IT General

Best Apple Watch deals ahead of October Prime Day Best Series 11 deal Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) $389 (save $10) Get Deal Best Series 10 deal Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) $329 (save $170) Get Deal Best SE deal Apple Watch SE, 2nd generation (GPS, 40mm) $179 (save $70) Get Deal

We're just days away from the start of Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale, and Apple Watch deals are reflecting that.

The sale, also dubbed as October Prime Day, kicks off on Oct. 7. However, as of Oct. 3, you can grab the Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular connectivity for an impressive $170 off (putting it down to the same price as it's non-cellular counterpart).

SEE ALSO: Amazon's October Prime Day is coming on October 7 — here are 30+ early deals to shop now

More interested in the newer models? No problem — the Series 11 has a small $10 price cut. On a budget? The second-generation SE watches are both below $200. So far, we haven't spotted any deals worth highlighting on the Apple Watch Ultra, but we'll be updating this list up to and through the sale, so check back.

Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) $329 at Amazon
$499 Save $170 Get Deal Why we like it

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

The Series 10 offers lightning fast battery charging, the fitness sensors like heart rate monitoring, temperature sensing, and depth gauges, and in this model, cellular capability for the cost of the non-cellular models out there. The $170 price cut marks an all-time low for this watch, which earlier this week was priced at $429. Most times, we anticipate that the best deals will come during the actual days of the sale, but this is one of those cases where we'd be surprised if the price dips any lower, making it a great grab for an early deal.

More Apple Watch deals

• Apple Watch SE, 2nd generation (GPS, 40mm) — $179 $249 (save $70)

• Apple Watch SE, 2nd generation (GPS, 44mm) — $199 $279 (save $80)

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $329 $399 (save $70)

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $389 $399 (save $10)

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are great tools to keep safe online and access sites you otherwise can't, but most come with a price tag. However, there are a number of trustworthy VPN services that offer free VPN plans you can take advantage of.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft launched on Sept. 30 at Amazon's Devices & Services event in New York City. And while it's not even available for preorder yet, there's already buzz around the new e-reader. The new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is priced at $629.99, making it the most expensive Kindle yet.

Now, the Scribe Colorsoft can do a lot. It was already the largest Kindle, but now it's adding color and a slew of new features to the device. Zooming out, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft's $629.99 price tag is outrageous when you consider everything it can't do.

At $629.99, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is $280.99 more expensive than the most basic iPad, which costs only $349. Even when you add on the Apple Pencil Pro for $129, the combo is still $151.99 cheaper. While both devices have a similar look and can be used for reading and writing, they still have very different use cases.

An iPad is a tablet that allows you to read, write, draw, stream, and play games. And with iPadOS 26, it's even more like a laptop. Meanwhile, the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is an e-reader that also falls into the category of an e-ink tablet. E-ink tablets are essentially digital notepads, providing you the ability to write or draw but not the ability to browse the internet or stream video.

And in terms of e-readers, the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is also far more expensive than most models. However, when it comes to e-ink tablets, its $629.99 MSRP is actually on par with most other models. So why buy an e-ink tablet if it's more expensive than a standard tablet?

Who are e-ink tablets for? SEE ALSO: Hands-on with the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft: It looks like something Apple would have designed

Despite their price tag, e-ink tablets are extremely useful tools. If you're constantly taking notes and prefer to write by hand but need to be able to convert them digitally, e-ink tablets are the ideal device for doing just that. They come with a stylus that allows you to take handwritten notes on the digital surface. Rather than a typical tablet with a home screen of different apps, the home base of these devices will be a library of notebooks where you can keep your notes organized.

E-ink tablets are designed for the perpetual notetaker, especially those who want to easily reorganize their notes. Not to mention, since e-ink tablets don't allow for streaming or gaming, they're distraction-free.

In addition to writing in digital notebooks, e-ink tablets also allow you to annotate e-books, textbooks, and PDFs. So with the new Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, users will be able to read from their Kindle library, import PDFs from Google Drive, and annotate in color.

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft also has the exact same price as another e-ink reader, the ReMarkable Paper Pro. The ReMarkable e-ink tablet is slightly larger than the Kindle Scribe, but it essentially offers the same display. So when you look at the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft's cost in context of other e-ink tablets, it's not totally ridiculous.

Still, I think most people would take the iPad.

What's so special about the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft? Credit: Timothy Beck Werth / Mashable

The Kindle Scribe Colorsoft is priced similarly to other e-ink tablets, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's worth $630. Mashable's Tech Editor, Timothy Beck Werth, was in person at Amazon's event and got a brief hands-on experience with the device. The newest Scribe is extremely thin and features a new front light design supported by over 70 mini LEDs, an intriguing development. I thought this might mean that it had a higher color resolution, but it remains at 150 ppi for color displays, just like the rest of the Kindle Colorsoft line-up.

