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I recently got back into programming by building Android apps. If you’ve been considering doing the same, then learn from these five mistakes that I made so you don’t have to experience them too.

SAVE $900: As of Oct. 31, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station is down to just $799 (reg. $1,699) at Amazon as a Lightning Deal. That means you can save over 50% if you act fast.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station $799 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $900   Get Deal

Portable power stations can be a real lifesaver — whether you're off the grid on a camping trip or dealing with a power outage at home. But, as you can probably guess, they don't always come cheap. So when you find a good deal — like this Bluetti Elite 200 V2 Lightning Deal at Amazon — it's best to jump on it ASAP.

As of Oct. 31, the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 portable power station is on sale for only $799 as a Lightning Deal at Amazon. That means you can save 54% or a massive $900, but you have to act fast. Lightning Deals disappear once all units have been claimed or the deal timer runs out — whichever comes first. At the time of writing, the deal timer has just 7.5 hours to go, so you'll want to add it to your cart ASAP if you want to get the deal.

The Elite 200 V2 features a 2,073Wh-capacity battery that supports a peak 5,200W. Meanwhile, it weighs in at just over 50 pounds and is the size of a small cooler. In other words, it's relatively small, but mighty enough to power nine devices at once via four AC outlets, two 15W USB-A ports, two 100W USB-C ports, ad a 120W car port. You'll have plenty of options when it comes to keeping your essentials up and running.

With a 17-year lifespan, the Bluetti Elite 200 is a smart long-term investment for both off-grid adventures and unexpected power outages alike. Plus, knowing it will last that long makes the sticker shock sting a bit less. It's usually over $1,600, but if you take advantage of the Lightning offer, you can get it for less than half of that.

I watch countless movies and shows on Netflix, hunting for the next best thing. Sometimes I get hooked and end up binge-watching multiple episodes of a show, while other times I ditch a film partway through. I used to feel like I had to see everything to the end, no matter how awful it was, but life's too short.

One of the downsides of owning smart home tech is the possibility that it can become useless. It’s always a risk with devices that rely on cloud services. That's exactly what's happening to the first and second-generation Nest Thermostats—at least partially.

The compact SUV market is fiercely competitive, and while Japanese models like the Toyota RAV4 often dominate reliability rankings, one American contender is quietly challenging that reputation. Offering impressive build quality, long-term dependability, and lower-than-expected ownership costs, it’s proving that American engineering can rival, and even surpass, its global counterparts.

Hope you've caught your breath after mid-October's Prime Day sales. For the first time ever, Best Buy has dropped some early Black Friday deals on Halloween.

"We know it’s early, but Halloween has been knocking on our holiday door for a while now and we’re ready to let it join the party," the company said in an Oct. 20 press release. "This year, we’re putting the creep in 'holiday creep.'"

Shop the best early Black Friday deals at Best Buy: Best TV deal TCL 40-inch Q35F Series 1080P QLED Fire TV $99.99 (save $130) Get Deal Best laptop deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $649 (save $150) Get Deal Best headphone/earbud deal JLab Jbuds Open Sport Air Conduction Earbuds $19.99 (save $60) Get Deal Best gaming deal Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G950 240Hz Curved Smart Gaming Monitor $849.99 (save $950) Get Deal Best vacuum deal Dyson V9 Motorbar $269.99 (save $330) Get Deal

Like last year, Best Buy is supplementing its early Black Friday deals with limited-time doorbusters that involve "some of the best deals on the hottest tech." (Best Buy has an apt name for the Halloween batch: DoorBOOsters.) They'll be live online, on the Best Buy app, and in stores every Friday through Sunday during the holiday season.

Best Buy will continue to release early Black Friday deals throughout November in the lead-up to its official Black Friday sale, which begins more than a week ahead of time on Thursday, Nov. 20. (Black Friday 2025 technically falls on Nov. 28.) The 10-day sale will run through Saturday, Nov. 29 and feature "deeper savings on categories like computing, gaming, home theater, wearables, and more," the company said.

