IT General

In just the latest example of Gen Z growing nostalgic for the '90s and 2000s, a new trend is employing AI to insert people in the famous Scream franchise.

Yes, TikToks love for the '90s and 2000s — by the way, I was there, it wasn't that great — has led to Scream playing a central role in an online trend. It doesn't hurt, of course, that the movie franchise was rebooted a few years back. Here's what to know about the trend.

What is the Ghostface AI trend

It's loosely known as the Ghostface AI trend — the killer in Scream is known as Ghostface. The idea is you upload a photo of yourself and have AI morph it into a glossy, 90s-style photo, with killer Ghostface creeping up behind you. With October nearly here, Spooky Season is upon us. It tracks folks would be drawn to a horror movie-based trend. It's also not uncommon for AI-created images to spark a trend.

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People also made fun of the trend or did it without AI because of course the internet loves mockery, too.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. How to do the Ghostface AI trend

If you want to do the Ghostface trend, it's pretty simple. Basically, you just upload a photo and ask AI to do the work. The general idea is to ask AI to create an image where you're lying on a bed with an old-school, corded phone, in a glossy, dimly lit room. Barely visible in the back, you guessed it: Ghostface from Scream.

A popular post on Reddit and a blog from the website The Tab both suggested using this specific prompt with an image generator like Google's Gemini:

"Create a photo of me in a dreamy y2k style portrait of me laying on a shiny pink satin bedding as i hold a large 90s style chorded phone and in a thoughtful daydreaming pose her long black hair falls freely in loose curls with pink clips on each side. she wears delicate jewellery including dainty gold necklaces and accessories and gold chunky rings. the room behind her is girly and daydreamy with 90s posters. her makeup is simple yet glamorous with brown lipgloss and brown lip liner. the photo should have a grainy 90s style to it with a light source like a lamp in a dimly lit room at night. The Ghostface killer from Scream should be behind her staring at her, his body should be dimly lit, and he should be standing in the doorway of a dimly hallway. The background behind he should be 150 slightly dark and ominous."

So there you have it, you, too, can pretend to be in imminent danger in a '90s movie.

Hily, a dating app with 39 million worldwide users, just launched a feature to stop unwanted explicit messages and cyberflashing, or sending non-consensual nude images.

"Consent Guard" uses machine-learning models and custom algorithms to scan for specific words in messages and elements of photos. If something X-rated is detected, Hily will alert a user that their match wants to send explicit messages, and that they'll only see them if they consent. The user can then consent or decline.

SEE ALSO: The best hookup apps, reviewed: I swiped until my thumb hurt

The sender, meanwhile, receives a prompt to request one-click consent. If they say no, the explicit content won't be sent. And if the prompt goes unanswered, the conversation will continue as if nothing explicit was attempted.

Hily's new Consent Guard in action. Credit: Hily

Each user can send up to three consent requests per chat, according to Hily's press release. Users can also adjust their consent settings at any point — from hot to chill to "not tonight, please."

Hily developed Consent Guard with its sexologist and sex educator, Dr. Mindy DeSeta. DeSeta provided insights on the culture around sexual consent and harassment.

As of 2024, over a third of women under 40 have received unsolicited sexual photos from someone who was not a dating, romantic, or sexual partner, YouGov reported. This is an issue that other dating apps have also addressed, such as Bumble's Private Detector, an AI tool designed to detect nude images.

Hily has also previously addressed this. Consent Guard will replace the app's Explicit Filter feature, which blurred photos for review.

"Unsolicited pics have never really worked: they're mostly just a turn-off," DeSeta said in the press release. "Hily's new Consent Guard feature actually empowers your sexuality by putting you in charge of how you date, what you share, and how sexy you want to get. Instead of having an explicit photo pop up at the worst possible moment, imagine getting a notification that someone wants to get a little hot and heavy. That's mental foreplay!"

Worried about creating operating system independent programs in Python? The os module is Python's direct line to your operating system. Think of it as the Swiss Army knife for everyday tasks related to your system. Let’s see what tricks the os module has up its sleeve.

Home security systems are expensive and often come with ongoing costs, but smart home technology has never been more affordable or accessible. Though pricey alarm systems still have their place, I figured I could use sensors and automations to throw something together on the cheap.

