Technology

Amazon’s Ring cameras are getting cozier with law enforcement. This week, the company announced a new partnership that will make it even easier for police to access user footage. The deal gives more than 5,000 law enforcement agencies the ability to request Ring video through Flock Safety, a surveillance platform already used by police departments across the country.

According to the announcement, law enforcement agencies using Flock’s Nova system or FlockOS can "send a direct post in the Ring Neighbors app with details about the investigation and request voluntary assistance." Agencies must specify what they’re looking for — locations, timeframes, and the nature of the incident. Flock claims participating Ring users will remain anonymous and that cooperation is entirely voluntary.

The partnership marks yet another step in Ring’s renewed embrace of law enforcement, a sharp turn from its brief attempt to distance itself in recent years. In 2024, the company killed its Request for Assistance feature in the Neighbors app, which had allowed police to issue video requests without a warrant. At the time, Ring said it wanted to move toward a more "community-focused" model. That shift reversed course in April 2025, when founder Jamie Siminoff returned to Amazon.

Since his return, Ring has rolled out a series of new police integrations, including a deal with taser-maker Axon that lets officers request footage directly through Axon’s evidence management system. Amazon and Ring are also reportedly adding facial recognition capabilities and even an opt-in feature that would allow users to livestream their doorbell feeds straight to law enforcement.

Mid-size pickups are often praised for their toughness, towing capability, and off-road performance, but one Japanese contender manages to stand out for entirely different reasons. It blends car-like refinement with truck-level utility, delivering a driving experience that’s both capable and unexpectedly comfortable.

Best high-tech Halloween decorations of 2025 at a glance The Man, the Bones, the Legend 12-foot Giant-Sized Skelly with LifeEyes $299 Shop Now Best Home Depot skeleton alternative Home Depot 15-foot Grave & Bones Animated LED Gally-Crow $199 at Home Depot Shop Now Best Halloween lights upgrade Govee Curtain Lights Pro with 200 pre-set patterns $199.98 at Amazon Shop Now Best inflatable Halloween decoration Joyfy Inflatable UFO Alien Decoration (6, 9, and 12 feet) starting at $39.99 at Walmart Shop Now Best Halloween projector and holograms AtmosFX animated Halloween collection starting at $25 Shop Now Best solar-powered Halloween decoration Solar Scary Eyeball Lights (pack of 4) $39.98 at Amazon Shop Now Honorable Mention Oversized inflatable green octopus tentacles $53.99 Shop Now

The thriving Home Depot Skeleton fandom is just the most recent, concrete proof of a theory I've had for years: Halloween decorations (just overall Halloween nostalgia, actually) is a fleeting yet powerful antidote to the actual real-life horrors that persist around us.

While the high of Halloween during childhood is one we'll be chasing 'til death do us part, the one good thing about being an adult during Halloween is having adult money to spend on the cool decorations. You know, the ones that make people drive a little slower so that they can stare for a second.

SEE ALSO: Mashable What to Watch: Best scary movie recommendations, customized

If you're bored with your current humdrum string light setup, I scoured the internet to find the best high-tech Halloween decorations to up your game in 2025. For those of you with a yard, there are some super unique inflatables and towering animatroincs out there — but even apartment dwellers can get creative with some vibey RGB curtain lights and legitimately haunting projector scenes.

And, of course, we have to talk about Skelly. The infamous 12-foot skeleton from The Home Depot is a long-time favorite at Mashable, and this year it's actually possible to find him in stock, though you may need to go to your local store.

Skelly alternatives: other spooky animatronics at least 12 feet tall Credit: Home Depot Credit: Lowe's

For a second there, Home Depot's delayed Halfway to Halloween sale had my coworker (and Home Depot Skeleton historian) Haley Henschel worried that tariffs were affecting Skelly stock, among other staples in the Halloween industry. But rest assured: As of mid-October 2025, the beloved Skelly with LifeEyes is in stock for its usual $299, as well as Skelly's Cat and Skelly's Dog that Home Depot launched this year.

But for those who are already part of the Skelly Hive, there are other massive animatronics to expand your yard scene. Lowe's and Home Depot both have other 12-foot options, but the real queen here is Home Depot's new 15-foot Gally-Crow. The Gally-Crow was originally released with a Worricrow that's currently out of stock, but the Gally-Crow is arguably more harrowing (think scarecrow with a plague doctor mask) and 50% off. Yes, of course there are already people putting it inside their house.

