An anonymous reader shares a report: Solid-state drives sitting unpowered in drawers or storage can lose data over time because voltage gradually leaks from their NAND flash cells, and consumer-grade drives using QLC NAND retain data for about a year while TLC NAND lasts up to three years without power. More expensive MLC and SLC NAND can hold data for five and ten years respectively. The voltage loss can result in missing data or completely unusable drives.

Hard drives remain more resistant to power loss despite their susceptibility to bit rot. Most users relying on SSDs for primary storage in regularly powered computers face little risk since drives typically stay unpowered for only a few months at most. The concern mainly affects creative professionals and researchers who need long-term archival storage.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Apparently misleading protest videos are welcome to stay on Facebook now. Meta’s Oversight Board has ruled that the company was right to leave up a manipulated video that made footage of a Serbian protest look like it took place in Holland and was in support of Rodrigo Duterte, former president of the Philippines. A user reshared it within days of Duterte’s March 2025 extradition to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Netherlands. 

The original video gained additional audio and captions, including chants of “Duterte” and the song Bayan Ko — which accompanied many Filipino 1980s anti-martial law protests — played in tagalog. About 100,000 users viewed the manipulated video, alongside “hundreds” of shares. 

Meta’s automated systems flagged the video as potential misinformation and lowered its visibility for non-US users. However, despite it being added to the fact-checking queue, the “high volume of posts” meant it was never reviewed. Fact-checkers in the Philippines checked some similar viral videos and labeled them as false. It reached the attention of the Oversight Board only after a separate Facebook user reported this video and appealed it when Meta left the content up. 

But the Oversight Board now says it agrees with Meta’s decision to leave a completely inaccurate protest video public. It just notes that Meta should have given the video a “High-Risk” label “because it contained a digitally altered, photorealistic video with a high risk of deceiving the public during a significant public event.” How something with that description merits staying up on Facebook is very unclear.  

The Oversight Board further states that Meta should have prioritized a video of this nature getting fact-checked. Moving forward, it recommends that Meta create a separate fact-checking queue for any content of a similar nature to what has been fact-checked in that market — and that fact-checkers should have improved tools to more swiftly find misleading viral media. It also wants Meta to better describe its labels for manipulated media so users can understand the criteria. 

Meta notably suspended its fact-checking program in the US in January, opting instead for Community Notes. However, it’s now looking at expanding that system other countries and has asked the Oversight Board for advice on locations. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/metas-oversight-board-is-fine-with-leaving-manipulated-content-on-facebook-151919279.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.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

Earlier this year I reviewed the Microsoft Surface Pro 12, and it was and remains absolutely the best Windows 2-in-1 I’ve had the pleasure to use. For Black Friday, it’s also now cheaper than it’s ever been over at Amazon. You can pick it up for $899.99, $500 off the original price of $1,399.99.

Microsoft Surface Pro 12

$899.99
at Amazon

$1,399.99
Save $500.00

$899.99
at Amazon

$1,399.99
Save $500.00

That’s a drop of around 36%, which should free up some cash for the keyboard attachment, which is sold separately and is fairly essential if you want to use this thing like a laptop. With both, you’ll have a Windows 11 device that can go anywhere and do anything (and the keyboard doubles as a protective cover, too).

What makes the Microsoft Surface Pro 12 so good? It has a gorgeous screen, it’s solidly constructed, and it switches effortlessly between tablet and laptop modes. You can be creating digital artwork one minute and editing spreadsheets the next. Few devices give you this much flexibility, Windows-based or otherwise.

The model I’ve highlighted here includes a Snapdragon X Elite processor, 16GB RAM, and 256GB of storage, which is more than enough to tackle the majority of computing tasks. As long as you’re not wanting to play the latest top-tier games or crunch through some serious video encoding, the Surface Pro 12 will serve you very well indeed.

Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?

Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.

Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?

Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.

Disney has unveiled a new animatronic in the form of Olaf, the carrot-nosed snowman from the Frozen series of films. The robotic character will roam the streets of the upcoming World of Frozen (coming soon to Adventure World at Disneyland Paris) and make “limited-time special appearances at World of Frozen at the Hong Kong Disneyland resort,” Disney wrote on its parks blog. 

Olaf, seen in prototype form in a 30-minute Disney video, can walk on his little snowball legs, emote realistically and speak with visitors. During the video, Disney Imagineering Paris exec Michel Den Dulk removes and replaces the robot’s nose and arm, something park visitors will also be able to do. 

