IT General

As the Halloween season peaks and then winds down, that doesn’t mean the fun has to dwindle. As you hunker down for a weekend in a candy coma, make sure you have a variety of options to keep rolling on your TV screen. This week on Prime Video, we’re keeping it weird while getting that last little bit of need for creepiness out of our system, and we're venturing across the galaxy to explore a deep space mystery. Then, we’re headed to a quaint little town with the best name ever, because what better way to stroll into November than in a good mood, with a lot of laughs.

It may be almost 35 years since Sir Anthony Hopkins took on the infamous role of cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, but he's still capable of slipping into the character at a moments notice — with unnerving results.

In the Late Show clip above, Stephen Colbert challenges the actor to read classic movie lines in the style of Hannibal Lecter. Who would have known that even Dirty Dancing's "Nobody puts baby in the corner" line could sound terrifying?

If you enjoyed this, check out Mashable's "Say Action."

Rom-com author Annabelle Slator wasn't expecting to see a photo of her deceased dog while swiping on a dating app, but there's a first time for everything. But it wasn't just the pooch who Slator recognised. For starters, she'd taken the photo, and the subject was her ex-boyfriend, whose dating app profile she'd just stumbled across.

"He had a picture with my dog (who had since DIED) that I took on his profile!" Slator tells Mashable.

"I was genuinely shocked at him having the audacity to make a profile on the dating app that I LITERALLY WORKED AT but also using pics from a weekend away with me and my family dog!!!" she adds. "I matched with him, messaged him saying, 'Please refrain using pictures of my dead dog to get laid,' and promptly unmatched lmao."

"Please refrain using pictures of my dead dog to get laid."

Slator's ex did manage to get a quick apology in before she blocked him. "He gave me a 'sorry hope you're doing OK,'" she says. In her book The Launch Date, Slator included this anecdote as "as an evergreen f*ck you."

Spotting an ex on a dating app is an occupational hazard, unfortunately. The sensible move when you spot a past love might be to slide right past and pretend you didn't see them. To leave the past firmly behind you. But, life isn't always like that. Sometimes, we like to be messy, we swipe right on the former flame because life's too short and, well, they're still hot.

The complex emotions of seeing exes on a dating app

In Slator's case, she matched with the ex to give him a piece of her mind, but others tell me they reconnected because they were curious about what might have been. A few people told me they swiped the hell past the ex and pretended they'd never seen them.

It can bring up complicated emotions when you come face to face with your past. Lucie, who wishes to use a pseudonym for privacy reasons, saw her ex-husband on a dating app and felt "weirdly nostalgic and also resentful."

"Apparently he’s 'emotionally available now,'" she jokes. "The old adage of how women spend an entire relationship working on a man, only for them to put all their hard work into practice for the next woman — it's real!"

SEE ALSO: How to get over a breakup

Lucie tells me she spent 20 years driving her ex around. "Then we split and he learns to drive, buys a car, gets a flat, and cooks. I did it all before." Her ex now has a new partner and Lucie sees a marked difference in how he behaves towards her. "He now picks his new girlfriend up and she’s treated like a queen! I put up with being his mother/wife for decades and it’s very irritating."

"Sure, maybe he is now emotionally available — but only because i told him to go to therapy!"

For some people, however, the past doesn't always stay in the past.

Rekindling an old flame

Take Chloe's experience: she matched with her university ex-boyfriend on Hinge. "We reconnected for a while, slept together. I wanted to be friends, he ended up wanting more, messy," she tells me.

Chloe and her ex had remained amicable since breaking up at university, so when he left a funny comment on one of her photos on Hinge, she decided to match "out of curiosity and pure shock because he'd been in a relationship since we broke up at uni."

"It was a very serendipitous reconnection," Chloe says. "This kicked off a spring/summer of hanging out that kind of peaked in us ultimately wanting different things out of it." The pair are still in touch, but it's not the same. Chloe's in a new relationship now. "It makes me sad but I kind of know I have to accept it's not really fair on him or my partner for us to be as close as we were."

