The $40 LEGO Christmas Set That’s Better Than Real Candles (And Safer)

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For families or friend groups that are very much into the holiday spirit, decorating your space for Christmas is probably a time-honored tradition. There’s the Christmas tree decorating, putting up the socks by the fireplace (well if you have one), and maybe putting up decorations on the rooftop and porch. If you’re also the type that loves putting together LEGO builds, then this set will bring together the best of both worlds.

The LEGO Christmas Table Decoration is a 433-piece set that can be used as a dining table centerpiece or as part of your holiday aesthetic this coming season. While of course you can use actual Christmas decorations to spruce up your space, fans of LEGO sets will have much more fun putting this together either alone or as a family or group activity. It can also be a great holiday gift for the LEGO or Christmas lover in your life in case you still have no idea what to get them.

Designer: LEGO

The Christmas Table Decoration consists of LEGO bricks and parts that will create a red candle in the middle surrounded by red berries, golden stars, and green foliage. After you’ve finished building it, you can place it on the dining table, on a side table, on the shelves, or on your mantelpiece, signaling that Christmas celebrations are upon us. While some would prefer more “natural” decorations, this is still a fun addition to the holidays that brings a playful, nostalgic element to your seasonal decor.

What makes this set particularly appealing is its versatility. Unlike traditional candles or floral arrangements that can wilt or burn down, this LEGO decoration is a permanent addition to your holiday collection that you can bring out year after year. It’s also completely safe: no fire hazards, no water spills, and no maintenance required. Once built, it becomes a conversation starter at holiday gatherings, with guests often delighted by the creative approach to seasonal decorating.

Most LEGO sets nowadays are meant for adults because of the more complicated builds, but this one seems to be something that kids 12 and above would be able to do on their own or as a group activity. The building process itself can become part of your holiday traditions. Imagine spending a cozy December afternoon assembling this with hot cocoa and holiday music playing in the background. It’s a mindful, relaxing activity that gets everyone into the festive mood while creating something tangible to display.

The set measures over 7 in. (18 cm) high, 8 in. (21 cm) wide and 9 in. (24 cm) deep, making it a substantial centerpiece that won’t get lost among other decorations. The size is just right, not so large that it overwhelms your table, but impressive enough to make a statement. The color palette of red, green, and gold is quintessentially Christmas, coordinating beautifully with most traditional holiday color schemes.

There are also other holiday builds that you can add to it, like the Christmas Tree, Halloween Wreath, and Festive Gingerbread House. Collectors especially love building up their seasonal LEGO collection, creating entire vignettes that can be displayed throughout different holidays. This modularity means you can start with the Christmas Table Decoration and gradually expand your collection over the years, making each holiday season feel fresh and exciting.

For those shopping for gifts, this set hits a sweet spot price-wise and offers something different from the usual holiday presents. It’s perfect for the person who seemingly has everything, or for someone who’s just getting into LEGO as a hobby. The combination of functionality as a decoration and the enjoyment of the building experience makes it a gift that keeps on giving long after it’s been opened. Whether you’re treating yourself or surprising someone special, the LEGO Christmas Table Decoration brings a unique blend of creativity, tradition, and holiday cheer to any home.

The post The $40 LEGO Christmas Set That’s Better Than Real Candles (And Safer) first appeared on Yanko Design.

Apple Black Friday deals are still live: The biggest sales we’ve seen in 2025 on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches and AirTags

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There’s no denying Apple’s massive reputation in the tech world. And it appears it’s not just hype — our reviews put an Apple product at the top of our buying guides to tablets, smartwatches, smartphones and laptops. But Apple devices aren’t cheap. That’s why it’s a good idea to wait for Apple Black Friday deals. You won’t find pure discounts at Apple’s site, but retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Target, Best Buy and more are happy to discount iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, and AirPods— and we’ve rounded up the best sales right here. Check out the best Black Friday Apple deals you can still get below.

Editor's note: Apple's own website does not typically host sales. But now through December 1, you can get up to $250 in gift cards from that site. For pure discounts, however, you'll need to shop Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, B&H Photo or other third-party retailers, which you'll find linked below. 

