IT General
Its only October and Best Buy is already beating 2024s Black Friday prices — get a 50-inch 4K TV for $129.99
SAVE $120: As of Oct. 28, the 50-inch Pioneer 4K Xumo TV is on sale for $129.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual $249.99. That's almost 50% off.
Opens in a new window Credit: Pioneer Pioneer 50-inch 4K Xumo TV $129.99 at Best Buy$249.99 Save $120 Get Deal
We've been clocking late October as one of the best times of year to find a TV on sale for a while now — the lead up to Black Friday is no joke. Best Buy's Deal of the Day on Oct. 28 is one of the best examples so far this year: A 50-inch 4K TV from Pioneer is on sale for $129.99, slashing nearly 50% off its $249.99 MSRP.
For reference, $129.99 was the sale price of the smaller 43-inch version of this same exact TV during Best Buy's Black Friday sale last year. And the cheapest 50-inch TV we saw during October Prime Day at Amazon was $189.99. If you've been waiting in the wings for a good budget-friendly TV deal this year, this is the one to make a move on.
SEE ALSO: What's new to streaming this week? (Oct. 24, 2025)No one's expecting a cheap 4K TV to match the brightness of QLED or the shadow depth of OLED. But nearly 2,000 customers who already bought this TV at Best Buy are impressed by its picture quality for the price.
With your purchase, you'll also unlock a free month of FuboTV if you're a new subscriber (clutch for watching live sports) and two free months of Apple TV+ for new and some returning subscribers (catch up on Severance or end horror season with a bang).
Google Is Readying a Big HTTPS Change for Chrome
Most of the web is now encrypted in transit with HTTPS, which has been a substantial improvement for privacy and security over regular HTTP websites. Now, Google Chrome is gearing up to take the next step: warning people when they try to visit non-secure websites.
Livestreams can be scary for advertisers. AI is on the case.
Livestreams can be unpredictable, which is part of the fun, right? Not so much for risk-averse brands considering sponsoring a livestream on Twitch, Kick, or YouTube. A new AI product launching today promises to relieve that advertiser anxiety by yanking ads when livestreams go off the rails.
LiveGuard, from streamer-centric NexTide Media, analyzes advertiser-flagged words, weighing context, language, topics, tone, and emotion. Using those clues, the AI decides whether the content is ok or objectionable and, if the latter, yanks the brand mentions from the stream.
"Brands can fully contextualize their guardrails, choosing to avoid or allow categories such as NSFW discussions, political content, profanity, or other sensitive topics, creating total control over where and how their campaigns appear,” according to a statement from NexTide.
SEE ALSO: This $20 tool lets you livestream your earwax removal in HDLiveGuard is pitched as novel since it operates live and in-stream, and can make decisions fast.
Minecraft streamer JeromeASF touted the patent-pending AI tool in a statement: "LiveGuard gives creators and advertisers the confidence to collaborate safely, protecting the live experience without limiting creativity.”
Focused on live media advertising, LiveGuard creator Nextide says its services have been utilized by State Farm, the NFL, and the BET Awards.
Livestreams have a long track record of going awry — there’s a whole Reddit page devoted to live fails. Even Elon Musk was burned by a livestream in August, when he "rage quit" after being continuously cyberbullied.
These Fantastic Smart Lights Are Available for 20% Off With Our Exclusive Code
Looking to deck out your home? Nanoleaf is offering great discounts on indoor and outdoor lighting, allowing you to create the perfect setup.
Get 30 days of free streaming on AMC+ with this special code
SAVE $9.99: As of Oct. 28, new and returning AMC+ subscribers can score a 30-day trial of AMC+ Premium (no ads) for free with the code AMC30FT4. That's a $9.99 value.
Opens in a new window Credit: AMC+ AMC+ Premium free 30-day trial with code AMC30FT4 (save $9.99) Get DealThe last thing any of us wants is to spend more money on streaming. Nearly every streamer has raised its prices over the past few months — Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, Peacock — which is why we recommend jumping on any streaming deal that pops up. While it may not be the most popular option around, AMC+ is running a deal that will cost you zero dollars. It doesn't get much better than that.
