Technology

Best Prime Day kitchen deals Best small appliance deal Ninja Crispi $159.94 (save $20.05) Get Deal Best kitchen tool deal Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven $311.69 (save $123.36) Get Deal Best coffee maker deal Keurig K-Mini Single Serve $47.49 (save $52.50) Get Deal

Amazon’s gifting us with its second Prime Day event of the year, officially dubbed “Prime Big Deal Days,” and true to form, we’re seeing tons of deals across just about every category, including some hefty price cuts on kitchen essentials from top brands like Ninja, Le Creuset, and Keurig.

SEE ALSO: In true air fryer fashion, early October Prime Day deals on air fryers have heated up quickly

We did some early deal hunting, but now that the sale is live, the savings on kitchen appliances and gear has exploded. We've spotted hundreds of dollars in savings on top brands including Breville, Keurig, and Our Place.

Prime Big Deal Days runs until Oct. 8, but these deals are still nothing to sneeze at, as they could disappear depending on stock availability.

Here are the best Prime Big Deal Days savings on kitchenwares.

Best small appliance deal Ninja Crispi $159.94 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $20.05 Get Deal Why we like it

The Ninja Crispi is finally on sale. We’ve been watching the price of this little air fryer since its release last September, and Amazon’s been stingy with discounts. But right now, you can get it for $159.94, the lowest price we’ve tracked so far.

The Ninja Crispi is one of Mashable’s favorite small kitchen appliances. Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino says its compact size makes it ideal for on-the-go meals or prepping smaller portions for the week. “Plus, it actually works,” she writes as it delivers crispy on the outside, moist on the inside meals.

Best kitchen tool deal Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven $351.67 at Amazon
$434.95 Save $83.28 Get Deal Why we like it

Soup season is basically here (it’s October, so I feel comfortable making that statement), and what better way to embrace it than with a discounted Le Creuset Dutch oven? Right now, you can get the iconic Le Creuset 5.5-quart Dutch oven for $318.24. (Note: the price does change depending on the color you choose.) While this isn’t the lowest price we’ve seen (it was around $239 back in 2022), it is the lowest price it’s been in a while.

This particular model is ideal for slow-cooking stews, braising meats, or baking artisan breads, thanks to its tight-fitting lid and heat and moisture retention. It’s also dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is just as easy.

Best coffee maker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Mini Single Serve $47.49 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $52.50 Get Deal Why we like it

If you need a new single-serve coffee maker, but you’re not willing to shell out a ton of cash, the Keurig K-Mini Single Serve is a budget-friendly option that’ll get the job done without compromising on convenience or quality. Its compact design is perfect for smaller kitchens, dorm rooms, or office spaces, and it can brew six to 12-ounce servings in seconds with the touch of a button. And right now, you can get it for the super-low price of $64.98.

More Kitchen deals

Air fryer and toaster deals

• Ninja Air Fryer 4-in-1 Pro — $89.99 $129.99 (save $40)

• Our Place Wonder Oven — $155 $175 (save $20)

• Ninja XL Air Fryer & Toaster Oven — $199.99 $349.99 (save $150)

• Balmuda Toaster — $244.30 $349 (save $104.70)

Blender and food processor deals

• Magic Bullet Blender — $40.99 $49.99 (save $9)

• Nutribullet Personal Blender — $47.49 $71.99 (save $24.50)

• Ninja Blender & Food Processor Combo — $149.99 $259.99 (save $110)

• Vitamix 5200 Blender — $349.95 $469.99 (save $120.04)

Beverage, coffee, and tea deals

• Chefman Electric Kettle — $21.99 $27.99 (save $6)

• Ninja Thirsti Drink System — $99.99 $179.99 (save $80)

• Nespresso Vertuo Plus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Maker — $129 $199 (save $70)

• Fellow Corvo EKG Pro Electric Tea Kettle — $143.95 $179.95 (save $36)

• Fellow Gen 2 Ode Brew Grinder — $319.95 $399.95 (save $80)

• Breville Bambino Plus Espresso Machine — $399.95 $499.95 (save $100)

• Ninja Luxe Cafe Premier Espresso Machine — $499.99 $599.99 (save $100)

• Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine — $549.95 $699.95 (save $150)

• Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine — $799.95 $999.95 (save $200)

Cookware deals

• Lodge 6-QT Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven — $77.99 $99.90 (save $21.91)

• Our Place Always Pan — $99 $125 (save $26)

• Our Place Perfect Pot — $109 $140 (save $31)

• HexClad Nonstick 12-inch Frying Pan — $139 $199 (save $60)

• All-Clad HA1 Nonstick Fry Pan 3-Piece Set — $159.99 $199.99 (save $40)

• HexClad Hybrid Nonstick 5.5-QT Deep Sauté Pan — $167 $209 (save $42)

• Made In Cookware 5-QT Saucier Pan — $169.15 $199 (save $29.85)

• HexClad Hybrid Nonstick 6-Piece Pot Set — $303 $379 (save $76)

• KitchenAid 7-QT Bowl Lift Stand Mixer — $549.95 $649.99 (save $100.04)

Drinkware deals

• Owala FreeSip Twist — $22.49 $29.99 (save $7.50)

• Stanley Quencher H2.0 — $25.64 $45 (save $19.36)

• Yeti Rambler — $31.50 $45 (save $13.50)

Ice cream deals

• Ninja Creami — $179.99 $219.99 (save $40)

• Ninja Slushi — $299.99 $369.99 (save $70)

Kitchen tool deals

• KitchenAid Ribbed Soft Silicone Pot Holders — $10.48 $20.99 (save $10.51)

• KitchenAid Ribbed Soft Silicone Oven Mitts — $12.81 $15.99 (save $3.18)

Rice cooker and slow cooker deals

• Crock-Pot 7-QT Manual Slow Cooker (SCV700-S-BR) — $35.99 $59.99 (save $24)

• Zojirushi Micom Rice Cooker — $121.99 $169.95 (save $47.96)

• Our Place Dream Cooker — $165 $199 (save $34)

Picking up with a recast Geralt of Rivia like nothing ever happened, The Witcher is back with a trailer for Season 4 promising more monsters, sword fights, and that silver wig doing a whole lot of work.

