Some owners of LG smart TVs were unpleasantly surprised to see unwanted shortcuts for Microsoft Copilot suddenly pop up on their smart TVs this month. Even worse, these shortcuts were impossible to delete; best you could do is hide them, but the actual Microsoft Copilot app would remain installed on the TV.
Now, Engadget reports that LG has relented in its pursuit of forcing Copilot down its users' throats. According to an LG representative, the company will "take steps to allow users to delete the shortcut icon if they wish."
The idea behind the Copilot shortcut was, reportedly, to launch it in the web browser on LG TVs, instead of as a native smart TV app.
However, placing a Microsoft Copilot shortcut on the smart TV's shortcut bar is probably a bad idea. I've tried out my share of phones full of bloatware, and I was never too happy about having pre-installed app that I didn't need, especially if I was unable to delete it.
It's unclear when LG will allow users to remove Copilot from their TVs, but it's likely coming via a future software update.
Hallmark, as you might guess, is divisive. But what you might not know is that Hallmark is more than a TV channel slash greeting card company…it’s a powerhouse. A genuine phenomenon. Hallmark Cards has been in the TV business since 1951! And in 2024, Hallmark Channel was the #1 cable entertainment channel. Hallmark Mystery — which is its own channel, just so you know — was number #3 with women 18+ in Q4. Hallmark is also a convention…and a CRUISE.
No matter your opinion on Hallmark movies, you probably don't know the story behind why Hallmark movies really hit. Video producer Matt Fornwald takes us on a mind-bending journey through (mostly) every 2025 Hallmark holiday movie to discover the formula behind what draws so many people to Hallmark holiday movies every year.
For a limited time, Amazon has knocked the price of the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle set down to $137.99 from $219.99. This saves you a whopping $82, which is an excellent offer to take advantage of. Not to mention, it'll even arrive before Christmas if you pick it up now, according to the Amazon sale page. So why wait?
This 1,913-piece Lego set creates a detailed display model of the lunar rover module that was carried by Apollo 17, alongside three attachable equipment sets that each have their own information plaque. Given its very detailed assembly and piece count, it's a set that's recommended for adults to build. If you know someone with a love of space, this is a great gift to give them for the holiday season that'll arrive just in time.
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Considering Amazon has it listed as a limited-time deal, it likely won't stay at this price for long. Now is a great opportunity to save $82 on the Lego Technic NASA Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle set while it's still on sale at Amazon.
Christmas is coming up fast, but if you're looking for more gift ideas, our roundup of the 60+ best Christmas gifts for 2025 highlights some more options worth giving this year.
With Wake Up Dead Man, writer/director Rian Johnson brings a third fascinating Benoit Blanc murder-mystery to movie fans. But what inspired this heady blend of faith, fear, and dogged logic?
Johnson spoke with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko in a Say More interview. Their conversation began on Broadway, weaving in Johnson's long-held love of the theater — including his hopes for Miss Piggy doing Oh, Mary! From there, he talked his love of genre, blending highbrow and lowbrow elements. They dug into that neck tattoo of Josh O'Connor's "hot priest" — and how the internet is thirsting hard over it.
Fun fact for fans: O'Connor created the design himself. Johnson wrote the neck tattoo into the script, and apologized to O'Connor, saying, "I know this is going to be a lot of work. We'll barely glimpse it, and nobody might even notice it, but I feel like this says volumes. This is like the key to this guy."
An AI slop bucket piece of shit was never going to be able to have that connection with an audience because it's never lived.
He continued, "It's something that Josh designed. Because that was another thing, all I wanted to see is one little tiny peek of it. [I told him], 'I want you to pick what it is, and I want you to design it.' And I can't remember exactly what it was. It was some kind of like symbol or something. It wasn't like a word or something, but it was something that Josh kind of came up with a backstory that involved what this thing actually meant."
