If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Royalty.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

QUEEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A huge fight.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRAWL

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rope.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

NOOSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A particle.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUARK

Final Hurdle hint

An extension.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ANNEX

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you like to use your arms. There — your first hint.

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.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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. The sports Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Bravo!

• Green: College ball

• Blue: Cooperstown

• Purple: Not your legs...

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Expression of Approval

• Green: SEC Cities

• Blue: Hall of Fame Pitchers

• Purple: ____ Arm

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #566 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Expression of Approval — APPLAUSE, CLAPPING, HAND, OVATION

• SEC Cities — AUBURN, AUSTIN, COLLEGE STATION, OXFORD

• Hall of Fame Pitchers — FELLER, FINGERS, GROVE, PLANK

• Starts With Part of the Body — DEAD, FORE, SIDE, STIFF

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 12 Pips

Number (22): Everything in this purple space must add up to 22. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 5-0, placed vertically; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): The domino half in this red space must have 4 pips. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this space must have 4 pips. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 4-2, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 12 Pips

Less Than (3): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 3 pips. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this red space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 3 pips. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 5-5, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this red space must add up to 1. The answer is 1-3, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this green space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 12 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this purple space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-2, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this red space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (6): The domino half in this light blue space must add up to less than 6. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this dark blue space must have 0 pips. The answer is 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 6. The answer is 2-1, placed vertically. 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this purple space must have 4 pips. The answer is 2-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically; and 4-6, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this red space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this yellow space must have 6 pips. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-5, placed horizontally.

Number (0): Everything in this green space must add up to 0. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 0-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 0-1, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you need every point of view.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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.

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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.

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Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Bottoms

• Green: POV

• Blue: To give off

• Purple: A toy

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Pants features

• Green: Perspective

• Blue: Emit

• Purple: ___ Doll

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #1036 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Pants features: BELT LOOP, CUFF, FLY, POCKET

• Perspective: ANGLE, POSITION, STANCE, TAKE

• Emit: CAST, PROJECT, RADIATE, SHED

• ___ Doll: PAPER, RAG, RUSSIAN, TROLL

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you take pride in your appearance.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Get ready!

The words are related to appearance.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe grooming.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is In the Mirror

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NYT Strands word list for April 12

• Comb

• Primp

• Beautify

• In the Mirror

• Brush

• Preen

• Groom

• Style

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love city living.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A narrow pathway.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

ALLEY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

If you happen to catch a broadcast of The Masters this weekend, you'll probably notice a few obvious things: the undeniable talent of the players, the immaculate conditions of the course, and the sea of attendees wearing green as if it's a second St. Patrick's Day. But there's one other thing conspicuously absent from the weekend festivities: smartphones. 

Unlike other sporting events, sometimes heavily attended by people who paid obscene amounts of money to watch the excitement through the lens of an iPhone, The Masters bans all recording and communication devices, from phones and tablets to digital cameras. It's right there in black and white on their list of Prohibited Items, above "knives and weapons of any kind" (so you know they take it seriously). 

But, according to Golf Monthly, some sneaky attendees are finding a way to circumvent the ban: wearable technology. The latest smartwatches from Apple and Google are easily able to send and receive both text messages and phone calls, while the Ray-Ban Meta glasses are subtle enough to pass as regular eyewear (especially if worn under a golf cap).  

In response to the videos surfacing online of people sneaking in recording eyewear, golf reporter Daniel Rapaport was unequivocal: "Augusta’s no-phones rule needs to be updated to no phones or wearable technology. No Meta glasses, no Apple watches. The mystique of the Masters must be protected and it’s slipping." 

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If there's any sporting event likely to die on this hill and strengthen their policy to keep all devices out, it's The Masters. But if the legions of happy fans strolling the course over the weekend, largely oblivious to the goings-on on Twitter and Facebook, are any indication, it may be for the greater good that they do. 

The success of the Artemis II mission around the moon has captured the attention of the entire world, but if you're not done celebrating the good vibes, or just want a fantastic way to commemorate a landmark moment in space exploration, you're in luck: NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have teamed up with LEGO to launch a 632-piece model, the Artemis Space Launch System Rocket. 

Not only does this set include the Artemis ship and thruster rockets that blast it out of Earth's gravitational field, but it also includes a clever launch platform with a hand crank designed to show the rocket in all three stages of the launch — just turn the crank and the rocket gradually takes off and the thruster rockets disengage. 

The set also includes four miniature astronaut figures, in honor of the four-person crew of the Artemis II, as well as an information panel that highlights key details about the Artemis II mission. 

The set is suitable for children ages 9 and up, but we all also know at least one adult who loves to build LEGO, so don't sleep on this as a gift option for the space-obsessed grown-up friend or family member in your life. 

Owing to overwhelming demand (space is cool, after all!), the set is currently sold out on Amazon, Walmart and the LEGO website, but if you order from LEGO.com today, you should expect to receive it when supplies refresh in 60 days, according to LEGO. 

And if your child is struggling with assembly or if you yourself need a little help, never fear: LEGO offers interactive, 3D building instructions through their Builder app, available for both iOS and Android users.

The world woke up to phenomenal news: All four astronauts who participated in NASA's ten-day Artemis II mission to fly around the moon, taking them farther into space than any humans had ever been before, have returned safely to earth, splashing down within a mile of their intended landing target in the Pacific Ocean, according to NASA.

The reentry 

The first major point of anxiety came with reentry into Earth's atmosphere, which CNN described as the riskiest part of the mission.

In a pre-landing blog post, NASA reporters Abby Graf and Joseph Zakrzewski described the challenges of reentry, beginning with the structural integrity of the ship itself.

Traveling more than 24,000 miles per hour (40,000 km/h), the spaceship compresses the air in front of it, creating a plasma fireball with temperatures of up to 2,700 Celsius or 4,892 Fahrenheit, roughly half the surface temperature of our sun.

Meanwhile, inside the ship, crew members experience the rapid deceleration as a huge increase in gravitational force, making them feel almost four times heavier than they would on the Earth's surface, according to former astronaut Chris Hadfield.

The NASA livestream of the Artemis II return, watched by more than 20 million people worldwide, reached peak tension during reentry, when for six whole minutes the extreme temperatures made all communication with the crew impossible, leaving not only mission control but also viewers holding their breath. 

It was Commander Reid Wiseman's voice that broke the silence: "Houston, Integrity here. We hear you loud and clear," BBC reported.

The splashdown: Where did Artemis land?

After communication was reestablished and the cheers of the NASA crews died down, all that was left was to stick the landing: 2,000 miles southwest of the coast of San Diego, in the Pacific Ocean. 

To slow the craft down and ensure a safe landing, the Orion landing capsule used a series of parachutes of four different designs, deployed in an extremely precise sequence for maximum effectiveness, described in this NASA brochure.

When the final parachutes were used, the tiny capsule containing the crew had slowed down exponentially, ending in a gentle descent to the ocean waters, captured by CNN.

Splashdown occurred shortly after 5 p.m. PT, hailed as a "perfect bull's eye splashdown for Integrity and its four astronauts" by NASA commentator Rob Navias, while a naval rescue mission extracted the four astronauts from the floating capsule before flying them by helicopter to the USS John P Murtha for medical evaluation, according to official NASA reporting by Jennifer M. Dooren. 

How to watch Artemis II

Interested in re-living the dramatic trip, or maybe you missed most of the action and want to see it for the first time? You can watch comprehensive coverage of the entire mission, including interviews with the crew, on NASA's official YouTube page.

For maximum drama, though, see the taped livestream below.

Or if you don't have multiple hours of free time to spare, check out our photo summary of the splashdown compiled by Chris Taylor.

What's next after Artemis II

The success of this mission, as well as its undeniable worldwide appeal, has both NASA and other space agencies thinking of the stars, but there are practical matters to attend to first.

The crew, described from the recovery ship by NASA administrator Jared Isaacman as "ambassadors for humanity," had not made as of this morning any public appearance since cameras captured their dramatic capsule exit, and are expected to take many days to recover from their 10-day trip beyond our atmosphere.

Before the R&R, though, the astronauts were expected to undergo one more ordeal: an obstacle course. As Mashable reporter Elisha Sauers details, the battery of tests, conducted in and out of their heavy astronaut suits, will be used study the body's adaptation to prolonged weightlessness.

But what about the future of space travel?

For some perspective, the Artemis II mission was the first crewed mission into deep space in more than 50 years, but NASA is also viewing it as a first step on a new, multi-decade project to establish a firmer foothold in space.

According to NASA writer Lauren E. Low, future plans include landing humans on the moon and establishing a permanent lunar base, testing rendezvous and docking capabilities with both SpaceX and Blue Origin lunar landers sometime in 2027, and eventually establishing the necessary preconditions for a crewed mission to Mars. 

For now, however, the world is breathing a collective sigh of relief, happy to accept the good news of the crews' safe return.

Reporting by Mashable's Elisha Sauers and Chris Taylor contributed to this article.

The platform formerly known as Twitter is learning new tricks. X is looking to expand its reach by launching XChat, a standalone messaging app promising end-to-end encryption, no ads and no tracking, at least according to the Apple press release.

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In addition to the traditional text-based messages already offered by X, XChat promises to offer both audio and video calling, as well as the ability to send documents, create group chats, and edit or delete your sent messages. If the screenshots shared by X are accurate, the interface is minimalistic, emphasizing active chats in "a private, focused space built for conversation," according to Apple's press release.

Despite the claims of "privacy" and "end-to-end" encryption, some X users are pointing out what they perceive to be a contradiction in the app's privacy policy.

How is it, they're asking, that an app that cares about user privacy also links so much personal information, from your location and contact list to your search history and your user profile? 

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Musk took to Twitter earlier this month to disparage the privacy policy of WhatsApp. WhatsApp pushed back against the claims.

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XChat will only be accessible to people with an X account, and will only launch for the iPhone and iPad, according to the release, leaving out the Android market.

Given that apps including Signal and WhatsApp don't require a separate account on another platform, it remains to be seen if XChat can attract enough users to compete at the same scale. 

With an expected launch of April 17, though, we won't need to wait long to find out.

Nobody likes filing their taxes (or do they?), but a select few fast food restaurants are offering some financial relief to celebrate Tax Day. 

On April 15, you'll be able to score a dozen Original Glazed donuts from Krispy Kreme with the purchase of any regular dozen donuts at their usual price.

Krispy Kreme Tax Day deal

Best of all, the offer applies to in-store purchases, drive-thru pickup, and even to-go orders made through the Krispy Kreme app (use the code TAXBREAK at checkout).

You can read more about the promo on the Krispy Kreme official website, but suffice it to say a lot of families may be indulging after paying their accountants a visit. 

But Krispy Kreme isn't the only restaurant offering a break that you can grab on Tax Day and beyond.

Burger King, QDOBA deals

Because April 15 falls on a Wednesday this year, Burger King's Whopper Wednesday discount applies, meaning you can pick up a regular Whopper for $3.99 or a Small Whopper Combo for $6.99.

Meanwhile, burrito chain QDOBA has instituted a Tax Day Guac Relief program, to highlight the fact that their guacamole is always free. To take advantage of the deal, first join their rewards program and then fill out a short survey about all of the times you've been forced to pay for guac in the past.

As a reward, you'll score $5 off a full-sized entree, redeemable between April 20 and 26. And the Tax Day Guac Relief forms? Naturally, they're due on Tax Day, April 15 — but what's a bit more paperwork when the payoff is so sweet?

If you want some much-deserved Tax Day relief, or if filing your taxes has inspired you with a new appreciation for a good deal, celebrate submitting your return with some well-deserved chow. 

If you have strong preferences for your workout gear — and strong feelings on Hoka versus Brooks (we're not getting in the middle of that debate) — then finding the right pair of workout headphones can be extra challenging.

The best headphones for working out need to withstand movement, sweat, and the elements. Plus, you don't want something you're constantly fussing with; your headphones should help you stay focused during your exercises.

Mashable reviewers have tested many pairs of headphones and wireless earbuds, and we can tell you which products stay put during a workout, and which buds will go tumbling onto the sidewalk as soon as you break into a run. To make sure we're recommending the right products, we tested over a dozen of the best sports earbuds, headphones, and bone conduction headphones from brands like Bose, Beats, Apple, and Shokz.

How to pick headphones for working out

The right headphones for you depend significantly on the kinds of workouts you like to do and where you like to do them. If you like to run outdoors, you need headphones that keep you safe in busy areas with reliable noise transparency, such as bone conduction headphones or open earbuds. If you're pumping iron at the gym, you might prefer sports earbuds that block out the world with active noise cancellation so you can lock in for your reps. And some people just prefer the look and feel of traditional over-ear headphones. We found reliable options in each category, but in general, most athletes prefer the best wireless earbuds for working out.

For this guide, we looked for two universal specs in all of the headphones we tested. First, workout headphones need to be wireless, giving you a full range of movement. You don't want to get tied up on the stair climber.

Second, workout headphones need to be sweat- or water-resistant. This one is obvious. When you're working out, you're getting sweaty, and you want headphones that won't freak out at the first sign of moisture. Your gym earbuds don't have to be fully waterproof, but this will be helpful for outdoor athletes.

So, whether you're hitting the gym or the pavement, here are the best earbuds and headphones for working out.

Recent changes to this guide

For our most recent update in April 2026, we swapped out the Bose Ultra Open earbuds for the Shokz OpenFit Pro earbuds. In our testing, we found the Shokz buds offer a better value for a similar (and sometimes superior) experience.

In September 2025, we replaced the Apple AirPods Pro 2 with the newly released AirPods Pro 3. Likewise, we swapped out the previous-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra earbuds for the QuietComfort Ultra (Gen 2) buds.

In a previous update, we removed the discontinued Jabra Elite 8 Active (Gen 2). These buds previously occupied the top spot and provided remarkable battery life, fit, and sound quality in a highly durable package. We still recommend it if you’re lucky enough to find a pair online at a reasonable price (they sell for $300 on eBay).

We also tested additional products that ultimately didn't make the cut, including the JBL Reflect Aero noise-cancelling earbuds. Despite appearing to have a similar design to the Beats Fit Pro — the earbuds themselves, not the ear tips — were so big they couldn't comfortably fit in the ear, a troubling design that caused them to fall out constantly.

Last July, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman told viral podcaster Theo Von that it's "screwed up" that conversations with an AI helper aren't afforded the same legal protections as conversations with a human advocate. 

"imo talking to an AI should be like talking to a lawyer or a doctor. i hope society will figure this out soon," Altman posted to X.

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The CEO has repeatedly advocated for stronger privacy protections for his chatbot's conversations with users, even as states have cracked down on AI bots advertised as therapeutic or legal experts.  

But user privacy is not the sole reason why people like Altman are pushing for a tougher shield between chatbot conversations and the court, legal experts tell Mashable — there's also a self-serving motivation. If LLMs remain untouchable by courts, it insulates not just AI users, but the companies, too. In fact, Altman's comments to Von may have been prompted by OpenAI's very own legal troubles: Courts were demanding the AI giant save and eventually hand over its user chat logs as legal discovery, an action that could be blocked if AI were viewed the same in the eyes of the court as a therapist, doctor, or attorney. 

What's one way to accomplish that? Push for a cultural shift that treats AI guidance with the same reverence as human professionals, starting with our health.

What exactly is "AI privilege"?

"Privilege has a certain meaning to lawyers and in the legal context," explained Melodi Dinçer, senior staff attorney for the Tech Justice Law Project. There's the standard attorney-client privilege, for example, as well as psychiatrist-client privilege and spousal privilege. Communications to clergymen, political votes, and trade or state secrets are also recognized by courts. In all these instances, communications between the two parties are confidential and not admissible in court proceedings.

States have their own privilege rules as well, covered under state law for cases held in state courts. Some states, Dinçer said, extend privileges to conversations between you and your general practitioner, in addition to your psychiatrist. But many states don't. This is all elucidated in Rule 501 of the Federal Rules of Evidence, Dinçer explained, which allows federal courts to recognize privileges broadly that the state courts already acknowledge. 

If you are being sued, for example, the other side of the lawsuit cannot admit your therapist's session notes, nor could they admit confidential conversations between you or your lawyer or your spouse.  

"The entire purpose of [client privilege] is to be able to have frank and open discussions with these providers in order for them to provide the best advice to you," Lily Li, a data privacy and AI risk management attorney and founder of Metaverse Law, told Mashable. "And from a societal perspective, we want individuals to be frank and open and honest with their attorney, physicians, and psychologists."

But these are conditions placed on human relationships, not digital ones. If you believe an AI chatbot is as effective as a human therapist or a legal consultant, should those communications be protected, too? Some AI developers, like Altman, say yes. 

AI chatbots: Tools or people? 

"The Open AI copyright lawsuit brought this into sharp focus," said Li. She is referring to a series of recently consolidated copyright cases, 16 in total, opened against OpenAI from publishers, artists, and writers over the last few years. The issues at hand — which include questions of fair use and how to handle the data used to train LLMs — are a kind of temperature gauge for assessing AI's perception in the eyes of the court. 

Because of this, legal experts have been closely monitoring how courts categorize AI developers, their products, and user data contained within them. More specifically, they need to track how the law is treating LLMs, including their training data and chat logs, during evidence and discovery. 

In February, a federal judge decided that legal strategy documents generated by Anthropic's Claude chatbot — and then sent by a client to their lawyer — were not covered by attorney-client privilege. The decision made headlines. The judge in the case relied in part on Anthropic’s own privacy policy to determine if the chats were protected. Because Anthropic's rules don't promise full privacy when using its public product, and because the communications didn't occur between a licensed attorney with the understanding of them being confidential, the privilege didn't apply. The documents were fair game.

But that same month, a different judge in a different, albeit similar, case ruled the opposite. In this instance, attorney-client privilege applied to AI-generated work because the output became an "attorney-client work product," according to the judge. The chatbot wasn't a "person" in this use case, but a tool used by counsel and client. That's an important distinction, because if the chatbot had been seen as a third-party entity, the client would have been voluntarily giving confidential information to it in a manner that could waive the recognition of privilege. 

These are just a few early federal district court cases, involving what are referred to as matters of first impression. Basically, no one's ever asked these questions, and we are only in the beginning stages of figuring them out. 

Meanwhile, the copyright cases involving OpenAI have engendered more questions about discovery and data. Not long before the two aforementioned rulings, OpenAI successfully appealed a decision ruling the company had waived its attorney-client privilege, opening up access to previously privileged data. The company had been ordered to hand over millions of anonymized ChatGPT conversation logs, as well as internal communications. 

Companies like OpenAI have pushed back against such discovery, arguing for its confidentiality. Judges ruling in favor of admitting data have reasoned that removing personal identifiable information, narrowing the focus of logs, and not disclosing data externally makes the digital troves admissible in court. The legal landscape is riddled with questions such as these.

Across the board, AI developers are pushing to keep their internal data out of discovery. And while user privacy is one of the most pressing issues in the age of AI, enumerating AI privileges in a legal context poses a conundrum. How do we protect users' private data, without making it impossible to hold AI's makers accountable?

"We don't want a situation where there's just a pure liability shield," Li said.

A new Mashable series, AI + Health, will examine how artificial intelligence is changing the medical and health landscape. We'll explore how to keep your health data safe, dive into using AI to decipher your blood work, learn how two women are using AI to detect a dangerous form of heart disease, and much more.

Health AI is big business

Earlier this year, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, a new consumer-facing "mode" for its tentpole chatbot that intends to turn the AI into a personal health guru. The company encourages users to upload their medical histories to better personalize the experience. The data is not currently protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the nation's dominant health privacy regulation. 

Other companies followed OpenAI's lead, with Anthropic, Microsoft, and Amazon releasing their own health-oriented chatbot companions — some HIPAA compliant and some not — in the months since. OpenAI competitor Google has long been investing in AI for medical use cases, mainly for clinicians and researchers. Fitbit, owned by Google, offers personal health coaching using an integrated Gemini assistant. The company is also building a "conversational diagnostic AI agent," referred to as an Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer (or AMIE).     

Altman and his competitors are flocking to the profit potential of the healthcare industry, even if an AI privilege rule isn't yet on the horizon. In January, OpenAI acquired the health startup Torch, and the Altman-backed MergeLabs, a biotech company interested in brain computer interfaces (BCIs), obtained an $850 million evaluation. 

