We may earn a commission from links on this page. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication.
You can get a three-year license of Adobe Acrobat Classic (valued at $324) and a lifetime license of Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows (valued at $219.99) together on sale for $89.99 on StackSocial right now. The bundle is only available to U.S. customers, though. The Acrobat license works on both Mac and Windows, while the Office license is limited to a single Windows PC. And because these are digital codes, delivery is instant, and once redeemed, you can use the software offline without the monthly costs that come with subscriptions. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to deal with cloud tie-ins, recurring payments, or limited trials, the upfront structure of this deal is straightforward.
Adobe Acrobat Classic is the desktop-only edition, also labeled as Acrobat Pro 2024. It’s not tied to cloud services, which means everything from editing text and images to converting PDFs into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint happens locally. That’s especially useful if you work with sensitive files and don’t want them traveling online. You also get tools to password-protect or redact documents, along with a refreshed interface that makes features like creating forms or extracting specific pages quicker to find. There are limitations, including no AI Assistant add-on and no browser or mobile support, but if your workflow is mainly on a desktop, those missing pieces might not matter. Plus, the three-year license means you can lock in access without thinking about renewal until 2028.
On the Microsoft side, Office 2021 Professional offers the familiar full suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, and OneNote. A free version of Teams is included as well. This isn’t Microsoft 365, so you don’t get ongoing cloud-based perks or syncing, but the trade-off is that you own the license outright for one PC. For many, that’s enough, especially if you just need reliable offline access to the programs you already know. The applications themselves include some refinements, like quicker ribbon navigation and more customization for documents and presentations, but don’t expect radical changes from earlier Office versions. The real appeal lies in stability: you buy it once, install it, and it works without recurring fees. Put together, this bundle feels like a pragmatic option for anyone who spends most of their time drafting, editing, and managing documents without needing constant cloud integration.
Not all Prime Days deals are open to just anybody. Since 2023, some of the best offers in Amazon’s annual sale are invite-only—meaning you have to sign up for them in advance of the sale going live, and hope you get chosen to receive the discount. These deals have become a common fixture for Amazon’s major sales, including this past summer’s Prime Day.
Only a select number of products will be available via invite-only deals. You’ll be able to spot them by the “invite-only” banner visible on the product page. As Amazon explains, you must be a Prime Member to sign up for the invite-only deals, and when you sign up, you’re essentially requesting an invitation to purchase the deal, which will come by email—but only if you’re chosen to receive it.
Here are the steps to sign up:
Find an “Invite-Only Prime Deal” that you want to purchase. You can find these deals listed on the Deals page once Prime Day begins.
Navigate to the product detail page.
Select “Request Invite.” If you are not a Prime member, sign up for Prime to be able to request an invite.
You will receive an email notification confirming that you requested an invite. The confirmation will be sent to the email that is on your Amazon account. If you don’t have an email on your account, add one by navigating to Your Account > Login > Security.
How to know if you were approved for an invite-only deal
Keep in mind that just because you requested an invitation doesn’t mean you’ll receive one. If you are selected, you’ll receive both a push notification in the Amazon app and email notifying you during the sale. If you’re not selected, Amazon will also let you know you didn’t get one. You can only buy one of the products that you were invited for, but you can request as many different product invitations as you want. The invitation will last as long as Prime Day lasts (four days this year), or as long as there is stick remaining.
Invite-only deals are usually some of Prime Day’s most impressive offerings. Last year, for example, Amazon sold a 43-inch 4K Smart Fire TV for just $99, and you’ll likely see similar deals this year.
From the shore of Lake Erie to the Kentucky border, baseball’s regular season is set for a dramatic final week in the state of Ohio.
The Cleveland Guardians have a chance to complete the biggest comeback in the history of divisional play. They now trail Detroit by one game in the AL Central after once being 15 1/2 back. At the southern end of the state, Cincinnati pulled into a tie for the final wild card in the National League with the New York Mets — and the Reds have the head-to-head tiebreaker between the two.
No team ever has won a division after being more than 14 games behind, and Cleveland’s 15 1/2-game deficit in early July doesn’t even do this comeback justice. As recently as Sept. 11, Detroit led the division by 9 1/2 over Cleveland. Since then, the Tigers (85-71) have been trapped in a Motown Meltdown, losing nine of 10 while the Guardians (84-72) went on a 10-game winning streak that finally was snapped. Cleveland cut the lead from 9 1/2 games to one in a span of only 10 days.
For the Reds, the situation has looked bleak at various points. They were six games out of a playoff spot on Sept. 6 — and also trailed San Francisco and Arizona — before a New York skid helped the Reds pull within 1 1/2 games less than a week later. The Cincinnati fell three games behind, but a four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs now has the Reds and Mets even, with the Diamondbacks only a game back of them.
