X appears to be juicing MrBeast’s views as Elon Musk tries to woo the YouTuber to the platform

Elon Musk and MrBeast

The fix is in, apparently.

MrBeast, the most popular creator on YouTube, uploaded his latest YouTube video to Elon Musk’s X for the first time. According to MrBeast, he was “curious” about “how much ad revenue” he would make from the upload, so he uploaded the video directly to the platform as a “test.”

Now, X users are reporting that MrBeast’s post containing the video upload is being forced into their feed multiple times a day as an unlabeled advertisement.

“This has shown up in my feed maybe 7 times now,” posted one X user, referring to the MrBeast video. “It is both missing the post time next to the username (indicative of a normal user post) and the Ad indicator on the top right.”

The user is referring to the proliferation of apparently unlabeled ads, a fairly recent phenomenon on X that began after Musk acquired the company in October 2022. It is one that Mashable has previously reported on.

What’s going on here?

SEE ALSO:

Elon Musk still plans to turn X / Twitter into a PayPal dupe

X has served some of its users unlabeled advertisements since September of last year. These ads appear in a users’ feed without any “ad” or “promoted” label that the platform usually affixes to paid posts. However, users can tell that these are unlabeled ads and not organic posts because they are missing the date the post was published, which are shown on posts but not ads. In addition, as Mashable previously reported and as the quoted X user also discovered, users can still find an option to tell X that they are “not interested in this ad” in the dropdown ellipsis icon menu on unlabeled ads. This option does not appear for organic posts.

Adtech watchdog Check My Ads has already previously filed a complaint against X with the FTC over the company’s lack of transparency regarding this labeling issue.

An X employee claimed to Ryan Broderick of the Garbage Day newsletter in a recent report that because there’s a labeled pre-roll video ad that plays before MrBeast’s video, the company considers that to be the disclosure. This, according to the X employee, explains why there’s no “ad” or “promoted” label affixed to the actual Mr Beast post itself.

That doesn’t make any sense. The pre-roll video ad is a completely different advertisement. If viewers are being served MrBeast’s post in their feed and it isn’t organically showing up — and the aforementioned attributes point to it being served via X’s advertising platform — then MrBeast’s post containing the video is a completely separate advertisement, and needs to be labeled as such. 

In fact, as some other X users have pointed out, older versions of the X app indeed show MrBeast’s post with the “promoted” label which means it is being served to users via X’s advertising platform.

We should note here that it’s possible that some users are being served MrBeast’s post organically. Many ads on X are published as regular posts and then later boosted through its ad platform. The instances mentioned in this piece, however, are promoted posts being served through X’s ad platform.

So, it appears that X is juicing MrBeast’s impressions via unlabeled ads. One can certainly argue whether this lack of transparency is intentional or not, but this does seem to be what’s happening.

Why does it matter?

Musk’s vision for X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, depends heavily on video content. X CEO Linda Yaccarino’s big announcement at this year’s CES, for example, was that the company signed former CNN host Don Lemon, sports radio host Jim Rome, and Fox News contributor Tulsi Gabbard to exclusive video deals. 

Musk has been known to drop into creators, influencers, and other media figures’ replies and urge them to upload their content directly to X. In fact, he did this very thing to MrBeast on a few occasions.

MrBeast, whose real name is Jimmy Donaldson, previously voiced opposition to uploading to X. According to MrBeast, his videos cost too much to produce, and YouTube was the only platform that could compensate him fairly for the amount of views his content receives. But MrBeast was apparently convinced to try uploading directly to X at least once as a “test.” 

If Musk wins over MrBeast entirely with a big payday based on how his video upload performs, then the X owner just secured the most popular content creator on the internet for his multimedia vision for the future of X.

What’s next for X and MrBeast?

MrBeast has commented on his “test” just a few times since posting the video earlier this week. 

The creator appeared shocked that his post had over 100 million views. (As of publication, Mr Beast’s post has 128 million views.) However, on X, views aren’t counted like they are on video platforms like YouTube. On the contrary, those “views” are actually just impressions on the post itself, not the number of people who played MrBeast’s video. In May 2023, Musk had X remove the public video view count from the platform, so it’s unclear now how many actual views a video gets on X. 

In his latest post, MrBeast has asked his followers to vote on just how much they think X will pay him as part of the ad revenue share program: $10, $10,000, $100,000, or $1 million.

It’s almost impossible to tell how much MrBeast will rake in due to how X’s creator monetization program works. X users can only participate in the monetization program if they are paying subscribers to X’s monthly subscription programs like X Premium or X Premium+. In addition, X only pays creators for ads that appear in the replies to their posts. Furthermore, only impressions from other paying X Premium subscribers count towards monetization.

As Mashable has previously reported, X’s payout amounts to each creator seems completely arbitrary. X employees have shared that users can’t really calculate how much they’ll actually make as pay isn’t determined by a set number of views like they are on other platforms. Those who have made the most on X appear to mostly consist of Musk’s personal favorite political commentators, Tesla fans, and meme accounts.

And, of course, we’ve yet to mention that Musk himself promoted MrBeast’s video to his 169 million followers.

MrBeast has promised to share just how much he makes from X’s monetization program from this test. So, we’ll soon find out the answer to that question. Whatever MrBeast makes though, it seems clear that X put its fingers heavily on the scale to make sure circumstances favored a massive view count.

Apple Vision Pro video is giving us ‘Black Mirror’ vibes

A man gazes up through Apple Vision pro goggles while a woman smiles on a couch.

A butterfly lands on the finger of Will, a man wearing sci-fi goggles in a too-perfect midcentury modern room. “Oh wow,” says Will of the butterfly, but there’s something in his tone that suggests he’s faking it. Perhaps it’s the discordant horror music that just kicked in. Perhaps it’s Allessandra, the woman on the couch at his side who has just insisted that Will call up a dinosaur.

“Is that a raptor?” says Will, as the giant beast stomps through a portal in time, into the room, towering above him.

Allessandra corrects him. “It’s a rajasauraus,” she says. “If you shift from side to side, the rajasauraus will follow you.”

