We like our hardware here at Engadget, from high-end gaming headsets to powerful heaters to the fabric shaver you never knew you needed. For Cyber Monday, we’ve found great deals on all of it. However, since I ascended to the software plane years ago and now swim in the digital aetherium, my favorite product of the year is an app — and not even one you use yourself.

DeleteMe will boost your quality of life, no matter where you are or what you’re doing, by sharply reducing the amount of spam you receive on every channel. From now until December 5, it’s offering 30 percent off all subscriptions with the coupon code BFCM30OFF25.

Chances are you’ve seen at least one public-facing “people search” site. You know the ones: they usually have names like 411.info or Find.people, and you can type in a person’s name and find all the info the site has been able to scrape on them. If you search your own name, it’s hard to avoid immediately running to the kitchen to make yourself a tinfoil hat. The most annoying thing is that these “data broker” sites are perfectly legal to run and use.

However, that’s also their Achilles’ heel. If they want to operate in the open, brokers legally have to include a way for you to remove yourself from their database. Most of them make it as aggravating and time-consuming as possible, but the option is there.

That’s where DeleteMe comes in. All you have to do is sign up and enter all the data you want removed from brokerage sites. DeleteMe handles the rest. It searches for your information on people database sites, automatically sends opt-out requests, bugs the broker if they don’t comply quickly enough and gives you a weekly report on how it’s doing. You do have to be OK with DeleteMe itself having your data, but I trust them way more than the randos over at violate.privacy.

It’s so much faster than handling all the opt-out requests yourself, which — if you’ve ever tried it — rapidly becomes a full-time job. Since I’ve been using DeleteMe, I almost never get spam calls or texts anymore, except in short bursts before its crawlers catch my name on another site. And yes, it doesn’t work on shady data brokers who don’t follow the rules, but it’s still a massive reduction of your online footprint.

The only problem is that it’s pretty expensive, so I strongly recommend jumping on this Black Friday deal. A few months on DeleteMe should be long enough for you to see if it reduces spam for you — and I’m betting it will.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/deleteme-is-30-percent-off-for-black-friday–and-its-the-most-effective-anti-spam-tool-ive-ever-used-203041824.html?src=rss

Black Friday is done, but the sales still roll on, and Cyber Monday remains a decent chance to pick up any storage gear you’ve been eyeing. If you have a PC, PS5, gaming handheld or any other gadget that could use some extra space, we’re weeding out the junk and rounding up the best Cyber Monday SSD deals and other storage discounts you can still get right now. It’s not the most plentiful time for SSD deals more generally these days, but we’re still seeing a handful of discounts on well-reviewed internal drives, portable SSDs and microSD cards. We’ll update this post as we find more offers that are worth your time.

Best Cyber Monday microSD card deals

Samsung P9 Express microSD Express Card (512GB) for $75 at Amazon ($25 off MSRP): If you need even more room for your Switch 2, this is a new low for the 512GB version of Samsung’s newest microSD Express card. Full disclosure: Samsung launched this card a couple of weeks ago, and we only just got it in for testing. But given the trend of similar Switch 2 performance we’ve seen with other Express cards thus far, and the fact that this is easily the cheapest 512GB model we can find in stock as of this writing, we figure it’s worth noting. Also at Samsung and B&H.

Lexar Play Pro (1TB) microSD Express card for $186 at Amazon ($34 off): If you want the most space possible for Nintendo’s new console, the Play Pro is one of the few microSD Express cards available in a 1TB capacity. This is the second-best price we’ve seen for that card since July, so it’s not an amazing deal, but it is the cheapest 1TB model we can find from a reliable brand right now.

SanDisk microSD Express Card (256GB) for $60 at Amazon ($8 off): Like the offers above, this discount matches the best price we’ve seen for SanDisk’s 256GB microSD Express card. There isn’t much point in grabbing it as long as cheaper options are in stock, though this is technically the fastest all-around model we’ve tested when it comes to transferring games to and from the Switch 2’s built-in storage. (Within games, however, the difference is still minimal.) We’ll note it here just in case the other Express models completely sell out. Also at B&H.

Best Cyber Monday internal SSD deals

SK Hynix Platinum P51 (1TB) PCIe 5.0 SSD for $110 at Newegg ($60 off): Most people don’t have to pay extra for the top-tier performance of a PCIe 5.0 SSD like the Platinum P51, but if you need something for more intense workloads or just want the comfort of owning a more futureproof SSD, reviews around the web suggest this is one of the better options available. Just make sure you have a compatible motherboard and CPU first. This offer ties the lowest price yet for the 1TB model. Use the code BFEFE96 to get the full discount at checkout.

Crucial T705 (2TB) PCIe 5.0 SSD with heatsink for $170 at B&H ($150 off): If you need a bit more room from a PCIe 5.0 drive, the Crucial T705 is a slightly older but still highly rated alternative with blazing-fast speeds. This is the best price we’ve tracked for the 2TB model with a heatsink, which isn’t 100 percent essential for everyone but helps minimize thermal throttling all the same.

Samsung SSD 9100 Pro (8TB) PCIe 5.0 SSD with heatsink for $750 at B&H ($270 off): Yes, we realize this is a ton to spend on a new SSD, but if you’re in the niche that wants a PCIe 5.0 drive with as much capacity as possible, it ties the lowest price we’ve tracked for the 8TB variant of Samsung’s top-end model. Most reviews say that the 9100 Pro is outpaced by the WD Black SN8100 at the enthusiast end of the market, but it’s still competitive, and the 8TB version of that WD drive is priced $250 higher as of this writing. Most other direct rivals, meanwhile, aren’t yet available with this much space.

Crucial P310 (2TB) M.2 2230 SSD for $130 at B&H ($111 off, in and out of stock): The P310 is a small-size SSD you can slot in certain thin and light notebooks or gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck. It uses cheaper QLC memory, not the faster and more durable TLC, but most reviews say it performs well for what it is. This discount is a few bucks above the largest drop to date for the 2TB model, but it’s still about $20 off the drive’s usual street price. Also at Amazon.

Best Cyber Monday portable SSD deals

Crucial X10 Pro (4TB) portable SSD for $210 at B&H ($60 off): The X10 Pro is a older and slightly slower version of the X10 — confusing, we know — but it comes with a metal enclosure, a five-year warranty (instead of three) and 256-bit hardware encryption. The X9 Pro and standard X10 are better values when they’re cheaper, but that’s not the case right now if you want a 4TB drive. This deal matches an all-time low.

Seagate Storage Expansion Card for Xbox (2TB) for $185 at Amazon ($75 off): Annoying as it is, the only way to fully add storage to an Xbox Series X or Series S is to use a proprietary expansion card. Only two of those exist, and they’re both expensive compared to traditional SSDs. Still, they’re dead simple to set up, and this Seagate model holds up well compared to the consoles’ internal storage. This is a new low for the 2TB model and $15 cheaper than the price we saw on Black Friday. Also at Best Buy and Walmart for $200.

The 4TB variant is also discounted at $380 — that’s a ton to spend on one of these things, but it does match the lowest price we’ve tracked for that particular model. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-ssd-deals-include-up-to-270-off-recommended-internal-and-portable-ssds-microsd-cards-and-more-200006074.html?src=rss

A gauge of risk on Oracle debt “reached a three-year high in November,” reports Bloomberg.

“And things are only going to get worse in 2026 unless the database giant is able to assuage investor anxiety about a massive artificial intelligence spending spree, according to Morgan Stanley.”

A funding gap, swelling balance sheet and obsolescence risk are just some of the hazards Oracle is facing, according to Lindsay Tyler and David Hamburger, credit analysts at the brokerage.