• Lowe's 12-foot Immortal Nightwalker Motion-Activated Animatronic — $359.20 $449 (save $89.90)

• Lowe's 12-foot Lighted Talking Bone Collector Motion-Activated Animatronic — $449

• Home Depot 15-foot Grave & Bones Animated LED Gally-Crow — $199 $399 (save $200)

Full-scene outdoor lights Credit: Govee

Tired: orange string lights on the porch. Wired: themed full-scene LED arrangements on your windows, garage, or shrubbery.

Rather than the obnoxious black wires that make traditional Halloween lights tricky to camouflage, Govee's RGB curtain lights and net lights consist of hundreds of color-changing LEDs, connected by near-invisible wires in a grid pattern. Both types of lights are are waterproof and app-connected — that's where you'll be able to access a ton of pre-made patterns for Halloween, plus other holidays and everyday magic.

Get a set of Govee outdoor curtain lights for $199.98 (ideal for walls and other large, flat surfaces measuring 5.41 x 5.77 feet) or a set of Govee outdoor net lights for $99.99 on sale (ideal for bushes and fences, measuring 2.8 x 9.4 feet).

Not your mother's giant light-up inflatables Credit: Joyfy Credit: Joyfy

Halloween inflatables for the yard aren't an idea you've never seen before. But amidst the oversized Snoopys and Minions dressed as mummies on your street, I raise you a giant alien abduction scene or tentacles coming out of the grass — or even coming out of the windows. Both of these options are available in various sizes at Walmart, including a 12-foot version of the UFO inflatable. If you already have a Home Depot Skelly, that unlocks an easy idea for this year's theme.

• 6-foot UFO (just blue light) — $39.99

• 9-foot UFO (just blue light) — $49.91

• 12-foot UFO (just blue light) — $69.99

• 9-foot UFO (color changing) — $62.99

• Single pink octopus tentacle — $18.99

• Three green octopus tentacles — $53.99

• Three pink octopus tentacles — $53.99

High-quality animated spooky projector scenes Credit: AtmosFX

Halloween projections on the wall or side of a house can definitely be lame if they're crappy — but can be legitimately haunting if they're high quality. For anyone who already has an HD projector, AtmosFX is the ultimate destination for realistic Halloween projector scenes. From classic ghostly apparitions and zombies in the window to vintage (un)living portraits and Halloween stained glass, these bright, crisp phantasms move with lifelike animation and often come with sound. There are even options with movie characters: Be a real Trick 'r Treat stan with multiple Sam holograms or scare all human activity off your lawn with freaky animated glimpses of Art the Clown.

Skeptical about how legit these actually look? A majority of the 40+ listings in the Halloween collection include real photos from customers who are hyped on their own personal display — the AtmosFX fan club doesn't mess around. All AtmosFX projections come as downloadable .mp4 video files for projectors, TVs, or monitors that support HD downloads, but several are available on pre-loaded USB drives as well. Prices start at $25.

If you don't have a projector yet, Amazon has quite a few budget-friendly projectors with pre-set Halloween scenes. Go the actually-spooky route with a 3D grim reaper for under $20 or the cutesy spooky route with rotating cartoon ghosts, jack-o'-lanterns, and more for under $40.

Solar-powered eyeballs for the yard Credit: ASMAD

If you're paranoid about your spooky season electric bill, solar-powered Halloween decorations can be just as effective. These well-reviewed glowing green eyeballs come in bendy entanglements of eight and can be stuck in the yard to light a sidewalk or terrorize your garden. They charge on their own in the daytime through small panels attached to their stakes. For $39.88, you'll get a pack of four clusters for a total of 32 LED bulbs.

Despite the enthusiasm of actors in Swiffer commercials, few people are smiling when it's time to mop their hardwood and tile floors. So if you're already considering buying a robot vacuum because it'll take one major chore off your to-do list, then you can probably see why the best robot vacuum and mop would be doubly worth it.

I'm not saying that you can expect every robot vacuum that mops to scrub your kitchen grout with the same tenacity as you could by hand with a toothbrush. But the best robot vacuum and mop combos have gotten much better over the past few years. Many have smart mopping settings that unleash deeper scrubbing on specified spills or stains, and some even use AI sensors to assess whether a mess has been sufficiently cleaned. You can also set your robot vacuum to take multiple passes over dirty floors in the app's settings — one of my go-to tips for making your vacuum work better.