The unspoken implication: Will is trapped. A product demo that he never asked for, a demo he claimed unconvincingly to be excited about and just indicated he wanted to get out of, has taken a Black Mirror-esque turn.

The Cupertino Kool-Aid

That scene, spoiler alert, comes near the end of the unusual 10-minute video Apple just dropped on the day of pre-orders for its new augmented reality headset, the Vision Pro. For those of us on the fence about this $3,500-plus pair of goggles, the walkthrough video may convince us that we want to sit on our couches and scroll through panoramic photos in mid-air.

Or, just maybe, for those of us who didn’t drink the Cupertino Kool-Aid yet, it might give us dystopian movie vibes (mixed with cult documentary vibes) that say more about the Vision Pro lifestyle than Apple’s marketing team intended.

The problem here is Will — or rather the fact that we the audience are invited to sympathize with Will, literally seeing the world through his eyes, but know nothing about his backstory. Alessandra McGinnis is a real Apple product manager. Will is … someone who’s never used a Vision Pro before. And seems a little cautious about doing so, more so than he’s prepared to tell McGinnis.

Conclusion: either Will is a middling actor who isn’t great at faking excitement. Or Will is a really good actor, who is capable of conveying a backstory through this layer of hesitancy. A keen viewer gets the sense that Will has stumbled into this over his head, like a man in a hotel looking for a free breakfast who blundered into a timeshare presentation.

SEE ALSO:

Apple Vision Pro guided tour just dropped: 3 new things you may learn from it

For example: At one point, McGinnis instructs Will to lie back and look at photos on the ceiling. He sees a woman at a beach, looking somewhat sternly at the camera. “Oh wow,” says Will, but nothing else. He’s being guarded about something. We notice Will is wearing a wedding ring.

Is that his wife in the photo? His daughter? Wouldn’t a normal human being in that situation say something more than “wow”? His secret lover, perhaps? Perhaps the product manager is testing his reactions, sending him a message: We know.

As soon as McGinnis offers him a way out, Will exits the photo mode. “It’s wrapping around me,” he says of a panorama. The past is literally closing in on Will. Later, he’s shown a soothing immersive environment into which McGinnis appears like an ethereal angel. “Now look at me,” she commands.

“What? You’re coming through the scene,” says Will. McGinnis corrects him: You’re experiencing what we in the cult of Vision Pro call a Breakthrough.

SEE ALSO:

Yes, you can try out Apple’s Vision Pro for free. Here’s how.

Later, as any cult leader would, McGinnis instructs Will to experience a mindfulness session while she watches. “Inhale appreciation,” says a glowing orb. “Exhale care.” After a five-minute session, Will is starting to display a kind of Stockholm Syndrome. “Can I do a 20-minute version of this?”

But something inside him is fighting back against the programming, determined to get out of the demo. “Just kidding,” he adds. Not for nothing is the character called Will.

McGinnis laughs off this challenge to her authority. “Let’s keep going,” she insists. “I want to show you some other fun experiences.” And that’s where Will meets the dinosaur designed to keep him in line.

It’s possible Apple is smart enough to have intended such Black Mirror overtones. Perhaps the creepy cult-like video is intended to create a cult following of its own, much as the famous Ridley Scott Macintosh ad of 1984 did.

Or maybe, just maybe, Apple doesn’t realize that it has become the Big Brother of that ad, keeping today’s hammer-throwers from smashing screens by locking them in midcentury modern rooms with goggles that hide their real eyes under fake ones.

Only the next episode — presuming McGinnis can find her next victim — will tell us for sure.

5 new Roombas came out, and one has iRobot’s best suction and mopping yet

Roomba cleaning hardwood floor and lifting mopping pad with person and iRobot dock in background

TL;DR: On Sept. 11, iRobot announced the second half of its 2023 lineup, totaling five new Roombas ranging in price from $349.99 to $1,399.99. Highlights include a new flagship Combo Roomba with iRobot’s most advanced suction, scrubbing, and automatic dock to date. All are available to buy now.


Green iRobot logo on white background

Credit: iRobot

New 2023 Roombas

Purchase and pre-order at iRobot

The recognizability of “Roomba” is palpable every time someone refers to a robot vacuum from any brand as a Roomba. But iRobot’s 2023 product drop seems to take aim at those whose experience with Roomba ends at name recognition, particularly stretching mopping capabilities — a feature previously reserved for its most expensive vacuum — to a surprisingly varietal price range of $349.99 to $1,399.99.

The release of the fleet of five new Roombas was actually broken up into two parts. The end of August saw a somewhat quiet release of the upgraded versions of the existing i5 series, while Sept. 11 marked the launch of two new series: the j5 and the new flagship j9. Here’s the full lineup:

New Roombas that mop

  • Roomba Combo j9+ (with obstacle avoidance and automatic emptying) — $1,399.99

  • Roomba Combo j5+ Swap and Mop robot vacuum (with obstacle avoidance and automatic emptying) — $799.99

  • Roomba i5+ Swap and Mop robot vacuum (with automatic emptying) — $549.99

  • Roomba i5 Swap and Mop robot vacuum — $349.99

New Roomba that doesn’t mop

  • Roomba j9+ (with obstacle avoidance and automatic emptying) — $899.99

(To tell Roomba titles apart at a glance, remember that the plus sign signifies automatic emptying, and the word “combo” signifies the retractable mopping pad.)

SEE ALSO:

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While the 2023 line does seem to focus on better balancing advanced cleaning features with lower costs, the j9 series is a treat for seasoned iRobot converts who will pay for the most souped-up cleaning experience.

Before breaking down the details differentiating the 2023 Roombas from each other and their predecessors, let’s elaborate on iRobot’s focus on mopping that we mentioned earlier. After a year of the $1,099.99 Roomba Combo j7+ being the only true 2-in-1 Roomba, iRobot now has several options with a water tank and mopping pad.