Beyond being "happy" that fans spotted the tattoo, Johnson is also hopeful about the future of film. While the possible Netflix/Warner Bros. merger has some worried about the fate of movie theaters, and the rise of AI has Hollywood in an uproar, this heralded filmmaker expressed a calm certainty that human-made art in theaters will survive.
"I'm not afraid," Johnson began, "Because I go to the movies, and what I see at the movies are young people. And I see young people showing up to movies. I see them getting excited to go with friends and have that experience. And I mean, AI is a bunch of slop bullshit...I don't care how good it gets. I think there is some element of the movie-going process where it's a bit like theater, where the audience is aware they're engaging with another person, even if that person is the filmmaker, when they're watching something."
He continued, "And I think that's the reason why you're seeing directors like Guillermo [del Toro] and directors like Director Bong [Joon Ho] and directors like PTA [Paul Thomas Anderson]. And I'm seeing fan bases growing up around them because they are voices, and the audience is having a connection with them when they're watching their movies. An AI slop bucket piece of shit was never going to be able to have that connection with an audience because it's never lived. So no, I think these are crazy times, and I think there are really hard things about these times. But ultimately, I feel secure that people are going to keep wanting to get together and watch stories."
Two TV giants, Samsung and LG, can't stop talking about their fancy new Micro RGB TVs. But are these TVs truly better than OLEDs, and should you splurge now or wait for the prices to go down? We investigate.
What have Samsung and LG announced?
In mid-December, Samsung and LG front-ran CES 2026 by announcing their new Micro RGB TV sets.
In particular, Samsung said that in 2026 it would expand its Micro RGB TV lineup with 55-, 65-, 75-, 85-, 100- and 115-inch models (the company previously launched a massive, 115-inch TV in 2025).
Samsung's 115-inch Micro RGB behemoth will be joined by smaller models in 2026. Credit: Samsung
LG, on the other hand, said it would unveil its first-ever flagship RGB TV at CES 2026. Called the Micro RGB evo, it boasts the smallest individual RGB LEDs ever seen in an LG TV. The company said the TV would be available in 75-, 86-, and 100-inch sizes.
OK, but what are Micro RGB TVs?
These are still LCD TVs, but improved.
Remember when the first LED TVs showed up? Those were displays that used LEDs (light emitting diodes) for backlighting an LCD (liquid-crystal display) panel. The next step in the evolution of LED TVs was mini-LED TVs, which used smaller LED modules to provide backlight to an LCD screen. Smaller is better here, because the mini-LEDs drain less energy and provide more precise illumination, which translates into better picture on your TV.
This leads us to Micro LED TVs, which introduce even smaller LEDs. Again, this means less energy drain, and better picture quality (more on that in a second). But most importantly, these aren't LCDs, as there's no LCD panel being backlit with LEDs. Instead, the LEDs themselves create their own light at the pixel level.
And then we have Micro RGB TVs, which are less a name for the technology and more a marketing term that Samsung and LG use to describe a TV with tiny LEDs that, instead of emitting only white or blue light (like those on mini-LED TVs), use LEDs that can emit red, green, or blue light. Despite that, this is still an LCD TV. Think of it as a hybrid solution: The LEDs produce both the backlighting and the colors, but the image is created on an LCD panel.
Samsung has created this nifty evolution of LED TV panels in one picture. Credit: Samsung
All of the above compete with OLED (organic light emitting diode) TVs, which work in a different way (and are in fact similar to Micro LED TVs). Instead of using LEDs to illuminate the LCD panel, OLED TVs use pixels that can create their own light and color. The best OLEDs have superior picture quality to most LCD/LED TVs, with deeper blacks and almost infinite contrast, but OLED TVs are pricy to manufacture and tend to degrade over time.
Are these Micro RGB TVs any good?
This is where things get tricky.
Ideally, a Micro LED TV will offer incredibly precise colors, high contrast, and deep blacks — basically the stuff you expect from an OLED TV.
