Black Friday is almost here, and the closer we get, the more great sales are starting to pop up. The latest deal worth listening in for comes on our favorite wireless headphones of the year, Sony's WH-1000XM5 ANC headphones. In fact, an 18 percent discount brings this fantastic device back down to $328 from $400 — its all-time low price. The deal is available in all three colors: Black, white, and silver. 

Sony released the WH-1000XM5 back in May 2022, and it has reigned supreme ever since. At the time, we gave it a whopping 95 in our review, thanks to features like 30 hours of battery life with ANC on and a total design makeover that adds extra comfort. The 0.55-pound device now connects the headband to the ear cups in just one place (rather than the M4's two), adding to its sleeker look. 

The M5 headphones also have eight ANC mics — compared to four on its predecessor — and produce crisp, high-quality sound. Plus, they offer physical and touch control buttons, letting you easily make calls and change the noise mode or song. 

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

Five years in the making, Netflix's Avatar: The Last Airbender live-action remake is one step closer to gracing our screens. Netflix has released a new minute-and-a-half teaser that gives us a first look at the cast and key scenes. Plus, drum roll, please, we also finally have a release date: February 22, 2024.

At an event in June, all Netflix made public was a quick 37-second teaser showing the four nations' (Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and Air Nomads) symbols and that the show would come out in 2024. At the time, cast members discussed memorable parts of filming Avatar: The Last Airbender, such as haircut day, but now we get to see their transformation firsthand. The cast includes Gordon Cormier as Aang, Kiawentiio as Katara, Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai and Ian Ousley as Sokka.

Despite a deeper look into the upcoming series, questions remain about how it will compare to the original. Back in 2020, co-creators of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, left the project. "I realized I couldn't control the creative direction of the series, but I could control how I responded," DiMartino said at the time. "So, I chose to leave the project. It was the hardest professional decision I've ever had to make, and certainly not one that I took lightly, but it was necessary for my happiness and creative integrity." He added that the show had "potential" but wouldn't align with his vision for it.

Amazon is expanding its grocery services to the masses — well, at least to everyone who has an account with them. Now, non-Prime Members can also get Amazon Fresh groceries delivered or utilize free pickup at all locations. 

This expanded access will soon include Amazon-owned Whole Foods Market, with every customer able to choose two-hour delivery from either retailer. The online retailer is also making a play to compete with food delivery on the likes of Uber Eats or GrubHub as Amazon will also now drop off groceries from local shops, even pet food stores. 

Of course, Prime Members will still get additional benefits, including free shipping on Amazon Fresh orders over $100. Amazon raised the free delivery threshold to $150 earlier in the year before dropping it to $100 in October. Prime Members also get discounts on items at Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market. 

Amazon's grocery service has struggled between an unclear strategy and poor sales. Time will tell if expanding its delivery availability will be of any help. The retailer also announced that it has revamped three Los Angeles-based stores to include new products and — the American Dream — a Krispy Kreme donut shop. 

The first step towards potentially an entire new type of listening experience is upon us. Creative has announced the release of the Aurvana Ace series, earbuds powered by Micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) from the company xMEMS. The Aurvana Ace and Aurvana Ace 2 are considered to be the first proper TWS MEMS earbuds available for general consumers. News of their impending arrival first came back in August.

MEMS have been used in cellphones for years but haven't been capable of integration into earbuds until recently. The technology uses piezos and silicon, compared to typical speakers' coils and magnets. The claim is that MEMS can produce a sound with higher fidelity and durability while reducing power consumption. For instance, Creative's Aurvana Ace series has a frequency ranging from 5Hz to 40KHz.

According to Creative, the MEMS-based drivers are small flaps placed on silicon chips. "What makes this technology stand out is how it replicates sound when these flaps swiftly respond to short electrical signals," the company explains. "In doing so, these drivers are able to generate sound waves that closely mimic the way users naturally hear sounds in the world around them."

The Creative Aurvana Ace will retail for $130 and the Creative Aurvana Ace 2 will go for $150. Along with MEMS, both earbuds also have hybrid ANC, six built-in microphones and up to 24 hours of playtime. Each set is also IPX5 certified, meaning you can sweat all you want while wearing them. They are available for pre-order starting November 10, though an official release date has yet to be announced.