There are two types of hybrid Roombas now

Roomba on auto-fill dock with text caption

The Roomba Combo tank holds enough water for a month’s worth of on-demand mopping.
Credit: iRobot

Person filling Roomba water tank in sink

Roomba Swap and Mop vacs will return to clean rugs once the water tank is removed.
Credit: iRobot

It’s where the tank and pad reside when not in use that sets the new vacs apart. The Combo’s claim to fame is a retractable mopping pad that fully lifts above the body of the vacuum when it’s not mopping rather than letting a soggy pad riskily hover over carpet and rugs. The Roomba Combo j9+ and older Combo j7+ use the Combo mechanism.

The new Swap and Mop is a less-advanced but less-expensive design in which you’ll physically swap a full-sized dust bin for a water tank depending on the type of floor being tackled. The two new i5 models and j5 models feature the Swap and Mop design.

To keep costs low, the Swap and Mop system omits the retractable mopping pad for a more basic two-tank system. Switching to mopping mode does require you to be home, but it’s easy: Just click the full-sized dust bin or the water tank into place depending on the cleaning session being run. Though Swap and Mop Roombas do perform some dry vacuuming while mopping, you can designate carpeted areas to avoid in the app, then swap the bins to have the Roomba take a legit carpet lap.

The Combo j9+ has iRobot’s most advanced everything

A mere year after launching its very first true 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop (the Roomba Combo j7+), iRobot is already building significantly on nearly every aspect of that design with the new Roomba Combo j9+.

Roomba mopping hardwood floor with living room furniture in background


Credit: iRobot

Before the Combo j9+, your high-end Roomba options were the Combo j7+ and the s9+. The Combo j7+ was the only choice for mopping and detection of small obstacles like cords and pet waste, while the s9+ was the choice for deep carpet cleaning, deploying 40 times the suction of the older 600 Series Roombas (the j7 only offered 10 times better suction). Each excelled on one floor type or the other, but not both.

The mastery of both floor types isn’t mutually exclusive with the Combo j9+. On soft floors, iRobot’s strongest suction power yet works with dual rubber brushes and an automatic suction boost to dig into thick carpet fibers and grab hair, fur, or crumbs. On hard floors, iRobot’s new SmartScrub approach sends the mopping pad back and forth (complete with some actual elbow grease) over sticky spills and stubborn footprints for scrubbing two times deeper than the Combo j7+. The Combo j9+ tank is also compatible with a long list of cleaning solutions rather than just water.

Roomba Combo s9+ in front of auto-empty and auto-fill dock

Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba Combo j9+

$1,399.99 at iRobot (available to preorder)

Updated technology inside the new Roombas also helps them apply these more powerful cleaning techniques to the rooms that need it most. With iRobot’s new Dirt Detective technology, your Combo j9+ cleans the dirtiest rooms first on any general cleaning run.

The other standout tech feature carried over from the j7+ is the team of a front-facing camera and front-facing LED light that form iRobot’s PrecisionVision tech. This illuminates and detects small obstacles that trip other robot vacuums up, like cords, socks, and pet waste.

Roomba Combo j9+ and dock with vase on top near other furniture

The Combo j9+ has gold-tinted metallic accents and a flat top with a modern wood finish.
Credit: iRobot

The new self-emptying dock itself deserves equal hype. Its newfound ability to refill the vac’s water tank for 30 days relieves the one major recurring downfall seen when comparing the Combo j7+ to other 2-in-1 robot vacuums. The dock is significantly bigger than iRobot’s previous docks, but is also significantly more chic and doubles as a full-time side table.

Note: The original mopping Roomba, the trusty, beloved Combo j7+, has received a permanent price drop to $999.99.

Finally, mopping Roombas that aren’t $1,000

Up until now, anyone who was set on owning a Roomba — not just any robot vacuum — basically had to choose between spending a lot and securing advanced features like deep carpet cleaning, small obstacle avoidance, or even mopping, or spending way less but settling for just decent cleaning and decent navigation. iRobot made sure to address this gap with the 2023 expansion.

The two new mid-range Roomba models, the j5 series and upgraded i5 series, actually launched first, quietly going live on iRobot’s website at the end of August 2023. Here’s what they offer:

Roomba with camera and headlight cleaning rug with dock, dog, and person in background


Credit: iRobot

The j5 is the new j7 in terms of looks and price point, with one trick up its sleeve that Roombas at this price haven’t seen before. There are two iterations here: the $799.99 Combo j5+, a robot vacuum and mop with an automatic dirt disposal dock, and the $599.99 Combo j5, the same exact thing minus the automatic emptying. These price tags are $50 cheaper than the debut prices of the j7+ and the j7 when they came out in fall 2021.

But the gag is that, despite being more expensive, the original j7 models didn’t mop. The first Roomba to offer mopping ever was the Roomba Combo j7+, released in Sept. 2022 at $1,099.99. With the Combo s9+ now wearing the crown for most expensive Roomba, iRobot shifted to create two mid-range mopping Roombas that use the Swap and Mop mechanism, both of which are available with a self-emptying dock or as standalone vacs.

Choosing between the j series and i series comes down to whether or not you feel like cleaning up the floor before sending your Roomba out. The j series uses iRobot’s most advanced camera system to avoid small objects like pet waste, cords, and socks (and from our experience, is actually quite good at it). The j5+ is now the cheapest Roomba with small obstacle avoidance tech.

Roomba j5+ on auto-empty dock

Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba j5+

$799.99 at iRobot (available to purchase)

The i5 series fills out the low end of the price spectrum for the mopping Roombas. At $549.99 for the self-emptying version or $349.99 for the standalone vac, the cheapest Roomba mops more than halves the $1,399.99 price tag of the Combo j9+.

Of course, the price cut comes with feature cuts. The i5 series are another Swap and Mop model that won’t pick up on those pesky small obstacles mentioned earlier. It does, however, recognize walls and furniture well enough to remember the layout of your home and clean specific rooms on demand. (A 2022 firmware update unlocked Imprint smart mapping capabilities for all Roomba i series vacuums, aside from the i1 and i2).

