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NelsonG

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  1. The Outkast musician’s 12-minute-and-20-second New Blue Sun opener debuted at No. 90View the full article
  2. The star of House of the Dragon and The Crown will produce and star in the limited series based on Cave’s 2009 novelView the full article
  3. Created by software developer Elias Saba and released on the Amazon Appstore in November 2016, ‘Downloader’ offered two things; an empty URL field and a download button. Downloader was intentionally basic but as a former Fire TV Product Manager at Amazon, Saba knew that a simple tool to transfer files would solve a fundamental shortcoming. Over 50 million installs of Downloader to date speak for the software’s popularity but in May 2023, progress came to a screeching halt. Several Israeli TV companies filed a DMCA complaint at Google Play alleging that Downloader offered copyrighted content. The companies supplied no details of the content allegedly infringed and said nothing about how ‘Downloader’ somehow managed to violate copyright law. Google suspended Downloader leaving Saba no other option than to file a DMCA counternotice. The developer was forced to wait 10 business days for the complainants to respond and a total of 20 days for Downloader to be restored. After almost three weeks offline, Downloader had lost 47% of its active users. Just six months later and it’s happening all over again. Another Baseless Copyright Complaint Speaking with TorrentFreak last evening, Saba calmly explained that a new DMCA takedown notice, filed by India-based anti-piracy outfit Markscan, had resulted in Google suspending Downloader once again. The news was delivered by Google on Sunday evening via the notice below. Deficient DMCA Notice, Entirely Deficient Claims Given Downloader’s limited capabilities, even a sensible discussion on the merits would’ve required Markscan to come up with something special. In the event, the DMCA notice filed at Google Play falls substantially short of the established minimum standard for removing a single URL, let alone an app boasting 50 million downloads. In response to a request to ‘Identify and describe the copyrighted work’ allegedly infringed, the response ‘Properties of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.’ is especially unhelpful. In 2022, Warner revealed that its library consists of more than 145,000 hours of programming, including 12,500 feature films and 2,400 television series comprised of more than 150,000 individual episodes. Alleging infringement of just one of these copyrighted works would’ve been trivial, had the DMCA notice stated a valid claim against an app that carries and indexes zero content, and is substantially less functional than a web browser. Google says that it was notified that Downloader “allegedly infringes upon the copyright of others, and violates applicable copyright laws in the relevant country/jurisdiction.” Logic suggests that any alleged infringement would indicate a violation of United States copyright law. However, if we take Markscan’s home turf as an example, are vague allegations acceptable in India? Just two examples picked at random (1,2, pdf) show that takedown notices filed by the same team offer a level of detail likely to meet standards almost anywhere. Why this wasn’t replicated in the complaint against Downloader raises serious questions. Another DMCA Counternotice, More Time Offline On Monday evening, Saba filed an appeal at Google Play and 24 minutes later received notification that it had been rejected. As a result the developer followed up with a DMCA counternotice. No response had been received at the time of writing. Shortly after, Saba was contact by Google AdMob who informed him that ads in the Downloader app will stop being served if it isn’t restored by Tuesday (today). The background to this message is interesting, as Saba explains. “You see, I never had ads in my app and relied solely on donation buttons in the app. But when the app was suspended last time, I learned those donation buttons stop working, even for people that already had the app installed,” he informs TorrentFreak. “As a backup plan, in case the app was suspended again, I added ads to the app for the first time. Now I know it was a mistake going with Google for the ads since, evidently, they break those as well when the app is suspended. I just can’t catch a break.” From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article
  4. In February, the musician and actress returns with a Prime Video special and her first studio album in a decadeView the full article
  5. The New Orleans soul singer was behind one of Stax Records’ biggest hitsView the full article
  6. Since their creation, the Danish trio WhoMadeWho has been a driving force in pushing the boundaries of music, seamlessly blending Indie, Disco, and Techno into an electrifying fusion that continually leaves audiences in awe. Comprising Tomas Høffding, Tomas Barfod, and Jeppe Kjellberg, the band has built a discography that spans over a decade. With a legacy that stretches from Circoloco to Coachella, their live performances have garnered a reputation for being nothing short of legendary. Memorable performances, such as the legendary Cercle appearance at Abu Simbel temple in Egypt, and their widespread collaborations with electronic music elites, have solidified their reputation as trailblazers in the industry. Their musical evolution is evident in their seven studio albums, with the 2022 release UUUU receiving widespread acclaim for its fresh and innovative sound. Now, they’ve announced their forthcoming and highly anticipated new live tour, promising to be a groundbreaking and unforgettable experience and will feature a brand-new mesmerizing stage design crafted in collaboration with the worldwide renowned architecture group BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), cutting-edge visuals brought to life by flora&faunavisions, EyeMix Studio, and Christopher Mulligan, and, of course, all of the signature sounds that have defined WhoMadeWho as a globally renowned electronic live-act. This tour is expected to showcase the band’s creativity, energy, and commitment to providing an unforgettable live experience. The future of live performance and electronic music is unfolding, and WhoMadeWho stands at its forefront. Check out the full list of dates below. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: WhoMadeWho Shares Dates For Forthcoming Live World Tour View the full article
  7. Multi-disciplinary musician and producer Lauren Mia recently released her highly anticipated debut album RE:BIRTH – an impressive 13 track composition is a vulnerable and symbolic tale of growth, self-reflection and actualization that drives through the tracks and into the spirit of her audience. Boasting expertly produced analog soundscapes and ferocious melodic chord progressions, the album expands upon the composer’s roots in Melodic Techno and Progressive House. Starting off with “Initium”, the Latin word for beginning, the album’s triad of singles leading up to its ultimate release follow, which put just a sample of Lauren’s musical range in the spotlight. Listeners saw the shadow-work inspired “Shadow”, plant medicine influenced “Ceremony”, and flow-state fueled “Ashes In Paradise” showcase the diversity to be expected from her first full body of work. With her first hard techno deliveries like “444”, expansive melodic spectacles like “OliM”, brooding progressive productions like “Fidelity”, and energetic, percussively eclectic installments like “Lakshmi” – RE:BIRTH is a full-bodied delivery of expansive electronic music that while varied, unequivocally boasts Lauren Mia’s impactful, dynamic signature sound throughout each of its measures. Watch the story to the album and have a listen below! This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Lauren Mia releases impressive debut album – RE:BIRTH View the full article