AirPods 4 (no ANC) for $69 ($61 off) at Amazon: You miss out on a few more features on the base-model AirPods 4: no live translation, no noise cancellation and no heart rate sensing, but you do get Personalized Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, like on the pricer models. We gave the entry-level buds an 88 in our review. The previous low price was $80. Also available at Walmart and Target.

AirPods 4 (with ANC) for $110 ($69 off) at Amazon: If you just need moderate noise cancellation and prefer an open-wear fit (where nothing goes in your ear canal), you may prefer the new AirPods 4. They don’t have heart rate sensing or the hearing features the Pro models have. But we found the sound quality to be pretty good and appreciated Pro-level features like live translation. These hit a low of $100 earlier in the sale, but have since gone up to $110. Also at Walmart and $140 at Best Buy. 

AirPods Max for $400 ($149 off) at Amazon: These cans have been around for quite some time now, only getting the slightest upgrade with a new USB-C port in 2024. The hardware is otherwise the same as it was when the over-ear headphones debuted in 2020. Still, they’re comfortable, have good sound quality and the on-board controls are unique but good. This $400 sale price matches the all-time low and it's good for most of the colorways, though a few hues are selling out. You can get the same deal at Walmart in for all but the orange model. 

EarPods for $17 ($2 off) at Amazon: For those who prefer a cord, here is the only Apple-branded wired earphone option. Also at Walmart. 

iPad Air (M3, 11-inch, 128GB) for $449 ($151 off) at Amazon: The Air is the Goldilocks Apple tablet. It strikes the perfect balance between price and performance, making it our overall pick for the best iPad you can buy. The build is lovely; it feels premium and the display is a big improvement over Apple’s base-model slate. The M3 chip is plenty fast for everyday use and can handle an average day of productivity no problem, particularly with its improved multi-tasking abilities. This matches the lowest price we've tracked. Also on sale at Target and Best Buy. 

iPad Air (M3, 13-inch, 128GB) for $649 ($150 off) at Amazon: A larger screen will make watching shows and playing games more expansive. And if you use your iPad more like a personal computer, you’ll appreciate the extra real estate for spreading out your work. Like the 11-inch Air, this has a powerful M3 chip and an excellent screen, as well as support for the Apple Pencil Pro and Apple Intelligence. This matches the lowest price we've tracked. Also at Target, Best Buy and it's $749 at B&H.

iPad mini (A17 Pro, 8-inch, 128GB) for $399 ($100 off) at Amazon: The smallest Apple iPad is really meant for those who put a priority on the portability and palm-ability of an 8-inch tablet. It uses the A17 chip, which enables support for Apple Intelligence, unlike the base model iPad. We gave it an 83 in our review, praising the fact that you get the full iPad experience, just in a more compact package. We found it particularly suited to messaging, reading, watching video and playing lots of Balatro. It went as low as $379 in October. Also at Best Buy.

iPad Pro (M5, 11-inch, 256GB) for $899 ($100 off) at Amazon: While we think this is an amazing piece of computing machinery, we admit that it’s overkill for most people. It's got one of the best displays you’ll find on a tablet, the most recent M5 chip (the same that powers the base-level Apple MacBook Pro) and an almost impossibly thin and light build. We gave it an 85 in our review and had very few complaints — aside from the near-prohibitive price tag. Hopefully this Black Friday discount helps. This $100 discount is a new all-time low. It's $927 at Walmart. 

iPad Pro (M5, 13-inch, 256GB) for $1,199 ($100 off) at Amazon: To get the most out of the excessive power of the M5 chip, you might want the biggest screen. Once you add in the keyboard and Pencil Pro, you’re looking at one pricey setup (and might be better off with a MacBook?). But if extreme portability and massive power is what you crave, you may as well save $100 with this Black Friday discount. Also at Best Buy and B&H.