Emily Blunt isn't just a run-of-the-mill guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, because The Smashing Machine star and the host are actually old friends. Blunt and her husband John Krasinski used to live opposite the Kimmels, and the families have even been on vacation together.

In the clip above, Blunt brings up a memorable moment from one of those holidays, where Kimmel battled sea sickness on a fishing trip — a memory that was perfectly captured in a haunting photo taken by Kimmel's wife Molly.

"I do remember you were still valiantly trying to fish in that state," says Blunt after the photo has been shown. "So you'd go and collapse, and then someone would yell, 'Fish on!' and you'd sort of slither out there, try to catch one and then sort of slither back and collapse again."

We're into October, which means that the Orionid meteor shower—one of the few astronomical displays that can be reliably observed in both hemispheres—is happening right now. It offers many bright, fast meteors with long-lasting trains, so you won't want to miss it.

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're a pet owner.

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 September 2, 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: Said to a pet

• Green: Equitable

• Blue: Positioned

• Purple: Popular kids' movies

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: Dog commands

• Green: Deserved

• Blue: Situated

• Purple: Best animated feature Oscar winners

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 #844 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Dog commands: COME, DOWN, HEEL, STAY

• Deserved: DUE, FAIR, JUST, RIGHT

• Situated: LEFT, PLACED, PUT, SET

• Best animated feature Oscar winners: BRAVE, FLOW, FROZEN, UP

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 September 29, 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 could be easily damaged.

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.

Today's NYT Strands puzzle should be easy to solve, provided that you're extremely careful.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 29, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: The slightest touch...

The words are related to airiness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe flimsy things.

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 Handle With Care.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 2

• Fragile

• Delicate

• Dainty

• Handle With Care

• Gossamer

• Wispy

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 is difficult to measure in terms of difficulty, but perhaps can be measured in other ways.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're good with measurements.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 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 September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An object's thickness.

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 W.

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...

WIDTH

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 September 2, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will challenge your knowledge of a popular winter sport.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, 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 the latest 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: Sports Edition?

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Seeing ghosts

• Green: Needs these for a new contract

• Blue: Ballparks

• Purple: Could be a QB

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

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

• Yellow: Game wear

• Green: Said during curling

• Blue: Boys of summer

• Purple: New shoes/places

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: Sports Edition #374 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Game wear - JERSEY, KIT, SWEATER, UNIFORM

• Said during curling - BONSPIEL, BROOM, SHEET, STONE

• Boys of summer - BETTS, FREEMAN, PAGES, SNELL

• New shoes/places - BALANCE, ENGLAND, ORLEANS, YORK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections 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.

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.

Happy Thursday and welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Today's games feature difficulty levels that dial up the challenge quickly, but we have all the tips you need to navigate them.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 1, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

• Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

• Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

• Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

• Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

• Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for October 1, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 2 Pips

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 0-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed horizontally; 5-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 5-1, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this green space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 2 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 2 Pips

Number (4): Everything in this space must add to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this orange space must add to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this green space must add to 3. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this red space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this orange space must add to 4. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this red space must be equal to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this purple space must add to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (12): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 4-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this purple space must be less than 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 6-1, placed horizontally.

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

SAVE $40: As of Oct. 2, the Fire TV Cube is on sale at Amazon for $99.99. This is 29%, or $40, off its list price of $139.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire TV Cube $99.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $40.00 Get Deal

There have been some great discounts already popping up on Amazon's own devices before its October Prime Day sale event kicks off. If you've had the company's streaming devices on your radar to buy, quite a few are on sale right now. This includes the Fire TV Cube, which has dropped below $100 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days.

The Fire TV Cube is currently on sale for $99.99 at Amazon, a 29% price drop from its retail price of $139.99. This is a worthwhile discount to jump on before the official sale event kicks off next week on Oct. 7, and the device itself is a worthy pick-up for those looking for a streaming device upgrade.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

If you want to make sure you get a high-quality picture to enjoy what's available on streaming services, the Fire TV Cube supports 4K Ultra HD resolution alongside supporting Dolby Vision and HDR so you can take in every pop of color and detail that comes across your screen. It also supports Dolby Atmos audio, so you can feel fully immersed with excellent sound quality, too.