According to a recent report by Menlo Ventures, $1.4 billion went toward healthcare-specific generative AI solutions in 2025. The vast majority of that flowed to AI startups. And these stats only encompass clinical-grade products, tools produced by companies like OpenEvidence and Hippocratic AI intended for medical professionals, not spending on commercial products, such as ChatGPT Health.

A world with human-chatbot privilege?

Among the non-clinical grade products, wellness devices, and non-HIPAA compliant chatbots, a lack of regulation and legal clarity alarms many privacy experts. Some posit that the uncertain policy landscape could be a boon for AI developers, launching their own health AI products into a regulatory miasma in a strategic move to push the company's profit and legal gains.

As chatbots accumulate more "confidential" conversations, more privileges under Rule 501 may be implicated. In states that shield communications with your physician, would AI "doctors" count, too? Or consider a less obvious example posed by Dinçer: Say a user asks a chatbot how they contracted a sexually transmitted infection despite their spouse testing negative, could the prompt and response be presented as evidence — or would it trigger another form of protection, like spousal privilege?

In a hypothetical world with sweeping AI privileges, or even one in which chatbots are looped into existing privilege rules, AI companies may try to refuse admitting blatant evidence of malfeasance. For example, if an AI company was sued for misleading individuals about their health, prosecutors couldn't use internal records or chat analytics containing people's health records. 

Perhaps, Dinçer suggests, if more users are inputting their personal medical records, X-rays, or other sensitive information into the consumer-facing product — and if more and more AI companies are connected in a web of personal identifiable information and health tech — courts would be more inclined to entertain the idea of privilege extending to AI. 

This may be part of the reason — besides revenue — companies try to engender the same kind of trust in AI assistants as we have in human professionals. With so many already consulting AI for their health needs, and companies like OpenAI already facing heaps of litigation, it's no mystery why executives like Altman want to keep chatbot conversations away from the prying eyes of lawyers and judges.

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, previously filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

I can't count the number of times my jaw dropped while watching Mexodus.

Much of that wonder comes down to the show's live looping, which sees creators and performers Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson creating the show's score from scratch onstage. But there's more goodness where that came from, as Quijada and Robinson interrogate under-taught history through powerful personal storytelling and hip-hop. Separately, these elements would be fascinating enough. Combine them, and the results are electrifying.

Mexodus tells a lesser-known tale of the Underground Railroad.

Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson in "Mexodus." Credit: Thomas Mundell

If you hear the phrase "the Underground Railroad," chances are you think of the network of routes slaves in the American South took north to escape bondage. Yet as Quijada and Robinson tell us, there was also a southbound network that brought thousands of slaves to freedom in Mexico. How many thousands? We don't know for sure, Quijada and Robinson say, in one of the many moments when they speak to the audience themselves. The story of the southbound Underground Railroad is not a story you'll find in many history books, but it's one the duo hopes to pass on through word of mouth, with Mexodus' story serving as a composite of their own research.

Robinson plays Henry, an escaped slave who evades capture in Texas and barely survives a dangerous crossing of the Rio Grande. He's saved by Quijada's Carlos, a medic-turned-farmer battling his own demons from the Mexican-American war. Wary of each other at first, the two soon grow to overlook their differences, collaborate on Carlos's farm, and even become firm friends.

Mexodus' live looping will have you hooked.

Brian Quijada and Nygel D. Robinson in "Mexodus." Credit: Thomas Mundell

Quijada and Robinson build the soundtrack to Carlos and Henry's friendship in real time, looping and layering their own vocals and instruments. A lot of the instruments are recognizable: pianos, cellos, trumpets, guitars, drums, vinyl scratching. That Quijada and Robinson are playing all of them and rapping at superhuman speed and harmonizing with themselves is already impressive enough. But what kicks Mexodus into an even higher gear is when Quijada and Robinson interact with the stage itself, designed by Riw Rakkulchon. Corrugated walls become sources of percussion and even thunder. A wooden wheel modulates tracks' tempos. Pedals around the stage loop the sounds, and watching Quijada and Robinson stomp on them to control the next loop is a magic trick that never gets old.

Another magic trick? The live looping doesn't end with Mexodus' songs. Quijada and Robinson craft soundscapes too, from storms to crackling fires. My personal favorite moment came when Quijada strummed a comb to create the sound of chirping insects coming out at night. Yes, we fully see what causes the sound effect — in fact, we see what causes every sound in the show — but as Mikhail Fiksel's sound design amplifies it throughout the theater, it becomes something new. The theatrical experience allows us to leap from the mundanity of the comb to the fantasy of the bugs it's imitating.

There's a communal aspect to the live looping as well. Quijada and Robinson feed off our joy at each aural surprise. (Quijada took a smiling bow after my audience oohed at how he created the sound of fire.) They also take several opportunities throughout the show to step outside the story and tell personal tales: Robinson of his ancestors, Quijada of a time when he witnessed the same kind of prejudice and division that would have alienated Carlos and Henry centuries ago. Each moment builds on Quijada and Robinson's reminders that it's up to us to pass down the unknown stories of the Underground Railroad that led south, culminating in a goosebump-inducing moment of audience participation.

By inviting the audience into their stories and showing us how each song is created, Quijada and Robinson have created a riveting, joyful take on an unsung chapter of American history. It's one that I guarantee you won't forget.

Mexodus is now running Off Broadway through June 14.

So far, Nintendo has given us almost nothing about what to expect from the Switch 2 in the second half of 2026. However, reports suggest The Legend of Zelda fans are getting a major gift for the venerable series' 40th anniversary.

According to a prominent Nintendo leaker called Natethehate, and corroborated by Video Games Chronicle, Nintendo is set to release a full-scale remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Switch 2 this holiday season. Of course, Nintendo hasn't confirmed this yet, and there's a chance it's not even real. But, as someone for whom Ocarina is about as important as a piece of art can be to a person, I can't stop thinking about it.

Assuming it's real, what should an Ocarina of Time remake bring to the table? And what kinds of pitfalls should it avoid? Let's talk about it. And if all of this turns out to be a false alarm and there is no remake, I humbly welcome all of you to call me an idiot in the future.

An Ocarina of Time remake should be different enough to justify its existence

Maybe don't go quite as hard as the 'Final Fantasy VII Remake' games do, but they're a decent starting point. Credit: Square Enix/Steam

To start, I should note that you can play the original Ocarina of Time on a Switch or Switch 2 right now via the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service. I am of the belief that remakes exist to supplement the original work, not replace them, so it's paramount that Nintendo keep the original playable on modern platforms, and I have no reason to believe the company would remove it from the NSO service.

With that in mind, if this purported remake is going to a $60+ major holiday release that exists alongside the original, it needs to set itself apart. There are plenty of ways to do that. For starters, it might not hurt to modernize the controls a bit. I love the way the original Ocarina feels, with Link's weighty, substantial movement grounding him in the game's world in a beautiful way. Ocarina's heavy use of context-sensitive actions gave Link a huge number of ways to intuitively interact with said world, which set the game apart from other 3D action-adventure titles at the time.

The iconic title screen needs to stay. Credit: Nintendo

That said, there are a lot of people who don't have three decades of nostalgia for this game baked into their memories. Some folks are younger and may have started their Zelda journeys with newer games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. For a portion of the modern gaming audience, Ocarina's original control scheme feels clunky and unwieldy.

Even I, a person who loves the original release as much as I can possibly love anything, will admit that lining up jumps or trying to precisely throw bombs can be a chore. It also just doesn't make much sense on anything other than a Nintendo 64 controller, for which Ocarina was hyper-specifically designed.

Whoever is making this rumored remake needs to make it make sense on a Switch 2 controller. It might also help to add new content to Link's seminal 3D adventure, which might please fans of the original. New or reworked side quests, an additional optional dungeon, or even a smaller second adventure with a different playable character (looking at you, Sheik) would each individually do a lot to make players new and old flock to this remake. As long as it all fits naturally into the original game's structure, of course.

But they shouldn't just turn it into Breath of the Wild

Great game, but not something the 'Ocarina' remake needs to emulate. Credit: Nintendo

One thing I've seen some fans online suggest that I vehemently disagree with is the notion of turning Ocarina of Time into a full-blown open-world adventure in the same vein as the two big Switch games, Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. This is an idea that might sound enticing until you think about it for a few seconds. Let me explain why.

More than anything, that's just not what Ocarina of Time ever was. Hyrule Field felt massive, expansive, and mysterious in 1998, but Ocarina at its core is a pretty linear game where there's typically only ever one authored solution to any problem. It's not about creativity in puzzle-solving like Breath and Tears, it's about using a boomerang to open a door in the exact way the designers want you to.

This may sound stifling to fans of the newer games, and in the arc of the Zelda franchise, that formula was indeed stifling enough to inspire the need for a series overhaul, but it's an apples-and-oranges thing.

New Zelda is a physics sandbox, while old Zelda focused more on the creativity of the designers than the player. In practice, one could very easily argue that the old style produced better pacing, and it allowed each game to have a large arsenal of fun items to use, rather than a small handful of powers like in the newer entries. If you've never used the Hookshot, you don't know what you're missing.

Crucially, you can also finish Ocarina of Time in like 20 hours. Not everything needs to be a 100-hour epic.

The remake needs to have a fresh look

Honestly, if this remake exists, the most important decision for its developers to make concerns how it will look. I am not an artist, so I don't have much in the way of specific ideas for how it should look. But I don't think a straightforward adaptation of the original game's graphics is the way to go.

If you just do "Ocarina of Time but modern," you run the risk of inviting ungenerous comparisons between the original and the remake. It would also be boring, just as it would be to simply convert Ocarina into the more Studio Ghibli-inspired Breath of the Wild art style. Zelda has reinvented itself visually more times than almost any series, and it's time for that to happen again.

But it also needs to respect the original's distinct vibes

In playing some of the original release recently for research purposes, one thing that stuck out to me is just how weird it often is. I think about NPCs like Grog, the gaunt misanthrope who mostly exists to tell you how much he hates his parents, or the creepy music box guy. At one point, you can play music on your ocarina for the enjoyment of a bunch of cartoon frogs. It's a goofy game with a lot of heart, and I hope that doesn't get lost in translation.

There are lots of other things that I think can be updated without being lost, such as the original game's brilliant soundtrack. That could use a full orchestral re-arrangement. I'm also open to other ideas, but for now, these are the things that have been swimming around my mind the most about this potential remake.

TL;DR: Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free on ITVX. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

A number of interesting NHL fixtures are taking place this weekend, including Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning. Both sides are well positioned in the Atlantic Division, but both need a win to end a concerning run of losses. We're expecting a evenly-matched contest at TD Garden.

If you want to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning?

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL starts at 12:30 p.m. ET on April 11. This fixture takes place at TD Garden.

How to watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free

Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock ITVX to live stream the NHL for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the NHL without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL (plus more NHL fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

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• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $78.18 and includes an extra four months for free — 78% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch Boston Bruins vs. Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL for free with ExpressVPN.

HULU BUNDLES: Hulu is offering a range of bundle deals so you can stream from its impressive library without breaking the bank.

The best Hulu deals and bundles in April 2026:

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Best Hulu Bundle Deal

Disney+ and Hulu Bundle

$12.99/month with ads

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Best HBO Max Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

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Best Student Deal

Hulu Student Deal

Hulu with ads for $1.99/month

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Best ESPN Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle

$35.99/month

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There's a wide range of excellent shows and films to watch on Hulu. From The Testaments to season two of Paradise, it's a library that's full of options to keep you entertained this spring.

If these have caught your eye and have you itching to sign up for Hulu, we're here to help you get the best deal. Outside of the standard ad-supported and ad free plans, there are quite a few bundle deals available with Hulu that are worth exploring if you're looking to save some cash. This includes the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package.

Below you can find details on Hulu's best bundles at the moment — alongside information on both its ad-supported and ad free plans, if you just want the basics — offering you a way to save on the service right now.

Best Disney+ bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+ and Hulu Bundle

$12.99 per month with ads

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Why we like it

For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which sets you up with Disney+ alongside Hulu, it starts at $12.99 per month. If you'd prefer the Premium ad-free version of this plan, this jumps to $19.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $12.99 per month

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

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Why we like it

This is one of the best Hulu bundles available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, this bundle grants you access to Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max's streaming services for a much lower price than what you'd pay for the three of them separately. It's an incredible deal to take advantage of, especially if you've already got Disney+ and HBO Max subscriptions. There are two plans to choose from with this bundle, and they are:

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best student deal

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Credit: Hulu

Hulu Student Deal

Hulu with ads for $1.99/month

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Why we like it

If you're a student enrolled at a university, you can score a Hulu (with ads) plan for even lower than the above bundles. Hulu's Student Deal gives eligible college students the ability to buy a Hulu (with ads) plan for just $1.99 per month. Hulu notes that the deal lasts "so long as student enrollment status remains verified," then it goes back up to the standard monthly price.

• Hulu Student Deal — $1.99 per month

Best ESPN bundle deal

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Credit: Hulu

Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle

$35.99/month

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Why we like it

Alongside the big Hulu, Disney+, and HBO Max bundle, Hulu also has plans for sports fans that throw in ESPN Select or ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+." 

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Hulu's monthly plans

If you're just looking to jump straight into Hulu's library without any fancy bundles, there are a couple of subscription options to consider. The ad-supported tier comes in at $11.99 per month, but you'll get your first month free, which is a great way to test the waters and see if it's the right fit for you. If you want to go ad free, that'll cost you $18.99 per month. Unfortunately, this plan does not offer a free trial like its ad-supported sibling.

• Hulu (with ads) — $11.99 per month (get first month free), $119.99 per year

• Hulu Premium (no ads) — $18.99 per month

If you really want to go big on a streaming investment, there's the Hulu + Live TV plan. This costs a whopping $89.99 per month for its ad-supported plan, but comes with plenty to keep you busy. Hulu + Live TV (with ads) gets you access to 95+ channels, unlimited DVR, Disney+ (with ads), ESPN Select (with ads), and Hulu (with ads). If you want to go even bigger with the ad-free plan — which offers Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN Select (with ads) alongside Live TV — it'll cost you $99.99 per month. The ad-supported plan also offers a free trial, but for just three days instead.

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+, and ESPN Select (with ads) — $89.99 per month (three day free trial)

• Hulu Premium + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select (no ads) — $99.99 per month

• Hulu + Live TV, Disney+ Premium, and ESPN Select — $94.99 per month

• Live TV Only — $88.99 per month

Wondering what to watch once you get set up with a Hulu plan or bundle? We're here to help with that as well. Have a look at our roundups of the 30 best comedies on Hulu, the 25 best sci-fi movies on Hulu, and the 26 best horror movies on Hulu to start building your watchlist. And if you're in the mood to binge-watch a show, check out our breakdown of the 25 best shows on Hulu.

SAVE $500: As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is on sale for $1,089 at Amazon. That's over $500 off the list price and the best-ever price at Amazon.

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Credit: DJI

DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo

$1,099 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $500

 

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The 2026 drone market is currently in a weird state of flux. Legislative pressure is mounting on DJI imports. We’ve moved past the phase of uncertainty into genuine panic buying before stock disappears for good.

Any sort of deal during this frantic period is very much welcome. Any sort of deal down to a record-low price cannot be ignored.

As of April 11, the DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo is down to $1,089 at Amazon — its all-time low and over $500 off the list price for a limited time.

The Mini 5 Pro remains the champion of the lightweight category. For creators, the one-inch CMOS sensor is the star of the show, delivering 4K HDR at 60fps that looks like it belongs on a cinema screen. The 360-degree Nightscape sensing maps obstacles in low light while the specialized Nighttime Return-to-Home ensures your investment doesn't end up as a permanent resident of a neighbor's tree.

We’ve monitored this price point across several sale cycles, and this looks like the floor. If you’re a content creator looking to future-proof your kit with a drone that doesn't require a commercial pilot’s license, this is the deal to snipe before stock drops.

We're not encouraging panic buying, but we do believe in tactical shopping — and there's never been a better time to invest in this versatile drone.

TL;DR: Score a free iPhone 17e when signing up for a T-Mobile plan with no trade-in required. Alternatively, you can get the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing up for an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible device.

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Credit: Apple

T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free

 

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In the mobile world, the word "free" is usually followed by a list of caveats that make you wish you never started looking for a deal. You usually need to sign up for the most expensive plan or trade-in a premium phone to get your hands on what you really want. But that's not the case with the latest T-Mobile offer.

T-Mobile is offering a rare deal on the newly-released Apple iPhone 17e. For a limited time, you can pick up this A19-powered device for free by simply opening a new line.

You’ll need to activate a new line on T-Mobile’s Experience Beyond or Experience More plans to get the iPhone 17e. The phone’s full retail price is covered via 24 monthly bill credits, and since you aren't trading in your old phone, you can keep it as a backup, give it to a kid, or sell it on a third-party site to actually make money on this deal. We did say this was a rare opportunity to save.

Mashable's Stan Shroeder got his hands on the iPhone 17e and said "The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years." That's an impressive lifespan for a budget-friendly phone, particularly when it's free.

If you need something a little more powerful, you can also pick up the iPhone 17 for free from T-Mobile when signing on for 24 months of an Experience More plan and trading in an eligible phone. That gets you unthrottled 5G data, 4K streaming, and enough international roaming for even the most adventurous of travellers.

It's important to note that T-Mobile will charge taxes on these free deals and a $35 device connection fee. Is this really "free" when you need to sign up to something or pay an upfront fee? It's a gray area, OK? We're doing our best.

Score an iPhone 17 for free this weekend with T-Mobile.

Every major online dating service has been the target of malicious hackers attempting to gain access to private information, but few attacks have been as severe, as pervasive or as publicly damaging as the data breach attack on AdultFriendFinder in October 2016.

The attack exposed the records of more than 360 million users, not just of AdultFriendFinder but of sites across the popular FriendFinder network. To this day, it is still one of the largest database breaches ever recorded, leaking the email addresses, usernames, passwords, sexual orientations, and even spoken languages of millions of people across more than two decades of AFF's history.

Worse still, it exposed the downright shoddy security practices of the company, which included using SHA-1 cryptographic hashing, already more than a decade out of date by the time of the breach, and storing account passwords in plain text. 

Thankfully, parent company FriendFinder Networks took this breach seriously, and dramatically stepped up their security practices. Here are three major changes they made to help protect future users:

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Credit: AdultFriendFinder

AdultFriendFinder

 

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AFF overhauled their database security

Think of a website's database as a kind of bank vault; it's where all the valuable stuff that thieves are after is stored. In 2016, prior to the attack, AdultFriendFinder had the equivalent of a single-lock safe: it looked secure and intimidating, but malicious actors had long ago figured out how to crack the code. 

Now, they use the latest encryption technologies to bolster security, including a technique called "salted hashing" that involves combining each password with a unique, random string of characters (known as the salt) and then passing them through a one-way hash function. It's a sophisticated way of ensuring that even accounts using identical passwords (looking at you, people who use "password" for your password) don't all share the same vulnerability during a breach.

AFF hired outside security experts

The ugly truth is that companies are no longer self-sufficient when it comes to cybersecurity. Your in-house security team, as smart and hardworking as they may be, are not going to stand a chance against the wide variety of hackers and other malicious actors working 24/7 to access your data. 

The 2016 data breach humbled AFF enough to recognize this fact, and they've been contracting outside cybersecurity help ever since, including with Google subsidiary Mandiant. These cybersecurity firms don't just examine the potential vulnerabilities in your coding; they also look at your corporate structure and employee practices to evaluate them for potential vulnerabilities. 

Forced password resets

Not all cybersecurity vulnerabilities are the fault (or exclusive fault) of the website. Sometimes, your own laziness is your biggest vulnerability. Part of beefing up AFF's security involved forcing password resets, so you can't use the same password year after year. 

This is now basically standard operating procedure across the internet: once every six months or once a year, you're probably going to be asked to choose a new password. AFF has formalized this approach to help secure against password vulnerabilities that it can't control, such as leaks on other dating sites (be honest: how many of you use the same password across multiple sites?) or hardware malware like keyloggers. 

Later this year, exactly one decade will have elapsed since AdultFriendFinder's last security breach. Say what you will about their past mistakes — a full decade of cybersecurity success is an achievement, and modern users of the site should be grateful that AFF has stepped up their game in such a big way.

In the age of on-demand everything, it’s no surprise that we can get "dates" (and I use that term loosely) with the tap of a button. Thanks to classic hookup apps like Tinder and newcomers like Pure, finding a sexy new friend can be as straightforward as ordering a pizza. As for the quality? That’s about the same as your pizza — hit or miss, depending on the time of day, where you're located, and how hungry you are.