Its writing capabilities do seem to have improved. Amazon has redesigned the Kindle Scribe homescreen to put notebooks front and center, and it also features integrations with Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. The redesigned stylus is reminiscent of the Apple Pencil Pro, and Amazon claims that the new custom-built oxide-based display is easy on the eyes and no longer suffers from flashing, a common problem in color e-readers and e-ink tablets.

Having tested the two previous Kindle Scribe models, I've always loved their matte screens, finding that they offer a better texture for writing and drawing compared to an iPad's glossy surface. On paper (digital, paper that is), the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft holds a lot of promise, but also a lot of questions.

We won't know for certain if it lives up to its $629.99 price or how it compares to other Kindles or the ReMarkable Paper Pro, but for now, I'm keeping an open mind.

Perplexity has officially launched its Comet AI web browser to everyone for free. At this time, Comet is only available as a desktop browser.

Over the summer, AI company Perplexity launched its very own web browser known as Comet. However, when Comet first rolled out, the AI web browser wasn't available to everyone. Users either needed a paid Perplexity subscription, or they needed to sign up for a wait list and get invited to try the browser out. Or they could've scoured the internet for an invite code. Or begged someone who had extra.

Now, there's no subscription, waitlist, or invite code required. (Now, people are hunting down Sora 2 invite codes.)

Here's how to download Comet from Perplexity.

How to download Comet

Perplexity has set up a very simple landing page for Comet, so simply head to the Comet website and follow these instructions.

Total Time

• 2 minutes

What You Need

• Internet access
• Laptop or desktop computer

Step 1: On the Perplexity Comet webpage, click the Download Comet button

Step 2: You will be taken to a page that automatically downloads the latest version of Comet

Step 3: If the download doesn't automatically begin, click the Download Comet button on that page

Step 4: Install Comet to your computer

Step 5: Open Comet and choose your setup settings, such as whether you want to import your data like bookmarks and extensions from your existing web browser

Credit: Perplexity

Comet is currently available for Windows (Windows 10 and 11) and macOS (M1 or newer chips), but Perplexity says it will be launching for more platforms in the near future.

What is Comet?

Comet is an AI web browser from the AI search engine company Perplexity. 

Mashable tested Comet out back when it was invite-only in July. Perplexity's stand out feature that separates it from other web browsers is its integrated AI features, particularly its built-in AI assistant. Perplexity users don't have to have a browser tab with an AI chatbot open or a separate app at the ready. Perplexity's AI assistant enables users to interact, ask questions, and assign tasks right there in the browser itself.

AI web search is increasingly becoming a hot commodity. Google clearly views AI search as the direction search engines should go in, which explains why they've integrated AI Mode so visibly into its default web search engine.

Google's web browser Chrome is extremely popular, so much so that it commands nearly 72 percent of the entire web browser market share around the world. And because Google Search is built-in as the default search engine in Chrome, the browser's popularity ensures that Google's search engine remains popular too, even as the quality of Google search degrades.

Perplexity, an AI search company, wants to replicate Chrome and Google Search's tandem success. As more internet users move to Comet, it ensures more users perform web searches with Perplexity, the built-in default search engine in the AI web browser.

Did you try out Comet? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below. You can also get prompt ideas and other resources at the Perplexity Comet Resource Hub.

Apple has removed apps that track the movement of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, which some communities had been using to crowdsource raid information to keep their residents safe.

The tech giant's purported reasoning for the removal is that apps that surveil immigration operations may jeopardize the safety of federal officials. "Based on information we've received from law enforcement about the safety risks associated with ICEBlock, we have removed it and similar apps from the App Store," the company has said in a statement. But behind the scenes, Apple reportedly faced pressure from the Trump administration to crack down on app developers.

SEE ALSO: U.S. government website's 'radical left' popup may violate the law

One of the apps, known as ICEBlock, became the most downloaded app in the app store earlier this year, amid national protests over the deployment of immigration officials across U.S cities. At the time, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the app — which collates anonymous geolocation reports without storing personal data that can be traced back to individuals — an "obstruction of justice." Meanwhile, anti-immigration apps like ICERaid launched in response, offering individuals blockchain rewards for "capturing, uploading and validating photographic evidence" of criminal activity by undocumented people. It also advertises monetary incentives for "hard working" undocumented individuals to self report their status through the CBP Home app, which was recently overhauled by the Trump administration.

"ICEBlock is designed to put ICE agents at risk just for doing their jobs, and violence against law enforcement is an intolerable red line that cannot be crossed," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi previously threatened to prosecute the app's creator and has argued his actions are not protected under the constitution. Noem also threatened to prosecute news publications that covered the app's popularity.