And with Wi-Fi 6E support, you'll get smooth streaming quality as well to enjoy your favorite shows and movies. A deal like this may not last long, though, so grab the Fire TV Cube for $99.99 while it's still available at Amazon.

There are plenty more early Prime Big Deal Days discounts to check out right now, too. Have a look at our roundup of 30+ early deals to shop now to see what else is available.

SAVE $50: As of Oct. 2, the Garmin Lily 2 Active is on sale at Amazon for $249.99 ahead of Prime Big Deal Days. This is 17%, or $50, off its list price of $299.99 and a return to its best price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Lily 2 Active $249.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $50 Get Deal

The Prime Big Deal Days sale event may not start until Oct. 7 at Amazon, but lucky shoppers can already score some sweet early deals at the retailer. Already there's a wide variety of items available to shop through, including some smartwatch and fitness tracker deals. For those looking to pick one up to stay on top of their health and fitness goals, the sleek Garmin Lily 2 Active is discounted at Amazon right now.

Normally the Garmin Lily 2 Active comes with a retail price of $299.99, but right now it's available for $249.99. This 17% discount also marks a return to its lowest-ever price, according to price tracker camelcamelcamel, so it's worth it to jump on now while the deal is still live.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Big Deal Days

If you don't want to have a bulky smartwatch or fitness tracker on your wrist, the Garmin Lily 2 Active offers a bit more of a stylish design for wearing around. With up to nine days of battery life, it also comes with plenty of features to help you out throughout the day, including a sleep score, respiration tracking, all-day stress tracking, heart rate monitoring, and more.

For active individuals, it even has step counting, details on calories burned, intensity minutes, and a built-in GPS so you can stay on top of your fitness goals. This deal may not last long, though, so be quick to pick up the Garmin Lily 2 Active back at its best price at Amazon.

Looking for even more early Prime Big Deal Days deals to check out? Have a look at our breakdown of 30+ early deals to shop now to see even more discounts available at Amazon.

SAVE $705: As of Oct. 2, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S is on sale for $394.99. That's a 64% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Ecovacs Ecovacs Deebot T30S $394.99 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $705 Get Deal

Prime Day is a great excuse to purchase the big-ticket items you've been thinking about for months. And if a robot vacuum is something you've been considering for a while, this early Prime Day deal is the one to convince you.

As of Oct.2, the Ecovacs Deebot T30S is currently reduced by a whopping $705. That's a savings of 64%, and it's lowest-ever price.

And this robot vacuum really takes cleaning to a whole other level. It has an 11,000Pa suction power that ensures all carpets and floors are completely spotless. It mops too, and thanks to TruEdge mopping, it gets right into corners with 1mm precision, so there won't be any awkward corners left uncleaned.

Hair tangles are no problem either, so don't worry if you have pets. The ZeroTangle tech keeps the brush clear and maintenance low. Another bonus for pet owners, it has real-time video and capabilities. So if you're away from home, just use your robot vacuum to check in on your furry friend.

Navigation is a breeze, too. This model has AIVI 3D obstacle avoidance and TrueMapping 2.0 navigation, so it cleans efficiently without getting stuck or bumping into furniture. You can even control it easily with just your voice, Apple Watch, smartphone widgets, or Alexa.

The 6,400mAh battery means you'll get up to 180 minutes of cleaning in one go. When it runs out of battery, it will redock and charge itself before picking back up where you left off.

Get this great robot vacuum deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $100: As of Oct. 2, the Garmin Instinct is on sale for $199.99 at Amazon. That's a 33% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Instinct $199.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $100 Get Deal

There are some fantastic early Prime Day deals already live at Amazon, and the latest to catch our eye is this discount on the Garmin Instinct. Currently priced at $199.99 (as of Oct. 2), this fitness tracker is now at its lowest-ever price. That, plus a $100 discount, sounds like a win to us. This price is for the Instinct E model with the 45mm screen.

This is a stellar fitness tracker, especially for endurance athletes. And it can cope with just about anything. It's water-rated to 10 ATM and tough enough to handle heat, shock, and just about anything else thanks to MIL-STD-810 engineering.