The question now becomes: Should you buy something on your wishlist now or wait? As someone who's covered Best Buy's Black Friday sale religiously since 2019, I vote now. A holiday FAQ page on Best Buy's website notes that its early Black Friday deals are available in limited quantities (with no rainchecks), and when those deals sell out, "they may be sold out through Black Friday."

SEE ALSO: Walmart will host two extended Black Friday sales that start in mid-November

Best Buy's holiday price match and extended returns policies have you covered in case an item you buy soon-ish goes on sale for a better price later in the season. I'm of the opinion that really good deals on items you really want are worth the hassle in the off-chance that happens, and this time of year is when most stuff hits year-round lows.

Below, I've rounded up the early Black Friday deals and doorbusters at Best Buy that I'd consider adding to my cart already. I've cross-checked them with prices at competing retailers to make sure no one's offering better prices. (Amazon managed to beat one of Best Buy's early Black Friday deals on a JBL gaming headset by four cents, so it didn't make my list.) Anything I've marked with a 🚪 is a current doorbuster that won't stick around past Sunday, Nov. 2.

The best early Black Friday deals at Best BuyTV deals

• TCL 40-inch Q35F Series 1080P QLED Fire TV — $99.99 $229.99 (save $130) 🚪

• LG 48-inch B5 Series OLED AI 4K TV — $529.99 $1,299.99 (save $770) 🚪

• Samsung 75-inch Q6F Series QLED 4K TV — $599.99 $899.99 (save $300)

Laptop deals

• Lenovo IdeaPad 1i, 15-inch (Intel Core i5-1335U, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $299.99 $599.99 (save $300) 🚪

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M2, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $649 $799 (save $150)

• Lenovo LOQ 15 (Intel Core i5-13450HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $649.99 $1,099.99 (save $450)

• HP OmniBook X Flip 16 (Intel Core Ultra 7 256V, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $679.99 $1,099.99 (save $420)

Headphone and earbud deals

• JLab Jbuds Open Sport Air Conduction Earbuds — $19.99 $79.99 (save $60) 🚪

• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds — $129 $179 (save $50)

• Bose QuietComfort Headphones — $199 $359 (save $150)

• Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — $229 $299 (save $70)

Gaming deals

• Split Fiction (PS5, Xbox, Switch) — $39.99 $49.99 (save $10)

• Logitech G535 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset (PS5, PC) — $59.99 $99.99 (save $40)

• Razer BlackShark V2 Pro Wireless Gaming Headset (Xbox) — $129.99 $199.99 (save $70)

• JBL Quantum 910X Wireless Gaming Headset (PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC) — $229.99 $329.99 (save $100)

• Samsung 49-inch Odyssey OLED G950 240Hz Curved Smart Gaming Monitor — $849.99 $1,799.99 (save $950) 🚪

More tech deals

• JBL Clip 4 — $49.99 $64.99 (save $15)

• Dyson V9 Motorbar — $269.99 $599.99 (save $330) 🚪

Are you tired of Windows but feeling nervous about making the switch to Linux? Wondering if Linux is as good (or bad) as everyone says it is? Well, I’ve been dual-booting Linux and Windows for a decade now, and here are the main pros and cons you need to know about making the switch.

SAVE 30%: Use discount code MASH30 to save 30% on a Nomad eSIM (valid until the end of 2025).

Opens in a new window Credit: Nomad Nomad eSIM Use code MASH30 to save 30% Get Deal

Planning some international travel over the holiday season? Maybe you're treating yourself, or perhaps you're visiting family in other areas of the world. Whatever the case may be, you're going to need phone service. That means you'll want to make sure you're covered wherever you roam with an eSIM that makes things simple for you. Nomad eSIM has you covered.

Until the end of 2025, use promo code MASH30 at checkout to save 30% on a Nomad eSIM plan.

SEE ALSO: Great news for travelers: Two of Verizon's prepaid plans are getting free upgrades for coverage abroad

An eSIM from Nomad makes it simple to get signal so you can call and text wherever you roam. Nomad covers over 200 countries and regions, so all you have to do is install an eSIM digitally and get going. No physical swapping necessary. Plus, the app works on both unlocked iPhone and Android phones, so you don't even have to buy a new phone for your globe-trotting adventures. You will, however, want to check Nomad's list of compatible devices before setting off.