Apple Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) for $199 ($49 off) at Amazon: After a couple years, Apple finally updated its budget-model smart watch. And we were pretty happy with the results, awarding the new wearable a review score of 90. It’s got a smaller screen and thicker bezels than the Series 11 and lacks a few of the more advanced health monitoring features. It’s also made from slightly less-robust materials. But it has nearly everything that makes Apple Watches great for a lot less — particularly now. This is the lowest price we've seen since the watch came out in September. Also at Walmart and Target.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 (49mm, GPS + cellular) for $700 ($99 off) at Amazon: The newest feature for Apple’s priciest smartwatch is satellite connectivity. The Ultra 3 has a titanium case, a large 49mm screen size and comes standard with cellular and dual GPS connectivity. It also has features for adventuring, like an on-board siren, depth gauge and up to 3,000 nits of brightness. The $99 discount within a dollar of the all-time low.

Apple MacBook Air (M4, 15-inch, 256GB) for $949 ($250 off) at Amazon: The M4 chip is quite powerful, to take advantage of all the productivity it enables, you might want a little more room on your screen. When Apple first made a 15-inch option for the MacBook Air a couple generations ago, we were surprised at the difference it made. Also at Best Buy and it's $100 off at B&H.

Apple MacBook Pro (M5, 14-inch, 512GB) for $1,349 ($207 off) at Amazon: Apple’s most recent M-series chip is the M5, and only comes equipped on the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the iPad Pro. When the M5 MacBook Pro M5 came out last month, we promptly reviewed it and awarded it a 92. That new chip gives the laptop an impressive graphics upgrade that helps make it more suited to gaming — an area where Apple still lags behind PCs. Other than the chip upgrade, it’s mostly the same, which is a good thing. It’s sturdy, powerful and has an impressively long battery life — we clocked 34 hours in a video run-down test. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and B&H.

Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 14-inch, 512GB) for $1,749 ($250 off) at Amazon: The M5 chip isn’t yet available in the Pro and Max variants. If Apple follows the same six-month gap that separated the M4 from the M4 Pro and Max chips, we may see the M5 Pro/Max in spring of next year. For now, however, those higher-specced chips can only be found in the M4-series lineup. The MacBook Pro with the M4 Pro chip is on sale and it’s our recommendation for creative professionals who need an obscene amount of processing power. Also at Walmart, Best Buy and B&H.

Apple MacBook Pro (M4 Pro, 16-inch, 256GB) for $2,189 ($310 off) at Amazon: You sacrifice a little portability for the larger 16-inch screen, as it adds about a pound and a quarter to the weight. But you might appreciate the extra space for your work on the display. Also at Walmart and B&H.

Apple 2024 iMac (M4, 24-inch) for $1,149 ($150 off) at Amazon: Apple just has one model of an all-in-one desktop computer and it has the M4 chip inside. We called the iMac more cost effective than ever, now that it comes with a minimum of 16GB of RAM. The M4 chip makes it capable for content creation, productivity and gaming.

Mac mini (M4) for $479 ($120 off) at Amazon: Apple’s compact desktop computer got a rave review from us. We called it "shockingly small [and] incredibly powerful.” It also benefits from a bump to a minimum of 16GB of internal memory. It can play modern games at reasonable resolutions and handle most productivity tasks you throw at it.

Apple AirTag (4-pack) for $63 ($36 off) at Amazon: Even though they haven’t been updated in a few years, Apple’s AirTags are still the gold standard of Bluetooth trackers, and what most people think of when they think of trackers. We may get a new version soon, but they aren’t likely to be this cheap. Also at Walmart. A single AirTag is on sale too for $18 instead of $29.

Apple Pencil USB-C for $49 ($30 off) at Amazon: If you have the new base-model iPad with the A16 chip, this is the pencil that will work for you. It’ll also work with current as well as slightly older models of the Air and Pro iPads.