SEE ALSO: Roborock Saros Z70 review: If you think you need the robot vacuum with an arm, no you don't

Hybrid robot vacuums' self-emptying docks are also getting far more advanced. The best robot mop combos will also automatically wash and dry their mopping pads, self-dispense cleaning liquid, and then refill themselves with clean water from the dock. In theory, mopping pad maintenance should be nearly as automated as the cleaning itself.

I've personally tested more than 25 robot vacuum and mop combos in my own apartment, and I've narrowed your options down to just five robot vacuums that actually scrubbed well.

So if you want to walk around barefoot, make pet hair disappear, and keep hardwood floors shiny and clean, then these are the best robot vacuum and mop combos to buy in 2025.

SEE ALSO: Dreame's summer vacuum launch is the biggest vacuum drop of 2025 so far Recent changes to this guide

• Dreame Aqua10 Ultra Roller: We've added this new vacuum as of Oct. 18, 2025. For now, we've named it the "Best Roller Mop Robot Vacuum," but it's a frontrunner to become our "Best Overall" pick.

• Roborock Saros 10r: Previously our top pick as the best robot vacuum and mop, we've named this the "Best Corner Mopping" vacuum while we continue testing the new Dreame vacuum, also as of October 2025.

Other robot vacuums I've tested recently

I've tested several other robot vacuum hybrids that didn't make the cut. Some, like the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Roborock Qrevo Master, Narwal Freo X Ultra were top picks in this list at one point, but were merely upstaged in power and price tag value by newer models.

I've also tested some 2025 robot vacuum releases that were OK, but weren't contenders for this list. The Dreame X50 Ultra grabbed attention during its CES 2025 debut for its ability to "climb," though the fine print is that it can't scale thresholds taller than 6 millimeters (about 2.36 inches). The Roborock Saros 10 and 10R were able to hoist over the few thick doorway thresholds in my apartment just as well as the X50 Ultra. Its mopping and vacuuming capabilities are better than most mid-range robot vacuums, of course, but they weren't impressive enough for me to suggest the X50 Ultra in this list over either Saros model.

I'm also in the process of testing the new fleet of 2025 Roombas. The Roomba Combo 205 DustCompactor wouldn't be a bad pick if you absolutely can't spare floor space for a self-empty dock. But for being one of iRobot's newest vacuums, I expected it to be a much smoother, smarter navigator.

The new Predator film is so close, we can almost taste it, and while we’re all excited about its arrival, there’s been very little information about what to expect. The deets have been closely guarded and purposely kept secret for a huge reason. Other than a simple plot synopsis, all we’ve known is who is starring in the lead role—until now. For the first time ever in the franchise, you’ll be asked to sympathize with these mandible-mouthed beasts.

Are you looking for the easiest way to launch a file server for either internal or external access? Copyparty is what you’ve been looking for. With the ability to launch with zero configuration, Copyparty gets you a file server up and running in seconds.

If you've ever changed the keyboard on your Android phone, you probably went with one from Google, Microsoft, or Samsung. But there are many lesser-known keyboards that attempt to reinvent the whole typing experience on a smartphone. Are they actually usable? I tested some of the oddest to find out.

Windows is the de facto operating system, which means there are a lot of VPN options available for you. But not all of these options are great, or even safe. These VPNs are safe and effective—and one will be perfect for you.

Diane Keaton’s recent passing was a great loss. Young or old, she had a warm presence in the many comedies and romances she starred in over the years. From the coziest of comfort pictures to the most revered award-winning films, Keaton left behind a massive filmography, working with some of the top talents in acting and directing.

Among all the living directors we have today, Yorgos Lanthimos is definitely one of the weirdest. His films never feel conventional, always embracing the absurd, surreal, and often dizzying aspects of how bizarre humanity can get. He’s also made plenty of Oscar-winning films, making it impossible to ignore his odd pictures.

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems on the Internet. In fact, more than 43 percent of all websites run on WordPress. This makes the latest attack on WordPress sites by a new threat actor all the more concerning.

According to a new report from the Google Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG), a new threat actor codenamed UNC5142 has been successfully hacking into WordPress sites and using a brand new technique to spread malware across the web. UNC5142, according to the report, would find vulnerable WordPress websites often using flawed WordPress themes, plugins, or databases.