Joshua Aaron, ICEBlock's developer, said in a statement to 404Media following the takedown that the move was an attack on free speech and that the team wouldn't back down in the face of government pressure. “I am incredibly disappointed by Apple's actions today. Capitulating to an authoritarian regime is never the right move," Aaron said. "ICEBlock is no different from crowd sourcing speed traps, which every notable mapping application, including Apple's own Maps app, implements as part of its core services. This is protected speech under the first amendment of the United States Constitution.”

Even if you think you've watched everything there is to see on Netflix, in my experience there are always a few more gems waiting to be discovered.

The best October Prime Day book deals at a glance: Best hardcover book deal Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez $10.98 (save $17.02) Get Deal Best paperback book deal Deep End by Ali Hazelwood $8.09 (save $11.91) Get Deal Best Kindle book deal The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose $1.69 (save $8.30) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day event is just around the corner (officially running from Oct. 7 through 8), but we've been blessed with deals galore before the event even begins. Book deals, in particular, are outrageously good in the days leading up to the event. So if you're looking to stack your TBR list for cozy season, it's time to get going.

This Prime Big Deal Days event is shaping up to be an excellent shopping holiday for book lovers. Not only is Amazon offering three free months of Kindle Unlimited and Audible to new members, but we're also seeing some of the best discounts on hardcovers, paperbacks, and Kindle books we've seen all year — up to 65% off. And that includes some of 2025's bestsellers. Whether you hope to load up your Kindle with e-books or hold a physical stack of crispy new pages in your hands, there's definitely a deal waiting for you at Amazon.

We'll be tracking all the best October Prime Day book deals below and updating the list with the latest and greatest price drops when the main event kicks off.

Best early October Prime Day paperback book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Berkley Publishing "Deep End" by Ali Hazelwood $8.09 at Amazon
$20 Save $11.91 Get Deal Why we like it

One of Goodreads' top 10 books of 2025, Ali Hazelwood's latest romance follows a competitive diver and an ace swimmer as they tread forbidden waters. It's a steamy yet thoughtfully written love story with character chemistry that's off the charts. This edition features a glistening cover and illustrated four-color interior art. Typically $20, you can grab the paperback for only $8.09 during October Prime Day.

Best early October Prime Day hardcover book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Forever Publishing "Say You'll Remember Me" by Abby Jimenez $10.98 at Amazon
$28 Save $17.02 Get Deal Why we like it

The queen of contemporary romance, Abby Jimenez has done it again with Say You'll Remember Me, published earlier this year. It has an average of over 4 stars on Good Reads and is currently number six on the list of the most popular 2025 releases. A feel-good read, it follows veterinarian Dr. Xavier Rush and social media manager Samantha Diaz, who fall in love but are separated when Samantha moves to care for her mother with dementia. The hardcover version is currently just $10.98 at Amazon for October Prime Day — a total steal.

Best early October Prime Day Kindle book deal Opens in a new window Credit: Blackstone Publishing "The Perfect Divorce" by Jeneva Rose $1.69 at Amazon
$9.99 Save $8.30 Get Deal Why we like it

The Perfect Divorce is another Goodreads favorite of 2025. From Jeneva Rose, the author of the multimillion-copy bestselling thriller The Perfect Marriage, it's the second in the series and picks up eleven years after high-powered attorney Sarah Morgan defended her husband, Adam, against murder charges. It's filled with page-turning suspense and plenty of twists and turns, which is hardly surprising if you read the first book. If you have a Kindle device — or don't mind reading on your phone or tablet — you can pick up a digital copy for less than $2 during the Prime Big Deal Days sale.

Physical book dealsPaperback

• A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson — $5.03 $10.99 (save $5.96)

• Parable of the Talents by Octavia E. Butler — $6.75 $19.99 (save $13.24)

• Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez — $6.91 $16.99 (save $10.08)

• The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood — $6.95 $16 (save $9.05)

• The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden — $7 $17.99 (save $10.99)

• People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — $7.04 $16 (save $8.96)

• The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston — $7.10 $17 (save $9.90)

• The Crash by Freida McFadden — $7.10 $17.99 (save $10.89)

• Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica — $7.18 $16.99 (save $9.81)

• The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — $7.36 $18 (save $10.64)

• First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston — $7.44 $19 (save $11.56)

• The Coworker by Freida McFadden — $7.58 $17.99 (save $10.41)

• The Inmate by Freida McFadden — $7.91 $17.99 (save $10.08)

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — $7.91 $19 (save $11.09)

• Just the Nicest Couple by Mary Kubica — $7.93 $18.99 (save $11.06)

• Deep End by Ali Hazelwood — $8.09 $20 (save $11.91)

• Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know by Adam Grant — $8.36 $20 (save $11.64)

• Redeeming 6 by Chloe Walsh — $8.50 $14.99 (save $6.49)

• Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman — $8.53 $22 (save $13.47)

• One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune — $9.48 $19 (save $9.52)

• The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings — $9.48 $18.99 (save $9.51)

• Part of Your World by Abby Jimenez — $9.65 $17.99 (save $8.34)

• Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton — $9.78 $18.99 (save $9.21)

• Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler — $10.06 $19.99 (save $9.93)

• Lock Every Door by Riley Sager — $10.58 $19 (save $8.42)

• The Lies They Told by Ellen Marie Wiseman — $10.80 $18.95 (save $8.15)

Hardcover

• Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi — $8.42 $19.99 (save $11.57)

• Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. by Brené Brown — $10.76 $28 (save $17.24)

• Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez — $10.98 $28 (save $17.02)

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt — $11.38 $29.99 (save $18.61)

• Matriarch by Tina Knowles — $12.62 $35 (save $22.38)

• Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix — $12.92 $30 (save $17.08)

• The Names by Florence Knapp — $14.11 $30 (save $15.89)

• The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien — $15.14 $30 (save $14.86)

Kindle book deals

• The Perfect Divorce by Jeneva Rose — $1.69 $9.99 (save $8.30)

• The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters — $1.99 $17.95 (save $15.96)

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley — $1.99 $16.99 (save $15)

• This is Why We Lied by Karin Slaughter — $1.99 $10.99 (save $9)

• Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka — $1.99 $18.99 (save $17)

• Between Two Kingdoms by Suleika Jaouad — $1.99 $20 (save $18.01)

• Neon Gods by Katee Robert — $1.99 $14.99 (save $13)

• Life's Too Short by Abby Jimenez — $2.99 $17.99 (save $15)

• In The Likely Event by Rebecca Yarros — $2.49 $4.99 (save $2.50)

• Keep Your Friends Close by Lucinda Berry — $2.49 $4.99 (save $2.50)

• Matriarch by Tina Knowles — $2.99 $35 (save $32.01)

• Think Twice by Harlan Coben — $2.99 $19.99 (save $17)

• Anxious People by Fredrik Backman — $3.99 $19.99 (save $16)

• Count My Lies by Sophie Stava — $3.99 $28.99 (save $25)

• The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger — $3.99 $19.99 (save $16)

• Throne of the Fallen by Kerri Maniscalco — $3.99 $19.99 (save $16)

As I write this, I've been a flagship phone user for just over 10 years, starting with the LG G3 from 2014, which was my first taste of a high-end handset. Since then, I've had a Galaxy S8, Galaxy Note 10 Plus, Galaxy S21 Ultra, iPhone 11 Pro, Galaxy S22 Ultra, and, as of this moment, an iPhone 14 Pro.

Best early Prime Day drone deals Best drone deal overall Potensic ATOM SE $249.99 (save $70) Get Deal Best DJI drone deal DJI Mini 2 SE Fly More Combo $499 (save $99.99) Get Deal Best drone deal for kids Contixo F19 Drone $49.99 (save $30) Get Deal

Prime Day (and its fall spinoff, Prime Big Deal Days) is usually one of the best times of the year to buy a drone. This year, however, things are a little bit complicated. As you might have heard, there’s a potential U.S. ban on DJI drones due to growing concerns over national security and a required risk assessment that all DJI products must undergo before they can be sold in the United States. This, of course, has caused issues with the availability and pricing of popular models, with many being listed as “out of stock” on the DJI website.

SEE ALSO: Amazon's October Prime Day is coming on October 7 — here are 30+ early deals to shop now

The good news is that Amazon has a ton of drones, including DJI, on sale for Prime Day. But there’s a catch: many of these deals are on drones sold from sketchy, third-party sellers with ridiculously jacked-up prices. With our help, you can find the deals that are actually worth it.

We’re expecting more deals to be added as we get closer to the official sale (which kicks off on Oct. 7), and we’ll be updating this post accordingly. For now, here are the best early Prime Big Deal Days drone deals we could find as of Oct. 3:

Best drone deal overall Potensic ATOM SE $229.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $70 Get Deal Why we like it

For under $250, getting a drone with this many features is pretty rare. The Potensic ATOM SE shoots stable 4K video, takes 12MP photos, and has an impressive 62-minute flight time thanks to the two batteries included in this kit. It's a great middle-ground for people who want to move beyond a basic beginner drone without shelling out for a DJI.

With this deal, you get the drone itself (which weighs less than 249g, so no need to register it with the FAA), a remote controller, two batteries, and a carrying bag. It’s a complete kit that has everything you need to start flying right out of the box.