New and returning AMC+ subscribers can score a 30-day trial of AMC+ Premium (no ads) for free using the code AMC30FT4 at checkout. That saves you $9.99 and unlocks a massive streaming library for an entire month. If you recently cancelled your other subscriptions after the price hikes, this is a good way to satisfy your craving for new content without spending a cent.
You may know AMC as the home of The Walking Dead universe, but it has a lot more to offer than just your favorite post-apocalyptic zombies. It's also the home to shows like Mad Men, Portlandia, and Killing Eve, and movies like Late Night with the Devil (one of our favorite films of 2024), Clown in a Cornfield, and Good Boy (coming soon). The library also unlocks access to the entire Shudder, Sundance Now, BBC America, and IFC Films libraries, making it an excellent choice for horror freaks, British TV fans, and indie movie lovers alike.
As of now, AMC+ is pretty chill about password sharing, unlike most other streamers, meaning you can share your free month of streaming with your pals. It's really a no-brainer if you're seeking new content. Just remember to cancel your subscription before the month is up if you want to avoid charges.
Charge Everything at Your Desk With Anker’s 240W Smart Outlet, Now 40% Off
The Anker 8-in-1 Prime 240W Charging Station is available at a massive 40% discount right now. It is currently on sale for $90 on Amazon, down from its listed original price of $150. This is great for anyone needing to power a full workstation with ultra-fast 240W charging capability.
Why Do Some Open-Source Apps Get Multiple Updates Every Day?
Have you ever wondered why some open-source apps receive multiple updates throughout the day? There are a number of reasons, but it all comes down to a robust open source community.
Harness the power of the Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger while the bundle is $1,100 off at Amazon
SAVE 48%: The Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger is on sale at Amazon for $1,199, down from the normal bundle price of $2,299. That's a record-low price at Amazon.
Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger $1,199 at Amazon$2,299 Save $1,100 Get Deal
If you're into the camping scene, you already know everyone is buying portable power stations. They're perfect for taking on outdoor adventures to keep your essential tech charged up. Plenty have great recharging options but not all of them can recharge via your car's alternator. If you're looking for a way to charge up while on the road, check out this bundle deal at Amazon.
As of Oct. 28, the Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger is on sale for $1,199 at Amazon, marked down from the standard bundle price of $2,299. That's a record-low price with a 48% discount that shaves a major $1,100 off the price.
On its own, the Bluetti AC200PL offers 2,304Wh of capacity with a max output of 3,600W that puts it in line as a great option for both RV trips and home backup during outages. The TT-30 port option means this model is RV-friendly. Plus, it has major expansion ability. Should you want more power, the Bluetti AC200PL can connect with Bluetti batteries for a maximum of 8,448Wh.
SEE ALSO: The newly-launched Anker Solix C2000 Gen 2 portable power station is already $700 off at AmazonToday's bundle deal also includes the Bluetti Charger 1 alternator charger. This gives you the ability to charge via your car's alternator, delivering a maximum of 560W of power. The brand mentions this is six times faster than using the standard cigarette lighter in the car to recharge. The necessary DC input cable also comes with the Charger 1, so you'll be ready to roll. Bluetti says the Charger 1 can get a 1,000Wh portable power station back to 100 percent in 2.5 hours.
If your fall or winter plans involve taking off on a road trip in the RV or van, jump on this bundle deal to get the Bluetti AC200PL portable power station with the Charge 1 alternator charger while it's on sale for $1,199. Keep in mind this is an Amazon lightning deal which means it could sell out quickly.
Samsung Might Backtrack On The Z Fold 7's Only Bad Change
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched two months ago, and yet, for all the improvements it's packing, it's also lacking a key thing: S Pen support. Now, though, its successor might pack a notable improvement in this aspect.
New Google Messages Feature Might Save Deleted Texts and Chats
Have you ever accidentally deleted a text message, or even worse, an entire conversation, and wished you could retrieve it from the trash? Apparently, Google Messages could be getting exactly that, as we see signs of a trash folder that'll store messages or chats for a set amount of time.
The fall version of Wayfairs massive Way Day sale is live — shop deals on furniture, rugs, holiday decor, more
Leave it to Wayfair's biggest sale of the year to get me in the holiday spirit when I'm strictly trying to milk the last few days of spooky season. But Christmas trees and whimsical outdoor decor are hardly the only home deals participating in Way Day.