To help make Olaf look authentic and toon-like in his movements, the Imagineering team used AI reinforcement learning. That allowed them to teach the robot how to walk and perform “graceful” motions in far less time than it would have taken to program it manually, Disney said. The fact that Olaf has a soft, snow-like exterior also let them “fully articulate his mouth, eyes, and removable carrot nose and arms.” 

The timing of the announcement is pretty wild considering that Defunctland, the amusement park history site, just released a four-hour YouTube documentary about the broken promise of Disney’s animatronics. The main point was that Disney has announced many such characters but only shows them off at a few special events before shoving them away, Westworld basement-style, never to be seen again. 

A few examples of those are the Wall-E robot in the aughts and, more recently, Groot and Star Wars droids. Those served mainly as marketing pieces for Disney, as they only appeared in the parks for specific tests and then disappeared. Disney even made a robot called Big Dino that was 13 feet tall and weighed 11,000 pounds — though it’s probably best that one wasn’t roaming around the parks greeting visitors.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/disney-teases-an-olaf-robot-for-its-parks-151017739.html?src=rss

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.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

With Black Friday fast approaching, I’m here to tell you Acer Chromebook Plus 515 is cheaper than ever—now just $299.99 on Amazon (almost a third off the original price of $429.99). That’s a lot of laptop in return for relatively little outlay, and there won’t be many better value deals on offer this week.

Acer Chromebook Plus 515

$299.99

$429.99
Save $130.00

$299.99

$429.99
Save $130.00

I’ve recently written about the reasons why I often prefer picking up my Chromebook rather than firing up my Windows 11 or macOS computers: These ChromeOS machines are lightweight, fast, bloat-free, and always online. Everything you do on them is instantly saved to the cloud, making it easy to sync your work across computers.

Sure, you can of course install Google Chrome on a Microsoft or Apple laptop and then get ChromeOS plus all the extras—but a lot of the time, I don’t really need those extras. All I want is a fast window on the web, without background programs or software updates or any other distractions getting in the way.

This 15.6-inch Acer laptop meets the Chromebook Plus standard for a superior ChromeOS experience, and you even get a year of Google AI Pro (normally $20 a month) included for free. If you weren’t aware, Chromebooks can also run Android apps, which means there’s even more you can do with this portable computer.

Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?

Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.

Are Black Friday deals worth it?

In short, yes, Black Friday still offers discounts that can be rare throughout the rest of the year. If there’s something you want to buy, or you’re shopping for gifts, it’s a good time to look for discounts on what you need, especially tech sales, home improvement supplies, and fitness tech. Of course, if you need to save money, the best way to save is to not buy anything.

Are Cyber Monday deals better than Black Friday?

Black Friday used to be bigger for major retailers and more expensive tech and appliances, while Cyber Monday was for cheaper tech and gave smaller businesses a chance to compete online. Nowadays, though, distinction is almost meaningless. Every major retailer will offer sales on both days, and the smart move is to know what you want, use price trackers or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you, and don’t stress over finding the perfect timing.

An anonymous reader shares a report: Singapore’s police have ordered Apple and Google to prevent the spoofing of government agencies on their messaging platforms, the home affairs ministry said on Tuesday. The order under the nation’s Online Criminal Harms Act came after the police observed scams on Apple’s iMessage and Google Messages purporting to be from companies such as the local postal service SingPost. While government agencies have registered with a local SMS registry so only they can send messages with the “gov.sg” name, this does not currently apply to the iMessage and Google Messages platforms.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change. 

If you have a gamer on your list, make this the year that you don’t get them Lee Carvalla’s Putting Challenge when they want Bonestorm. The list of Black Friday discounted items below contains everything from full systems to high-end monitors to novelty gifts that’ll get a quick laugh—in other words, something for every kind of gamer.

Meta Quest 3S

If the gamer in your life is virtual-reality-curious, Meta’s Quest 3S headset is the best entry-level VR headset. It might not be the top of Meta’s line of VR headsets, but it does everything its bigger brother the Meta Quest 3 does—at a much lower price. Check out my comparison for an in-depth look. The Meta Quest 3S is $249, down from $299.

Huqjot retro gaming console

It’s a golden age for fans of old school games—emulators have gotten so compact and so inexpensive that you can play almost any old game you can think of with just a memory stick plugged into your TV. There are a lot of emulators choose from, but this classic gaming stick comes pre-packaged with over 20,000 games and 23 emulators plus two controllers for less than $50.

Retro Gaming Console Pro

$39.99
at Amazon

$79.99
Save $40.00

$39.99
at Amazon

$79.99
Save $40.00

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (Slim)

It pains me to say this as a longtime Xbox user, but PlayStation has won this generation for serious console gamers. This sleek, slim version of the console is all digital, so there’s no disc drive to worry about. It plays the entire catalog of PS5 games, and it comes with a controller. Plus, the Black Friday price is $399, as cheap as it has ever sold for. If you’d rather have a drive, the PS5 Slim disc version is on sale for $449.