  8. Returning with his first release in two years, Martin Vogt, better known in the space as Haywyre, recently delivered his latest Monstercat single “White Lie”. Making a welcome return to the marquee electronic imprint after 7 years, “White Lie” is a buoyant, introspective production that sets the stage for a series of new releases fans can expect from Haywyre in the year ahead. Building with an expansive, brooding soundscape and striking vocals, the arrangement of “White Lie” leads into a driving, future-funk fueled breakdown. Featuring Haywyre’s diverse production palette, he fuses an unexpected blend of synths, strings, piano, bass and vocal chops with finesse for his return to Monstercat. On the new release, Haywyre shares, “I’m proud to finally get my first track in two years into the world. Especially one like ‘White Lie’, which I feel really shows a glimpse into where the Haywyre project is going.” Midwest US based Haywyre fuses his foundation classical and jazz piano training with an affinity for 21st century electronic production. With a history in live music preceding his foray into electronic, he delivers a dynamic, hybrid performance style to the stage. Haywyre has brought his future funk and melodic glitch-hop inspired sound to the stages alongside top acts of the likes of Griz, Zedd and Gramatik. Having done official remixes for major pop acts like Charlie Puth, in 2021 he received a GRAMMY nomination in the category of Best Remixed Recording for his remix of “Young & Alive” (Bazzi vs. Haywyre Remix). His songs have a laid-back yet adventurous feel, drawing from dubstep and glitch-hop while we simultaneously hear his background in funk, classical, jazz and house music perpetually shine through. After establishing his sound with early self-released albums such as 2010’s Of Mellows and Revelations, Haywyre produced more intense, complex works like 2016’s ‘Two Fold, Pt. 2’ (Monstercat), with nearly 50 million streams on Spotify alone, later switching to a futuristic disco/funk hybrid with 2018’s Panorama: Discover. Check it out below! This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Haywyre returns to Monstercat for first original single after a two year hiatus – “White Lie” View the full article
  9. Hart took a break from the ensemble earlier this year, citing a need to “resolve some old-school traumas”View the full article
  10. The band’s sixth studio LP arrives February 23 via DominoView the full article
  11. Popular Internet infrastructure service Cloudflare has come under a lot of pressure from copyright holders in recent years. The company offers its services to millions of customers including multinationals, governments, but also some of the world’s leading pirate sites. Cloudflare Must Stop Pirate Site Pirate sites have proven to be quite a headache for Cloudflare and have landed the San Francisco-based tech company in court on several occasions. This includes a case in Germany, where the local branch of Universal Music sued Cloudflare for offering its services to pirate site DDL-Music. The lawsuit initially didn’t make any headlines, but when Cloudflare displayed an ‘Error 451’ to DDL-Music users in early 2020, it was clear that something was up. The 451 error code is rare and typically reserved for cases where content has been made inaccessible for legal reasons. In this case, Universal obtained a preliminary injunction against Cloudflare that required the company to stop providing its services to the pirate site. Failure to comply could’ve invoked a fine of up to 250,000 euros ($274,000) or, even worse, Cloudflare’s managing director could’ve been sent to prison for up to six months. Cloudflare complied with the order but took the case to appeal. The case eventually made its way to the Cologne Higher Regional Court, which handed down a mixed decision earlier this month. Mixed Decision from Higher Court In its decision, the Court confirmed that Cloudflare must take action against the blatantly-infringing pirate site, dismissing Cloudflare’s concerns that this could lead to overblocking. According to the ruling, DDL-Music has no other purpose than to share pirated music and Cloudflare plays a central role in making the site available. The ruling will come as a disappointment to the Internet infrastructure company, but there’s a positive note as well. In addition to stopping its services to DDL-Music as a customer, Universal also wanted Cloudflare to block the site on its public DNS resolver 1.1.1.1. The Cologne court concluded that a DNS blockade would be a step too far, as Cloudflare’s DNS doesn’t play a central role in making the site accessible. There are other DNS providers that do the same. “[D]efendant’s DNS resolver does not play a ‘central role’ in ensuring that the disputed music album could be freely shared on the Internet. The use of the defendant’s DNS resolver was neither necessary to find the IP address via the domain name, nor does it make access easier,” the court writes. “The domain name could be resolved into the IP address just as easily using any other DNS resolver. The defendant’s public DNS resolver 1.1.1.1 is just one of many freely accessible DNS resolvers, the best known and most used of which is the Google public DNS resolver 8.8.8.8. The defendant’s DNS resolver therefore had no significant relevance to the accessibility of the infringing content of the disputed domain.” According to the verdict, a DNS provider operates in a purely passive, automatic and neutral manner. This sets it apart from hosting providers or CDN services, which can invoke liability under Germany’s Telemedia Act (TMG) and EU law. The DNS Blocking Frontier The Cologne Higher Regional Court’s ruling is significant, and not just for Cloudflare. After many countries established that pirate sites can be blocked by Internet providers, copyright holders are trying to expand similar obligations further up the intermediary chain. In this case, the Court established that CDN services can be liable but drew the line at DNS resolvers. That could prove to be important for DNS resolver Quad9, which faces a similar legal battle in Germany. The issue isn’t limited to Germany either. A similar court order in Italy requires Cloudflare to block access to three pirate sites through its public DNS resolver. These and other court orders will ultimately lead to important precedents going forward. However, the direct effect of the recent German ruling is rather limited. As Tarnkappe rightfully notes, DDL-Music has been offline since 2021, so there’s no need to block it at all. Heise reports that the German Federal Music Industry Association (BVMI) is nonetheless pleased with the outcome, as it shows that Cloudflare plays a “central role in making illegal content accessible.” According to the music group’s Managing Director of Legal & Politics, René Houareau, the decision sends “a further signal against the illegal use of music recordings by tightening liability as real perpetrator liability”. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article
  12. Some 18 months after his arrest, the Atlanta rap legend will fight racketeering charges including murder, robbery, and illegal drug salesView the full article
  13. Over the past few years, increased enforcement by players in both the private and public sectors has made Denmark one of the riskiest places in Europe for pirate site operators and prolific file-sharers. Relentless pushback from local anti-piracy group Rights Alliance and its partnership with Denmark’s Special Crime Unit (National enhed for Særlig Kriminalitet (NSK)) has led to many site closures, arrests, and subsequent prosecutions. The most recent reported conviction saw a 37-year-old man receive a 60-day suspended prison sentence in September for pirating more than a thousand works through local BitTorrent trackers. In connection with this and other successes over the past few years, last month Rights Alliance revealed that Thomas Heldrup, the anti-piracy group’s Head of Content Protection & Enforcement, had been running an undercover operation in piracy circles since 2016. Fears of Infiltration Concerns that a site might have a spy on board certainly aren’t unusual; for many site operators, however, it’s the kind of thing that only ever happens to someone else, usually those perceived to be less careful than them. In some cases that might be true but Denmark’s distinguishing features as a country may introduce complications. A relatively small population and a language rarely spoken outside Denmark’s borders, presents an increased chance of local piracy communities overlapping. Combine that with a shared reliance on locally attractive content and one site’s security issues risk becoming a much broader problem, as the last couple of years appear to show. Until recently, however, there were few signs to suggest those at the top of the so-called ‘Piracy Pyramid‘ may also have become targets in Denmark. Nevertheless, some of those with connections to Scene entities are starting to ask questions. 