The cost of insuring Oracle’s debt against default over the next five years rose to 1.25 percentage point a year on Tuesday, according to ICE Data Services. The price on the five-year credit default swaps is at risk of toppling a record set in 2008 as concerns over the company’s borrowing binge to finance its AI ambitions continue to spur heavy hedging by banks and investors, they warned in a note Wednesday. The CDS could break through 1.5 percentage point in the near term and could approach 2 percentage points if communication around its financing strategy remains limited as the new year progresses, the analysts wrote. Oracle CDS hit a record 1.98 percentage point in 2008, ICE Data Services shows…

“Over the past two months, it has become more apparent that reported construction loans in the works, for sites where Oracle is the future tenant, may be an even greater driver of hedging of late and going forward,” wrote the analysts… Concerns have also started to weigh on Oracle’s stock, which the analysts said may incentivize management to outline a financing plan on the upcoming earnings call…

Thanks to Slashdot reader Bruce66423 for sharing the article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Were you a Lego set kid or a giant-bucket-of-Legos kid? I was a sets kid all the way — I loved, and still love, the zen feeling of building something incredible a little bit at a time. Also, every time I tried to build something from the giant bucket, it fell apart immediately, but let’s not dwell on that. For this year’s Cyber Monday, we’re trawling the net for the best deals on Lego sets, from family-friendly tie-ins to architectural behemoths. If you’ve had your eye on a set but demurred due to the price, this list is for you.

It’s a good idea to use a price tracker to see if you’re getting the best Lego Cyber Monday deals. You’ll find Lego bargains this holiday season at retailers like Amazon and Walmart, but don’t overlook Lego’s own site. If you join the free Lego Insiders program, you’ll get special discounts and exclusive member gifts with each purchase, plus points you can redeem for your next set or bucket.

You can now officially backorder the hottest Lego gift of the season, the Star Trek USS Enterprise set, which was just announced. With a titanic 3,600 pieces and mini-figures of the whole Next Generation crew, it’s a must-have for any Star Trek fans. The set is available for $400 starting today.

Best Lego Cyber Monday deals

LEGO Ideas The Insect Collection 21342 for $40 (50 percent off)

LEGO Architecture New York City Model Kit 21028 for $34 (44 percent off)

LEGO Harry Potter Mandrake Figure & Pot Plant Toy 76433 for $41 (41 percent off)

LEGO Disney Frozen Advent Calendar 2025 43273 for $24 (47 percent off)

LEGO Dreamzzz Izzie’s Dream Animals Toys 71481 for $24 (40 percent off)

LEGO Icons Blacktron Renegade 10355 for $54 (46 percent off)

LEGO Friends Space Research Rover 42602 for $33 (34 percent off)

LEGO City Yellow Mobile Construction Crane Building Toy 60409 for $77 (30 percent off)

LEGO NINJAGO Dragon Stone Shrine 71819 for $79 (34 percent off)

LEGO Santa’s Sleigh 40499 for $25 (37 percent off)

LEGO Disney and Pixar Wall-E and EVE Building Set for Adults for $56 (20 percent off)

LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 for $39 (34 percent off)

LEGO Architecture Statue of Liberty 21042 for $81 (33 percent off)

LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Magical Unicorn Toy 31140 for $7 (32 percent off)

LEGO Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees Building Set 10373 for $45 (31 percent off)

LEGO Technic & Speed Champions McLaren Racing Pack for $54 (30 percent off)

LEGO Speed Champions Mercedes-AMG G 63 and Mercedes-AMG SL 63 for $25 (44 percent off)

LEGO Harry Potter Thestral Family Building Toy 76458 for $49 (30 percent off)

LEGO Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle LRV Building Set 42182 for $154 (30 percent off)

LEGO Technic NASA Mars Rover Perseverance Building Toys 42158 for $70 (30 percent off)

LEGO Icons Dried Flower Centerpiece 10314 for $35 (30 percent off)

LEGO Christmas Table Decoration 40743 for $25 (37 percent off)

LEGO Santa’s Delivery Truck Building Toy for Kids 40746 for $14 (30 percent off)

LEGO City Fire Rescue Plane Toy 60413 for $38 (31 percent off)

LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Wild Animals: Majestic Rhino with Birds 31171 for $42 (30 percent off)

LEGO Star Wars: A New Hope Boarding the Tantive IV Fantasy Toy 75387 for $38 (30 percent off)

LEGO City Yellow Delivery Truck Toy 60440 for $70 (30 percent off)

LEGO Speed Champions 2 Fast 2 Furious Nissan Skyline GT-R (R34) Race Car 76917 for $17 (30 percent off)

LEGO Star Wars Millenium Falcon A New Hope 25th Anniversary Collectible Model for $68 (20 percent off)

LEGO Star Wars Brick-Built Star Wars Logo 75407 for $48 (20 percent off)

LEGO Star Wars R2-D2 Building Toy Set 75379 for $80 (20 percent off)

LEGO City Donut Truck Toy 60452 for $16 (20 percent off)

LEGO Botanicals Happy Plants Building Toys 10349 for $18 (20 percent off)

LEGO Botanicals Mini Orchid Building Set 10343 for $24 (20 percent off)

LEGO Ideas Tuxedo Cat 21349 for $80 (20 percent off)

LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Retro Camera Toy 31147 for $16 (20 percent off)

LEGO DC Batman Mech Armor Super Hero Toy 76270 for $12 (20 percent off)

LEGO Friends Autumn’s Room Building Toy 42646 for $17 (15 percent off)

LEGO NINJAGO Arin’s Ninja Off-Road Buggy Car Toy for $40 (20 percent off)

LEGO Super Mario Captain Toad’s Camp Building Toy 72040 for $12 (20 percent off)

LEGO Technic Aston Martin Valkyrie Toy Car 42208 for $53 (19 percent off)

LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds 76419 for $140 (18 percent off)

LEGO Art Hokusai The Great Wave Framed Japanese Wall Art Building Set 31208 for $85 (15 percent off)

LEGO Animal Crossing Kapp’n’s Island Boat Tour 77048 for $20 (32 percent off)

LEGO Animal Crossing Stargazing with Celeste 77053 for $6 (36 percent off)

LEGO NINJAGO Cole’s Elemental Earth Mech Mini Ninja Toy 71806 for $17 (15 percent off)

LEGO Friends Cotton Candy Stand and Scooter 42643 for $8 (15 percent off)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-lego-deals-are-here-up-to-50-percent-off-on-star-wars-disney-harry-potter-and-more-toy-sets-193051211.html?src=rss

It turns out that all you need to get past an AI chatbot’s guardrails is a little bit of creativity. In a study published by Icaro Lab called “Adversarial Poetry as a Universal Single-Turn Jailbreak Mechanism in Large Language Models,” researchers were able to bypass various LLMs’ safety mechanisms by phrasing their prompt with poetry.

According to the study, the “poetic form operates as a general-purpose jailbreak operator,” with results showing an overall 62 percent success rate in producing prohibited material, including anything related to making nuclear weapons, child sexual abuse materials and suicide or self-harm. The study tested popular LLMs, including OpenAI’s GPT models, Google Gemini, Anthropic’s Claude and many more. The researchers broke down the success rates with each LLM, with Google Gemini, DeepSeek and MistralAI consistently providing answers, while OpenAI’s GPT-5 models and Anthropic’s Claude Haiku 4.5 were the least likely to venture beyond their restrictions.

The study didn’t include the exact jailbreaking poems that the researchers used, but the team told Wired that the verse is “too dangerous to share with the public.” However, the study did include a watered-down version to give a sense of how easy it is to circumvent an AI chatbot’s guardrails, with the researchers telling Wired that it’s “probably easier than one might think, which is precisely why we’re being cautious.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/ai-chatbots-can-be-tricked-with-poetry-to-ignore-their-safety-guardrails-192925244.html?src=rss

While it might not be as well-known as HBO Max or Netflix, Paramount+ still has an excellent library of shows and movies, and you can get a two months of access for just $6 for Cyber Monday. Even better, you can pick either Paramount+ Essential or Premium plans and get the same $3-per-month deal, which makes this deal a great option if you want to test the waters, or sample the streaming service through the end of the year.

Paramount+ continues to expand its catalog with a mix of current CBS shows, exclusive originals, classic TV and live sports. The service is available in two main tiers: Essential, which includes ads, and Premium, which removes most of them and adds a few key extras like 4K streaming, offline downloads and live CBS access. Both tiers include select Showtime programming, giving subscribers a taste of the premium network’s lineup.