Fortunately, you’ve got me, your resident dating app expert (though I prefer modern-day Carrie Bradshaw), to guide you to the promised land, aka the best hookup apps.

I’ve spent the past three years (yes, years) researching, downloading, and testing dozens of the top dating apps to find the best ones for all kinds of daters, including the one-night-stand crowd. From discrete sexting apps to dating sites for serious relationships, I've swiped through them all. I also consulted a panel of sex and relationship experts to make sure my picks are solid.

How to get the most out of hookup apps

My number one rule is to be brutally honest about what you’re looking for. You’re here for a good time — so own it. That means staying in your lane; don't go looking for a one-night stand on an app like eharmony.

"Hookup apps help prevent situations where people are on mainstream dating sites with the intention of having a casual hookup but are unclear about these intentions," Suzannah Weiss, resident sexologist for Biird and author of Subjectified: Becoming a Sexual Subject, tells Mashable. "They also give women a space to be openly sexual creatures without judgment."

And here's a little insider secret I picked up from Alexander Liebisch, the CEO and founder of TinderProfile.ai: Timing is everything. He found that people messaging on Tinder's "free tonight" feature after 10 p.m. on a weekend had a 45 percent higher chance of hooking up.

So, whether you're looking for a one-night stand, a regular FWB situation, or just a space to explore your sexuality, I've got you covered. Based on all my hands-on testing and expert consultations, I’ve broken down the best hookup app for every type of person and mood.

Recent updates to this guide

• Hinge: Hinge just keeps getting better, so I’ve bumped it up higher on my list as of October 2025. Its user base is growing, and my own recent tests on the app have been surprisingly positive.

• Sniffies (added September 2025): I've added Sniffies, the map-based app for queer men, because it's been gaining a lot of traction. (It got a little too spicy for Apple and was pulled from the App Store, so it's now technically a dating site.) Don't say I didn't warn you about the NSFW content.

• FetLife (added September 2025): FetLife is my new favorite "Honorable Mention." It's not your typical hookup app; it's more of a social network for the kink community (and, oddly enough, the best hookup app for gamers). Just remember: it's a community, so don't treat it like Tinder.

• Plenty of Fish (removed January 2025): POF went through a rebrand recently, and honestly, I'm not impressed. My latest tests showed they got rid of key features like free messaging for non-matches, and I kept running into the same old profiles.

• Match (removed August 2025): I know some people say they've found casual hookups on Match, but that's not what it's for. Match is where you go to find a serious, long-term relationship, and I still recommend it for that. But for a hookup? You're just fishing in the wrong pond.

Why some popular hookup apps didn't make the cut

You might notice a few apps that pop up in ads or other lists are missing here. That’s intentional. I swipe through the good, the bad, and the downright sketchy so you don’t have to. For an app to make my list, it has to be effective, safe, and worth your time.

Here's a shortlist of apps that didn't make the cut this year:

• Wild: You’ve probably seen ads for this one. On paper, Wild sounds like the perfect casual dating app. In practice, the paywalls are aggressive, the distance filter doesn't work, and you have to pay for anything that's even remotely useful. Unless you're willing to spend serious cash upfront (and hope for the best), the experience feels limited compared to more open apps like Tinder.

• DOWN: This app (formerly "Bang With Friends") is known for its simple "Get Down" vs. "Get Date" feature. It sounds clever, but in reality, the experience is messy at best. Many users report feeling scammed by subscriptions that don't deliver matches, or finding that the few real people on there are... let's say "odd." It’s hard to recommend an app when the main user complaint is "Is anyone real?" Hard pass.

• Facebook Dating: Yes, Facebook has a dating section, and it’s surprisingly massive (and completely free, which is huge). While it's a decent option for casual dating, the vibe tends to be a bit more "friends of friends" and "relationship-focused" than the anonymous, no-strings energy you get from apps like Pure or Feeld. (For Mashable's Chance Townsend, signing up was "the most uneventful dating experience" of his life.) It's worth a shot if you're already on Facebook, but it didn't quite crack my top tier for hookups specifically.

TL;DR: Live stream the UFC on Paramount+. Access these live streams for free with a 30-day trial for Walmart+.

Some of the biggest names in sport became famous with the UFC. We're talking about the likes of Conor McGregor, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Brock Lesnar, and Georges St-Pierre. All of these household names earned their stripes in the Octagon, and now the next wave of UFC superstars are primed and ready to take things to the next level.

And millions of fans from around the world will be watching every moment. Fortunately for this dedicated group of followers, it has never been easier to watch the biggest fight nights without spending anything.

If you want to watch the UFC for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the UFC?

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The UFC has over 578 fighters contracted that fight across 11 weight divisions. The organization produces events worldwide — the UFC has held over 750 events going into 2026.

How to watch the UFC for free

The UFC is available to live stream on Paramount+. New subscribers can get Paramount+ for $8.99 per month with access to all UFC events.

Alternatively, you can sign up for a 30-day trial for Walmart+ to gain access to Paramount+ for free. Paramount+ is included as a perk of Walmart+, so with a free trial of Walmart+, you can live stream the UFC without spending anything. It's a sneaky trick, but it works.

If you're outside the U.S. for the next fight, you might need to use a VPN to unblock the UFC on Paramount+. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., allowing you to unblock live streams of the UFC from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the UFC from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Visit Paramount+

5. Watch the UFC from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the next fight before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the UFC?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the UFC from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is tricky! There are some red herrings you'll have to avoid.

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.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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.

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Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

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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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Take me out to the...

• Green: Go, Bruins!

• Blue: Great lakes

• Purple: You have all of these

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: MLB Teams, Colloquially

• Green: UCLA

• Blue: Can Follow Minnesota

• Purple: Starts With Part of the Body

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #565 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• MLB Teams, Colloquially — D-BACKS, JAYS, PHILS, SOX

• UCLA — ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, LOS, UNIVERSITY

• Can Follow Minnesota — LYNX, UNITED, VIKINGS, WILD

• Starts With Part of the Body — ARMY, EARTHQUAKES, LEGACY, LIVERPOOL

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 11 Pips

Equal (5): The domino half in this purple space must have five pips. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this red space must add up to 9. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have five pips. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 11 Pips

Number (6): Everything in this purple space must add up to 6. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): The domino half in this yellow space must have less than 4 pips. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 11 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this red space must add up to 1. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this yellow space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Less Than (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to less than 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this green space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 5 pips. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (5): The domino half in this red space must have more than 5 pips. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically.

Number (5): The domino half in this light blue space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this yellow space must add up to less than 5. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're always prepared.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Driving necessities

• Green: Donor

• Blue: Building blocks

• Purple: Natural formations

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Found in the trunk of a car

• Green: Benefactor

• Blue: Structural supports

• Purple: Ending in bodies of water

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #1035 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Found in the trunk of a car: ICE SCRAPER, JACK, JUMPER CABLES, SPARE TIRE

• Benefactor: ANGEL, CHAMPION, PATRON, SPONSOR

• Structural supports: BEAM, BRACE, COLUMN, STRUT

• Ending in bodies of water: BOMBAY, CHELSEA, SCREWDRIVER, SNOWFLAKE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're stylish.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: You're putting me on

The words are related to fashion.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe fashion accessories.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Top Gear.

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NYT Strands word list for April 11

• Beanie

• Fedora

• Beret

• Top Gear

• Bowler

• Toque

• Derby

• Sombrero

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a goody two-shoes.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Puritan.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

PRUDE

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

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If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Rock.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

STONE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

To sneak.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

SLINK

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A kid.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

CHILD

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A bet.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

WAGER

Final Hurdle hint

A flying object.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

DRONE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

To humanity's relief, the Artemis II astronauts returned safely to Earth, splashing down in the Pacific ocean just off the California coast Friday evening. And it looked every bit as iconic as those Apollo splashdowns from the 1960s and 1970s.

Credit: Bill Ingalls / NASA

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As thrilling as the splashdown was, equally thrilling was video of the crew module separating from the service module a half hour before the spacecraft returned.

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Celebrations broke out at the nearby Air and Space Museum in San Diego, where one space-loving child gave us what may be the most relatable raised fist since Success Kid.

Credit: Apu GOMES / AFP via Getty Images

Celebrations also broke out several hundred miles north at the Columbia Memorial Space Center in Downey, California — where the descent was a nerve-wracking reminder of the lost Space Shuttle that the center is named for.

Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

However, there followed a wait of more than an hour — longer than expected — while the crew awaited the inflation of a hexagonal raft called a "front porch". That would attach to a "stabilizing collar" around the capsule.

Credit: NASA screenshot

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After a significant delay, the astronauts all found themselves extracted and on the front porch — snug with a sizeable extraction team. The hexagon then floated free, awaiting astronaut extraction via helicopter.

Credit: NASA screenshot

The Artemis II Commander, Reid Wiseman, was the last to be airlifted from the floating hexagon.

Credit: Joel Kowsky / NASA

Finally, the helicopters returned with the astronauts to the deck of the USS John P Murtha — where Artemis II astronaut Christina Koch and pilot Vic Glover spotted the livestream camera, cheered and waved to viewers around the world.

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The NASA spacecraft carrying the four astronauts of Artemis II — Commander Reid Wiseman, 50, pilot Victor Glover, 49, Christina Koch, 47, and Jeremy Hansen, 50 — splashed down as planned off the coast of San Diego, California at 5:07pm Pacific time, in perfect weather. 

The safe return of the crew module, known during descent as Integrity, followed a nerve-wracking set of maneuvers during the mission's final half hour. 

Integrity had to separate from its service module, reorient itself for a "raise burn" that assisted reentry, and then had to weather an expected communications blackout of exactly six minutes as it reentered Earth's atmosphere.

Finally, a series of hair-raising parachute deployments concluded with the reveal of three iconic red and white parachutes.

On reaching the Pacific, the crew were reported as "green" — meaning all OK — and balloons deployed to help keep it afloat while Integrity powered down. The only snag, apparently, was was a non-working satellite phone.  

The astronauts remained in good spirits throughout the process, and had plenty of time to look around on the way down — and back up again.  

"The moon looks smaller than it did yesterday," Commander Wiseman noted to mission control some 23 minutes before splashdown. 

"Guess we'll just have to go back, then," responded Artemis II Chief Training Officer Jacki Mahaffey.  

The successful trip, which in looping around the moon went further from Earth than any humans have ever gone, was intended to prepare the hardware and the flight controllers for a moon landing in 2028, the first in more than a half-century. 

NASA also aims to use the moon to practice keeping humans alive in another world for extended periods before going to Mars. The U.S. also has an interest in landing on the moon again before China, which is close to achieving its own first human moon landing. 

Watch splashdown below, starting at about the 1 hour, 35 minute mark:

Elisha Sauers contributed to this report.

Once upon a time, streaming was considered a cheap alternative to cable. Now, depending on the services you subscribe to, "cheap" is hardly the word.

So far in 2026, several apps have undergone price increases, to the point where it's hard to keep up. That's where we come in. Here are the major streaming services that have hiked up their prices in 2026 so far.

Prime Video

In March, Amazon changed the pricing structure for Prime Video, downgrading its cheaper options and locking important features behind its premium tier. The basic cost of Amazon Prime is still $14.99 a month or $139 a year, but that tier now only has access to 1080p streams on Prime Video.

To see 4K Prime Video content, you now need to pony up an extra $4.99/mo for a new "Ultra" tier that also gets rid of ads. Prime Video Ultra also allows for more simultaneous streams and more downloads. But at a 33% premium to the regular price, is it worth it in this economy?

Paramount Plus

Back in January, Paramount Plus upped the prices of both its available tiers by an additional $1 per month.

The cheaper, ad-supported Essential tier is now $9 monthly or $90 annually (up from $60), while the ad-free Premium tier is now $14 monthly or $140 annually (up from $120).

Crunchyroll

Anime fans are not immune to price hikes, either. Crunchyroll, the biggest name in anime streaming, increased its prices in February. The cheapest Fan tier went from $7.99 to $9.99 per month, the middle Mega Fan tier went from $11.99 to $13.99, and the Ultimate Fan tier went from $15.99 to $17.99.

This was the service's first real price hike in years, and it didn't come without some perks: Users can now download content to watch offline, for one thing. Sadly, the free, ad-supported Crunchyroll tier was killed earlier this year — so if you want to watch the best in anime, you'll probably have to pay.

Spotify

Spotify increased the price of its Premium plan from $11.99 to $12.99 per month in February. The cheaper Student plan went from $5.99 to $6.99. Duo and Family plan users saw $2 hikes. The former went from $16.99 to $18.99 per month, while the latter jumped from $19.99 to $21.99.

Sling TV

Sling TV is the only service on this list that was explicitly supposed to replace cable. Unfortunately, it also became the victim of a price hike earlier this year. There are too many tiers and permutations of Sling to list here, but the TL;DR is that prices went up by $4 per month for many users.

YouTube Premium

Last but not least is YouTube Premium, lowkey one of the better investments you can make if you really, truly hate ads on YouTube. This service got a $2 a month price increase, going fro $13.99 to $15.99 in April.

Sadly, there don't seem to be any extra perks to go along with this price increase.

Many of us can't go anywhere without our smartphones, and neither do the astronauts aboard the Orion spacecraft.

The historic Artemis II mission sent four brave astronauts 248,655 miles away from Earth, a historic record — and the iPhone 17 Pro Max went with them. The Orion spacecraft, dubbed Integrity by its crew, is a marvel of engineering, but it's also home to some familiar terrestrial technology.

Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen brought all sorts of quirky items along with them to space (including at least one jar of Nutella). In addition to iPhones, the Artemis II crew is traveling with consumer gadgets from GoPro, Nikon, and Microsoft, all of which serve practical purposes aboard Orion.

The astronauts have been using the latest Apple flagship smartphone, the iPhone 17 Pro Max, to document life aboard Orion. They've sent back some unforgettable selfies with these smartphones.

NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft's main cabin windows Credit: NASA

In addition, the astronauts have been using two Nikon D5 DSLR camera bodies, along with a variety of lenses, batteries, and camera accessories. Taking photographs of the lunar surface was one of the most important scientific objectives of the Artemis II mission, and the Nikon cameras have been essential for that task. (We've been marveling over the photographs all week long.)

Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman, and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen configure their camera equipment. Credit: NASA

In addition, each of the astronauts is using a personal computing device, or a PCD. For this mission, the astronauts are using Microsoft Surface Pro tablets, for both important scientific work as well as more mundane tasks, like checking their email.

Finally, a variety of GoPro cameras are in use, both within the Orion cabin and on the exterior of the craft.

NASA documents state that the astronauts are using handheld GoPro action cameras to record the mission, and the footage will eventually appear in a Disney/NatGeo documentary.

In addition, specialized GoPro cameras have been installed on Orion's solar arrays.

A GoPro representative told Mashable that Artemis II astronauts are using HERO11 Black action cameras and a MAX1 360-degree camera onboard Orion. Outside the cabin, NASA placed modified HERO4 Black cameras on the solar arrays.

GoPro cameras have a reputation for durability, but these conditions are particularly extreme.

The Orion crew is scheduled to return to Earth on April 10, and the world has been following every step of the mission with bated breath.

Godspeed, Artemis II!

"Fetch" is never going to happen. But "moon joy" just might.

NASA began using the phrase "moon joy" all over its social media accounts as the Artemis II crew approached the moon this week. Now the agency has gone all in with a definition on the official NASA account on X, along with the ideal photo — its lunar adventurers looking adorably like the first fourple in space — leading into a video of moon joy moments.

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"The feeling of intense happiness and excitement that only comes from a mission to the moon" is how NASA defines moon joy (which sounds to us like it should be one word, but we'll wait for an official ruling from the AP Stylebook).

The phrase has been used several times throughout the Artemis II mission. The first use NASA posted was on Sunday, April 5: a clip of the mission control communicator calmly replying to a litany of excited identification of lunar locations from astronaut Reid Wiseman aboard Orion.

"Copy," mission control says with a chuckle. "Moon joy."

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One commenter on X called the phrase "the most perfectly understated response to astronauts losing their minds over seeing the moon up close for the first time." (Which calls to mind this classic 1969 moon landing story from the Onion — featuring a mission control transcript that seems closer to how the Apollo team would have expressed its moon joy if they hadn't been so professionally understated.)

NASA knew a good meme when it saw one. When the astronauts were woken up on Monday, mission control told them, "Our room is buzzing with moon joy." When the Artemis II astronauts viewed a solar eclipse that same day, it also qualified as moon joy — because the eclipse was one only they could see.

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Moon joy is infectious, it turns out — even reaching the astronauts aboard the International Space Station, according to a live NASA broadcast of a ship-to-ship call between Orion and the ISS.

"We can tell that you guys are definitely experiencing moon joy," Jessica Meir, commander of the ISS Crew-12 mission, told the Artemis II crew, "and I feel like even we are experiencing moon joy right now."

The ISS's moon joy manifested, according to Meir, in a particularly nerdy jape.

At the moment Orion set the new record for the farthest distance humans have ever traveled from Earth on Monday, her crew went to the far end of the station to claim that they were the farthest humans away from them at that moment — presumably since the ISS happened to be on the opposite side of the Earth at the time.

Even Rise, the official Artemis II mission mascot, got in on the moon joy meme on Wednesday, turning in the perfect made-for-Hollywood cute character catchphrase.

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Of course, NASA couldn't make moon joy happen all on its own. Luckily, back on Earth, moon joy is already a thing — because ironically, and unlike fetch in Mean Girls, it's not happening in a vacuum.

We noted the unusually unified, unabashedly earnest reactions to last week's Artemis II launch. That sense of wonder and delight has only grown, and #moonjoy has become the positive hashtag for an otherwise uniformly terrible year.

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How long moon joy lasts, and whether it stays with us for NASA's planned moon landing in 2028, is anyone's guess. But this week at least, it was a real and global thing — and that is, in itself, pretty fetch.

Elisha Sauers contributed to this report.

BookTokers, Bookstagramers, and the most passionate Kindle users across the internet are fuming this week. On April 7, Amazon notified affected users that the company would be discontinuing support on 13 devices, including nine Kindle e-readers.

Amazon already faces plenty of backlash in the book world. Last year, Amazon launched a massive book sale, which coincided with Independent Bookstore Day. This most recent news has left some Kindle users with a bad taste in their mouth, and now some readers are asking, "Should I switch to a Kobo?"

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While Kindle is the biggest name in e-readers, Kobos are climbing the ranks.

We've tried and loved both the Kobo Clara and Kobo Libra, and the devices are just as great as any Kindle. Kobo e-readers have features that Amazon abandoned in its Kindles, like page-turning buttons, plus seamless Libby integration. But if the decision to switch to a Kobo is driven out of worries that your current Kindle will eventually get bricked too, then a Kobo won't solve this problem.

Older tech being phased out is an unfortunate reality of our modern era. Unlike a Kitchenaid mixer, which doesn't require software updates to stay functional, a phone, computer, tablet, or e-reader always will. Unfortunately, with such frequent product releases, we're accustomed to a system of planned obsolescence. So, it feels revolutionary when Google announces a plan for automatic updates that makes Chromebooks last up to a decade.

And to be fair, it's impressive that Amazon devices that are at least 14 years old are still kicking it, which is a testament to the device's longevity. However, it's understandable if you want to switch to a Kobo. But our word of caution is to switch for the right reasons because it's highly probable Kobo e-readers will face the same bricked fate.

Why you shouldn't switch to a Kobo from a Kindle

If you want to switch to a Kobo from a Kindle because you think it won't be discontinued, I have bad news. Kobo also has a history of retiring devices and no longer supporting them with software updates. On the company's website, they have a list of products, including e-readers, that it no longer supports.

This is just the fate of any device requiring regular software updates.

Companies are also incentivized to do this because it means pushing users to buy a new device, even if it frustrates the customer. And let's clear up one misconception. While Kindles and Kobos are no longer supported with software updates, these past-gen devices can still run. (Our colleagues at PCMag have advice for holding onto older Kindles.) It may mean they can no longer access the internet; however, users should still have access to the library of books currently on the device, and they can add books by connecting it to a computer.

Something else to keep in mind with switching to a Kobo is that you won't be able to transfer over your library. Both Kindle and Kobo use DRM on books purchased in their respective stores, which means you can only read those files on that specific brand of e-reader. However, you can still revisit those books through the Kindle app. Some users even recommend buying a used Kindle if you do want to stick with the brand.

