Cloudflare is down again, and the internet is affected — but unlike last time, this outage seems to have been quickly fixed. Users started reporting issues with Cloudflare early on Friday, with Downdetector showing a spike in outage reports for the service (Disclosure: Downdetector is owned by Ziff Davis, the same parent company as Mashable.) Let's hope this outage doesn't take half the internet down this time. Credit: Mashable Cloudflare's own system status dashboard says that the company is investigating "issues with Cloudflare Dashboard and related APIs." A fix has already been implemented, Cloudflare says. The outage seems to have affected numerous online sites and services, including Fortnite, Doordash, AWS, Shopify, Claude, League of Legends, Zoom, and others. A few weeks ago, a massive Cloudflare outage, caused by an error in the system that (ironically) protects websites from DDoS attacks, took out numerous popular internet sites and services. Company CEO Matthew Prince called it the worst outage that Cloudflare has experienced since 2019. Developing...

Discord has released its first personalised end-of-year wrap up, cataloguing just how many hours you spent chatting with friends this year. Called Discord Checkpoint, it's basically like Spotify Wrapped for your gaming habits. SEE ALSO: Discord launches new safety features following lawsuits What is Discord Checkpoint?Rolling out from Dec. 4, Discord Checkpoint is the voice messaging app's first ever year-in-review feature. Discord hasn't committed to making this an annual event going forward, stating that Checkpoint was released to celebrate the app's 10th anniversary this year. However, it has stated that "plans for Checkpoint beyond 2025 are still unfolding."Discord Checkpoint summarises statistics such as how many hours you've spent in voice chats, which friends you talked to the most, which servers seem to be your favourite, your most-used emojis, and your most frequently played games. (Apparently I played 139 sessions of Dota 2 this year.) Users can directly share their Checkpoints on Discord via a Share button on its final summary page, or screenshot their results to post elsewhere.The wrap up is available to users who were active on Discord in 2025, and have allowed it to "use data to personalize [their] Discord experience" in the app's data and privacy settings. New users and those who weren't very active won't have a Discord Checkpoint, as they won't have enough statistics to compile.How to get your Discord CheckpointA pop-up notification directing you to your Discord Checkpoint should automatically appear when you open the app, both on desktop and mobile. You can also access your Discord Checkpoint on your desktop by clicking the flag icon in the top right corner of the Discord app. On mobile, you'll have to tap the You icon on the bottom right first, then select the green Checkpoint banner.If your Discord Checkpoint isn't showing up, double check that your Discord app is up to date. While the desktop Discord app should automatically update when you restart it, the mobile app may require a manual update via the app store.Viewing your Discord Checkpoint will grant you a temporary decorative frame for your profile picture. Users will be able to display it until Jan. 15, at which time their Checkpoint will vanish as well. Those who didn't get a Checkpoint can still grab the frame by attempting to view it anyway. Credit: Discord Discord has also released a wrap up of its wrap up, summarising the behaviour of its 200 million monthly active users across the globe. Multiplayer online battle arena League of Legends was the most popular game amongst Discord users despite turning 16 this year, while co-op survival horror R.E.P.O. was the biggest indie game. Discord's most used emoji was the red heart, used 2.18 billion times, followed by the sobbing emoji at 1.71 billion uses.