The Essential plan provides access to more than 40,000 episodes and movies, along with live coverage of the NFL on CBS and UEFA Champions League matches. It supports up to three simultaneous streams, making it a practical choice for households that share accounts. The Premium plan builds on that by offering ad-free on-demand viewing (with exceptions for live broadcasts), higher-quality playback and the option to watch CBS live in participating regions.

Paramount+’s growing library combines new releases with well-known favorites, offering titles from across CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Sports fans get live coverage of key events, while movie watchers can find recent cinema releases from Paramount Pictures joining the lineup throughout the year. The inclusion of Showtime series in both plans adds another layer of variety, with dramas and documentaries available alongside the core Paramount+ content.

If you’re keeping an eye on subscription costs, an offer like this is a practical way to test the service without paying full price. It also gives you time to see whether the Essential plan’s ad-supported setup or the Premium tier’s extras are worth the difference.

If you’ve been watching your streaming spend as prices go up elsewhere, this deal from Paramount+ offers a well-balanced opportunity to experience both plan levels at a lower cost. Paramount+ is one of the best streaming services thanks to its vast selection of original shows like Star Trek: Discovery, Ink Master and Frasier. If you’re ready to stream big shows and live events without a heavy commitment this Cyber Monday offer is one to keep in mind.

There are plenty of other Cyber Monday streaming deals to consider as well. Here are some of the best ones:

• Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.

• Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Cyber Monday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

• HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Cyber Monday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Cyber Monday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/paramount-cyber-monday-streaming-deal-get-either-the-essential-or-premium-plan-for-only-3-per-month-for-two-months-192516963.html?src=rss

Winter nights are the perfect time to cuddle up with a favorite show or something new you finally have the time to dig in to. Cyber Monday sales are a great opportunity to try a new streaming service, and you’ll find several premium services, like Starz, available for a discount.

You can get an annual Starz subscription for a $58 discount for Cyber Monday. That’s about $1 a month for an entire year of Outlander, and all you have to be willing to do is pay the entire $12 upfront.

If you’re not sure about Starz, you can test the waters by paying $3 monthly, down from $11. However, this 73 percent discount is only available for your first three months and then goes back up to full price. Basically, if you’re at all interested, it’s only an extra $3 for an extra nine months if you pay annually. 

If Starz isn’t for you, check out some of the other great streaming deals available for Cyber Monday. There’s discounts like six months of Apple TV for only $36 or $96 off one year of a Disney+ and Hulu bundle.

• Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.

• Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Cyber Monday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

• HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max’s Cyber Monday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Cyber Monday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you’re getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

• Paramount+ — two months of Essential or Premium for $6: This Cyber Monday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to just $6 for two months, or $3 per month. The obvious better deal is on the Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-streaming-deals-drop-one-year-of-starz-down-to-just-12-190854296.html?src=rss

Like Black Friday before it, Cyber Monday is one of the best times of the year to buy a new TV. If you’re hoping to make a living room upgrade, we’ve scoured the web and picked out the best Cyber Monday TV deals we could find. The discounts still include well-reviewed OLED TVs and budget sets alike from Samsung, LG, Sony, TCL and Hisense. For those happy with their current TV, there are also several deals on media streamers and streaming services we like.

Best Cyber Monday TV deals: Under $500

Hisense U65QF (55-inch) for $398 at Amazon ($402 off MSRP): The U65QF is another entry-level LED TV with generally positive reviews. Most feedback around the web suggests that it can’t match the QM6K in terms of contrast, gaming features and overall accuracy, so TCL’s model should be a better buy for most. This iteration also uses Amazon’s Fire TV platform instead of the cleaner Google TV. It can achieve a higher peak brightness, however, so it’s worth considering if you get particularly bad glare in your living room. This is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 55-inch model, but the 65-inch ($548), 75-inch ($748) and 85-inch ($890) models are also at all-time lows. Also at Best Buy.

Best Cyber Monday TV deals: Between $500 and $1,000

LG B5 (48-inch) for $550 at Best Buy ($770 off): The B5 is LG’s entry-level OLED TV for 2025. It gets you the core benefits of any OLED TV — excellent contrast, wide viewing angles, smooth motion and so on — but it can’t get as bright as the higher-end LG C5, nor does it look quite as colorful. It’s technically limited to a 120Hz refresh rate instead of 144Hz, too, though that isn’t a big deal unless you plan to play PC games on your TV. This deal is within $20 of the all-time low we saw on Black Friday. The 55-inch model is on sale for a low of $897 as well. Also at LG.

Hisense U75QG (55-inch) for $498 at Amazon ($416 off): The Hisense U75QG is a close competitor to the QM7K. Its main advantage is that it can get much brighter than TCL’s model, which can make HDR content look more dynamic. This set also comes with four HDMI 2.1 ports instead of two, which is nice for those with multiple game consoles and a soundbar. That said, some reviews say its contrast falls short of the QM7K and that it can make HDR content too bright to be fully accurate. It also suffers from more noticeable motion blur, which means it’s not the best choice for fast-paced games. So you may only want to grab it if you’re determined to stay in this price range and have your TV in an especially bright room. Nevertheless, this is a new low for the 55-inch set. The same goes for the 65-inch ($748) and 75-inch ($998) models. Also at Best Buy.

Samsung The Frame TV (2024) 55-inch LED TV for $700 at Amazon ($198 off): You shouldn’t buy a Samsung’s Frame TV if you want the best picture quality for your dollar: They lack local dimming and Dolby Vision HDR, and some cheaper alternatives lap them when it comes to brightness and contrast. Instead, you’d buy one if care about your TV’s aesthetic above all else, since they’re designed to look like a framed piece of wall art. This set also has a matte screen finish, so it holds up well against glare and direct reflections. This discount drops the 55-inch version to a new all-time low. Just note that we’re highlighting the 2024 model; this year’s edition is also on sale for $98 more, but its panel still isn’t great the price, so we recommend saving as much cash as possible if you’re dead-set on buying one of these things. Also at Best Buy for $750.

Best Cyber Monday TV deals: $1,000 and up

Samsung S95F (65-inch) for $2,298 at Amazon ($700 off): The S95F is a premium model that’s received almost universally stellar reviews for being especially bright among OLED TVs while keeping the bold colors and contrast expected from a QD-OLED panel. That brightness, combined with the display’s matte finish, means it’s uniquely adept at fending off glare. It also has four HDMI 2.1 ports and a native 165Hz refresh rate for gaming. That said, there’s still no Dolby Vision HDR, and the matte coating means that black tones won’t look as deep in a bright room. It’s not cheap, but this is the lowest price we’ve seen for the 65-inch model. Also at Samsung and Best Buy.

LG G5 (55-inch) for $1,598 at Amazon ($199 off): The LG G5 is the S95F’s chief rival at the top of the OLED TV market. Most reviews say it can get even brighter, it does support Dolby Vision and its glossy finish means it won’t lose those inky blacks under ambient light. It’s more susceptible to glare, however, and while its picture is a level above most WOLED TVs, it’s still a step behind QD-OLED sets like the S95F when it comes to color volume. But if you’re mostly going to watch things away from direct light, this might be the better buy. This is a new low for the 55-inch model. The 65-inch set is down to its best price as well at $1,997. Also at B&H.

Sony Bravia A95L (55-inch) for $1,600 at Best Buy ($1,200 off): The A95L is an older QD-OLED TV from Sony released in 2023, but many reviews conclude that it isn’t far off its 2025 successor, the Bravia 8 II, which currently costs $400 extra. Like many premium Sony TVs, it’s earned praise for its excellent image processing, upscaling of lower-quality video and overall accuracy, so it should appeal to those who want movies and shows to look closer to their creators’ original intent. As a QD-OLED TV, it can display more vivid colors than lower-priced WOLED panels, plus it supports Dolby Vision HDR.

Still-great competitors like the Samsung S90F and LG C5 cost hundreds less, however, while top-end models like the Samsung S95F and LG G5 can get noticeably brighter. The A95L also isn’t the best for gamers at this price, as it’s limited to two HDMI 2.1 ports — one of which is an eARC port for soundbars — and its input lag is slightly higher than those rivals. But if you’re fine with all of that, this deal ties the all-time low for the 55-inch model. Also at Sony.