Yes, Way Day is back — it kicked off on Oct. 26 and runs through Oct. 29. Kind of like Wayfair's version of Prime Day, the mega home retailer typically one of these sales in the spring and one in the fall. The first one of 2025 was in April, but the fall version's timing just hits differently. You could buy a better mattress to smooth your transition away from daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 2, refresh your kitchen or dining room ahead of hosting guests, try a machine washable rug before paying Ruggable prices, or actually snag holiday decor on sale before the holidays — not at the after-Christmas sales.
SEE ALSO: We found all of the stores with the best Halloween clearance sales so farWhatever you're eyeing, it'll be nice to get some of those big deliveries out of the way before Black Friday. Here's a broader look at the biggest deals categories this fall Way Day:
Oh yeah, and enjoy free shipping on just about everything.
Kensington's Legendary Trackball Mouse Just Got an Insane Upgrade
Kensington just revealed the Expert Trackball Mouse TB800, a redesigned and upgraded version of the legendary Expert Trackball Mouse K72359WW. Available later this year (so, in like a month or two), the TB800 features a slimmer design than its predecessor, plus a wealth of new buttons and scroll wheels.
5 Useful Milwaukee Tools You Can't Get From Ryobi
Most homeowners have a power tool or two, and there's a good chance it's made by Milwaukee, Ryobi, Kobalt, or some other company. While many of these brands typically offer the same tools, like drills and impact wrenches, each has a few unique or specialty tools you probably don't know about.
Snag the EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 for $500 off and get a freebie at Amazon
SAVE $500 + FREE ITEM: As of Oct. 28, the EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 is on sale for $3,599, down from $4,099, at Amazon. That's a 12% discount. Plus, get a free portable solar panel or portable power station with purchase.
Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 $3,599 at Amazon$4,099 Save $500 Get Deal
If you find yourself needing to charge your phone or other devices often, a small portable power station is ideal. But if you need to handle more long-term power outages or even go off-grid for a while, you need something decidedly more beefy. That means splurging on a backup power system that can handle just about any of your electricity needs. And you can get one for a great price right now at Amazon.
As of Oct. 28, the EF EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 is on sale for $3,599, down from $4,099, at Amazon. That's a 12% discount and $500 off. Plus, get a free portable solar panel or portable power station with purchase.
SEE ALSO: The 5 best portable power stations to stay charged up at home and on the goThe Delta Pro 3, which offers 4kWh of power and an extra 4kWh battery, gives you 8kWh of capacity in all, which means you've got plenty of electricity to keep you going. Power up your devices, run small appliances and even heaters to keep you warm if you're in an emergency. You've got enough power to keep you ready to go for any situation, with 4000W output and 120V and 240V options, which can get you through some hairy situations if needed.
In addition to this beefy battery-powered backup, you also get a free item with purchase, including a solar-powered battery or another smaller power station. All you need to do is add a qualifying item to your cart and go from there. Your discount will automatically be applied at checkout.
Winter is an especially bad time to run out of electricity. So make sure you're prepared with this power station.
Jellyfin’s Android TV Update Has a Big Upgrade for Music
Jellyfin for Android TV has officially released its latest update, version v0.19.0, and it brings some fantastic changes, especially if you're a music lover. This time around, the music player finally lets you fast forward, rewind, or manually seek through your playing tunes.
Your Original Google Pixel Watch is Getting Its Last Update
Are you the proud owner of an original Google Pixel Watch? If so, we have some good and bad news. After rolling out the October 2025 update to the Pixel Watch 2 and Watch 3 earlier this month, Google is finally embracing its original model. Unfortunately, this is likely the last update your watch will get.
Samsung Showed Off Its Elusive Tri-Fold Hardware
Samsung's foldable lineup is getting a new member. Eventually. At some point. Samsung's tri-fold hardware has been so elusive you'd be forgiven for thinking of it as vaporwave despite the rumor mill and Samsung itself confirming it's coming. Now, it has been officially teased, though we still don't know much about it.
You Might Actually Use Pro Mode With This Galaxy Camera Update
Samsung Galaxy phones have some of the best cameras on the market, and if you know what you’re doing, Pro Mode can take your photos to the next level. However, that’s the problem—not everyone knows what they’re doing. The controls are not exactly user-friendly, and Samsung is working on something that could make it better.