Other races that are coming down to the wire:
— The AL East, where Toronto (90-66) leads the New York Yankees (88-68) by two games. Those teams have the top two records in the American League, so a first-round bye is at stake here.
— The AL West, where Seattle (87-69) leads Houston (84-72) by three — and the Mariners have the tiebreaker. The Astros have not missed the postseason since 2016, but they’re in danger now with the Red Sox (85-71) in play for a wild card along with the AL East and AL Central runners-up.
— San Diego is three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West, but the Dodgers have the tiebreaker and the teams don’t play each other this week.
Head to head
Detroit will have no choice but to snap out of its funk if it wants to save its season. The Tigers go to Cleveland for three games before finishing the regular season with a series at Boston.
Line of the week
Dominic Canzone went 5 for 5 with three homers and four RBIs to help Seattle to a 12-5 win over Kansas City. That game capped a 10-game winning streak for the Mariners, who have now won 14 of 15 to turn a 3 1/2-game deficit in the division into a three-game lead.
Comeback of the week
Philadelphia rallied from a four-run deficit in the sixth inning to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers. That was after Shohei Ohtani no-hit the Phillies for five innings. He also homered in the game.
Brandon Marsh and Max Kepler both homered during a six-run sixth for Philadelphia, and after the Dodgers tied it at 6, Rafael Marchan hit a three-run homer in the top of the ninth to provide the winning margin. Los Angeles had a 94.1% win probability in the sixth, according to Baseball Savant.
If there’s one area where MacBooks lag behind Windows laptops, it’s gaming. But if there’s another area, it’s display technology. Yep, while Apple still stands behind its trademark LCD “retina” displays, Windows machines have been adopting OLED and touchscreens for years now. Luckily, according to industry experts, MacBook owners will soon be able to plan on having better screens, too.
The latest rumors come courtesy of TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, as well as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, both of whom have reliable track records reporting on Apple products. While this isn’t the first time Apple has been rumored to be updating its laptop displays, we’ve now got a timeline update.
According to a post Kuo made to X on Sept. 17, the MacBook Pro will be the first MacBook to receive an OLED update, and as a bonus, the new screen will also support touch. The upgraded model is “expected to enter mass production by late 2026,” although as is par for the course with these leaks, the post didn’t point to any particular sources to back this up. However, if you read between the lines and look at Kuo’s past spot-on speculations, it’s likely an anonymous source from within Apple.
For a little bit of assurance, Gurman, who also frequently relies on such sources, was quick to agree with Kuo’s assertions in his weekly Power On newsletter this weekend, pointing to his original reporting on the topic from 2023. However, the reporter also added that the actual release date might be closer to early 2027, depending on how quickly Apple can get supply out. He also clarified that, technically, the revamp was planned for this year, but was moved back “due to OLED supply issues.”
As for the rest of Apple’s MacBook line, neither expert has updates on that end, although Gurman speculates that “if touch resonates on the MacBook Pro, I expect it to eventually come to other Macs as well.”
While the benefits behind a touchscreen laptop are fairly self explanatory, OLED is higher on my personal wishlist. The technology’s self-illuminating pixels will help with contrast, yes, but like on the iPhone, they should also aid with battery life. That’s because, while current MacBooks rely on a backlight that spans the entire display, parts of an OLED screen can remain off when not in use.
On that note, Kuo’s post also reminded readers that a potential lower-cost MacBook that uses an iPhone processor could be in the works for later this year, although specifics are still largely in the dark at this point. The analyst, however, did say this model would likely not include touch support, although that could change in the future.
As for other rumored Apple products, also still largely in the dark is a potential foldable iPhone, which Gurman says “will be the star of Apple’s 2026 product lineup.” As predicted by my colleague David Nield, the reporter’s sources are increasingly telling him that “users should imagine two titanium iPhone Airs side-by-side,” but pricing and release date specifics are still up to the imagination for now.
As a chronically light sleeper, I’ve tried everything from white noise machines to sleeping on the couch. It doesn’t help that I 1) live above a noisy Brooklyn bar and 2) share a bed with someone who snores and grinds his teeth. My go-to solution had been wearing my Anker Soundcore headphones with some sort of “deep sleep” playlist, but to be honest, sleeping with over-ear headphones is like trying to nap while wearing a helmet. Uncomfortable, potentially unsafe, and a surefire way to destroy my expensive electronics.
That’s what led me to the Ozlo Sleepbuds, currently available for $299. Unlike my AirPod Pros, which are great for daily use but pierce my eardrums when I lie on my side, the Ozlo sleepbuds have a remarkably low profile. The pre-installed ear tips fit perfectly, creating a secure seal without the pressure points that make traditional earbuds a nightmare for side sleepers. Despite their mixed online reviews, I’ve found that these smart earplugs really do help me sleep deeper (and possibly saved my relationship).