So, if you are making a pros and cons list, there are still plenty more reasons why you should switch to a Kobo.

Why you should switch to a Kobo from a Kindle

Kindle Scribe (left) and Kobo Libra Colour (right). Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

There are plenty of reasons to shop for a Kobo. Across the board, Kobo e-readers are just as speedy and user-friendly as any Kindle. They have an accessible user interface, but there are some slight differences, like how Kobo numbers their pages based on digital pages while Kindle numbers are based on the physical book.

Unless your Kindle library is entirely full of DRM-free EPUB files, you won't be able to access any book you've purchased in the Kindle library on your new Kobo e-reader. But if you can get over that, then there's plenty to look forward to with a Kobo.

Page-turning buttons

Older Kindle models have a coveted feature that the newest models don't: page-turning buttons. With models like the Kindle 5 no longer being supported and the Kindle Oasis discontinued, users don't have no longer have a new Kindle option to shop that includes page-turning buttons.

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If you want those buttons, look to the Kobo Libra Colour, which has two page-turning buttons on the side so you don't need to tap the touch screen. Those buttons also mean there's extra space to hold the device, for a really comfortable hold. The Kobo Libra Colour also has something that no Kindle does, an internal gyroscope, which means you can rotate the device to hold it with the opposite hand and the screen will automatically rotate.

A native remote

With just two buttons, the Kobo remote lets you turn the page forward and backward. Credit: Samantha Mangino / Mashable

For readers maximizing their reading nook with an e-reader stand, a remote makes it easy to turn the pages while keeping your hands warm under the blanket. Kobo is the first e-reader brand to come out with a remote to pair with their e-readers.

We've tested the Kobo remote, and it rocks, connecting via Bluetooth, and it's far better than any random remote you can find on Amazon to go with a Kindle.

Libby integration

Libby users with a Kindle will rejoice at an even more straightforward integration on Kobo e-readers. On a Kobo, you can login to your library card directly on your device and books you borrow through Libby/Overdrive automatically populate onto your device. The downside is that if you have multiple library cards you use on Libby, you can only log into one at a time on a Kobo e-reader.

Color at a cheaper price

Kindle has its own color e-readers, but Kobos are much cheaper.

The basic Kindle Colorsoft costs $199.99 while the comparable Kobo Clara Colour is just $159.99, which happens to be the same price as the Kindle Paperwhite. So if you're looking to upgrade to a color e-reader anyway, it's far more affordable to do so with a Kobo.

Apple is closing the doors on three retail locations in June, including the first store to win a unionized staff.

The employees of the Apple store in Towson, Maryland, north of Baltimore, voted to unionize with the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers (IAM) in 2022. The union is organized with the Coalition of Organized Retail Employees (CORE).

A second Apple store in Oklahoma City voted to unionize shortly after Townson's historic action. Despite the forward momentum, other Apple unionization efforts have petered out under mounting pressure from the company, CNBC reports.

Towson employees were notified of the closure in a Thursday morning staff call. The group ratified its first contract with Apple in 2024, set to expire in 2027. According to union representatives, Apple has said they are prevented from relocating employees under the union's Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), but encouraged them to apply for other open positions. Apple employees at the two other locations set to close — Apple North County, in Escondido, California, and Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut — will be moved to nearby stores.

IAM said Apple's claims about its inability to relocate employees at the Maryland store are false, and alleges the closure is "a cynical attempt to bust the union."

Apple says "declining conditions" in local shopping corridors, including the departure of retailers from the Townson Town Center mall, and a shift away from mall locations, prompted the closures.

In a statement following the announcement, IAM representatives wrote: "The IAM Union is outraged by Apple's decision to close its Towson, Md., store — the first unionized U.S. Apple retail location — and abandon both its workers and a community that relies on it for critical services and its unique access to public transit."

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Apple workers and union across the country have been organizing a movement to unionize retail staff, including salespeople and Genius bar staff, for several years.

About half of young people ages 14-29 are now using artificial intelligence every day or week, and yet just 15 percent of them see AI as a net positive for society. And you don't have to go far in the tech world to encounter AI doomers warning about the dire risks of AI run amok.

Indeed, such doom and gloom can be hard to avoid when the headlines constantly remind us that our world is heating up, drying up, and blowing up. And that's what makes the new Focus Features documentary, The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, such a head-scratcher. The movie is a call to action, not just to regulate artificial intelligence so it can be harnessed for good, but a call to arms for optimists (and aspiring optimists like myself).

The AI Doc was produced by Everything Everywhere All At Once co-director Daniel Kwan and directed by filmmakers Daniel Roher and Charlie Tyrell. Roher, who won the Oscar for his 2022 documentary Navalny, is the emotional anchor of the movie, and he urged me to resist the siren call of cynicism around AI.

"[Cynicism] is, frankly, easy," he said. "Very, very easy. And it's kind of like the low-hanging knee-jerk reaction to something. You'll realize that it’s actually the only wrong answer to this."

In the documentary, the Oscar-winning director learns that his wife is pregnant just as he begins a good and proper AI doom spiral. So, he takes us along for the ride as he explores the dangers of AI, both real and imagined. He even talks to the "final bosses" of the AI problem — the handful of men sitting atop the AI industry — OpenAI's Sam Altman (or is it Sam Altman’s OpenAI?), Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, and Anthropic's Dario Amodei.

Roher spoke with me by phone after the movie's release, where he confronted me about my own cynicism around artificial intelligence. We also talked about how AI is being used in Hollywood, the ongoing copyright battles between artists, filmmakers, and the AI industry, and whether AGI is really as imminent as it seems.

As a tech editor, I get whiplash covering AI. I talk to tech people, who talk about AI like it's the greatest thing in the world — it’s going to solve all our problems and change the world. And then I talk to artists and reporters, who tell me it's a scam, it's just destroying the [environment]. Have you experienced the same thing as a creative who talks to a lot of tech people?

Daniel Roher: I think that's a good way to articulate it. If you talk to one set of people, and they tell you one thing, and then talk to another set of people, and they tell you the polar opposite. And the particularly complicated component is that both people are incredibly intelligent and thoughtful and well read and well researched, and so it's sort of like looking at two truths at the same time and trying to decipher it and figure out how to reconcile that reality.

I imagine one tough thing about making an AI documentary is the pace of change in this space. For the first time, we're really seeing AI used in a war capacity. I'm just curious how your thinking has evolved since the movie wrapped?

I'm just becoming more and more concerned. Obviously, the documentary is about how scared I was, and I think now, as I'm seeing some of the [dangers] discussed in the documentary [happen]...like AI being used in conflicts. It's just very concerning and very scary. 

And you've seen red lines drawn in the sand by some companies, while others blow through them. I'm particularly speaking to Anthropic and the very reasonable red lines that they drew down with the Pentagon and what was comfortable for them, gaining the public support of most people in the world, including Sam Altman and OpenAI, only to be then designated a supply chain risk and have Sam Altman swoop in and and, you know, make his own deal with the Pentagon. 

That type of, I don't know if you want to call it bad faith dealing, is pretty Machiavellian, and it's scary.

Yeah, and it kind of lines up with Sam Altman's reputation. His reputation is a bit Machiavellian. There have been accusations, I know, by former employees and board members that he's... I've heard the word "two-faced." What was your impression of Altman? Did it seem like he had a good grasp of the seriousness of the risks here?

I guess, although if he really did, I think he'd be doing more to work with his colleagues to try and create safety precautions and common-sense safety measures, which he's not doing. So perhaps not. 

But Sam Altman is someone who has a sort of air of someone who came out of the womb wearing his turtleneck and running shoes, ready to give his keynote address at Davos. Like, that's his energy, which is a vibe, you know? I would say that he and I didn't hit it off. Before that, I found him to be just media-trained up the wazoo. Not a particularly genuine person.

Co-director Daniel Roher appears in 'The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist.' Credit: Focus Features

The documentary did a really good job of laying out how, basically, our entire global economy is being rearranged around this arms race for AGI. All the biggest tech players in the world, the financial powers, they're all pouring resources into this race to be the first one to achieve AGI. And I guess one of the questions I have is, what happens if AGI isn't possible? What if AGI turns out to be a mirage? 

Well, how do you define AGI?

I would say, AI that's capable of replacing the average worker. Smart enough that it can do the average laptop job, the average manufacturing job, pretty much out of the box. 

By that metric, we have already achieved AGI. No debate.

I mean, I'm only going by the box you draw on the floor, and based on your explanation, certainly we've achieved AGI. Certainly, AI can write your article, and certainly AI can interview me, and certainly AI can write a movie, and certainly AI can drive a truck. It's just a question of the bureaucracies of our world being slow to incorporate these systems. But I think, by your definition, we have reached it. And anyone who says that it's not possible, or that this will plateau, that has not been my experience, just observing reality around me.

I don't know that it's quite all the way there. I think it still needs quite a bit of babysitting, from what I've seen. But maybe that's a bit of denialism on my part. 

For me, artificial general intelligence is an AI system that can do a wide variety of tasks at a level superior to that of an individual. So that is not limited to just, you know, coding or writing an essay. Anything, it can do better than you, not just one category. That's what I understand AGI to be. 

Without some sort of consensus on what we're talking about, it's hard to focus the discussion. And that's just a challenge with this, and how fast it's moving, and the fact that there are no clearly defined goalposts of what we're even talking about.

As you've gotten further into fatherhood, have your feelings on AI changed?

I would have typically described myself as quite a cynical, perhaps a denialistic person. I would have, you know, five years ago, said, "Oh yeah, this is gonna be terrible. There's nothing we can do in the face of this." And I don't feel that way now. I feel like the worst thing you can do is be cynical. And I think my perspective, geared towards optimism and collective action, is framed through the lens of fatherhood. It's irresponsible to be a parent and to be nihilistic or cynical, and that's why I really try and focus on what we can do, what I can do, and what you can do, what we can all do.

What are one or two things someone can do if they’re worried about AI?

Educate yourself. Use the software. Understand what they're capable of. Think critically about what you want to use these for, [and] what you don't want to use them for. That's really, really, really important. 

And then the other thing is to evaluate what we call your sphere of influence. If you're a single mom, if you're a truck driver, if you're a teacher, if you're a dog walker, if you're a filmmaker, or a politician or so on and so forth, you have power in your life, some smaller than others, but you have power nonetheless, even if it's just calling someone and talking to them about this, telling them what you've learned and how you're feeling about it, trying to explain to someone the value of collective action and being a a participant in finding a solution here. Because it'll take all of us. 

Five, 10 years ago, that would have sounded like corny, [politically correct] woo-woo, Kumbaya bullshit to me, but there is no other choice. 

So I very much believe in the power of collective action. And then there are basic political pressures that we can do. What political party, what candidates are on the right side of this issue, who is advocating for common sense, regulations, and guardrails to ensure that this technology doesn't consume us, but we still have power over our own future?

Those are a few things that might not seem satisfying to people, but it's not as easy as, like, change your light bulbs, you know, drive your car less, take the train instead of flying. It's more challenging.

Among many artists and many progressive people in general, there's a real intense resistance to using AI or to allowing AI to become normalized. For example, whenever we hear about AI being used in the process of making a video game, there are calls to boycott that game. Are you seeing that among other filmmakers or artists as well?

Yeah, sure, and that's their prerogative. This shit is fucking scary. I get it. I get why people are freaked out, why they don't want to use it, and why they want to boycott. But it's also the plain reality that it's here and it's not going anywhere. 

And so what I'm more interested in is figuring out how we can be creative beings alongside this thing, right? And what do I do that this thing cannot do, because I believe that my unique lived experience on Earth is just a different category of existence than this obtuse, oblique computer God thing that we're building that is just trained off of all of our regurgitated knowledge and stuff. I believe my lived experience is unique. That's the biggest thing. 

And then beyond that, I'm also very mindful of when it comes to using AI to create art — how is this empowering me versus how is it replacing me? And if it's empowering me in a meaningful way, then I'm like, "Cool, great." If it's going to replace me, I'm like, "No thank you." And it's also the paradox, and the reality is that the same thing that empowers me can also replace me, and that's why it takes all of us to sort of stand up and say, "You know what? We don't want to use it for this. I don't want to play a video game that was made by an AI, or I don't want to watch a film that was shot out by a computer. No, thank you. I appreciate the artist's hand."

Maybe that's naive, but that's just my opinion, as someone who is an artist who makes stuff as my vocation and reason for existing.

I've found some people take a very, very hard line that if there’s any involvement of AI, I won't engage with it at all. And I wonder sometimes if those people are kind of alienating themselves from the larger conversations that need to happen.

I don't disregard that position. I understand why people feel that way. My position is, this is fucking terrifying. Like, this is actually really scary. And I know most of my creative friends who have had the experience of using Sora or looking at ChatGPT and being like, "Oh, look, the thing that I've been training my whole life to do no longer has any value. So what the fuck do I do with that?" That, in and of itself, is scary, and it seems like a very natural reaction for people to be like, "No, fuck that. No, thank you. Not for me."

You know, is that healthy in the grand scheme? Probably not. But as I said earlier, my position is that this isn't going anywhere, and it's just a question of how we can coexist and co-evolve with this technology in a way that is empowering and not depleting.

I also wanted to quickly ask about the copyright issue. I interviewed the CEO of a major AI video company, Luma AI, and he basically said, anything we train on is [fair use]. You know, we're going to train on whatever we want. But if the output looks like copyrighted, protected material, that's a problem, and that's where we draw the line. 

Do you get a sense that that's kind of a losing battle, that ultimately AI companies are going to do what they want?

The guy who has a financial vested interest is saying that he's gonna train his model on what the fuck he wants? It's kind of like the guy who runs the tobacco company saying that, you know, smoking is good for you. Everyone should have a cigarette, and if you say differently, fuck you. And to that, I'm like, "Dude, go fuck yourself." Language like “the battle's already been lost”? And it's like, dude, relax. The battle hasn't already been lost. 

This is just a unique challenge of 25th-century technology that's crash-landed into the 21st century, being regulated by legislative processes forged in the 17-fucking-hundreds. And court cases take a long time, but I think, at the end of the day, the book is still very much open on whether the IP battle has been won or lost.

So, yeah, for the tech CEO to be like, you know, "Fuck you, I will come for your shit." My response is, "Fuck you back. No, you're not." And I applaud media outlets like the New York Times, which are standing up for their material and doing the very, very good public work of fighting companies in court. And this is what I'm talking about, as a collective action. There has been a tangible pushback against the overreach of these AI companies. I feel it. I sense it in the ether. People are scared. People are pushing back. People are saying, "No, thank you," and I'm inspired by that.

[Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.]

I think that speaks to the doomer in me. I have the skeptic, the cynicism, in myself as well. 

I don't know what your life is like, but I hope for you that you get to experience having kids, because it rocks, it's just so fun. And maybe you're not a person who wants to do that in your life, and that's fine, too. But I hope that your main character arc is that, one day, you have a family and you understand viscerally that the cynicism you're speaking to is, frankly, easy. Very, very easy. And it's kind of like the low-hanging knee-jerk reaction to something. You'll realize that it’s actually the only wrong answer to this.

Visit The AI Doc Get Involved website for more information. You can catch The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist in theaters now.

Some of the quotes in this story have been lightly edited for clarity and grammar.

After 10 days circling the Earth, the moon, and breaking records in deep space, the Artemis II crew is about to make one final, fiery plunge back to Earth.

This four-person crew made history on April 6, when Orion reached 248,655 miles from Earth, the farthest any human has ever traveled in space, surpassing Apollo 13's record. Now, U.S. Navy teams stationed near San Diego are ready to bring them safely home.

If you don't want to miss the Artemis II return, then tune in to the NASA livestream on Friday. That's when Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen are expected to splash down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego at approximately 5:07 p.m. PT (8:07 p.m. ET).

You have tons of options for watching the livestream, and even streamers like Prime Video and Netflix are getting in on the action. However, YouTube is probably your best bet.

When to start watching

NASA+ coverage kicks off at 3:30 p.m. PT, about 90 minutes before splashdown. But the action really heats up, literally, around 4:53 p.m. PT, when the Orion spacecraft hits entry interface, and the capsule begins its scorching journey through Earth's atmosphere, where it will reach roughly 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

After the Artemis II recovery, NASA will hold a post-splashdown news conference at 7:30 p.m. PT at Johnson Space Center.

How to watch Artemis II reentry

You can stream the Artemis II return free on NASA+ at plus.nasa.gov or on NASA's YouTube channel. NASA has also been providing continuous coverage of Artemis II throughout the 10-day mission, including real-time commentary. A separate livestream of the splashdown will start up at 3:30 p.m. PT (6:30 p.m. ET).

More ways to watch live

If you'd rather watch the conclusion of the mission live on your TV without downloading any new apps, several streaming services you probably already have will be livestreaming the landing.

Prime Video, as well as Netflix, Peacock, HBO Max, and Apple TV will all host the NASA stream on their platforms, beginning at 3:30 p.m. PT.

Want more science and tech news delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for Mashable's Light Speed newsletter today.

So, you missed out on tickets to see BTS's long-awaited return. It sucks.

The ARIRANG world tour, the Bangtan Boys' first tour together in four years, will hit 34 cities across the world, starting with Goyang, Korea on April 9 — and at this point, almost every one of the 82 shows with tickets on sale is either sold out or on last seats. But there's good news, ARMY!

BTS will be livestreaming two of their concerts in cinemas. Here's everything you need to know about the BTS World Tour Arirang Live Viewing.

When is the BTS World Tour Arirang Live Viewing?

Over two Saturdays, April 11 and 18, BTS will bring their ARIRANG world tour concerts to movie theaters.

It's a collab between HYBE, BigHit Music, and Trafalgar Releasing, who did the same thing with Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour. All seven members of BTS — RM, Jin, SUGA, j-hope, Jimin, V, and Jung Kook — will perform songs from BTS's fifth studio album, ARIRANG, as well as that colossal BTS catalogue.

Times will vary across time zones, so check the official website for your session times.

How to watch the BTS World Tour Arirang Live Viewing

Tickets for the BTS World Tour Arirang Live Viewing are available from the official website and ticket sellers such as Fandango.

Just find your nearest cinemas by filtering locations and pick your time slot. Prices will vary across countries.

Wait, didn't BTS already do a livestreamed concert?

They sure did, but that was a special event for Netflix marking the band's first performance together in four years. That was also when poor RM injured his ankle during rehearsal and performed seated or behind the slickest mic I've ever seen.

BTS The Comeback Live: Arirang is now streaming on Netflix, so if you've got a Netflix account, you can watch the set from Gwanghwamun, outside Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace, which includes BTS's first-ever live performances of songs from Arirang.

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Credit: BTS

Attend BTS World Tour Arirang Live Viewing

 

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The best Home Depot Spring Black Friday Sale deals at a glance:

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Best cordless power tool deal

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit

$369 (save $160)

Get Deal

---

Best outdoor equipment deal

DeWalt 4000 PSI 3.5 GPM Gas Pressure Washer

$759 (save $190)

Get Deal

---

Best grill deal

Weber Spirit E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill

$399 (save $50)

Get Deal

---

Best garden deal

Miracle-Gro All-Purpose Garden Soil (0.75 cu. ft.)

$2 (save $2.57)

Get Deal

---

Best hand tool deal

Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE 3/8 in. Drive Deep Well 6 Point Impact Socket Set (12-Piece)

$49.97 (save $35)

Get Deal

Spring has officially sprung, and Home Depot is welcoming the start of the season with a 14-day Spring Black Friday sale. ("Black Friday" isn't going to mean a thing if we keep getting spring iterations, Prime Days 1 and 2, and early access events, but we love a good deal, so we'll let it slide.)

While the OG Black Friday is great for snagging affordable TVs, laptops, and other electronics, Home Depot's Spring Black Friday sale is for anyone who wants to transform their flowerbeds or backyard from the sad, brown mess winter left behind into a personal getaway you can actually enjoy after work.

When is the Home Depot's Spring Black Friday Sale?

The Home Depot sale officially kicked off on Thursday, April 9, and it will run through April 22, 2026. The retailer's been following a similar timeline since the early 2010s with an annual spring savings event.

What to expect during Home Depot's Spring Black Friday Sale

We're going to be updating this page with all of the best markdowns throughout the sale, but here's a look at the categories Home Depot says will be highlighted.

• Lawn and garden: It's time to prep the yard. Expect price cuts on outdoor power equipment, plants, flowers, mulch, and weed and grass killer.