With Liam Hemsworth taking over for Henry Cavill as the titular witcher and swearing loudly to mark the moment in the trailer, the fourth series of Netflix's adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski's books will concentrate on Ciri's (Freya Allan) journey to further harness her epic power in the face of war. Everyone's separated on the Continent, battles are brewing, and Geralt looks and sounds different.

Notably, from the looks of the trailer, our violet-favouring sorcerer Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) also has plenty of magical throwdowns ahead of her, and there's nothing I love more than Yennefer of Vengerberg sorting the wheat from the chaff with supernatural finesse. Let's go, Yen.

The Witcher Season 4 hits Netflix Oct. 30.

Esteemed British actor Stephen Graham is finally seeing the stardom he has long deserved. The chameleon of talent recently won his first Primetime Emmy for his role in the hit Netflix psycho-drama series Adolescence. Weeks prior to its release, Graham snatched viewers’ attention with his powerhouse portrayal of 19th-century boxer Sugar Goodson in Hulu’s A Thousand Blows.

Apple has a new iOS beta build out now, and you can download it for your perusal.

The developer beta for iOS 26.1 is available now, bringing with it a handful of smaller changes that certainly don't stack up to the introduction of Liquid Glass or anything like that. Still, it's a new iOS beta, which means it's interesting to plenty of folks. Here's what it entails and how to download it.

SEE ALSO: iOS 26: How to turn off Liquid Glass How to download the iOS 26.1 beta

The latest beta build for iOS 26.1 is currently only available for developers, but that doesn't mean you're locked out of trying it. Apple has a free tier of its developer program that you can enroll in to try new beta builds. You can register for it without dropping any kind of payments on Apple's website. Once you've done that, go to the Apple developer website and log in, then enroll your device in the beta program.

From there, make a device backup and then follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates

2. Choose the iOS 26 Developer Beta

3. Go to the previous screen and select Download and Install

After that, you should be good to go. Just sit back and wait for it to install.

What's new in the iOS 26.1 beta

Per 9to5Mac, this is a small beta update that mostly brings minor changes to the iOS 26 ecosystem.

For instance, the Phone app's number pad now uses a Liquid Glass design, while the video scrubber in the Photos app has a new background. The Music app can also switch between songs by swiping left or right on the Now Playing bar.

Beyond that, there have been some added languages for Apple Intelligence. Several new languages can now interface with Apple's AI features, including Chinese, Danish, Norwegian, and Vietnamese. Live translation via AirPods has also gotten support for five new languages, listed below:

• Chinese (Mandarin, simplified)

• Chinese (Mandarin, traditional)

• Korean

• Japanese

• Italian

As I said, it's not a huge update; Apple already got that out of the way a few weeks ago. But there's still some stuff to chew on, so go and get to chewing.

SAVE $400: Peloton's original bike is nearly 30% off for Amazon's October Prime Day. You can get it for $1,045, down from its list price of $1,445.

Opens in a new window Credit: Peloton Peloton original bike $1,045 at Amazon
$1,445 Save $400 Get Deal

Like seemingly everyone else, my now-wife and I purchased a Peloton bike during 2020's COVID lockdown. Unlike everyone else, it has remained a staple of our daily lives and not become a clothes-hanger.

My wife, especially, has become a diehard — all told, we've done hundreds upon hundreds of workouts on the bike in more than five years. It has held up remarkably well — in fact, we've had zero issues — and I can't recommend the bike enough.

Good news: The original bike — the one we own — is steeply discounted for Amazon's October Prime Day. It's priced at $1,045, down from its current list price of $1,445, and way lower than its former price tag that was well over $2,000.

Peloton recently debuted a new cross-training bike with AI-aided coaching features, among other new products. It tracks, then, that its oldest model would be steeply discounted.

But the original Peloton bike remains a really good piece of equipment. I actually prefer some of its features, like the vise-esque adjustment handles that are sturdier than knobs and are often more capable of making small changes to your seat or handlebar positioning. Our review of the bike in 2020 was entirely positive, except for the price, which is now heavily discounted.

If you've been considering becoming a Peloton person, now might just be the best (and cheapest) time.

SAVE $120: As of Oct. 7, day one of the Prime Big Deal Days shopping event, the Samsung Galaxy Ring dropped to just $279.99 at Amazon. That's 30% off its list price and a new best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Ring $279.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $120 Get Deal

Happy Prime Big Deal Days, aka October Prime Day or Prime Day 2, to all who celebrate. We're pleased to see a ton of record-low prices popping up during this fall shopping event. One we're particularly excited about is the Samsung Galaxy Ring. The Korea-based tech giant's sleek wearable rarely sees big discounts. And even when it does, the price drop is typically only on select color or size options.

For October Prime Day, however, Amazon has dropped the price of the Samsung Galaxy Ring in every size and color (black, silver, gold) to $279.99. That's 30% off its list price and a new best price ever across the board.

While the Oura Ring 4 has earned the title of Mashable's favorite smart ring, the Galaxy Ring still holds a special place in our hearts. Mashable's reviewer Kim Gedeon gave it a near-perfect rating and even said she'd choose it over her Apple Watch for its less obtrusive design and a battery life that knocks it out of the park. Other standout features include a comfortable, durable, and gorgeous design, creepily accurate health tracking and monitoring, and zero subscription fees (unlike the Oura Ring).

Even at full cost, we love the Galaxy Ring. For $120 off, we wholeheartedly recommend it for Android users.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Notepad++ just dropped version 8.8.6, and now you can finally paste multiple lines of text directly into the Find and Replace fields. You no longer have to rely on workarounds or plugins for multi-line text manipulation, among other fixes.