Apple Pencil Pro for $95 ($35 off) at Amazon: The Apple Pencil situation is a little messy, so you’ll want to double check which model is compatible with your particular iPad. The Pencil Pro is the most fully featured in the lineup with haptic feedback, barrel roll and squeeze capabilities, and a hover preview feature. It’ll work with the two most recent models of the Air and Pro iPads, as well as the latest iPad mini. This deal is $5 more than the all-time low and it's also available at Walmart and Best Buy.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apple-black-friday-deals-are-still-live-the-biggest-sales-weve-seen-in-2025-on-airpods-ipads-macbooks-apple-watches-and-airtags-161346471.html?src=rss

Authorities probe Holocaust denial responses from X’s Grok

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French authorities are investigating allegations that Grok made statements denying the Holocaust. The Paris public prosecutor's office said it was adding Elon Musk’s chatbot’s latest controversy to a criminal probe initially launched in July.

In a since-deleted post that was screenshotted by the Auschwitz Memorial account on X before it was taken down, Grok advanced arguments popular with Holocaust deniers regarding the use of gas chambers to murder millions of Jews during the second world war. It said (translated from its French origin) that "the plans of the crematoria at Auschwitz do indeed show facilities designed for Zyklon B disinfection against typhus, with ventilation systems adapted for this purpose rather than mass executions."

The chatbot went on to comment that remaining cyanide residues are "consistent with decontamination but not with repeated homicidal gassings," citing “controversial independent analyses." Grok also described gas chambers as most people understand them today as a "narrative" backed by "laws suppressing questioning" and a "cultural taboo that discourages critical examination of the evidence."

As reported by The Guardian (to whom X has not responded to a request for comment at the time of writing), three French ministers and several human rights and anti-discrimination groups filed formal complaints about the post, which remained online for three days before it was eventually deleted. Grok was already being investigated by French authorities over allegations that its algorithm could be subject to foreign interference.

It comes as Grokipedia, Elon Musk’s Wikipedia alternative that launched last month, includes 42 citations for the neo-Nazi website Stormfront, according to researchers at Cornell University. While conceding that this number is "trivial" as a percentage of Grokipedia’s overall share of sources, the study also found that the website cites "many more sources" that have been blacklisted by English Wikipedia editors or dismissed as low quality by "external scholars," compared to Wikipedia. 

As for Grok, the post currently being investigated in France isn’t the first time that the chatbot has got itself into trouble. In July, a number of X posts were taken down after Grok emerged from an update parroting antisemetic tropes and praising Hitler. The team responsible for the chatbot later apologized for its "horrific behavior."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/authorities-probe-holocaust-denial-responses-from-xs-grok-155835701.html?src=rss

This Black Friday deal brings the DJI Neo drone down to $159

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The DJI Neo drone is on sale for $159 as part of the Black Friday deals across the web. This is 20 percent off and represents a record low price. It's a heck of a deal, given that the original asking price is nearly $200. There's just one caveat. The price is only for Amazon Prime members.

The DJI Neo was recently pushed off our list of the best drones in favor of the newer Neo 2, but the original is still a fantastic, budget-friendly option. We called it the "best $200 drone ever made" in our official review, and with good reason. It's quick, ultra-maneuverable and beginner-friendly. The learning curve here isn't that steep.

It boasts four propeller guards, for safety, and the built-in 4K camera certainly gets the job done. It's extremely light, weighing just 135 grams. This makes it easy to transport, sure, but also means that the Neo is exempt from drone license requirements.

This version doesn't ship with a dedicated controller, though there is a combo pack for that, but that doesn't really matter here. The Neo can be maneuvered by hand gestures, human voice, mobile app or standard RC controller.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-black-friday-deal-brings-the-dji-neo-drone-down-to-159-155647372.html?src=rss

MasterClass subscriptions are 50 percent off in this Black Friday streaming deal

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If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to try MasterClass, now’s a great time to sign up. The online learning platform is offering 50 percent off all annual plans for a limited time with its Black Friday sale. With hundreds of classes across topics like cooking, writing and music, it’s one of the best deals we’ve seen from MasterClass this year.

MasterClass has built a reputation as one of the best streaming platforms for learning new skills and creative hobbies. The service features courses led by industry leaders who share practical insights drawn from their own careers. Whether you want to cook with Gordon Ramsay, explore storytelling with Neil Gaiman or study filmmaking with Martin Scorsese, the range of topics is broad enough to appeal to almost any interest.