SEE ALSO: Notorious hacker group doxxes ICE and FBI officials in new leak, report says

The targeted WordPress sites would be infected with a CLEARSHORT, multi-stage JavaScript downloader that distributes the malware. The threat group would then deploy a new technique dubbed "EtherHiding," which is enabled by CLEARSHORT.

Google describes EtherHiding as "a technique used to obscure malicious code or data by placing it on a public blockchain, such as the BNB Smart Chain." This use of blockchain to spread malicious code is unique and makes stopping the spread of malware all the more difficult.

The smart contract containing the code on the blockchain would then call up a CLEARSHORT landing page, often hosted on a Cloudflare dev page, that utilizes a ClickFix social engineering tactic. This tactic tricks the website visitor into running malicious commands on their computer via the Windows Run dialog or Mac's Terminal app.

UNC5142's attacks are often financially motivated, according to Google. GTIG says it has been tracking UNC5142 since 2023. However, Google reports that UNC5142 suddenly stopped all activity in July 2025.

This could mean that this new threat actor group, which has been successfully carrying out its malware campaigns, just decided to call it quits. Or it could mean that the threat actor has altered its techniques, successfully obscuring its latest actions, and is still hacking into vulnerable websites today.

Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and fully electric vehicles (EVs) have come and gone in the U.S. Many struggled due to low demand, bad marketing, high prices, or weak execution in design and production.

We’ve officially hit the midway point of the month, but that doesn’t mean the content release schedules are slowing down. This week, we’re taking a deep-dive into true crime with the premiere of documentaries and adaptations, and we’ll also explore new seasons of Loot and The Diplomat. There’s even a Roald Dahl animated film, a must-see Martin Scorsese documentary cinephiles will love, and a legacy sequel film to an iconic 1997 slasher franchise.

This week, Android Auto dropped old phone support, LineageOS 23 is here, and Google added “Recovery Contacts” to Gmail. Plus, check out the suspicious OnePlus update and Samsung's XR Headset reveal.

Soundbars are pretty much a must-have for a lot of home entertainment systems these days. They give you a huge upgrade from the often wimpy, built-in speakers in modern TVs. For most people, the soundbar journey is super simple: plug it in, and bam, you've got instantly better sound. But tucked away beneath the sleek surface of these audio gadgets is a treasure trove of advanced features and functions that usually just go unnoticed, or people totally misunderstand them.

Imagine if you could still see the time, your last text, or keep reading your book when your phone’s battery died. What if your phone had a second, always-on screen just for that? The YotaPhone was that weird phone.

Configuring a text editor is not everyone's idea of fun. But you're here, and you're probably looking for a new project. Doom makes the Emacs on-ramp much easier, and for the tinkerer, Emacs has endless potential. I have four reasons why Doom Emacs should be your next project.

I think The Simpsons is one of the best shows ever made, animated or otherwise. The adventures of the Springfield residents never cease to make me laugh, and I'm often streaming random episodes on Disney+ because it's so convenient, even though I own all the DVD box sets.

The Mophie Powerstation Wireless 5K Slim with Stand power bank looks sleek and simple. Surprisingly, it still packs a few nice features, making it a must-have battery backup, as long as you can stomach its high price.

I was once a harsh critic of people who worked out with their AirPods. Not only did it look awkward, but the buds themselves provided no on-ear stability, making them more of a liability than an asset. Then the AirPods Pro came out…and I still thought the same thing. That was, until I actually exercised with them. 

Apple’s noise-cancelling buds quickly became a workout favorite. Then the AirPods Pro 2 dropped and turned into my go-to buds for a long stretch (up to eight months), thanks to their dynamic sound, noteworthy ANC, and secure fit via in-ear design with silicone tips. The combination of flawless voice activation and lightweight wearability with sweat/water resistance (IPX4) also made them favorable for exercising.

Now that the AirPods Pro 3 have launched with advanced health features and a new ergonomic design, it would seem a safe bet that I would make them my next gym partner. But don’t jump to that conclusion just yet. 

Are the AirPods Pro 3 my newest go-to workout earbuds? Keep reading to find out. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

I’ve been digging the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for the past six months, and I consider them the best earbuds for working out overall. Not everything hits its mark (ANC is disappointing). Still, the Powerbeats Pro 2 meet the criteria that matter most in the sub-category: audio quality, battery life, and serviceability. 

