the TUF, but the screen is a higher resolution at 2,560 x 1,600, and 16GB should still be enough to run pretty much any game in combination with the rest of this machine’s specs.
Best budget laptops
Acer Chromebook Plus 515
$299.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $130.00
$299.99 at Amazon
$429.99 Save $130.00
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i Chromebook
$282.16 at Amazon
$350.50 Save $68.34
$282.16 at Amazon
$350.50 Save $68.34
Dell Latitude 7410 (Refurbished) + Microsoft Office Pro 2021
$274.99 at StackSocial
$1,019.98 Save $744.99
$274.99 at StackSocial
$1,019.98 Save $744.99
Finally, you can also find a good deal on a budget laptop if all you want is a reliable machine to use for light work and going online. While I’ve previously written about why you should be skeptical of cheap laptops during Black Friday, there are still budget machines out there worth buying. (Most of them are Chromebooks, but I do have at least one Windows option for you as well.)
Starting off with a general option that should work well for just about everyone, there’s the $300 Acer Chromebook Plus 515. This comes with an Intel Core i3-1305U chip, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. Those humble specs are enough to qualify it for Chromebook Plus verification, unlocking a few extra AI features, and should be enough for the web-based applications Chromebooks specialize in.
If you want your Chromebook to be able to moonlight as a tablet, you could instead opt for the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 3i, which is $282. You’ll lose out on those minor Chromebook Plus AI bonuses, but you’ll gain the ability to convert the screen between laptop mode and tablet mode. It’s also a little weaker than the Chromebook Plus 515, with an Intel Pentium N6000 chip, but its 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage mean it should still be up to web-based tasks.
Finally, if you must get a budget Windows laptop, StackSocial’s $275 Dell Latitude 7410 deal is surprisingly good. With an Intel Core i5-10310U chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, you’ll get a decent amount of processing power for the price, even if that chip is a little old. Plus, you’ll get a digital code for Microsoft Office Pro 2021 thrown in. The catch is that it’s refurbished, but you can’t do much better for a Windows machine below $300.
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.
Our Best Editor-Vetted Early Black Friday Deals Right Now