TCL QM8K (75-inch) for $1,398 at Amazon ($602 off): If you’re willing to pay an OLED-level price but want the increased brightness of a high-end LED TV, the TCL QM8K is worth a look. It won’t be as good in a dark room as something like the Samsung S90F or LG C5, as its contrast isn’t as deep and black tones aren’t as uniformly dark. Its viewing angles are clearly worse, too. But reviews say it still performs excellently compared to other LED sets, and since it gets way brighter than most OLED alternatives (especially with non-HDR content), it can better withstand glare. It also has a 144Hz refresh rate with support for 288Hz at 1080p, though it only comes with two HDMI 2.1 ports, and it’s not available in a size smaller than 65 inches. This is the best price we’ve seen for the 75-inch variant. Also at Best Buy.

Best Cyber Monday streaming device deals

Roku Streaming Stick 4K for $25 at Amazon ($25 off): The Streaming Stick 4K is worth considering if you want a cheaper stick-style streamer that plugs directly into your TV, or if you just prefer Roku’s app-based UI, which many find simpler to navigate than the alternatives from Google and Amazon. Performance is fine, if not super-fast, and the device supports Apple AirPlay as well. Just expect to see some ads and know there’s no Twitch app. This deal matches the stick’s all-time low. Also at Best Buy and B&H.

Roku Streaming Stick Plus for $19 at Amazon ($21 off): The Streaming Stick Plus is a cheaper version of the Streaming Stick 4K with no Dolby Vision support and no long-range Wi-Fi extender included. It may be less reliable with choppier internet connections as a result, but it can typically be powered straight from a TV’s USB port, it can still stream up to 4K, and the software experience is identical. Most people should probably just spend the extra $5 for the Streaming Stick 4K, but if you’re really looking to save, the Plus is a decent value. This deal is a new all-time low. Also at Best Buy and Walmart.

Roku Ultra for $69 at Amazon ($31 off): The Ultra might be worth it if you want the Roku experience in a set-top box design with built-in Ethernet and USB ports. Unlike the streaming sticks, it comes bundled with a rechargeable remote that supports voice controls, a lost remote finding tool and backlit buttons. (Though you can buy that separately.) This latest model also has a faster processor and Wi-Fi 6 support, though it’s not as snappy as other boxes like the Google TV Streamer 4K or Apple TV 4K. This deal ties the best price we’ve tracked. Also at Best Buy and Walmart.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Plus for $25 at Amazon ($25 off): If you’d prefer one of Amazon’s media streamers, the newly rebranded Fire TV Stick 4K Plus offers the same core experience as the pricier Fire TV Stick 4K Max, only it has a slightly slower processor, half the storage space (8GB) and Wi-Fi 6 support instead of Wi-Fi 6E. For most people who just want to stream casually, those shouldn’t be huge losses. Just keep in mind that its Fire OS interface is still fairly ad-heavy and prioritizes Amazon’s own apps over everything else. This deal is $3 more than the device’s all-time low but ties the best price we’ve seen in the past year. Also at Best Buy.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $35 at Amazon ($25 off): If you want the best Amazon streaming stick possible, the 4K Max gets you faster hardware than the Plus model and may be worthwhile if you have a Wi-Fi 6E router at home. This deal isn’t an all-time low, but it matches the best price we’ve seen over the past year. Also at Best Buy and Target.

Amazon Fire TV Stick HD for $18 at Amazon ($17 off): The Fire TV Stick HD is the budget pick in our guide to the best streaming devices. It only streams up to 1080p and runs a bit choppier than Amazon’s 4K models since it has a slower chip and a meager 1GB of RAM. The usual complaints with Fire OS still apply, too. But if you want to stick with Amazon and just need to add streaming apps to an old TV for as little as possible, it’ll work well enough. This discount matches the best price we’ve tracked. Also at Best Buy and Target.

Best Cyber Monday streaming service deals

Apple TV 6-month subscription for $36 at Apple ($42 off): Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for $36, which comes out to $6 per month for the discounted period. The deal is live for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Slow Horses, The Morning Show or Pluribus for less. The big caveat here is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not a third-party service.

HBO Max 1-year subscription for $36 at HBO ($96 off): HBO Max’s holiday deal gives subscribers one year of its ad-supported tier for $3 per month, or $36 total, through December 1. Normally, this would cost $11 per month. You can sign up via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re already a Prime Video subscriber, via that service as an add-on.

Paramount+ 2-month Premium subscription for $6 at Paramount ($20 off): If you’re looking to stream CBS shows or Champions League soccer, this deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to $6 total for two months. The obvious better deal is for the ad-free Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month, but be warned your subscription will be set to auto-renew by default.

Sling TV Orange Day Pass for $1 at Sling ($4 off): Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange’s 30-plus channels, including ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-tv-deals-include-sets-from-samsung-lg-sony-and-more-at-all-time-low-prices-190000974.html?src=rss

Nintendo gear is always sought after during the holiday shopping season, but this year likely more so than others. The Nintendo Switch 2 is the console launch of 2025 and it will undoubtedly be at the top of many wish lists for both kids and adults alike. If you were hoping to save a bit on the console on Cyber Monday, you may be disappointed. The Nintendo Cyber Monday sale was announced a few weeks ago, and unsurprisingly, there aren’t a lot of true “deals” to be had. This is typical of Nintendo — legit Nintendo Cyber Monday deals are hard to come by — but there are ways to at least get the best value for your money if you’re going to pick up a Switch 2 before the year is out.

As has been the case for many years, the marquee Nintendo deals for the holidays come in the form of console bundles. When the Switch 2 launched earlier this year, it was available as just the console only for $449 or bundled with Mario Kart World for $499. Both options are still available now. Considering the games by themselves cost $70 each, you do save a bit by picking up a console bundle. you can pick up the console and its bundles at most retailers including Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and others.

Nintendo Switch game deals

When it comes to deals on Nintendo Switch 2 games, the Nintendo eShop will have Cyber Deals starting on November 20, running through December 3. The shop will feature “holiday offers on select games,” so it appears we’ll all just have to go to the online store on November 20 to see the games on offer.

Starting on November 23, select retailers will have discounts on some physical Switch games including Princess Peach: Showtime!, Luigi’s Mansion 3 and Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe. Those will each be $40, while other games like Super Mario Odyssey, Nintendo Switch Sports, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door and Splatoon 3 will be $30.

Nintendo Switch accessory deals

Switch 2 accessories were conspicuously absent from the announced deals, but there’s always a chance they’ll receive discounts from third-party retailers like Amazon, Walmart and Best Buy. A handful of official Nintendo accessories made it onto our best Switch 2 accessories list, but you can find plenty of good ones from other manufacturers as well. If you’re keen on getting a first-party accessory, though, for yourself or as a gift for someone else, here’s where you can find some of the most popular ones.

Joy-Con 2 bundle

• Amazon

• Walmart

• GameStop

• Best Buy

• Nintendo

Switch 2 Pro Controller

• Amazon

• Walmart

• GameStop

• Best Buy

• Nintendo

Switch 2 Camera

• Amazon

• Walmart

• GameStop

• Best Buy

• Nintendo

Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Piranha Plant Camera

• Amazon

• Best Buy

Joy-Con 2 Wheels (set of 2)

• Amazon

• Walmart

• GameStop

• Best Buy

• Nintendo

More Nintendo Cyber Monday deals

Even if you can’t get huge discounts on Nintendo consoles or new games this year, that doesn’t mean you can’t find decent deals on other Nintendo gear. There are plenty of great ideas for gifts for the Nintendo fan in your life, and Engadget’s Sam Rutherford got to see a bunch of them in person when he attended Nintendo’s holiday showcase. From collectibles to clothing to plushies and holiday decor, there’s really a ton to choose from — but you may want to pace yourself if you’re also a Nintendo fan finding things that you want to pick up for yourself in the process of looking for good gifts. Here are just some of the best Nintendo gift ideas that you can look out for during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-nintendo-switch-2-deals-are-live-big-savings-on-switch-games-and-accessories-plus-switch-2-bundles-185511741.html?src=rss

The list of truly affordable Apple products is short, but the company’s AirTag Bluetooth trackers are definitely on it. For Cyber Monday, you can get a four-pack of Apple’s AirTags for $63 at both Amazon and Walmart. That’s a record low price for one of the best Bluetooth trackers for iPhones, lowering an individual tracker’s price in the bundle from $29 down to $16.