Best DJI drone deal DJI Mini 2 SE Fly More Combo $499 at Amazon
$598.99 Save $99.99 Get Deal Why we like it

Most, if not all, of the Amazon DJI drone deals we spotted just two days ago are now gone (there are some at Target, though). But you can still get the DJI Mini 2 SE Fly More Combo for 17% off at Amazon. This bundle includes the DJI Mini 2 SE (which also weighs less than 249g), a remote controller, connector cables, three intelligent flight batteries (for a total flight time of 93 minutes), a two-way charging hub, a shoulder bag, and a few other accessories.

SEE ALSO: DJI drones are going out of stock, but this incredible alternative has never been cheaper

Even though it may seem like a lot is going on here, this drone is beginner-friendly. It even has a “Return to Home” button so you don’t have to worry about losing your drone if it flies out of sight or runs low on battery. Plus, several reviewers who’ve never flown before said the setup was super simple and the photos were crisp and clear.

“I’ve taken it very high up in the sky and it keeps an amazing signal as well as the gimbal stabilizing the footage or images,” writes one Amazon reviewer. “It’s so sophisticated for the price, it blows me away.”

Best drone deal for kids Opens in a new window Credit: Contixo Contixo F19 Drone $49.99 at Target
$79.99 Save $30.00 Get Deal Why we like it

It’s actually really hard to find a decent drone for kids on Amazon that isn’t sold by a sketchy third-party vendor. But other retailers, like Target, have a wider selection of child-friendly drones that you can trust for a reasonable price.

The Contixo F19 Drone looks like a “real drone” instead of a toy and comes with all the things your kid needs to get started, including a remote control, beginner-friendly features, and an integrated camera for aerial photography and videography. It’s also foldable and comes with a carrying case, so they can take it wherever they go.

More early Prime Day drone deals you can trust

• Snaptain K30 Mini — $74.99 $89.99 (save $15)

• Contixo F24 Pro Drone — $249.99 $299.99 (save $50)

• DJI Neo Drone Mini 4K UHD Video Quadcopter + Extended Warranty Accessory Kit Bundle — $339.99 $1,499.99 (save $1,159.01)

• DJI Neo Drone Fly More Combo — $549 $628.92 (save $79.92)

In this episode of How It Hits, we break down the tricks behind dog acting, from classic inspirations like Air Bud and Rin Tin Tin to modern award-winning performances like Messi in Anatomy of a Fall. We hear directly from filmmakers Ben Leonberg and Kari Fischer about what they learned from the 3-years process of making Good Boy with their own dog, Indy. We’ll also explore how editing magic, method acting (dog style), and even play-fighting help animals deliver unforgettable performances on screen.

For more of Indy, check out Good Boy, now in theaters.

With more carriers and phone manufacturers embracing eSIMs, it's time to consider what exactly they can do for you. One of the biggest advantages of an eSIM is that it allows you to easily use multiple SIMs with a single phone, making dual-simming incredibly easy.

As we slide right on in to October’s streaming season, its first weekend is on fire with multiple new releases. From the Josh Hartnett-led action flick Fight or Flight to the highly anticipated new season of Netflix hit anthology series Monster, these titles are guaranteed to be well worth your time. Besides, you know you’re curious. There’s even a Cillian Murphy movie in the mix.

If you've noticed a remarkable amount of pastels in fall, people wearing a surprising number of impractical yet whimsical accessories, or an abundance of shells and flowers motifs, don't worry, babe. You haven’t wandered into Merengue's house in Animal Crossing — you're just noticing the resurgence of Rococo.

You might know Rococo as the late Baroque-period art style from 18th-century France that eventually made its way to the U.S. It's known for ornate, playful, and lighthearted qualities, often expressed through pastel colors, asymmetry, intricate curves, and shell or flower motifs. Basically, whatever makes you think, "Wow, that's whimsical." 

SEE ALSO: Is 'castlecore' the aesthetic of our technofeudal future?

Rococo lacks the grandeur of Baroque, instead incorporating more intimate and decorative elements without appearing too delicate. One prime example of Rococo is the Catherine Palace in Russia, which looks a lot like a Sabrina Carpenter stage outfit if it were a building.

If you're reading all of this and thinking, “That sounds a lot like 2025's most ubiquitous accessory, the Labubu,” you and I are on the same page. They're (arguably) whimsical. Their colorway is (predominantly) pastel. They are (undoubtedly) useless beyond aesthetics. They're frivolous, lighthearted, playful, and ornate. Fellas, they're Rococo.

Rococo is having a moment. According to Pinterest, which included the "Rococo Revival" in its Pinterest Predicts 2025 trend report, interest in Rococo is on the rise. 