Stats-wise, this watch gives a deep look at your health with wrist-based heart rate, advanced sleep tracking, and Pulse Ox features. For the outdoors, it’s got a 3-axis compass, barometric altimeter, and multi-GNSS support to help you navigate with confidence. Ideal for trail runners, hikers, or anyone who likes to explore remotely.

Like most Garmin watches, when connected to your phone, you can get wrist notifications, calls, and messages.

Get this Garmin deal from the Amazon website now.

SAVE $80: As of Oct. 2, the Fire TV 2 Series is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. That's a 32% savings on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV 2 Series $169.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $80 Get Deal

TV deals are just some of the great bargains we can expect to see as Prime Big Deal Days officially kicks off Oct. 7. But if you're in need of an upgrade sooner rather than later, you don't need to wait for the official event; Amazon has already dropped an early Prime Day discount on the Fire TV 2 Series.

As of Oct. 2, you can save $80 at the new price of $169.99. This is for the 40-inch model without an additional protection plan. Not only is this a great early deal, but it's also the cheapest this TV has been all year.

This TV gives you a sharp HD 1080p picture with HDR10, HLG, and Dolby Digital Audio, so movies and shows are super high quality. It has Fire TV built in, which means you’ve got all your streaming apps in one place and easily accessible. If you have more than one Fire TV in your home, you can also benefit from seamless connection. Move from room to room and pick up right where you left off.

And like most Amazon products, this TV has Alexa built in. Just hold the button on the remote and ask Alexa to find a show, check sports scores, or even manage your smart home devices.

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Something odd has happened to Apple’s iPhone lineup. For years, the company’s “Pro” iPhones were not only the most capable phones bearing an Apple logo, but also the most desirable.

Now, with the introduction of iPhone Air, the iPhone 17 Pro Max feels different. It’s still the best phone Apple sells, and possibly the best phone you can buy, period. But the iPhone Air’s slim profile and feather-light weight have, in a way, exposed the iPhone 17 Pro Max as the pickup truck you use for work, rather than the sports car Apple wants it to be. (And like your work truck, it's also prone to scratching.)

I’ve spent about a week with the new iPhone 17 Pro Max (Apple also sent me the iPhone 17 Pro, but I'm still fully testing that one), and I was thrilled with the phone’s long battery life, excellent cameras, and, simply, the fact that this is the iPhone that has it all. It’s the right phone for me, the tech nerd. But I can’t escape the fact that the iPhone Air is, well, prettier.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Price and specs Is it me, or should the Apple logo be a little higher? Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The new Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a new chip, larger battery, improved cameras, and more storage — a pretty thorough set of improvements across the board. The difference between the two phones are only in size, weight, and battery life, which is rated as lasting roughly 20% longer on the Pro Max. Oh, and you can only get the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2TB of storage space; the iPhone 17 Pro only goes up to 1TB.

Here are the key specs for the iPhone 17 Pro Max:

• Display: 6.9-inch, Super Retina XDR display with 120Hz refresh rate

• Design: Aluminum unibody with Ceramic Shield on front and back

• Rear cameras: 48 megapixel triple rear camera array with 8x optical-quality zoom

• Front camera: 18-megapixel selfie camera

• Processor: Apple A19 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU, 6-core GPU, and 16-core Neural Engine

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB

• Battery life: Up to 39 hours of video playback (33 hours for the iPhone 17 Pro)

• Fast charging: Up to 50 percent of charge in 20 minutes with a 40W adapter or higher

• Software: iOS 26

• Special features: 3,000 nit brightness, vapor chamber cooling system

As for the price, I don't have a lot of good news. The iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199, both a hundred bucks more than last year's Pro models. At least the Pro now starts with 256GB of storage instead of only 128GB.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Design and display Apple's wallpapers game hasn't been great lately, but iOS 26 offers deep customization options, so you can create your own perfect look. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The new Pro models have an entirely new design compared to the previous models. The body is made of aluminum instead of titanium, forgoing some glamour but shedding weight and improving thermal conductivity. The edges of the phone are now pleasantly soft to the touch, and the side buttons are all in the right place, except for the Camera Control button, which I kept pressing by accident until I fully disabled it from the Settings (the Camera Control button was introduced with the previous model; I didn’t like it then, either).