PlayStation DualSense wireless controller

If you do gift a PS5, don’t forget the extra controller. This DualSense encourages couch co-op and competitive gaming. It charges through a USB-C port, features haptics, and has a built-in mic, so it’s everything you need to get Player 2 up and running fast on a PlayStation system.

Sony – PlayStation 5 – DualSense Wireless Controller – Midnight Black

$54.99
at Amazon

$74.99
Save $20.00

$54.99
at Amazon

$74.99
Save $20.00

Ice Breaker Xbox wireless controller

Xboxers need a second controller, too.This first-party wireless controller works great and looks slick. It works for both Xbox and PC and includes a “share” button so you can instantly disseminate screenshots and videos. At $49, this Black Friday price is as low as the Ice Breaker has ever been priced.

Xbox Wireless Controller Ice Breaker Special Edition

$49.00
at Amazon

$79.99
Save $30.99

$49.00
at Amazon

$79.99
Save $30.99

Logitech G502 X Plus gaming mouse

When you’re serious about PC gaming, you need a serious gaming mouse like the Logitech G502 X Plus. This wireless mouse has programmable LED lighting, a dual-mode scroll wheel, and a Hero 25K gaming sensor that’s precise down to the sub-micron. They’re on Black Friday sale for $128.49, down from $179.99.

KontrolFreek performance thumbsticks

PC gamers aren’t the only people who need more precise input. These simple accessories snap on to the thumbsticks of your console controller and give you a little more grip and a little more height, and thus a little better control. They’re less than $15 for Black Friday.

KontrolFreek FPS Freek Galaxy White for Xbox One and Xbox Series X Controller | Performance Thumbsticks | 1 High-Rise, 1 Mid-Rise | White

$13.59
at Amazon

$16.99
Save $3.40

$13.59
at Amazon

$16.99
Save $3.40

Sceptre 34-Inch Curved Ultrawide WQHD

This Sceptre PC monitor curves around you for better immersion. It packs 5 million pixels into its 34″ frame, features 3440 x 1440, and the 21:9 aspect ratio provides you with 30% more screen space versus a conventional monitor. At $187.97, it’s 30% off the list price.

Sceptre 34-Inch Curved Ultrawide WQHD Monitor

$187.97
at Amazon

$269.97
Save $82.00

$187.97
at Amazon

$269.97
Save $82.00

Logitech G Pro Flight Rudder Pedals

If your giftee is really into flight sims, a set of Logitech flight rudder pedals will take their gaming into the stratosphere (so to speak). Compatible with Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10, this controller has adjustable tension to give the feel of every kind of aircraft, from ultralights to passenger jets. It’s $129.99 for Black Friday.

Logitech G Pro Flight Rudder Pedals

$129.99
at Amazon

$179.99
Save $50.00

$129.99
at Amazon

$179.99
Save $50.00

Bose QuietComfort Headphones

These noise-cancelling Bluetooth headphones from Bose have an onboard mic, USB-C charging, and play for 24 hours on a charge. They sound excellent too, whether you use them for listening to music or making sure you can hear someone sneaking up on you in Battlefield 6. The discount is substantial, too: $199 down from $349.

Bose QuietComfort Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones

$199.00
at Amazon

$349.00
Save $150.00

$199.00
at Amazon

$349.00
Save $150.00

Duracell Batteries

Everyone needs batteries, but gamers really need batteries. This bundle combines 28 AA and 28 AAA batteries in one package. These aren’t the cheap batteries, either; they’re Duracells, so they’re reliable and long-lasting. They’re 18% off for Black Friday.

Crucial X10 Pro 2TB Portable SSD

Crucial’s X10 Pro is a two-terabyte SSD drive that connects to just about everything—Windows, Mac, iPad, Chromebooks, Android, Linux, PS4, PS5, and Xbox—via USB-C and USB-A. It stores all kinds of data, and retrieves it fast too: up to 2,100MB/s read and 2,000MB/s write speeds. Plus, it’s IP55 water and dust resistance and drop resistant up to 7.5 ft. It’s currently $149.99, almost 50% off.

Snactiv Pro Finger Chopsticks

Unwrapping a pair of Snactiv Pros will definitely make your gamer smile. They’re finger chopsticks that attach to your knuckles so you can eat snacks without hitting pause or getting Cheeto dust all over your controller, which is either ridiculous or useful, depending on your point-of-view. In other words, a perfect for a Christmas gift.