Chloe has no regrets over her decision to rekindle things. "It was cool to kind of revisit my uni self," she adds.

Not everyone is on good terms with their ex, however. On a dating app, Nina spied an ex-situationship who'd ghosted her, so matched to see what would happen. "He even used a photo I took of him for his profile," she says. Nina's curiosity ultimately led to confirmation that this ex hadn't changed. She got "radio silence" despite matching.

SEE ALSO: How to move on after a situationship ends

So, should we match with exes out of curiosity, just "for the story," or to be messy? Experts don't advise it (shocking I know!).

Is it a bad idea to match with an ex?

Zachary Zane, Grindr’s sex and relationship expert, says: "If you’re on a swipe-based app, swipe left. For the love of God, don’t swipe right 'just to see if they do!' Disengage!"

"If, for some reason, they reach out to you on the app, feel free to reply, 'Hey, I’m still hurt and not in a place where we can talk at the moment, but I’ll reach out if anything changes,'" Zane advises. "It’s honest, to the point, and should hopefully discourage them from reaching out further. Boundaries are important!"

What should you do if seeing your ex has upset you? "If seeing the profile of your ex on a dating app dysregulates your nervous state and sends you into an anxiety loop/frenzy, then don’t freakin’ engage. Block and move on," Zane says. "What if he/she/they saw you and then realized you blocked them? Who freakin’ cares! You two are exes." 

Featured Video For You How Tinder and other dating apps use algorithms to find your match — Horny on Main

Marsh Goei, chief dating officer at dating app Breeze says seeing a past love on an app can make the dating world feel small, but it's more common than we realise. "First, don’t panic. It happens to most of us, and while it might stir up uncomfortable feelings, remember: you’re in control. You don’t have to engage, swipe right, or start a conversation. Just swipe away and keep moving."

Give yourself permission to step back, Goei adds. Close the app, throw your phone across the sofa, go for a walk. If it's still bothering you, talk to a friend. "Chances are they’ve had a similar experience, whether spotting an ex on an app, on a date, or on social media. Sharing those feelings with someone who understands can be surprisingly healing," says Goei.

If it makes you feel better, I've seen exes on pretty much all the apps. I've also had the misfortune of bumping into not one, but two exes in person in the same pub on the same night. It was a lot. Yeah, I went home and threw up. What else can you do in that situation?

Anyway! Ultimately, what you do when confronted with an ex is entirely up to you. If you're on good terms and you feel there's unfinished business, it's your call. But if this is someone who's hurt you, caused you emotional pain, treated you badly, curiosity might just kill the cat. So swipe on past and don't give it another thought.

SAVE $350: As of Oct. 31, the Roborock Qrevo Edge robot vacuum is on sale for $649.99 at Amazon. That's a 35% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: roborock Roborock Qrevo Edge $649.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $350   Get Deal

Robot vacuum deals are always a special treat. It's like a gift from you, to you.

As of Oct. 31, the Roborock Qrevo Edge robot vacuum is heavily reduced at Amazon, now down to just $649.99. That's a saving of $350, and the best-ever price according to camelcamelcamel.

SEE ALSO: iRobot could be facing bankruptcy. But as a vacuum tester, I saw the Roomba flop era coming from a mile away.

This robot vacuum really does do a bit of everything. Everything is controlled from the app: manage cleaning routines, maps, washing temperatures, etc. And if you're worried about its vacuuming power, don't be, as this vacuum delivers up to 18,500Pa of suction power to lift all kinds of dirt. It can even cope with hairs thanks to the DuoDivide Main Brush and FlexiArm Arc Side Brush which detangle anything that gets caught round the brush.