Pluribus episode 5 left viewers on a cliffhanger bigger than the Others' globe-spanning hive mind.While investigating the Others' apparent love of milk, Carol Sturka (Rhea Seehorn) discovered that the Others' primary food source was actually an oily amber-colored fluid, made of water and a suspicious white powder. Further detective work took her to a cold-storage warehouse filled with produce and unknown items wrapped in plastic bags. Upon snooping in one of the bags, Carol claps her hand over her mouth — the universal sign for "What the hell have I just witnessed?" SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' fans, you can now read Carol's 'Bloodsong of Wycaro' Pluribus cut to black before we could get a response to that question, but thankfully, episode 6, titled "HDP," wastes no time in giving us the answer.It's human bodies.You might have guessed it, but that doesn't make seeing all the shrink-wrapped corpses any less disturbing. Adding to the horror? The massive meat grinders and cooking vats full of human body parts in the next room of the warehouse.That's right: Just when you thought the Others couldn't get any scarier, turns out they're cannibals. Carol truly cannot catch a break.The Others aren't hiding their cannibalism, though. When Carol heads to Las Vegas to tell Mr. Diabaté (Samba Schutte) about her discovery, he reveals he already knows. ("It is troubling," he acknowledges. But not troubling enough to stop LARPing his James Bond casino fantasy with them!)The Others have prepared a video explanation for Carol, complete with a very special cameo. The video explains that since the Others can't harm or kill any form of life — including plant life — they're having a tough time finding food on Earth to feed all 7,348,292,411 members of the hive mind. Yes, they can use the food that was already stockpiled by the time they so kindly infected everyone on Earth, but even that's not enough. To get those extra calories, they need to add Human-Derived Protein (HDP) to their diets. Each carton of the Others' mysterious liquid contains eight to 12 percent of that sweet, sweet HDP. Don't worry, they're not actually killing anyone to get that HDP. They can't! They can, however, harvest the bodies of people dying of natural causes. Following the Joining, which killed hundreds of millions of people, the Others already have quite the human corpse stockpile — and they can't let that go to waste, right?However, the Others leave a key twist out of their video, one that Mr. Diabaté quickly reveals to Carol. Even with the HDP, the vast majority of the Others will starve to death within ten years. Mr. Diabaté and the other immune survivors want to save them from that fate. ("Maybe tell 'em to pick a fucking apple," Carol points out.) For now, though, Carol's goal remains the same: Reverse the Joining, and get the — confirmed cannibal! — hive mind away from Earth.Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday

If you had "John Cena calmly explains cannibalism" on your 2025 bingo card, congratulations! Pluribus has made all your hyper-specific dreams come true. (Side note: Are you okay?)That's because Cena makes a cameo in Pluribus' sixth episode, titled "HDP." He plays himself... kind of. This version of Cena isn't really a wrestler or an actor. Instead, he's a member of the global hive mind that's taken over the world. He's lost all individuality, but on the bright side, this means everyone in the hive mind has Cena's memories of filming Peacemaker's opening dance intro, and that's fun, right? SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' episode 6: What did Carol find in the warehouse? Cena appears in a video message to Carol (Rhea Seehorn) from the Others, bursting into Pluribus in such a surprising manner I wondered if I'd stumbled on an unexpected John Cena meme compilation from 2015. Seriously, I half expected to hear the trumpets from his entrance theme blaring once he started talking.But there's no time for memes here. Pluribus' Cena has something serious to tell Carol about: cannibalism.In Cena's video message, he explains why the Others have turned to cannibalism and are mashing human body parts into their little milk cartons. The answer? They need to in order to survive.See, the Others are unable to harm or kill any form of life, including plants. That means their food sources on Earth are limited. They can use the millions of tons of food that were processed before their arrival, but even that's not enough to curb the caloric deficit facing the billions of members of the hive mind. SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' episode 6 reveals something huge about the virus The solution? Adding human corpses to their diet. For the Others, anyone who dies of natural causes becomes part of their food source. Why bury a body and waste all that meat? Because of this, eight to 12 percent of the liquid in the Others' milk cartons is made up of Human-Derived Protein (HDP). Do the Others really want to eat this? No way, Hive Mind Cena tells Carol. They'll also never force Carol to partake in HDP under any circumstances. Reassuring!The Others present the cannibalism as efficient and logical, with the video message featuring helpful charts, stock footage, and many, many wipe transitions. (Which member of the hive mind was Cena's video editor? Was it Cena himself, tapping into other members' memories of using iMovie?) But their affable spokesman can't deny the truth: This is monstrous, just like their invasion. The Others may try to treat it like it's just an unfortunate part of life, but the fact remains that they