Category: Technologies

Black Friday is no longer a single-day or even one-week event, and there are plenty of early deals rolling in at retailers like Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. Dell is jumping in on the action, and if you’re hoping to snag a next-gen gaming console this year, it just got a lot more affordable.

It’s rare to find discounts on the Xbox Series X, but right now Dell has slashed the price by $50, bringing the cost back down to an all-time low of $450. Plus, in addition to this full-size Microsoft gaming system, you’ll also get a $75 gift card that you can use at Dell on a future purchase. With so many computer and gaming peripherals, smart home devices and other tech available, this is an excellent deal. There’s no set expiration for this offer, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

The Xbox Series X is the most powerful console in Microsoft’s lineup. Though similar in both name and specs to the cheaper Xbox Series S, the flagship Series X offers 4K gaming, faster performance and more built-in storage. It’s also got a disc drive, which means it’s useful for people who want to play both physical and digital versions of games or use the device to play Blu-rays.

And if you’re looking to snag some other accessories for your Xbox gaming setup, you can check out our full roundup of the best Xbox deals for great bargains on headsets, controllers, storage drives and more. And if you want access to the massive library of games that comes with a Game Pass Ultimate membership, you can check out our roundup of the best subscription deals available to help you get signed up for less.

With Black Friday officially taking place in just over two weeks, we’ve already seen Walmart’s Black Friday sale launch and other retailers like Amazon and Best Buy getting in on the action. While you might be looking there for big-ticket items like TVs and laptop deals, don’t forget to check out sales on digital goods like apps and subscriptions. StackSocial is a great place to go for those sorts of deals.

The online retailer has already kicked off its Holiday Frenzy sale ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday so you can save on software and online services, as well as a handful of tech items and gadgets, that you might otherwise have missed out on. And to help you make the most of these bargains before they’re gone, we’ve rounded up some of the best deals you can shop right now below.

Best StackSocial Black Friday deals

• BirdBike eBike: $850 (save $1,450)
• Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac lifetime license: $60 (save $160)
• InCharge X Max 100-watt 6-in-1 charging cable: $22 (save $18)

• $100 Restaurant.com e-gift card: $14 (save $86)

• Babbel lifetime subscription: $200 (save $399)
• aloSIM lifetime e-SIM + $50 credit: $25 (save $25)
• Headway Premium lifetime subscription: $60 (save $240)
• PDF Expert lifetime license: $70 (save $70)
• Prism Drive 20TB lifetime cloud storage: $70 (save 95%)
• Surfshark VPN: $46 (save $243 with code VPN20)

What Black Friday deals can I get at StackSocial?

StackSocial speciallizes in digital products and subscriptions so you’ll find a lot of app and service deals there for Black Friday. That includes everything from Costco and Sam’s Club memberships to VPNs, cloud storage, e-learning tools and more. That being said, the retailer does offer several tech deals on laptops and tech accessories, plus everyday items like games, toys and fitness gear.

How do I redeem StackSocial digital deals?

Each digital deal will have redemption information on the product listing, so be sure to check this carefully before making a purchase. Generally, you’ll get a digital code or license key after you make your purchase and you’ll have 30 days to activate that at the official website or app for the company or service in question. You’ll be able to access the code or license key via your order confirmation page or through your purchase history in your StackSocial account. The retailer has a handy FAQ for digital product redemptions in case you get stuck.

StackSocial has kicked off Black Friday deals early, with discounts on tech, subscriptions and even classes. For those that have set your sights set on becoming a certified IT professional and are just getting started, the Complete 2023 CompTIA Course Super Bundle is a good way to kickstart your education. It’s built for beginners and includes a fundamentals course to set you up with all the basics you’ll need going forward. Right now you can get lifetime access to these courses for just $40. That’s a 79% discount. This offer is a part of StackSocial’s Black Friday sale and expires Nov. 27, so be sure to get your order in soon if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

Certification with the Computing Technology Industry Association gives you a solid foundation for getting your foot in the door, and these courses will help you learn the information you’ll need to get certified. You’ll be able to strengthen existing skills or develop new ones with 13 courses offering 239 hours of content, taking you from beginner to expert in no time. With that certification under your belt, you can start a new career in IT or help develop the theory and techniques you’ll need to secure a promotion in your current job. And because Iducate (formerly iCollege) is an official CompTIA partner, you can feel confident that these courses deliver expert content at an exceptional value.

You’ll gain useful knowledge and valuable skills as you work through the content available in this super bundle. Once finished, you’ll be able to demonstrate your know-how in a variety of areas, including configuring device operating systems, supporting basic IT infrastructure and identifying threats to network security. You’ll also become versed in the best practices for backup and recovery, how to master hardware and peripherals, managing Linux-based systems, implementing troubleshooting strategies and much more. That means that when it’s time to tackle your certification tests, you’ll be prepared.