Providing read receipts has long been a choice across almost every messaging platform. Now, one of the biggest holdouts, Instagram, is finally testing a feature that lets users hide when they've "seen" a message. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Instagram head Adam Mosseri both announced the update on their Instagram Broadcast channels. 

Mosseri also shared an image of how the feature will work. The option will live under the Privacy and Safety tab, accessible by clicking on the person's name from inside the chat. From there, a section will appear called "Who can see your activity." Just switch the toggle below and all views moving forward should then become private. However, any messages sent in vanish mode will still have read receipts. 

Meta

Whether you open a message with a video and can't listen right away or just don't want to respond in the moment, there are lots of reasons why hiding your read receipts can be beneficial. However, they didn't say when the option will roll out to everyone or even how exactly they're testing it. Also unclear is if you'll have to turn it off for each person or if there will eventually be an overarching option. 

Meta-owned WhatsApp has allowed users to hide their read receipts since 2014, but Messenger, like Instagram, still automatically shows when a message is viewed. Maybe one day all Meta platforms will allow for checking messages discreetly, but until then, we'll watch how the Instagram test goes.  

The long fight to make Apple's iMessage compatible with all devices has raged with little to show for it. But Google (de facto leader of the charge) and other mobile operators are now leveraging the European Union's Digital Market Act (DMA), according to the Financial Times. The law, which goes into effect in 2024, requires that "gatekeepers" not favor their own systems or limit third parties from interoperating within them. Gatekeepers are any company that meets specific financial and usage qualifications, including Google's parent company Alphabet, Apple, Samsung and others. 

The European Commission is investigating whether iMessage's current functioning violates the DMA. Apple argues that its "small scale relative to other messaging services" and the lack of required use (or cost to do so) makes it irrelevant to the law. However, a letter from executives at companies such as Google, Vodafone and Orange argues that it should qualify as "enriched" messaging is only available to Apple users. 

Apple's iMessage not so subtly rewards you for communicating with other Apple devices (and for being an Apple user). Chats on iMessage stay blue until you add an Android user into the mix, and, suddenly, everything is green. Beyond the other reasons we'll get into, it's hard to explain why the blue is better, but it just is. On the tech side, Android users also get lower-quality photos and videos when they're sent through iMessage. Plus, iMessages can be sent over Wi-Fi, reducing the need for data when traveling or if you're simply running low on gigabytes for the month. 

In a statement aimed at keeping iMessage's benefits exclusive to Apple users, the company said, "Consumers today have access to a wide variety of messaging apps, and often use many at once, which reflects how easy it is to switch between them. iMessage is designed and marketed for personal consumer communications, and we look forward to explaining to the commission why iMessage is outside the scope of the DMA."

If the fight against Apple is successful, changes to iMessage would be the latest shift forced by the European Commission. Apple's new iPhone 15 dropped the lightning charger following a law mandating all new mobile devices sold in the EU have a USB-C port by the end of 2024.

The holiday season might be the most wonderful time of the year, but it's arguably also the most expensive. Ahead of the mad dash to find the best presents for the lowest prices, Google is attempting to undo some of that financial load with the launch of its new deals hub. Now, if you type in "shop deals" on Google, the search engine will bring you to a page filled with markdowns on categories like electronics and apparel. 

If you're looking for a specific type of item, you can Google something like "shop headphone deals" and see promotions for that product. Displayed items should come from a range of sources, including big box stores, luxury brands, and local shops. Google will also show items based on what you've browsed for in the past while signed into your account. Plus, if you've looked at a certain shirt or a watch, for instance, it might appear in your "resume browsing" card alongside any current promotions on it.

Google is also coming for extensions like Honey and Capital One Shopping, with a new discount tag icon right in the Chrome address bar. Click on the button, and, just like with the others, you'll get a list of coupon codes for the site you're currently shopping on. 

Plus, Google is providing more tracking information to monitor whether a price is above average — or has recently dropped. Participating sites will have a "shopping insights" label in the address bar that you can click on to view an item's 90-day price history. This chart could give you an idea of whether the item goes on sale frequently or if its sticker price has dropped recently. You can also click the bell icon on Search for mobile to receive push and email notifications when a product goes on sale. Bookmark the item instead if you're shopping on Chrome from your computer. 