When you buy service from an internet provider, they usually give you a router to go along with it. You might be inclined to use this router instead of going out to buy your own, but trust me: there are many reasons to ignore that ISP router.

Mozilla's Firefox is one of the few non-Chromium browsers that exist these days, and it remains one of the most solid browser options out there. But that doesn't mean that it's not allowed to take a page or two from Chrome every so often. Now, it has just got a pretty useful Google feature that you might like.

My first MX Master mouse was the second-generation model, and that transformed my struggle with wrist pain as someone who (like many of you) has to work in front of a computer all day. When my first MX Master mouse wore out, I upgraded to the MX Master 3S, and my wrist pain has never returned.

The best October Prime Day fitness tracker deals at a glance: Best Samsung deal Samsung Galaxy Ring $279.99 (save $120) Get Deal Best Google deal Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) $170.99 (save $79) Get Deal Best Apple deal Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) $329 (save $170) Get Deal Best Fitbit deal Fitbit Versa 4 $132.95 (save $67) Get Deal

Amazon's Prime Day has quickly become one of the biggest retail events of the year. So much so that there are two a year. October's Prime Big Deal Days event just kicked off, and the deals are dealing. You can find Prime Day deal stamps across TVs, earbuds, and even high-end fitness trackers, including Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit. So if you need a new watch to track your 5K or monitor your sleep, we've rounded up some of Amazon's best deals on fitness trackers.

There are a few big names missing — Whoop and Oura — so if you're looking for those brands, we'd hold off on buying until Black Friday. Garmin deals are also lacking this time around. However, if an Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch or Ring, or Fitbit is on your shopping list, there are some record-low prices ready to add to your cart.

Below, we're tracking all the best fitness tracker deals at Amazon. All-time low prices are marked with a 🔥.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Best fitness tracker deal Opens in a new window Credit: Google Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, WiFi) 🔥 $170.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $79 Get Deal Why we like it

Google's Pixel Watch 4 will make its debut in the coming days, so it only makes sense that the third-generation watch hit a new record-low for Prime Big Deal Days. It's not our favorite smartwatch fitness tracker around, but we're willing to look past any flaws at this ultra-low price. While the Pixel Watch 3 doesn't have any major hardware additions compared to its predecessor, Google did go all out with improving workout features and making them more personalized with AI advancements. It also has a brighter and better display with better clarity in different lighting conditions. If having the latest and greatest fitness tracker doesn't matter to you, this deal is a diamond in the rough.

Best smart ring deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Ring 🔥 $279.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $120 Get Deal Why we like it

While the Oura Ring 4 surpassed the Galaxy Ring as our favorite smart ring, the Samsung wearable is still a beast. Mashable's reviewer Kim Gedeon gave it a near-perfect rating and claimed it's "so good, it has made me consider the unthinkable: dropping my beloved Apple Watch Series 9 for the Korea-based tech giant's new wearable." Standout features include a six-day battery life, a comfortable and durable design (water resistance!), impressive health tracking and monitoring, and zero subscription fees. Even at full cost, we think it's a worthy purchase for Android users. At only $279.99 — its lowest price on record — it's a steal. That beats its July Prime Day price by $20 for a total savings of $120.

Read our full review of the Samsung Galaxy Ring.

Apple

For a more detailed list, check out our roundup of the best October Prime Day Apple Watch deals.

• Apple Watch SE, 2nd Gen (GPS, 40mm) — $169.99 $249 (save $79.01)

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

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm) — $279 $399 (save $120) 🔥

• Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + cellular, 42mm) — $329 $499 (save $170) 🔥

• Apple Watch Ultra 2 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) — $649 $799 (save $150) 🔥

Garmin

• Garmin Venu Sq 2 — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100) 🔥

• Garmin vívoactive 5 — $226 $299.99 (save $73.99)

• Garmin epix Pro (Gen 2) Sapphire Edition — $748 $1,099.99 (save $351.99)

• Garmin fēnix 7X Pro — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

Google and Fitbit

• Fitbit Inspire 3 — $79.95 $99.95 (save $20)

• Fitbit Charge 6 — $109.95 $159.95 (save $50)

• Fitbit Ace LTE — $113.95 $179.95 (save $66) 🔥

• Fitbit Versa 4 — $132.95 $199.95 (save $67)

• Fitbit Sense 2 — $199.95 $249.95 (save $50)

• Google Pixel Watch 3 (41mm, LTE) — $249.99 $349.99 (save $100) 🔥

• Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm, LTE) — $284.99 $399.99 (save $115) 🔥

Nothing

• Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro — $79 $99 (save $20) 🔥

Samsung

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (40mm, Bluetooth) — $149.99 $249.99 (save $100) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 (44m, Bluetooth) — $189.99 $279.99 (save $90) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, Bluetooth) — $314.98 $349.99 (save $35.01) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, Bluetooth) — $344.98 $379.99 (save $35.01) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, LTE) — $364.98 $399.99 (save $35.01) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (44mm, LTE) — $394.98 $429.99 (save $35.01) 🔥

• Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (47mm, LTE) — $549.99 $649.99 (save $100) 🔥

California just signed a new law, Senate Bill 576. This is going to force streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video to stop blasting loud, jarring commercials that are way louder than the shows you're actually watching.

Whether you want to focus on a particular part of a picture, remove distracting detail from the edges of a graphic, or reshape an image to fit a specific layout, the Crop tool in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is a useful and versatile feature. Here's how to use it.