Classes are organized into short, easy-to-follow video lessons, making it simple to fit learning into a busy schedule. Each one comes with supplemental materials like downloadable workbooks, assignments or behind-the-scenes notes that add extra depth. New classes are added regularly, so subscribers have a steady flow of fresh content throughout the year.

Subscriptions are structured around annual plans that unlock the full catalog. You can watch classes on most devices, including smartphones, tablets and smart TVs, and your progress syncs across platforms. Offline viewing is supported too, so you can download lessons to study during travel or commutes.

Beyond creative skills, MasterClass has expanded into professional growth and wellness topics, with courses covering leadership, communication and mindfulness. It’s not just about inspiration; the platform’s focus on actionable advice makes it a practical choice for anyone who wants to pick up new skills or refresh existing ones.

Normally, annual plans cost anywhere from $120 to $240 per year, so up to a 50-percent discount represents significant savings for new or returning subscribers. If you’ve been thinking about joining or gifting a membership, this promotion is one of the best times to do it.

There are plenty of other Black Friday streaming deals to consider as well. Here are some of the best ones:

  • Apple TV+ — 6 months for $36: Apple TV+ is offering six months of access for only $36 for Black Friday, which comes out to a discounted price of $6 per month for the six-month period. The deal is live now for new and eligible returning subscribers and runs through December 1, giving you a chance to stream shows like Silo, The Morning Show and For All Mankind for less. The biggest caveat to the deal is that you must subscribe directly through Apple and not through a third-party service.

  • Paramount+ — two months of Essential or Premium for $6: This Black Friday deal brings the monthly price of either Paramount+ tier down to just $6 for two months, or $3 per month. The obvious better deal is on the Premium plan, which typically costs $13 per month.

  • HBO Max — one year for $36: HBO Max's Black Friday deal gives subscribers one year streaming for $36 through December 1. This Black Friday streaming deal is on the ad-supported option, which normally goes for $11 per month. With this discount, you're getting it for $3 per month for one year. You can sign up via HBO Max's website or, if you're a Prime Video subscriber already, via that service as an add-on.

  • Sling TV Orange — day pass for only $1: Sling TV launched Day Passes earlier this year, giving users one-day access to a variety of its packages. This deal cuts $4 off the normal price of a day pass for Sling Orange. With that, you get unlimited access for 24 hours to Orange's more than 30 channels that includes ESPN, CNN, TBS and others.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/masterclass-subscriptions-are-50-percent-off-in-this-black-friday-streaming-deal-154509280.html?src=rss

A Stranger Things map is coming to Fortnite’s Blitz mode on November 21

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The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is almost upon us (well, the first part of it, anyway), which means there are Brand Integrations™ afoot. One of those involves Fortnite and a new map for the fast-paced Blitz mode. Starting on November 21, it seems that you’ll be able to go into the Upside Down for quickfire matches at a creepy version of the Creel House.

The trailer indicates that there will be skins of several of the main characters available, so you should be able to play as Lucas, Dustin, Mike, Will and Vecna. Other Stranger Things cosmetics will be on deck as well, as leaker FireMonkey revealed a backpack styled after the grandfather clock Vecna uses to terrify some of Hawkins’ residents as well as some emotes. I’m hoping that “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush is coming to Fortnite Festival too.

This isn’t the first crossover between Stranger Things and Fortnite. Skins of Jim Hopper, the Demogorgon and Eleven hit the game all the way back in 2019 alongside season three of the show. Portals styled after those in the series popped up in Fortnite too, but it’s neat that there’s a full-on Stranger Things map in one of the core game modes this time.

Collaborations have been an increasingly integral aspect of Fortnite for a years and the current season is hardly an exception. Epic Games turned the island into a cel-shaded version of Springfield for Simpsons-themed chaos.

The next season, which is set to start on November 30, ties into the theatrical release of Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, which fuses the two parts of Kill Bill together. The season is slated to feature a version of a Kill Bill scene that Quentin Tarantino never actually shot for the films.