But what Samsung and LG have announced are Micro RGB TVs, and while the name is confusingly similar to Micro LED, it's not the same thing. (By the way, you can buy a true Samsung Micro LED TV right now, but it will cost you $150,000).
The issue, of course, is that this is not just about making a TV that's better than OLED. Instead, companies such as Samsung and LG want to make TVs with picture comparable to OLED TVs, but at a more affordable price, and without the drawbacks.
That won't happen right away. Samsung's first Micro RGB TV, the 115-inch monster that launched this year, costs $30,000. Smaller models will be cheaper, but we don't know the exact prices yet.
Finally, these Micro RGB TVs are very new. Few people had a chance to review them, and we just don't know how they compare to OLEDs or the best LED TVs out there.
No detailed specs yet
There's a couple of things we can glean from Samsung and LG's announcements. For example, Samsung says its new Micro RGB TVs will offer "ultra-precise light control and improved color accuracy." The company also said that these TVs will come with a next-gen AI chipset which will enable "more precise frame-by-frame clarity and realism."
LG, on the other hand, said its Micro RGB TVs uses "OLED precision to control each of the RGB LED backlights," and, of course, there's a next-gen AI improving upscaling as well as overall picture quality. Both companies say their TVs will offer incredibly precise color reproduction.
All that said, we don't have the exact specs for the upcoming TVs, and we won't really know how good they are until we see them in person. That will happen at next year's CES, which takes place in Las Vegas from Jan 6. to 9, so stay tuned for more details.
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"Everyone, it is the holiday season," said Meyers on the last Late Night of the year, "which means it's time to gather around the fire with friends and family, share the warmth of community and connection, to give gifts, extend compassion, bask in the holiday spirit, and, of course, most importantly, to get yelled at by the president."
For his "A Closer Look" segment, Meyers examined the lead-up to Trump's speech, including the current state of the U.S. economy and the president's decreasing approval ratings. Having set the scene, the host then turned to the speech itself, which Trump delivered with his volume up.
"Stop yelling at us, grandpa!" said Meyers. "If you don't want us to come home and visit you at the retirement home on Christmas, we'll happily stay where we are."
"The speech was so unhinged and so full of obvious lies that CNN's Fact Checker had to race through them and still ran out of time," said Meyers, throwing to footage of CNN's Daniel Dale debunking Trump's claims (again). He then finished the segment with a strong statement:
"Americans are struggling with rising costs and slowing economy, and instead of demonstrating empathy and coming up with a plan to fix it, Trump's just scolding everyone through the TV."
"The president had limited time — his speech was interrupting the season finale of Survivor — so he went a mile a minute. He was shouting. He was racing through the script. It was 18 straight minutes of him yelling. It was like the whole country got to experience what it was like to be Eric in the eighth grade."
"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe that years from now, I think we'll all remember where we were when we did not watch Donald Trump's speech last night," said The Late Show host on Thursday. "Yesterday, Old Man Baloney Hands somehow convinced every network to preempt their primetime programming to air a presidential address from the White House...I'm not sure what the emergency was here, other than his poll numbers, because he just played the old hits."
Colbert played a clip from Trump's speech in which he said: "This is what the Biden administration allowed to happen to our country, and it can never be allowed to happen again. We had men playing in women’s sports, transgender for everybody, crime at record levels with law enforcement and words such as that just absolutely forbidden."
"Yes, words such as 'that' were forbidden," joked Colbert. "Under Biden, you couldn't say 'that.' You had to say you had to say 'this but over there.' But under Donald Trump, we're finally saying 'Merry Thatmas' again."
Usually the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor is listed with a hefty price tag of $1,299, but for a limited time its price has dropped to $899. This saves you $400, and Amazon notes that it'll arrive before Christmas. If you're hoping to get it as a gift, you'll still have time to get it all wrapped up.