haven't just desecrated human minds by taking them over. Now, they're desecrating bodies, too. All because they can't, as Carol points out, "pick a fucking apple."As harrowing as the HDP twist is, it's undeniably fun to watch Cena channel the cheery helpfulness of the Others. The line "We're John Cena" alone had me cackling, both because it's funny, and because I was so weirded out that cackling seemed like the best reaction.With this appearance, Cena joins a crowded landscape of celebrities playing themselves on TV in 2025. Apple TV's own The Studio is crammed with actors and directors poking fun at themselves, while new comedies like Overcompensating, Adults, and I Love LA roped in the likes of Charli XCX, Julia Fox, Quenlin Blackwell, and Elijah Wood to play heightened versions of themselves. But when it comes to sheer strangeness, you really can't top alien virus hive mind John Cena explaining why drinking processed human body parts from a milk carton isn't just okay, it's necessary. The bar's been set pretty high, so if your next celebrity cameo doesn't feature at least one Soylent Green reference, take it back to the drawing board!Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle. If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered. SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintThrew. SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerFLUNGHurdle Word 2 hintNoisy. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerROWDY Hurdle Word 3 hintSilly. SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 5 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 5, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer GOOFYHurdle Word 4 hintTo gag. SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 5 Hurdle Word 4 answerCHOKEFinal Hurdle hintJumped. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerLEAPTIf you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The moon still looks pretty big and bright in the sky after last night's Full Moon. But now that it's passed, the moon will actually be getting less visible each night as we work through the lunar cycle and approach the New Moon phase. Until then, however, there's plenty to see on the surface, so keep reading to find out what you can spot.What is today’s moon phase?As of Friday, Dec. 5, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 99% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation. If you're looking up with just your naked eye, there's lots to see, in particular the Humorum Mare, Endymion Crater, and Alphonsus Crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to spy the Alps Mountains, Clavius Crater and the Mare Humorum. And with a telescope, you can catch a glimpse of the Apollo 11 and 12 landing spots.When is the next full moon?The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.What are moon phases?NASA explains that the lunar cycle (which is about 29.5 days long) is made up of the Moon’s phases, which describe how the Moon looks from Earth as it travels around us. We view the same side of the Moon at all times, but the sunlight hitting its surface shifts as it moves through its orbit. That changing illumination is what makes the Moon appear full, half-lit, or not visible at all. The cycle includes eight distinct phases:New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Is the Trump administration about to be the Grinch that stole sales of most drones just before Christmas?There's a Dec. 23 deadline looming for DJI, which makes 90 percent of the world's drones, to pass an audit from the U.S. government. Without an audit, U.S. law says DJI will go on the FCC's naughty list — sorry, Covered list — effectively a ban on further U.S. sales.DJI has long said it is happy to schedule the new U.S. audit; after all, the company has years of independent audits (and a Department of the Interior audit) under its belt. But with no reply from anyone in the Trump administration three weeks before deadline, DJI drones look like they will be left high and dry. That's why DJI just took the desperate step of sending open letters to Homeland Security head Kristi Noem, FBI boss Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Department of Defense (or is that War?) chief Pete Hegseth — whom they'd written to multiple times privately. "In September you indicated through written communication the Department's willingness to work with DJI," the letter to Noem says. (Translation: we've got the receipts.) "We stand behind the security of our technology, and are keen to meet with you and ensure that this Congressionally-mandated security review takes place as soon as possible so you can fulfill your commitment." SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the looming DJI drone ban in the United States Adam Welsh, DJI head of global policy, ticked off all the ways DJI drones are safe — flight logs don't go on servers, images and videos aren't backed up to servers unless the user wants, and there's a "local data" mode that cuts all connection between the drone and the internet. With an eye to outraged consumers — especially farmers who use drone technology — Welsh wrote that a ban "would lead to widespread consumer confusion and deprive American drone users of due process — and of answers about the safety and security of the DJI products they use every day. Failing to undertake the review further goes against Congressional intent for a security review to be completed."The administration hasn't commented on the open letters yet, but in the past, Hegseth's department has claimed — without evidence — that DJI is a Chinese military company.