Reputation is the new dating currency when everyones keeping receipts
If you’ve spent more than five minutes in modern dating, you’ve probably heard whispers about the Are We Dating The Same Guy? Facebook groups. Open only to women who must pass vetting checks to be admitted, they are designed to share information about men they’re dating. Now, new platforms like The Tea — an app where women can anonymously post and search reviews of men, verify identities with photo checks, and even run background searches — are turning dating whisper networks into something slicker, more searchable, and more permanent.
The Tea has exploded in popularity, climbing to the very top of the Apple App Store charts and reportedly amassing more than four million users. But its rapid rise has been overshadowed by controversy, including two major security breaches and the recent news that the app has been removed by Apple from the App Store in all markets.
SEE ALSO: Are we dating the same guy? This Facebook group might know.These groups are pitched as a form of protection, where women can warn other women about toxic or dangerous behaviour, or used to post warnings about men they’re dating. Women upload pictures of men they’re seeing and ask: “Anyone else dating him?” The comments flood in, sometimes revealing patterns of cheating or even serious crimes. Other times, the complaints touch more on poor dating etiquette, such as “he never texts back.”
Scrolling on social media, it's not uncommon to see screenshots of dating app message exchanges or TikTokkers live-vlogging their love lives. Dating has moved out of the private realm, becoming more akin to a public trial.
I can't help but wonder: are these platforms making dating safer, or just making us all more suspicious?
So, let’s take it to court (figuratively, not literally).
The case forLalalaletmeexplain, a relationships educator who’s spent years on the frontline of dating discourse, says the groups were built out of necessity. “They were intended to be safe spaces built around sisterhood and solidarity. They exist to stop men from hurting women,” she explains. “And in many ways, that’s exactly what they are.”
She’s seen posts that uncovered men who were secretly engaged while dating multiple other women, men accused of sexual assault, even one man who was caught trying to meet up with a 15-year-old. “These groups have genuinely protected people,” she says. “They’ve saved women from fraud, from abuse, from men who could have seriously harmed them.”
The groups are tightly moderated. Entry requires vetting, rules forbid screenshots of anything you see in the group, and members who breach confidentiality are banned. That structure creates a sense of safety, particularly for women who have been through painful dating experiences. It also fosters community. “You’ll see women giving each other incredible advice,” says Lalala. “They can remind women who feel unworthy for being single that actually, there’s nothing wrong with them. Sometimes these groups even make women feel happier to be single.”
SEE ALSO: 'Are We Dating the Same Guy?' Facebook group lawsuit dismissedAnd at their simplest, they save time. Instead of spending months figuring out if someone’s trustworthy, you can post a picture of a man and find out in hours if six other women are also dating him. In a world where dating often feels like a chore, that speed can be reassuring.
Men’s dating coach David Chambers sees that appeal. “We’ve lost the sense of close-knit community where you could vet people,” he says. “In the past you’d meet through friends, work, or at church. Someone could vouch for them. That’s mostly gone now. Everyone’s a stranger.” From his perspective, the justification behind these groups — protecting women — is completely valid. “Poor behaviour by men is a big part of why these groups exist. Anything that’s a good idea will be open to misuse as it grows, but for the most part, they serve a purpose.”
The case againstBut noble intent doesn’t mean no collateral damage.
These groups aren’t moderated by trained professionals. A man might be labelled a “red flag” because he took too long to reply to a text or didn’t want a second date. Lalala says she’s seen “awful advice” and “unhinged questions” get posted. “People aren’t always consistent. Should this really be about minor quirks, or about serious red flags?” Lalala adds: “One woman’s long-term ex was posted with comments about him being patronising. That wasn’t her truth. But it became the narrative.”
She’s also noticed racist and fetishising language, homophobia, and misogyny in some groups. “I’ve seen Black men discussed in really objectifying ways,” she says. And while the goal is safety, sometimes the effect is the opposite.