The three-piece camera system is now placed on an elongated plateau on the back, with a rectangular surface area below, which has a slightly lighter color than the rest of the phone.

The TechWoven case has a techy look that fits the new Pro models well. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The way this all ties together depends a lot on the color. The funky orange is an eye-catcher, and it fits the new design well, even giving it a sort of a heavy machinery feel. Apple sent me a Pro Max in Deep Blue, and the Pro in Silver, and I’m not crazy about either. The Silver accentuates the lighter surface area on the back too much, and it looks like something should be there but isn’t. Deep Blue is more subdued and quite nice in itself, but I still didn’t mind placing it in the new TechWoven case which covers the odd rectangle on the back.

A quick word on TechWoven: I like it. It feels like a more robust take on FineWoven and that’s exactly what was required, given FineWoven’s propensity to wear down rapidly after a few months of use. The aesthetic fits the Pro models, though it’s not ideal for the gentle figure of the iPhone Air. There’s a reason why a lot of people choose the green TechWoven case with the orange iPhone 17 Pro; it looks like something that came out of a video game.

A word of warning: As many users have noticed, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro max are prone to scratching, so don't forget to invest in an iPhone 17 Pro Max case.

I'm not crazy about the Camera Control button, but I dig the smooth edges and overall feel of the aluminum body. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The 6.9-inch display hasn’t changed much from the previous generation, but it’s now more resistant to cracks and scratches, thanks to the new Ceramic Shield 2. It also has higher peak brightness (3,000 vs. 2,000 nits on the previous model) and anti-reflective coating, which do make a noticeable difference in sunlight.

No matter what you think of the design, there’s no question that the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a big, heavy phone (this is particularly apparent if you’ve ever held the iPhone Air). With the TechWoven case on and my Apple Wallet magnetically attached to the back, this thing is a unit. While I do think a case is a good idea, I’ll probably ditch it try my luck without it, because the added heft was just too much for me.

The iPhone 17 Pro phones look like brutes next to the elegant iPhone Air. Credit: CNET Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Performance and AI

My daily driver prior to switching to the 17 Pro Max was Apple’s “affordable” model, the iPhone 16e. Even though these phones are separated by just one generation of Apple silicon, the iPhone 17 Pro Max felt a lot faster and a lot smoother, thanks to the new, A19 chip inside, and the 120Hz ProMotion display. The battery lasted longer, the cameras were vastly better; frankly, it was night and day. Don’t let anyone tell you that phones don’t improve much these days; it’s not true.

You can spec the Pro with up to 2TB of storage, which I think makes sense exclusively for video creators. I’ve tested the variant with 1TB, but I could easily make do with half as much.

Unsurprisingly, GeekBench results place this phone at the top of the heap. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

When Apple introduced iOS 26 and its new Liquid Glass user interface, I installed the first developer beta and was instantly worried that this new look slows down the phone too much. I’m happy to say that Apple managed to polish this to the point that I’ve experienced no obvious slowdowns with the latest version of iOS 26 installed on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. I love the look, and I love the fact that you can customize it to be as “liquidy” as you prefer. Even when I turned on all of the visual pizzaz, the phone was still very fast.

Everyday tasks such as texting, browsing, and watching videos won’t really push this phone to the limit. But playing a game for several hours will run the chips inside hot. This is why Apple added a vapor chamber cooling system to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max which - combined with the aluminum case - should make the phone a lot cooler while gaming. My game of choice on a phone is PUBG, and after an hour of (very smooth) gaming, the iPhone did get slightly hot, but never to the point that it became a problem.

I've liquified the UI to the max and the phone was still very fast. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Apple's take on AI is still not the best. Siri is supposed to be smarter (mostly through integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT), but ask about something more complex than the weather and you'll often get the old "I didn't get that, could you try again" response.

Other features such as Image Playground are neat, but a far cry from the stuff you can do with freely (or cheaply) available tools online.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: The cameras are amazing

The triple 48-megapixel camera system on this phone is the best I’ve ever tried. The main sensor captures rich and detailed photos. Low light photography is so good that you can snap a shot in near-total darkness and get a photo that looks like it was taken during the day.