This ASUS monitor is sure to make your games shine as you start playing what's to come in 2026 (and fingers crossed that's GTA 6). It boasts a 32-inch 4K QD-OLED display that makes images on screen pop with vibrant color and detail, alongside a 240 Hz refresh rate and 0.03 ms (GTG) response time so everything runs smoothly without any lag.
It even comes with features that help lower the risk of burn-in on the screen, including a custom heatsink, advanced airflow design, and graphene film. If it ticks all the boxes of what you're looking for in a monitor, now is a great time to grab the ASUS ROG Swift 32-inch 4K OLED gaming monitor at Amazon while it's still on sale.
If this was part of your last-minute Christmas shopping, and you're looking for more tech items to pick up, we gathered up the 65 best tech gifts of the year to help you narrow down your options ahead of the holidays.
Being slapped by Cher and being told directly to "snap out of it" is a recurring dream most of us will never experience IRL. But Ariana Grande and Bowen Yang now have the bragging rights.
The Grammy-winning artist back hosting Saturday Night Live on Dec. 20, and in a teaser for the show, Cher had a special something for Grande and Yang.
Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.
Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.
Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.
How to play Pips
If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.
The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.
Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:
Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.
Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.
Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.
Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.
Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.
If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.
Pluribus episode 8 sees a tentative reunion between Carol (Rhea Seehorn) and the Others, with our protagonist juggling her desire for semi-human contact with her urge to set the world back to the way it was.
Having the Others back does allow her to get some more information about them, though, as she wastes no time in asking Zosia (Karolina Wydra) as many questions as possible while they're hanging out.
So what exactly does she learn, and what could it mean?
All the new information Zosia lets slip to Carol is handily summed up on her "What I Know About Them" whiteboard list, which she adds a bunch of different things to this episode. Here's the second part of the list, in full:
They. Eat. People.
Communal sleeping/cuddle puddle/body heat
Communicate via body's electric charge??
Trains to transport food (ugh)
Individuals feel, everyone knows
Signal from Kepler-22b (640 lightyears from Earth)
Building GIANT ANTENNA!!! Using up all power in world to send signal to space!
The last point follows on from a conversation she has with Zosia while she's using a telescope to look at the planet – Kepler-22b – responsible for beaming out the signal that contained the virus.
"We'll probably never learn the first thing about them," Zosia says. "They're too far away. But we know we love them and we're grateful to them. And we'll pay it forward, however long that may take."
When Carol asks what that means, Zosia's response sheds light on what the Others are planning: "We have to share their gift with whoever else might be out there."
What does it mean?
We already know that the Others' main reason for existing seems to be to widen their supposedly utopian net, joining other beings to their own singular consciousness. The construction of a giant antenna to send the same signal that Earth received therefore isn't too big of a surprise — but it does raise some other interesting questions.
For instance, where does the virus itself really originate from? Is it possible that the occupants of Kepler-22b didn't create it, but were simply passing it along after being infected by it in the same way that the Others on Earth are now planning to do?
Also, what was the real motivate of the species that created the virus? Was it actually to instil happiness on as many beings as possible and make the universe a better place? Or was the thing created as a weapon intended to weaken other planets and make them vulnerable to potential invasion?
Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you like golf.
As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.
Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for the latest Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #452 is...
What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?
An NL West player - DODGER, GIANT, PADRE, ROCKIE
Boxing movies - CINDERELLA MAN, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, THE FIGHTER, THE HURRICANE
Vikings career passing leaders - COUSINS, CULPEPPER, KRAMER, TARKENTON
Nicknames of 1990s NBA All-Stars - GRANDMAMA, PENNY, SIR CHARLES, THE DREAM
Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
TL;DR: Live stream Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There's a long list of NBA games taking place over the festive weeks, including Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. This intriguing contest sees the defending champions going up against Anthony Edwards. Can he head his team to a surprise win at home?
If you want to watch Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Knicks vs. 76ers?
Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA starts at 9:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Target Center.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S. and UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. or UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?
ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
TL;DR: Live stream New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There are plenty of fascinating NBA games to keep fans entertained over the festive period, including New York Knicks vs. Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks are fresh from winning the NBA Cup. Can they carry on that form and start to dominate the East? The 76ers will be a stern test.
If you want to watch Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Knicks vs. 76ers?
Knicks vs. 76ers in the NBA starts at 7 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.
This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S. and UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S. or UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.
Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:
$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA before recovering your investment.
What is the best VPN for the NBA?
ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
Astronomers have found a strange world outside the solar system that is ripe for science fiction — but it's all real.
The exoplanet, dubbed PSR J2322-2650 b, has a helium-and-carbon atmosphere, something researchers say they've never seen before. The air could be full of soot clouds, and deep inside, carbon could even clump together into solid crystals, possibly forming diamonds.
This all takes place on a lemon-shaped planet that is orbiting a pulsar, a special type of neutron star that spins and strobes like a lighthouse in space. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope made the observations.
"Our collective reaction was 'What the heck is this?'" said Peter Gao, a coauthor on the new research based at Carnegie Earth and Planets Laboratory, in a statement. "It's extremely different from what we expected."
A giant planet as heavy as Jupiter with a carbon-heavy atmosphere, orbiting a dead star, does not fit any known planet model, challenging long-standing ideas about how worlds form and survive. The findings, published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, suggest that planetary systems can exist under far more extreme conditions than scientists thought.
The new research revealed that powerful gravity from its nearby star, which lies about 750 light-years away from Earth, stretches and squeezes the planet into a lemon shape.
The planet orbits a pulsar, the crushed core left behind after a massive star explodes. This star, PSR J2322-2650, packs roughly the mass of the sun into a space of a city. As it rapidly spins, it sends out steady beams of energy.
"The planet orbits a star that's completely bizarre," said the University of Chicago’s Michael Zhang, the principal investigator on this study, in a statement.
The planet circles this pulsar at a distance of only about 1 million miles. For comparison, Earth sits close to 100 million miles from the sun. Because that orbit is so tight, a full year on PSR J2322-2650 b lasts less than eight hours.
When Webb looked at the planet’s atmosphere, scientists expected to see common gases, such as water vapor or methane. Instead, they found helium and simple forms of carbon. This kind of carbon should not exist by itself at such high temperatures, the researchers say, unless almost all oxygen and nitrogen are missing. No other known planet shows this pattern.
Temperatures on the planet range from about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit on the cooler side to about 3,700 degrees on the hotter side.
In a binary system 750 light-years away, a pulsar may be stripping material off its exoplanet companion. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / Ralf Crawford illustration
The binary system also resembles a rare setup referred to as "a black widow," where a pulsar slowly strips material from a nearby companion. The difference here is that the companion is a planet — not another star.
No known process explains how such a carbon-heavy planet could form.
"But it's nice to not know everything," said coauthor Roger Romani of Stanford University in a statement. "I'm looking forward to learning more about the weirdness of this atmosphere. It's great to have a puzzle to go after."
As far as console games go, 2025 was Nintendo's year.
While Xbox and PlayStation were five years into their respective console generations, each releasing a handful of noteworthy (but not extraordinary) first-party releases, most eyes in the industry were on their oldest rival company as it geared up to launch the Switch 2 in June.
Prior to launch, the biggest story about the Switch 2 had nothing to do with hardware or games. It was the Trump administration's tariffs threatening console gamers' good times. In the end, Nintendo dodged a bullet, and the console came out on time at the expected $450 price point.
Now that the Switch 2 has been in our hands (or underneath our TVs) for six months, it's a good time to evaluate whether this console lives up to the hype. So here it is, the Nintendo Switch 2's first (half) year in review.
I like the hardare, overall.Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable
Games don't matter if the console itself sucks. Thankfully, with the Switch 2, that isn't the case. This is one of the best pieces of hardware Nintendo has produced in its long history.