"Rococo Revival is part of a broader movement towards embracing more maximalist interiors and style," Sydney Stanback, the global trends and insights lead at Pinterest, told Mashable over email. Searches are booming: Rococo weddings are up 95 percent, Rococo parties are up 140 percent, and a simple search for "Rococo outfit" is up 5,456 percent.

"The Rococo Revival trend is all about ultra-feminine and opulent celebration," Stanback said. "Think corset gowns, luxe accessories, and ornate tablescapes, but with a lighter, whimsical feel."

That doesn't always mean replicating a perfect outfit from the 18th century — but for some creators, that's exactly the point.

"Fashion’s all about expression, and so is makeup and hair. Why not express yourself in the ways you could only dream of? We’re so far removed from that period, but I just think it’s playful. I think it’s fun," Morgan Ryan, aka @msmaverickmuse, a creator who curates vintage looks on Instagram and TikTok, told Mashable.

Stanback pointed out that this trend fits into a "bigger cultural shift around vintage we’ve seen over the past few years." In 2023, Pinterest predicted "Hipstoric Homes," which involved blending vintage finds with modern interiors. Rococo, she says, feels like the natural evolution of that movement, now bleeding into celebrations and personal style. 

"At the same time, cultural moments like Bridgerton have driven popularity with Regency-era style," Stanback noted. 

Of course, part of this boom comes from cultural touchpoints. Bridgerton reintroduced a fantasy of powdered wigs and Regency ballrooms, while TikTok’s coquette aesthetic and Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette keep Rococo-adjacent visuals alive in fashion and online moodboards. But deeper down, Rococo’s return mirrors the cultural forces that birthed it the first time.

“When I was in my twenties, I saw Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette, and I was just enthralled with the colors… It kind of solidified my love for this period," Ryan said.

"A reaction to boredom with order and symmetry, Rococo artists opted for depicting wit, humor, emotion, and especially this idea of whimsy," Jen and Ginny said in their podcast Art History Babes. They later added that Rococo emerged as a “reaction to the grandeur of the baroque style of King Louis XIV."

You could draw a similar reaction to the minimal styles of athleisure and normcore that overtook the early 2010s. As Ryan said, "We’re used to seeing more casual, laid-back styles — a sea of Lululemon and athletic wear. The most obvious opposite of that is putting on a 1700s Rococo gown and wearing a huge wig. It feels like a rebellion against our current way of living."

Rococo rose to prominence after the death of Louis XIV, whose Baroque tastes built Versailles as a monument to order, spectacle, and absolutism. His cult of personality was so strong that he became synonymous with the nation itself. Rococo, by contrast, was an ever-so-slight rejection of that weight: it embraced wit, whimsy, and playfulness over symmetry and grandeur. (It would eventually give way to the French Revolution, but that’s another story.)

Fast-forward to now. Our culture, too, is saturated with personality-driven politics and media spectacle, from stadium rallies to social feeds that blur the line between world leader and celebrity. Power is once again performed through image, and loyalty is measured by spectacle. Modern figures from Donald Trump to Silvio Berlusconi to Narendra Modi echo that same Baroque-style playbook — cultivating personal brands as though they were Versailles incarnate.

That's why Rococo’s pastel whimsy hits so hard today. Just as 18th-century artists responded to the heaviness of Baroque absolutism with satire, intimacy, and excess, we’re reaching for a style that feels both escapist and subversive. In a culture obsessed with order, dominance, and endless seriousness, Rococo offers something else: celebration, fantasy, and play.

Seashell jewelry, frothy corset gowns, and Labubus dangling from someone’s tote bag — it’s history repeating itself, in pastels.

Google just gave the business tier of Gmail users a handy new cybersecurity feature.

In a company blog post, Google said that enterprise Gmail users can now send end-to-end encrypted emails to anyone. Not just people in their network and not just people who use Gmail, but people who use any email service. All they have to do is click "Additional encryption" when writing their message, and Gmail does the rest.

SEE ALSO: Google Drive will now detect ransomware with help from AI

"This capability, requiring minimal efforts for both IT teams and end users, abstracts away the traditional IT complexity and substandard user experiences of existing solutions, while preserving enhanced data sovereignty, privacy, and security controls," the blog post said.

The way it works is pretty interesting.

As explained by BleepingComputer, Google encrypts the message on the client end prior to sending it to the cloud, which means that no one, not Google or any other entity beside the intended recipient, can read its contents. That keeps it in line with various data regulation laws. If the intended recipient doesn't use Gmail, they'll have to click a link that will take them to a gated version of Gmail where they're essentially a temporary guest user, giving them the ability to read the message.

Just be sure to actually, you know, turn this on before sending your super secret important corporate emails.