• Backyard hosting: Everything you need for summer parties will be on sale, including patio furniture, dining sets, composite decking, and grills.

• Home upgrades: If you've been holding out on a renovation, look for deals on paint, faucets, flooring, toilets, fencing, and major appliances (including refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and washers/dryers).

• Storage solutions: Get your garage organized with discounted tool bags, storage shelves, and boxes. Pros can also expect bulk price savings on essentials like tools, pipes, and water heaters.

What brands will be discounted during the Spring Black Friday Sale?

As for brands, the Home Depot isn't holding back. We expect to see major price drops from popular heavy hitters, including DeWalt, Milwaukee, Ryobi, Traeger, Weber, Nexgrill, Trex, Rigid, GE Appliances, Samsung, LG, Whirlpool, Vissani, Frigidaire, and StyleWell throughout the savings event.

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Credit: Home Depot

Shop Home Depot's Spring Black Friday sale

 

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The best deals to shop in the Home Depot Spring Black Friday Sale

The sale is now live in stores and online, so grab your spring shopping list and get ready to dive in. We've rounded up some of the best deals we've seen so far and will keep an eye out throughout the next two weeks for any new deals you should know about. So be sure to check back!

Psst: Home Depot will also price-match its products to other retailers, so keep your head on a swivel if you find the same product for cheaper elsewhere.

The best cordless power tool deal

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Credit: Ryobi

Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit

$369 at The Home Depot
$529 Save $160

 

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Why we like it

Ryobi is known for its affordable, beginner-friendly power tools, but this deal really takes things to the next level. For only $369 (30% off its usual cost), you'll get eight cordless power tools, three batteries, a charger, and two tool bags. Among those tools is a drill/driver, impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, and more. I personally own the Ryobi ONE+ drill and can confirm that it's incredibly user-friendly for DIY projects and more — and I'm a complete power tool novice.

More deals on cordless power tools

DeWalt

• DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless 1/2 in. Drill/Driver with 2 20V 1.3Ah Batteries, Charger, and Bag — $99 $179 (save $80)

• DeWalt 20V MAX Cordless Drill/Impact 2-Tool Combo Kit with 2 20V 1.3Ah Batteries — $139 $239 (save $100)

• DeWalt FLEXVOLT 20V/60V MAX Lithium-Ion 6.0Ah Battery Pack (2 Pack) — $199 $299 (save $100)

• DeWalt 20V Lithium-Ion Cordless 5-Tool Combo Kit with 2 5.0 Ah Battery Packs — $599 $949 (save $350)

Milwaukee

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit — $409 $609 (save $200)

• Milwaukee M18 18V Lithium-Ion Cordless 9-Tool Combo Kit — $649 $1,099 (save $450)

• Get a free Milwaukee M18 18V Litihum-Ion 6.0 Ah Battery with select M18 tools

• Buy More, Save More on select Milwaukee products — (spend $350, save $80; spend $600, save $180; spend $800, save $280; spend $1,000, save $400)

Ryobi

• Ryobi ONE+ 18V Compression Drive Cordless 3/8 in. Crown Stapler — $69.97 $89 (save $29.03)

• Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series 7-1/2 in. Fan Kit — $89 $139 (save $50)

• Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Lithium-Ion 6.0 Ah Battery (2-Pack) — $139 $278 (save $139)

• Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless Cordless 1/2 in. Hammer Drill Kit — $149 $179 (save $30)

• Ryobi ONE+ 18V 18-Gauge Cordless AirStrike Brad Nailer — $149 $238 (save $89) + get free ONE+ 18V 2.0 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery

The best outdoor equipment deal

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Credit: DeWalt

DeWalt 4000 PSI 3.5 GPM Gas Pressure Washer

$759 at The Home Depot
$949 Save $190

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

Anyone looking to spring clean the outside of their home and beyond — from the siding to the deck to the dock — should check out this deal on a DeWalt pressure washer. Typically close to $1,000, this Spring Black Friday deal drops it to just $759. It packs 4000 PSI for professional-grade cleaning, includes a 50-foot hose, a triplex pump, five QX nozzles, and a heavy-duty welded steel frame.

More deals on outdoor equipment

DeWalt

• DeWalt 20V MAX 8in. Brushless Cordless Pole Saw — $169 $199 (save $30)

• DeWalt 20V MAX Brushless Cordless Blower Kit — $189 $239 (save $50)

Milwaukee

• Milwaukee M18 18V Brushless Cordless String Trimmer and M18 Brushless 120 MPH 450 CFM Blower — $299 $378 (save $79)

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V 16-inch Brushless Cordless Quik-Lok String Trimmer with Edger attachment — $349 $499 (save $150)

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 16-inch 18V Chainsaw Kit — $399 $499 (save $100)

• Milwaukee M18 FUEL 21-inch Self-Propelled Dual Battery Mower Kit — $999 $1,199 (save $200)

Ryobi

• Ryobi 2100 PSI 1.2 GPM Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer — $199 $228.97 (save $29.97) + free 12-inch Surface Cleaner

• Ryobi ONE+ HP 18V Brushless 15 in. String Trimmer with Brush-Cutter attachment — $219 $298 (save $79)

• Ryoybi 40V HP Brushless 16 in. Battery Chainsaw — $239 $299 (save $60)

• Ryobi 3000 PSI 1.1 GPM Cold Water Electric Pressure Washer — $429 $508.97 (save $79.97) + free 12-inch Surface Cleaner

• Ryobi 40V HP Battery Self-Propelled Lawn Mower with 2 6.0 Ah Batteries and Charger — $589 $639 (save $50)

The best grill deals

• Royal Gourmet Portable Tabletop Propane Gas Grill — $75.99 $139.99 (save $64)

• Nexgrill 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Nexgrill Daytona 2-Burner Propane Gas Flat Top Griddle — $199 $249 (save $50)

• Char-Griller Smokin' Champ Charcoal Grill Offset Smoker — $209 $299 (save $90)

• Coleman RoadTrip 285-Standup Portable Propane Gas Grill with Grill Plus Griddle Bundle — $289 $324.99 (save $35.99)

• Nexgrill Daytona 4-Burner Propane Gas Grill 36 in. Flat Top Griddle — $299 $399.77 (save $100.77)

• Weber Spirit E-210 2-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $399 $449 (save $50)

• Weber Spirit E-325 3-Burner Propane Gas Grill — $499 $549 (save $50)

• Weber Genesis E-315 3-Burner Liquid Propane Gas Grill — $799 $899 (save $100)

The best hand tool deals

• Ryobi Screwdriver Set (12-piece) — $14.97 $23.93 (save $8.96)

• Milwaukee FASTBACK 5-in-1 Folding Knife — $19.97 $26.97 (save $7)

• Ryobi 1/4 in. Drive Ratchet and Socket Set (26-piece) — $19.97 $29.97 (save $10)

• DeWalt 1/2 in. Drive SAE Deep Impact Socket Set (7-Piece) — $29.99 $43.99 (save $14)

• Milwaukee SHOCKWAVE 3/8 in. Drive Deep Well 6 Point Impact Socket Set (12-Piece) — $49.97 $84.97 (save $35)

• GearWrench 1/4 in., 3/8 in., and 1/2 in. Drive SAE/Metric Master Hex and Torx Bit Socket Set (84-Piece) — $119 $214.99 (save $95.99)

More Home Depot Spring Black Friday deals

• Up to 25% off patio sets (online only)

• Up to $350 off patio dining sets (online only)

• Up to 20% off outdoor plants

• Up to 30% off planters

• Up to 30% off landscaping supplies

• Up to 40% off home appliances

For years, the Signal messaging app has been a favorite for privacy-minded folks. However, it's not perfect.

404 Media reported this week that the FBI was able to read a suspect's Signal messages, which should not normally be possible. Signal messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning only the sender and receiver should be able to read them. They also disappear over time, so as not to leave a trace. In this case, the user had also deleted the app off of their phone.

So, how did the FBI see the messages? By reportedly extracting them from an iPhone's push notification database, of course. If messages are displayed in a push notification, that technically skirts the whole encryption problem, making it possible for a third party to read them. This is true of any app with push notifications, not just Signal.

Thankfully, per our friends at Lifehacker, there's an easy way to get around this.

Credit: Mashable / Signal screenshots

Signal has an internal setting that can be accessed in the app's Settings menu (tap your profile picture in the top left corner). Tap the "Notification" section, then "Notification Content." Then, choose "No Name or Content" to make it so push notifications do not show any specific information about messages you've received.

You'll still get a notification, but you'll have to actually open the app to see what the message said, and the FBI won't be able to take advantage of that loophole anymore.

That seems like something that should maybe be on by default, to be honest.

Samsung's next bundle of foldable devices may have just gotten a launch date.

A new report by the Korea Economic Times (via 9to5google) claims that Samsung will hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event in London on July 22.

Galaxy Unpacked is Samsung's regular series of product announcement livestreams, usually devoted to flagship mobile devices. There's usually a Galaxy Unpacked event early in the year and another in the summer; the early one happened in February, and now it seems the later one will happen near the end of July, if this report is correct.

As for which devices will make their debut in July, expect a lot of foldables.

Korea Economic Times reports that Samsung will launch a follow-up to last year's excellent Galaxy Z Fold 7 (most likely called Galaxy Z Fold 8), as well as a new, persistently rumored "Wide Fold" that could compete with the still-unannounced iPhone Fold. While this report didn't mention the Z Flip line, it would be a major surprise if the company doesn't release a Galazy Z Flip 8, too. Samsung has also launched Galaxy Watch models during summer Unpacked events, so keep an eye out for those, too.

One other potentially interesting nugget: Samsung will apparently showcase S Pen support for at least one of these new devices, though it's not entirely clear which one, based on the report. It would obviously make sense for the Wide Fold, given the theoretically larger size of the inner display, but we'll have to wait and see.

While the tech world waits with bated breath for the iPhone Fold, it's worth noting that Samsung's foldables have become truly high-quality devices in recent years. The Galaxy Z Fold 7, in particular, is still probably the best foldable you can buy right now, in part thanks to its impressively thin form factor. Hopefully, Samsung can keep up that momentum in 2026 for Android users.

SAVE $302: As of April 10, the Hisense 55-inch Canvas QLED 4K TV is down to only $697.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 30% or over $300. If you prefer not to shop at Amazon, it's also on sale for $699.99 at Best Buy.

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Credit: Hisense

Hisense 55-inch Canvas S7N QLED 4K TV

$697.99 at Amazon
$999.99 Save $302

 

Get Deal

If you have Samsung The Frame TV taste, but not quite a Frame TV budget, Hisense's Canvas TV is an excellent alternative. Like The Frame, it turns a basic black box into stylish artwork that hangs on your wall. But instead of paying over $1,000, you can add it to your cart for under $700.

As of April 10, the 55-inch version of the Hisense Canvas TV is down to just $697.99 at Amazon for a savings of 30% or $302. While that's not quite its best price ever, it's still a pretty significant discount we think is worth grabbing. If you're anti-Amazon, you can grab the same TV at Best Buy for just $2 more.

The Canvas TV blends seamlessly into a gallery wall with other non-tech wall hangings, thanks to its matte finish and its ultra-slim wall mount that lies flush for a true framed art look. As a QLED model with real-time adaptive brightness and color temperature, it's also just a bright and brilliant looking TV, no matter what lighting conditions you're working with.

It features a variable refresh rate up to 144Hz, which is surprisingly good for smooth and tear-free gaming, as well as live sports. And unlike The Frame, it uses Google TV's interface, which Mashable's Miller Kern (a satisfied Canvas TV owner) says is much more intuitive and responsive than the Samsung interface.

If you hate the look of a clunky black box in your living room, the Canvas TV offers an aesthetic upgrade. And if you act fast, you can make the change without overpaying.

SAVE 30% OFF: As of April 10, get the video game 'Exit 8' for just $2.79 on Steam. That takes 30% off its $3.99 list price, saving you $1.20. This deal comes just in time for the game's movie adaptation release.

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Credit: Kotake Create

'Exit 8'

$2.79 at Steam
$3.99 Save $1.20

 

Get Deal

Even if you're not a gamer, you've probably consumed a video game one way or another. Video games adaptations like The Last of Us, Five Nights at Freddy's, and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie are all the rage, but even indie games are being adapted too. The latest is Exit 8, made by Kotake Create, now adapted into a feature film, and it's out today, April 10.

The single-player walking simulation traps players in an endless underground passageway as you try and make your way to the elusive Exit 8. Players are only given the instructions: "Don't overlook any anomalies. If you find anomalies, turn back immediately. If you don't find anomalies, do not turn back. To go out from Exit 8."

Mashable's Shannon Connellan reviewed Exit 8 calling it, "At once a masterpiece of game-to-film adaptation, an elegant, nail-biting horror-thriller, and a technical cinematic marvel." However, if you want to play the game before you see the movie (maybe it'll give you a leg up on the jump scares) there's a limited time deal to check out.

As of April 10, Exit 8 is just $2.79 on Steam. That saves you 30% off its already affordable $3.99 price tag — way cheaper than a movie ticket. The game itself is a quick play through with Steam estimating total playtime is between 15 and 60 minutes. That means in no time, you'll be ready to head to the theater to catch the film adaptation.

SpaceX's Starlink might get cheaper and faster thanks to a set of new rules, but not everyone is happy about them.

On Apr. 30, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is voting on an order (via PCMag) that will change how older, geostationary satellite systems share radio spectrum with low-Earth orbit constellations (such as Starlink).

Per current rules, the amount of energy satellite systems can transmit to and from ground equipment is pretty limited for low-Earth orbit systems, in order to protect the higher-orbiting systems. But the new proposal will loosen these rules and let the operators of various satellite systems reach private agreements on how they share radio spectrum.

This would enable Starlink and similar systems to use more satellites in a geographic area, resulting in faster internet speeds there. Conversely, an operator would be able to use a higher power level per satellite, thus delivering the same internet speeds with fewer satellites in a given area, which could reduce costs.

SpaceX, whose Starlink is actually mentioned in a footnote of the text, lobbied for this change, which led the FCC to consider changing these rules. Both SpaceX's Starlink and Amazon's Leo systems have already received a temporary approval to exceed the current power limits, but the new proposal, if approved, would make this permanent.

Not everyone is happy about the proposal, though. For example, satellite TV company DirecTV previously said its service could face disruptions if SpaceX is allowed to increase Starlink radio emission levels.

The full text of the document is available on the FCC website.

They say don't meet your heroes, and the new-to-Broadway stage play starring Aya Cash (You're the Worst, The Boys) shows why.

Written by Mark Rosenblatt, Giant stars John Lithgow as Roald Dahl. The British children's book author is best known for such beloved stories as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda. This play, however, addresses how the reception of that work shifts as Dahl expresses antisemitism in other published works and interviews in 1983. When his caustic comments cause public outcry, it's up to an American publisher named Jessie Stone (Cash) to manage this bullying "giant" so the scandal won't hurt the sales of his next book, The Witches. As big an admirer as Jessie is of his work, she is shocked by Dahl's viciousness and politics. And Cash proves a compelling, resilient scene partner to a rampaging Lithgow.

Cash came by the Say More studio to talk about Giant, which made the leap from the West End to Broadway this spring. The play deals not only with the specifics of Dahl but also with broader questions about art versus the artist, cancel culture, and more. With Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, Cash spoke about how she struggles with such questions in her own life. In the full interview, on YouTube, she also talks about what drives her as an actor, her work on Giant and The Boys, and the silliest bit of playing a superhero on the upcoming prequel spinoff series Vought Rising, in which she'll reprise the role of Stormfront.

Giant is now on Broadway.

The Boys Season 5 is now on Prime Video, with a new episode every Wednesday.

Vought Rising's release is currently TBD.

If you've ever felt like a lab rat in a hellish maze when trying to exit a subway station, you need to watch Exit 8.

Based on (and almost identically replicating) Kotake Create's acclaimed 2023 game, director Genki Kawamura's adaptation is a staggeringly meticulous piece of cinema. Fans of the game will be shocked to see those signature hallways come to life; newcomers will get to experience the maddening escape room for the first time.

At once a masterpiece of game-to-film adaptation, an elegant, nail-biting horror-thriller, and a technical cinematic marvel, Exit 8 locks you in and leaves you to flail. You'll never see your commute the same way.

What is Exit 8 about?

Kazunari Ninomiya and Naru Asanuma in "Exit 8." Credit: Neon

To call Kotake Create's game The Exit 8 a walking simulator is an understatement. This masterpiece of environmental storytelling is essentially a nightmarish spot-the-difference experience that ties players in knots when it's not leaving them terrified. Like a Möbius strip, Exit 8 sends you into a seemingly endless loop, walking the same mundane yet unsettling subway hallway beneath Tokyo again and again, with the only chance of escape a mysterious set of instructions: If you find anomalies, turn around immediately. If you don’t find anomalies, do not turn back.

Kawamura and co-writer Kentaro Hirase expand this puzzle into three acts, installing a compelling protagonist, exploring other characters (including an outstanding performance by Yamato Kōchi as The Walking Man), and adding a running theme of fatherhood. We meet an unnamed man (an exceptional Kazunari Ninomiya) on his way to his temp job in the Tokyo subway. He's crammed into a train carriage with thousands of other silent commuters, all glued to their phones in a deeply familiar image. When an upsetting confrontation occurs, he simply turns up the volume and zones out, the bystander effect in full force. He takes a rattling call from his ex (Nana Komatsu). When he tries to leave the station, he finds himself trapped in a mysterious looping hallway, tasked with facing (and identifying) chilling oddities — a door ajar, the sound of suddenly nearby footsteps, a disturbingly exaggerated smile.

While a seemingly simple concept, the themes running through this labyrinth are complex, from the drudgery of the nine-to-five to the weight of major life decisions to the concept of limbo. What is this place? An Escher experiment? A modern version of Dante's Nine Circles of Hell? Kawamura will leave you frantically searching for meaning as you search for aberrations on the screen.

Exit 8 is a masterpiece of filmmaking, from production design to cinematography

It's perfect. Credit: Neon

The first time our "Lost Man" rounds the corner into Exit 8's all-important hallway, my jaw hit the floor. Production designer Ryo Sugimoto, set designer Yutaka Motegi, lighting designer Tatsuya Hirayama, and set decorator Yutaka Motegi have perfectly recreated Kotake Create's generic subway setting to down to the very last detail, from the graphic design to the stark lighting and those cruel white tiles. It's a magnificent feat, building this seemingly endless hallway for uninterrupted shots, captured with meticulous precision by cinematographer Keisuke Imamura. 

Long one-shots track Ninomiya's superb, overtly physical performance as he frantically attempts to escape the hallway and survive the disturbing jumpscares, many from visual effects supervisor Seiji Masamoto. The game itself wields first person perspective with every step, turn, or movement through space functioning as player-propelled cinematography, and Imamura expertly channels this into Exit 8, executing a hypnotic, unsettling march through these dreaded hallways.

However, none of this would hit quite so hard without Exit 8's supervising sound editor and foley artist Masaya Kitada. Sound becomes a bona fide weapon in Kitada's hands, building dread from the crisp clack of footsteps and the buzzing of fluorescence, or straight-up terrifying you from inside a locker. Make sure you see this film with a monster sound system.

Exit 8 will have you playing spot-the-difference too

The key game mechanic of The Exit 8, spotting the anomalies, also functions as the narrative driver of the film, as the protagonist studies the few consistent elements of the hallway in order to spot anything amiss. Some anomalies are obvious, while others are microscopic. With the latter, deciding whether an anomaly is in fact one becomes as risky a move as deciding it's not. It's maddening, this constant state of flux between ennui, frustration, drudgery, and pure terror.

Through Imamura's calculated cinematography, the audience is also able to play along in some instances in which we desperately roam the screen to identify an anomaly before the Lost Man does — there were more than a few moments when I pointed, pantomime-style, at the screen wanting to yell "IT'S BEHIND YOU!" Granted, fans of the game will be less freaked out by the startling nature of the anomalies, as experiencing them on a first-time play is as unsettling as watching the film.

While video game adaptations come in a range of sublime to mediocre, Exit 8 is a triumphant realisation and expansion of the original concept. Kawamura's punctilious direction and his incredibly talented cast and crew amplify this contained hallway in satisfying, chilling ways. You'll remain in this hallway long after you've left the cinema — we're all still staring blankly at that Exit 0 sign.

Exit 8 is now in cinemas.