The Switch offered important upgrades over the original. Users got a generous boost in speed and power, of course, but also the handheld unit's larger size makes it more comfortable for adult-sized hands like mine.
Some users have expressed discontent with the way the Switch 2 feels to hold for long sessions, but that hasn't been my experience. The new dock has a built-in Ethernet port — also a huge plus for anyone who prefers to wire up when playing games online. You should try it if you can.
The new Joy-Con controllers benefit from the general increase in size, though I still don't particularly like using them while the console is docked. It's disappointing that Nintendo didn't take this opportunity to put a real D-pad on the left Joy-Con; I get why they went with buttons instead, as it offers parity for local multiplayer games. Still, the lack of a D-pad makes twitchy 2D side-scrollers more cumbersome to play in handheld mode.
The new Pro Controller is excellent to use, but barely improved over the old model. Nintendo didn't reinvent the wheel here, and that's fine. Repairability critics at sites like iFixit have big problems with the Pro Controller 2 because it's not as easy to self-repair as it should be, so keep that in mind when shopping for controllers. There are plenty of good third-party options out there, too.
As for everyday performance, the Switch 2 is a massive step up from the first model. Menu elements like the eShop run significantly faster than they did before, and the console's faster storage standards mean games load much quicker, too.
The biggest disappointment: the handheld unit's display. On paper, a 1080p/120Hz display with HDR support sounded great; in practice, games tend to look a little washed out, and the advertised HDR features can be described as "fake."
New features are mixed
GameChat is good, though I haven't used it much since launch.Credit: Nintendo
The enhanced hardware also facilitated some new non-game software features that, frankly, I can take or leave after six months.
Mouse support on the Joy-Cons, for instance, has yet to really wow me in any game. It's neat that you can play first-person shooters or what have you with them, but since I almost never play games with ready access to a flat surface within arm's reach, I've gotten next to no organic use out of the mouse controls. Like a lot of people, I keep waiting for whatever is next for Mario Maker to truly provide a great use case for this stuff.
Webcam support, similarly, is neat but ultimately frivolous. I like that games such as Super Mario Party Jamboree have webcam-specific mini-games, while other titles will show other players your face while you play against them, but it's also easy to forget this console even supports webcams.
As with the mouse controls, I keep waiting for Nintendo to give us an ironclad excuse to use a webcam — but that hasn't happened yet.
Perhaps the best new feature is GameChat, Nintendo's first earnest attempt at cross-game voice chat at the console level. It's exceptionally easy to set up and the microphone on the console itself is shockingly good at blocking out unwanted noises for other users in the same session as you. Still, there's no game that counts as a killer app for this feature. Perhaps 2026 will bring us the first real GameChat-necessary banger for Switch 2.
The games ranged from OK to great
I like 'Bananza' a lot.Credit: Nintendo
The Switch 2's launch-window lineup is ... fine. There's been a lot of noise online about how the lineup sucks, but critics tend to suffer from a limited sense of history.
Yes, it's true that the first Switch launched with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild — but that was a confluence of historical circumstances and desperation on Nintendo's part that has rarely happened before, and might never happen again. On the whole, console launch lineups tend to be mediocre, and the Switch 2's offerings easily clears this low bar.
For instance, Mario Kart World is a great time, even if it's not a huge 100-hour open-world masterpiece. Donkey Kong Bananza, released a month after launch, is an excellent 3-D platformer with a lot of heart and a unique destruction-based hook. Metroid Prime 4: Beyond met with a divisive reception, to say the least, but I dug it alongside Pokémon Legends: Z-A: two games that also came out on Switch 1 but are better on Switch 2.