SAVE $90: As of Dec. 4, get the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX, 1 RX, and Charging Case) for $79, down from its usual price of $169. That's a discount of 53% and the lowest price we've seen. Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mic Mini (2 TX, 1 RX, and Charging Case) $79 at Amazon $169 Save $90   Get Deal Though Black Friday and Cyber Monday have both come and gone, there are still plenty of deals across the board that you won't want to miss. Some of those deals include discounts on creator-approved devices like the TikTok-favorite DJI Mic Mini. You can get one for yourself right now as it's back at the lowest price recorded just yet. As of Dec. 4, get the DJI Mic Mini (2 TX, 1 RX, and Charging Case) for $79, down from its usual price of $169. That's $90 off and a discount of 53%. It's also the lowest price we've seen. SEE ALSO: The best Cyber Monday deals on portable power stations: Jackery, Bluetti, and DJI at record lows This cult-favorite microphone is a favorite that's even used by the Mashable team. It's a great option for anyone who needs to record audio, whether that means interviewing or doing regular vlogging. All you need to do is clip it onto a secure area and it can do the rest as it records in excellent quality with a great range: up to 400 meters to be exact. It's not only lightweight, but it records high-quality audio with 48kHz sampling at up to 120 dB SPL. With 10 hours of battery and an additional 48 thanks to the included charging case with this deal, you have plenty of time to record all the audio you need as well. Part of what makes this mic such a favorite is its ease of use related to its high quality. It really is perfect for both entry-level and seasoned creators. And if you want to be in with the in crowd when it comes to tech, now's a good time to lock yours in while the deals are still hanging on.

TL;DR: A Grade A refurbished 2019 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar that still delivers smooth, everyday performance — on Cyber Week sale for $359.97 for a short time. Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Macbook Pro 2019 (Refurbished) $359.97 $1,499 Save $1,139.03   Get Deal Not every MacBook needs to be brand new, freshly unveiled, and packed with the latest buzzwords. Sometimes, the smartest move is choosing a dependable model that still delivers where it counts — and the Grade A refurbished Apple MacBook Pro (2019) 13″ with Touch Bar fits that role.Whether you’re responding to emails, managing spreadsheets, editing photos, hopping onto Zoom calls, streaming your favorite shows, or handling everyday work tasks, this Apple MacBook Pro has the power and polish to keep everything running smoothly without feeling outdated. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! Powered by a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and paired with 8GB of RAM, it handles multitasking easily. The 256GB SSD ensures fast boot times and quick file access. Add in the 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology and wide color support, and you get sharp, vibrant visuals that make everything from documents to Netflix look crisp and comfortable on the eyes.The Touch Bar brings a customizable layer of convenience to your workflow, putting relevant shortcuts at your fingertips depending on what you’re doing, while Touch ID makes logging in quick and secure.With four Thunderbolt 3 ports, you get flexibility for charging, external displays, and accessories — a bonus for anyone juggling multiple devices.Battery life clocks in at up to 10 hours, making it a reliable companion for full workdays, travel, or casual productivity sessions at the kitchen table. And thanks to its Grade A refurbished rating, this Mac arrives in near-mint condition with minimal to no visible wear.Don’t miss out on getting a near-mint MacBook Pro while it’s $359.97 (reg. $1,499) for a limited time.StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: A lifetime AdGuard Family Plan that blocks ads, boosts privacy, and protects up to 9 devices — for a one-time $15.97 payment with code FAMPLAN. Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard Family Plan: Lifetime Subscription $15.97 $169.99 Save $154.02   Get Deal The internet is supposed to make life easier — but between pop-ups, autoplay videos, banner overload, and questionable links, it can sometimes feel like a noisy theme park you didn’t buy a ticket for.This AdGuard Family Plan lifetime subscription quietly turns the chaos down and restores your browsing experience to what it should’ve been all along: simple, clean, and refreshingly calm. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! The family-friendly plan covers up to nine devices, making it an easy way to protect phones, tablets, and computers all at once. Instead of juggling different settings and endless reminders to “close that ad,” AdGuard works in the background to block distracting ads, keep trackers at bay, and shield your devices from harmful malware and phishing attempts.What makes it especially appealing is how it simplifies life in a world that already feels complicated. Parents can enable safe browsing controls for kids, helping filter inappropriate content and creating a more secure online space without constant hovering or manual interventions.Meanwhile, everyone gets to enjoy faster page load times, cleaner screens, and fewer interruptions while streaming, shopping, or scrolling.AdGuard’s advanced ad-blocking engine doesn’t just tackle the obvious stuff. It filters video ads, sneaky banners, and aggressive pop-ups that tend to slow down devices and clutter your screen. Pair that with built-in privacy protection, and you’ve got a tool that keeps personal data from being tracked and analyzed across the web.Compatible with both Android and iOS, as well as computers, this lifetime plan is designed to age well with your devices. One simple setup, ongoing updates, and long-term protection — all without monthly fees to keep track of.Get lifetime access to the AdGuard Family Plan for a one-time $15.97 payment (reg. $169.90) through Dec. 14 with code FAMPLAN.StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Safeguard your data forever with this lifetime subscription to a FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan, now just $49.97 (reg. $399) through Dec. 14. Opens in a new window Credit: FolderFort FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan: Lifetime Subscription $49.97 $399 Save $349.03   Get Deal Everyone’s wallet is stretched thin during the holidays — so why not take one monthly bill off your plate? With FolderFort, you can store data for a low, one-time payment with no future bills in sight. And right now, you can secure 1TB of storage with their Pro Plan for only $49.97 (reg. $399) through Dec. 14.Whether you’re tired of storing a ton of chunky external hard drives or you’re looking for a more affordable way to keep your content stored safely in the cloud, FolderFort offers an option that solves both issues. This 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan lets you stop renting and start owning your cloud storage, providing a permanent place to store your data. Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up! Aside from being a much more affordable option, FolderFort Cloud Storage offers incredible security and speed thanks to BackBlaze, which delivers strong encryption and blazing-fast speeds. You’ll enjoy high-speed access, fast transfers, and 99.99% uptime, too, so none of your precious time is wasted.FolderFort lets you log in and share files across all your devices, with cross-platform access. If you need to share content, it’s easy to create links to folders or files and provide someone access, or make public links you can share more widely.We’re constantly creating more data, so our storage needs naturally grow over time. FolderFort makes it easy to scale your storage as needed, with unlimited expansion options.Get a lifetime subscription to a FolderFort 1TB Cloud Storage Pro Plan for only $49.97 (reg. $399) through Dec. 14.StackSocial prices subject to change.