Roomba i5+ on auto-empty dock

Credit: iRobot

iRobot Roomba i5+

$549.99 at iRobot (available to preorder)

If you’re upgrading to any of the 2023 Roombas from another Roomba that already created a map of your house, you can skip the cleaning run and transfer the old Roomba’s map to the new vac in the iRobot app.

X / Twitter rolls out audio and video calls for Android – but only if you’re paying for Premium

X on Android

Finally – a way to make audio calls and video calls on your Android device.

Kidding aside, Elon Musk’s X has just begun rolling out the social media platform’s audio and video call feature to X for Android users.

The feature works exactly as it sounds. Users can make audio or video calls to other X users from within the app. But, there is one big drawback. Users need to be subscribers to X Premium, which costs $8 per month — or Premium+, which will set users back $16 per month — if they’d like to make a call. 

However, any user can receive audio and video calls on X. Only the user placing the call has to pay.

Is this really what X users want?

Elon Musk wants to turn X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, into an “everything app.” Based on these features, private audio and video communication seems to play a role in Musk’s vision just as much as public posts, audio chats via Spaces, and video livestreaming. 

X previously launched the audio and video call feature for iOS back in October 2023. It’s unclear, however, just how much it’s being used. The feature hasn’t caused much of a stir online when it comes to public chatter from X users.

Being able to call an X user from the app itself may sound interesting, and perhaps it could be useful if you know the user and just don’t have their contact information readily available. However, it also seems potentially rife for abuse from spammers and scammers. After all, if someone you urgently want to communicate with hasn’t provided you with their phone number or email address, there’s probably a good reason why.

Currently, X users can utilize the feature through their iOS and Android devices only. 

X users can control who calls them – whether any Premium subscriber can give them a ring or if it’s limited to only users they follow or are in their phone’s address book – by going to their Settings in app and toggling the options in the Messaging section. These controls will likely come in handy in the event that the worst users on X decide to actually start fully utilizing audio and video calls.

Apple Vision Pro guided tour just dropped: 3 new things you may learn from it

Screenshot of Apple Vision Pro guided tour

Apple Vision Pro now has a 10-minute guided tour on YouTube, giving prospective buyers insight into how the mixed-reality headset works.

Will, an actor in the guided tour, claims to be an Apple Vision Pro “first-time user” as Allesandra McGinnis, Product Manager for the Apple Vision Pro, gives him an in-depth tutorial on how to use the head-mounted display, from employing common air gestures to communicating with funny-looking avatars called Personas.

SEE ALSO:

You can now pre-order the Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro guided tour drops on YouTube

In the video, McGinnis guides Will through the following:

  • Basic navigation. Will learns how to use eye and hand gestures to select and scroll through apps. Plus, he learns to pinch his fingers to explore photos and videos inside the headset.

  • Launching apps with voice commands. The guided tour gives viewers insight on how they can invoke Siri to launch apps such as Apple TV.

  • Spatial computing. Will figures out how to place multiple browser windows, which are virtual artifacts inside the headset, in his real-world environment.

  • Surround-sound music. After launching the Apple Music app, Will discovers that the Apple Vision Pro delivers surround-sound tunes.

  • FaceTime calls. The guided tour explains that FaceTime calls can be expanded to take over the whole room.

  • Environments. To escape your current surroundings, you can choose from a number of different scenic locales that give users an immersive, 360-degree experience.

  • Connecting a MacBook. Mirror your MacBook screen to Apple Vision Pro using Sidecar.

3 new things I learned from the Apple Vision Pro video

Perhaps these features were already mentioned at WWDC 2023, the widely shared event where Apple first debuted the Apple Vision Pro, but I learned the following three nuggets of info watching the guide tour:

1. You get FaceTime calls from Mac users, but ‘Personas’ from other Vision Pro users.

In the guided tour video, Will gets a FaceTime call from a woman named Yuri Imoto. Shortly after, he gets a call from Kristin Oro, and he asks, “Why does your FaceTime look different from Yuri?”

Personas from Apple Vision Pro

Persona demo in Apple Vision Pro
Credit: Apple

Oro explains that Yuri was taking a call on her Mac, so it looks like a regular video call. Oro, on the other hand, launched FaceTime while using Apple Vision Pro, prompting the headset to present Oro has a “Persona,” a creepy avatar that uses a mix of her eyes and preset facial features to create a simulated, in-headset presence.

2. The surround-sound experience comes from ‘audio pods’

Apple Vision Pro guided tour screenshot


Credit: Apple

McGinnis explained that the Apple Vision Pro has audio pods that sit just outside of users’ ears, and they’re designed to deliver “rich spatial audio.”

3. Nearby people can appear inside ‘Environments’

Breakthrough mode showcased in Apple Vision Pro video

Breakthrough mode
Credit: Apple

While you’re immersed in a 360-degree Apple Vision Pro environment, you can see people near you appear as a faint digital overlay inside your headsets, thanks to a feature called “Breakthrough.”

4. The battery pack was noticeably absent

Finally, one thing I would’ve loved to see more is the battery pack. A quick tutorial on how to use it and how to best position something that may be a bit irksome would be useful.

You can now pre-order the Apple Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro

Six months after its announcement at Apple WWDC 2023, Apple Vision Pro is available for pre-order in the Apple Store. The price starts at $3,499 for the Vision Pro with 256GB.


apple vision pro

Credit: Apple

Apple Vision Pro

$3,499 at Apple

If you want 512GB, that’ll cost you $3,699, while the 1TB variant costs $3,899. Additionally, Zeiss optical inserts for reading cost $99, or $149 for prescription inserts.

That’s right: The Apple Vision Pro can cost a total of $4,048 with all the option boxes ticked.

Additionally, you can dish out $499 for AppleCare+, which gives you unlimited repairs of accidental damage, priority access to Apple expert, and express replacement service. It’s not cheap, but it might be a good idea given the cost of the device.