Featured Video For You How to Avoid Online Dating ScamsPosts are subjective by design. They rely on the feelings and interpretations of the woman posting them, and people can be messy, emotional, or vengeful. “I’ve seen men falsely accused of being married, or of serious crimes,” says Lalala. Conflating poor dating etiquette with abusive behaviour could prove devastating when reputations are at stake. Media lawyer Mark Stephens says, “If someone is identifiable, posts could be defamatory. I’ve seen wealthy men use libel laws to silence allegations, even when they may be true. But for ordinary people, defending yourself is expensive. If false claims spread, the damage is done before you can fight back.”
Even if a man does consider suing for libel, invasion of privacy or harassment, it’s rarely worth the cost. “The law is a blunt instrument,” says Stephens. “It’s often better to tackle these things interpersonally. But that’s not easy when the accusations are public.”
Chambers points out that people post about behaviour like ghosting or poor communication without context. “Maybe that person was going through something. Maybe they were actually a good communicator who didn’t meet that individual’s expectations. It doesn’t account for people changing or growing. We want to outsource our judgment because we don’t trust our own. But judging character is something we need to learn to do ourselves.”
He warns these spaces can even encourage paranoia. “People who are more anxious can lack trust in their own decisions, often because they’ve been hurt. They seek out others’ opinions, but that can make dating feel more unsafe than it really is.”
So while the groups aim to protect women, they can also breed fear, misinformation, and mistrust.
Expert testimonySo what’s the path forward?
Stephens believes we need clearer lines between criminal behaviour and what he calls “moral opprobrium” — essentially, publicly shaming people for being a bad date. “There’s a big difference between criminality, where there’s public interest in disclosure, and just bad behaviour. The impact of conflating the two is disproportionate.”
Chambers agrees. “If I were dating, I wouldn’t be worried about being posted, I believe I behave with integrity,” he says. “But I could still be misrepresented. These platforms don’t account for growth or context. They villanise people in the worst version of someone else’s story.”
Even Lalala, who sees their value, thinks there need to be stronger guardrails. “If this is about sharing information about men, then the women contributing need to be vetted too. And it should be about serious red flags — not just someone being a bit flaky.”
The verdictAs a man, it’s hard not to feel conflicted about all this.
I’ve behaved badly at times when I’ve dated. I’ve gone through periods in my life when dating has felt overwhelming and I’ve decided to take a step back, without communicating well. If I’d been posted in one of these groups back then, it might have looked damning. But it wouldn’t have been the full story. People are complicated. We make mistakes.
I’ve heard stories of women disclosing medical details on these groups, outing the fact the person they’re dating has an STI like Chlamydia, the sharing of which is deeply unethical.
SEE ALSO: Cuffing season here! Best dating apps for serious relationshipsAnd yet, I can’t ignore that these groups exist because men cause real harm. Men can (and do) cheat, lie, assault, and manipulate. Women deserve to protect themselves from that.
What worries me is what happens next. When reputations are on trial in real time, judged by a jury of strangers, subjectivity gets treated as fact. Trust between men and women feels like it’s already incredibly fragile, and the presence of these groups is only ever going to create more of a disconnect.
We should be creating systems to protect people from genuine harm, not platforms that invite us to treat every ex or bad experience as evidence. Dating will always carry risk, but if every misstep becomes a public trial in the court of public opinion, we move from accountability into paranoia — and ultimately that means men and women will pull back from dating altogether.
ChatGPT gets payment wallet in Paypal deal
OpenAI's ChatGPT will soon have a digital wallet built into it, courtesy of Paypal.
CNBC exclusively reported the news on Tuesday, noting that people will be able to purchase goods, and companies will be able to sell on the AI platform.
"We've got hundreds of millions of loyal PayPal wallet holders who now will be able to click the 'Buy with PayPal button' on ChatGPT and have a safe and secure checkout experience,” PayPal CEO Alex Chriss told CNBC.
SEE ALSO: OpenAI just launched its own AI browser. Here's how to try ChatGPT Atlas.There has been lots of recent news for OpenAI and ChatGPT. The company last week debuted its own AI browser, ChatGPT Atlas. The idea is that ChatGPT's memory of your interactions and the chatbot's capabilities are included in the browser. There are also concerns, naturally, about the accuracy of results, considering AI tools have a tendency to to spit out confidently incorrect information.
It seems like not that long ago chatbots were just an interesting curiosity. But now they're attempting to become the primary tool for navigating the web and building out the ability to drain your cash at the click of a button.
Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.