Looking forward to Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, but don't have enough time for a full Season 1 rewatch? Don't worry, Phineas and Ferb (voiced by Vincent Martella and David Errigo Jr.) are here to help. SEE ALSO: 'Phineas and Ferb' creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff 'Swampy' Marsh reveal the ultimatum that made the show fans love Yes, you read that right. In a new animated short, the leads of Phineas and Ferb helpfully walk their friends through Percy Jackson's quest to return Zeus' Master Bolt to Mount Olympus. As a child of both Phineas and Ferb and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books, this crossover's clearly been designed in a lab to make my nostalgia go through the roof.To help set the scene (and channel that Disney corporate synergy), Phineas is rocking a Percy cosplay, blonde wig and all, while Ferb is dressed as Mr. D. They're not the only ones in costume: Isabella (voiced by Alyson Stoner) has Medusa's snake hair, Baljeet (voiced by Maulik Pancholy) has gone full Grover mode, and Buford (voiced by Bobby Gaylor) is channeling his inner Ares. Even Perry the Platypus (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker) is in on the fun, trading his trademark fedora for a Chimera costume, horns and all.For their recap, Phineas and Ferb have crafted a Greek urn that plays out the condensed story of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 1. With all these inventions, you know the two of them would fit right in with the children of Hephaestus at Camp Half-Blood.To relive Percy Jackson's adventure with Phineas, Ferb, and some Greek vase painting-style animation, check out the full short above. The short will also be available on Disney+ and Disney Channel Animation's YouTube Channel on Dec. 5, and on Disney Channel Dec. 7.Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 premieres Dec. 10 on Disney+.Phineas and Ferb Season 5 is now streaming on Disney+, with new episodes arriving in January.

HBO has released the final trailer for A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, and it gives viewers our best look yet at the Ashford Meadow tournament. SEE ALSO: 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms': 5 things we learned at the New York Comic Con panel The tourney, complete with jousting and sword fights aplenty, is the main setting for George R.R. Martin's novella The Hedge Knight, upon which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is based. In the novella, newly knighted Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey), also known as "Dunk," heads to Ashford Meadow to earn some money (and maybe a tad of knightly glory along the way).On his journey, Dunk encounters Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell), a plucky young boy determined to be his squire. So begins a Westerosi buddy comedy, one with a decidedly lighter tone than either Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon. (Timeline-wise, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms falls between the two.)But just because A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a lighter show doesn't mean Dunk and Egg aren't in any danger. In fact, Dunk's in tons of it, because Prince Aerion Targaryen (Finn Bennett) wants his head. You remember the old saying about how every time a Targaryen is born, the gods flip a coin to determine whether they'll be mad? Well, let's just say that the coin did not land in Aerion's favor, and that's going to complicate things for Dunk once he winds up in Aerion's crosshairs.How will they settle their beef? On the battlefield, of course! Check out the full trailer above for teases of the jousts and duels that await in this new Westerosi adventure.A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Lagging Zoom calls aren't just annoying parts of the average work day. They may be irreparably changing our social interactions. According to a new study published this week in Nature, audiovisual glitches can have far-reaching affects on users that extend beyond expected nuisances, but which have the power to fundamentally impact major areas of our life, including the outcome of a job interview, trust in medical professionals, and the result of legal proceedings. And for people who don't have reliable internet access, including digitally disconnected, rural, or low-income households, the impact may be even more severe. SEE ALSO: It's time to add AI protections to your will Titled "Video-call glitches trigger uncanniness and harm consequential life outcomes," the study focused primarily on on-screen face-to-face video calls, rather than audio-only calls or conversations featuring screen sharing or visual aids. Researchers reviewed several scenarios, including a database of casual video social interactions, a scripted video sales pitch given to participants, and a health consultations. They found that frequent video lags reduced feelings of trust and willingness to engage, such as to take the advice of or reconsult with a health provider. The reason is that a dropped internet connection or glitches that distort faces, misalign audio and visual feedback, or create choppiness "break the illusion of face-to-face contact" that is created while on a video call, researchers write. This evokes a feeling of uncanniness that reduces a sense of social connectedness and trust — like when you realize you're talking to an AI. This sense is commonly referred to as the "Uncanny Valley," where something looks almost human, but not quite. "Glitches can be costly in these consequential, virtually held life events. That is, beyond just undermining trivial and fleeting moments of conversation, glitches have the potential to fundamentally alter the trajectory of individuals’ lives, from their health to job status and more," researchers found. "Because people participate in numerous personal and professional virtual interactions annually, even modest glitch-related disadvantages can compound over time into substantial cumulative effects."The researchers also reviewed court data, and when combined with the above results, found that video glitches correlated with a lower likelihood of being granted parole. "Despite being considered a boon to access, virtual communication might unintentionally perpetuate inequality," write the study's authors. "Because disadvantaged groups often have poorer internet connections, they are likely to encounter more glitches, and, in turn, to experience worse outcomes in consequential contexts such as health, careers, justice and social connection."The study suggests that the evolving political and technological landscape, which has shifted increasingly toward remote-only processes, consider the impact of reverting to in-person interactions in favor of video interfacing. And the study recognizes there may be an implicit bias in the design of remote systems that advantage certain groups over others. It also argues for more research on how best to reduce the impact of the Uncanny Valley while video conferencing, with one possible intervention standing out among others: Cracking a joke or two.