Apple Vision Pro box

At least Apple added a good amount of extras in the box.
Credit: Apple

For the money, you get the Apple Vision Pro itself, with Light Seal, Light Seal Cushion, and Solo Knit Band. You also get a Dual Loop Band, a cover, the battery, another Light Seal Cushion, a Polishing Cloth, and a 30W USB-C power adapter, as well as a USB-C charge cable.

Apple’s pre-order page for the Vision Pro revealed a few previously unknown details about the device. Namely, the complete tech specs, which reveal that the Micro-OLED displays in the Vision Pro have 23 million pixels and support three refresh rates, 90Hz, 96Hz, and 100Hz.

The Vision Pro is powered by an 8-core M2 CPU with 4 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores, a 10-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, and 16GB unified RAM memory. Inside, there’s also the R1 chip with 12-ms photon-to-photon latency, and 256GB/S memory bandwidth.

Other tidbits of note include a stereoscopic 3D main camera system with 6.5 stereo megapixels and an f/2.00 aperture. There’s also a ton of sensors including two high-res cameras, six world-facing tracking cameras, and four eye-tracking camera, a TrueDepth camera, a LiDAR scanner, four inertial measurement units, a flicker sensor, and an ambient light sensor. The Optic ID system offers iris-based biometric authentication.

As far as audio goes, Apple says the device supports Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, Personalized Spatial Audio and audio ray tracing, and H2-to-H2 ultra-low-latency connection to the second-gen AirPods Pro. The Vision Pro also has a six-microphone array with directional beamforming.

SEE ALSO:

Apple employees can buy the Vision Pro at a discount, but don’t get too excited

The weight of the entire unit varies a bit based on configuration, so it can be between 21.2 and 22.9 ounces (600-650g). The battery is separate, and weighs an additional 353g.

Finally, in the device’s FAQ, Apple gives us a couple of new details about the Vision Pro. Perhaps most importantly, the company says that, while the Vision Pro is currently only available for sale in the U.S. and designed for customers there, it “is great for travel and when U.S. customers travel abroad, the experience will remain consistent. That means all of their apps and content will remain accessible while traveling, so they can use apps and enjoy music, TV, and movies.”

Sheryl Sandberg, former Facebook COO, to step down from Meta board

Sheryl Sandberg in a white graphic tee and navy blazer smiles and walks beside Zuckerberg in a navy pullover.

Sheryl Sandberg will step down from the board of Meta, the parent company of Facebook, in May. The 54-year-old announced the news — where else — on her Facebook page, in a post that explained that “the Meta business is strong and well-positioned for the future, so this feels like the right time to step away.”

In 2022, Sandberg stepped down as COO of the company, a role she had held for more than 14 years. When Mark Zuckerberg hired her to join the startup known as Facebook in March 2008, it was not yet profitable. Under her guidance, the company adopted advertising models that transformed it into a modern monolith.

Sandberg may be stepping down from its board, but she isn’t cutting all her ties with Meta. She will still serve as an advisor to the company, and “will always be there to help the Meta teams,” she wrote in her post.

She also extended her thanks to Zuckerberg, writing “I will always be grateful to Mark for believing in me and for his partnership and friendship; he is that truly once-in-a-generation visionary leader and he is equally amazing as a friend who stays by your side through the good times and the bad.” Sandberg has credited Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan as integral to her dealing with the sudden death of her husband in 2015.

In a comment, Zuckerberg responded, “I am grateful for your unwavering commitment to me and Meta over the years. I look forward to this next chapter together!”

Before joining Facebook, Sandberg was a Vice President at Google and served as Chief of Staff for the US Treasury Department under Bill Clinton. Her best-selling 2013 book, “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” inspired a generation of working women and was criticized for its hollow messaging that excluded the realities of single parents and women of color. Sandberg remains one of the most visible, successful women in corporate America and a trailblazer in an industry historically dominated by men.

January 2024 TV deals include several premium Samsung QLEDs, plus cheap TCL and Hisense QLEDs

Samsung TV in room with colorful LED lights near gaming chair

UPDATE: Jan. 19, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with the latest deals on 4K and 8K TVs, including several Sony and Samsung discounts that have gotten even bigger since last week.

Best 4K TV deals this week:

Best 55-inch TV deal

TCL 55-inch Q5 QLED TV

$299.99 at Best Buy
(save $150)

TCL TV with football player on field as screensaver


Best 65-inch TV deal

LG 65-inch 99 Series Mini-LED 8K TV

$1,499.99
(save $1,000)

LG TV with colorful abstract beta fish background


Best 75-inch TV deal

Hisense 75-inch A76K QLED TV

$529.99 at Best Buy
(save $370)

Hisense TV with basketball player on screen


Best 85-inch TV deal

Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

$1,999.99 at Samsung
(save $1,300)

Samsung TV with blue abstract liquid screensaver

Upgrading to a 4K TV — even a QLED or OLED — no longer has to be an intimidating financial setback. High-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions have become increasingly affordable for regular consumers, made even more budget-friendly by frequent sales from retailers like Best Buy, Samsung, Walmart, and Amazon.

SEE ALSO:

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra preorder deals: The best deals on the most advanced phone

We’ve pulled the best TV deals from across the internet as of Jan. 18. Deals are categorized by brand, then listed in order of size (smallest to largest) and price (lowest to highest).

Samsung TV deals

Samsung TV with blue abstract liquid screensaver

Credit: Samsung

Our pick: Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

$1,999.99 at Samsung (save $1,300)

Why we love it

Of the handful of 85-inch 2022 and 2023 Samsung QLED TVs on sale right now, we think the deal on the extra-large Q80C for more than $1,000 off is the best bang for your buck.

The Q80C is Samsung’s most advanced QLED (before meeting the Neo QLED side of the family), packing 96 precisely-lit local dimming zones for the meticulous brightness necessary for watching sports in the daylight. Also present are advanced gaming features like a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support.