It self-navigates round your home, so you don't even need to tell it where to go. It uses Reactive Tech Obstacle Avoidance and PreciSense LiDAR to detect obstacles while making sure it still cleans efficiently. And it'll store dirt in a 2.7 litre dust bag that can last over 60 days before needing to be emptied, so you really can sit back and relax.

Pick up this vacuum deal from Amazon and let the robot do the work.

We regret to inform you that the "6-7" trend — which basically involves kids saying "6-7" whenever they can — has grown so big that dictionary.com has actually made "67" the word of the year. And Stephen Colbert is just as confused as the rest of us.

"No! Word of the year has to be a word, not numbers. Some things can't be numbers!" says an exasperated Colbert in the Late Show clip above.

"For the uninitiated, 6-7 is a viral trend where if anyone says the number six or the number seven, or if there's any reason to talk about numbers at all, every young person within earshot goes, "6-7". As in, what time do you get off work? 6-7. Or, how many cookies did you eat? 6-7. On a scale of 1-5, how dumb does Stephen feel explaining this? 6-7."

BELOW MARKET VALUE: As of Oct. 31, Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender sealed product preorders are below market value at Amazon compared to TCGplayer.

MTGs Universe Beyond series is absolutely killing it in 2025 — the fact that we've seen Final Fantasy and Spider-Man get their own sets is still an unreal thought to me, but here we are with Avatar: The Last Airbender dropping Nov. 21. The Nickeloeon crew are eating good in all honesty, with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles dropping in March next year as well, but we digress.

What's new in MTG: Avatar?

Every nation is represented in MTG: Avatar, with iconic characters like Aang, Katara, Zuko, and Toph dropping in with unique colors that represent their journeys in the now cult-classic series. For example, Katara's card path goes from blue to green, to white and blue, with the latter representing her path to Bant.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

The Commander Magic: The Gathering format looks like a big focus in this Universes Beyond set, with Toph, Earthbending Master, and Wan Shi Tong, All Knowing set to be top Commander leader material. Is this going to be your first MTG experience? Well, Jumpstart Boosters are a great way to kick things off. The idea behind jumpstart is to make deckbuilding easier as you can combine any two booster packs into a 40-card deck.

Not only is it a quick way to get into the game, but it's an even playing field for new players to get to grips with gameplay mechanics.

The best preorder prices for MTG: Avatar

If you're a regular visitor to TCG material here at Mashable, you should know that we're constantly on the lookout for the best deals and making sure they measure up against the secondary market in terms of value. With Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender, it's looking like Amazon is making good on their preorder price guarantee, keeping pricing at or below current market values.

Single Cards have also started popping up on TCGPlayer, so we'll make sure to check out the top chase cards on there right now and make sure your choices are well-informed. Let's get into it:

Magic: The Gathering — Avatar Play Booster Box Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering — Avatar Play Booster Box $169.99 at Amazon
$176.98 Save $6.99   Pre-order Here

So this is going to be a seasoned MTG player's bread and butter. Each Play Booster Box has 30 MTG: Avatar Play Boosters containing 14 cards. Breaking this down, expect seven Commons (with one out of 26 boosters including a TLE card in-place of one Common), three Uncommons, one Wildcard, one Rare or Mythic Rare, one Traditional Foil, one Land Card, and one Non-foil DFC helper card or double-sided token.

If you're looking to dive straight into deckbuilding and play, go for it, but it might be a wiser idea to go for the Jumpstart booster box if you're brand new to everything.

Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Booster Box $99.94 at TCGplayer
$126.70 Save $26.76   Pre-order Here

TCGplayer is taking the lead by nearly $25 saved on preorders including shipping. This isn't one for collectors or hardcore players, but for casual and new players who just want to grab a could of booster packs and play.

There's 24 booster packs in this box that have 20 cards each. Combine two for a 40-card deck and have at it, including the land cards you'll need to get going. There's 61 possible Jumpstart deck themes here, with each pack containing one or two Rare or Mythic Rare cards.

Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander’s Bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander’s Bundle $109.99 at Amazon
$149.98 Save $39.99   Pre-order Here

The Commander Bundle is a great starting point for MTG: Avatar and comes with practical things instead of fluff. Get Nine Play Boosters, one Collector Booster, five Boarderless cards that are ideal for Commander play, 15 traditional Land cards, and 15 regular Land cards. Plenty of deckbuilding life goals right there.

You also get a nice card storage box which comes in handy for storing bulk, and there's an Avatar-branded life click wheel included too. It's so much easier and tidier to keep track with a click wheel instead of using dice or counters.

Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Bundle Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Bundle $71.99 at TCGPlayer
$74.98 Save $2.99   Pre-order Here

Amazon takes the best price again for the bundle box, and it's good value for money. Players will get nine Play Boosters, one Alt-Art Traditional Foil Card, 15 Traditional Lands including five full arts, 15 Regular Land cards with five full arts, one oversized Spindown life counter, a card storage box, and two reference cards. If you're not into Commander but want a good deckbuilding experience out-the-gate, this is it.

Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box Opens in a new window Credit: Wizards of the Coast Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender Beginner Box £32.98 at TCGPlayer
£36.99 Save £4.01   Pre-order Here

Although Amazon is very close in price at $36.99, TCGplayer is the cheapest place to pre-order the beginner box right now at $32.98. If you're really nervous about getting started with Jumpstart boosters, the beginner box is a nice guided way into the world of Magic: The Gathering in general.

You'll kick things off with two 20-card decks featuring Aang and Zuko, eight Avatar-themed 20-card decks, two playmats, two Spindown Life Counters, two learn to play guides, five double-sided tokens, and a rules reference booklet. This is ideal for introducing a group to the game as a spontanious games night buy, and you can't loose for the price point.

Most valuable Magic: The Gathering — Avatar cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

If you're all about collecting chase cards when it comes to Magic: The Gathering | Avatar: The Last Airbender, TCGplayer has you covered with single card listings and prices. Expect these prices to fluctuate massively, but it's also a good time to snap a card up before it blows up post-release. Here's the top five right now, including value and price information and links to buy them right now:

1. Avatar Aang (Borderless) #308
   Near Mint Holofoil: $125
   Market price: $134.99
   Most recent sale: $134.99

2. Badgermole Cub (Borderless) #326
   Near Mint Holofoil: $59.99
   Market price: $65
   Most recent sale: $65

3. Ozai, the Phoenix King (Borderless) #311
   Near Mint Holofoil: $58
   Market price: $64.99
   Most recent sale: $64.99

4. Sozin's Comet (Borderless) #309
   Near Mint Holofoil: $58
   Market price: $64.99
   Most recent sale: $64.99

5. White Lotus Tile (Borderless) #330
   Near Mint Holofoil: $51
   Market price: $59.94
   Most recent sale: $59.95

When it comes to used muscle cars, the options are seriously tempting. From 2005 Mustang GTs that roar to classic El Caminos that can haul just about anything, there’s something for every kind of enthusiast.

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Celtics vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the 2025 NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Is the NBA Cup simply a distraction from regular season games? Or is it something that adds genuine value to the league? If last season's competition is anything to go by, we're going with the latter. And who doesn't want to see more games with real consequences? If participating teams want to progress, they need to win right now.

If you want to watch Celtics vs. 76ers in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Celtics vs. 76ers?

Celtics vs. 76ers in the NBA Cup starts at 7 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. This game takes place at the Xfinity Mobile Arena.

How to watch Celtics vs. 76ers for free

Celtics vs. 76ers in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Just when I thought I'd seen everything in AI transcription, I tried the Plaud Note Pro. This ultrathin handheld device is a credit-card-sized pro voice recorder that provides audio recordings, AI note-taking, and extra features that make it a stand-out accessory for professionals and students.