Dead By Daylight has brought a fan-favorite collaboration back into its universe: Gamers can once again access the Stranger Things chapter, entering The Upside Down and choosing to play as Survivors Nancy Wheeler or Steve Harrington against the Killer, The Demogorgon.

Behaviour Interactive first released a Dead By Daylight and Stranger Things crossover in 2019 on the heels of other horror collaborations like A Nightmare on Elm Street and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. However, the license ended in 2021, and — despite pleas from fans for Netflix to renew the contract — the TV show-inspired board and characters left. To be fair, anyone who already owned the game could still play as Nancy or Steve, but no updates or additional purchases were available.

Now, the Stranger Things chapter is once again available to all "including the Underground Complex Map from the Hawkins National Laboratory, and the iconic Survivor duo composed of Nancy Wheeler, a tough aspiring journalist, and Steve Harrington, a former high school jock with a knack for finding trouble," Mathieu Côté, head of partnerships for Behaviour Interactive, said in a statement. Players can also grab new outfits from the in-game store, including items for the Demogorgon.

Speaking of the ever-frightening Demogorgon, the creature can navigate the map through a series of portals. Then, when it finds its prey, the Demogorgon uses one lunging strike to end things. While much of the Stranger Things chapter mirrors its initial iteration, as of now, related achievements and trophies won't be available. 

Black Friday is still a couple of weeks away, but the sales are already starting. Take Logitech, which has markdowns on lots of its best devices on Amazon, including the G733 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset. The well-made and stylish headphones (we named them one of the cutest gaming accessories) are currently $120, down from $150 — a 20 percent discount. 

Logitech's G733 headset backs up its good looks with powerful sound, a 20-meter range and up to 29 hours of battery life. Plus, its stretchy band and interchangeable earbud tips give you a comfortable, easy fit. 

Among the many other Logitech mice, keyboards and headphones currently for sale, there are a few other stand outs to look into. The G Fits True Wireless Gaming Earbuds are down to $150 from $230 — a 35 percent discount. These are a great option if you just can't get earbuds to stay in your ear, with Logitech's Lightform technology molding the device to your ear in just one minute upon first use. They also come with 10mm drivers, dual built-in beamforming microphones and passive noise canceling. 

OK, enough about listening — let's talk about the tools you need for gameplay. The G Pro Wireless Gaming Mouse is currently marked down 38 percent, dropping to $80 from $130. Logitech built the mouse with input from professional esports gamers, and it shows, touting features like a 1-millisecond report rate connection and up to 25,600 DPI. Looking for a cheap entry point into Logitech's devices? Try the G203 Wired Gaming Mouse, down to $20 from $40 — a 50 percent discount. 

Logitech's G915 Lightspeed RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard rounds out some of our favorites on sale with a 36 percent price cut, making the device available for $160 instead of $250. The wireless keyboard provides 30 hours of gameplay and 16.8 million color options. Plus, you can choose between three distinct sounds for your perfect level of clacking. 

Your Black Friday Shopping Guide: See all of Yahoo’s Black Friday coverage, here. Follow Engadget for Black Friday tech deals. Learn about Black Friday trends on In The Know. Hear from Autoblog’s experts on the best Black Friday deals for your car, garage, and home, and find Black Friday sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.

Samsung only debuted its new SmartTag 2 in mid-October, but the device already has a great sale going. Right now, you can get four SmartTag 2 trackers for just $80, down from $92. The 13 percent price cut puts each one at just $20 — that's quite a saving compared to the $30 a single SmartTag2 costs. 

The original SmartTag came on the scene in 2021 as a counter to the AirTag and Tile — but only for Galaxy users. Now, with its newest iteration, Samsung has updated quite a few features, such as taking the Bluetooth and ultra-wideband (UWB) variants and combining them into one model. The SmartTag2 also does something Apple still hasn't mastered: providing a key ring for its smart tracker. The initial model simply had a punch hole. 

Samsung's SmartTag 2 is also IP67 dust and water-resistant, giving you an easier time for runs in the rain or letting your dog wander around with it in all sorts of weather. Plus, its battery life lasts 50 percent as long as its predecessor, giving you 700 days in Power Saving Mode and 500 days in Normal Mode. At the moment, the SmartTag 2 still only works for Samsung devices, but it's definitely a good option if you have one. 

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