Colors are accurate, the photo is sharp and detailed. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Zoom is particularly good, and it’s not just a parlor trick. If you snap a photo at 1x and zoom in digitally, you won’t be nowhere near the amount of detail that you can get with 2x, 4x, or 8x zoom. On the flip side, the photo quality is quite consistent up to 4x zoom, and even at 8x zoom (which lowers the photo resolution to 12 megapixels) the quality is pretty great. This means that you should use the zoom feature on this phone, and use it often.

Left: Incredibly sharp and detailed at 2x magnification. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: At 8x zoom, the photo is a little blurrier and the pixel count is lower. But it's still pretty amazing given how far I was from the subject. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

But perhaps the best thing about this camera system is how seamlessly it all ties together. Most new Android phones have all these capabilities (and more) on paper, but you’ll get mixed results from photo to photo. On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, most of the time you can just snap photos and not worry about time of day or the zoom level you’re using, it all ends up looking great.

This photo was taken right after sundown, but it looks a lot brighter than that. The blurriness in the details and some noise when zoomed in reveals that the sensor was scrambling to get more light. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The only slightly disappointing element of the rear camera is the ultra-wide sensor, despite the fact that it also has a 48-megapixel resolution. If you go wide, the image will flatten, you’ll lose focus and a considerable amount of detail. It’s still a decent ultra-wide photo, but you should use the main sensor whenever possible.

Left: At 1x, you can zoom in and read the sign on the building. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Right: At 0.5x, the ultra-wide image is a lot blurrier, and lots of details are lost. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Videos are equally great. Online, you’ll find videos showcasing the power of the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s camera by zooming in at musicians from far away until you almost get a decent first-row view. The fact that you can get a steady video like this the low-light environment of a concert is incredibly impressive. I've done a similar demonstration in daylight, going from max zoom to 1x magnification; check it out below.

Via Giphy

Selfies are pretty great, with Apple adding a new, very cool trick of being able to switch from portrait to landscape. Very useful when taking selfies of a group.

Look, a landscape selfie! Pity I have no friends to take selfies with :(. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max: Battery life

Battery life was hard to test because it lasted way longer than I expected. In my first couple of days of usage, I kept forgetting about charging, simply because the phone always had enough battery life left. Then I started logging the data, and the phone regularly had about 50% charge after a full day’s use.

Coming up from iPhone 16e, which already has excellent battery life, this is a big improvement. It’s a phone that I can forget to charge twice and still have some juice left on the third day. In fact, I don’t think I need more battery life than what the iPhone 17 Pro Max offers. Sure, more is always better, but this is finally a phone that will last you through that three-leg, two-continent flight you take once in a lifetime.

It also charges fast. Apple says you can get a 50% charge in about 20 minutes with a fast charger. I’ve charged it using my MacBook’s charger and got from 10 to 60% in 25 minutes.

Is the Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max worth it? The new iPhone 17 Pro Max is great, but it's big and heavy. Perhaps the smaller Pro model is a better choice for most people. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The 17 Pro Max is the best iPhone, period. It has a large, beautiful display, excellent cameras, and long battery life. If you can afford it, buy it.

The only potential drawbacks worth considering are the size and the weight. It’s a big, heavy phone, and if you slap on a case (which, again, you probably should), it’s going to be even heavier. The iPhone 17 Pro has almost exactly the same specs, but it’s smaller and lighter, making it a better fit for some people. As for the iPhone Air, it’s the slimmest, nicest-looking, sexiest phone in the new lineup, but its camera system is leagues behind the one on the Pro models.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max $1,199.99 at T-Mobile
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If your daily drive feels a little too routine, this gadget might be the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. The Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Wireless Adapter takes your in-car experience to the next level. No wires, no fuss — just smooth connections and built-in entertainment options to keep you (and your passengers) happy.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

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TL;DR: Enterprise-grade privacy and ad blocking that fits in your pocket — the Deeper Connect Mini is on sale now for $159.97 (reg. $219) during StackSocial’s Deal Days savings event.

When most people think about enterprise-level cybersecurity, they imagine bulky equipment, complicated installs, and maybe even monthly subscription fees. The Deeper Connect Mini throws all that out the window. You can grab it now for $159.97 (reg. $219) during StackSocial’s Deal Days event, which runs through October 12.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

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