TL;DR: Live stream Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers in the 2025 NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA Cup is up and running with a number of really interesting matchups, including Memphis Grizzlies vs. Los Angeles Lakers. All eyes will be on Austin Reaves as he looks to continue his incredible form in the absence of LeBron James and Luka Dončić.

If you want to watch Grizzlies vs. Lakers in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Grizzlies vs. Lakers?

Grizzlies vs. Lakers in the NBA Cup starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. This game takes place at the FedExForum.

How to watch Grizzlies vs. Lakers for free

Grizzlies vs. Lakers in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Learn More

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE $1,300: As of Oct. 31, the Jackery HomePower 3000 is on sale for $1,199 at Amazon. That's a 52% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Jackery Jackery HomePower 3000 $1,199.99 at Amazon
$2,499.99 Save $1,300.00   Get Deal

If you're in need of a whole-home backup solution to a power cut, look no further than Jackery. One of the most recognizable names in the power station game, you'll be able to find something in the range that fits your needs. And right now, you can get a great deal on the Jackery HomePower 3000, a powerful unit designed to keep you running for days.

As of Oct. 31, this model is down to $1,199 at Amazon. That's over 50% off and its lowest-ever price according to camelcamelcamel.

SEE ALSO: The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor is $500 off right now at Amazon

Designed for both homes and outdoor use, this really is a powerhouse of a unit. It gives a 3,600W output (7,200W surge) with a 3,072Wh capacity, so it's capable of powering all your essential household devices like refrigerators, fans, routers, and lights for up to 15 hours. Jackery notes it can keep a fridge running for one to two days during an outage.

Recharging is clever too, and there's a few options. It can fully recharge in 1.7 hours using the hybrid AC and DC input, or in 2.2 hours with AC alone. When connected to two SolarSaga 200W panels, it reaches up to 80% charge in about nine hours, and it also supports 12V car and gas generator charging.

If you're in the market for a beast of a power station, get this deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $703: As of Oct. 31, the LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD is on sale for $896.99 at Amazon. That's a 44% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD $896.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $703   Get Deal

If you're serious about gaming, you need a seriously good setup, complete with curved monitor. And if you've been on the hunt for the right model for a while, we think you might like the latest deal on the LG 39-inch Ultragear WQHD.

As of Oct. 31, this monitor is on sale for $896.99. That's a huge saving of $703 on list price. This price is for the 39-inch model, but you can also find the 34-inch model on sale for $899.97 (you don't need to employ girl maths here to excuse buying the bigger screen).

SEE ALSO: The Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 gaming monitor is $500 off right now at Amazon

For just shy of $1,000, you're going to want a pretty stellar screen, and you won't be disappointed. This monitor has a steep 800R curve, 1300-nit peak brightness, and OLED technology. So no matter what you're playing, you'll have incredible quality and vibrant colors.

It can keep up with even the fastest of gaming sessions thanks to its 240Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms (GtG) response time. It also has AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC to reduce tearing. For comfort, this screen also benefits from an anti-glare coating to reduce reflections, and a stand with adjustable swivel, tilt, and height.

Get this curved gaming monitor deal from Amazon.

SAVE $500: As of Oct. 31, the Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9 is on sale for $1,799.99 at Amazon. That's a saving of 22% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 57-Inch Odyssey Neo G9 $1,799.99 at Amazon
$2,299.99 Save $500.00   Get Deal

A curved monitor screen is a really immersive way to elevate your gaming setup, and if you've been looking for a great deal before taking the plunge, why not check out this latest discount on the Samsung 57-inch Odyssey Neo G9? As of Oct. 31, you can save a whopping $500 with the new price of $1,799.99.