If you use Apple devices and are prone to losing stuff, AirTags are the obvious choice of Bluetooth tracker to buy. Adding one to your account requires little more than a single tap, and with Apple’s Find My network offering such extensive coverage these days, it’s never been easier to find missing belongings.

Tracking down a still nearby misplaced item is as easy as using your iPhone to trigger a sound from the AirTag’s built-in speaker, or alternatively you can use Precision Finding to pinpoint its location through Find My. You just follow the instructions on your iPhone’s screen, paying attention to its vibrations as you get closer.

If you only need a single AirTag, they’re also on sale right now for $18, another record low. It works out a bit better as a deal if you purchase the four-pack, but if you just want to attach one to your keys or backpack, $65 might seem like a stretch. Just remember that AirTags can’t be attached to items right out of the box. You’ll need to add an accessory in order to turn one into a keyring, or even attach it to your pet’s collar.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-cyber-monday-deals-include-a-four-pack-of-airtags-for-an-all-time-low-184222220.html?src=rss

27 million people live in Australia. But there’s a big change coming if you’re under 16, reports CNN:

From December 10, sites that meet the Australian government’s definition of an “age-restricted social media platform” will need to show that they’re doing enough to eject or block children under 16 or face fines of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars ($32 million). The list includes Snapchat, Facebook, Instagram, Kick, Reddit, Threads, TikTok, Twitch, X, and YouTube…

Meta says it’ll start deactivating accounts and blocking new Facebook, Instagram and Threads accounts from December 4. Under-16s are being encouraged to download their content. Snap says users can deactivate their accounts for up to three years, or until they turn 16…

There’s another sting in the ban, too, coming at the end of the Australian school year before the summer break in the southern hemisphere. For eight weeks, there’ll be no school, no teachers — and no scrolling. For millions of children, it could be the first school break they spend in years without the company of time-killing social media algorithms, or an easy way to contact their friends. Even for parents who support the ban, it could be a very long summer.

“There’s every chance that bans will spread…” the article argues. “Other countries around the world are taking notes as Australia explores new territory that some say mirrors safety evolutions of years past — the dawning realization that maybe cars need safety belts, and that perhaps cigarettes should come with some kind of health warning.” And according to the Associated Press, Malaysia “has also announced plans to ban social media accounts for children under 16 starting in 2026.”

But CNN reports few teenagers in Australia knew about its impending ban on social media, judging by a show of hands at one high school auditorium. Teenagers in the audience had two questions. “Can you get your account back when you turn 16?”
“What if I lie about my age?”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Fans of Game of Thrones and HGTV, rejoice. You can get a year of HBO Max for just $36 for Cyber Monday, lowering the normal $132 per year price by $96. The deal covers the ad-support version of the streaming service, but still includes a mix of popular originals (like the upcoming A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms), Warner Bros. films and live sports. You can sign up now via HBO Max’s website or, if you’re a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

HBO Max has one of the best libraries of content in the streaming market, combining HBO’s acclaimed originals with Warner Bros. theatrical releases, Discovery content and live sports. The service now runs across three main plans. The Basic With Ads plan, the one included in this deal, allows streaming on two devices in full HD and costs $11 a month at full price. The Standard plan adds offline downloads, more live sports coverage and better device flexibility for $18.49 per month. The Premium plan increases quality to 4K with Dolby Atmos sound (where available), four simultaneous streams and up to 100 downloadable titles for $23 monthly.

While the feature differences matter, the real appeal of HBO Max is its library. Subscribers get access to the full catalog of HBO originals, including House of the Dragon, The White Lotus, The Last of Us and Euphoria, alongside recent Warner Bros. theatrical hits like Dune: Part Two and Barbie. The addition of Discovery content brings in reality favorites such as Fixer Upper: The Hotel and 90 Day Fiancé, while sports coverage through TNT and TBS channels includes NHL, NASCAR, college football and more.

It’s worth noting that live sports are still limited to certain tiers and regions and 4K availability varies by title. But compared with other premium services that have recently raised prices or limited simultaneous streams, HBO Max’s current setup offers strong flexibility across its plans.

If you’re considering which streaming platform gives the best range of new shows, live events and cinema releases, our guide to the best streaming services compares HBO Max with other major options. For now, this one-year subscription offer provides a straightforward way to explore HBO’s latest hits and a wide catalog of content at a lower upfront cost.

There are plenty of other Cyber Monday streaming deals to consider as well. Here are some of the best ones:

• Disney+ Hulu bundle — $60 for one year: The Disney+ and Hulu (with ads) bundle is on sale for $5 per month for one year (for a total of $60) through December 1. New and eligible returning subscribers can take advantage of this deal, and considering the bundle typically costs $13 per month, this deal represents more than a 50 percent discount on the standard monthly price.

• Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for cyber Monday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

• Paramount+ — two months of Essential or Premium for $6: This Cyber Monday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to just $6 for two months, or $3 per month. The obvious better deal is on the Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/hbo-max-cyber-monday-deal-get-one-year-of-access-for-only-3-per-month-183245673.html?src=rss

Apple gear is great, but pricey. So take advantage of Cyber Monday deals to pay less than usual on iPads, AirPods, MacBooks, Apple Watches and more. Some devices are hitting the lowest prices we’ve seen yet on the latest models. That includes the base-model iPad for $274, the AirPods Pro 3 for $220 and the Apple Watch Series 11 for $339. After reviewing every major device out there, we named an Apple product the winner in our guides to tablets, smartwatches, smartphones and laptops. So not only will you be scoring a nice discount, you’ll get a device you’ll almost certainly be happy with. Here are the best Apple Cyber Monday deals we could find.

Editor’s note: December 1 is the last day to get up to $250 in gift cards with your purchase from Apple’s website. Other discounts are still available at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H Photo and other third-party retailers, which you’ll find linked below.

Apple Cyber Monday deals: AirPods

AirPods 4 (no ANC) for $80 ($50 off) at Walmart: You miss out on a few more features on the base-model AirPods 4: no live translation, no noise cancellation and no heart rate sensing, but you do get Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, like on the pricer models. We gave the entry-level buds an 88 in our review. The previous low price was $69 earlier in the sale. Also available at Amazon and Target.

AirPods 4 (with ANC) for $140 ($39 off) at Amazon: If you just need moderate noise cancellation and prefer an open-wear fit (where nothing goes in your ear canal), you may prefer the new AirPods 4. They don’t have heart rate sensing or the hearing features the Pro models have. But we found the sound quality to be pretty good and appreciated Pro-level features like live translation. These hit a low of $100 earlier in the sale, but have since gone up to $140. Also at Walmart and at Best Buy. 

AirPods Max for $400 ($149 off) at Amazon: These cans have been around for quite some time now, only getting the slightest upgrade with a new USB-C port in 2024. The hardware is otherwise the same as it was when the over-ear headphones debuted in 2020. Still, they’re comfortable, have good sound quality and the on-board controls are unique but good. This $400 sale price matches the all-time low But appears all but the black color are sold out. You can get the same deal at Walmart in for the headphones in black or starlight. 

EarPods for $17 ($2 off) at Amazon: For those who prefer a cord, here is the only Apple-branded wired earphone option. Also at Walmart. 