Here’s where the Ozlo sleepbuds diverge from typical wireless earbuds, and honestly, it’s a double-edged sword. Unlike AirPods that connect automatically via Bluetooth, these require opening the Ozlo app like a control center. You’ll need to select your soundscape, adjust volume, and set your alarm through the app interface.
Setting up my Ozlo sleepbuds. Credit: Meredith Dietz
Initially, this felt clunky compared to the seamless connectivity we’re all used to. But after a few nights, I found myself positively reframing this friction as more of a “ritual.” Opening the app, placing the buds in my ears, and selecting a soundscape became a bedtime ritual that signaled to my brain it was time to wind down.
Wearing my sleepbuds through the night
The moment of truth came on my first night testing them against my boyfriend’s powerful snoring. I opted for the “ocean tide” sound to lull me to sleep. The audio quality is solid, especially knowing these were created by former Bose engineers.
So: Did these earbuds completely eliminate my partner’s snoring? Not entirely—his snores are truly in a league of their own. But the combination of noise blocking and the ocean tide sound significantly reduced my nightly interruptions from constant to few and far between. Most importantly, when I did hear him, it didn’t immediately snap me awake. The soundscapes seemed to cushion the noise, making it less startling.
But the street noise from the bar below? Completely gone. The upstairs neighbors walking around? Barely noticeable. These Sleepbuds excel at blocking consistent ambient noise while taking the edge off sudden, disruptive sounds.
Another feature I love is the in-ear personal alarm. Instead of a jarring phone alarm that jolts both you and your partner awake, the Sleepbuds gently vibrate and play a soft tone directly into your ears. My boyfriend has never been woken up by my alarm since I started using them.
Tips and tricks for sleeping with earbuds in
After a few weeks of use, I’ve discovered several ways to optimize the Sleepbuds experience:
Find your perfect soundscape: Don’t settle for the first one you try. I cycled through several before discovering that rain sounds work better for me than ocean waves or white noise.
Create a charging routine: Keep the charging case on your nightstand and make putting the buds back a part of your morning routine.
Experiment with volume levels: I really recommend starting lower than you think you need. Your ears adjust to the soundscape within minutes, and too-loud audio can actually be stimulating rather than relaxing.
Use the app’s sleep timer: If you don’t want soundscapes playing all night, set a timer. You might only need the audio to fall asleep, not maintain it.
Try different sleeping positions: The low profile means you can experiment with side sleeping even if you’ve never been able to before.
The bottom line
Are the Ozlo Sleepbuds perfect? No. The app dependency isn’t ideal, and they won’t completely eliminate every noise (I’m looking at you, Greg’s snores). But compared to my previous solutions—uncomfortable headphones, potentially unsafe sleeping positions, or relegating myself to the couch—these Sleepbuds rock.
If I’m choosing between traditional foam earplugs, regular earbuds, or these specialized sleep buds, I’d pick the Ozlo Sleepbuds every time. My only concern? I’m becoming so dependent that I’ll have trouble sleeping without them. But honestly, if that’s the price for consistently good sleep in a noisy city apartment with a snoring partner, I’ll take it.
SNY’s Joe DeMayo answers your Mets prospect questions…
Have the Mets ever had a season with this much organizational team success? – @JacobMunch1 on X
The short answer is no. But you aren’t here for short answers.
It is a credit to the players, the amateur scouting department — both domestically and internationally — as well as the player development staff at every level putting together an excellent minor league season.
Here is a breakdown of what each affiliate accomplished this season:
Double-A Binghamton: Set a franchise record with 90 wins and as of this writing are down 1-0 in a three-game series against Erie for the Eastern League Championship. They reaped the benefit of having most of the top prospects listed above, who ended the season with Syracuse. The Rumble Ponies also had breakout players in No. 8 prospect, third baseman Jacob Reimer and No. 9 prospect, outfielder A.J. Ewing.
On the pitching side, they had the next wave of starters after the graduation of McLean, Sproat and Tong, with No. 10 prospect Jonathan Santucci, No. 11 prospect Jack Wenninger, No. 14 prospect Will Watson, and R.J. Gordon. On the relief side, they have No. 21 prospect Ryan Lambert,whom I can envision making his big-league debut in 2026.
St. Lucie Mets pitcher Will Watson / St. Lucie Mets
High-A Brooklyn: 72-59 record and won the South Atlantic League Championship for the first time since being moved to full-season ball in 2021. Their season was largely carried by a lot of the names you have already read, as well as players who were included in trades at the deadline like Jesus Baez and Raimon Gomez. In the stretch run and into the postseason they got contributions from pitchers like Noah Hall, Joel Dîaz and Brett Banks, among others.