Since the AirPods Pro 3 and Powerbeats Pro 2 share identical features and specs, I expected nothing but greatness from Apple’s buds during workouts. This turned out to be mostly true. Some issues were present, and they could be deal-breakers, depending on your needs.

Here are my thoughts on using the AirPods Pro 3 for working out.

Apple’s most optimized fitness buds ever

Let’s get to the AirPods Pro 3’s killer feature: heart rate monitoring. It is more effective than any other pair of earbuds with HRM, including the Powerbeats Pro 2. The optical sensors near the tip shine an infrared light that pulses 256 times a second to examine blood flow in your ears. Apple also enhanced its algorithms to capture data as accurately as possible. 

I compared the readings between my AirPods Pro 3 (via Fitness app) and Fitbit Charge 6, which has optical sensors to measure blood flow on the wrist, and was surprised by how close the results were. Even the HRM sensors on a treadmill tracked BPM (beats per minute) close to the AirPods Pro 3. 

My AirPods Pro and Fitbit Charge 6 showed similar heart rate readings. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

HRM isn’t the only thing that makes the AirPods Pro 3 ideal for workouts. IP57 dust and water resistance protect the buds and charging case from excessive moisture damage. The touch sensors on the stems allow you to easily adjust volume with swipe gestures. “Hey Siri” voice activation places functionality at the tip of your tongue; it was so convenient to answer calls and swap out playlists without using my hands.

Apple’s listening modes give the AirPods Pro 3 a huge advantage over other sports buds. Transparency mode raises ambient awareness at an incredibly high level. I could hear pedestrians and vehicles loudly and clearly when running outside. Adaptive Audio automatically adjusts to your surroundings by blending ANC and Transparency modes for optimal listening. Personalized Volume does the same and learns from your listening habits to adjust volume settings over time. Lastly, Conversation Awareness lowers media volume and enhances the voices in front of you.

A custom fit with compromised comfort

These are the most fit-friendly AirPods ever. The wider sound port occupies the concha and molds perfectly to your ear. Apple’s silicone tips form a tight seal when properly adjusted, and they have decent sweat absorption to minimize slippage.

These are designed to be the best-fitting AirPods yet. Credit: Alex Bracetti / Mashable

At first, I was petrified of breaking these buds on the treadmill, especially after seeing their iFixit repairability score of an abysmal 0/10. Nonetheless, I calmed down the more I exercised with them. The AirPods Pro 3 never fell out during runs or heavy lateral exercises (e.g., side-to-side lunges).

Unfortunately, the updated design affects comfort. Since the sound port sticks out more, it presses up against the canal and concha. My ears felt fatigued after three hours of wear. Anyone with a high pain threshold should get about five hours of use before experiencing discomfort. 

Energy-fueled sound

Audio on the AirPods Pro 3 is livelier than their predecessor. Apple updated its acoustic architecture to bring deeper bass response and extra clarity to your ears. The low end is better controlled and more impactful. It’s exactly what you want from a fitness standpoint. In addition, the adaptive EQ does an outstanding job of fine-tuning sound in real time.

Personalized Spatial Audio might be the most underrated fitness feature. I used it several times when watching exercise videos and enjoyed the extra layer of realism it delivered. Instructors sounded prominent over ambient noise and instrumentals; this gave personal trainer vibes. Spatial audio is more suited for Apple Music and creates an immersive soundscape for Dolby Atmos tracks. Drums and synths were robust, while treble remained warm and crisp. 

Android users look elsewhere

I previously tested the AirPods Pro 3 as an Android user, and things didn’t go so smoothly. They are not optimized for use with Google’s mobile operating system. Beats headphones and earbuds are, but the AirPods Pro 3 run on the H2 processor instead of Beats’ proprietary chipset, which is designed to work seamlessly with iOS/macOS and Android. 

That being the case, Android users lose out on all the AirPods Pro 3’s biggest features, including HRM, spatial audio, and voice assistance. 

Bottom Line

The AirPods Pro 3 are excellent workout buds that produce series-leading performance across all verticals. More testing is required to determine whether they’re a better fitness companion than the Powerbeats Pro 2. What I will tell you is that the AirPods Pro 3’s superior heart rate monitoring, along with the addition of Apple’s latest listening modes, has them in a front-runner spot right now.

Apple AirPods Pro 3 $249 at Amazon
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