Apple TV Cyber Monday deal

Apple Cyber Monday deals: iPads

iPad Air (M3, 11-inch, 128GB) for $449 ($151 off) at Amazon: The Air is the Goldilocks Apple tablet. It strikes the perfect balance between price and performance, making it our overall pick for the best iPad you can buy. The build is lovely; it feels premium and the display is a big improvement over Apple’s base-model slate. The M3 chip is plenty fast for everyday use and can handle an average day of productivity no problem, particularly with its improved multi-tasking abilities. This matches the lowest price we’ve tracked. Also on sale at Target and Best Buy. 

iPad Air (M3, 13-inch, 128GB) for $649 ($150 off) at Amazon: A larger screen will make watching shows and playing games more expansive. And if you use your iPad more like a personal computer, you’ll appreciate the extra real estate for spreading out your work. Like the 11-inch Air, this has a powerful M3 chip and an excellent screen, as well as support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Intelligence. This matches the lowest price we’ve tracked. Also at Target, Best Buy and it’s $749 at B&H.

iPad mini (A17 Pro, 8-inch, 128GB) for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon: The smallest Apple iPad is really meant for those who put a priority on the portability and palm-ability of an 8-inch tablet. It uses the A17 chip, which enables support for Apple Intelligence, unlike the base model iPad. We gave it an 83 in our review, praising the fact that you get the full iPad experience, just in a more compact package. We found it particularly suited to messaging, reading, watching video and playing lots of Balatro. It went as low as $379 in October. Also at Best Buy.

iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 256GB) for $899 ($100 off) at Amazon: While we think this is an amazing piece of computing machinery, we admit that it’s overkill for most people. It’s got one of the best displays you’ll find on a tablet, the most recent M5 chip (the same that powers the base-level Apple MacBook Pro) and an almost impossibly thin and light build. We gave it an 85 in our review and had very few complaints — aside from the near-prohibitive price tag. Hopefully this Cyber Monday Friday discount helps. This $100 discount is a new all-time low. It’s $927 at Walmart. 

iPad Pro (M5, 13-inch, 256GB) for $1,199 ($100 off) at Amazon: To get the most out of the excessive power of the M5 chip, you might want the biggest screen. Once you add in the keyboard and Pencil Pro, you’re looking at one pricey setup (and might be better off with a MacBook?). But if extreme portability and massive power is what you crave, you may as well save $100 with this Cyber Monday discount. Also at Best Buy and B&H.

Apple Cyber Monday deals: Apple Watches

Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) for $199 ($49 off) at Amazon: After a couple years, Apple finally updated its budget-model smart watch. And we were pretty happy with the results, awarding the new wearable a review score of 90. It’s got a smaller screen and thicker bezels than the Series 11 and lacks a few of the more advanced health monitoring features. It’s also made from slightly less-robust materials. But it has nearly everything that makes Apple Watches great for a lot less — particularly now. This is the lowest price we’ve seen since the watch came out in September. Also at Walmart and Target.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 (49mm, GPS + cellular) for $700 ($99 off) at Amazon: The newest feature for Apple’s priciest smartwatch is satellite connectivity. The Ultra 3 has a titanium case, a large 49mm screen size and comes standard with cellular and dual GPS connectivity. It also has features for adventuring, like an on-board siren, depth gauge and up to 3,000 nits of brightness. The $99 discount within a dollar of the all-time low.

Apple Cyber Monday deals: MacBooks and Macs

Apple MacBook Air (M4, 15-inch, 256GB) for $949 ($250 off) at Amazon: The M4 chip is quite powerful, to take advantage of all the productivity it enables, you might want a little more room on your screen. When Apple first made a 15-inch option for the MacBook Air a couple generations ago, we were surprised at the difference it made. Also at Best Buy and it’s $100 off at B&H.

Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 14-inch, 512GB) for $1,349 ($249 off) at Amazon: Apple’s most recent M-series chip is the M5, and only comes equipped on the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iPad Pro. When the M5 MacBook Pro M5 came out last month, we promptly reviewed it and awarded it a 92. That new chip gives the laptop an impressive graphics upgrade that helps make it more suited to gaming — an area where Apple still lags behind PCs. Other than the chip upgrade, it’s mostly the same, which is a good thing. It’s sturdy, powerful and has an impressively long battery life — we clocked 34 hours in a video run-down test. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and B&H.

Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 14-inch, 512GB) for $1,749 ($250 off) at Amazon: The M5 chip isn’t yet available in the Pro and Max variants. If Apple follows the same six-month gap that separated the M4 from the M4 Pro and Max chips, we may see the M5 Pro/Max in spring of next year. For now, however, those higher-specced chips can only be found in the M4-series lineup. The MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is on sale and it’s our recommendation for creative professionals who need an obscene amount of processing power. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and B&H.

Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 16-inch, 256GB) for $2,149 ($350 off) at Amazon: You sacrifice a little portability for the larger 16-inch screen, as it adds about a pound and a quarter to the weight. But you might appreciate the extra space for your work on the display. Also at Walmart and B&H.

Apple 2024 iMac (M4, 24-inch) for $1,149 ($150 off) at Amazon: Apple just has one model of an all-in-one desktop computer and it has the M4 chip inside. We called the iMac more cost effective than ever, now that it comes with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. The M4 chip makes it capable for content creation, productivity and gaming.

Mac mini (M4) for $479 ($120 off) at Amazon: Apple’s compact desktop computer got a rave review from us. We called it “shockingly small [and] incredibly powerful.” It also benefits from a bump to a minimum of 16GB of internal memory. It can play modern games at reasonable resolutions and handle most productivity tasks you throw at it.

Apple Cyber Monday deals: Accessories

Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $63 ($36 off) at Amazon: Even though they haven’t been updated in a few years, Apple’s AirTags are still the gold standard of Bluetooth trackers, and what most people think of when they think of trackers. We may get a new version soon, but they aren’t likely to be this cheap. Also at Walmart. A single AirTag is on sale too for $18 instead of $29.

Apple Pencil USB-C for $69 ($10 off) at Amazon: If you have the new base-model iPad with the A16 chip, this is the pencil that will work for you. It’ll also work with current as well as slightly older models of the Air and Pro iPads.

Apple Pencil Pro for $95 ($35 off) at Amazon: The Apple Pencil situation is a little messy, so you’ll want to double check which model is compatible with your particular iPad. The Pencil Pro is the most fully featured in the lineup with haptic feedback, barrel roll and squeeze capabilities, and a hover preview feature. It’ll work with the two most recent models of the Air and Pro iPads, as well as the latest iPad mini. This deal is $5 more than the all-time low and it’s also available at Walmart and Best Buy.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-cyber-monday-deals-are-live-the-biggest-sales-weve-seen-in-2025-on-airpods-ipads-macbooks-apple-watches-and-airtags-182846134.html?src=rss

Cyber Monday is here for anyone who didn’t get a chance to get everything on their list (or were too tired from Thanksgiving to shop). In good news for anyone who loves Anker gear, every deal we found for Black Friday is still going strong. We think Anker makes some of the most reliable charging gear out there, which is why it keeps winning out in our tests and ending up in our guides to MagSafe power banks, wireless charging stations, iPhone accessories and more. So forget all that stuff about early birds, there are plenty of worms for the later birds, too. Here are the best Cyber Monday Anker deals we could find. 

Anker Cyber Monday deals: Power banks

Power banks revive dead phones, let you work longer while away from an outlet and allow you to play with your tablet/ereader/gamepad while it charges without being tethered to a wall. After testing out brands from a slew of different makers, our picks just keep coming back to Anker. The mix of value, capacity and clever features make Anker batteries just a little bit better than a lot of the brands out there.

Anker’s Laptop Power Bank, which our reviewer (me) called the culmination of all the best battery features is going for nearly $50 of right now. If could recommend one purchase to our readers, this would be it.

We think Anker’s Ultra-Slim MagSafe bank is a better deal than Apple’s Air MagSafe battery. It’s got a higher capacity and wattage rating and it looks just as sleek. Plus, in my humble opinion, $38 is a way better deal than $99. 

Anker also makes our top MagSafe battery pick (the MagGo Qi2). Thanks to its clever stand, excellent charging speeds and generous capacity, it’s one of the best ways to recharge an iPhone on the go..

I love this shiny little brick. The 3-in-1 portable charger has a built-in cable that’s also a strap, plus wall prongs and a handy display.

Anker Cyber Monday deals: Wireless chargers

A rats nest of cables on your desk is not the loveliest look. Now that phones, earbuds, smartwatches and even ereaders can refill on a charging coil, wireless chargers are a tidy solution. There are options that’ll let you view your phone while it charges, as well as some that will charge three devices at once. We’ve tested units from dozens of brands for our buying guides and keep putting Anker on our lists of winners. The brand makes some of the top picks in both our wireless charger guide and our list of the best multi-device chargers. Now, thanks to Cyber Monday, you can keep your devices topped off with quality accessories that are an even better value than usual.