Best October Prime Day headphone deals Best headphones deal overall Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones $298 (save $101.99) Get Deal Best Bose deal Bose QuietComfort Headphones 🔥 $199 (Save $160) Get Deal Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods Max $429 (Save $120) Get Deal Best budget ANC headphones JLab JBuds Lux ANC wireless headphones $46.54 (save $33.45) Get Deal Best Budget Headphones Deal Sony WH-CH520 Wireless Headphones 🔥 $38 (save $31.99) Get Deal

Amazon's October Prime Day (otherwise known as Prime Big Deal Days) is live. As expected, the two-day sale (running Oct. 7-8) has delivered a huge wave of discounts on some of the best headphones and earbuds from top brands like Bose, Sony, and Apple. The savings are plentiful. Bose has marked down their QuietComfort headphones by $160, while the Sony WH-1000XM4's reached $188, their lowest price ever.

Considering that new flagship headphones now cost $450 minimum, shopping events like Prime Big Deal Days and Black Friday are your best chance to grab the latest headphones at a good price.

SEE ALSO: The best October Prime Day tech deals, hand-picked by a tech editor

To help you narrow your search, we're rounding up only the best October Prime Day headphone deals. We’ll be updating this list throughout the entire 48-hour event as new deals drop and old ones sell out.

Note: Deals marked with a 🔥 denote an all-time low price.

Best headphones deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones $298 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal Why we like it

The Sony WH-1000XM5 noise-canceling headphones are a Mashable Choice award winner (with a near-perfect 4.7 out of 5 score) for a reason. They offer an incredible 30 hours of battery life, a quick-charge feature that gets you three hours of playback in just three minutes, and some of the best noise cancellation on the market. In fact, Mashable Deputy Editor Miller Kern found the noise cancellation so good, she ditched her AirPods Pro for them. "As someone who primarily listens to music through AirPods Pro, the noise cancellation on the Sony headphones is a game-changer," she said. "I found myself reaching for these headphones over my AirPods."

More October Prime Day headphones deals

• Sony WH-CH520 — $38 $69.99 (save $31.99) 🔥

• EarFun Wave Pro — $52.99 $79.99 (save $27)

• Soundcore Anker Life Q20 ANC Headphones — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25)

• Soundcore by Anker Space Q45 — $89.99 $149.99 (save $60) 🔥

• Sony WH-CH720N — $98 $179.99 (save $81.99) 🔥

• JBL Tune 770NC — $99.95 $149.95 (save $50)

• Marshall Major V — $99.99 $169.99 (save $70) 🔥

• JBL Live 770NC — $119.95 $199.95 (save $80)

• Sennheiser Accentum — $99.95 $189.95 (save $60)

• Beats Solo 4 — $129.95 $199.95 (save $70)

• Beats Studio Pro — $169.99 $199.95 (save $29.96)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 — $188 $349.99 (save $161.99) 🔥

• Bose QuietComfort — $199 $359 (save $160) 🔥

• Sennheiser Momentum 4 — $229.95 $449.95 (save $220)

• Sony WH-1000XM5 — $281 $399.99 (save $118.99)

• Sonos Ace — $298.99 $399 (save $100.01) 🔥

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra — $329 $429 (save $100) 🔥

• Sony WH-1000XM6 — $428 $449.99 (save $21.99) 🔥

• Apple AirPods Max — $429 $549 (save $120)

• Bowers & Wilkins Px8 — $479 $699 (save $220)

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Looking for wireless earbuds on sale? Check our our guide to the best Prime Day deals on earbuds.

When Gachiakuta's second cour premieres next week, fans will hear a familiar voice behind its fiery new opening, "LET’S JUST CRASH." It's performed by Mori Calliope, hololive English’s resident reaper, and, as she puts it, "a longtime Gachiakuta stan."

The VTuber's friendship with mangaka Kei Urana runs deep; the two have traded fan art and admiration for years (Urana even drew Calliope's current profile picture on X). So when Calliope got the call to make a song for her favorite manga turned anime, her first reaction was disbelief. "I thought it was a dream — or a joke," she laughs.

SEE ALSO: 'Gachiakuta' might be the most original shōnen anime in years

For Calliope, the song captures what she calls "hope in the gutter," or the rage and beauty coexisting in chaos, just like the world of Gachiakuta itself. "Even now, it still doesn’t totally feel real," she tells Mashable over a video call from what looks like the Underworld. "I’m just so thrilled to be involved in my favorite series of all time."

We caught up with Calliope to talk about turning fandom into collaboration, the chaos and catharsis of Gachiakuta, and how she hopes this moment opens more doors for virtual artists in anime and beyond.

Making music for anime has always been a dream of yours. How did it feel when you first found out you'd be performing the opening for Gachiakuta's second cour?

Oh man, honestly, it still doesn't feel real. When I first found out, I couldn’t believe it. It didn't fully sink in until I actually started working on the song. Part of me kept thinking, Maybe they’ll take it back. Maybe they’ll change their minds.

When my producer told me, "Mori, I’ve got some big news for you — we need to meet in person," I knew something huge was coming. She only does that when it's something major. So we met, and I kept trying to guess what it could be. In the back of my mind, I thought, Maybe it's Gachiakuta. Maybe they’re going to offer it to me.

And when she finally said it, I just froze. I didn't think it was real. It felt like a dream or even a joke at first. Even now, after finishing the song, it still doesn't totally feel real. I’m just so thrilled to be involved in my favorite series of all time. It's such an exciting feeling.

You've called Gachiakuta your favorite series ever. What first drew you into Kei Urana's world?

It’s definitely Urana's style. The way she draws is unlike any other manga artist I’ve ever seen. Everybody's got their own distinct style in the manga world, but hers is just so far removed and in the best way possible. I also feel a lot of Western influence in her art, which I really connect with.

I've always loved Western cartoons and Japanese media equally, and her art feels like the perfect blend of both. I used to draw a lot back in the day, and I also feel like I drew with a style that combined Western and Eastern sensibilities, too, so it really spoke to me.

But it's not just the visuals — I love the way she writes characters. She's amazing at writing characters. There are so many different personalities in Gachiakuta, all going through their own struggles, but doing it together. I can’t help but love every single one of them.