Snactiv Pros Finger Chopsticks

$14.99
at Amazon

$17.99
Save $3.00

$14.99
at Amazon

$17.99
Save $3.00

Online gift cards

You might think there’s something impersonal about buying gift cards for Christmas, but trust me, this is what gamers actually want—as long as you know what ecosystem they’re in. You can set how much money to put on these cards and choose between digital delivery or a physical card.

• Steam card

• XBox card

• PlayStation card

• Nintendo card

JSAUX controller charger for Nintendo Switch 2

If there’s a Nintendo gamer in your life, this JSAUX charger will power-up their controllers and look good doing it. It charges up to four controllers at once, and features LED lights that tell you how much gas is in the tank. It’s $12.99, down from $15.99.

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.

We may earn a commission from links on this page.

November is the ideal time to prepare your home for colder weather and to get ready to spend more time indoors. Not only can you save yourself from more expensive heating bills with thoughtful weatherproofing, but you can also be more confident in the event of winter storms or simply more comfortable when you choose to stay indoors. Keeping your house warm, cozy, and safe for the winter is made easier by addressing potential problems early through simple checks and chores now. Here are all the home maintenance tasks you should do in November.

1) Add vent covers to your vents and crawlspaces

When the weather gets colder, wild animals seek a good place to shelter for the winter. If you have uncovered vents or crawl spaces, they can prove to be an inviting spot for creatures. To keep them out, see that you have vent covers in place and that crawl spaces or any other exterior nooks and crannies are sealed up or covered with a sturdy metal mesh. If you don’t have vent covers installed, consider adding them. This method will help defend against squirrels, raccoons, rats, mice, birds, and bats.

2) Change the batteries in your fire and carbon monoxide alarms

If you have non-wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, change the batteries once a year—even before they begin making the annoying low-battery beep, if you’re up for it. While you’re at it, check your various hazard detection systems to ensure they work properly. Since people spend more time indoors during the colder months, there is an elevated risk of fire from the use of heaters, candles, and cooking. Additionally, keeping windows closed and sealed can increase the risk of carbon monoxide accumulation inside. Giving your detectors a once-over can help reduce your risk.

3) Install weatherproofing to doors and windows

If you live in an older home or have windows or doors that aren’t well-insulated, November is a good time to weatherproof problem areas. Begin by inspecting the weatherstripping around doors and windows, checking for leaks, broken, or worn stripping. If you find any gaps, use replacement weather stripping to seal them. If you have bigger leaks around windows or doors, or older windows that let in too much air, you can also use a weatherization kit to temporarily seal off leaky openings with heat-shrinking plastic wrap. This basic weatherproofing will keep you warmer and help save money on utility bills.

4) Organize your winter weather supplies

If you live in an area that can get a lot of snow and ice in the winter, stock up on ice melt, shovels, and roof rakes. Take a look at your snow removal tools and make sure they’re in good shape before it’s time to use them, as replacing equipment before a storm can save you a lot of headache later. It’s also a good time to stash your ice scraper, snow brush, and snow chains in your car’s trunk. If you live in an area with heavy snowfall and ice, consider keeping a scraper and de-icer in your garage or utility room, so you can access them if your vehicle becomes frozen over.

5) Clean ovens, toasters, and other crumb-catching appliances

Kitchen fires can be caused by ovens, toasters, and other cooking appliances that have crumbs and other burnt food deposits. Since people tend to stay home and use their ovens more during colder months—not to mention entertain more during the holiday season—ovens and toasters can get a more intense workout this time of year. Checking that your appliances are clean and hazard-free in November can save you from a disaster down the road, not to mention that you’ll be happier with cleaner appliances and less work during spring cleaning season.

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.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

The Dyson Airstrait Straightener is down to $399.99 for Black Friday, its lowest price yet, according to price trackers. Normally $549.99, this $150 discount makes the premium hair tool a little more accessible, especially if you’ve been waiting for a deal to try it.

Dyson Airstrait Straightener (Ceramic Pink/Rose Gold)

$549.00
at Amazon

$549.00
at Amazon

What sets the Airstrait apart is its unique approach to styling—there are no hot plates, here. Instead, it uses precisely controlled airflow to straighten damp or dry hair without relying on direct heat. This helps minimize heat damage while still delivering a sleek finish, which could be a big deal if you regularly style your hair and want to keep it healthy long-term.