You can opt for the plan that's right for your location and usage through Nomad with both country- and region-specific options. You can even spring for unlimited data plans if your situation requires it, so you can rest assured knowing you've got enough coverage and internet access no matter what situation you find yourself in.

Though this deal is available through the end of 2025, you don't have to use it right away if you grab something now. Once purchased, a Nomad eSIM allows up to 60 days for activation, so you can jet set in January or February with confidence. Just be sure to grab yours before the time on this deal runs out. Happy traveling.

SAVE $100: As of Oct. 31, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are on sale for just $199 at Amazon (in several colors) instead of $299. That's a savings of 33% and their best price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose Ultra Open earbuds $199 at Amazon
$299 Save $100   Get Deal

If you're not into the AirPods-style earbuds and want to try something a little different, the Bose Ultra Open are in a category of their own. Plus, they're $100 cheaper than usual, making this the best time to try them out.

As of Oct. 31, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are down to just $199 at Amazon in several color options. That's 33% off their list price of $299 and their best price ever. This is only the second time the buds have hit this all-time low in some colors — the other being Prime Day back in July.

The Ultra Open buds loop around the edges of your ears like earring cuffs, rather than going directly inside of your ear canal. That "open" design helps keep you in touch with your surroundings as you take in your tunes, audiobooks, or podcasts. This makes them an especially good pick for runners, cyclists, or commuters looking to stay aware and alert. But that doesn't mean they skimp on sound. Mashable contributor RJ Andersen writes in her review, "The sound was well-balanced, and even with my ear completely uncovered, I didn’t notice any issues with the audio sounding distant or muddy. Instead, the Ultra Open Earbuds sounded clear, natural, and pretty lush."

They clock in at over seven hours of play time and can get an extra 2.5 charges from the included case. That's certainly not the best we've seen, but it'll definitely get you through your work day, commute, or run just fine.

If you're curious about open-ear earbuds, but don't want to sacrifice sound quality, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are our top pick. And when they're $100 off, they're an incredible value.

Smart home technology isn't just for boring things, such as monitoring the humidity in your home or locking your front door at night. It can also be used for more fun things, too. I decided to see if I could hack my video doorbell to spook trick-or-treaters.

Tessa Thompson is winning rapturous praise for her sizzling turn in Nia DaCosta's Hedda, a sexy and sapphic spin on Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. But fret not. Their daring film isn't just for theater kids familiar with the classic play. This exclusive featurette from Prime Video welcomes audiences into the rich and scandalous world of Hedda in under four minutes.

Thompson, who headlines and produces Hedda, shares insights into the epic anti-heroine. "One of the things that makes Hedda a character that has captivated audiences for centuries," Thompson explains, "is that Hedda's motives and why she does what she does is kind of mercurial. She has a ferocious appetite."

For what? Oh, wealth, love, and carnage.

SEE ALSO: 'Hedda's Tessa Thompson, Nia DaCosta, and Nina Hoss reveal the secrets to that sexy entrance

DaCosta's Hedda takes Ibsen's story of a wickedly smart and beautiful socialite who turns her discontent into everyone else's problem and places it in a new setting: 1950s England, with a queer twist. DaCosta has gender-swapped Hedda Gabler's former flame Eilert to Eileen, played here by Nina Hoss, who'd previously portrayed the title role on stage. "This reinvents the whole story," Hoss explains in the featurette.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

In Mashable's interview with DaCosta, the writer/director spoke about making this traditionally white and straight protagonist Black and queer. "I always knew I wanted Hedda to be Black, but more than anything I wanted Tessa to play Hedda," she said in Mashable's interview. "And then I was thinking about Eilert, and was like, 'Hm. What if Eilert were a woman? What if the struggles he experiences are because he was a woman? You know, he's brilliant but misunderstood, not listened to... If it's a woman, it not only makes more sense to me but also fits into the structure, into the themes we're dealing with anyway, with Hedda.' And then I thought, 'Oh, everyone's gay!'"

