Proton VPN Black Friday: 2 years of VPN Plus for $59.76 (about $2.49/month) and other top VPN deals Proton VPN is running a strong Black Friday promotion: two years of the Proton VPN Plus tier for $59.76 (about $2.49/month), a roughly 75% discount versus the normal monthly price. The Plus tier unlocks the full server network, streaming/unblocking features and simultaneous protection for multiple devices. Key Proton VPN Plus highlights: Price: 24 months for $59.76 (75% off). Servers & coverage: Access to ~15,000 servers across 120+ countries. Device support: Protect up to 15 devices simultaneously. Privacy: No‑logs policy and full‑disk encryption on servers. Performance: Small impact in our tests (~12% download drop, ~4% upload drop on average). Other notable Black Friday VPN deals Surfshark One — 24 months + 3 free…

Netflix outage briefly disrupts viewers during Stranger Things Season 5 premiere Thousands of Netflix users reported playback problems minutes after the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 went live. Downdetector saw a spike in outage reports just before the scheduled 8:00 PM ET release, with many viewers encountering account‑connection errors that prevented streaming. The most commonly reported fault was the NSEZ‑403 error — an account‑connection issue — along with generic “Something went wrong” or “we're having trouble with your request” messages. Netflix told Engadget that some members briefly experienced trouble streaming on TVs, but the issue was restored for all affected accounts within about five minutes. What happened and when Timing: Reports surged shortly before and around the 8:00 PM ET drop of Stranger Things S5 episodes 1–4.…

22 Best Gifts for Remote Workers — Practical ideas to upgrade any home office Engadget has gathered 22 gift ideas tailored for remote workers — items that boost comfort, productivity and enjoyment during the workday. Whether you’re shopping for a freelancer, hybrid employee or someone who’s fully remote, these picks cover a range of budgets and use cases. Below are curated categories and representative recommendations to help you choose the right present quickly. Ergonomics & furniture Ergonomic office chair or lumbar support cushion — helps long work sessions feel less tiring. Adjustable standing desk or desktop converter — allows sit/stand flexibility for better posture. Footrest or monitor riser — small upgrades that improve comfort and screen alignment. Audio & video Noise‑cancelling headphones or quality earbuds — ideal for focus and…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Holiday shopping can be stressful, especially when you’re balancing thoughtful choices with a budget. Engadget has collected its best holiday gift guides in one place — covering white elephant picks, Secret Santa ideas and gift suggestions across price bands to help you find the right presents faster. The hub groups recommendations by recipient and price, from stocking stuffers under $25 to premium laptops and gaming bundles. It’s useful whether you’re shopping for a picky techie, a home cook, a gamer or someone who already has everything. Featured categories Under $25: Cables, compact power banks, smart plugs and other affordable stocking stuffers. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, wireless chargers, smart home gadgets and accessories with strong value. Gaming & Nintendo:…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be stressful. This curated tech gift hub collects tested recommendations across price ranges and interests to help you find thoughtful, useful presents without the last-minute panic. Whether you need a Secret Santa under $25, a gaming bundle, or a premium laptop for a student, the guide groups ideas by category so you can shop faster and smarter. Top categories Under $25: Stocking stuffers — cables, compact power banks, smart plugs and small gadgets that feel thoughtful. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, wireless chargers, smart home accessories and kitchen basics with solid value. Gaming & Nintendo: Console bundles, Switch 2 accessories, controller upgrades and curated game picks. Home chef & coffee lovers: Air fryers, coffee…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Finding thoughtful gifts on a budget can be stressful — especially during the holiday rush. This curated tech gift hub collects tested recommendations across price ranges and interests to help you pick useful, memorable presents without the panic. Whether you need a Secret Santa under $25, a gaming bundle for a friend, or a premium laptop for a student, use these category suggestions to narrow choices quickly and avoid deal fatigue. Featured categories Under $25: Practical stocking stuffers like charging cables, smart plugs, or compact gadgets that still feel thoughtful. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, wireless chargers, and home gadgets that deliver solid value and everyday utility. Gaming & Nintendo: Console bundles, popular Switch 2 accessories and curated game…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Holiday shopping can be stressful — especially when you’re trying to balance thoughtful picks with a budget. This curated tech gift hub collects our favorite recommendations across price ranges and interests so you can find useful, memorable gifts faster. Whether you need a Secret Santa under $25, a gaming bundle, or a premium laptop for a student, use these category suggestions to narrow choices quickly and avoid deal fatigue. Featured categories Under $25: Practical stocking stuffers and peripherals that still feel thoughtful. Under $50 & $100: Earbuds, chargers, smart plugs and home gadgets that deliver great value. Gaming & Nintendo: Console bundles, popular Switch 2 accessories and curated game picks. For home chefs & coffee lovers: Air fryers, specialty…

Holiday tech gift hub: curated ideas for every budget and interest Finding thoughtful gifts on a budget can be stressful — especially during the holiday rush. This curated tech gift hub collects our best recommendations across categories and price points to help you find something useful and memorable for everyone on your list. Whether you need a cheap Secret Santa present under $25, a premium laptop for a student, or a game bundle for a Nintendo fan, the guide breaks options down by theme so you can shop faster and smarter. Featured categories Under $25: Practical stocking stuffers and small gadgets that still feel thoughtful. Under $50 & $100: Mid‑range tech picks — quality accessories, earbuds and home gadgets that deliver solid value. Gaming & Nintendo: Console bundles, popular Switch…

December PS Plus Monthly Games: LEGO Horizon Adventures, Neon White and four more to claim Sony has announced the final batch of PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for 2025 — and this month subscribers get five titles instead of the usual three. The lineup includes family‑friendly LEGO Horizon Adventures, fast‑paced Neon White, co‑op horror options and an extraction shooter. All five drop on December 2 and are available to claim until January 5. December's PS Plus Monthly Games LEGO Horizon Adventures (PS5) — a LEGO‑styled, co‑op take on the Horizon universe; great for families and fans looking for lighter, cooperative play. Neon White (PS4/PS5) — a precision, speed‑run focused FPS/platformer with stylish levels and high replayability. Killing Floor 3 (PS5) — action‑oriented co‑op FPS for players who like intense, team‑based horror…

Independent HomePod repair arrives in Europe — FixPod offers France‑based fixes FixPod, a repair service operator, now offers independent repairs for Apple HomePods from a base in France, making similar services previously seen in the U.S. more accessible to European owners. The service targets typical HomePod problems — such as unreliable touch panels on HomePod mini — and aims to provide a local alternative to sending devices back to the manufacturer. Independent repair options can speed up turnaround and sometimes save costs, especially for out‑of‑warranty devices. FixPod’s European offering follows earlier U.S. services that specialised in HomePod fixes and shows a growing market for third‑party repair shops focused on smart speakers. What to consider before choosing an independent repair Warranty and AppleCare: Independent repairs may void Apple warranties or AppleCare…