47-Year-Old Arrested in Denmark In a statement last week, Denmark’s National Unit for Special Crime (NSK) announced that as part of a long-running investigation, a man was arrested on November 22 and then charged with copyright infringement offenses. NSK said its officers searched the home of a 47-year-old man in South Zealand (Sydsjælland) and seized IT equipment in connection with illegal file-sharing and “copyright infringement of a particularly serious nature.” “The case is about an organized network that has illegally shared extremely large quantities of films and TV series via file sharing services,” said NSK Police Commissioner Anders-Emil Nøhr Kelbæk. While noting that NSK had no further information to offer at this time, Kelbæk said he was pleased that NSK had arrested another suspect believed to have played a ‘significant role’ in the unnamed network. At Least Five Arrests Thus Far Last week’s arrest was only the latest in a series of arrests carried out as part of the same long-running NSK investigation into the illegal distribution of movies and TV shows. In late August, NSK arrested four people on suspicion of sharing “extremely large quantities” of movies and TV shows. NSK raided addresses in South-West Jutland, North Zealand and Bornholmand. A 43-year old was arrested at the last location, but it’s claimed he lives elsewhere. In common with last week’s arrest, all were charged on suspicion of “particularly serious” copyright infringement offenses. In an almost identical statement to that issued last week, Commissioner Anders-Emil Nøhr Kelbæk said the case was about “an organized network that shares extremely large amounts of data, presumably in the form of films and series.” Does Available Information Really Indicate a ‘Scene’ Bust? TorrentFreak sources report concerns that last week’s arrest may be linked to Scene groups. Terminology used by NSK doesn’t instantly rule that out and does seem to suggest something potentially more significant than other arrests over the past few years. According to NSK, the August arrests took place on August 28, 2023. Using information in Scene release databases we looked for Danish Scene groups and/or groups that were releasing Denmark-focused content before that date but then made no releases afterward; while that wouldn’t provide conclusive proof that a group had been targeted, the method has proven useful in the past. Findings as follows: ⦿ Nordic blu-ray release group (including Danish) paused Aug 13, restarted Oct 16. Nothing since ⦿ TV show release group paused Aug 28 to Sep 1 but continued as normal ⦿ At least one TV show group made dozens of releases on Aug 28 suggesting little ‘panic’ on that date While activity late August suggests nothing especially out of the ordinary, activity since the arrest last week stands in contrast. Notable Danish content release group inactivity since November 22 arrest as follows: ⦿ ‘HYGGE’ | TV shows | 550+ releases since March 23 | Last release Nov 23, 2023 07:43:39 ⦿ ‘HiVE’ | TV shows | 650+ releases since March 23 | Last release Nov 23, 2023 05:03:52 ⦿ ‘DKiDS’ | TV shows | 3000+ release since March 23 | Last release Nov 21, 2023 10:34:50 ⦿ ‘DANES’ | TV shows | 640+ releases since May 23 | Last release Nov 22, 2023 08:13:21 ⦿ ‘JYSK’ | TV shows | 520+ releases since March 23 | Last release Nov 23, 2023 08:20:39 TF is informed that some groups may have gone dark simply out of an abundance of caution. That may or may not include all or none of the above. It’s also possible that the groups have nothing to release. Furthermore, there are many other global groups with no obvious links to Danish content or Denmark that also stopped releasing on November 21. The reasons for this are unknown but holidays in the United States may play a role. In an information vacuum, rumors are extremely common but if the authorities and/or Rights Alliance used intelligence obtained in other operations to infiltrate Scene groups or their affiliates, it wouldn’t be a surprise. It wouldn’t be surprise to hear that any group downtime was directly linked to turkey and/or alcohol consumption either but in any event, the next couple of weeks should prove informative. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article
  14. TL;DR: A lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone (all languages) is on sale for £119.68 this Cyber Monday, saving you 52% on list price. The ability to communicate in multiple languages is more than just a skill; it's a valuable asset with far-reaching benefits. And this deal on all-language access to Rosetta Stone for life gives you access to all 25 languages for just £119.68 with coupon code ROSETTA. Learning a new language comes with benefits like allowing you to communicate with others while travelling and much more. According to Cambridge University Press and Assessment, learning a new language later in life is "a powerful way to exercise your brain," partly because you are "forming new connections in the brain and strengthening nervous system links." Rosetta Stone has been a leader in language learning for nearly 30 years and has been used by names like NASA and Calvin Klein. Rosetta helps you develop your understanding of each language through reading, writing, and speaking. It does this through interactive software and TruAccent, its speech-recognition technology, that analyses the words you say to perfect your pronunciation. You'll start out matching words with images and basic conversational skills about things like shopping, ordering at a restaurant, and more. You can then level up to more complex topics like sharing opinions and discussing pop culture, which could come in handy while travelling abroad. This software works on various types of devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile devices. However, customers can only access one language at a time, but can switch between them at any time. This beloved language-learning software can help you build fluency and confidence in your choice of 25 languages. If you've been wanting to learn a new language, this could be a great time to start. Get a lifetime subscription to Rosetta Stone's 25 languages for £119.68 when you use the code ROSETTA at checkout. Opens in a new window Credit: Rosetta Stone Rosetta Stone: All Languages (Lifetime Subscription) £119.68 at the Mashable Shop Get Deal View the full article
  15. Christopher Sluka is usually known for his serious, highly technical, expertly composed orchestral work with a hint of synth, but his newest effort is anything but serious. Unless you’re from Mexico or the American Southwest, that is. Those of us living anywhere from Colorado to Baja California know just how important tamales are year-round, not to mention Christmas. Now, “Christmas Tamales” is the anthem to the corn-based parcels we always needed for the season, thanks to Sluka and his band, the aptly named SLUKA. The lore of the tamale is vast and varied, its origins dating back millennia to Mesoamerican cultures but their current form, which inspired Sluka’s rousing Christmas ode, are still very much a staple wherever one might find a large Hispanic culture. Made of a corn masa base and wrapped usually in corn husks (in Southern Mexican and Central American areas, banana leaves are also a possible choice), they vary in terms of their flavor and filling. Traditional savory choices are usually chicken or pork with some sort of mole (sauce), but there are veggie green chile varieties as well as loads of sweet options with white corn and filled with raisins, pineapples of mangoes. In Southern California where Sluka likely discovered the traditional pocket food, tamales are available all year long at restaurants, taco trucks and even at many places of business, where industrious home cooks will sell them to hungry workers. These homemade, fresh tamales are considered the best ones among SoCal residents in the know; until Christmas, of course, when loads of abuelas from all different regions and will all different recipes get out their big pots and start to make them for family and friends. The Christmas tamale-giving season usually starts right after Thanksgiving (with delicious turkey tamales making an appearance, of course) and lasts through the New Year. Anyone lucky to be a family member, friend or neighbor to someone who makes tamales knows truly how magical they are, and it’s clear this is the type of tamale about which Sluka and his band are singing their praises. The song itself is much more lighthearted and fun than SLUKA’s usual work, which tends to be dense, emotive and complex. Clearly intended at least partially for kids, “Christmas Tamales” is joyful