Anker Cyber Monday deals: Power adapters

While wireless charging is faster than it’s ever been, cords are still the fastest way to charge your phone. Bigger devices like your laptop will reup faster on a high-wattage brick than on a dinky 20-watt adapter and if you want to keep your outlets more streamlined, go for a multi-port power adapter that will let you charge multiple devices at once. Again, after testing many brands, some of our most reliable picks continue to be from Anker. It shows up three times in our guide to the best fast chargers and we recommend the brand in a number of our accessories guides. Now that Cyber Monday is here, a number of Anker power adapters are on sale — so we rounded them all up here.

Anker Cyber Monday deals: Soundcore audio

We mostly think of Anker as a charging accessory brand. But they’ve expanded their scope by getting into audio equipment — and the effort was a success. You might not immediately pick up that these are Anker speakers — Soundcore shows up on the products themselves, but it’s the same company. We recommend a couple Soundcore music makers in our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers. They also make our overall favorite pair of budget earbuds, the Space A40. With Cyber Monday deals in full effect, these are the best Anker Soundcore deals we could find.

Cyber Monday deals on Ugreen, Biolite, Nimble and more

We’re fans of plenty of other brands aside from just Anker. Here are some of the other charging accessories that are also on sale for Cyber Monday. These come from our guide to MagSafe power banks, our standard power bank guide and our best fast charger roundup. If you want to read up on why these guys made the cut, check out those links. But if you just want to snag a few deals on electronics that Engadget has vetted, check out our picks below.

More Anker Cyber Monday deals

My personal favorite USB-C charging cable is made by Anker. It’s rated at 240 watts, has a durable build, plus it’s six-feet long and has a handy right angled connector at one end. Anker of course also makes plenty of other gear, from webcams to mice — that show up in our guides to the best accessories again and again. Here are the best Cyber Monday deals on Anker gear that doesn’t quite fit into the categories above.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/anker-cyber-monday-deals-offer-up-to-50-percent-off-power-banks-wireless-chargers-power-adapters-and-more-180023707.html?src=rss

Apple’s entry-level iPad A16 is the perfect couch computer, and you can get one on sale for $274 for Cyber Monday. The model comes in a variety of colors and is the most affordable option in the company’s lineup at its normal $349 price, and even more so now for 21 percent off.

The 11-inch iPad uses the A16 chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 15, delivering fast and reliable performance for most tasks. Whether you’re watching videos, editing documents or using creative apps, it feels responsive and capable. The A16 chip also helps future-proof the device, ensuring it stays compatible with new iPadOS updates for years.

The tablet’s 11-inch Liquid Retina display (2360 x 1640) offers sharp detail and vivid color at up to 500 nits of brightness. While it doesn’t have the ultra-bright XDR panel of the iPad Pro, it’s more than crisp enough for streaming or sketching with the Apple Pencil. The design follows Apple’s familiar flat-edge style, with slim bezels and an aluminum build that keeps it light and durable.

The iPad includes a 12MP rear camera and a 12MP front-facing Center Stage camera, which automatically adjusts to keep you in frame during video calls. The front camera is positioned along the longer landscape edge, which gives a more natural angle for calls or recordings. You also get Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C for charging and data transfer, plus Touch ID built into the top button. Battery life runs up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi, which is consistent with Apple’s other models.

Accessory support covers the Apple Pencil (USB-C) and the first-generation Apple Pencil with the USB-C adapter, along with the Magic Keyboard Folio. It doesn’t work with the Apple Pencil Pro, but for casual drawing, note-taking or quick document markup, these accessories add plenty of flexibility.

The A16 iPad sits at the entry point of Apple’s lineup, but it shares a lot of what makes its pricier siblings appealing. You get a polished display, dependable performance and the familiarity of iPadOS without the premium cost. It’s an ideal choice for students, casual users or anyone who wants a reliable tablet for daily use.

If you’re still deciding which model fits you best, check out our guide to the best iPads to compare the A16 against the Air and Pro models. At $274, this iPad deal offers excellent value for Apple’s newest entry-level tablet. Also on sale for Cyber Monday is the 11-inch iPad Air M3, which is down to $449.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-cyber-monday-deals-pick-up-the-ipad-a16-for-its-lowest-price-yet-before-it-sells-out-175939691.html?src=rss

I love locking in a cheap subscription deal during Cyber Monday. It always feels like I’ve gotten away with something — for the rest of the year, I can relax in my Scrooge McDuck money pit while all the other losers are paying full price. On this list, I’ve gathered the top subscriptions of all sorts you can enjoy this Cyber Monday, from streaming savings on your favorite shows to VPNs that keep you anonymous online to MasterClass deals that continue your education with thrilling celebrity-led courses. Grab your favorites and join me in the money pit (actual swimming not advised).

Best Cyber Monday subscription deals

Audible (three months) for $3 (80 percent off): For literally $1 per month, you can get access to Audible’s enormous library of published audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals (which can be anything from never-before-heard books to live performances). It’s only three months, after which you’ll have to cancel or renew at the regular price, but an audiobibliophile can cram a lot of listening into the 90 days after Cyber Monday.

Monarch Money (one year) for $50 (50 percent off with code MONARCHVIP): Monarch Money, our other favorite budgeting app, is giving new users half off for Cyber Monday. It’s a little more complex than Quicken Simplifi, but it also gives you finer-grained control, including detailed reporting, balance sheets and instant graphs. The standout goals feature lets you establish savings and wealth baselines that feel amazing when you hit them.

Quicken Simplifi (one year) for $36 (50 percent off): We named Quicken Simplifi the best budgeting app this year largely because it lives up to its name. This is the cleanest budgeting app on the market, with an interface designed to welcome newcomers and no key information more than a scroll away. It’s also cheap, especially with this Cyber Monday deal, and very good at detecting and categorizing your important transactions.

Rosetta Stone Lifetime Unlimited subscription for $149 (60 percent off): Rosetta Stone was pioneering visual language courses back when software still came in boxes, and it’s still one of the best language learning apps. Today, its method works as well as ever, with patient learning based on pictures, terms and recordings. This deal gets you a full lifetime subscription with access to all 25 languages in the library.

Medium (one year) for $40 (20 percent off): Medium is a social site designed as the anti-Twitter, featuring deep thoughts and long-form essays from great writers. Not all its best work is locked behind a paywall, but a lot of it is — and we’ve all had the feeling of being frustrated that we can’t read the latest drop from a thinker we really respect. This deal isn’t a very big cut, but it is a noticeable savings over the monthly plan, which will cost you a full $120 for the same length of time ($150 without the discount).

Headspace (one year) for $35 (50 percent off): Out of all the meditation apps available, Headspace is our favorite. It doesn’t just help you relax and de-stress, but also teaches you to practice meditation as a skill, with sessions building on each other in organized courses. There’s a massive library of standalone guided meditations with all kinds of instructors, and it’s easy to search for the ones that work best for you. This deal gives you half off a full year.

Calm Premium (one year) for $40 (50 percent off): Once you’ve finished your Headspace meditation, head over to Calm for every other stress-relieving activity you can think of. This subscription lets you relax amid a massive content library, from music and restful soundscapes to “sleep stories” with celebrity narrators telling bedtime stories for children and adults alike. If you’ve ever wanted to be lulled to sleep by Jonathan Bailey, Matthew McConaughey or Idris Elba, this app is for you.

AdGuard personal (lifetime) for $44 (45 percent off): AdGuard was recently in the news for automatically blocking Microsoft’s Recall AI surveillance app, which is a great indication of its mission — it fights threats to your privacy, no matter where they come from. This lifetime subscription blocks all annoying third-party ads and trackers on any website while keeping its functionality otherwise unchanged, so everything loads faster and easier.

1Password (one year) for $29 (50 percent off): Using a password manager is one of the most important cybersecurity steps you can take right now. 1Password generates strong, unique passwords for every account, then saves them to autofill when you need them. We named it the best password manager in honor of its well-designed user interface and cross-platform compatibility.

LastPass Premium (one year) for $18 (50 percent off): LastPass is another great password manager. We briefly stopped recommending it after a couple of data breaches early last year, but it’s patched up its security and seems to be firing on all cylinders again. Whether it suits you better than 1Password will come down to personal preference, but LastPass’s deal is slightly better this year.