ChatGPT users are up in arms over what seems like advertisements appearing in their conversations — while OpenAI disputes that the messages are advertisements at all. Even users who shell out $200 per month for a Pro subscription say they're seeing suggestions for apps or stores that may not actually be ads, but feel like it. Here's one example, in which ChatGPT suggests the Peloton app — in a chat that's unrelated to the exercise equipment brand. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. An OpenAI employee responded quickly to the viral tweet. "Thanks for flagging. This is not an ad (there's no financial component)," wrote Daniel McAuley, who works on the data team at OpenAI. "It's only a suggestion to install Peloton's app. But the lack of relevancy makes it a bad/confusing experience. We're iterating on the suggestions and UX, trying to make sure they're awesome."Users on Reddit and elsewhere have also complained about so-called "app suggestions" ... that aren't technically ads. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. While these suggestions may not technically be ads, there have also been indications that ChatGPT could integrate straightforward advertisements soon — although when OpenAI CEO Sam Altman declared a "code red" for the company, he suggested this would mean delaying the ad rollout. As AI companies with massive valuations and a huge burn rate scramble to make money, it seems the era of an ad-free chatbot might be reaching its end. Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

We finally have a date for the launch of the new Amazon Kindle Scribe and Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft. First announced during Amazon's Devices and Services event on Sept. 30, 2025, no purchase date was provided for the new Amazon e-readers. As of Dec. 4, Amazon has officially announced that the new Amazon Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft will be available for purchase on Wednesday, Dec. 10. Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe 2025 (32GB) $499.99 at Amazon   Learn More Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft 2025 (32GB) $629.99 at Amazon   Learn More During the Amazon Devices and Services event, Mashable's tech editor, Timothy Beck Werth, went hands-on with the new Scribe Colorsoft. The new devices are ultra-thin and lightweight, measuring just 5.4 millimeters in width and weighing just 400 grams. Additionally, Amazon developed a new chip for these e-readers, promising to be 40 percent faster. Each device features an 11-inch display with texture-molded glass, so it feels like writing on paper with the included premium pen. Both the new Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft will be available in 32GB and 64GB versions. The new Amazon Kindle Scribe Colorsoft finally has color displays, a game changer for avid annotators. Credit: Amazon The Scribe Colorsoft will finally feature a color display. This means that you can now color-code your notes and annotations. Plus, both devices will have Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive integration.Neither device is available for preorder, so if you're looking to purchase, you'll have to wait to do so on Dec. 10. But be prepared to cough up some serious dough. The Kindle Scribe and Scribe Colorsoft are the most expensive e-readers from Amazon. The new Amazon Kindle Scribe starts at $499.99, while the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft starts at $629.99.