This featurette delves into how DaCosta's reinvention of the story demanded unique music, costumes, and production design. Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir brings a carnal intensity to her score by infusing it with heaving human breath. The video up top reveals she created this by bringing Hedda's cast and crew onto location to record these sounds where Hedda prowls.

Costume designer Lindsay Pugh shares how she conceived the defining gowns of the lesbian love triangle of Hedda, Eileen, and Eileen's current paramour, Thea (Imogen Poots). Then, production designer Cara Brower unveils her thought process in finding the perfect home for Hedda, while DaCosta speaks to how its decor hints at the conflict within Hedda's head and heart.

In short, this featurette teases plenty of reasons to fall for Hedda. What's yours?

Hedda is now streaming on Prime Video.

TL;DR: As of Oct. 2, the 65-inch LG C5 OLED evo TV is on sale for $1,396.99 at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: LG LG 65-Inch OLED evo 4K C5 Series Smart TV $1,396.99 at Amazon
$2,696.99 Save $1,300.00   Get Deal

Black Friday is looming on the horizon with the promise of deals on everything including laptops, headphones, robot vacuums, and of course, TVs. Now you could wait until leading retailers start launching their sales for real, or you could get ahead of the crowds and pick up a stunning TV for a low price right now. We know which option we'd prefer.

We shouted about the 65-inch LG C5 OLED evo TV deal during Prime Day, but it was listed for $1,696.99 back then. It's not currently listed as "for sale," but the $1,396.99 price we're seeing says different. This TV was going for well over $2,000 earlier in the year, so this could be a great time to buy the dip.

SEE ALSO: Are you 18-24? Get 6 months of Amazon Prime for free ahead of Prime Day.

LG's C5 TVs offers plenty of impressive features to make your favorite movies, shows, and games really pop. Buyers are getting 4K resolution and a vibrant OLED display, plus Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos that combine to create a cinematic experience at home. This TV can also deliver Filmmaker Mode, which helps to show you exactly what the director intended. And gamers get a 0.1ms response time and up to 144Hz refresh rate, so laggy performance at crunch time.

Score the 65-inch LG C5 OLED evo TV for under $1,400 at Amazon before Black Friday.

Despite its reputation for being a cutting-edge tech utopia, Japan is also known for being weirdly anachronistic about some technologies. Fax machines, flip phones, and a reluctance to give up cash are key examples, but for me, it's the Japanese laptops that show this best.

SAVE OVER $600: The Segway Cube 1000 portable power station is on sale for $359.99 at Amazon. That's 64% off and the lowest-ever price at Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Segway Segway Cube 1000 $359.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $640   Get Deal

It seems like everyone is buying portable power stations. At least, that's what our data is telling us.

These handy devices keep phones charged, refrigerators running, and all the lights on when you need a boost. So we totally understand why there's a rush to buy these portable power stations. If you like the great outdoors or you'd feel better knowing that you have some sort of backup at home, these devices make a lot of sense.

SEE ALSO: The Jackery HomePower 3000 has hit its lowest-ever price at Amazon — act fast to save over $1,000

The tricky thing is not deciding that you need a power station. That's straightforward. No, the difficult aspect is picking the right model for you and your lifestyle. The likes of Bluetti, Jackery, and DJI dominate the space, but Segway is making a mark with a range of products that delivers where it counts. And the Segway Cube 1000 portable power station might be the best of the bunch.

The Segway Cube 1000 provides up to 1,024Wh of capacity from durable LiFePO4 batteries that can last for over 4,000 cycles. That translates to recharging your phone 87 times or running a coffee maker for almost an hour. Plus, its IP56-rated battery pack can handle wet conditions so you can take this station with you wherever you go without a worry.

As of Oct. 31 the Segway Cube 1000 portable power station is on sale for $359.99 at Amazon. That's a huge 64% discount and the lowest-ever price for this model on Amazon. The catch? There's limited stock going for this low price, so you'll need to act quick to save big. At the time of writing, 63% of discounted models have been claimed.

Score over $600 off the Segway Cube 1000 portable power station at Amazon.

Due to another round of ongoing negotiations, YouTube TV just lost access to all Disney-owned content, including channels like ESPN and ABC, among others. If you fire up the TV and realize YouTube TV is missing 20 stations, just know that they'll likely be back soon, and this won't be the last time it happens.