Offensively, names like outfielder Eli Serrano and infielders Boston Baro and Marco Vargas contributed late.
Low-A St. Lucie: 78-52 record and was eliminated in three games in the Florida State League Divisional Series by Daytona. Ewing was the highest regarded prospect who played for St. Lucie this year. They received contributions from top 30 prospects in No. 20 prospect (infielder Trey Snyder), No. 25 prospect (catcher Daiverson Gutierrez), No. 26 prospect (infielder Jeremy Rodriguez) and No. 30 prospect (right-hander Jace Hampson).
This is also the team that had the professional debuts of exciting 2025 draft picks Mitch Voit, Antonio Jimenez, and Truman Pauley. A name to keep an eye on for 2026 is outfielder Randy Guzman, who posted a .985 OPS in 26 games.
ESPN recently ranked the Mets’ system as the best system in baseball. That ranking naturally will take a dip at some point next year when McLean, Sproat, and Tong graduate. But this organizational success is an example of the Mets’ improved player development system under senior vice president of player development Andy Green.
In order to have sustained success, player development needs to be constantly churning out prospects who either come to the big league team themselves and help or are valuable in trades to get veterans to help the big league team. The Mets are on their way to being that type of organization.
How soon next year could we see Carson Benge? Or do you feel the Mets should sign someone else for center field? – @thecmoney21 on X
The Mets were impressed with Benge’s growth as a center fielder defensively throughout this year. It is a new position for him, as he played right field in college. While he is not an elite athlete, he is a good one who showed improved jumps and reads as he got more reps in center field. He still has more to prove defensively, but there is optimism that he could stick there.
As far as how quickly he could be in the big leagues, a lot of that will depend on how Benge performs and what the true need ends up being at the big league level.
I envision the Mets being sure they are covered from a veteran standpoint, ideally on a short-term deal to not block young players like Benge or Williams or Ewing, who could potentially hold down center field before long.
Benge reached Triple-A in his first professional season after he beat up High-A and Double-A pitching to the tune of a .308/.413/.513 slash line with 24 doubles, six triples and 12 home runs in 92 games.
The results in Triple-A weren’t quite there consistently, but it was just a 24-game sample size, and he missed nearly two weeks after being hit in the wrist area by a pitch.
He closed out the year strong, hitting .320 with a 1.132 OPS in his last seven games with two home runs.
Benge has emerged as a consensus top 35 prospect in baseball in the latest rankings from major outlets like MLB Pipeline, Baseball America, and The Athletic.
I expect him to receive a big league spring training invite and if he continues his offensive trajectory and takes that next step defensively, I think it is realistic to see Benge in Queens by Memorial Day 2026.
Target is no stranger to competition with Amazon sales. They’ve overlapped their Circle Week sales with Prime Day many times before. Since October Prime Day is around the corner, Target has just announced its own sale for October. Here are all the details you need to know.
What is Target’s Circle Week?
Circle Week is Target’s name for its biggest sale. As the name suggests, it lasts a whole week, and while it used to happen just once a year but, it now occurs multiple times a year. The most recent sale was this summer, and before that, in the spring, overlapping with Amazon’s Prime Day and Big Spring Sale, respectively.
When is Circle Week?
The next Circle Week will take place from Oct. 5 to Oct. 11. That means it begins two days before October Prime Day, which runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 8.
Do you need to be a member to shop the sales during Target Circle Week?
Like Amazon’s Prime Day sale, you will need to be a Circle member to take part in the sale, but unlike a Prime membership, Target Circle is free. You can sign up for an account on the Target app or Target.com.
You can also pay for a Target Circle 360 membership, which grants you early access to the sale as well as other perks, like same-day delivery. If you’re a teacher or student, you can save 50% on the one-year Circle 360 subscription through Sept. 13; otherwise, it starts at $10.99 per month. But again, a paid membership isn’t necessary to get all the best Circle Week deals.
What deals can I find during Target Circle Week?
Circle week will focus on apparel; home products like kitchen appliances, storage, floor care, and bedding; fun and entertainment; and Halloween costumes and treats. You’ll also find tech products on sale, which we’ll be covering as usual. You can shop in person or online, and there will be a “Deal of the Day” for every day of the event that will start at 40% off.
While Target hasn’t released a list of deals you can expect, you can get a pretty good idea from past Circle Week sales. Here are some of the deals they had at the tail end of the Circle Week last fall.
What competitors are also offering sales?
Amazon’s October Prime Day will take place from Oct. 7 through Oct. 8, so all the other sales tend to revolve around these dates. Walmart will likely have its Walmart Deals sale, like they’ve done in the past, and Best Buy will likely have its own sale as well. I’ll cover the details of those sales as they are released.