This monitor has so much going for it. Display-wise, it's as wide as two UHD monitors, so on one screen you'll get not just a more expansive view, but everything in great quality. It uses Quantum Matrix Technology and Quantum Mini LED to provide stunning visuals, whether it's improved brightness or accurate colors.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade to a curved OLED gaming monitor for 44% less with this LG UltraGear deal

It supports a 240Hz refresh rate and 1ms (GTG) response time with DisplayPort 2.1 input, so slow, laggy performance is a thing of the past. It also benefits from AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. This ensures smooth gaming and consistent visuals, even during fast-moving scenes.

Connectivity options include a DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1, and a USB hub for flexible setups. And for comfort during long sessions, this monitor has an ergonomic stand that can swivel, tilt, and be height adjusted.

Get this gaming monitor deal from Amazon now.

Amazon agreed to a whopping $2.5 billion settlement with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) last week over allegedly "deceptive" practices in signing up users to its paid Amazon Prime subscription service.

Out of that settlement, Amazon will pay a $1 billion civil penalty to the U.S. government. The other $1.5 billion? That's the Consumer Fund, and it's going to be used to refund Amazon Prime customers who were affected by these practices.

According to the settlement terms, an estimated 35 million customers are entitled to that $1.5 billion pool, which would amount to a refund of $42.86 per person if distributed evenly. That's not an earth-shattering chunk of change, but free money is free money.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's October Prime Day is coming on October 7 — here are 30+ early deals to shop now Who gets a refund from the Amazon-FTC settlement?

The FTC's lawsuit against Amazon, which resulted in the settlement, focused on Amazon's Prime subscription service. The FTC alleged that Amazon intentionally used deceptive designs, also known as dark patterns, to get users to sign up for the paid service and then made it difficult for customers to cancel their subscription.

But that doesn't mean everyone who signed up for Amazon Prime is eligible. 

First, an Amazon user needs to have signed up for Prime between June 23, 2019 and June 23, 2025. In addition, the Prime subscription must have been made via one of the "challenged enrollment flows." 

Basically, a user needed to sign up for Prime through one of those offending designs. Per the FTC, these allegedly deceptive Amazon Prime sign-up designs include the Universal Prime Decision Page, the Shipping Option Select Page, the Prime Video enrollment flow, or the Single Page Checkout. For example, on the Shipping Option Select Page, a user could've chosen the free shipping option without realizing that this would automatically sign them up for an Amazon Prime membership.

Furthermore, the consumer needs to have used their Prime benefits, which include free Prime shipping, no more than three times within 12 months of signing up for Prime.

How to get a refund from the Amazon-FTC settlement

There are two ways consumers will be compensated. First, consumers who meet the previous requirements will receive a payout automatically within 90 days, capped at $51. There is no sign-up or opt-in required. Amazon will just refund anyone who's eligible.

After those refunds go out, Amazon will then open a new round of payouts. The e-commerce giant will send out a claims form within 30 days to other customers who are eligible for a refund. The consumers eligible in this round include those who signed up via one of the challenged enrollment flows and also used up to 10 Prime benefits in a 12-month period. Consumers will have 180 days to fill out the claim form and submit it. Amazon will then issue those refunds within 30 days after a review of the claim.

If Amazon has paid out less than $1 billion after this second payout process with the claim forms, then the company must continue to make another tier of customers eligible for a refund. For example, the next group would be anyone who did not submit a claim form, signed up for Prime through a challenged enrollment flow, but used up to four of their Prime benefits. The next eligible group would be those who used up to five of their Prime benefits. 

This would continue until at least $1 billion is paid out of the Consumer Fund.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love a costume.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 24, 2025 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: It's just right

• Green: A Disney princess

• Blue: A famous sailor

• Purple: An iconic arcade game

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Goldilocks

• Green: Cinderella

• Blue: Popeye

• Purple: Ms. Pac-Man

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #873 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Goldilocks: BEAR, RED, CHAIR, PORRIDGE

• Cinderella: MOUSE, PUMPKIN, SLIPPER, WIND

• Popeye: ANCHOR, CAP, PIPE, SPINACH

• Ms. Pac-Man: BOW, CHERRIES, GHOST, PELLETS

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 24, 2025

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you've studied anatomy.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 17, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Good bones

The words are related to parts of the body.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe the body's structure.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Skeleton.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 31

• SKull

• Ulna

• Femur

• Sterum

• Skeleton

• Radius

• Fibula

• Humerus

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a hater.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

To detest.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ABHOR

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 24, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

Apple is selling a ton of iPhones, even older ones, but we're not so sure about the iPhone Air.