song, easy to sing along to with pretty simple lyrics, almost like a Christmas Carol. It’s still got that SLUKA flare, however, with loads of warm, ambient sound design and synth supporting the well-composed and produced music. Sluka’s vocals themselves are booming and jovial with just a touch of cheek, sort of like Jack Black’s in Tenacious D songs. A perfect carol to everyone’s favorite Christmas food in Mexico and the American Southwest. Sluka and his team also created an equally fun and family-forward animated video for “Christmas Tamales” using AI made by SLUKA bass player, Anna Eppink. The video is a wild ride through a Christmas wonderland where yetis shop for and prepare the Christmas tamales. Tamales also dance in the sky as the band play the song. Whimsical, festive and kind of trippy, it’s what one would expect if SLUKA did a Christmas video. While there are likely other songs about the Christmas tamale tradition, this one done with such gusto and fun means “Christmas Tamales” could be an instant classic. With nearly 200k views on the YouTube video already and 30k streams on Spotify, it’s well on its way to becoming a household holiday song and it’s a great way to tease SLUKA’s upcoming album. This article was first published on Your EDM. Source: Thank You SLUKA! There’s Finally a Song About ‘Christmas Tamales!’ [Video] View the full article
  16. TL;DR: As of Nov. 26, you can get up to $20 in Amazon credits or save up to 22% on select Amazon gift cards for Cyber Monday. Opens in a new window Credit: Bath & Body Works Amazon Gift Cards + Coupon Codes Get up to $20 in Amazon Credit Get Deal Black Friday and Cyber Monday throw a lot at you. Shoppers are inundated with deals on everything from streaming services to robot vacuums, which can be a little overwhelming. But you know what the most savvy shoppers prioritise? Gift cards and digital credit, that's what. From Black Friday through Cyber Monday, Amazon is offering a wide range of gift card deals and coupon codes that could help you to make light work of your holiday shopping. For the easiest gift idea, this Cyber Monday deal includes discounted gift cards you can buy to give away, saving you up to 22% on the likes of Yankee Candle, the NFL Shop, and Bath & Body Works. Amazon is also providing coupon codes for Amazon credit with certain gift cards, so long as you purchase the qualifying amount. This is a smart way to save some cash while giving someone a gift they'll love. To take advantage of these coupon codes you simply need to: Add the gift card to your cart with the qualifying amount Use the corresponding coupon code for your purchase When your credit is ready, you'll get a confirmation email within 24 hours of your order The credit will be automatically applied to your next eligible purchase at the checkout Some of the coupon codes for gift cards you can find are: Lyft: Buy $100 to save $20 with code T5LYF Home Chef: Buy $50 to save $10.50 with code T5HC Under Armour: Buy $50 to get $10 credit with code UAT523 Apple: Buy $100 to get $15 credit with code APPLET5USAP If you're just dipping your toe into this year's Cyber Monday offering, this is a great place to start. If that toe dip becomes a marathon shopping session, you can find an extensive list of the best deals right here. View the full article
  17. Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer. If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for Nov. 27's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you. Where did Wordle come from?Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing. Not the day you're after? Here's the Wordle answer for Nov. 26. What's the best Wordle starting word?The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N. What happened to the Wordle archive?The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles used to be available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it. Unfortunately, it has since been taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. Is Wordle getting harder?It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though. Why are there two different Wordle answers some days?Though usually Wordle will only accept one correct solution per day, occasionally it has rebelled against the norm and deem two different answers acceptable. This is due to changes the New York Times made to Wordle after it acquired the puzzle game. The Times has since added its own updated word list, so this should happen even less frequently than before. To avoid any confusion, it's a good idea to refresh your browser before getting stuck into a new puzzle. Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:Orange-ish brown hair color. Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?There are no letters that appear twice. Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...Today's Wordle starts with the letter T. SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. What's the answer to Wordle today?Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution. Drumroll please! The solution to Wordle #891 is... TAWNY. Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Reporting by Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article. View the full article
  18. Best Amazon Echo device deals for Cyber Monday 2023: Best Echo deal overall Echo Show 5 (3rd gen) $39.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Best runner-up Echo deal Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) $49.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Best Echo Dot deal Echo Dot (5th gen) $22.99 at Amazon (save $27) Get Deal It's that time again — Amazon's Cyber Weekend sale is officially underway, and the retail giant isn't holding back on its discounts. From smart home devices to streaming services, there are plenty of deals to take advantage of. SEE ALSO: The 10 best Echo devices to buy on Black Friday Standout deals definitely include major discounts on Amazon Echo devices. Whether you're on a mission to make your smart home even smarter or trying to find the perfect gift for a friend or loved one, now's the time to snag a great deal on an Amazon Echo smart speaker. Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a have dropped to an all-time low price. Best Echo deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Show 5 (3rd gen) $39.99 at Amazon (save $50) Get Deal Why we like it During Amazon's Early Black Friday sale, you can score an all-new Echo Show 5 (3rd gen) for just $39.99. That's a pretty sweet deal, considering the sticker price is usually $89.99. It can connect to various smart home devices, allowing you to control your lights, thermostat, and more with your voice. Plus, it's got a bigger sound than its predecessor and a 5.5-inch screen, making it perfect for watching videos, checking the weather, or video calling friends and family. This smart device is available in charcoal, glacier white, and cloud blue. Best runner-up Echo deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) $49.99 at Amazon (save $80) Get Deal Why we like itIt's not the most recent Echo Show 8 model, but for over 50 percent off the original price, the 2nd gen version is a steal. The full touchscreen smart device does everything you'd expect from an Alexa-enabled smart speaker but adds a welcome visual element that can show you your day at a glance and the latest weather reports, make video calls, pull up your favorite streaming apps, and more. It also has an easily accessible privacy shutter for when you're not using the device's front camera. Pick one up ahead of Black Friday for just $49.99. Best Echo Dot Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Echo Dot (5th gen) $22.99 at Amazon (save $27) Get Deal Why we like itThe Echo Dot is ideal for anyone looking for a smart speaker on a budget. It's only $22.99 and still provides all the functionality you'd expect from an Echo device. And, according to Amazon, the 2022 Echo Dot (5th gen) is its best-sounding Echo Dot yet, delivering crisp vocals and balanced bass for your favorite music. While you can't make phone calls with the Echo Dot, you can control your smart home devices, set timers and alarms, ask for information, and even add items to your shopping list thanks to the built-in assistant, Alexa. This smart device is available in charcoal, glacier white, and deep sea blue. More Amazon Echo dealsEcho Pop with TP-Link Kasa Smart Color Bulb — $17.99 $62.98 (save $44.99) Echo Pop — $17.99 $39.99 (save $22) Echo Dot Kids (5th gen) — $27.99 $59.99 (save $32) Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) with clock and TP-Link Kasa Smart Color Bulb — $34.99 $82.98 (save $47.99) Echo Dot (5th gen, 2022 release) with clock — $34.99 $59.99 (save $25) Echo (4th gen) — $54.99 $99.99 (save $45) Echo Studio — $154.99 $199.99 (save $45) Echo Studio with TP-Link Kasa Smart Bulb — $154.99 $222.98 (save $67.99) More Amazon Echo Show dealsShow 5 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) with TP-Link Kasa Smart Color Bulb — $39.99 $112.98 (save $72.99) Echo Show 5 (3rd Gen) with Blink Mini — $44.99 $124.98 (save $79.99) Echo Show 5 Kids (3rd gen) — $44.99 $99.99 (save $55) Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) — $104.99 $149.99 (save $45) Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen, 2023 release) with TP-Link Kasa Smart Color Bulb — $104.99 $172.98 (save $67.99) Echo Show 10 (3rd Gen) — $159.99 $249.99 (save $90) View the full article