It's a trash world, but there's hope to be found, too. Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee Do you have a favorite Gachiakuta character?

A lot of my favorite characters are not in the anime yet, but I will go ahead and say my favorite who has come out in the anime so far is Amo. I’ve always been a huge Amo fan. I love everything about her. She might seem crazy on the surface, but there’s this softness inside her. Just like Rudo, she’s slowly becoming more human, learning what it means to connect with others. I love their dynamic — how they evolve side by side.

How did you approach translating Gachiakuta's gritty, metallic world into music?

Well, first and foremost, with Gachiakuta, since it’s my favorite series of all time, I really tried to take inspiration from every part of the world that I love. Not just the setting, but the characters too. For example, the rage that Rudo feels, and everything he’s going through in this world of trash and dystopia, but it's also so, so beautiful. There’s hope within all that ruin. I wanted to bring all of that together in a song that says, "No matter what kind of garbage situation we’re in, let’s make our dream come true. Let’s accomplish our goal."

The gritty world also influenced the sound design. I specifically asked my producer to include more metallic, gritty, "trash-core" sounds, something that really reflected Gachiakuta's atmosphere. I hope that comes through to the audience when they hear it.

You've described the song as capturing "hope in the gutter." What does that mean to you?

It's actually a lyric from the song. It's in Japanese, but it translates to "hope in the gutter." That line is at the heart of the song. It's about finding something bright even in the dirtiest, darkest places. There's anger and frustration in this world, but also hope. That mix is what makes Gachiakuta so powerful to me.

Rudo is the main character of "Gachiakuta." Credit: ©Kei Urana, Hideyoshi Andou and KODANSHA/ “GACHIAKUTA” Production Committee Was it harder or easier to write because you’re such a big fan?

Because I’m such a big fan, it was actually really hard, but also really fun. When I’m deeply invested in something, I take more time to make sure it’s perfect. I wanted the song to truly represent the story I love so much.

The first opening, "HUGs" by Paledusk, was just so good — I couldn't have asked for a better one. So when it came time for mine, I was like, "OK, how do I make something that feels just as fitting?" That pressure came from a place of love.

What kind of direction or emotions did you share with your producer?

First off, I made sure he’d read the manga, or at least some of it. That was really important to me. I wanted this song to be made by people who understood the story. Luckily, a friend of his had already introduced him to Gachiakuta, so he was familiar with it.

I gave him a big list of what I wanted: lots of gritty, "trash-core" sounds; something that leaned rock but not too metal; and room for me to shout and scream without going full-on guttural. I wanted that balance between rock and rap, something that hints at metal but still fits my voice. And he completely nailed it. He created exactly the kind of track I’d always dreamed of hearing for Gachiakuta.

Did you focus on catchiness at all, something that could get stuck in someone's head?

In my personal opinion, no, I didn’t really think about catchiness. I want to make songs that will be remembered forever, not just for a few months or a year. If I focus too much on making something catchy, I feel like I could get lost chasing trends instead of emotion.

That approach can totally work for other songs, and I think there’s real merit to it — but not for Gachiakuta. It just doesn’t fit what the story is about, or my own artistic sensibilities. There are plenty of trendy songs that I love to death, but this one needed to be something deeper, something that lasts.

Credit: Courtesy of Crunchyroll and Mori Calliope Anime openings often become cultural touchstones. What excites you about reaching Gachiakuta viewers who might be experiencing you for the first time?

Oh man, I’m super nervous. It’s totally unexplored territory for me. But I’m always happy to make new friends along the way — and to welcome more skeletons to the skeleton army. Come hang out anytime! We’re a really chill community. We love talking about music, just relaxing, and having fun on stream.

I also really love the Gachiakuta community. In fact, I have a secret Gachiakuta side account. I’ve mentioned it on stream before. It's where I retweet my favorite art, talk about new chapters, and interact with fans without them knowing it's me. It's kind of a double-life situation. But now that this song is coming out, I’m happy to say, "Hey, this is me, Mori Calliope — nice to meet you." If people discover me through Gachiakuta and decide to stick around, that makes me really happy.

You mentioned having that secret fan account. What do you enjoy about being able to experience fandom that way?

It’s so freeing. I can just fangirl over my favorite characters and relationships, retweet art, and get excited about every new chapter release without worrying about being "Mori Calliope." It’s nice to express myself completely and just be another fan in the crowd.

What does this kind of collaboration mean for your growth and evolution as an artist?

I'm just super grateful to even have the opportunity. Ever since my debut as a VTuber, I’ve wanted to make songs for anime. Before that, I was an underground artist — slowly climbing, little by little — so this feels like a huge full-circle moment.

It's funny because for a lot of artists, a tie-in like this feels like a stepping stone to bigger things. But for me, this song is the goal. This is the dream I've been chasing since the beginning. I don’t know what happens next, but I’m just enjoying this moment.

As one of the biggest English-speaking VTubers in music, what do you hope this project represents for virtual artists?

I'm definitely not the first VTuber to make a song for an anime, but in the English-speaking world, it's still pretty rare. I hope this helps more people see that virtual artists are completely viable for projects like this.

We're just like any other musicians. The only difference is how we look. We write, we perform, we create. In my case, I write all my own lyrics and even compose some of my songs. So my hope is that this opens more opportunities for virtual artists to collaborate on anime and games in the future.

VTubing has expanded into music, anime, live shows, and even fashion. What do you think is the next frontier for creators like you?

I feel like the sky’s the limit. Though it may take some time. I think, first, more anime and game projects for sure. That’s where my heart is, and that’s where I want to keep focusing my energy.

But I also think there's space for virtual artists to explore more mainstream directions too, and I'm cheering for anyone who wants to take that path. There’s room for all kinds of creativity in this space.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. So much of internet culture is personality-driven. What do you think keeps your fans invested in you beyond the music?