More Samsung TVs on sale

  • Samsung 50-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,119.99 $1,499.99 (save $300 plus get a free $100 Best Buy gift card)

  • Samsung 55-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,199.99 $1,499.99 (save $300)

  • Samsung 55-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,497.99 $1,997.99 (save $500)

  • Samsung 55-inch S90C OLED TV — $1,599.99 $1,899.99 (save $300)

  • Samsung 55-inch S95C OLED TV — $2,099.99 $2,499.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 65-inch Q60C QLED TV — $749.99 $999.99 (save $250)

  • Samsung 65-inch S90C OLED TV — $1,799.99 $2,599.99 (save $800)

  • Samsung 65-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,399.99 $1,999.99 (save $600)

  • Samsung 65-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,699.99 $2,799.99 (save $1,100)

  • Samsung 65-inch QN800C 8K TV — $2,599.99 $3,499.99 (save $900)

  • Samsung 65-inch The Terrace Full Sun Outdoor QLED TV — $7,499.99 $9,999.99 (save $2,500)

  • Samsung 75-inch Q60C QLED TV — $999.99 $1,399.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 75-inch Q80C QLED TV — $1,599.99 $2,199.99 (save $600)

  • Samsung 75-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700)

  • Samsung 75-inch QN90C QLED TV — $2,397.99 $2,997.99 (save $600)

  • Samsung 75-inch QN800C 8K TV — $2,999.99 $4,499.99 (save $1,500)

  • Samsung 77-inch S89C OLED TV — $2,199.99 $3,599.99 (save $1,400)

  • Samsung 77-inch S90C OLED TV — $2,699.99 $3,199.99 (save $500)

  • Samsung 85-inch CU800 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 85-inch Q60C QLED TV — $1,599.99 $2,299.99 (save $700)

  • Samsung 85-inch Q70C QLED TV — $1,899.99 $2,799.99 (save $900)

  • Samsung 85-inch QN85C QLED TV — $2,299.99 $3,799.99 (save $1,500)

  • Samsung 85-inch QN90C QLED TV — $2,299.99 $3,799.99 (save $1,500)

LG TV deals

LG TV with colorful abstract beta fish background

Credit: LG

Our pick: LG 65-inch 99 Series QNED TV

$1,499.99 at Best Buy (save $1,000)

Why we love it

This 2021 65-inch QNED TV is one of the few LG TVs still at their holiday sale price — and the reigning discount happens to be an impressive 40% off. QNED is a mashup of LG’s NanoCell technology and quantum dots (which amp up color depth using an extra light filter of nanoparticles) and the backlighting of mini LEDs (like regular LEDs, but smaller for extra precision).

The 99 Series of LG QNEDs also happens to be 8K instead of 4K. That doubled resolution isn’t yet necessary for most streaming content that’s available right now, but this large, ultra-bright TV is sitting at such a good price that most similarly-sized 4K models from LG won’t be cheaper.

More LG TVs on sale

  • LG 48-inch A2 OLED TV — $599.99 $1,299.99 (save $700)

  • LG 65-inch B3 Series OLED TV — $1,499.99 $1,999.99 (save $500)

  • LG 65-inch C3 Series OLED TV — $1,699.99 $2,099.99 (save $400)

  • LG 70-inch UQ70 TV — $498 $648 (save $150)

  • LG 75-inch UQ70 4K TV — $579.99 $749.99 (save $170)

  • LG 75-inch 75 Series QNED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

  • LG 77-inch B3 Series OLED TV — $1,999.99 $2,899.99 (save $900)

  • LG 77-inch C3 Series OLED TV — $2,699.99 $3,199.99 (save $500)

  • LG 86-inch UR7800 4K TV — $799.99 $1,249.99 (save $450)

  • LG 86-inch 80 Series QNED TV — $1,899.99 $2,299.99 (save $400)

Sony TV deals

Sony TV with yellow crystal screensaver

Credit: Sony

Our pick: Sony 85-inch X90L 4K TV

$1,999.99 at Best Buy (save $800)

Why we love it

Several Sony TVs that were on sale last week are a few hundred dollars cheaper this week (not because of new ones dropping at CES, though, as this is the second year in a row that Sony didn’t drop any new TVs at CES). However, the model highlighted here still has the best discount, despite the fact that we’ve been seeing it for weeks.

Of Sony’s 2023 TV line, the X90L is the most premium regular LED model before the lineup switches over to mini-LED. Still, the X90L features full-array backlighting with local dimming that offers more precise brightness across the entire screen than a cheaper edge-lit LED TV. (That’s particularly helpful when the screen is so massive.) With better-than-basic lighting plus a high contrast ratio, low input lag, and VRR support, this 85-inch X90L is a great big-screen budget gaming TV.

More Sony TVs on sale

  • Sony 75-inch X93L OLED TV — $1,599.99 $1,999.99 (save $400)

  • Sony 65-inch X80L OLED TV — $1,699.99 $2,299.99 (save $600)

  • Sony 75-inch X80K 4K TV — $899.99 $1,199.99 (save $300)

  • Sony 75-inch X90L 4K TV — $1,499.99 $1,999.99 (save $500)

  • Sony 77-inch A80L OLED TV — $2,699.99 $3,299.99 (save $600)

More TV deals from Amazon, TCL, Hisense, and more

TCL TV with football player on field as screensaver

Credit: TCL

Our pick: TCL 55-inch Q5 QLED TV

$299.99 at Best Buy (save $150)

Why we love it

TCL’s Q5 series came out in late summer 2023 and knocked the Q6 Series out of its spot as the brand’s most affordable QLED. And with Best Buy’s discount pushing this model under $300, it’s easily the cheapest 55-inch QLED on our list.

A quick scroll up to our mid-size QLED picks from Samsung, Sony, and LG make the rarity of a 55-inch QLED TV under $300 palpable. The Q5 has most of the same specs as the Q6 including HDR PRO+ with Dolby Vision, Motion Rate 240 motion smoothing technology (a win for gamers on a budget), three HDMI ports, and built-in Google Assistant.