That’s not all on the Fortnite crossover front, of course. Formula 1 cosmetics are hitting the Item Shop today. Meanwhile, it seems the next battle pass will include a skin of The Bride from Kill Bill, as well as Back to the Future cosmetics like a Marty McFly outfit. An entirely new USA-themed island seems to be in store too, as the new season is the first one of Fortnite Chapter 7. Chapters are major annual refreshes for Fortnite Battle Royale.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/a-stranger-things-map-is-coming-to-fortnites-blitz-mode-on-november-21-154458086.html?src=rss

Lumia 2 smart earrings combine blood flow tracking, other vital body insights in smallest wearable ever

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Since the COVID pandemic, undeniably, most people have started taking extra care of their body metrics, which has given unprecedented rise to the number of wearable devices for health and fitness monitoring. Most of these devices: smartwatches, fitness bands, and even tech-enabled jewelry, do not have a gender inclination. Somehow, the Lumia 2, promoted as the smallest wearable in the world, is designed for women of style first.

This earring of sorts does not require piercing. The Lumia 2 is built to clip onto the earlobe and monitor your blood flow, while also tracking other vital metrics such as heart rate variability. If you were unaware, irregular blood flow can have a negative impact on health. The Lumia 2, designed as a piece of timeless jewelry and is meant to keep track of the blood flow.

Designer: Lumia

Of course, the device is primarily targeted at women with chronic blood flow disorders, to always be on top of their vitals. But Lumia co-founder and CEO Danial Lee affirms that the people within the team, without any blood flow issues, have also “discovered fascinating blood flow patterns” that are helping them live better. The smart earring looks like a regular piece of jewelry with sensors hidden behind the wearer’s ear. It certainly looks discrete and wouldn’t give out its actual existence until someone really goes deep into finding it out. Notably, Lumia 2 is also attachable to an existing ear-stud, if you want.

While we contemplate the viability of the Lumia 2’s ability to measure blood flow and the feature’s practical usage, let’s take a moment to understand what else the smart earring brings to the table and challenges the other types of wearables in the market. In addition to monitoring the body’s blood flow, Lumia 2 can also track heart rate variability and resting heart rate to notify the wearer when their body is ready for running, exercising, or indulging in a strenuous physical activity.

In addition to knowing how ready your heart is to face the world, with the Lumia 2 clipped onto your ear, you can also track how well you have slept overnight. It can also do the pedometer stuff and keep track of your step count. The Lumia 2 provides information about how to increase the blood flow or recover from its shooting levels, along with information regarding how hydrated or stressed you are while running or through the reps in the gym. With a decent battery life of up to eight days, the Lumia 2, starting at $249, should make a statement wearable when it’s launched in the near future.

 

The post Lumia 2 smart earrings combine blood flow tracking, other vital body insights in smallest wearable ever first appeared on Yanko Design.

Why the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the Only Flagship You’ll Need in 2026

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Why the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the Only Flagship You’ll Need in 2026

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is poised to elevate the flagship smartphone market with a combination of innovative technology and refined design. Packed with advancements in wireless charging, processing power, display innovation, and camera capabilities, this device is tailored to meet the expectations of tech enthusiasts and mobile photography aficionados. Scheduled for release in early […]

The post Why the Galaxy S26 Ultra is the Only Flagship You’ll Need in 2026 appeared first on Geeky Gadgets.

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Verizon confirms plans to lay off 13,000 employees

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Verizon is set to lay off more than 13,000 employees and every part of the company will be going through some changes, CEO Dan Schulman has confirmed. The company is reducing its headcount and cutting back on outsourcing and other external labor expenses in service of "building a stronger Verizon," Schulman wrote in a memo to staff. The company will also convert 179 retail stores that it owns into franchised outlets and it will close one store.

In September, Verizon said it had around 100,000 full-time employees, so the layoffs constitute about 13 percent of the workforce. Over the previous three years, Verizon had cut about 20,000 jobs. Meanwhile, a $20 billion takeover of telecoms company Frontier Communications is set to close early next year.