Grammarly, the popular automatic grammar checker used by students and professionals alike, is now Superhuman, as the company announces a new rebrand centering not just its tentpole product, but an entire line of agentic AI.

In a Oct. 29 blog post, the company announced it was adding several new AI-powered offerings to bolster the work of its branded writing partner, including the all-in-one workspace Coda and an AI-native inbox known as Superhuman Mail, which Grammarly acquired earlier this year.

SEE ALSO: Meta denies it illegally torrented porn to train its AI

The company is also launching Superhuman Go, a web of universal AI agents that can be used across apps. The tools are now available under a single Superhuman subscription plan.

AI is definitely not new for the online writing tool, which built its brand on automatic smart features just like other industry standard spellchecking tools and grammar apps. During the recent AI boom, Grammarly placed its bets early on conversational generative AI, including the launch of its own chatbot writing assistant, GrammarlyGo, in 2023. In August, the company announced eight new specialized AI agents that work within its own "AI-native writing surface," to provide specific writing help, citation checking, and rubric grading.

But the latest rebrand hints at even larger aims for the company, including investing in what they call more "proactive" AI that can anticipate actions before they're initiated by a user. The company explained in a second blog post that it aims to close a productivity gap between what workplace AI has promised users and what it actually delivers in practice. In the background, many experts believe the growing AI bubble, and its promise of AGI, is soon set to pop.

"Today AI feels like something we have to learn to manage or tame," wrote the company. "We hope the AI will feel so natural that using it will feel ordinary; so built-in to the way you work that you forget it’s even there."

SAVE $330: As of Oct. 31, shop the Dyson V9 Motorbar vacuum for just $269.99. That's its lowest price ever, knocking $330 off its $599.99 MSRP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Dyson V9 Motorbar vacuum $269.99 at Amazon
$599.99 Save $330   Get Deal

Dyson makes stellar vacuums, there's no doubt about that, but they also make expensive vacuums. The brand's speciality is cordless vacuums, which bring extra convenience and portability while cleaning floors. Because of Dyson's steep price tag, we're always hunting for discounts on their vacuums, and this deal is one of the very best.

As of Oct. 31, the Dyson V9 Motorbar vacuum is down to $269.99, which according to Camelcamelcamel, is its lowest price ever. That saves $330 on its list price of $599.99, making it 55% off.

The Dyson V9 has a trademark Motorbar head, which works across all floor types. It's suitable for pet owners as the hair screw tool in the vacuum detangles hair as it sucks it up. The vacuum converts to a handheld device so you can clean more places. After you finish cleaning your floors, it can clean the couch and even the car since you're free from the burden of cords.

Get the Dyson V9 Motorbar vacuum for just $269.99 at Amazon, saving 55% off it usual price tag.

Meta is sending people money for having their digital privacy violated, but exactly how much are they sending out?

That's the big question these days. Starting in September, Meta began gradually rolling out payments to some Facebook users who had successfully submitted a claim by the 2023 deadline. These claims were related to the circa 2018 Cambridge Analytica scandal in which Facebook allegedly allowed the misuse of user data, causing the company to agree to pay out a total of $725 million to its users.

SEE ALSO: If your Facebook Reels are suddenly filled with AI, this is why

So, how much is that worth, legally speaking? If you had your data violated by Facebook and submitted a claim, the amount you get is going to differ based on how long you were on Facebook during the period in which data was being misused. According to various reports, including a first-hand account from Reuters, payouts are averaging around $30 per person, with none being higher than about $38.

It's up to you to decide if $30 is enough to compensate for having your personal information scraped by a firm that helped get Donald Trump elected president in 2016.

The Samsung 55” 4K Smart TV is currently selling for $350 at Best Buy. This is a strong 24% discount from the original price of $460. This makes it a great deal for anyone looking to upgrade to a massive 55-inch QLED display with AI features.

Samsung's Odyssey range of monitors probably has the closest thing to my dream monitors, but oftentimes, they're more expensive than even most PCs you can build, which makes this deal a rare opportunity to snag one of the very best ones.