During the company's earnings call for the fiscal Q4 Thursday, CEO Tim Cook said there's "very strong demand" for "several models" of the iPhone 17.

"There’s not a ramp issue. It’s just we have very strong demand and we’re working very hard to fulfil all the orders that we have," he said.

SEE ALSO: Apple iPhone 17 review: Stuck in the middle with you

Cook also confirmed that demand for iPhone 16 models was very strong during the third quarter.

However, when asked to break down sales per model, Cook (unsurprisingly) denied, saying Apple doesn't like to "publicly disclose that because of the competitive reasons."

Featured Video For You How the iPhone 17 Pro hits a month later

Recent reports and Apple's own wait times for various iPhone models indicated that the company's new iPhone Air isn't selling well. While Cook wouldn't directly comment on that, he did all but confirm it in a very roundabout way by saying there are constrains "at the top and the entry."

Ultimately, however, it's "too early to call the mix," said Cook.

Apple's Q4 results were pretty great overall, with revenue at $102.47 billion (up 8 percent year-over-year) and profit at $27.47 billion (up 87 percent year-over-year). September was particularly great for Apple, as the company set record revenue for both iPhone and services.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

A bend.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

CURVE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

What a pig smells with.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SNOUT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Pinocchio does a lot of this.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

LYING

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Unfulfilled.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for August 4 Hurdle Word 4 answer

UNMET

Final Hurdle hint

To wash off.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

RINSE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

It's every parent's worst nightmare. The phone rings in the middle of the night, and it's your child sobbing, calling for your help, and time is running out. What would you do to save them? 

This is the beginning of Hallow Road, the latest thriller from Babak Anvari, director of the critically acclaimed psychological drama Under the Shadow. A call in the night spurs a pair of parents to race out to find their daughter, who's calling them from the scene of car crash. But set mostly in the car on the way to the collision, this on-the-road tale plumbs deeper than the everyday fears parents experience, into something remarkably more disturbing. Written by William Gillies, Hallow Road offers a claustrophobic setting where fear comes from the unknown of what's going on at the other end of the phone line. 

The film's lean premise is certainly enough to intrigue. But the gripping performances of Pike and Rhys, combined with Anvari's ruthlessly riveting direction, will have you gasping for air. 

SEE ALSO: SXSW: What are the movies and shows you need to know about? Hallow Road is a story of parents desperate to save their child. 

Somewhere in England, stoic mother Maddie (Rosamund Pike) gets a frantic phone call from her 18-year-old daughter Alice (Megan McDonnell). Tearfully, the college student tells her mother that she's been in a car collision, and she's about 40 minutes away on a heavily forested stretch known as Hallow Road. And while she's okay, someone is lying in the road, unmoving. 

Maddie, who is a paramedic, calmly begins by asking clarifying questions of her daughter, like if she's called emergency services for help. Meanwhile, Frank — instantly anxious  — insists they rush to the scene. In real time, the couple will clamor into the car, tensions already high. As they comfort Alice over the phone, allusions are made to a fight earlier in the evening, something that caused the girl to run off into the night in distress. But there's also a growing conflict between the mother and father, as one wishes to confront the potentially catastrophic truth of this road incident and the other is desperate to coddle their scared child. 