It was reported last week that Verizon was set to cull around 15,000 jobs as part of a cost-cutting drive in the face of sterner competition and a drop in postpaid wireless customers. Schulman — a former PayPal CEO who took on his current job in October — indicated during an earnings call last month that the company would “take bold and fiscally responsible action to redefine Verizon's trajectory at this critical inflection point for our company. These will not be incremental changes."

In Thursday’s memo, Schulman framed the downsizing as an attempt to create a leaner, more customer-focused operation. “As a customer-first culture, we have to align our teams and resources to create new value for customers and build a faster, stronger and more proactive Verizon,” Schulman wrote. “To do that, we must simplify our operations to address the complexity and friction that slow us down and frustrate our customers.”

Verizon says it has set up a $20 million reskilling and career transition fund to support the workers it’s turfing out. “This fund will focus on skill development, digital training and job placement to help our people take their next steps,” Schulman claimed. “Verizon is the first company to set up a fund to specifically focus on the opportunities and necessary skill sets as we enter the age of AI.”

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/verizon-confirms-plans-to-lay-off-13000-employees-144608021.html?src=rss

Bottega Veneta’s $6,900 Jenga Set Is Too Luxe to Play With

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I am not much of a game night enthusiast, but whenever someone brings out a board game or any kind of group activity thing at a friend’s house, it brings out my competitive spirit. I have friends who’ve made collecting games like this their life mission, and the more worn out they look, the more parties or gatherings they’ve been brought to. There’s nothing like people fighting over various objects and scuffing the heck out of said objects as they determine who wins. But what if the game set actually costs thousands of dollars? I probably wouldn’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.

But if you’ve been dreaming of having a luxury brand board game displayed in your home, then you’d probably want to bring out the big bucks for the Bottega Veneta Jenga Game. Yes, you read that right. The Italian luxury fashion house has teamed up with Hasbro to bring us an almost $7,000 ($6,900 to be exact) Jenga set. With its price tag and the materials used to create this, you probably will not be bringing it out for your latest game night.

Designer: Bottega Veneta x Hasbro

Jenga is one of those games where you will probably drop, scratch, and scuff the blocks since the goal is to get the other players to topple their tower. So to have such an expensive version of the game seems not to be the most practical thing. But for collectors, luxury design lovers, or those who have money to spare, then this is probably a must-have even if it’s just to display it on your shelf or to bring it out to be admired, if not to be played with.

The set is made up of 54 blocks that use mixed Italian walnut wood and stabilized colored wood materials. Each piece is engraved with logos of both Bottega Veneta and Jenga. The attention to detail is remarkable—every block is perfectly weighted and finished, showcasing the kind of craftsmanship you’d expect from Italian artisans. The case is also luxurious as it is a deep red Intreccio calfskin leather case with matching leather lining. This luxury packaging ensures your investment is protected when not on display or in use, and it adds to the overall aesthetic appeal of owning such a unique piece.

In the product description on the Bottega website, it says it is “Not intended for use by children.” And obviously, with that price and the luxurious materials used, you wouldn’t want people, let alone children, constantly touching it. It is more of a statement piece or art installation that bridges together childhood nostalgia and adult luxury. This is an adult indulgence, a luxury collectible that happens to be playable rather than just a game. It’s designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life and want to elevate even their leisure time with designer touches.

For those wondering how to style such a piece, imagine it displayed on a console table in your entryway, or as a centerpiece on your coffee table during sophisticated gatherings. It’s the kind of conversation starter that tells guests you have impeccable taste and aren’t afraid to invest in unique design objects.

This collaboration represents one of the most surprising partnerships of 2025. It’s part of a growing trend where luxury fashion houses are diving into the world of games and playful objects, like Gucci’s poker set and Prada’s tic-tac-toe board. Now, if I had $7,000 to spare, would I get myself a set? I would probably just buy several board games with that kind of money. But if you’re the kind of collector that would like a shiny piece on their mantel, then go ahead and get the Jenga Game that will probably never be played with.

The post Bottega Veneta’s $6,900 Jenga Set Is Too Luxe to Play With first appeared on Yanko Design.