Of course, there were some duds or semi-duds. Drag x Drive, the mouse-based multiplayer wheelchair basketball game, came and went without much fanfare. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment was a big disappointment due to an overly simplistic structure, a boring narrative, and a distinct lack of electric guitar. I also did not care for Kirby Air Riders and its brand of paper-thin nonsense very much at all, though many users will disagree.
Compare all of that to the PlayStation 5, whose best launch title was a remake of Demon's Souls, or the Xbox Series X, which literally didn't have a standout launch game. The Switch 2 lineup looks pretty good by comparison.
It's a backwards compatibility powerhouse
You should really check out 'Bakeru.'Credit: Good-Feel/Spike Chunsoft
The Switch 2's most underrated aspect may be its ability to make Switch 1 games look a lot better than they did on the previous console — even without paying extra for the pleasure.
Paid upgrades for old games like Breath of the Wild or its sequel Tears of the Kingdom are great, but the more unexpected development is how many games run better on Switch 2 for free. The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, for one, is a night-and-day difference. On the new console it has buttery smooth performance that the OG Switch didn't provide. A free patch for Splatoon 3 also made that game look noticeably better, as was the case for Super Mario Odyssey.
My favorites are the ones that didn't even get Switch 2 patches, but run better anyway. There's a really cool 3-D platformer called Bakeru that was nigh-unplayable on Switch 1, but runs fantastically on Switch 2. I wouldn't have even known about it if not for word-of-mouth on how much the new console improves it.
After six months, I'm fairly happy with where the Nintendo Switch 2 is. It's a bummer knowing that the next major entries in the Mario and Zelda franchises are likely years away, but hopefully Nintendo can keep releasing other interesting first-party games at a steady enough clip to keep us satisfied in the meantime.
The important part is that the hardware is mostly very good and the games, so far, have been more good than bad. Here's to feeling even better about the console at the end of 2026.
5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months(save $99)
The college football postseason is here. That's right, it's playoffs time, with first-round action that pits the Oklahoma Sooners against Alabama Crimson Tide. Going into the game, which will played on Oklahoma's home turf, things look pretty even. Both teams have an overall season record of 10-2 and they're ranked right next to each other, at No. 8 and No. 9 respectively.
To give some indication of how it might play out, Oklahoma edged a victory — a narrow 21-23 scoreline — when the programs met in the SEC last month, part of the Sooners' current four match winning streak. And Alabama are coming off a decisive loss to Georgia. But does that just mean the Crimson Tide are due to bounce back? College football experts would say Alabama have got the better game overall and their loss to Oklahoma was a surprise result.
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Kicking off the CBF before a stacked night of three games on Saturday, Oklahoma vs. Alabama is one not to miss. The good news is you can watch it for free online. If you want to watch Oklahoma vs. Alabama for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Oklahoma vs. Alabama?
Oklahoma vs. Alabama takes place at 8 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.
Oklahoma vs. Alabama vs. Memphis State is broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch Oklahoma vs. Alabama from anywhere in the world
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Oklahoma vs. Alabama from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Oklahoma vs. Alabama from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months(save $99)
There's more exciting college football action this week as the postseason rolls on. Next up is the NC State Wolfpack vs. Memphis Tigers in the Gasparilla Bowl, a regular fixture in bowl season since 2008.
NC State have entered nine bowl games in the last 10 years but they haven't walked away as winners since 2017. It's been a different story for Memphis — they're on a four game winning streak in bowl games. It feels like it's the Wolfpack's turn to bring a bowl home, though the edge is with Memphis, who have the winningest season so far with 8-4 vs. 7-5. Whatever happens, this bowl game has the makings of a closely-contested battle.
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If you want to watch NC State vs. Memphis for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is NC State vs. Memphis?
NC State vs. Memphis takes place at 2.30 p.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
NC State vs. Memphis State is broadcast on ESPN.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch NC State vs. Memphis from anywhere in the world
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream NC State vs. Memphis from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch NC State vs. Memphis from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
5-day free trial, then $49.99/month for 3 months(save $99)
The Myrtle Beach Bowl is a relatively recent addition to the college football postseason, first established in 2020. But it's no less prestigious to either the Western Michigan Broncos or Kennesaw State Owls.
