Apple’s new holiday ad stars a forest full of woodland creatures. | Screenshot: YouTube / Apple While companies like Coca-Cola turned to generative AI to create “visually jarring” holiday ads this year, Apple continues to embrace practical effects with its new festive short film called A Critter Carol featuring a forest full of tech-savvy woodland creatures.In the ad a hiker drops their iPhone 17 Pro, which is found by a curious raccoon who uses it to shoot an impromptu performance of the song “Friends” by Flight of the Conchords, along with other animals including a bear, wolf, owl, deer, squirrel, and rabbit. The phone is eventually retrieved by the hiker, who uses their Apple Watch to locate it.Similar to how the new Apple TV intro was created by filming a glass model of the logo illuminated with colored lights, Apple released a behind-the-scenes look at the practical effects used to make A Critter Carol. There were lots of blue screens and blue bodysuits used that allowed the forest set to be digitally extended and human performers to be removed in post-production, but the critters were all hand-crafted puppets brought to life by a small army of puppeteers controlling various body parts. And yes, the entire production was shot on an iPhone 17 Pro.

If you want your house to be the one everyone slows down to look at this holiday season, Philips Hue’s Festavia lights can make that happen. They aren’t cheap, but thanks to an early Black Friday sale at Amazon, you can pick up a 65-foot string for $145.19 (about $97 off) or a 130-foot strand for around $237.60 (about $158 off), which is the lowest price we’ve seen on either strand since they were first introduced.Philips Hue Festavia string lightsWhere to Buy: $241.99 $145.19 at Amazon (65-foot) $395.99 $237.6 at Amazon (130-foot) $241.99 $145.19 at Philips Hue (65-foot)The Festavia lights are impressive holiday string lights, boasting rich colors, individually addressable LEDs, and a variety of magical preset scenes that combine to create an effect that outshines most rivals. What’s great is you can use them indoors and outdoors thanks to their IP54 rating, so if you don’t want to decorate your porch or walkway, you can use them to dress up your Christmas tree or stair rails.The lights will work over Bluetooth, but with a Hue Bridge or newer Bridge Pro, you can take things even further with automations and the ability to sync the lights with your music. They also play nicely with other Philips Hue gear — like color-changing light strips, spotlights, and bulbs — so you can create a festive light show that’ll dazzle the neighbors. As a bonus, you can set schedules in the easy-to-use mobile app, so the lights can turn on and off even when you’re not home. And because they support Matter, they work with all major smart home platforms, including Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home.Govee Christmas String Lights 2Where to Buy: $99.99 $63.99 at Amazon (66-foot) $129.99 $74.99 at Amazon (99-foot) $199.99 $129.99 at Amazon (164-foot)If you’re looking for something more affordable or additional size options, Govee’s Christmas Lights 2 are also on sale right now. You can grab a 66-foot strand from Amazon and Govee for $63.99 ($36 off), or a 99-foot strand for $11 more (Amazon / Govee). The longer 164-foot set is also available for $129.99 ($70 off) from Amazon and Govee, while the 328-foot string can be had for $249.99 ($150 off) at Amazon and Govee’s online storefront. As for how these prices stack up to prior sales, these are the best we’ve seen, regardless of strand length.Like the Festavia, the Lights 2 support Matter and can be safely used indoors or outside thanks to their IP65 rating. However, the included power adapter is only IP44-rated, and the LEDs use drop-style heads rather than bullet heads, which is fine for the roof but not nearly as striking on a Christmas tree. Govee’s companion app isn’t as intuitive as Philips Hue’s, either, and the Festavia lights still offer a better selection of preset scenes.

Dreame’s X40 Ultra is over half off for Black Friday. Robot vacuums show up in our gift guides almost every year, and it’s easy to understand why: they clean, they save time, and they’re cheaper than hiring a professional. But not all robovacs are created equal, and some save more time than others. The Dreame X40 Ultra is one of those, offering a more genuinely hands-free cleaning experience than what you typically get. And now through December 1st, it’s down to a new low of $499.99 ($700 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and directly from Dreame.Dreame X40 UltraWhere to Buy: $1199.99 $499.99 at Amazon $1199.99 $499.99 at Dreame $1199.99 $499.99 at Best BuyIf you’re looking for a great robot vacuum that also does a fantastic job of mopping, the last-gen X40 Ultra is one of the best we’ve tested. With 12,000Pa of suction power, it does a great job of sucking up dirt and debris. It even comes with AI-powered smart dirt detection, which uses onboard cameras to spot particularly dirty areas, then slows down and passes over them multiple times until they’re thoroughly cleaned.Its dual oscillating mop pads also do a fantastic job on hardwood floors, even extending into edges and under cabinets. It can also automatically detach and reattach its mop pads when switching to vacuuming, so your carpets stay dry. In fact, it repeats this process multiple times throughout a cleaning cycle to ensure carpets are vacuumed and hard floors are mopped properly.What’s more, the robovac doesn’t require much babysitting; it maps rooms effectively, and its AI-assisted obstacle avoidance navigates around larger items like shoes with ease. Plus, the X40 Ultra can empty its own dustbin, refill its water tank, and clean its washboard — and its mop pads can even wash and dry themselves.