It's hard to talk about myself that way, but I think it's the gap. On stage, I have this confident, cool persona, the version of me that I want the world to see as an artist. But off stage, I’m honestly kind of awkward and clumsy. My fans know that from my streams.

Even though I get embarrassed sometimes, they seem to really love that side of me. They love teasing me, which…well, I’ve learned to accept. But I think that balance, showing strength and vulnerability, makes the connection more real. Nobody's perfect all the time, and I think people appreciate seeing both sides.

Have you seen the opening paired with the visuals yet?

No, not yet! At the time of this interview, I’ve only seen the PV [promo video]. They showed it to me to capture my real-time reaction, and honestly, I was kind of a mess afterwards. I don’t think I said anything coherent, but I was just so happy. I couldn’t stop smiling. I’m really, really excited to see the full opening animation when it’s finally revealed.

In a market filled with flashy badges and big personalities, one German crossover often flies under the radar, but it shouldn’t. It delivers the refinement, performance, and build quality you’d expect from a premium brand, all without the inflated price tag or maintenance headaches.

SAVE 36%: During the Prime Big Deal Days event, both the Sony WH-1000XM4 and Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Headphones are on sale at Amazon. The older XM4s are down to just $188, an all-time low price, while the XM5s are marked down to $298

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM4 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones $224 at Amazon
$348 Save $124 Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony WH-1000XM5 Noise Cancelling Wireless Headphones $298 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $101.99 Get Deal

From commuters to creators, Sony’s WH-1000XM4 remains one of the most beloved pairs of over-ear headphones on the planet — making this Amazon Prime Day deal all the sweeter. Right now, Amazon is selling the XM4 headphones to the all-time low price of $188, a huge discount. Just last week, we re-reviewed the XM4 headphones to ask if they're still worth buying in 2025, and we found they held up surprisingly well — and that was before they went on sale like this.

Despite newer generations like the XM5 and XM6 hitting shelves, the XM4 continues to hit a sweet spot of performance, comfort, and value amongst audiophiles. After all, its Dual Noise Sensor technology and HD Noise-Cancelling Processor QN1 combine to hush the chaos of coffee shops, offices, or even jet engines with remarkable precision.

But the XM4’s strength is all about smart sound as well as silence. With Speak-to-Chat and Adaptive Sound Control, the headphones automatically pause or adjust when you start a conversation or move between environments. What’s more, the five-mic Precise Voice Pickup system ensures clear calls, while multipoint Bluetooth lets you switch seamlessly between devices.

Whether you’re working, flying, or just blocking out the world, the Sony WH-1000XM4 remains an audiophile-approved legend, but now with a price tag worth tuning into before Prime Days turn the volume back up.

SEE ALSO: Some of Amazon's early Prime Day Apple deals are already add-to-cart worthy

And if you do have room in your budget, the XM5 headphones are also on sale for Prime Day. The previous-gen wireless headphones are currently $298, a much more reasonable price for most people than the XM6 headphone's $449 price tag. They have most of the same flagship features of the XM6 cans, but with much-improved active noise cancellation compared to the older XM4s.

No matter which model you choose, these over-ear cans have dominated Mashable's guide to the best headphones over the years. You really can't make a bad decision here. That said, we don't expect supplies of this older model to last forever, so shop accordingly.

Best Walmart deals Best tech deal Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C Curved Gaming Monitor $179 (Save $70) Get Deal Best kitchen deal Keurig K-Mini Plus $48 (Save $61) Get Deal Best home deal Shark Detect Clean & Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum System $94 (Save $285) Get Deal

When a new Prime Day sale gets announced, it's just a matter of time until other retailers get in on the savings. Walmart has officially kicked off a week of savings, conveniently running at the same time as Prime Big Deal Days, aka Amazon's October Prime Day, that runs Oct. 7 and 8.

Walmart doesn't have a flashy mouthful of a title to the sale like Prime Big Deal Days, and in all honesty, their sale is not nearly as expansive as Amazon. That being said, there are some real gems. Plus, unlike Prime Big Deal Days or Target's Circle Week, which require you to be a member of the brand's insider program to shop the deals, you don't need to be a Walmart+ member to shop.

Now that the sale has officially kicked off, we're digging in to find the best deals Walmart is running during its anti-Prime Day sale. Here's what we found.

Best tech deal Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C Curved Gaming Monitor $179 at Walmart
$249 Save $70 Get Deal Why we like it

The first wave of Walmart deals are slim pickings, but we found a gem with this Samsung gaming monitor. The curved gaming monitor spans 27 inches and with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms response, it provides ultra smooth displays. It features AMD FreeSync technology, to prevent image tearing and HDR10 supports a luminous background.

The Samsung 27-inch Odyssey G55C curved gaming monitor is down to $179 at Walmart, saving $70 off its $249 price tag. That saves you 28%, not to mention, it's about $20 cheaper than a similar model listed on Amazon.

More tech deals

• Apple MagSafe 1m Charger — $22 $39 (save $17)

• Beats Fit Pro — $149 $199.95 (save $50.95)

• Vizio 50-inch Class 4K UHD LED Smart TV —$214 $268 (save $54)

• Cricut Explore 3 Craft Cutting Machine — $229.99 $418.08 (save $188.09)

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $599 $649 (save $50)

• HP Victus, 15.6-inch (Intel Core i5-13420H, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $599 $1,049.99 (save $450.99)

Best kitchen deal Opens in a new window Credit: Keurig Keurig K-Mini Plus $48 at Walmart
$109 Save $61 Get Deal Why we like it

Amazon sets the bar on low prices, so we don't expect other retailers to necessarily beat theirs. However, we are pleased when Walmart matches Amazon's deals. Right now, the Keurig K-Mini Plus, a small but reliable coffee maker, is down to $48 at Walmart. That matches Amazon's price, which is the lowest price on this machine. That saves you $61 off of its usual $109 MSRP.