SAVE $82.25: The Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses are on sale for $246.75 in the matte black colorway with polarized gradient graphite lenses. That's a 25% discount compared to the list price of $329 and it's the lowest price we've seen at Amazon. Opens in a new window Credit: Ray-Ban Meta Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses (matte black, polarized gradient graphite) $246.75 at Amazon $329 Save $82.25   Get Deal Cyber Monday deals came with some seriously impressive savings this year, but most of those have vanished by now. But if you were busy on vacation or celebrating with family and missed the big deals, there's something special in store for you today.As of Dec. 4, the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses are on sale at Amazon for $246.75 in the matte black colorway with polarized gradient graphite lenses. That's a savings of $82.25 compared to the standard price of $329 and a new record-low. Amazon is also tossing in a free $1.76 Amazon credit to use on a future purchase.If you've always been intrigued by the Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, here's your chance to get a pair that's on a serious discount. This sale price applies to both the regular and large sized Wayfarer AI sunglasses for a classic look with modern tech. SEE ALSO: Level up your listening with a pair of Bose QuietComfort Ultra headphones for their lowest price yet Packed with a 12 megapixel camera and open-ear speakers, you'll be able to record video or tune into an epic playlist with your sunglasses. The five-mic system can also record exactly what you're hearing for a truly lifelike recording.Donning the Ray-Ban Meta sunglasses also means you can tap into AI to get more info about your surroundings. Ask about the history of a building or find out the name of a beautiful flower. Of course, you can also make and receive calls via the sunglasses for a hands-free experience.If you've always wanted to listen to a podcast without earbuds while wearing your sunglasses, this is a great chance to score the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer (gen 1) sunglasses for a record low price.

CES 2026 is just around the corner. Samsung is usually one of the companies that steals the show every year, often using the big annual consumer tech conference to make announcements regarding its line of TVs.Well, it seems that Samsung's plans might have just leaked, courtesy of the publicly accessible European Samsung spare parts database, as first noticed by the website FlatpanelsHD.The database lists some newer models of Samsung's most popular OLED TV sets. But, there's also a brand-new model in the database and an absolutely enormous version of Samsung's The FrameIf the leaks are accurate, new 2026 updates to Samsung's current lineup of OLED televisions are set to debut with the S85H, S90H and S95H models listed in the database. "H" denotes a new 2026 model, according to FlatpanelsHD.However, an OLED TV model S99H is also listed, coming in sizes ranging from 55 inches to 83 inches. Based on the model number, this appears to even be a more premium version of Samsung's S95H line, which starts at just under $2,000 for a 55-inch model. It's unclear exactly what Samsung will add to make a more premium version of its current high-end TV line.On the opposite side of the pricing spectrum, Samsung also seems poised to reveal new, more affordable lower-end models too with the S82H and S83H. The current cheapest models in this lineup are the 65-inch S84H and the 55-inch S85H, coming in at around $1,000 each. It's unclear what the newer models will be priced at, but are likely to be cheaper (yet still not "budget" priced).And, finally, the database points to a new gigantic 98-inch version of Samsung's The Frame TV. The Samsung TV that is meant to look like a framed piece of art currently maxes out at 85-inches. Samsung may have felt that was still too small and decided to bring an even larger model to the market in 2026.We'll find out more details when Samsung officially unveils its new products at CES.

Threads is testing a new way for users to manipulate their own recommendation algorithm. The feature, aptly called "Dear algo," allows users to post a message to the algorithm with the note "dear algo" asking to see more or less of a certain thing. For instance, you might post "Dear algo, show me more book recommendations" or "Dear algo, stop showing me basketball updates my team is bad and it makes me sad." Conor Hayes, the head of Threads, said in a post on the site on Dec. 3 that the platform is "testing a new AI feature to help you personalize your feed.""When people add 'Dear Algo' to a post, it will tell your feed what you want to see more or less of for up to three days. If your profile is public, people can see your request, connect with you about it, or repost it," Hayes wrote. "This is just a test, so not everyone will have access now, but we're working on rolling it out more broadly soon."Then, the feed responds by showing you what you asked for for the next three days. This won't change your feed entirely (or forever) but the temporary change will allow you to engage with content you like and that engagement will help refine your algorithm in the long term. It's important to note that these posts are public — so it also informs all your friends and followers what you want to see more or less of. Mark Zuckerberg, the head of Meta, wrote that the new feature was "inspired" by people on the app "who started 'dear threads algo' requests."