The Broncos have won just two bowl games in their history, the last coming in 2021, while the Owls have never competed in a bowl game until now.
It should be a tough contest. Both teams are their respective conference champion, with Western Michigan winning MAC with 9-4 and Kennesaw State winning Conference USA with 10-3. It's fair to say both programs are on a hot streak and will give it everything they've got in this bowl showdown.
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If you want to watch Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State for free from anywhere in the world, here's all the information you need.
When is Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State?
Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State takes place at 11 a.m. ET on Dec. 19. This game takes place at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina.
Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State is broadcast on ESPN.
How to watch college football in 2025/26
Fans can live stream college football on a wide range of recommended services, some of which include free trials so you can follow the action without actually spending anything.
Channels: ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, SEC Network, ACC Network, ESPN on ABC, ESPN+, ESPN3, SECN+, and ACCNX
ESPN Unlimited provides access to everything that ESPN has to offer. For college football, you get live access to games on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+, ACC Network, and ABC. The Unlimited plan will set you back $29.99 per month, but for the first year, new subscribers can secure a bundle with Disney+ and Hulu for the same price.
Fox One provides access to live broadcasts on Fox, Fox Sports, FS1, FS2, and Big Ten Network. It costs $19.99 per month, but you can save $40 by opting for the annual plan at $199.99. You can also start with a seven-day free trial, so you've got the chance to watch select games without spending anything.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, Marquee Sports Network, Monumental Sports, NBC, NBCSN, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and The CW
FuboTV offers you more than 250 channels of live TV and provides the opportunity to watch on 10 screens at once, if that's your thing. You can try FuboTV with a seven-day free trial period.
Fubo takes sports seriously, and that's something we appreciate. With the Pro subscription, you get access to most college football broadcasts. But hardcore fans may want to consider upgrading to the Elite plan, which unlocks access to ESPNU, SEC Network, Pac-12 Network, and ACC Network. Either way, we suggest you test the waters for seven days before you make any sort of commitment.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, and The CW
Hulu + Live TV is not exactly cheap, but it does offer good bang for your buck. You need to cough up $76.99 per month (after a three-day trial), but you get access to over 95 live TV channels, plus Hulu, Disney+, and ESPN+ (all with ads). The included access to ESPN+ provides bonus access to even more college football games on top of live TV networks like ABC, FOX, ESPN, The CW, ACC Network, and more. Now that's value.
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN 3, ESPNews, ESPN U, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network
Sling is a comprehensive sporting service that offers a whole host of benefits, but you do need to be careful when selecting a plan. The Orange and Blue packages give you access to FOX, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and more in local markets, but for access to ACC Network, SEC Network, Big Ten Network, and more, you'll need the Sports Extra package. We recommend checking your local market to ensure you get access to the channels you actually need.
7-day free trial, then $49.99/month for your first 3 months
Channels: ABC, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPNews, Fox, FS1, FS2, NBC, NBCSN, SEC Network, and The CW
YouTube TV provides access to over 100 live channels. Newsflash: that's a lot. This huge list includes most of the channels you actually need to watch live college football, including NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and ESPN, plus networks like FS1 and SEC Network. YouTube TV also offers that all-important free trial so you can watch select games without spending anything.
How to watch Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State from anywhere in the world
If you're abroad for this fixture, you might need to use a VPN to unblock your favorite streaming service. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock live streams of college football from anywhere in the world.
Live stream Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:
Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.
Sign in to your favorite streaming service
Watch Western Michigan vs. Kennesaw State from anywhere in the world
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:
Servers in 105 countries including the U.S.
Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
Fast connection speeds free from throttling
Up to eight simultaneous connections
30-day money-back guarantee
A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).
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