More kitchen deals

• Ninja Mini Air Fryer — $39 $69 (save $30)

• Ninja Portable Personal Blender — $39.88 $69.99 (save $30.11)

• Igloo 50 Quart Overland Ice Chest Cooler — $69 $89.99 (save $20.99)

• Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug — $90 $149.95 (save $59.95)

• Ninja Foodi 4-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer — $109 $151.30 (save $42.30)

• Ninja Foodi 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker — $119 $210 (save $91)

• Ninja Crispi 3-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer — $129 $149 (save $20)

• Ninja NeverStick Hard-Anodized 10-piece Cookware Set — $129 $189 (save $60)

• Frigidaire 7 Cubic Foot Chest Freezer — $178 $299 (save $121)

• Ninja 10-in-1 Air Fryer — $199 $299 (save $100)

• KitchenAid Deluxe Series 4.5 Quart Stand Mixer — $279 $399 (save $120)

• KitchenAid Classic Series 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Mixer — $299 $399 (save $100)

Best home deal Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Shark Detect Clean & Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum System $94 at Walmart
$379 Save $285 Get Deal Why we like it

Who said robot vacuums were the only ones with auto-emptying capabilities? The Shark Detect cordless vacuum, automatically empties the vacuum once it's docked, allowing it to charge and be ready for its next clean. Plus, right now it's received an insane discount of 75%. Grab this Shark cordless vacuum for just $94, saving $285 off its normal $379.

More home deals

• Better Homes & Gardens Cube Storage Office Desk — $48 $99 (save $51)

• Serta Task Office Chair — $79 $124.97 (save $45.97)

• Better Homes & Gardens Ezra Office Chair — $79 $149 (save $70)

• Mainstays 42-inch Round Modern Wood Dining Table — $88 $124.98 (save $36.98)

• Shark Detect Clean & Auto Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum System — $94 $379 (save $285)

• Imaginarium Kids Play Couch — $99 $199 (save $100)

• Shark StainStriker HairPro Portable Carpet Cleaner — $119 $159 (save $40)

• Mainstays Clear Dining Chair 2-Pack — $145 $178 (save $33)

• Beautiful Drew Counter-Height Stools — $218 $248 (save $30)

When is Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale?

Walmart's anti-Prime Day sale kicked off on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 12 AM ET. It will run for a full week, wrapping up on Oct. 12. That's much longer than Prime Big Deal Days which will run for just 48 hours on Oct. 7 and 8.

Walmart's sale actually started a bit earlier for Walmart+ members, who could start shopping the sale Oct. 6 at 7 PM ET.

Do you need to be a Walmart+ member to shop?

This time, you don't need to be a Walmart+ member to shop the seller's deals. The deals will be available to all shoppers on Oct. 7, however, members do get a head start. Walmart+ members can start shopping Walmart's deals on Oct. 6.

This sale is different from Walmart+ Week, which is a members only event and rather than focusing on product deals, it's centered on special services.

Caroline Timoney began posting on TikTok in 2020, but it was 2021 when she created a video with such joie de vivre that it was elevated from a TikTok bit to a part of the public lexicon: "Listen, I can’t give any more information, but I fear I may have girlbossed a bit too close to the sun." The video has 7.6 million views, and the audio has been used more than 24,000 times.

Since then, Timoney moved from the East Coast to Los Angeles and built a following for her quick, expressive comedy style — the kind that's as much about her timing and eyebrows as it is about her punchlines. Online, she’s known for capturing the humor of awkwardness and self-delusion; offline, she's working full-time and performing at a monthly stand-up gig with her friend and collaborator Hannah Schoen ("I would never be able to do it without her") called Babe Stoppp, balancing late-night shows with a full-time day job.

Recently, her now-famous phrase resurfaced as a lyric on Taylor Swift’s newest album, The Life of a Showgirl. While many people in her comment section were quick to suggest she "lawyer up" and "get her bag," Timoney told Mashable she’s just thrilled to see a line she coined in college live on like this.

Timoney chatted with Mashable about her evolution as a comedian, using TikTok as a stand-up tool, battling creator burnout, and watching her viral phrase turn into something the entire internet now repeats.

SEE ALSO: Did Taylor Swift swipe a lyric from a TikTok creator? You have been popping up on my feed for at least four years. When did you start posting on TikTok?

My very first [TikTok] was [posted during] the classic COVID-2020 summer. I had just finished my freshman year of college, and I started posting very sporadically. I would say the "girlboss too close to the sun" audio, which was in 2021, I did between my sophomore and junior years, that gave a bump to my account. And then I would post comedy stuff every day, mostly front-facing stand-up-style comedy and sketches. I do stand-up, so it was a great place to figure out how to make comedy and develop a voice. I was on the improv team at Georgetown in college, and a lot of the people in my sketches are people from the improv team. I had a lot of people to collaborate with and make comedy with back in college.

Having a community to post with must have made it so much better.

Yeah, totally. I also love the TikTok style — it just goes to random people. I still don't post Reels to my Instagram. That seems so scary to me. That's horrifying. Because it's people from middle school seeing. I don't want this going to you guys. Unless it gets a ton of views, then maybe you can see it. But I love that TikTok goes to random people, and if it's not good, it won't be seen by anyone, which is the dream.

You've been posting a lot less lately. Is that on purpose?

I'm working full-time now. I moved to LA after I graduated from college, and I haven't had as much time since I've been working. And I also do stand-up live around LA, so that's also taken up more of my time. And aside from all of it, I go through phases with content. Keeping up with posting every day for five years? I stop having much to say, or I just go through phases of creativity.

It sounds like you don't force yourself. When you're stretching for content, how do you come up with ideas?

I'll just be walking around, going about my day, and the idea will pop in my head, and I write it in my Notes app. I have a whole long list of things. Sometimes if I have a free night or something, I'll go back through and try to work on a bit.