Best early Prime Day deals at The Home Depot Best Halloween deal Home Accents Holiday 5-ft. Skelly's Cat $149 (Save $50) Get Deal Best tool deal Milwaukee M12 Cordless Hammer, Drill, Impact Driver Combo Kit $199 (Save $170) Get Deal Best furniture deal Harper & Bright Designs Entryway Storage Bench with Shoe Rack $184.90 (Save $210.90) Get Deal

When Amazon announces a new Prime Day sale, other retailers start cooking up their competing sales. Target and Walmart have already announced their plans to compete with Prime Big Deal Days, and now The Home Depot is joining in on the fun.

While The Home Depot hasn't given their fall savings event an official name yet, there are still plenty of savings to be had. The retailers deals will run the same days as Prime Big Deal Days on Oct. 7 and 8. We expect to see big deals on power tools, vacuums, and home essentials .

But ahead of the event, we're tracking deals at The Home Depot and have found some real gems ahead of its anti-October Prime Day sale. Right now, grab Halloween decor up to 25% off or tools up to 46% off.

Best Halloween deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot Home Accents Holiday 5-ft. Skelly's Cat $149 at Amazon
$199 Save $50 Get Deal Why we picked this

This Halloween, Skelly is joined by his pets, and right now, you can get his bony companions on sale. You can find the Skelly's Cat and Dog on sale ahead of Prime Day, but the best deal is on Skelly's five-foot cat.

Right now, Skelly's Cat is on sale for $149, down $50 from its usual $199. That provides some nice savings of 25%. If you want to complete your yard, explore all the best Halloween deals at The Home Depot.

More Halloween deals

• Home Accents Holiday 5-ft. Skelly's Cat — $149 $199 (save $50)

• Home Accents Holiday 5-ft. Skelly's Sitting Dog — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Home Accents Holiday 8-ft. Giant Color Changing LED Wyvern — $299 $399 (save $100)

• Home Accents Holiday 15-ft. Giant LED Worricrow — $299 $399 (save $100)

Best Tool deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot Milwaukee M12 Cordless Hammer, Drill, Impact Driver Combo Kit $199 at The Home Depot
$369 Save $170 Get Deal Why we picked this

Sales are always a good time to stock up on big ticket items like appliances and tools. Milwaukee is offering the best savings with their M12 Cordless Hammer, Drill, Impact Driver Combo Kit. Normally $369, this hammer, drill, and impact driver combo kit is down to $199 for $170 off, saving you 46% off.

More tool deals

• Ryobi Cordless String Trimmer — $149 $199 (save $50)

• Milwaukee M12 Cordless Hammer, Drill, Impact Driver Combo Kit — $199 $369 (save $170)

• Rigid 18V 8 Tool Combo Kit — $399 $599 (save $200)

• Ryobi 18V 12 Tool Combo Kit — $649 $799 (save $150)

• Ryobi Electric Cordless Riding Mower — $4,999 $5,999 (save $100)

Best Furniture Deal Opens in a new window Credit: The Home Depot Harper & Bright Designs Entryway Storage Bench with Shoe Rack $184.90 at The Home Depot
$395 Save $210.10 Get Deal Why we picked this

With a new school year, kids coming and going, your entry way might be a tangle of shoes and backpacks. To keep things tidy, level things up with some new storage. The Harper & Bright Designs Entryway Storage Bench with Shoe Rack is a stylish but functional option. Right now it's extremely discounted, down 53% at The Home Depot. Shop now for just $184.90 and saving $210.19 off its usual $395.

If this entryway bench isn't your style, there are lots of other on sale options at The Home Depot.

More Furniture deals

• Harper & Bright Designs Entryway Storage Bench with Shoe Rack — $184.90 $395 (save $210.19) 53%

• Harper & Bright Designs Dining Bench — $205.86 $244.99 (save $39.13) 16%

• Harper & Bright Designs Entryway Storage Bench with Fabric Basket — $228.38 $354 (save $126.52) 36%

• Harper & Bright Designs Tufted Storage Bedroom Bench — $229.87 $326.99 (save $97.12) 30%

Taylor Swift's newest album, The Life of a Showgirl, dropped today, and I am not the first person to notice this. Swiftie or not, if you've been online at all since midnight on Oct. 3, you've probably noticed a flooding of posts — on X, on Instagram, on Reddit, on Threads, you name it — about Swift's 12th studio album.

According to data from global social listening and insights tool Meltwater, 1.32 million users have mentioned the album on X. Reddit was the second-strongest platform after X, with 81.7K mentions. Overall, the sentiment towards the album is overwhelmingly neutral, according to the insights tool, with 975,000 neutral mentions, 492,000 positive mentions, and 105,000 negative mentions.