You can stream the Seth Rogen comedy The Studio on Apple TV. | Image: Apple TV Plus The holidays are a great time to see family, exchange gifts, and enjoy a good meal. It’s also the perfect time to gather around a TV and catch up on must-see shows and movies. Vince Gilligan’s Pluribus is a fantastic new sci-fi series, while Hulu is the only place you can catch the buzzy Alien: Earth. Thankfully, multiple streaming services are offering big discounts on subscriptions for Black Friday, helping to mitigate the many price hikes that have swept the industry in 2025.Right now, for instance, you can sign up for six months of Apple TV for just $5.99 a month, which is over 50 percent off the usual price. You can also snag a year of HBO Max with ads for $2.99 a month, saving you nearly $100 over the course of 12 months. These aren’t the only deals, either. We’ve rounded up a selection of other streaming discounts below. Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear Netflix — which is the only place you can catch the latest season of Stranger Things — is participating in Black Friday this year. Maybe next time.Disney Plus and HuluHBO MaxApple TVParamount PlusAmazon Prime Video (add-ons)YouTube TVStarzFubo TVDisney Plus and HuluDisney Plus, Hulu Bundle (with ads)Where to Buy: $12.99 $4.99 at Disney Plus (monthly)You can entertain both parents and kids with a subscription to Hulu and Disney Plus. Now through December 1st, new and returning subscribers can get an annual ad-supported subscription to both streaming services for just $4.99 a month ($8 off), saving you nearly $100 over 12 months. If you’d rather not have ads interrupting episodes of Bluey — trust me, there’s no quicker way to make your toddler throw a Muffin-level tantrum — you can also get an annual ad-free subscription to Hulu and Disney Plus for $14.99 per month ($5 off), saving you a cool $60 over the course of a year.Both discounted plans provide access to TV shows and movies from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and the Star Wars franchise. Over on Hulu, you can watch Hulu originals like The Handmaid’s Tale and classics like Gilmore Girls, along with The Bear, Alien: Earth, and the latest season of King of the Hill. You’ll also get access to holiday favorites, including Home Alone, The Santa Clause, and The Polar Express. You can watch everything offline with the ad-free tier, too, which is handy when you don’t have access to a consistent cellular or Wi-Fi connection, like when you’re stuck at the airport.Sports fans can also throw ESPN Unlimited into the mix with discounts on ad-supported and ad-free bundles, which you can choose from the drop-down menu when selecting your plan. A subscription to the Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Ultimate Bundle is up to 44 percent off for Black Friday, with an annual ad-supported bundle available for $29.99 a month, down from $53.97 per month. Meanwhile, you can grab the same bundle without ads for $38.99 a month for a year (about $29 off). For those who need a refresher, ESPN Unlimited provides access to all ESPN networks and ESPN Plus, with sports like NFL, NBA, MLB, and more.HBO MaxHBO MaxWhere to Buy: $10.99 $2.99 at HBO Max (monthly, with ads) $109.99 at HBO Max (annual, with ads) $184.99 at HBO Max (annual, ad-free)If you’re in the mood for prestige television, HBO Max is offering one of the best Black Friday deals we’ve seen this year. New and returning subscribers can sign up for an annual subscription to HBO Max with ads for $2.99 a month ($8 off) through December 1st, saving you about $100 over 12 months. Like Apple TV, HBO Max received yet another price hike about a month ago, so this deal is particularly welcome right now.It’s worth noting that the deal provides access to HBO Max Basic, which only allows you to stream TV shows and movies in HD quality on up to two screens at once. If you prefer to watch in 4K, you’ll need to step up to a Premium subscription, which costs $22.99 per month and is currently not on sale. Bah, humbug! No matter which tier you go with, though, you’ll be able to watch TV shows like House of the Dragon, The Last of Us, and It: Welcome to Derry. On the movie front, you can stream James Gunn’s Superman and the horror sensation Weapons.Apple TVApple TV (six-month subscription)Where to Buy: $12.99 $5.99 at Apple (monthly)Apple TV is home to TV shows like Ted Lasso, The Studio, Pluribus, and Severance, and it’s the only place you’ll be able to stream Joseph Kosinski’s F1 when it drops on December 12th. And if you have a taste for the sport, Apple TV will also be the exclusive home for Formula 1 racing beginning in 2026. In other words, it’s a great time to subscribe, especially now that new and returning subscribers can lock in six months of the service at just $5.99 a month ($7 off). Apple raised the monthly subscription price of its streaming service a few months ago, so this Black Friday deal is a great way to save.Paramount PlusParamount Plus (two months)Where to Buy: $7.99 $2.99 at Paramount Plus Essential $12.99 $2.99 at Paramount Plus PremiumBefore the price hike hits Paramount Plus early next year, you can save for Black Friday. Now through December 2nd, new and returning subscribers can sign up for any plan for two months for just $2.99 a month (up to $10 off). No matter which tier you choose, you’ll get access to over 40,000 TV shows and movies, including the latest seasons of Landman and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, along with movies like The Naked Gun reboot and Sonic the Hedgehog 3. A subscription also includes a few Showtime titles, like the original Dexter, as well as live sports, including every single UEFA Champions League game and select NFL games.If you opt for the Premium Plan, you’ll be granted access to the full Showtime library, which includes TV shows like Dexter: Resurrection, every season of Yellowjackets, and movies like The Substance, Talk to Me, Gladiator II, and Top Gun: Maverick. A Premium plan also provides support for streaming select titles in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision or HDR10 Plus, 24/7 live CBS news via your local station, and the ability to download shows and movies for offline viewing.Amazon Prime Video (add-ons)Amazon Prime Video (monthly, with ads)Where to Buy: $8.99 at AmazonIf you already have an Amazon Prime Video subscription, you can save on add-ons.HBO Max is down to $2.99 a month ($8 off) for 12 months, saving you nearly $100 on an annual subscription.A six-month subscription to Apple TV is going for $5.99 ($7 off) a month through December 1st, saving you a total of $42 over the course of the promo window.Now through December 1st, you get two months of Starz for $2.75 a month instead of $5.99, which equates to about $9 in savings.The ad-supported version of AMC Plus is down to $1.75 a month for two months instead of $6.99 (a total of about $11 off). Meanwhile, AMC Plus Premium is available for $2.50 a month for two months, saving you about $15 during the promo period.You can grab two months of MGM Plus for $1.99 a month instead of $7.99 (a total of $12 off).Now through December 1st, Hallmark Plus is available for $2 a month for two months, saving you about $12 with the promo.If you want two months of Crunchyroll, you can currently sign up for $2.99 a month instead of $11.99 (a total of $18 off).PBS Kids is available for $1.25 a month for two months instead of $4.99 (a total of about $7 off). You can also save on PBS Documentaries, which is down to $1.25 a month for two months instead of $4.99, saving you about $7.YouTube TVYouTube TVWhere to Buy: $82.99 $72.99 at YouTube (monthly)If you watch a lot of live TV, there will be plenty to watch over the holidays, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and a handful of NFL games on Thanksgiving. And now through January 4th, you can get a YouTube TV Base Plan for $72.99 a month ($10 off) for the first three months.A YouTube TV Base Plan includes over 100 live channels and all the perks the service has to offer, including unlimited DVR space and up to six household accounts with three simultaneous streams. You also get special features during live sports, like a stats view and the ability to quickly catch up on important highlights you might have missed. And, yes, the YouTube TV Base Plan includes ESPN and other Disney-owned channels, which are back on the service following a two-week outage.You can also save on NFL Sunday Ticket through December 1st, either by adding it to your YouTube TV Base Plan or getting a season pass by itself. No matter which option you choose, NFL Sunday Ticket is $12 a month for four months or $48 for an annual pass. A subscription provides all out-of-market Sunday regular season games from every NFL team.StarzStarzWhere to Buy: $69.99 $23.99 at Starz (annual) $10.99 $2.99 at Starz (monthly)You can get a Starz subscription for $2.99 ($8 off) for the first three months or an annual subscription for $23.99 ($46 off). The streaming service features a variety of shows and movies, including John Wick: Chapter 4, the John Wick spinoff Ballerina, and shows like Blood of My Blood and Hostile Takeover. Both plans allow you to stream on up to four devices simultaneously and download content for offline viewing.Fubo TVFubo TV (one month)Where to Buy: $94.99 $64.99 at Fubo TV (Elite plan)If you’re a diehard sports fan, you can save up to $30 on a month of Fubo TV. The streaming service is offering discounts across its four tiers, including Fubo TV Elite, which is down to $64.99 ($30 off) for one month. After that, it goes back up to the regular price of $94.99 per month. The Elite plan provides access to 277 channels and includes ESPN Unlimited, ABC, CBS, and Fox, along with local NBA, NHL, and MLB games — all in glorious 4K. All of the plans come with unlimited Cloud DVR space at no extra cost, while three of the four (except the Latino plan) can stream on up to 10 devices simultaneously.