Even if you lack a background in tech, this package can help those considering a career in information technology to jumpstart their journey.Use this low-cost option to broaden your horizons for pennies on the dollar with this comprehensive CompTIA course bundle. And check out other Black Friday deals happening at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and B&H for even more savings.

Read more: Learn How to Code With the Best Python Courses for 2023

Gift-giving season is officially here, which means it’s time to kick-start your holiday shopping. If you’re feeling uncertain about where to begin, we’ve scoured Amazon to bring you an abundance of creative ideas. And the best part is that if you have a Prime Membership, most of these gift options will arrive in two days or less, which means less stress once the holidays get closer.

Though we can’t compile an exhaustive list of every possible present you can buy, we’ve carefully selected a handful of our favorite gifts, suitable for various budgets and recipients. We’ve broken down our recommendations by price so that it’s easier to find just the right present. Here you’ll find the best gifts on Amazon for everyone on your list.

Gift ideas under $30

Gifts in this price range are perfect stocking stuffers or a fun Secret Santa gift for your co-workers. My kids love to get these kinds of presents as they like lots of small fun things, rather than one big expensive present.

Gift ideas under $50

This price point is similar to the “under $25” category in that these are gifts you can buy more than one of. However, when you venture into the “under $50” realm, they’re more likely to be useful or have a better quality than the cheaper products on this list.

Gift ideas under $100

These gifts are a little more expensive but still affordable enough to buy one or two for someone you care about. I like getting these kinds of gifts for my best friend or as additions to my wife’s main gift.

Gift ideas under $250

These are more extravagant presents that you would buy someone you care about as their main gift. If you’re buying for your significant other, you could buy something from this list, along with one or two from the list above to round out their experience.

When Apple released iOS 17 on Sept. 18, the company gave iPhone users many new and useful features, like StandBy mode, offline maps and Check In. And crossword puzzles in the News app are among the fun new features added to the OS.

To access these puzzles, you need an Apple News Plus subscription, which costs $13 a month. However, you can try Apple News Plus for one month for free, or you can get the service for free for three months with the purchase of an iPhone, iPad or Mac. An Apple News Plus subscription is also part of the Apple One Premier bundle, which costs $38 a month and includes other services like Apple TV Plus and Apple Arcade.

Here’s how you can access daily crossword puzzles as an Apple News Plus subscriber.

Play crossword puzzles in Apple News

1. Open the Apple News app.
2. Tap Following in the menu across the bottom of your screen.
3. Tap Puzzles.

You can also access crossword puzzles by going to Apple News > Today > Latest Puzzles — this option was pretty far down my Today page.

From the puzzles page, you can find the latest crosswords from the week. Across the top of the page, you’ll also see options for Crossword and Crossword Mini, which are smaller crossword puzzles arranged in a 5×5 grid. Tap either of these options, and the app takes you to the latest puzzles for either choice.

How to play the puzzles

Once you’ve decided on which puzzle to play, there are two ways you can solve them: grid view and list view. By default you’ll enter grid view which is a traditional crossword puzzle layout. You see the whole grid, and if you tap a square you’ll see a clue below the puzzle. You can also switch between vertical and horizontal clues by tapping a square a second time or tapping the clue.

List view, on the other hand, eschews the traditional grid of a crossword puzzle and shows you all the clues and how many letters are in each answer in a list format. To access list view, tap the bulleted list icon in the top left corner of your screen when you are in a puzzle. As you enter letters in list view, letters in other clues begin populating where the clues intersect on the grid. I still think list view sounds tough, but I’m also not very good at crossword puzzles to start with.

How many puzzles are there?

There are two new puzzles every day, a crossword and a crossword mini. It appears the puzzles are accessible for about a month after they are published, so you have access to a small archive of crosswords you can play. This is also a new feature, so the number of available puzzles could change.

For more on iOS 17, check out my review of iOS 17 and our iOS 17 cheat sheet.

With Black Friday rolling around soon, now is the perfect time to pick up electronics like a smart TV or streaming device. If you are planning to upgrade your TV experience, Roku is one of our favorite platforms and its streaming devices are a great option if you have an older TV without a smart platform or don’t want to go with the big names like Amazon’s Fire TV or Google TV. Luckily, you have a lot of choices when it comes to Roku; whether you’d like to go for a Roku TV or just a Roku streaming device, there’s an option for every budget.

As such, we’ve scoured all the big retailers and collected all our favorite early Black Friday Roku deals so you don’t have to. That said, we’re still in the early days of Black Friday, and we’re likely to see many more deals in the coming days, so be sure to check back regularly. And, if you do end up going for a Roku device, take a look at these eleven little-known Roku tricks you can take advantage of.