More TCL TVs, Hisense TVs, Fire TVs, and other TVs on sale

  • Pioneer 43-inch 4K TV — $169.99 $269.99 (save $100)

  • Insignia 43-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $179.99 $269.99 (save $90)

  • Pioneer 50-inch 4K TV — $219.99 $299.99 (save $80)

  • TCL 50-inch Q5 QLED TV — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

  • Insignia 55-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $249.99 $349.99 (save $100)

  • Insignia 65-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

  • Insignia 70-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)

  • Hisense 75-inch A76K QLED TV — $529.99 $899.99 (save $370)

  • Toshiba 75-inch C350 4K Fire TV — $529.99 $799.99 (save $270)

  • TCL 85-inch S4 4K TV — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

  • TCL 85-inch Q6 QLED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

  • TCL 85-inch QM8 Mini-LED TV — $1,999.99 $2,399.99 (save $400)

  • TCL 98-inch S5 4K TV — $2,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $2,000)

Forget your astrological sign, the internet wants to know your ‘daylist’

Screenshots of the three daylists mentioned in the story.

What does your Spotify “daylist” reveal about you? Probably nothing.

Daylist is a singular playlist that updates and changes to reflect your so-called listening habits at different times of the day. As the playlist refreshes, its title changes, adding words to describe what kind of morning — or afternoon, or whenever it happens to be — the algorithm thinks you typically have. Some examples include “lyrical delicate thursday morning” and “chill study funk pop morning.”

SEE ALSO:

TikTok is criticizing young girls who shop at Sephora. They’re missing the point.

The tool — part of Spotify’s ever-expanding recommendation machine — launched back in September, but an Instagram challenge reading, “Don’t tell me your astrological sign; I want you to go into Spotify, search for your daylist, and post the title it gave you,” has brought it the top of feeds (and minds).

The trend urges users not to share their music taste, but to identify with nebulous algorithmically-generated terms to describe a similarly algorithmically-generated playlist. The comparison to astrological signs suggests that these words reveal something mysterious and true. But Spotify users lack the context to understand what these words even mean.

For example, earlier, my daylist read, “floaty r&b thursday morning” and featured the likes of Baby Keem and Steve Lacy. Now it’s “rage angelic thursday afternoon” and lists a combination of Hozier, Troye Sivan, and the typical two artists I’ve never listened to before that Spotify incessantly recommends to me, Reneé Rapp and Madison Beer. It’s unclear what floaty, rage, or angelic are supposed to mean, or whether even the platform itself has a definition for them.

“Daylist updates frequently, bringing together the niche music and microgenres you typically stream at certain times of the day and week. You’ll get new tracks at every update, plus a new title that sets the mood of your daylist,” a Spotify spokesperson told Mashable in September.

But the lure of analyzing what does this reveal about me is intoxicating. The daylist exercise supposes what so many social media algorithms do, that we can get a cut-and-dried identity from the internet without much reflection. In the New Yorker, Kyle Chayka wrote about algorithmic anxiety, the sensation of “constantly contend[ing] with machine estimations of [our] desires.” The mental gymnastics to make meaning of our daylists is yet another example of algorithmic anxiety, and it steers us away from forming our own identities in offline ways.

Forget daylists. I want to know a song that is meaningful to you and why.

Early 2024 TV deals include several premium Samsung QLEDs and cheap TCL and Hisense QLEDs

Samsung TV in room with colorful LED lights near gaming chair

UPDATE: Jan. 12, 2024, 5:00 a.m. EST This story has been updated with the latest deals on 4K and 8K TVs lingering after the end of post-holiday sales and before spring sales on previous-year models.

Best 4K TV deals this week:

Best 55-inch TV deal

TCL 55-inch Q5 QLED TV

$299.99 at Best Buy
(save $150)

TCL TV with football player on field as screensaver


Best 65-inch TV deal

LG 65-inch 99 Series Mini-LED 8K TV

$1,499.99
(save $1,000)

LG TV with colorful abstract beta fish background


Best 75-inch TV deal

Hisense 75-inch A76K QLED TV

$529.99 at Best Buy
(save $370)

Hisense TV with basketball player on screen


Best 85-inch TV deal

Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

$1,999.99 at Samsung
(save $1,300)

Samsung TV with blue abstract liquid screensaver

Upgrading to a 4K TV — even a QLED or OLED — no longer has to be an intimidating financial setback. High-quality TVs featuring punchy colors, decipherable shadows, and smooth transitions have become increasingly affordable for regular consumers, made even more budget-friendly by frequent sales from retailers like Best Buy, Samsung, Walmart, and Amazon.

SEE ALSO:

Get $50 in Walmart cash when you sign up for a year of Walmart+

We’ve pulled the best TV deals from across the internet as of Jan. 12. Deals are categorized by brand, then listed in order of size (smallest to largest) and price (lowest to highest).

Samsung TV deals

Samsung TV with blue abstract liquid screensaver

Credit: Samsung

Our pick: Samsung 85-inch Q80C QLED TV

$2,199.99 at Samsung (save $1,100)

Why we love it

Of the handful of 85-inch Samsung TVs majorly discounted right now, we think the deal on the extra-large Q80C for more than $1,000 off is the best bang for your buck.

The Q80C is Samsung’s most advanced QLED (before meeting the Neo QLED side of the family), packing 96 precisely-lit local dimming zones for the meticulous brightness necessary for watching sports in the daylight. Also present are advanced gaming features like a 120Hz refresh rate and VRR support.