In a story about Hollywood, there's bound to be more than a few stars in the mix.

In Outcome, co-written, directed, and starring Jonah Hill, Keanu Reeves plays a fictionalised version of himself: a famous actor who's known for being the nice guy of the entertainment industry, something well-documented on the internet about Reeves himself.

Beyond the main cast of Reeves, Hill, Cameron Diaz, and Matt Bomer, there's a flurry of cameos from famous faces you might catch or miss. We've rounded them all up so you can play spot-the-celeb.

Yes, that's Martin Scorsese. Credit: Apple

Martin Scorsese

The legendary director, who also had a cameo on The Studio, appears as Richie "Red" Rodriguez, Reef's first manager in the business. He now runs his own bowling alley.

Cary Christopher

The pint-sized Weapons star upstages Martin Scorsese in his own scene in the bowling alley. It's gold.

Drew Barrymore

Essentially playing herself, the Hollywood icon interviews Reef on her show, bonding with him as a former child star herself.

Van Jones

The political commentator, former White House advisor, and CNN regular appears at the beginning of the film as a journalist interviewing Reef on his show.

Laverne Cox

One of the crack team of crisis lawyers Ira (Jonah Hill) pulls together to represent Reef, Cox appears as Virginia Allen-Green, "the most legendary advocate for women whose rights have been violated."

Roy Wood Jr.

Also on Ira's top lawyer team, the comedian plays "the sultan of social justice," Reverend Leondrus Carter.

Atsuko Okatsuka

The comedian plays another member of Ira's super team, lawyer and activist Unis Kim.

Roy Wood Jr. and Atsuko Okatsuka in "Outcome." Credit: Apple

David Spade

The comedy actor plays "Malibu teen dad" Buddy Gomorrah, who is renting the house beside Reef's with his pregnant partner.

Kaia Gerber

It's a brief moment, but the model plays Oksana, Buddy's pregnant partner. Her grandmother apparently dated Reef.

Susan Lucci

The All My Children icon turns up as Reef's mother Dinah, a reality star and one of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Ivy Wolk

More of a supporting role than a cameo, the Anora star plays Reef's assistant, Sammy.

Nicolas Noblitt

Playing Ira's son Eli, the actor and wheelchair dancer bonds with Reef outside his dad's office.

Shola Adewusi

The British star of Bob Hearts Abishola shows up as a fan of Reef's who apprehends him in the supermarket.

Nikolai Nikolaeff

The Australian actor (The Last Voyage of the Demeter) appears as a fan who takes a snap of Reef in the supermarket.

Outcome premieres on Apple TV April 10.

DISNEY+ BUNDLES: Disney+ is offering bundle deals so you can stream the best of its library at a lower price.

The best Disney+ deals and bundles in April 2026:

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Best Hulu Bundle Deal

Disney+ and Hulu Bundle

$12.99/month with ads

Get Deal

---

Best HBO Max Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

Get Deal

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Best ESPN Bundle Deal

Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle

$35.99/month

Get Deal

Whether you're looking to jump into the latest superhero saga or journey to a galaxy far, far away, Disney+ is the streaming service for you.

Home to Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and more, Disney+ offers a library that's stuffed full of shows and films to keep both adults and kids entertained. With Disney+, you can watch Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, Zootopia 2, the second season of Daredevil: Born Again, and much more.

If you've had this streaming service on your radar but you've been unsure which plan is the best fit for you, we've got you covered with a selection of Disney+ streaming deals. This includes the Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max package, which is a great investment for those who already own the other two streaming services and are looking to cut down on costs.

We've detailed all of the available bundle deals below, alongside basic information on Disney+ plans if you just want the House of Mouse's service on its own.

Best Hulu bundle deal

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Disney+ and Hulu Bundle

$12.99 per month with ads

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Why we like it

For those interested in the ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu Bundle, which groups together Disney+ and Hulu, it starts at $12.99 per month. If you'd prefer to get rid of ads, the Premium ad-free version comes to $19.99 per month.

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle — $12.99 per month

• Disney+ and Hulu Bundle Premium — $19.99 per month

Best HBO Max bundle deal

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Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max Bundle

$19.99/month with ads, $32.99/month ad-free

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Why we like it

The Disney+, Hulu, and HBO Max bundle is one of the best available at the moment. Starting at $19.99 per month, you can have three excellent streaming services right in the palm of your hand. The $19.99 per month option is for the With Ads plan, but if you'd prefer to watch your favorite content without ads, the No Ads plan comes to $32.99 per month. Compared to what you'd pay for each of these on their own, you're saving 42% with the ad-supported plan and 41% with the ad-free plan.

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (with ads) — $19.99 per month (save 42%)

• Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max Bundle (no ads) — $32.99 per month (save 41%)

Best ESPN bundle

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Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN Unlimited Bundle

$35.99/month

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If you're a sports fan looking to add ESPN to your bundles, you're in luck: Disney offers bundles with both ESPN Select and ESPN Unlimited. According to ESPN, "ESPN Select includes ESPN+ content only. Fans who want ESPN+ exclusively may subscribe to the ESPN Select plan. ESPN Unlimited includes all of the ESPN networks and services, including ESPN+."

The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle, which has ads, is available for $35.99 per month. The Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited premium bundle without ads is available for $44.99 per month.

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $19.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $29.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle — $35.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Unlimited Bundle Premium — $44.99 per month

Best Disney+ monthly plans

Disney+ offers two standard plans if you just want the service on its own. The Disney+ ad-supported plan comes to $11.99 per month while the ad-free Disney+ Premium plan will set you back $18.99 per month or $189.99 per year if you'd rather pay annually.

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $11.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium (No Ads) — $18.99 per month, $189.99 per year

Disney+ has also created an "extra member" plan for people using your account that live outside of your household as they crack down on password sharing. If you're looking to add another person onto your account, you're only allowed one extra profile and can choose from the following add-on plans:

• Disney+ (With Ads) — $6.99 per month

• Disney+ Premium — $9.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle — $7.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu Bundle Premium — $10.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle — $11.99 per month

• Disney+, Hulu, ESPN Select Bundle Premium — $14.99 per month

There's a wealth of shows and films to check out on Disney+ after you sign up. If you want some help finding something to watch, check out our roundups of the 12 best TV shows for adults on Disney+ and the 20 best movies on Disney+ to start building out your watchlist.

TL;DR: Give your PC an affordable facelift with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license, $12.97 (reg. $199) through May 3.

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Microsoft Windows 11 Pro

$12.97
$199 Save $186.03

 

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A new operating system makes your computer feel totally new to you. If you want to trick yourself this spring and enjoy the perks of a fresh system without shelling out for a brand new computer, this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license can help.

Usually $199, you can now snag this easy upgrade for just $12.97 until May 3.

If you’ve got an old PC, you can give it a refresh for less than the cost of lunch with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro deal. Your device will feel totally refreshed with this new operating system, filled with new features and tools for you to try.

Windows 11 Pro was created with today’s professional in mind, so whether you’re a developer, an artist, or an entrepreneur, you’ll enjoy a smoother workflow. It offers a seamless, easy-to-use interface, complete with a powerful search experience, easy redocking, snap layouts, and more.

This operating system includes Copilot, the Windows 11 AI-powered assistant, available on the taskbar or when you press the Windows logo key + C. You can ask Copilot questions, create images, and generate code, or even let it change a setting, summarize a web page, or open an app. You’ll also get access to Teams, an app that allows you to stay connected to coworkers, friends, and family.

If you need help in the cybersecurity department, you’ll appreciate Windows 11 Pro’s biometric logins, encrypted authentication, and enhanced antivirus protection, all designed to keep your data safe.

Outfit your PC with this Microsoft Windows 11 Pro license for only $12.97 (reg. $199) now through May 3.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give an old PC an affordable upgrade with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows, on sale now for just $32.97 (reg. $219.99) through April 19 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

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Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License

$32.97
$219.99 Save $187.02

 

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You don’t need a bunch of new, cool apps — you actually just need dependable old ones from the ’90s. The elite Microsoft Office programs you know and love are actually still around, with some helpful new additions.

Right now, you can snag them all for a one-time low price with this $32.97 lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows — on sale through April 19.

If you work on a dependable PC, why not show it some TLC with this Microsoft Office Professional 2021 license? If you act fast, you can pay just once and secure all eight of these essential Microsoft apps for life.

For less than $5 each, you can score Word for document creation, Excel for spreadsheet building, Outlook for email management, and PowerPoint for presentation design.

This license doesn’t just include old classics but also newer favorites. You’ll have Access to help you manage large databases, Publisher for designing professional documents, Teams to stay connected with others, and OneNote for your digital note-taking needs.

Don’t be deterred by the year of this edition. All these apps have been redesigned, and you’ll also enjoy a ribbon-based interface that makes it easy to access features, tools, and customizations. Just make sure your device is running Windows 10 or 11.

Give your PC an upgrade with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows, on sale now for just $32.97 through April 19.

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TL;DR: Upgrade your go-to laptop with this Apple MacBook Air, regularly $1,099, on sale now for $229.99.

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Apple MacBook Air 2017 (Refurbished)

$199.97
$999 Save $799.03

 

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Time is money, so if your current laptop is slowing you down, just think about how much you’re losing over time. The MacBook Air offers power, portability, and speed in a sleek frame, and while it usually sets you back over $1,000, right now you can keep even more money in your pocket and get one for just $229.99.

The MacBook Air is Apple's most portable laptop, but don’t be deceived by its lightweight status. It still packs power and the bells and whistles you’ve come to love from the brand.

This particular model is equipped with a 1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, which gives you blazing-fast performance for work, play, and everything in between. 8GB of RAM and 256GB of solid-state drive storage make it easy to run apps and programs simultaneously, and store your important files locally.

A 13.3-inch HD display delivers a widescreen resolution for clear viewing. And when you need to connect or transfer files, Bluetooth 4.0 and WiFi connectivity make it easy. A 720p FaceTime HD webcam allows you to hop on a Zoom or video chat with a loved one right from your MacBook Air anytime you need.

If you’re curious why you’re saving over $800 on this MacBook Air, it’s because of this model’s grade-A refurbished rating. That means it will arrive on your doorstep in near-mint condition, with minimal to no scuffing, while you secure a deep discount.

Secure your own Apple MacBook Air for $229.99 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The limbo between having blood drawn and receiving the results can be stressful for patients. Then the jargon-filled blood test report arrives before a doctor can review it and translate the findings. They may never follow up if they see no cause for alarm. 

Enter the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot. Since major large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini debuted a few years ago, an increasing number of patients have shared their lab results — or uploaded them to — the chatbot of their choice, seeking guidance. 

Companies, including the wellness and lifestyle brands Whoop and Levels, see an opportunity in this information gap and have made a compelling pitch: Concierge-level attention to a consumer's lab work, courtesy of AI. 

Typically, their AI product is an explanatory report, written in accessible language, that provides a personalized plan with next steps, like dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and consultation with a doctor. The service, which is typically available with a subscription, can cost a few hundred dollars or more per year.  

Dr. John Whyte, CEO of the American Medical Association, understands the appeal, especially when patients find their results confusing. 

"Physicians are [not always] the best communicators," Whyte says. "I wish we were, and [that we] had more time." 

Still, he says there's no rigorous research or evidence demonstrating that AI can effectively and accurately interpret blood results and make personalized lifestyle recommendations to improve or optimize one's health. In other words, the companies offering AI interpretation of blood tests don't yet know if their product is better than simply consulting a chatbot for free, or more accurate than a doctor's opinion.  

"I think you have to be skeptical about some of the claims," Whyte says. 

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A new Mashable series, AI + Health, will examine how artificial intelligence is changing the medical and health landscape. We'll explore how to keep your health data safe, prompting chatbots effectively for health questions, and learn how two women are using AI to detect a dangerous form of heart disease, and much more.

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AI for blood test results still has a long way to go.

The AI models, including Gemini and ChatGPT, used by companies that do blood interpretation work aren't validated or benchmarked for this purpose, according to their makers, Google and OpenAI.

When Google recently partnered with Quest Diagnostics to bring an AI tool to customers of the nationwide lab work company, it focused on explaining medical terminology, identifying trends in their personal data, and suggesting questions to ask their doctor. It does not give medical guidance or lifestyle advice.

A spokesperson for the company said that while Google frequently publishes research on Gemini's medical benchmarks, the Quest partnership is designed to "solve real-world literacy and data-navigation challenges for patients."

OpenAI's HealthBench, which tests how well its models perform on realistic health scenarios, includes examples of understanding blood results, according to a company spokesperson. Still, OpenAI doesn't have a standalone benchmark for blood testing. 

Jonathan Kron, co-founder and CEO of the company BloodGPT, readily acknowledges that there are no widely accepted benchmarks for comprehensively interpreting blood tests at scale. 

During its early testing in 2024, BloodGPT found that uploading full lab reports directly to general-purpose chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT consistently yielded errors. Biomarkers were missed entirely or confused with each other. Sometimes the chatbot hallucinated recommendations. 

These experiences prompted BloodGPT to build what it calls a "structured pipeline" with multiple checks for validating its findings. While BloodGPT can swap out large language models based on their evolving strengths, the company currently uses enterprise Gemini, OpenAI, and Anthropic models for different tasks, including classification, reasoning, interpretation, and consistency checking. It also consults with specialists on specific biomarkers, like the reproductive hormones estrogen and testosterone, to check the accuracy and insight of its AI. 

Though BloodGPT considers its primary business selling software to other companies, including clinical laboratories, healthcare systems, and health diagnostic companies like LabCorp, it offers AI interpretation to individual consumers. Their consumer plans range from $9.99 to $17.99 per month.

The company says its algorithms are based on established clinical guidelines and validated medical reference data, and are tested iteratively by clinicians. BloodGPT hasn't published peer-reviewed research proving the success of its methods — yet. 

Kron says the company will embark on a massive research project using 100,000 de-identified patient records through a partnership with an Israeli health system. The goal is to benchmark BloodGPT's accuracy in multiple ways against the results contained in the patients' medical records. 

"We're not choosing the easy way here," Kron says. 

Why model accuracy is important

Dr. Girish N. Nadkarni, an internist and nephrologist at New York's Mt. Sinai Hospital, argues that companies selling an AI blood interpretation service need to demonstrate their success by comparing it retrospectively against de-identified patient data and by enrolling people in a prospective study that compares their AI findings to an expert's.

"I don't think that anything has to have 100 percent accuracy to succeed, because humans are not 100 percent accurate," says Nadkarni, an AI health researcher and director of Mt. Sinai's Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Health. "But the conversation becomes really hard because I don't know what the accuracy of this model is…how does it work, and where does it fail?" 

Nadkarni says current AI blood work products might be "OK" for a majority of patients, but problems may emerge at the extremes, such as missed diagnoses or false positives that cause anxiety and potentially harmful additional testing. 

Levels CEO Josh Clemente is an advocate of frequent blood testing. If cost weren't a concern, Clemente would recommend lab work far more often than the typical annual physical, for pro-active health monitoring.

Levels, which focuses on metabolic health, markets its subscription plans as a way to "live healthier, longer." Each tier offers access to the company's app and proprietary dashboards, along with glucose monitoring. But only two tiers, available for $499 and $1,499 annually, include lab work, clinician-reviewed reports, and AI health insights. 

Clemente currently favors Claude and Gemini for the Levels AI product, which is also trained on medical articles and biomarker research, plus Levels blog posts and podcasts featuring metabolic experts on topics like diet, weight loss, and hormones. 

The AI product derives its insight from these layers of information and guardrails, and a doctor reviews every lab work report that a consumer receives. An app-based AI chatbot also draws from Levels expert content to recommend lifestyle changes that could improve biomarkers like cholesterol and glucose. 

"We're using it again as a clinician support tool, which is, in my opinion, the right way to use these tools today," Clemente says. Levels is not currently conducting independent research on the accuracy of its AI product. 

Nadkarni supports human oversight, but cautions consumers against believing this is a failsafe. Instead, physicians can unwittingly fall victim to automation bias, or the tendency to rubber-stamp AI outputs. 

Can AI truly personalize blood test results?

Whoop, the wearable made famous by athletes like soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, just began offering blood testing last fall. One annual test is $199, but members can test six times a year for $899. The company partners with Quest to perform the lab work and, like Levels, has a physician review the results. 

Alexi Coffey, vice president of product at Whoop, says the company's AI product is powered by OpenAI and individual member data. She declined to comment on whether the company is pursuing clinical research on the accuracy of its AI. 

"We never want to over claim or over suggest relationships between things," Coffey says, "but we do want to provide value to our members by helping them understand things that may be connected." 

Coffey says that Whoop's ability to integrate physiological data — including heart rate, sleep quality, and exercise patterns — into blood work reports gives customers unique health insights. 

If, for example, a customer ran a marathon the day before their blood was drawn, the AI might take the physical stress into account when interpreting inflammation biomarkers. (Whoop actually advises its members to avoid strenuous physical activity prior to a blood draw because it may influence the results.) 

As promising as this sounds, Whyte, of the AMA, says there's no evidence demonstrating that such AI applications are "truly personalized." 

"I think we really have to question what the data is," he says, noting that companies would need a massive dataset to make individual recommendations. If these companies have that information, they haven't published peer-reviewed research based on it yet.

Blood tests are crucial diagnostic tools, Whyte says, but they're also the focus of social media hype, which often positions them as a silver bullet for fixing health challenges like low energy or sleeplessness. He warns consumers that some companies measure elements and minerals that "are not that helpful for anything." Hormone level testing can be similarly futile, depending on how it's done.

Until scientific research establishes the accuracy and meaningfulness of AI blood test interpretation, Whyte recommends patients use AI to help plainly explain their results, rather than relying on the technology to generate personalized insights for them. 

"People think a lab test is black and white and it's the final ruler on whether you have disease or not," Whyte says. "And that's not always true."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April 2025 filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 Masters Tournament for free on Masters.com. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The wait for the first major golf championship of the year is over.

The Masters is here to deliver top-quality action from the Augusta National Golf Club. Expect the likes of Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau, and Rory McIlroy to be battling it out for the green jacket at the end of the weekend. It's always a special occasion with a number of incredible storylines to follow.

If you want to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the Masters?

The Masters is one of the four men's major championships in professional golf. The tournament takes place in the first full week in April, making the Masters the first major golf tournament of the year.

The Masters is always held at the Augusta National Golf Club, a private course in the city of Augusta, Georgia.

When is the 2026 Masters Tournament?

The 2026 Masters Tournament will take place from April 9-12. Practice rounds began on April 6.

How to watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free

The 2026 Masters Tournament is available to live stream for free on Masters.com.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the U.S., but anyone can access for free with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the U.S., meaning you can unblock this free live stream from anywhere in the world.

Access free Masters live streams by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

4. Visit Masters.com

5. Live stream the 2026 Masters Tournament for free from anywhere in the world

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch the 2026 Masters before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to the best free streaming platforms from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the best service 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 always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the 2026 Masters Tournament for free with ExpressVPN.

Maybe you’ve found your special someone and want to demonstrate your commitment by officially delisting yourself as a single person, or maybe you just need a break from online dating in general — whatever your motivation, AdultFriendFinder makes it easy to delete your account and scrub your profile data for good.

First, understand that deleting your account is a distinct action from cancelling your Gold membership. If you want to continue using AdultFriendFinder for free, or just want to stop your monthly payments, you can do so without deleting your entire account. The action of account deletion is considerably more permanent. You’ll lose all of your profile info, all of your chat history, and all of your settings.

If you still want to go ahead, you can choose whether to delete your account via a web browser or on your phone. The steps are different but the result is the same. But one big heads up for phone users: merely deleting your AFF app is not enough to delete your account. Let's get into it.

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AdultFriendFinder

 

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How to cancel your AdultFriendFinder Gold subscription

If you have a Gold subscription, you’re going to want to cancel that membership before you undergo the steps necessary to delete your account:

How to delete your AdultFriendFinder account on the web

If you primarily use AdultFriendFinder on a web browser, here are the steps you’ll need to follow:

How to delete your AdultFriendFinder account on your phone

AFF doesn’t have an official app in either the Apple App or Google Play store, owing to their NSFW content, but lots of AFF users still use phone-based workarounds for AdultFriendFinder, often via a web-based shortcut on their home screens. 

