ISLANDERS Mobile launches on iPhone and iPad — a peaceful city‑building puzzle comes to iOS ISLANDERS Mobile has arrived on iPhone and iPad, bringing the minimalist, relaxed city‑building puzzle first released for Mac and PC in 2019 to touchscreens. The mobile edition preserves the original’s low‑stress design while adding new features and controls tuned for phones and tablets. The core concept remains simple and meditative: place buildings on small islands to score points and shape a skyline, all without timers or stressful resource micromanagement. The iOS port adds touch‑friendly interactions and extra gameplay options that make it approachable for newcomers while still appealing to longtime fans. What’s new and notable Touch‑optimized controls: Intuitive tap and drag placement tailored for iPhone and iPad screens. Extra features: The mobile version expands on…

Sony WH-1000XM5 drop to $248 for Black Friday — excellent ANC at a record low Sony's WH-1000XM5 wireless headphones are on sale for $248 this Black Friday, roughly $152 off their list price — matching or edging the all-time low we saw on Prime Day. While Sony has since introduced the WH-1000XM6 as its newer flagship, the XM5 remains an excellent pick for most listeners thanks to strong noise cancellation, comfort and battery life. Our original review praised the XM5 for its redesigned fit, immersive sound and powerful ANC. The headphones deliver around 30 hours of battery life, a punchy, well-balanced sound signature and improved ANC performance — especially at attenuating higher-frequency noises like voices — thanks to additional microphones and processors. Why consider the WH-1000XM5 at this price Value:…

Audible Black Friday deal: 3 months for $3 and a $20 credit (ends Dec 16) Audible is running a standout Black Friday promotion: new subscribers can get their first three months for just $3 total and receive a $20 Audible credit on top of that. That breaks down to about $1 per month for 90 days — a great way to stock up on audiobooks for the season. The offer expires on December 16, so act before the deadline if you want the discounted trial. What you get during the promotional period: One monthly credit to keep any audiobook in your collection. Unlimited access to the Audible Plus Catalog (thousands of titles, including podcasts and Audible Originals). Member discounts on additional audiobook purchases. Important details to note: The promotion typically…

DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Black Friday deal: near‑record low — $506 (37% off) DJI’s compact vlogging camera, the Osmo Pocket 3, is on sale for a near‑record low price of $506 this Black Friday — roughly 37% off the usual price. Given recent US tariffs that pushed DJI prices up, this is likely the best discount you’ll see on the Pocket 3 anytime soon. The Pocket 3 is a standout for solo creators: it packs a one‑inch sensor for better low‑light performance, a large swiveling touchscreen for easy framing in both horizontal and vertical modes, and reliable follow/face‑tracking that rotates and tilts to keep you in frame while you vlog. Why vlogging creators like the Pocket 3 Image quality: One‑inch sensor improves detail and low‑light handling compared with smaller‑sensor action…

Mac‑Friday: Noteworthy Black Friday deals for your Mac desk and workspace Black Friday week is shining a spotlight on Mac‑focused desk and workspace accessories — many of which we've used and recommend. If youre setting up or upgrading a Mac workstation, nows a good time to look for deals on chargers, docks, monitor lights (ScreenBar), stands and cable management solutions. Retailers are discounting both first‑party and third‑party peripherals. Below are the categories worth watching, with practical tips to make the most of holiday savings. Top accessory categories on sale Compact multi‑device chargers: Great for clearing clutter and charging laptops, phones and AirPods from one hub. Look for USB‑C PD ports and sufficient wattage for MacBooks. Monitor lights & ScreenBar knobs: Monitor bars and dimmable lights reduce eye strain and free…

Proton VPN Black Friday deal: 2 years of VPN Plus for $59.76 (about $2.49/month) Proton VPN is offering a standout Black Friday offer: two years of its VPN Plus tier for $59.76, roughly $2.49 per month — a 75% discount off the regular price. That plan unlocks 15,000+ servers across more than 120 countries and supports simultaneous protection for up to 15 devices. We recommend Proton VPN for its combination of speed, privacy and features. In our testing, Proton had only modest speed impacts (around a 12% download drop on average) and strong privacy practices, including a no‑logs policy and full‑disk encryption on servers. Why this deal stands out Coverage: 15,000 servers in 120+ countries — useful for streaming and bypassing geo‑blocks. Device support: Protect up to 15 devices simultaneously,…

Apple trims global sales team — several dozen business-facing roles cut Apple has reorganized its worldwide sales operations and eliminated several dozen positions, primarily affecting teams that handle large corporate, education and government customers. Roles impacted include account managers and staff who schedule customer briefings and presentations at specialized briefing centers, according to reporting. Bloomberg first reported the restructuring, which focuses on business‑facing sales functions. The move appears to target teams that coordinate direct engagement with institutional clients rather than retail or consumer sales staff. Who was affected Account managers and sales staff serving enterprise, education and government accounts. Employees responsible for organizing customer meetings, demos and briefing‑center visits. Other roles tied to direct engagement with large institutional clients (details vary by region). Possible implications Apple’s changes could signal a…

Best Pizza Ovens for 2025 — outdoor, indoor and accessories to upgrade your pies Pizza ovens have become a backyard staple: from high-heat wood-fired ovens that hit 900°F to countertop indoor units that make excellent weeknight pies. This guide rounds up top outdoor and indoor options, explains fuel choices, and lists must-have accessories so you can get restaurant-quality results at home. Popular brands include Ooni and Solo Stove for portable wood/charcoal models and Breville for versatile indoor countertop ovens. Many outdoor units offer multi-fuel options (wood + gas) so you can choose quick, controllable heat or authentic wood-fired flavor. Top picks by use case Best for Neapolitan-style pies: Portable wood-fired ovens (Ooni/Solo Stove) — reach 800–900°F for blistered, airy crusts. Best for versatility: Multi-fuel ovens with propane attachments — easy…

Skate Story lands Dec 8 — day‑one on PS Plus, $20 on Steam & Switch Skate Story, a surreal skateboarding sim with Lynchian vibes, will release on December 8 and arrive as a day‑one Game Catalog title for PlayStation Plus subscribers on PS5. Non‑PS5 players can buy the game on Steam or Nintendo Switch for $20; there is currently no Xbox version announced. The indie title from developer Sam Eng (creator of Zarvot) pairs dreamlike visuals and unusual objectives — players control a glass avatar, perform tricks and progress toward bizarre goals such as swallowing the moon and confronting demonic forces. Publisher Devolver Digital, known for unique indies like Cult of the Lamb, is handling distribution. Where to try or buy PS5: Free day‑one release for PlayStation Plus Game Catalog…

Best Black Friday SSD & storage deals: microSD Express, PCIe 5.0 SSDs, portable drives and Xbox expansion cards Black Friday is a prime time to expand storage for PCs, consoles and portable devices. We tracked the strongest discounts across categories — from the new microSD Express cards required by the Nintendo Switch 2 to high-performance PCIe 5.0 internal SSDs and rugged portable drives. Below are the standout deals we found so far, grouped by type. Prices can fluctuate during the sale period, so consider snapping up a record low if the capacity and format match your needs. Top microSD Express deals (Switch 2 compatible) Lexar Play Pro 256GB Express — ~$49 at Amazon: Great entry-level Express option if you need a Switch 2 card now. Samsung P9 Express 512GB —…