DeleteMe (all services) for 30 percent off with code BFCM30OFF25: DeleteMe scrubs your information from people search sites and other public-facing data brokers, dramatically reducing your online presence. It’s a time-saving and user-friendly automation of a process that can be a real hassle without it. Since using it monthly, we’ve noticed a sharp decrease in the amount of spam emails, texts and calls to our personal addresses.

Adobe Creative Cloud (one year) for $389 (50 percent off): Adobe Creative Cloud is half off for one year right now, coming out to $389 for one year when you pay upfront. (There’s a discounted $35 monthly rate as well, working out to $420 for the year.) Creative Cloud is Adobe’s most comprehensive design package, including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere and over 20 other apps. Whip up a website with Dreamweaver, paint on a digital canvas with Fresco or edit photos in Lightroom. It’s a pretty steep cost for an individual, but puts a one-year subscription well within reach of a creative business.

Best Cyber Monday streaming deals

Disney+ and Hulu bundle with ads (one year) for $60 (61 percent off): Disney took its time announcing its Cyber Monday deal on the newly merging Disney+ and Hulu, but the wait was worth it. This steep discount saves you more than 60 percent over the regular monthly price. Just in time for family gatherings, you’ll have free access to Encanto and Moana 2 for the kids, The Bear and Only Murders in the Building for the adults, and Marvel and Star Wars adventures for everybody.

Apple TV+ (6 months) for $36 ($42 off): Apple TV+ has another of the best Cyber Monday streaming deals this year, offering a six months of access for only $36, which comes out to only $6 per month. The deal is live now for new and returning subscribers. Through December 1, you’ve got a great chance to stream shows like Severance, Ted Lasso, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less — just remember the deal only applies if you subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

Starz (one year) for $12 ($58 off): Pay upfront for one year and you can get more than $50 off a Stars annual subscription. There’s a month-to-month option too, which costs $3 per month for the first three months if you don’t want to commit to the full year. Either option gives you access to the entire Starz TV and movie library, including Outlander and Spartacus, with offline viewing and no ads.

Paramount+ (2 months) for $6 ($20 off): Paramount+ is doing its Cyber Monday deal a little differently. Instead of a reasonably cheap long-term plan, you get an incredibly cheap short-term deal — two months for less than a Starbucks run costs these days. That’s more than enough time to binge Yellowjackets, Dexter: Resurrection or Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, along with weeks of NFL games through CBS Sports. 

Fubo Pro (first month) for $55 (35 percent off): Fubo is the live TV service that helps sports lovers cut the cord. When you sign up, it asks you your favorite teams, then automatically records every game they play. Fubo Pro includes 249 channels, covering everything from your local NFL and NBA networks to real ESPN8 (The Ocho) content like PowerSports World. There are even plenty of non-sports channels, and with 10 allowed screens per subscription, your whole family can enjoy the selection at once.

Sling TV Orange Day Pass for $1 (80 percent off): Sling TV is one of the best live streaming services, and has one of streaming TV’s most unique deals: a commitment-free day pass that lets you stream whatever you want for 24 hours, including cable channels and exclusive sports. Normally, a day pass costs $5, but this Cyber Monday deal knocks that all the way down to $1.

Plex (lifetime pass) for $150 (40 percent off): Plex offers personal media servers you can use to organize your digital collection — imagine your own curated Netflix homepage that nothing ever vanishes from. It’s also a streaming platform in its own right, with movies and TV from all genres and eras. Plex did just raise its prices, so now’s your chance to get a lifetime pass for close to what it used to cost.

Walmart+ (one year) for $49 (50 percent off): No, Walmart hasn’t started its own streaming platform, but it would probably have some pretty great drama. What you do get with Walmart+ is free shipping on carts over $35, exclusive deals, drone delivery in some cities and more. And if you did come here for streaming, Walmart+ also comes with your choice of Peacock Premium of Paramount+ Essential (we recommend Peacock Premium because it’s more expensive on its own).

Fox One (six months) for $20 (50 percent off): Fox One is the newest streaming service on this list, launching just this August. It provides access to everything in the Fox catalog, including its sports and entertainment TV. Six months for $20 isn’t quite as good a deal as Paramount+ is giving out, but it may still be a bargain if you’re worried about losing Fox channels from your YouTube TV subscription.

Best VPN deals for Cyber Monday

ExpressVPN Basic (28 months) for $68.40 (81 percent off): ExpressVPN may be the most user-friendly VPN for sale right now, with fast download speeds (only 7 percent losses in our last test), quick connections and apps designed to stay out of your way. It’s not the most feature-rich, but it excels at any bread-and-butter VPN task, staying leak-free and unblocking Netflix everywhere. You also get access to server locations in 105 countries. It also basically never drops the price this low, so if you’re at all interested, now’s the time to board the Express train.

Surfshark Starter (27 months) for $53.73 (87 percent off): According to the tests we ran for our latest review, Surfshark is the fastest VPN right now, with its download speeds, upload speeds and latencies all beating out competitors. It has more to offer beyond speed, too, as it’s able to constantly rotate your IP address and generate double VPN paths between any two servers you choose.

NordVPN Basic (27 months) for $80.73 (74 percent off): NordVPN got very positive marks in our last review, where we called out its fast internet speeds, wide network of server locations and selection of exclusive features. It comes with a range of dedicated servers for obfuscation, onion routing, torrenting and more. Plus, it’s one of the first VPNs getting a jump on post-quantum encryption.

CyberGhost VPN (28 months) for $56.84 (84 percent off): CyberGhost is always cheap — in fact, we named it the best budget VPN — but it’s never behaved like an economy option. Its Smart Rules automation controls are the deepest in the industry, and its server network reaches 100 countries. Speeds are also quite good, though connections occasionally take a moment to establish.

hide.me VPN (26 months) for $99.95 (61 percent off): hide.me is currently our favorite free VPN, but its paid upgrade is just as competitive. The best thing about this deal is that you’re guaranteed to get renewed at the same price and duration, which isn’t always certain, even with otherwise reliable VPNs. hide.me gives you servers in 91 locations, all of them rated for up to a gigabyte of traffic per second.

Private Internet Access VPN (40 months) for $79.20 (83 percent off): Although we weren’t wholly positive about Private Internet Access (PIA VPN) in our recent review, we can’t deny it’s a worthwhile choice for an affordable VPN. Although speeds can fluctuate, it comes with lots of desirable features on all platforms, like port forwarding (which makes torrents more stable) and two kinds of split tunneling.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/cyber-monday-subscription-and-streaming-deals-are-here-big-discounts-on-apple-tv-hbo-max-disney-proton-vpn-and-more-174507016.html?src=rss

“Amazon suggested its engineers eschew AI code generation tools from third-party companies in favor of its own ,” reports Reuters, “a move to bolster its proprietary Kiro service, which it released in July, according to an internal memo viewed by Reuters.”

In the memo, posted to Amazon’s internal news site, the company said, “While we continue to support existing tools in use today, we do not plan to support additional third party, AI development tools.

“As part of our builder community, you all play a critical role shaping these products and we use your feedback to aggressively improve them,” according to the memo.

The guidance would seem to preclude Amazon employees from using other popular software coding tools like OpenAI’s Codex, Anthropic’s Claude Code, and those from startup Cursor. That is despite Amazon having invested about $8 billion into Anthropic and reaching a seven-year $38 billion deal with OpenAI to sell it cloud-computing services…”To make these experiences truly exceptional, we need your help,” according to the memo, which was signed by Peter DeSantis, senior vice president of AWS utility computing, and Dave Treadwell, senior vice president of eCommerce Foundation. “We’re making Kiro our recommended AI-native development tool for Amazon….”

In October, Amazon revised its internal guidance for OpenAI’s Codex to “Do Not Use” following a roughly six month assessment, according to a memo reviewed by Reuters. And Claude Code was briefly designated as “Do Not Use,” before that was reversed following a reporter inquiry at the time.

The article adds that Amazon “has been fighting a reputation that it is trailing competitors in development of AI tools as rivals like OpenAI and Google speed ahead…”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.