I have a Notes app for my story ideas, too, but I find that when I go through it later, it's all trash. 

Half of mine is literally just like, "biscuit" or "people are friends, but then they're not friends." And I'm like, what can I possibly mean by that? I remember writing it down and cracking up and being like, "I'm a genius." What are you talking about? It's half of the struggle. As long as I put enough stuff on there, there's something that's not awful or can be made into a better idea.

How do you see the relationship between what you're posting on TikTok and what you're working on for your standup?

It's actually pretty similar. Sometimes I use the TikTok bits that I have, and I'll expand them in my standup. I find it much harder to bring my stand-up sets to TikTok because my stories are so much longer with a lot of asides, so it's hard for me to edit them into something that would work on TikTok. It just wouldn't make sense, or the flow wouldn't work, or it is just too long. They're definitely the same kind of tone: I talk about similar things like observational comedy, dating, whatever. But my stand-up is so much longer.

I do a monthly stand-up show, and whenever that comes back around, I make a new set. So it's always nice having random TikToks that I can pull at or use as inspiration for a longer bit.

When I look at many of your TikToks, one of the tools that I think you use really well is your eyebrows, which seem very aligned with TikTok and less aligned with stand-up.

Truly. I always say if I get Botox, I'll be ruined. My eyebrows are everything. And they're oftentimes way more expressive than I am, or I feel. They're doing whatever those guys are doing. 

How do you balance social media, stand-up, and working full-time? 

It's been challenging for sure. The last thing I want to do when I get back from work is write stand-up. Performing is fine, I don't mind going somewhere, but if I have to sit down and really work, I'm dreading it. That's why it's nice having my monthly show, because it forces me to have some sort of deadlines. It has been like a strange transition [from college to work and] putting my comedy into an adult schedule. I still think it would be hard for me to fully not work. I need some sort of structure to my day. So, to just be like a full-time standup comedian would also be hard.

How do you handle burnout? What helps replenish your creativity?

I go through phases. Working with friends has been amazing. Whenever I have friends that I really laugh with and we can really work on a bit, it feels fun, and I feel like myself, and I feel like I'm doing my favorite thing. It just goes through such phases, especially with TikTok. I have friends who are TikTokkers who, every other week, they're back to like, "I really need to be better about posting." Even if you have a hot week or a few days of TikToks doing well or posting frequently, and then you get off of it a little bit, you're back to feeling like you're not doing enough again. 

But having a social media presence has helped me a lot, I would say, starting out in the comedy scene in LA. It helped me a lot getting on shows and knowing standups before I moved out here. It was really nice to already have that going.

How'd you find out your joke made it into a Taylor Swift song?

The day before [The Life of a Showgirl was released], I received texts from three different people who had listened to a leak of the album. We were like, "'Girlbossed too close to the sun' is in it." And I was like, "What?" I also lowkey was not believing it — slash was like, "That feels like something that someone could have made up."

I could see how someone would think that would be in a Taylor Swift song. So I was really not believing it. The next morning, I woke up first to 100 text messages on my phone. I'm from the East Coast, so most of my friends were already up. It was a really insane day the rest of the day.

Are you a Swiftie? 

I'm a total Swiftie, a huge Swiftie. She has been my Spotify number one for the past five or so years. I went to the Eras Tour. I'm a huge Swiftie, so I was just so excited by it more than anything. I was just truly so, so excited and really shocked. I was like, "This is crazy."

Did that feel different than when Candace Owens used it?

I didn't hear about that until comments where people were like, "[Taylor Swift is] referencing Candace," which she could be doing. She could be referencing Candace, who's referencing the phrase "girl boss too close to the sun." I do feel like the phrase became such a public phrase. I've had friends say it to me, who maybe first heard it from my TikTok audio or from a friend repeating the phrase to them, and they don't necessarily know that it's me. But it's cool to have contributed to the public lexicon. 

Do you ever find yourself saying, "I made that up," when people say it around you?

If someone says it around me, I'll pull [the video] up. 

I made a TikTok video about it two days ago, and I was calling my sister. I was like, "I don't want to be annoying." I had friends text me about the video and be like, "Wait, were you joking about that?" I was like, "No, no, I actually did make the phrase." 

What about people denying that you created the phrase?

Some comments [are] like, "She didn't make the phrase. I've been saying that for years." And it's like, well, you said it for years because I made it up years ago.

I was getting really heated about random comments. There are 2,000 comments on that video. I shouldn't be scrolling through them, something will make me mad. I was feeling a little defensive of my phrase, as much as it is public. 

And again, I don't have any legal stake in it. All of the comments are like, "Sue, sue, sue, sue, sue." I don't think that's possible. And again, I do think it's so public. But I'm so proud of my little phrase that I wrote. And I do think I do have some ownership over the fact that I came up with that. And I think it's cool, but I don't think I trademarked it or should or could trademark it.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. There is some precedent, though. 

Oh, really?

Yeah. Mina Lioness tweeted, "I did a DNA test and found out I'm 100 percent that bitch" before Lizzo released her album Truth Hurts, and Lizzo ended up giving Lioness a writing credit on the song. 

Wait a second.

Yeah, that was a tweet. 

That is an interesting example because that actually feels similar.

But I will say I am not trying to do that. Just because I really do think it's such a public phrase. But that is cool. I genuinely am just excited. I'm not suing Taylor or Candace Owens. I understand people can quote. But, again, I haven't fully wrapped my mind around all of it. 

I'm just excited that a phrase that I created ended up having such a life of its own, made its way into culture, and into a Taylor Swift song. I think that's the coolest thing ever. I don't want my whole thing to be "I'm trying to get back at Taylor Swift for stealing my line." I don't think it's stealing.

It is just the coolest. I was really in a rare form on Friday. I was shocked for 24 hours straight.

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