Black Friday desktop computer deals: What to expect and early sales

On Tuesday, the US Energy Information Agency reported that electricity generation in the first half of 2025 showed a growth slowdown, with demand increasing by three percent year-over-year, down from five percent. Meanwhile, coal use growth has moderated to under 17 percent due to decreased demand, while solar power continues to rise and is expected to surpass hydroelectric generation by year-end. Want More Context? 🔎

YouTube is introducing a month-to-month payment option for its Sunday Ticket service, with costs ranging from $85 for new subscribers to $145 for those without YouTube TV. This announcement coincides with uncertainty regarding a renewal deal between YouTube TV and Fox, which could affect Fox channels but reportedly won't impact Sunday Ticket games. Want More Context? 🔎

Dish's parent company, EchoStar, is selling a significant portion of its 5G spectrum licenses to AT&T for $23 billion, marking a major shift as Boost Mobile will now primarily rely on AT&T's network, signaling the potential end of Dish as a standalone fourth carrier. This deal comes amid EchoStar's struggles with debt, scrutiny from the FCC, and plans to become a hybrid mobile network operator while decommissioning parts of Boost's network. Want More Context? 🔎

Cybersecurity researchers have identified a sophisticated social engineering campaign, codenamed ZipLine by Check Point Research, targeting critical manufacturing companies with an in-memory malware called MixShell. Attackers bypass traditional phishing methods by contacting victims through the company's public 'Contact Us' form, enhancing their deception efforts. Want More Context? 🔎

The article discusses how to choose the right iPhone, suggesting that the best option is often the most affordable model that meets one's needs. It highlights the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus as solid choices for upgrades, while also mentioning the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus as good alternatives if found at discounted prices, and advises waiting until late September for new releases to maximize value. Want More Context? 🔎

The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has added three vulnerabilities affecting Citrix Session Recording and Git to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog due to active exploitation evidence. Notably, CVE-2024-8068, which has a CVSS score of 5.1, involves improper privilege management in Citrix Session Recording. Want More Context? 🔎