Fortnite brings a Stranger Things Blitz map — drop into the Upside Down on Nov 21 Fortnite is staging another big crossover: starting November 21 players can jump into a Stranger Things–themed map for Blitz mode that recreates a creepy Upside Down version of the Creel House. The limited‑time map will feature character skins and themed cosmetics tied to the show’s upcoming fifth season. Leaked info and the trailer point to playable skins for key characters — Lucas, Dustin, Mike, Will — plus Vecna. Reports also mention additional cosmetics like a Vecna grandfather clock backpack and emotes, and ties to Fortnite Festival music could bring in iconic tracks too. What to expect Map: A Blitz mode arena set in the Upside Down around the Creel House for quick matches. Skins…

MasterClass Black Friday sale: up to 50% off annual subscriptions MasterClass is offering up to 50% off annual subscriptions for Black Friday, cutting the regular $120–$240 yearly plans roughly in half for a limited time. The deal unlocks the full catalog of hundreds of video lessons taught by industry leaders across cooking, writing, film, business, wellness and more. Classes are organized into short, structured video lessons and come with supplemental materials such as downloadable workbooks and assignments. Subscribers can stream on smartphones, tablets, smart TVs and web browsers; progress syncs across devices and lessons are available for offline viewing. Why it’s worth considering Expert-led learning: Courses feature high-profile instructors (Gordon Ramsay, Neil Gaiman, Martin Scorsese and others) offering practical, career-drawn insights. Wide topic range: From culinary skills and filmmaking to…

Pladio: Free iOS app identifies internet‑radio tracks, adds CarPlay & music search Pladio is a new free app for iPhone and iPad that targets internet‑radio listeners who often encounter songs without title metadata. Developed by Swiss indie developer Patrick Diezi, the universal app automatically recognizes the currently playing track even when a station doesn’t provide metadata, and surfaces title info and music‑search tools. The app also supports CarPlay, making it handy for drivers who want quick track info without taking their eyes off the road. Pladio aims to bridge a common gap in online radio: when streams lack tags, users previously had to rely on separate recognition apps or manual searches — Pladio brings that functionality directly into the radio experience. Key features Automatic track recognition: Identifies songs playing on…

JWST reveals Apep: four serpentine dust shells around a rare Wolf‑Rayet system NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope has captured a striking mid‑infrared view of the Apep system — a rare multi‑star system about 8,000 light‑years away that shows four serpentine shells of dense carbon dust. Previous observations suggested a single shell, but Webb’s sensitivity reveals multiple layers and dramatic structure shaped by stellar winds. The shells were produced by two Wolf‑Rayet stars — massive, evolved stars losing mass via powerful winds — over roughly the last 700 years. New analyses combining Webb data with years of observations from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) indicate the two Wolf‑Rayets orbit one another every ~190 years and pass closely for about 25 years, a configuration that drives intense wind collisions…

Meta Quest 3S hits record-low $250 for Black Friday (128GB) Meta’s Quest 3S (128GB) is on sale for $250 as an early Black Friday offer — a record low from its usual $300 price. The deal includes a free copy of Gorilla Tag, making this a compelling entry point for anyone curious about standalone VR without breaking the bank. The Quest 3S uses the Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 chip (the same family as the Quest 3), offers a 96° field of view, and a 1,830 × 1,920 pixel per‑eye display. It ships with Touch Plus controllers and 8GB of RAM, delivering solid performance for most VR games and apps despite slightly lower resolution than the Quest 3. Why it’s a good buy Value: At $250, the Quest 3S stands…

Kiel blocks 1,700 iPads at schools to prevent security risks The education authority in Kiel has disabled about 1,700 iPads across more than 30 schools after determining the devices — reportedly 7th‑generation iPads — no longer receive security updates. Local officials say the move was taken to preempt potential security vulnerabilities and protect school networks and student data. According to local reporting, the school office took the devices out of service and made them unusable for classroom use. The decision reflects growing concerns among administrators about running aging hardware that cannot be patched against newly discovered threats. What happened Scale: ~1,700 devices affected across 30+ schools. Device: 7th‑generation iPad models (no longer receiving security updates). Action taken: Devices were administratively disabled to prevent use on school networks. Reason: To avoid…

Matter 1.5 released — smart‑home standard adds cameras, garage doors and more The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) has published Matter 1.5, the next update to the open smart‑home interoperability standard. The new specification expands supported device categories and capabilities — most notably adding cameras and garage door controllers — and lets manufacturers begin certifying products under the updated spec. Matter 1.5 is being rolled out to device makers and platform partners, who can now build and certify devices that join Matter ecosystems. That means future cameras and garage‑door integrations will be able to interoperate across Matter‑compatible ecosystems without vendor lock‑in. Key additions in Matter 1.5 Cameras as a device class: For the first time Matter supports cameras, enabling standardized discovery, connectivity and (in many cases) interoperability for streaming, motion events…

AirPods Pro 3 drop to $220 — biggest discount since launch Apple’s AirPods Pro 3 are on sale for $220 — the deepest discount we’ve seen so far (previous low was about $239). The earbuds bring improved sound, stronger active noise cancellation, Live Translation via the H2 chip, and longer battery life in a familiar, comfortable design. Key upgrades include refined drivers and increased internal airflow for deeper bass and a wider soundstage, enhanced ANC, and up to ~8 hours of listening with ANC on (about 32 hours total including the MagSafe case). The case now includes an updated U2 chip for better Precision Find My range. Notable features Live Translation: Real-time translation through Siri (with transcription support in the Translate app) — useful for travel and calls. Improved audio:…

Sonos Era 300 drops to $379 for Black Friday — spatial audio without extra speakers Sonos’ Era 300 — the company’s standalone speaker with spatial audio — is on sale for $379 during Black Friday, a $100 discount off its regular price. The Era 300 delivers Dolby Atmos‑compatible spatial playback without needing additional surround speakers, making it an attractive upgrade for living rooms and home offices. Beyond its spatial audio capability, the Era 300 offers rich, detailed sound with strong bass and balanced mids. It supports voice control via Alexa or Sonos Voice Control and includes Trueplay room tuning that automatically adjusts sound using built‑in microphones, so you don’t need an iPhone to tune the speaker. Why the Era 300 stands out Spatial audio: Delivers an expansive soundstage for Dolby…

Sonos Era 300 drops to $379 for Black Friday — spatial audio without extra speakers Sonos’ Era 300 — the company’s standalone speaker with spatial audio — is on sale for $379 during Black Friday, a $100 discount off its regular price. The Era 300 delivers Dolby Atmos‑compatible spatial playback without needing additional surround speakers, making it an attractive upgrade for living rooms and home offices. Beyond its spatial audio capability, the Era 300 offers rich, detailed sound with strong bass and balanced mids. It supports voice control via Alexa or Sonos Voice Control and includes Trueplay room tuning that automatically adjusts sound using built‑in microphones, so you don’t need an iPhone to tune the speaker. Why the Era 300 stands out Spatial audio: Delivers an expansive soundstage for Dolby…