Simply deleting your AFF app icon will not delete your account and the data and history pertaining to it. To delete your account via your phone, follow these steps:

Account deletion is final and irrevocable, so be sure that you’re prepared to lose all of your contacts, chat history, and profile information permanently before you click that final confirmation. And if, for any reason, the above steps haven’t worked for you, you can always visit the AFF Help Center, where they have visual guides for common on-site activities, including account deletion.

It's the Third Quarter tonight, which means we're exactly halfway in between the Full Moon and the New Moon. This is part of the Moon's roughly 29.5 day cycle that sees it move through eight different phases. Keep reading to see what that means for tonight's Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Friday, April 10, the Moon phase is Third Quarter. Tonight, 49% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Tonight, without any visual aids, you should be able to see the Oceanus Procellarum, Tycho Crater, and the Copernicus Crater. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Grimaldi Basin, the Mare Humorum, and the Clavius Crater. Finally, if you have a telescope, expect to see features like the Schiller Crater and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, it takes the Moon roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct stages during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves, which is why it can look full, partly lit, or just a slim crescent. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

Like unsung Australian horror movie Bait, Netflix's Thrash knows that tsunamis are least of your worries after a Category 5 hurricane hits in a movie. Sharks (yes, sharks) wash in with the tide in the latest from writer/director Tommy Wirkola (Violent Night, Dead Snow), and it's a proper nail-biter.

With nightmare-inspiring cinematography, increasingly flooded and crumbling sets, impossibly risky scenarios, and solid performances from Djimon Hounsou, Whitney Peak, and Phoebe Dynevor, Thrash earns its place in the long, storied history of shark survival movies.

What is Thrash about?

Djimon Hounsou and Whitney Peak in "Thrash." Credit: Ben King / Netflix

Climate disaster films come in all genres, and in Thrash (notably produced by Don't Look Up's Adam McKay), Wirkola leans into the extreme weather impact of a warming planet without addressing it directly. Climate change doesn't cause extreme weather events; climate change increases the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme weather events. And nothing's more extreme than watching a Category 5 hurricane absolutely pummel the town of Annieville, South Carolina, with fierce winds, destructive flooding, and sharks swimming down Main Street. (I'm not here to evaluate the scientific accuracy of this film.)

Here, we meet several citizens left behind: Whitney Peak as Dakota, who turns off weather reports to watch videos of her recently passed mother; Phoebe Dynevor as Lisa, a meatpacking factory executive who could give birth any moment now; and Stacy Clausen, Alyla Browne, and Dante Ubaldi as Hanson the Olsens, a trio of siblings whose crooked foster parents see the storm as "just a little bit of weather." Elsewhere, Djimon Hounsou's en route as oceanic researcher Dale, who spotted bull sharks coming in with the storm, seeking shelter in freshwater estuaries. He also happens to be Dakota's uncle.

We love the Olsens. Credit: Ben King / Netflix

You'll genuinely cheer for these characters as they find themselves suddenly huddled on their kitchen benches, perched on their roof, and on the brink of labor as the floodwaters rise. It's not an easy feat to craft characters you don't want to see as shark bait in a movie like this, and Thrash's cast manage it with finesse, despite Wirkola giving us very little information about them. Peak's physicality doesn't miss a beat, combining Ninja Warrior obstacle courses with convincing anxiety symptoms, Hounsou's overt authority grants the film legitimacy, and as for Dynevor, well, labor scenes don't happen like this every day. (And yes, I feel the soundtrack in Lisa's scenes is internet bait, but I'm not mad about it.)

Thrash is a brutal flood of visual effects and jaw-dropping cinematography.

This scene had me pacing. Credit: Ben King / Netflix

Although Thrash is a high-budget Netflix film, the nail-biting scenarios Wirkola throws down are simple; often, it's getting from A to B across shark-infested waters. Like fellow contained shark horrors The Reef, Open Water, The Shallows, and more recently Under Paris, Thrash pushes its characters into survival situations where simply travelling across a tiny stretch of water seems unthinkable. Here, Wirkola stays far from the supershark territory of The Meg or Deep Blue Sea, keeping his marine predators life-size and emphasizing their more terrifying behaviours. However, he does stick to certain shark movie requirements, like characters being suddenly vertically dragged underwater and shark vision camera angles.

Production designer David Ingram builds an increasingly flooded and destroyed town, an impressive and sadly all-too-real vision of disaster — and one which makes for stressful action sequences. Director of photography Matthew Weston's shots consistently resemble horror movie posters, from a teen teetering over a kitchen doorway as a shark sails underneath to a rooftop SOS with sharks circling below. Each overhead moment plays with shadow, scale, and suspense to up the danger, before editor Martin Stoltz takes us back into the action. And as for action, Thrash throws every last visual effect at sequences like the shocking storm surge, which decimates the entire town of Annieville within minutes.

Make no mistake, Thrash is brutal. The bull sharks, in particular, make for vicious villains, with the species' signature aggressive tendencies displayed with gruesome work from visual effects supervisor Bryan Jones and his team. (At the risk of sounding like bull sharks' publicist, bull shark attacks are extremely rare).

If you like shark movies, Thrash is a solid survival thriller with a talented cast and visuals that had me locked in. Wirkola's ability to balance horror, action, and comedy remains a praise-worthy feat. Dive into it.

Thrash premieres on Netflix April 10.

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub for free with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites from Australia is ExpressVPN.

The world of porn continues to be impacted by age-verification laws. Back in early 2025, more than a third of U.S. states introduced age verification laws for online adult content. Pornhub hit back by blocking users from those locations. A similar situation took place France and the UK, and now Australians are facing the same set of challenges.

The porn blocks arrived just days before new online safety codes came into effect, requiring organisations to verify the ages of users. It's the same story we've seen before, with the same straightforward workaround.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Australia, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Australia

VPNs are tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub from Australia by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

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ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment. The situation may have changed before the free-trial period comes to an end.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

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• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

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TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 AFL for free on 7plus. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Aussie Rules is a uniquely fast-paced and physical game that provides entertainment to millions of fans every week, but for whatever reason, this entertaining sport hasn't really traveled outside of Australia. We think that should change, because we firmly believe that the rest of the world would absolutely love footy.

What's not to love. Outrageous displays of skill? Check. Huge tackles and the occasional physical altercation? Check. Some of the best haircuts and facial hair you've ever seen? A big check.

If you want to watch the 2026 AFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the AFL?

The Australian Football League (AFL) is the leading professional competition of Aussie Rules Football.

The AFL currently consists of 18 teams spread over Australia's five mainland states. The league features 23 rounds in the regular season, with the team with the best record awarded the minor premiership. The top 10 teams from the regular season standings compete in a five-round finals series, culminating in the AFL Grand Final.

The defending champions are the Brisbane Lions.

When is the 2026 AFL?

The 2026 AFL season is the 130th edition of the Australian Football League. This season runs from March 5 to Sept. 26.

How to watch the 2026 AFL for free

Every round of the 2026 AFL season is available to live stream for free on 7plus.

This free coverage includes matches on Thursday nights, Friday nights, State Footy Saturdays, Sunday afternoons, and Sunday night games. 7plus will also show marquee games and every match in the AFL Finals Series including the Brownlow Medal and the 2026 AFL Grand Final.

7plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the AFL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream 2026 AFL from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 7plus

5. Live stream 2026 AFL for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 AFL without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select AFL fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 7plus?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7plus, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 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 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 AFL for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2026 NRL for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There are few other sports that can compete with rugby league when it comes to physicality and skill. It's clever handling and outrageous trickery combined with absolute brutality, and that's why we all love it.

And if you're looking for all of that and more on a weekly basis, you should check out the NRL. It's an electric competition featuring some of the best players and teams in the world. We're definitely not knocking what you get in the Northern Hemisphere, but there's something special about the National Rugby League. It feels like something wild happens every week.

If you want to watch the 2026 NRL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the NRL?

The National Rugby League (NRL) is a professional rugby league competition in Australasia, including clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and New Zealand.

Each team plays 24 matches in the regular season, with the first-placed team at the end awarded the minor premiership. This is followed by a finals series contested between the eight highest-placed teams from the regular season, culminating in the NRL Grand Final.

The defending champions are the Brisbane Broncos.

When is the 2026 NRL?

The 2026 NRL season is the 119th edition of professional rugby league in Australia and the 29th season run by the National Rugby League. This season runs from Feb. 28 to Sept. 5.

How to watch the 2026 NRL for free

Select fixtures from the 2026 NRL season are available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the NRL from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2026 NRL from anywhere in the world by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Live stream the 2026 NRL for free from anywhere in the world

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.99 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 NRL without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select NRL fixtures before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you will need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 9Now, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2026 NRL for free with ExpressVPN.

The explicit tube site Pornhub is now blocked in 23 U.S. states.

This is due to age-verification laws. These laws vary state by state, but typically require visitors of a site with over a third of explicit content to submit a government ID or other form of age authentication. Louisiana was the first state to enact such a bill a couple of years ago, and now others have followed suit. In June, the Supreme Court deemed Texas's age-verification law constitutional, setting a precedent for such bills that come before and after.

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According to one preliminary study, age verification won't work to keep minors off porn sites. This is because of software like VPNs that allow someone to appear to be in a different location, and because of non-compliant websites. (The Florida attorney general is suing foreign-based porn sites for not instituting age verification.) Yet, these laws keep getting passed — and are encroaching on non-explicit websites as well, experts told Mashable.

While Pornhub is not blocked in Louisiana, it is blocked in these states, a Pornhub representative confirmed to Mashable:

• Alabama

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• Florida

• Georgia

• Idaho

• Indiana

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• North Carolina

• North Dakota

• Oklahoma

• South Carolina

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Virginia

• Wyoming

Pornhub isn't blocked in Ohio despite the state's age-verification law, due to a clause stating that establishing age verification methods doesn't apply to a provider of an interactive computer service (Aylo considers itself one).

In Louisiana, where users must submit ID to view Pornhub, the site has seen traffic decline by around 80 percent, Aylo (Pornhub's parent company) told Mashable.

"These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children," Aylo stated when asked for comment by Mashable back in January.

In a statement to Mashable, Aylo continued:

First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults.

Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws.

Industry experts say that, in addition to not working for their intended purpose, age verification laws also raise concerns about privacy protection and safety since websites now have to host (even more of) people's personal information. It will be harder to be anonymous online, which experts warn is dangerous to free speech. Adult industry experts Mashable spoke to in an explainer on age-verification laws advocated for device-level filters, as did Aylo in its statement.

Some in the adult industry worry about what Trump's second presidential term will bring due to the conservative policy outline Project 2025 and its measures to ban porn. One of Project 2025's authors, Russell Vought, was caught on a secret recording stating that age-verification laws are the "back door" to a broader porn ban.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you love golf and its history.

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.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise 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 before the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Oh, the places you'll go!

• Green: The bare necessities

• Blue: All-time greats

• Purple: Amen corner

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Areas on a golf course

• Green: Found in a golf bag

• Blue: Masters winners

• Purple: Augusta National Hole Names

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #564 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Areas on a golf course — BUNKER, FAIRWAY, GREEN, ROUGH

• Found in a golf bag — BALLS, CLUBS, TEES, TOWELS

• Masters winners — COUPLES, FALDO, PLAYER, RAHM

• August National hole names — AZALEA, GOLDEN BELL, HOLLY, REDBUD

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, 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 on to 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 with 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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 10 Pips

Greater Than (5): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 5. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this red space must have 0 pips. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-2, placed vertically; and 2-6, placed vertically.

Greater than (5): The domino half in this dark blue space must be greater than 5. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 10 Pips

Equal (3): Every domino half in this purple space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this red space must add up to be greater than 4. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this space must have 6 pips. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 3-6, placed vertically; and 6-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to less than 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this green space must have 4 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 10 Pips

Equal (5): Every domino half in this purple space must have 5 pips. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally; and 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (4): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 4-0, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 0 pips. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this green space must add up to be greater than 4. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally; and 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Every domino half in this red space must have 6 pips. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 4. The answer is 6-3, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Number (6): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 6. The answer is 6-6, placed horizontally.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're full of surprises.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. 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 today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

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.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Spices

• Green: "Surprise!"

• Blue: Holed dairy

• Purple: They're the same color

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Peppers

• Green: Things that pop up

• Blue: Descriptors for Swiss cheese

• Purple: Blue characters

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #1034 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Peppers: BELL PEPPER, CAROLINA REAPER, CHIPOTLE, PEPPERONCINO

• Things that pop up: EJECTOR SEAT, JACK-IN-THE-BOX, POP-UP BOOK, TOASTER

• Descriptors for Swiss cheese: FIRM, HOLEY, NUTTY, SWISS

• Blue characters: BLUE, GENIE, GONZO, SONIC

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a mischievous.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: On the sly

The words are related to sneakiness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe being mischievous.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Like a Fox.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 10

• Canny

• Shrewd

• Slick

• Like a Fox

• Crafty

• Devious

• Wily

• Cunning

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you always bounce back.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A rebound.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

CAROM

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Wordle.

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

Hurdle Word 1 hint

A bike part.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

PEDAL

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Animal part.

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

OFFAL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To mix.

Hurdle Word 3 answer

BLEND

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Baloney.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

CROCK

Final Hurdle hint

An area.

Hurdle Word 5 answer

SPACE

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Orion will slam into Earth's atmosphere at more than 30 times the speed of sound, in what NASA expects to be the most demanding part of the Artemis II moon mission. 

On landing day, Artemis II entry flight director Rick Henfling and his team in mission control will run the final leg home of the 10-day spaceflight. After wake‑up, controllers will brief the four astronauts — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen — on weather at the splashdown zone, then clear them to secure loose gear and climb into their pressure suits. 

A small final steering burn in space will aim the Orion spacecraft at a targeted patch of the Pacific Ocean, west of San Diego, California, where a Navy ship will be waiting Friday evening. On the ground, engineers will also arm backup flight software so the capsule can still guide itself through the atmosphere if its main computers fail.

This home stretch carries extra tension following Artemis I, when pieces of Orion's heat shield unexpectedly broke off during the uncrewed test flight’s descent. Engineers later attributed the problem to hot gas building up faster than it could escape during that mission's so-called "skip" entry. But rather than redesign the shield, NASA chose to change the capsule's path through the atmosphere to avoid the hottest temperatures. 

Long before launch, the heat shield was Wiseman's top concern for Jim Free, who led NASA's Artemis rocket and spacecraft programs in 2023. 

"Every time you see me come in, you take a step back," Wiseman told Free at a news conference, "because I'm coming about the heat shield." 

After NASA recovered the Orion spacecraft following Artemis I, engineers stripped the heat shield off the crew module to inspect the charring damage. Credit: NASA

Instead of repeating the same deep bounce from the inaugural flight, Artemis II will use a gentler "lofted" approach, Henfling said. Orion will still dip in and out of the atmosphere before the final plunge, but with a less dramatic climb and fall. That change shortens the distance to splashdown and keeps the gas‑pressure spikes seen on the first flight in a tolerable range. NASA brought in an independent review team before approving the revised plan. 

Glover said he's been thinking about re-entry since April 3, 2023: the day he was assigned to the Artemis II crew. 

"At one of the first press conferences, we were asked what are we looking forward to, and I said, 'Splashdown,'" he said during a very long-distance call with reporters from the capsule Wednesday night. "Riding a fireball through the atmosphere is profound."

Artemis II pilot Victor Glover, third from left, looks pleased with himself after positioning the microphone in front of Rise, the moon mission's zero-gravity indicator, during a call with reporters on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Credit: NASA / Youtube screenshot

Though alarming, NASA officials said in 2024 that the damage to Artemis I's heat shield would not have harmed a crew.

"They would have not sensed any disturbance inside the vehicle, there would not have been any excessive heating on the structure, and the guidance would have put them exactly where the Navy needed to recover them," said Amit Kshatriya, a senior NASA official.

As Orion nears Earth, communications will switch from the giant moon‑tracking antennas of the Deep Space Network to near‑Earth relay satellites. About 20 minutes before entry, the service module — the section with solar arrays and the main engine — will separate and burn up over the ocean, leaving only the crew capsule to face the punishing heat.

Following Artemis I, engineers redesigned the reentry and descent path for the Orion spacecraft during Artemis II. Credit: NASA infographic

Entry begins roughly 75 miles up, with Orion moving at 25,000 mph. Air piling up in front of the capsule will heat to about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, engulfing it in plasma that may briefly cut off radio contact. Inside, the crew will feel about 3.9Gs — a crushing pressure of four times his or her own weight.

Though the astronauts have often described potential records as mere distractions, Wiseman admitted there is one he has mentally clocked during their training — potentially beating previous reentry speeds by perhaps 200-or-so miles per hour. Apollo 10's velocity translated to about Mach 37, according to its 1969 press kit. 

"We still giggle a little bit when we see a click over Mach 39 on entry," he said months before the April 1 launch. 

Once Orion is slow enough, a tight parachute sequence will take over. A cover over the nose will blow off, two small drogues will pop out to steady the capsule, then three large orange parachutes will open in stages to cut its speed to a survivable splashdown. Small thrusters will tip the capsule so it hits the waves at the safest angle near the California coast.

After splashdown, NASA will keep Orion powered for roughly two hours to monitor how temperatures inside the capsule change as it cools in the Pacific, even after the astronauts are on the recovery ship.

Dan Flores, who is on the recovery team, may be biased but calls this his favorite part of the mission.

"We have our friends flying around the moon," he said. "This is when we get to bring our friends back home to their families."

TL;DR: The 2026 MS Visual Studio version is a powerful, AI-enhanced IDE for just $42.97 (reg. $499.99).

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Credit: Microsoft

Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026

$42.97
$499.99 Save $457.02

 

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For a lot of developers, the IDE isn’t just a tool — it’s the workspace where everything happens. And when that workspace slows down, everything else follows. Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 is built to keep that from happening, and it’s on sale.

As a fully 64-bit IDE, it’s designed to handle larger solutions and heavier workloads without the slowdowns that used to come with complex projects. Whether you’re working across multiple repositories, building cloud-connected apps, or managing enterprise-level codebases, performance stays consistent.

Where things get more interesting is the deeper AI integration. Instead of just basic autocomplete, Visual Studio 2026 uses AI-assisted suggestions to help you write, refactor, and optimize code with fewer issues. It understands context — your variables, functions, and structure — and offers smarter next-step recommendations that can actually speed up development without getting in the way.

It’s also built for how development works now, not five years ago. You can build cross-platform apps with .NET MAUI, create web interfaces with Blazor, and deploy across Windows, Linux, and containers, all from the same environment. Integration with GitHub and Azure keeps everything connected to your existing workflows.

Collaboration is another strong point. Live Share allows teams to jump into shared coding sessions without complicated setup, making it easier to debug, review, and iterate together in real time. The overall experience feels streamlined: fewer context switches, fewer slowdowns, and more time actually writing code.

If your current setup feels like it’s lagging behind your workload, this is one way to bring it back up to speed. Get MS Visual Studio Pro 2026 for just $42.97 (reg. $499.99) through April 19.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Amazon is facing backlash from Kindle owners after notifying users this week that support for Kindle devices released in 2012 or earlier will end on May 20.

The email sparked immediate panic online, with many readers initially fearing their beloved e-readers were about to stop working entirely — and others expressing frustration that devices they have used for more than a decade are effectively being pushed toward obsolescence.

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Much of the frustration seems less about the devices themselves and more about what they represent. Kindle owners repeatedly pointed out that their 2010 or 2011 devices still do the one thing they need them to do: read books.

On Reddit, many users framed Amazon's move as another example of planned obsolescence and unnecessary e-waste, especially because these devices are otherwise fully functional. Some commenters on X and Threads said they were considering switching to Kobo rather than buying another Kindle, while others called the change "a nightmare" and "a hostile act of predatory capitalism."

Across social media, readers described the move as a money grab. Some users said being nudged toward buying a new device, even with Amazon offering trade-in discounts, feels especially out of touch for people who cannot easily justify replacing something that still works.

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There is also a very specific kind of outrage coming from longtime Kindle loyalists who love the quirks of older models, especially devices with physical page-turn buttons. For some readers, older Kindles are more comfortable, more durable, and easier to use than newer touchscreen models. Losing access to the Kindle Store on those devices feels less like an inevitable software update and more like losing a favorite object that has been part of their daily routine for years.

For others, though, the news was less about outrage and more about amazement that some 15-year-old Kindles are still working well enough to make replacing them feel unnecessary. That's an unusually long lifespan in consumer tech.