Incredibly, Hallow Road is shot mostly within the sports utility vehicle the parents drive to the titular scene. Showing remarkable restraint, Gillies' screenplay never urges Anvari to cut to Alice or what she can see from inside her vehicle. Instead, all we see of her during her parents' mad dash is a profile photo beaming up from the caller ID on Maddie's phone. Though it's a chipper photo of a young woman smiling in a colorful knit cap, it's unnerving because of the sharp contrast of her voice, unhinged and weepy on the other end of the line. Other sounds will creep into the call as well, bringing a spine-tingling uncertainty to what exactly is going down on Hallow Road. 

Rosamund Pike and Matthew Rhys are jaw-droppingly intense in Hallow Road. 

This setup of racing to a crash might seem a bit thin for an 80-minute movie, but Hallow Road is pulse-poundingly alive because of the brewing fight between Maddie and Frank. While he's desperate to protect Alice from any negative fallout from this collision, Maddie fears facing the consequences are the only way forward. She cryptically suggests you can't run from what you've done, even if you get away with it. But the full meaning of this will take time to unfold. And in that time, each passing minute throbs with this couple's mounting fear, resentment, and guilt.

Rhys is a raw nerve, bellowing to be in control in a situation far beyond him. Pike, who played the terrifying anti-heroine of Gone Girl and the blithely cruel matriarch of Saltburn, begins weary yet resolute. But as the story races along, each will offer a surprising and fascinating performance that demands to be seen again, in part because of the terrifying secrets they reveal. 

Because the premise of this movie pits its stars against a increasingly menacing phone call, Hallow Road will undoubtedly draw comparisons to movies like the emergency services dispatch thriller The Guilty (either its Danish original or the Jake Gyllenhaal-fronted U.S. remake) or Tom Hardy's car-centric drama Locke. But Hallow Road abruptly veers off from these grounded dramas when someone else shows up on Alice's side of the call. Is it a good Samaritan who just happened to be on a long, dark, remote road at 3 a.m. in the morning? Or does this family have a whole new thing to worry about? Trapped in the car with Maddie and Frank, we, the audience, are in their unenviable shoes. And it's wickedly exhilarating. 

Don't look for spoilers on Hallow Road. 

Surely, it's tempting. Out of its World Premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival, Hallow Road was swiftly gaining buzz among attendees and critics. Personally, I'm glad that colleagues said only that I should see it without going into details. I knew the basic premise. But the gnarly turns in Gillies' script came as a true surprise, giving this critic a rare rush of actually being caught off guard. 

I've been careful not to reveal where Hallow Road goes to protect its deliciously devilish secrets. But I can tell you without spoilers that Anvari's direction is masterful. Though confined to the car, the cinematography of Kit Fraser brings energy through whip pans between parents, and a very tight close-up hovering over a wide-eyed stare of horror, as they can see only the road ahead of them but can hear something strange on the other end of the line. Pike and Rhys lean into this claustrophobic energy, guzzling up all the air in the car with their combativeness, resentments, and agony. And the soundscape of Alice's tinny voice over the phone colliding with curious sounds in the forest around her are so genuinely frightening that I full-on screamed. Twice. 

In the end, Hallow Road is a sensationally scary thriller not only for the surprises it packs but also for the metaphor it makes about parenting. Trapped with a mother and father in a battle for their child's future, the hypothetical becomes intensely real and really harrowing. Like Steven Soderbergh and David Koepp's sophisticated haunted house movie Presence, the anxiety of letting your kid out into the world becomes its own horror, with genre elements feeding in to make that terror hit like a lightning bolt; it will electrify your nerves and rattle you right down to your bones. So when you walk away from Hallow Road, you'll carry its stomach-churning scares with you, perhaps thinking, "There but for the grace of God go I." 

Hallow Road is playing exclusively at AMC theaters Oct. 31 as a double feature with Vincent Must Die.

UPDATE: Oct. 29, 2025, 1:24 p.m. This review was first published on March 13, 2025, where it was reviewed out of its world premiere at the 2025 SXSW Film and TV Festival.