  19. The best Fire TV deals ahead of Cyber Monday 2023: Best Fire TV Stick deal Fire TV Stick 4K $24.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Best Fire TV deal Amazon 65-inch Omni QLED Fire TV $589.99 at Amazon (save $210) Get Deal Best TV with Built-in Fire TV deal Insignia 65-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV $339.99 at Best Buy (save $160) Get Deal Best Fire TV accessory deal Amazon Fire TV Soundbar $99 at Amazon (save $20) Get Deal Although it's not quite what it used to be — a frenzy of frantic customers pushing and shoving to get the best in-store deals — Cyber Weekend remains one of the best times to score a sweet deal on a TV. Better yet, rather than battling with others on a single day, you have an entire season to save. Amazon's official Black Friday sale kicked off in the early hours of Nov. 17 and discounts on the retail giant's Fire TV products are truly on fire (sorry). That includes streaming dongles, Fire TVs, and even smart TVs with Fire TV built-in. The best deals aren't just at Amazon, either; other retailers like Best Buy and Walmart launched their Black Friday sales extra early this year as well. If you're in the market to enhance your streaming setup (or help someone else enhance theirs), there are plenty of all-time low deals already worth shopping. We'll be keeping track of all of the best Cyber Weekend Fire TV deals below at all the retail behemoths and will update the list as more deals drop. Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a have dropped to an all-time low price. Amazon Fire TV stick deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device $24.99 at Amazon (save $25) Get Deal Why we like itJust launched at the end of Sept., the 2nd generation Fire TV Stick 4K has only seen one discount prior to this Black Friday deal. Our reviewer said the previous iteration "checks off almost every box that you'd want in a streaming dongle." The latest model takes things a step further with an upgraded 1.7 GHz processor that's 30% more powerful than the first generation. Plus, it's equipped with WiFi 6 support for seamless streaming. Snag it for 50% off for Black Friday — its lowest price to date. More Amazon Fire TV streaming device dealsFire TV Stick Lite — $15.99 $29.99 (save $14) Fire TV Stick (3rd Gen) — $19.99 $39.99 (save $20) Amazon Alexa Voice Remote Pro — $27.99 $34.99 (save $7) Fire TV Stick 4K Max — $39.99 $59.99 (save $20) Amazon Fire TV Cube — $109.99 $139.99 (save $30) Amazon Fire TV deals Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Our pick: Amazon 65-inch Omni QLED Fire TV $589.99 at Amazon (save $210) Get Deal Why we like itReleased last year, the Amazon Omni QLED Fire TV is the most impressive smart TV in Amazon's lineup. It's essentially a dupe of Samsung's The Frame TV, featuring Ambient Experience that turns the screen into a canvas to display art, personal photos, and more. While it's not quite at its lowest price to date (that would be $549.99), it's still a significant $210 discount. Not to mention, it's currently sitting at $10 less than the LED model in the same size — that means you get more bang for your buck and a bumped-up picture quality for less. More Amazon Fire TV dealsAmazon 32-inch 2-Series HD Fire TV — $109.99 $199.99 (save $90) Amazon 40-inch 2-Series HD Fire TV — $179.99 $249.99 (save $70) Amazon 43-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $249.99 $369.99 (save $120) Amazon 43-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $279.99 $399.99 (save $120) Amazon 50-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $289.99 $449.99 (save $160) Amazon 55-inch 4-Series 4K Fire TV — $339.99 $519.99 (save $180) Amazon 50-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $359.99 $479.99 (save $120) Amazon 43-inch Omni QLED Fire TV — $379.99 $449.99 (save $70) Amazon 50-inch Omni QLED Fire TV — $399.99 $529.99 (save $130) Amazon 55-inch Omni QLED Fire TV — $439.99 $599.99 (save $160) Amazon 65-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $599.99 $759.99 (save $160) Amazon 75-inch Omni 4K Fire TV — $819.99 $1,049.99 (save $230) Amazon 75-inch Omni QLED Fire TV — $879.99 $1,099.99 (save $220) TV deals with Fire TV built-in Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Our pick: Insignia 65-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV $339.99 at Best Buy (save $160) Get Deal Why we like itYou'd be hard-pressed to find a TV with this much screen real estate at a lower price. Compared to the 65-inch version of Amazon's in-house 4K TV, Best Buy's Insignia F30 Series 4K TV is over $250 cheaper. It's actually the same cost as Amazon's 55-inch offering, meaning you'll get an extra 10 inches of immersive imagery with the Insignia F30. It's also equipped with DTS Studio Sound, Alexa voice control, and flexible connectivity options. At $339.99, this is its lowest price to date. More deals on TVs with built-in Fire TVInsignia 32-inch Class F20 HD TV — $79.99 $149.99 (save $70) Insignia 43-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV — $169.99 $269.99 (save $100) Toshiba 43-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $189.99 $279.99 (save $90) Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $219.99 $319.99 (save $100) Insignia 55-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV — $229.99 $349.99 (save $120) TCL 50-inch S4 4K Fire TV — $249.99 $349.99 (save $100) Insignia 58-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV — $269.99 $379.99 (save $110) TCL 65-inch S4 4K Fire TV — $399.99 $529.99 (save $130) Insignia 70-inch F30 Series 4K Fire TV — $399.99 $599.99 (save $200) Toshiba 75-inch C350 Series 4K Fire TV — $499.99 $799.99 (save $300) Fire TV accessory dealsAmazon Fire TV Blaster — $24.99 $34.99 (save $10) Amazon Fire TV Soundbar — $99.99 $119.99 (save $20) View the full article
  20. A quick look at the best Cyber Monday Roomba deals: Best standalone Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5 $229 at Amazon (save $120.99) Get Deal Best self-emptying Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $499 at Amazon (save $300.99) Get Deal Best self-emptying and mopping Roomba deal Our pick: iRobot Roomba combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400.01) Get Deal Roombas are typically slightly more expensive than robot vacs from brands like Shark or Roborock, making them kind of a big deal on Cyber Weekend. But 2023 is a particularly exciting year in the way of Cyber Weekend Roomba deals. That's because iRobot released five new Roombas in September 2023, filling several blind spots of the Roomba lineup like budget-friendly mopping options and budget-friendly small obstacle-avoiding options. Not only is Cyber Weekend prime time to grab one of those more affordable new Roombas for even cheaper than they were upon release, but it's also your chance to snag one of the pricier new Roombas at a more digestible price point. SEE ALSO: Target's Black Friday sale is running the entire month of November For example, we saw the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ (the fanciest Roomba that we didn't expect to get a discount at all) drop a whopping $400 to $999 in early November, and that deal is now officially back in business as of Nov. 26. If that's still too steep for you, consider the Roomba Combo j5+ that does most of the same things, but has a slightly more involved mopping mechanism. It's on sale for less than $500. We're tracking all of the live Roomba deals ahead of Cyber Monday below, organized by whether or not they come with a self-emptying dock. If you need more guidance on comparing Roomba models, we have a guide. Here's a quick rule of thumb: A plus sign denotes automatic emptying, and "combo" in the title denotes mopping capabilities. Open to a robot vacuum that's not a Roomba? A ton of models from Shark, Roborock, and more are also on sale for Cyber Monday, and we're tracking those as well. Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Best standalone Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our pick: iRobot Roomba i5 $229 at Amazon (save $120.99) Get Deal Why we like itThe Combo i5 is the cheapest mopping Roomba and uses iRobot's new Swap and Mop design, which means that a separate water tank needs to be manually clicked onboard for the i5 to know it's wet cleaning time. The i5 (as well as the i3 and i4) can also be sent to specific rooms in your home thanks to a software update that brought Imprint Smart Mapping technology onboard the budget Roombas. More standalone Roomba dealsiRobot Roomba 676 — $154 $208.96 (save $54.96) iRobot Roomba 692 — $154.99 $189 (save $34.01) iRobot Roomba 694 — $159 $274.99 (save $250) iRobot Roomba Combo i5 — $229 $349.99 (save $120.99) iRobot Braava jet m6 — $299.99 $449.99 (save $150) iRobot Roomba Combo j5 — $348.99 $599.99 (save $251) iRobot Roomba i5+ — $349.99 $549.99 (save $200) iRobot Roomba j7 — $359.99 $599.99 (save $240) Best self-emptying Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our pick: iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $499 at Amazon (save $300.99) Get Deal Why we like itYou can bring home the triple threat that is automatic emptying, mopping, and small obstacle avoidance for less than $500 with this deal that dropped on the first official day of Amazon's Black Friday sale (Nov. 17). Compared to the Roomba j7+, the j5+'s obstacle detection cameras aren't quite as precise, and still may require you to pick up things like towels or socks, or put a virtual barrier around pet bowls. But to be able to skip skimming the floor for rogue cords and enjoy automatic emptying for less than $500, you can probably deal with ensuring laundry gets into the basket. As for the mopping, this is one of iRobot's new Swap and Mop models, which does require you to be home to physically click on the water tank when you want to mop. More self-emptying Roombas on saleiRobot Roomba i7+ — $374.99 $899.99 (save $525) iRobot Roomba j7+ — $469 $598 (save $129) iRobot Roomba s9+ — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400) iRobot Roomba j9+ — $599 $999.99 (save $400.99) Best self-emptying and mopping Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400.99) Get Deal Why we like itSimply put — the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is the best Roomba on the market, and this early Cyber Monday deal matches its all-time record low that we saw back in November. Mashable's resident robot vacuum reviewer Leah Stodart considers this to be the very best Roomba. It combines the best features we've seen in Roombas both in vacuuming and mopping ability, plus the dock is bigger and better than previous docks from iRobot. Self-emptying and mopping Roombas iRobot Roomba i4+ EVO — $349 $599.99 (save $250.99) iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ — $349 $599.99 (save $250.99) iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ — $499 $799.99 (save $300.99) iRobot Roomba Combo s9+ — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400) iRobot Roomba s9+ and Braava Jet m6 bundle — $899 $1,249 (save $400) View the full article
  21. A quick look at the best Cyber Monday Roomba deals at Amazon Best standalone Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo i5 $229 (save $120.99) Get Deal Best self-emptying and mopping Roomba deal iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400.99) Get Deal Just like Amazon makes it a point to focus on its own Echo and Fire TV devices on shopping holidays, it also plugs Roomba deals heavily. 2023 marks the second Black Friday season since Amazon acquired iRobot, giving Amazon an extra reason to be the go-to spot for new record-low pricing on both older Roombas and the 2023 line. We've seen both of those play out already this year: The 2021 Roomba s9+ dropped from $999.99 to $499.99 during Prime Day, the phone charger-avoiding Roomba j6+ dropped from $799.99 to $499.99 the week before Black Friday, and the smartest and most powerful Roomba, the mopping Roomba Combo j9+, dropped from $1,399.99 to $999.99 the week before Black Friday as well. Some of the early deals have only lasted for a few days so far this season, but many have made a comeback throughout Cyber Weekend. We're keeping tabs on those deals as they pop up, so be sure to check back often if you're waiting for a specific Roomba to go on sale — because it probably will. Here's a quick rule of thumb: A plus sign denotes automatic emptying, and "combo" in the title denotes mopping capabilities. If you're not set on a Roomba, be sure to check out our running list of the best Cyber Weekend robot vacuum deals across several retailers from brands like Shark and Roborock. Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Best standalone Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo i5 $229 at Amazon (save $120.99) Get Deal Why we like itIf you're shopping for a well-known brand's robot vacuum but don't want to spend a fortune, the iRobot Roomba Combo i5 for under $230 is a solid pick. While it lacks some premium features like a self-emptying base, the i5 is capable of both vacuuming and mopping, uses Roomba's Smart Mapping so it's less likely to need rescuing, and works well with pet hair and on carpets. More standalone Roomba dealsiRobot Roomba 692 — $154.99 $189 (save $34.01) iRobot Roomba 694 — $159 $274.99 (save $250) iRobot Roomba Combo i5 — $229 $349.99 (save $120.99) iRobot Roomba Combo j5 — $348.99 $599.99 (save $251) iRobot Roomba j7 — $359.99 $599.99 (save $240) Best self-emptying Roomba deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ $999 at Amazon (save $400.99) Get Deal Why we like itBack at its lowest price ever, the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ is the brand's top model, according to Mashable's resident vacuum tester Leah Stodart. It combines the best vacuuming functions we've seen from a Roomba with the upgraded mopping abilities. The self-emptying and self-fill functions mean you can pay less attention to floor maintenance for a longer period of time (up to 30 days). Dropped to under $1,000, this top-of-the-line robot vacuum is as good as it gets in terms of performance and savings. More self-emptying roomba dealsiRobot Roomba j7+ — $469 $598 (save $129) iRobot Roomba s9+ — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400) iRobot Roomba Combo i5+ — $349 $549.99 (save $200.99) iRobot Roomba s9+ and Braava Jet m6 bundle — $899 $1,249 (save $400) View the full article
  22. A quick look at the best Cyber Monday self-emptying robot vacuum deals Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba s9+ $599.99 at Roomba (save $400) Get Deal Best self-emptying robot vacuum/mop hybrid deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $499 at Amazon (save $300.99) Get Deal So you want a robot vacuum to knock a chore off your list, but if you don't want to deal with vacuuming, do you really want to deal with emptying the dust bin every time it cleans? Probably not — but that doesn't have to mean compromising your budget. Not with Cyber Weekend self-emptying robot vacuum deals, a ton of which are already live at early Cyber Monday events at Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy. SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The 2023 guide to deciding which Roomba to buy on Black Friday We've rounded up the best live deals below, which are split into two categories — regular self-emptying robot vacuums and self-emptying models that also mop — and are organized by price. Robot vacuums (especially Roombas) have already proven to be quite the up-and-down category this Cyber Weekend season, so this list will be updated as soon as one goes on sale... or back to full price. Best self-emptying robot vacuum deals Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our pick: iRobot Roomba s9+ $599.99 at Roomba (save $400) Get Deal Why we like itThe iRobot Roomba s9+ offers terrific suction and convenient automated dirt disposal. Using the app and scheduling are a breeze, it empties itself, and you can send it to specific rooms. It takes all the work out of the equation, so you can focus on more important things — like Black Friday. More self-emptying robot vacuums on saleiHome AutoVac Nova S1 Pro — $198 $349.99 (save $151.99) eufy L50 SES — $198 $349.99 (save $151.99) iRobot Roomba i4+ — $349 $599.99 (save $250.99) Shark Matrix — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200) Roborock Q5+ — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300) Shark Detect Pro RV2820AE — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150) Best self-emptying vacuum/mop hybrid deals Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our pick: iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $499 at Amazon (save $300.99) Get Deal Why we like itYou can bring home the triple threat that is automatic emptying, mopping, and small obstacle avoidance for less than $500 with this deal that dropped on the first official day of Amazon's Black Friday sale. Compared to the Roomba j7+, the j5+'s obstacle detection cameras aren't quite as precise, and still may require you to pick up things like towels or socks, or put a virtual barrier around pet bowls. But to be able to skip skimming the floor for rogue cords and enjoy automatic emptying for less than $400, you can probably deal with ensuring laundry gets into the basket. As for the mopping, this is one of iRobot's new Swap and Mop models, which does require you to be home to physically click on the water tank when you want to mop. More self-emptying robot vacuum/mop hybrids on saleYeedi Vac Station — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200 with on-page coupon) Ecovacs Deebot N8+ — $349.99 $649.99 (save $300) Ecovacs N10+ — $419.99 $649.99 (save $230) Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 — $449.99 $699.60 (save $249.61) Yeedi Cube — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200 with on-page coupon) Roborock Q5 Pro+ — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200 with on-page coupon) Shark Matrix 2-in-1 — $549 $699 (save $150) Roborock Q8 Max+ — $599.99 $819.99 (save $220 with on-page coupon) Roborock Q Revo — $799.99 $899.99 (save $100 with on-page coupon) Eufy Clean X9 Pro — $799.99 $899.99 (save $100 with on-page coupon) Roborock S8+ — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200 with Prime) Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni — $839.99 $1,099.99 (save $260) View the full article
  23. A quick look at the best Cyber Monday vacuum deals Best self-emptying robot vacuum deal iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $499 at Amazon (save $300.99) Get Deal Best Dyson vacuum deal Dyson V15 Detect Absolute $549.99 at Dyson (save $200) Get Deal Best upright vacuum deal Shark Cordless Pro IZ562H $249.99 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Vacuums are inarguably one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse Cyber Weekend hands-down making Cyber Weekend one of the best times of year to buy a vacuum. SEE ALSO: Roomba models, explained: The 2023 guide to deciding which Roomba you should buy Whether you've been drooling over a Dyson all year or are looking to hand off the act of vacuuming completely by opting for a robot vacuum, there's probably an early Cyber Monday deal for that. We're tracking them all below by category: shop self-emptying robot vacuums, hybrid robot vacuums, and cordless vacuums, in order of least to most expensive under each umbrella. Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Best early Cyber Monday robot vacuum deal Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot Our top pick: iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ $499 at Amazon (save $300.99) Get Deal Why we like itThe newest Roomba is a triple threat with automatic emptying, mopping, and small obstacle avoidance. And even though this vacuum just came out in September, you can already get it for less than $500 with this stellar deal. Compared to the Roomba Combo j7+, the Combo j5+'s obstacle detection cameras aren't quite as precise, and you'll want to pick up small items like towels or socks (and put a virtual barrier around pet bowls). But considering it's drastically more affordable than the previous generation — even without a discount — that's a fair tradeoff. As for the mopping, this is one of iRobot's new Swap and Mop models, so you'll need to physically click on the water tank when you want to mop. Standalone robot vacuum dealsiHome AutoVac Juno — $85 $199 (save $114.99) iRobot Roomba 694 — $159 $274.99 (save $250) Shark Matrix RV2300 — $199 $299.99 (save $100.99) Roborock Q5 — $259.99 $429.99 (save $170) iRobot Roomba j7 — $359.99 $599.99 (save $200) Self-emptying robot vacuum dealsShark Matrix with self-empty — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200) iRobot Roomba i5+ — $349.99 $549.99 (save $200) Roborock Q5+ — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300) Shark Detect Pro RV2820AE — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150) iRobot Roomba j7+ — $469 $598.99 (save $129.99) iRobot Roomba s9+ — $599.99 $999.99 (save $400) Hybrid robot vacuum and mop dealsYeedi Vac Max — $159.97 $349.99 (save $189.03) iRobot Roomba Combo i5 — $229 $349.99 (save $150.99) Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 — $249.99 $449.99 (save $200) Yeedi Vac Station — $299.99 $499.99 (save $200) Roborock Q7 Max — $329.99 $599.99 (save $270) iRobot Roomba Combo j5 — $348.99 $599.99 (save $251) Ecovacs N10+ — $399.99 $649.99 (save $250) Shark Matrix Plus 2-in-1 with self-empty — $399.99 $699.99 (save $300) Yeedi Cube — $450 $699.99 (save $249.99) Ecovacs T9+ — $499.99 $799.99 (save $300) Roborock Q5 Pro+ — $479.99 $699.99 (save $220) Roborock S8 — $599.99 $749.99 (save $150 with on-page coupon) Ecovacs Cube Pro — $599.99 $799.99 (save $200) Roborock Q8 Max+ — $599.99 $819.99 (save $220) Eufy Clean X9 Pro — $649.99 $899.99 (save $250) Roborock Q Revo — $679.99 $899.99 (save $220) Roborock S8+ — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200) Ecovacs Deebot T20 Omni — $799.99 $1,099.99 (save $300) Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Robot Vacuum and Mop — $1,049.99 $1,499.99 (save $450) Best early Cyber Monday Dyson vacuum deals Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson V15 Detect Absolute $549.99 at Dyson (save $200) Get Deal Why we like itOur beloved Dyson V12 Detect Slim may be sold out after an amazing price drop to $399, but that wasn't the only jaw-dropping deal lurking this Black Friday. Now, we're focusing on the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute: the beastlier version of the V12 Detect Slim. "Detect" in the name signifies the cleaning head with Dyson's iconic green laser that points out dust you wouldn't have been able to see otherwise, which is then sent through a full HEPA filtration system. (A more aggressive cleaning head for digging into plush carpeting is also included.) Compared to the V12, the V15 Detect has a heavier body with a larger dustbin and 240 Air Watts of suction power versus the V12's 150. That makes it the second-most powerful Dyson line under the more expensive Gen5 models that just came out over the summer. More Dyson vacuum dealsDyson V8 Origin+ — $249.99 $419.99 (save $170) Dyson V8 Absolute — $279.99 $519.99 (save $240) Dyson V11 Cordless Stick Vaccum, Large — $248.97 $569.99 (save $321.02) Dyson V11 Extra — $349.99 $599.99 (save $250) Dyson V12 Detect Slim — $399.99 $649.99 (save $200) Dyson Outsize Cordless Vacuum Cleaner — $449.97 $599.99 (save $150.02) Dyson Gen5detect Absolute — $748.99 $949.99 (save $201) Early Cyber Monday deals on upright vacuums Opens in a new window Credit: Shark Our Pick: Shark Cordless Pro IZ562H $249.99 at Amazon (save $150) Get Deal Why we like it:Itching for a solid (cheaper) Dyson alternative? The Cordless Pro from Shark offers 40 minutes of battery life and all the accessories you need to suck up pet hair and dust from every corner and surface of your home. Shark's vacuums are long-lasting and reliable (we speak from extensive experience testing vacuums), and for Black Friday-Cyber Monday, this stick vacuum is at its lowest price ever. More upright vacuum dealsCordless vacuums Tineco iFloor Max 2 cordless wet and dry cleaner — $99 $199 (save $100) Shark Pet IX141 — $149.99 $259.99 (save $110) LG CordZero A912 — $198 $344 (save $146) Samsung Jet 60 Flex — $199 $299.99 (save $100.99) Tineco Pure ONE S15 — $279 $399.99 (save $120.99) Samsung Jet 75 Pet — $299.99 $399 (save $99.01) Shark Detect Pro — $379.99 $449.99 (save $70) Samsung Bespoke Jet with auto-empty Clean Station — $499.99 $699.99 (save $200) Tineco One S7 Pro cordless wet and dry cleaner — $559 $799 (save $100) LG All in One with auto-empty — $595.98 $999.99 (save $404.01) Corded vacuums Eureka PowerSpeed — $71.99 $89.99 (save $80) Shark NV356E Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum — $139.99 $199.99 (save $60) Bissell SurfaceSense — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120) Bissell CrossWave HydroSteam — $269.99 $349.99 (save $80) View the full article