A humanoid robot bubble could be brewing, warned China’s leading economic planning agency on Thursday. The alert comes amid growing fears that a bubble in a related industry — AI — is about to burst. Speaking at a press briefing, National Development and Reform Commission spokesperson Li Chao said China’s humanoid robotics industry needs to balance “the speed of growth against the risk of bubbles.” Investment has been pouring into the sector despite there being few proven use cases for the bots, Li said, risking a flood of “highly similar” models as funding for research and development shrinks.More than 150 humanoid robotics companies are operating in China, Li said. More than half are startups or entrants from other industries. The warning marks a rare note of caution from Beijing for an industry it has declared vital for future economic growth. Earlier this year, China designated embodied intelligence — the technology behind humanoid robotics — a national priority. 

I didn't expect a local graph app to replace my all-in-one workspace. Notion was once the nervous system of my productivity—task lists, project databases, meeting notes, even a rudimentary CRM. But after watching the Plus plan creep upward in price (and knowing I'd eventually want AI features that cost even more), I started questioning whether I actually needed my notes living on someone else's servers.

When highlighting one part of the smart home that one would recommend as the missing puzzle piece, you'd often find a mini PC or some Internet of Things (IoT) device. Not me, as I couldn't have built my dream smart home without a managed switch and Power over Ethernet (PoE). Having such a capable device available, I can connect all my smart home hardware without requiring those pesky 12V power adapters, allowing me to maintain a clean finish. It's also great for expansion, as, like a Factorio playthrough, the home lab must always grow.

Where Winds Meet has been quietly rewriting the rules for what a free-to-play game should be. Having played it prior to release, and then some, I can confidently say that NetEase Studio's latest big release is a fantastically attempted free-to-play game that has a little bit for everyone, thanks to its deep ARPG combat, layered systems, and strong MMO social features. It's the kind of generosity that's become rare in modern live-service titles.

Going home for the holidays isn't all turkey, holiday decorations, and political arguments discussions. It also comes with requests for tech support and questions like "Why does my computer do this?" and "I read about this AI - what is that?"Think of it as an opportunity rather than a burden. If you're like many people, you get tech support calls from frustrated parents or grandparents all year long. This is your chance to make sure things are set up so that, when you do get that call in a month or two, you can more easily fix things - or help your parents fix it themselves.Make sure everything is updatedIt's important to keep computer …Read the full story at The Verge.

It is easy to get swept up in Black Friday deals, especially when everyday items feel overpriced for what they are. Once I started 3D printing more of the simple things I use around the house, the savings began to add up quickly. These prints replaced items I would have otherwise bought, and together they saved me more than $150 without sacrificing quality or usefulness.

The Kuxiu S3 adds a kickstand for hands-free smartphone use. | Image: Kuxiu Seven months after launching its first semi-solid state battery that used a safer and longer-lasting solid-liquid mixed electrolyte, Kuxiu is introducing a new version with some welcome upgrades. The S3 has twice the capacity of the S2 at 10,000mAh – 5,000mAh at 7.7V (38.5Wh) – that the company says is enough to nearly double an iPhone’s battery life, but that will vary depending on the model.The Kuxiu S3 is also Qi2.2-compatible so it can wirelessly charge compatible devices at up to 25W. Its larger battery means it’s over 100g heavier than the 145g S2, but Kuxiu has increased the number of N52 magnets it uses from 16 to 18 to help reduce the risk of the power bank being accidentally knocked off your phone. There’s an integrated kickstand now on the back, a small display showing its remaining capacity and charging status, and a built-in cable for charging other devices through a USB-C port with power delivery rated at up to 35W.As with the previous model, the S3 is more expensive than traditional wireless power banks offering similar capacity, charging rates, and features, but the cost of the technology should drop over time as manufacturing improves and increases. It’s available now for $149.98, but temporarily discounted to $68.99. If that seems hard to stomach, remember that while the capacity of most power banks will start to degrade after 300 to 500 cycles, the S3 should only see a drop to about 80 percent capacity after 1,000 charging cycles. It will have a much longer lifespan, and is less at risk from issues like fire and thermal runaway should you accidentally drop it.

Microsoft is pitching a future where AI controls everything on your PC and agents go and do work for you in the background. But before the company gets there, it has to build the tools to make these systems work and convince its own developers that AI is actually capable of achieving these big promises.Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella revealed earlier this year that up to 30 percent of the code of "some of our projects" is written by AI, and I've been eager to learn exactly how Microsoft's developers are using the technology ever since. I've been speaking to sources and company execs to get a better idea of how AI is being used by Microsoft dev …Read the full story at The Verge.