Unlike traditional flat irons, the Airstrait is designed to dry and straighten your hair in one step. For people with thick or frizzy hair, that’s a big time saver. You clamp it closed like a regular straightener, but what’s happening inside is more like a mini hair dryer. You get two modes (wet and dry) and several airflow and heat settings depending on your hair type and needs. And because it doesn’t clamp your hair between burning hot plates, it’s gentler over time. The cord is also salon-length, which makes it easier to maneuver around your head without yanking or twisting.

Still, this isn’t a budget buy, even with the discount. It’s also bulkier and heavier than a typical flat iron, and it’s not the best choice for precise styles such as curls or flips. It also takes some getting used to. But for those who want a fast and efficient way to go from damp to done with less damage, the Airstrait holds up. If you already use a blow dryer and brush daily, this could replace both. And with this being the lowest price tracked so far, it’s a good time to grab it.

How long do Black Friday deals really last?

Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025. 

Does 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.

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft that China launched on November 25 has already reached the Tiangong space station, according to SpaceNews and Chinese state media. Now that it’s docked with the station, the astronauts onboard are no longer left without a vehicle that they can use to head home in case of emergencies. The astronauts part of the Shenzhou-21 mission haven’t had a lifeboat since November 11, because the team before they arrived had to use their vehicle to return to Earth.

On November 5, the astronauts from the Shenzhou-20 mission were supposed to make their way back home aboard their own spacecraft. But just hours before their departure from the station, China’s space agency discovered minor cracks in their vehicle’s window from a suspected debris impact. The Shenzhou-20 crew flew back to Earth on November 11 using the Shenzhou-21 vehicle, which means the newer team stayed in the station with no way to leave for over 10 days.

The Shenzhou-22 spacecraft was supposed to carry three more astronauts to the station in April or May 2026. Instead, it flew much earlier and without a crew, filled with supplies to make up for what the Shenzhou-20 mission astronauts consumed during their extended stay. It will return back to Earth next year after the current crew is done with its six-month stint.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/china-launches-emergency-mission-to-its-space-station-143000171.html?src=rss

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.

• Subscribe to our shopping newsletter, Add to Cart, for the best sales sent to your inbox.

• Sales are accurate at the time of publication, but prices and inventory are always subject to change.

I love the ritual (and taste) of pour-over coffee, but it’s not always feasible to brew two cups for the two adults in my household on busy mornings. Add in guests, and someone has to spend a significant chunk of time grinding beans, boiling water, overseeing the brewing process, cleaning the filter, rinse and repeat.

I bought the Moccamaster KBGV Select coffee maker two years ago for Black Friday, and it has changed my mornings since. It takes a minute or so to grind beans and add water to the machine, and then you’ve got an excellent pot of coffee in 4–6 minutes with just the press of a button—all without sacrificing the complexity and flavor obtained through manual brewing methods. The machine replicates the bloom of a pour-over and brews at a speed that allows for “optimized coffee extraction.”

Moccamaster 53944 KBGV Select 10-Cup Coffee Maker, Candy Apple Red, 40 ounce, 1.25l

$260.63
at Amazon

$389.00
Save $128.37

$260.63
at Amazon

$389.00
Save $128.37

The Moccamaster makes up to 40 ounces of coffee at once, keeps it warm, and automatically shuts off after 100 minutes. You can choose a half or full carafe, and the machine will adjust the brewing speed and hot plate temperature accordingly. Plus, it looks great on the kitchen counter. The only downside I found is that the carafe is pretty fragile—we ended up replacing ours with this sturdier version, also on sale for Black Friday.

The Moccamaster is pricey, making Black Friday an ideal time to buy. Note that the deal is slightly different depending on the color you choose: As of this writing, Black, Red, Brushed Gold, Butter Yellow, Matte Silver, Midnight Blue, Pistachio, Off-White, Orange, Sandstone, Stone Grey, Turquoise, and Pink are 33% off. Apricot is 31% off, and Yellow Pepper, Matte Black, and Polished Silver are 35% off. (It’s not quite the lowest price we’ve ever seen, according to price-tracking tools, but it’s close.)

Several other colors are listed at full price as of this piece—of course, it’s always possible that availability will change throughout the deal period from what’s covered here.

How long do Black Friday deals really last?

Black Friday sales officially begin Friday, November 28, 2025, and run throughout “Cyber Week,” the five-day period that runs from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday, December 1, 2025. But Black Friday and Cyber Monday dates have expanded as retailers compete for customers. You can get the same Black Friday sales early, and we expect sales to wind down by December 3, 2025.

Does Amazon have Black Friday deals?

Yes, Amazon has Black Friday sales, but prices aren’t always what they seem. Use a price tracker to make sure you’re getting the best deal, or refer to guides like our live blog that use price trackers for you. And if you have an Amazon Prime membership, make the most of it.

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.