SEE ALSO: The ultimate 'The Life of a Showgirl' shopping guide for Taylor Swift fans

But if you search her name on X, it's relatively difficult to sift through the negative and find those 492,000 neutral mentions.

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Even Nicki Minaj can't stop posting on X about it (I don't want to talk about all the other things Nicki's been posting about).

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Of course, there was also a flood of negativity towards the album, from fans and haters alike. The general negative consensus online is that she's a millennial who is in love, so we should have expected a bit of a cringy album.

Another complaint is that the album didn't match the visuals strongly enough. Some of the meaner reactions (it is the internet, and the internet is not nice!) imply she's made her lyrics more childish for her football player fiancé.

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Of course, there were many posts about the alleged Charli XCX diss track, "Actually Romantic," which sounds like an Olivia Rodrigo track (perhaps it's intentional?).

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It's clear that no matter the sentiment, Swift is giving us something to talk about — from her relatively explicit language on "Father Figure" to the alleged Charlie XCX diss track and everything in between.

Whether you loved it or hated it, are shopping for it or are ignoring it, chances are, you're hearing about it.

If you want to master the Bash shell on Linux, macOS, or another UNIX-like system, special characters (like ~, *, |, and >) are critical. We'll help you unravel these cryptic Linux command sequences and become a hero of hieroglyphics.

Last week, YouTube TV and NBC Universal were both rather public about their ongoing negotiations, which led to a lot of coverage about YouTube TV losing access to countless important TV stations and channels. After a short-term deal was announced earlier this week, we finally have some better news.

Best early Prime Day tablet deals Best early Prime Day tablet deal Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $899 (Save $100) Get Deal Best early Prime Day Android tablet deal Samsung Galaxy Tab S10+ $899.99 (Save $100) Get Deal Best early Prime Day budget tablet deal Amazon Fire Max 11 $189.99 (Save $90) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day is just days away. From Oct. 7 through Oct. 8, you'll be able to shop a variety of different deals on just about every item in the digital storefront. That includes everything from fitness trackers to kitchen goods and whatever you can name in between. That also means tablets will be on sale, with some of them dipping to their lowest prices yet.

Whether you're looking to bring home a new iPad, a powerful Android tablet, or a budget option that you can enjoy without having to spend an entire paycheck, there will be plenty on offer for everyone. But you don't actually have to wait until Prime Day proper this year to score the best tablet deals.

We've hand-picked some of the best early Prime Day deals you can shop right now, from Fire tables to Google Pixel picks and all the popular brands you can think of. They're all heavily discounted now, so if you don't want to wait to pounce, you can add them to your cart right now. Below, find our picks and be sure to check back for more as Prime Day approaches.

Best early Prime Day tablet deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) $899 at Amazon
$999 Save $100 Get Deal Why we like it

The formidable iPad Pro is one of the most powerful tablets you'll find from Apple. It offers the zippy, incredibly beefy M4 chip, and it's unbelievably thin at just 0.21 inches, weighing less than a pound. It's super sleek, perfectly portable, and its power rivals many laptops and some of Apple's own MacBooks. Not only does it work as a daily driver for professionals and creatives who need something that can keep up with them, but it's the perfect tablet in terms of ability and flexibility for just about anyone else as well. It offers a runtime of 16 hours, it can be used as the "heart" of a laptop setup with a portable keyboard, and it's fast enough to handle anything you throw at it. If you want a snappy Apple product but don't want to shell out for a MacBook, this is the next best thing by far.

More Prime Day tablet deals

Fire tablets

• 2022 Amazon Fire 7 Kids tablet — $54.99 $109.99 (save $55)

• Amazon Fire HD 8 tablet — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 tablet — $199.99 $279.99 (save $80)

Samsung tablets

• Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE (128GB, WiFi) — $429.99 $499.99 (save $70)

• Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ (64GB, WiFi) — $159.99 $219.99 (save $60)

Apple tablets

• Apple iPad Air, 10.9-inch (64GB storage, 8GB RAM) — $535.65 $599 at Amazon (save $63.35)

• Apple iPad Air (5th Generation), 10.9-inch (64 GB storage) — $689 $749 (save $60)

Google Pixel tablets

• Google Pixel Tablet (256 GB storage) — $421.50 $599 (save $77.50)

Lenovo tablets

• Lenovo Tab M9, 9-inch — $132.99 $139.99 (save $7)

Microsoft tablets

• Surface Pro 8, 13-inch — $779.99 $1,299.99 (save $520)

I've never been truly satisfied by any weather widget that I've found for my iPhone. The native Weather app's widget is fine, and options such as CARROT Weather are funny, but neither lets me see what the weather is like in an instant, without having to interpret all the data and icons. That's why I decided to create my own using Shortcuts.