More Samsung TVs on sale

  • Samsung 50-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED TV — $1,119.99 $1,499.99 (save $300 plus get a free $100 Best Buy gift card)

  • Samsung 55-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,199.99 $1,499.99 (save $300)

  • Samsung 55-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,497.99 $1,997.99 (save $500)

  • Samsung 55-inch S90C OLED TV — $1,599.99 $1,899.99 (save $300)

  • Samsung 55-inch S95C OLED TV — $2,099.99 $2,499.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 65-inch Q60C QLED TV — $749.99 $999.99 (save $250)

  • Samsung 65-inch S90C OLED TV — $1,799.99 $2,599.99 (save $800)

  • Samsung 65-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,399.99 $1,999.99 (save $600)

  • Samsung 65-inch QN90C QLED TV — $1,699.99 $2,799.99 (save $1,100)

  • Samsung 65-inch The Terrace Full Sun Outdoor QLED TV — $7,499.99 $9,999.99 (save $2,500)

  • Samsung 75-inch Q60C QLED TV — $999.99 $1,399.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 75-inch Q80C QLED TV — $1,599.99 $2,199.99 (save $600)

  • Samsung 75-inch QN85C QLED TV — $1,999.99 $2,699.99 (save $700)

  • Samsung 75-inch QN90C QLED TV — $2,397.99 $2,997.99 (save $600)

  • Samsung 77-inch S89C OLED TV — $2,199.99 $3,599.99 (save $1,400)

  • Samsung 77-inch S90C OLED TV — $2,699.99 $3,199.99 (save $500)

  • Samsung 85-inch CU800 4K TV — $1,199.99 $1,599.99 (save $400)

  • Samsung 85-inch Q60C QLED TV — $1,599.99 $2,299.99 (save $700)

  • Samsung 85-inch Q70C QLED TV — $1,899.99 $2,799.99 (save $900)

  • Samsung 85-inch QN85C QLED TV — $2,299.99 $3,799.99 (save $1,500)

LG TV deals

LG TV with colorful abstract beta fish background

Credit: LG

Our pick: LG 65-inch 99 Series QNED TV

$1,499.99 at Best Buy (save $1,000)

Why we love it

This 2021 65-inch QNED TV is one of the few LG TVs still at their holiday sale price — and the reigning discount happens to be an impressive 40% off. QNED is a mashup of LG’s NanoCell technology and quantum dots (which amp up color depth using an extra light filter of nanoparticles) and the backlighting of mini LEDs (like regular LEDs, but smaller for extra precision).

The 99 Series of LG QNEDs also happens to be 8K instead of 4K. That doubled resolution isn’t yet necessary for most streaming content that’s available right now, but this large, ultra-bright TV is sitting at such a good price that most similarly-sized 4K models from LG won’t be cheaper.

More LG TVs on sale

  • LG 42-inch Flex bendable OLED TV — $1,8866.99 $2,499.99 (save $613)

  • LG 48-inch A2 OLED TV — $599.99 $1,299.99 (save $700)

  • LG 65-inch B3 Series OLED TV — $1,499.99 $1,999.99 (save $500)

  • LG 65-inch C3 Series OLED TV — $1,799.99 $2,099.99 (save $300)

  • LG 70-inch UQ70 TV — $498 $648 (save $150)

  • LG 75-inch UQ70 4K TV — $579.99 $749.99 (save $170)

  • LG 75-inch 75 Series QNED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

  • LG 77-inch B3 Series OLED TV — $1,999.99 $2,899.99 (save $900)

  • LG 77-inch C3 Series OLED TV — $2,699.99 $3,199.99 (save $500)

  • LG 86-inch UR7800 4K TV — $799.99 $1,249.99 (save $450)

  • LG 86-inch 80 Series QNED TV — $1,899.99 $2,299.99 (save $400)

Sony TV deals

Sony TV with yellow crystal screensaver

Credit: Sony

Our pick: Sony 85-inch X90L 4K TV

$2,199.99 at Best Buy (save $600)

Why we love it

Of the several 4K TVs that Sony released in 2023, the X90L is the most premium regular LED model before the lineup switches over to mini-LED. Still, the X90L features full-array backlighting with local dimming that offers more precise brightness across the entire screen than a cheaper edge-lit LED TV. (That’s particularly helpful when the screen is so massive.) With better-than-basic lighting plus a high contrast ratio, low input lag, and VRR support, this 85-inch X90L is a great option for a big-screen budget gaming TV.

More Sony TVs on sale

  • Sony 65-inch X80L OLED TV — $1,999.99 $2,299.99 (save $300)

  • Sony 75-inch X90L 4K TV — $1,699.99 $1,999.99 (save $300)

  • Sony 77-inch A80L OLED TV — $2,899.99 $3,299.99 (save $400)

More TV deals from Amazon, TCL, Hisense, and more

TCL TV with football player on field as screensaver

Credit: TCL

Our pick: TCL 55-inch Q5 QLED TV

$299.99 at Best Buy (save $150)

Why we love it

TCL’s Q5 series came out in late summer 2023 and knocked the Q6 Series out of its spot as the brand’s most affordable QLED. And with Best Buy’s discount pushing this model under $300, it’s easily the cheapest 55-inch QLED on our list.

A quick scroll up to our mid-size QLED picks from Samsung, Sony, and LG make the rarity of a 55-inch QLED TV under $300 palpable. The Q5 has most of the same specs as the Q6 including HDR PRO+ with Dolby Vision, Motion Rate 240 motion smoothing technology (a win for gamers on a budget), three HDMI ports, and built-in Google Assistant.

More TCL TVs, Vizio TVs, Fire TVs, and other TVs on sale

  • Insignia 43-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $189.99 $269.99 (save $80)

  • Pioneer 50-inch 4K TV — $219.99 $299.99 (save $80)

  • Vizio 50-inch V Series 4K TV — $248 $319 (save $71)

  • TCL 50-inch Q5 QLED TV — $249.99 $399.99 (save $150)

  • Insignia 55-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $249.99 $349.99 (save $100)

  • Pioneer 65-inch 4K TV — $319.99 $499.99 (save $180)

  • Insignia 65-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $349.99 $499.99 (save $150)

  • Insignia 70-inch F30 4K Fire TV — $449.99 $599.99 (save $150)

  • Hisense 75-inch A76K QLED TV — $529.99 $899.99 (save $370)

  • Toshiba 75-inch C350 4K Fire TV — $539.99 $799.99 (save $260)

  • TCL 85-inch S4 4K TV — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

  • TCL 85-inch Q6 QLED TV — $999.99 $1,299.99 (save $300)

  • TCL 85-inch QM8 Mini-LED TV — $1,999.99 $2,399.99 (save $400)

  • TCL 98-inch S5 4K TV — $2,999.99 $4,999.99 (save $2,000)