  24. A quick look at the best Cyber Monday Dyson deals: Best cordless Dyson vacuum deal Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Stick Vacuum $748.99 at Amazon (save $201) Get Deal Best Dyson fan deal Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP02 $440.99 at Best Buy (save $189) Get Deal Best Dyson hair tool deal Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete Long $499.99 at Best Buy (save $100) Get Deal Eyeing a Dyson product at some point in your adult life could nearly be considered a universal experience. If price was the main source of your hesitation, then the best Black Friday Dyson deals are already live to make your decision easier. The Dyson products on sale this Cyber Weekend include some items we've never seen on sale before, like $201 off the newly released Dyson Gen5detect cordless vacuum. If you spot a Dyson you've always wanted and it's on sale, we recommend acting fast. And before you ask, yes, the Airwrap is still on sale. SEE ALSO: Dyson's cheapest laser vacuum made me feel bad about my dirty floors...in a good way Speaking of Best Buy, My Best Buy Plus and Total members can save 20% on select Dyson hair care (if it's not already on sale) and receive a $50 Best Buy gift card on top of their purchase. Dyson's website and Walmart are the other two retailers where you'll have the best luck on Dyson early Cyber Monday deals. (Amazon and Target have some of the same steals on occasion, but don't go as hard.) We're tracking the best deals on Dyson products ahead of Cyber Monday below, and will be adding new ones as they come out: Note: All newly added deals are marked with a , while deals with a have dropped to an all-time low price. Deals with a strikeout were either sold out or expired at the time of writing. Our top pick Opens in a new window Credit: Dyson Our pick: Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Stick Vacuum $748.99 at Amazon (save $201) Get Deal Why we like itWe previously dubbed the Dyson V12 Detect Slim the best Black Friday Dyson deal, but the turkey hasn't even been served and that sale has already ended. Instead, we recommend checking out the new Dyson Gen5detect cordless stick vacuum, which is Dyson's newest and most powerful vacuum ever. The new vacuum in the Detect line still comes with that signature laser, which illuminates dust as you clean. It's also got a HEPA filter, a larger dustbin, and a crazy-good battery life More deals on cordless Dyson vacuumsDyson V8 Origin+ — $224.99 $419.99 (save $195) Dyson V11 Cordless Stick Vaccum, Large — $248.97 $569.99 (save $321.02) Dyson V8 Absolute — $279.99 $519.99 (save $240) Dyson Outsize Cordless Vacuum Cleaner — $449.97 $599.99 (save $150.02) Dyson V11 Extra — $419.99 $649.99 (save $180) Dyson V15 Detect Absolute — $549.99 $749.99 (save $200) Dyson Gen5detect Absolute — $748.99 $949.99 (save $201) Dyson fan dealsDyson Pure Hot + Cool HP01 (refurbished) — $179.99 $299.99 (save $120) Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP02 — $440.99 $629.99 (save $189) Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool PH03 — $699.99 $899.99 (save $200) Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde PH04 — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200) Dyson hair tool dealsDyson Corrale (refurbished) — $199.99 $399.99 (save $200) Dyson Supersonic Origin — $299.99 $399.99 (save $100) Dyson Airstrait — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100) Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete Long — $499.99 $599.99 (save $100) Dyson Airwrap multi-styler Complete Long (refurbished) — $399.99 $499.99 (save $100) View the full article
  25. Over the past few years, copyright holders have reported more than seven billion copyright-infringing URLs to Google. At one point, the search engine processed close to three million links per day. A dazzling number to say the least. In recent years the daily volume has slowly declined. This is in part due to Google’s active policy of making pirate sites less visible in search results. After years of complaints, these efforts were well received by copyright holders. Five Million ‘Pirate’ Domains In response to Google’s enforcement efforts and other anti-piracy measures, some pirate sites regularly switch to new domain names. That can help to get these sites back into the search results, albeit temporarily, since progress often doesn’t last. This week, the search engine reached a new milestone. Since its records began, Google has now received takedown notices for five million unique domain names. This ‘achievement’ prompted us to take a close look at the underlying data. Where are all these alleged pirate sites coming from? Who are the main offenders, and which domains shouldn’t be on the list? Top Offenders The two top-reported domain names, daft.sex and dsex.to, are relatively new. These adult sites were targeted in a massive enforcement effort by Pornhub’s parent company Mindgeek, which previously filed a lawsuit against the sites’ operator in a U.S. federal court. After the Daftsex site lost its .com domain, it moved to alternatives, which were then targeted by Mindgeek both in court and through Google. The daft.sex and dsex.to domains had only been active for a few months but triggered close to a quarter billion takedown notices in that short period. The other domain names in the top ten are a mixed bag. In third place, we find file-sharing service 4shared.com with more than 68 million targeted URLs. The majority of these were removed years ago. More recently, 4shared began actively working with rightsholders to prevent piracy by deploying filtering technologies. The list also includes unknown sites such as mp3toys.xyz. This domain has been inactive for more than half a decade but previously hosted pirated MP3s, triggering over 50 million reported URLs. 20 Domains Received 10% of All Notices While looking through the list of targeted domains it becomes apparent that it’s top-heavy. The 20 domains that were called out most frequently have nearly 750 million flagged URLs. This means that less than two dozen targeted domains account for more than 10% of all notices. This means that while five million domains is an impressive number, it doesn’t mean that all pose an equal threat. There’s a long tail of sites that were targeted less than a handful of times. Overall, we can say that the majority of the five million reported domains are only flagged incidentally. These may be smaller pirate sites or sites exploited by scammers to post spam links. However, it’s also very common for legitimate sites to be targeted, often by mistake. Legal Sites? The five million figure includes a wide variety of domains that obviously don’t deserve the ‘pirate’ brand. This includes dictionaries, which sometimes list terms that are associated with copyrighted content, for example. The same is true for many reputable news outlets such as The New York Times, the BBC, and TorrentFreak. Ironically, Google also received takedown requests for pretty much all legitimate streaming platforms. Netflix was flagged 259 times over the years, while Disney+, HBO, Hulu, Paramount+, and many others were reported too. These are all errors, but they still contribute to the overall total. Rightsholders have also reported Google.com URLs to Google, and not just a handful either. Over the years the company was asked to remove 775,454 Google.com URLs from its own search results. Tens of Thousands of Copycats Finally, it’s worth pointing out that the reported domain names include a lot of variations of the same pirate brands. Some of these are operated by the original owners, but popular names are also hijacked to draw search traffic. The list of five million domain names includes nearly 1,000 sites that have the phrase “piratebay” in their name and the same is true for “fmovies” and “YTS”. The “123movie” brand takes the crown, however, with well over 3,000 domain name variations. Overall, it is safe to say that the milestone of five million flagged domains should be seen in the proper context. On the one hand, it consists of a small group of notorious pirate sites. On the other, many more sites don’t deserve the piracy label. From: TF, for the latest news on copyright battles, piracy and more. View the full article
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