Black Friday Roku streaming device deals

• Roku Express 4k Plus: $30 (save $10)

Black Friday Roku TV deals

• TCL 32-inch S2 S-Class HD TV: $120 (save $10)
• Roku 32-inch Select Series HD TV: $150 (save $20)
• TCL 40-Inch S3 Series FHD TV: $180 (save $50)

• Westinghouse 43-inch 4K TV: $190 (save $100)
• Hisense 50-inch R6G Series 4K TV: $240 (save $30)
• Roku 75-inch Plus Series QLED 4K TV: $900 (save $100)

Having a solid everyday laptop is a good idea for most people. But if you don’t need a laptop purpose-built for gaming or creative endeavors, grabbing an affordable model may be the biggest priority. Black Friday is just a couple of weeks away, and plenty of deals have already dropped on tech. If you’re seeking a budget laptop, great news — you can score this 15-inch HP laptop at Walmart for just $329 with this Walmart Black Friday deal. That’s a discount of $70, making this option even more affordable.

This HP laptop has a sizable 15.6-inch, 1080p resolution anti-glare display with a 6.5mm thick bezel. Plus, it comes equipped with the Windows 11 OS and an Intel Core i5 processor, along with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state storage. With all that power, this laptop should deliver fast performance and handle multitasking without an issue, letting you stream content, make video calls, use productivity apps and more.

You’ll get a full-size keyboard with an integrated numeric pad, as well as access to HP QuickDrop for file transfers between your computer and your phone, along with an SD card reader and USB-A, HDMI and USB-C ports. It’s also lightweight and portable, which makes this a great laptop for working on the go. You can expect up to nine hours of battery life per charge, and when you’re low on power, this laptop can reach up to 50% in just 45 minutes of charging. At under $500, it’s hard to beat this laptop deal.

You don’t have to spend top dollar to get a decent laptop these days — especially with early Black Friday deals ramping up. You can snag $90 off this 15.6-inch Lenovo IdeaPad 1 right now as part of Walmart’s Black Friday sale. That drops the price to just $249. There’s no set expiration for this offer, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out.

This Lenovo laptop won’t compete with pricey high-end models, but it’s a decent option if you just want something for checking your email, browsing the web and other basic tasks. It comes equipped with an AMD Ryzen 3 quad-core processor, as well as 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive. It has a sleek, frameless 15.6-inch full HD display and a built-in HD webcam for video calls, along with a battery life of up to 14 hours on a single charge. Plus, it’s powered by the latest Windows 11 OS in S mode, which is optimized for security and performance. At around 3.5 pounds, it’s a little on the heavy side, but it’s also just 0.7 inches thick, so it’s still slim enough to easily slip in your bag and take on the go.

Gaming laptops are a great, semiportable alternative to desktop PCs that allow for gaming on the go (or at least, room to room). Though many gaming laptops tend to carry a hefty four-digit price tag, Black Friday is just around the corner, making now a great time to snag one for less. You can save $220 on this 15-inch MSI GF63 gaming laptop at Walmart’s Black Friday sale, which drops the price down to just $479.

This MSI laptop has a speedy 144Hz, 15.6-inch FHD IPS display and comes equipped with Windows 11 OS, along with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. It also has an Intel Core i5-11400H processor and — the big win here — an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 GPU.

While these aren’t the latest and greatest specs out there, this MSI will still deliver solid performance for PC games across the board, and it should blow away older laptops that lack dedicated video cards. At under $500, it’s hard to beat this gaming laptop deal. Though there’s no guaranteeing how long this discount will be available, so we’d recommend getting your order in sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.

A new series from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan recently premiered on Paramount Plus. Executive produced by Sheridan and created by Chad Feehan, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is based on the real-life story of Reeves, one of the first Black deputy US marshals.

The eight-episode season features David Oyelowo as Reeves and counts Donald Sutherland and Dennis Quaid among its cast members. The series adds to Sheridan’s long list of Paramount Plus shows, which in addition to Yellowstone and spinoffs 1883 and 1923 include Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, Special Ops: Lioness and the upcoming entry Land Man.

According to Paramount Plus, Lawmen: Bass Reeves is part of an anthology series, with future iterations following “other iconic lawmen and outlaws who have impacted history.” Stick around for how a VPN could potentially improve the streaming experience.

How to watch Taylor Sheridan’s Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Paramount Plus is the only way to watch the series. In the US, the first two episodes are available now, and the following six episodes are set to arrive one by one on Sundays.

If you aren’t already subscribed to the streaming service, you can choose between $6-per-month Paramount Plus Essential, which is ad supported, or $12-per-month Paramount Plus with Showtime, which is mostly ad free and includes Showtime programming like the forthcoming show The Curse. We compared Paramount Plus’ ad-based plan to other streamers’ ad plans in this roundup.

How to watch Lawmen: Bass Reeves with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Paramount Plus while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to the series from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.

A VPN is the best way to encrypt your traffic to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network and want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are allowed in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you can opt for another provider from our best list, such as Surfshark or NordVPN.

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where Lawmen: Bass Reeves will be streaming on Paramount Plus. Before you open the streaming app, make sure you’re connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream Lawmen: Bass Reeves on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you’re signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account. Now you’re ready to open Paramount Plus to stream.

If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and have picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.