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At the same time, some users online have been quick to point out that this is not exactly the end of the road. Many are already sharing workarounds involving jailbreaking, USB transfers, sideloading, and programs like Calibre, which allow readers to manually move books onto their devices.

As Mashable's resident e-reader expert, Samantha Mangino, noted, "The affected Kindles aren't necessarily being deactivated; service will just be limited. You can still read the books you have already downloaded to your Kindle per usual... Who's really losing out are Libby users, who have benefited from the Send to Kindle feature."

For some longtime Kindle devotees, this change might be enough to sour them on Amazon altogether — and to consider whether it might finally be time to try a different e-reader.

Transportation companies Waymo and Waze announced a new, pothole-patching pilot today, harnessing their troves of street data to map out areas in need of fixing.

The program will rely on the perception and physical feedback systems built into Waymo's autonomous fleet vehicles to detect the location and condition of city potholes. That data will then be sent to city and state Departments of Transportation through the free Waze for Cities program, which provides real-time road data to partners.

Waze users will be able to access and verify the data in the app, starting with riders in Los Angeles, when driving through areas with Waymo fleets.

Waymo will pilot the data partnership in five cities to start: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Austin, and Atlanta, and plans to expand to cities with more complex transportation conditions, including harsh winters and freeze-thaw cycles. The company says it has already identified 500 potholes in need of filling. It says the partnership will "help fill reporting gaps and support cities’ efforts to maintain safer streets."

Waymo recently launched its driverless fleet to riders in Nashville, part of an aggressive expansion across the U.S., including cities like Chicago and Charlotte — it's expected to debut in dozens more cities this year. Waymo is in direct competition with Tesla's robotaxi fleet and recently had a $16 billion financing round. Tesla, meanwhile, is reportedly accelerating its autonomous fleet plans outside of its base in Austin, Texas.

Motorola is usually a pretty dependable manufacturer of affordable budget phones in the U.S., but that's changing a bit this year.

As noted by Ars Technica, several 2026 revisions of Motorola's usual low-priced lineup have gotten significant price hikes.

Take the Moto G, Moto G Play, and Moto G Power phones, for example. All three have risen in price by anywhere from 33 to 50 percent year-over-year in 2026. The Moto G Play used to be $180, but now it's $250. On top of that, the slightly higher-end 2026 Moto G Stylus just made its debut at $500, a $100 price increase from last year.

In response to Mashable's questions about the price changes, a Motorola spokesperson provided this statement: "Pricing is always subject to change based on market conditions. We regularly assess pricing to remain competitive and continue to offer strong bundle and promotional offers to give consumers the strongest value possible."

Of course, phone prices tend to rise year-over-year to account for hardware or software improvements. However, the new Moto G Stylus, for instance, has the same display and memory specs as the previous year's model, and brands typically offer improved specs along with higher prices.

The most obvious potential culprit here is the ongoing memory shortage driven by AI data center construction around the world. It's caused everything from game console price increases to shortages in SD cards, and there's no sign of it ending anytime soon. (Not to mention pressure from tariffs and inflation.)

Is a more expensive phone acceptable if it has new AI features? Consumers will have to make that choice for themselves, but Motorola, like most other tech companies, is all-in on artificial intelligence.

UPDATE: Apr. 9, 2026, 2:15 p.m. EDT We've updated this article with a statement from Motorola.

Some things can feel so specific, so perfectly engineered in a lab to appeal directly to me. Today, that thing is the members of BTS singing "Butter-Fly" by Kōji Wada, the iconic opening theme to Digimon Adventure, during an appearance on Hot Ones.

The members approached the hot wings challenge with wildly different strategies. V called it quits a few wings in — smart! — and spent the rest of the episode slamming pints of milk. Jin attempted to expel the chili demons from his body through a series of guttural screams, while j-hope tried to walk it off. RM kept his tears hidden behind his sunglasses, while Jimin and Jung Kook mostly played it cool, rallying themselves every round with an enthusiastic "come on, wing!" And then there was Suga: the silent wing assassin, who only showed his weakness at the very end.

As the wings got hotter, the conversation only got more charming. Jin talked about his love of fishing, Jung Kook shared his perfect tteokbokki recipe, and the group reflected on their latest album, Arirang, and the world tour that just kicked off in Seoul.

Even through sweat dabbing, milk chugging, and increasingly desperate reactions to the wings, the episode doubled as a reminder of why spending time with BTS is always such a delight: No matter how chaotic things get, they never stop being deeply themselves — especially when it comes to their favorite anime OSTs.

Hollywood actors playing fictionalised versions of themselves isn't new. George Clooney in Jay Kelly, Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Bruce Campbell in My Name Is Bruce, Paul Giamatti in Cold Souls, Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm, and hell, the entire cast of This Is the End. Keanu Reeves, widely known as one of Hollywood's nicest actors, already played a fictional version of himself in Ali Wong and Randall Park's Always Be My Maybe, exaggerating his affable attributes as a disarmingly wonderful date.

However, in Outcome, Reeves explores a more earnest approach to a life in Hollywood, leaning into a desperation to be seen as a good person — and to maintain that public reputation amid a turbulent private life. Directed, starring, and co-written by Jonah Hill (with Ezra Woods), the latest of Hill's Strong Baby productions, Outcome sends Reeves on an apology tour through the past, in a framework reminiscent of Noah Baumbach's Jay Kelly, Jim Jarmusch's Broken Flowers, or Neil LaBute's Some Girl(s).

A star-studded affair with opulent production design, Outcome often swims on the surface of the tale it's trying to tell, while still giving sharply written consideration of what it means to be a famous person looking down the barrel of reputational threat.

Outcome sees Keanu Reeves as himself, kinda, not really.

Keanu Reeves and a a near-unrecognisable Jonah Hill. Credit: Apple

Reeves plays a fictionalised version of himself as Reef Hawk, a child star who's grown into one of Hollywood's most beloved movie stars. Unlike Reef, who has been working since he was six, Reeves made his big screen debut at 21 in Youngblood. But what is relatable to Reeves is his character's reputation as a nice guy, with the John Wick star's congeniality well-documented on the internet.

However, as always with public life, there's a private reality. Reef is now five years sober from a heroin addiction, one the public never saw (nor do we), but a time his high school best friends Kyle (Cameron Diaz) and Xander (Matt Bomer) helped him through. An actor who began his career pre-internet, Reef is now paranoid about his reputation. He's desperate to cling to this down-to-earth facade. His friends have to pull him away from talking to set crew, referring to it as "MOPing… Man-of-the-People-ing," and he's constantly googling himself to luxuriate in People headlines like "Reef Hawk still beloved by fans."

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And it's this cherished rep that's threatened in one phone call from his lawyer Ira (a near-unrecognisable Hill): "There's a video."

Who is extorting Hollywood's most beloved star? No one hates this guy, right? Well…maybe his first manager (Martin Scorsese!) or his first girlfriend (Welker White), his reality star mother (All My Children icon Susan Lucci) or perhaps former crew, studio executives, his old trainer, his new trainer, the three shelter dogs he returned…

Yes, that's Martin Scorsese. Credit: Apple

So begins an apology tour for the screen star, one that sees him making amends with people from his past. With a set-up like this, it's impossible not to compare Outcome to Baumbach's Jay Kelly, which saw Clooney as an actor facing similar realities. As Mashable entertainment editor Kristy Puchko wrote in her Jay Kelly review, that film interrogates movie stardom in "an odd love letter to the industry, one that recognizes its warts and still declares devotion." In contrast, Outcome seems to hold little love for Hollywood, instead presenting Reeves as a former child star surrounded by yes people, whose bad behaviour has gone unapologised for now that he's an adult. We never actually see this behaviour — we only hear about it — but it's clear his experiences with addiction and substance abuse have burned some bridges.

Outcome's cast is heavily star-studded.

Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer are a dream team. Credit: Apple

Make no mistake, Outcome is brimming with names, all of whom know a thing or two about Hollywood. As Reeves' obnoxious, fast-talking, pop culture-referencing crisis lawyer, Hill is undoubtedly why many people will watch the film, having made headlines for his character's appearance in prosthetics. Like Adam Sandler's exceptional performance in Jay Kelly as the protagonist's long-suffering manager Ron, Hill's Ira upstages Reeves' Reef as the well-connected friend on the payroll who makes everything happen or go away. Ira is the one who's been there through the ups and the downs — and making sure the downs don't hit the papers. Hill understands his own penned assignment here, hurtling Ira through a flurry of unsettling one-liners. If you need clarity on Ira's moral compass, his office is filled with portraits of former clients Kanye West and Kevin Spacey, and the bumper sticker on his car reads, "Honk if you can separate art from the artist."

And then there's Cameron Diaz and Matt Bomer. As Reef's besties Kyle and Xander, it's entirely possible they deserve the biggest apology of all. These two actors seem to be having the best time, bringing heart and hilarity to these literal supporting roles. "I love outlandish humor with my friends!" Kyle chuckles, pretend-smoking on the highway with Xander. They're the base Reef often overlooks, though the film does not, giving the pair plenty of heartfelt and meme-able scenes.

Meanwhile, the parading lineup of names here gives The Studio, another industry satire from Apple, a run for its money. Scorsese (who also appeared in The Studio) is straight-up wonderful as Reef's first manager, Richie "Red" Rodriguez, who convincingly muses on Hollywood heydays — after being almost upstaged by Weapons' Cary Christopher as straight-talkin' child star. Making up Ira's crack team of lawyers ("Reef Unit") that cover what might be on the video is the all-star lineup of Laverne Cox, Roy Wood Jr., and Atsuko Okatsuka. Whether it's racist behaviour or sexual misconduct, Reef's team is prepared for every possible outcome. They sit through probably the most jaw-dropping dialogue in the film, an unsettling satirical monologue about "victim capitalism" by Cox's character that's sure to spark opinion pieces. Plus, Drew Barrymore makes a fitting cameo as herself, in a frankly missed opportunity for the film. Though Barrymore briefly connects with Reef about being a child star and growing up in Hollywood, Outcome doesn't move beyond a surface-level moment here.

Outcome boasts sublime production design.

Lush. And also Susan Lucci! Credit: Apple

Outcome is extremely beautiful to look at. Production designer and frequent Sofia Coppola/Spike Jonze collaborator K.K. Barrett (Her, Lost in Translation, Being John Malkovich, Adaptation) works with art director Jourdan Henderson (Madame Web) to craft a kaleidoscopic aesthetic for Outcome that feels one degree removed from reality. Every scene in Outcome feels somewhat like it takes place on a set, or is revealed to actually be a set. Everything is drenched in saturated light, with backgrounds that often look like backgrounds, hammering home the perpetual nature of Hollywood's conflict with the real world.

"Just because it's performative doesn't mean it's not the truth," declares Reef's reality star mother Dinah. "Why can't it be both?"

The film is a wash of iridescent hues, all beautifully captured by Gaspar Noé's go-to cinematographer Benoît Debie, whose Enter the Void energy works strangely well in Outcome. Every scene in Reef's home or Ira's office seems permeated with golden glows or neon gradients, which make them feel just a little bit unreal.

Through this vivid aesthetic, Outcome dabbles in questions of fame, acknowledging the village of people it takes to support (or protect) a movie star, as Reeves plays a man full of reluctant apology. It's a crowded space, movies seeing major stars explore fictionalised versions of themselves, and Reeves playing on his nice guy reputation makes for a strong drawcard. Though the film could have dived even deeper, it's a shimmering pool for consideration. 

Outcome premieres on Apple TV April 10.

The Conners. And Just Like That. Fuller House. That '90s Show. As a millennial and an entertainment critic, I thought I'd grown numb to reboots of adored shows from my youth. Too often, these reboots lack the heart or the edge of the original, peddling nostalgia over anything substantial. Or else, I've just moved on and can't be bothered with what Carrie Bradshaw is doing anymore.

Occasionally, however, a reboot breaks through my jaded walls by being a sensational recapturing of the original show's magic and providing fresh fun. King of the Hill managed this last year by letting animated characters Hank, Peggy, and Bobby Hill grow up. And now Disney+ has managed it with the truly spectacular Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair. 

To be totally honest, I wasn't particularly looking forward to this reboot. Sure, I loved the original series, which launched in 2000. Malcolm in the Middle was a show I adored for its intense verve and wacky antics. Rejecting the laugh track and the feel-good family harmony, it broke the mold of family sitcoms, and for seven seasons, critics and audiences cheered it for that. But before Malcolm went off to college in the series finale, I was deep into my college years, and lost track of weekly TV.

Over the years, I hadn't thought much about Malcolm until Bryan Cranston — who I knew chiefly as the very hairy, happy-go-lucky dad Hal — became the renowned dramatic leading man of Breaking Bad. Which is all to say, I couldn't have predicted how much it would mean to me to see Hal, Lois, Malcolm, and the whole gang back again. 

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair is more than a reunion or a reboot. This four-part miniseries is a joyful celebration of a great show, and terrific proof of concept that now is its time…again. 

What do you need to remember about Malcolm in the Middle to watch Life's Still Unfair? 

Christopher Masterson, Emy Coligado, Justin Berfield, and Frankie Muniz star in "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair." Credit: Disney+

Malcolm's family is made up of his domineering mother Lois (the epic Jane Kaczmarek), his daffy dad (Cranston), his trouble-addicted older brothers Francis (Christopher Masterson) and Reese (Justin Berfield), his oddball younger brother Dewey (Caleb Ellsworth-Clark taking over for Erik Per Sullivan), and baby brother Jamie, along with Malcolm himself. Then, in the season finale, as Malcolm prepped to go off to Harvard, Lois found out she was pregnant again. 

Set a little less than 20 years after the Season 7 finale "Graduation," Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair picks up with Malcolm as a single dad with a teen daughter named Leah (Keeley Karsten), a promising girlfriend (Fear Street's Kiana Madeira), a career dedicated to giving back, and a large geographical distance between him and his oft-hysterical family. But with Hal and Lois' 40th wedding anniversary around the corner, the whole family is getting together — and Malcolm won't be able to stay away. 

Along with seeing where Frances, Dewey, Reese, and Jamie have wound up, Life's Still Unfair also introduces their nonbinary teen sibling Kelly (Vaughan Murrae), who follows after their brother Malcolm when it comes to insight and outwitting their siblings. And just like that, we're off and running. 

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair is instantly addictive. 

Bryan Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek return with "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair." Credit: Disney+

Malcolm and the Middle was about high energy from the moment "Boss of Me Now" — the banger of a theme song by They Might Be Giants — blared at the start of every episode. Life's Still Unfair brings in a cover of this track, but the vibes are still the same. Right away, Malcolm is talking with a manic precision direct to camera, catching us up on all he's got going on. Then, in the blink of an eye, his daughter Leah takes up the torch and the direct-address narration. 

From there, Reese will zip in with stinging accusations. Lois will snarl with comedic sharpness. And Hal will throw himself, naked and full-bodied, into any physical comedy gag creator/showrunner Linwood Boomer comes up with. Sure, it'll begin with a classic callback to Lois shaving Hal's back in the middle of the kitchen (while a horrified Dewey is unwilling witness via a video call). But by episode three, Cranston is not just nude, not just silly, but writhing on dirty linoleum, recreating Hal's birth, using his own hands as a makeshift labia. And that's not even the wildest moment of this reboot. 

It's been 20 years, but this ensemble hasn't missed a step. Muniz seems to effortlessly slide back into the rapid-fire dialogue. Kaczmarek is on fire as the blue-collared mother whose ferocity is her love language. Masterson and Berfield smoothly reconnect to the frantic energy of their troublemaker characters, while Ellsworth-Clark is so skilled at recreating Dewey's comically outraged reactions that I didn't realize the series had recast. (Don't cry for Per Sullivan. Per Cranston, he's studying for his master's at Harvard and glad the reboot's happening but not interested in coming back.) 

As to the youngest sibling, props to Murrae, who joins the mayhem with a terrific confidence from the moment they shout for some decorum (or at least less nutsack visibility) in the kitchen. Karsten and Madeira likewise find the rabid rhythm of the show, giving Muniz new funny frictions to play against. But there's also a jaw-dropping amount of familiar faces, including Francis' wife Paima (Emy Coligado) and Malcolm's short-of-breath bestie Stevie (Craig Lamar Traylor). There's more, but I hate to spoil the thrill of recognition as these goofballs rise.  

Frankie Muniz and Jane Kaczmarek are back at it, and good as ever.

Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, and Jane Kaczmarek face off in "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair." Credit: Disney+

The main plot line of Life's Still Unfair is one that will likely hit home for a lot of millennials. Having realized how his parents' behavior and pressures have impacted his mental health, Malcolm has kept them at a geographical and emotional distance. He avoids any argument, because he can't handle being face-to-face with any of them — especially his mom. (If you remember Lois' big finale speech, you'll probably get why!) 

The women in Malcom's life urge him to reconnect with his mom. And as was often the case on the series, there's a confrontation that is silly, heart-wrenching, and heartwarming. There's an electricity when Muniz and Kaczmarek face off, because as intense as they get, the thrum underneath their volume is a resounding love for each other. Malcolm wants to make her proud; Lois wants him to be the best he can be. And — just like it meant a lot to me to see how Bobby Hill turned out on King of the Hill's reboot — seeing Malcolm grown up, and not all figured out, shook me to my core. Because yeah, me too. 

For all its pratfalls and gross-out gags, Malcolm in the Middle always explored this blue-collar family with a deep awareness of their humanity and hope. Seeing Boomer bring that back, as radiant as ever, felt like slipping into a beloved old coat, warm and familiar. But the edge is still there. In the finale of this miniseries, there's a confrontation between the mother-son duo that had me clenching a pillow — and my partner's hand — for emotional support. Because while I haven't thought about them in years, these two still live in my heart, and could tear it apart with too harsh a word. Thankfully, Boomer hasn't lost his touch. 

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair had me laughing, gasping, and crying. It's just sensational. But there's one more thing we need to address. 

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair should earn Bryan Cranston a comedy Emmy. 

Bryan Cranston is impeccable in "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair." Credit: Disney+

Muniz and Kaczmarek are excellent scene partners. Cranston and Kaczmarek are absolutely divine. As was true of the original series, they have a mesmerizing chemistry that makes Hal and Lois seem logical despite their absolute opposite energies. With a short season that focuses on their planning an anniversary party, there's plenty of opportunity for the two to play together, and sweetness and silliness abounds — like when Hal offers a saucy flash mob to show his love. But Cranston just goes above and beyond. 

Yes, I mentioned, he gets nude. But it's not just that. It's the freedom within the nudity, allowing the angles of his body to be posed for modesty in the most ludicrous ways. It's that a psychedelic drug trip for his character gives Cranston the opportunity to show his range as Hal faces various versions of himself. Cranston could teach a master class on how to mug. His physical comedy is so committed that I marveled across a montage of mishaps, his pill-bugging over bad news, an internal battle turned external smackdown, and a dance number that is a glittering, glorious disaster. 

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It's not that it's a surprise Cranston can deliver such comedy. He's been Emmy-nominated three times before for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in this role, and he won an Emmy in 2025 for his guest spot in The Studio. He's shown us how hard he can go into drama with Breaking Bad (where he won most of his seven total Emmys). But to return to this familiar space after 20 years and give a show-stopping performance ep after ep? Give the man the trophy for his range, his commitment, and the cake.

Without giving it away, there's a scene involving birthday cake. In it, Cranston is sublimely silly, performing Hal as a living cartoon character. But also, he allows us through no words, just that mug, to take in the metaphor of the cake. What it means and how Hal feels about it is one of the most joyful moments of television we're likely to get in 2026. It made me laugh and cry like a damned emoji, because few shows can be this ludicrous and truly poignant at the same time. 

Which is all to say, you should not miss Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair. Where last week I lamented how nostalgia can be callously employed by companies to turn audiences into consumers, this week, I'm teary-eyed over the drug-addled, high-stress antics of a dysfunctional family I hadn't thought about in years. Boomer and his awesome ensemble didn't come back for a cash-grab reunion. They came back committed to reigniting the fire of a great show to craft together a marvelous new chapter, alive with humor, heart, and fart jokes. 

Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair debuts on April 10 on Disney+ and Hulu.

SAVE $1,200.01: The Bluetti Elite 300 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $1,098.99, down from the list price at Bluetti of $2,299. That's a 52% discount.

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Credit: Bluetti

Bluetti Elite 300 portable power station

$1,098.99 at Amazon
$2,299 Save $1,200.01

 

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A portable power station is the perfect item to pack along on a camping or RV trip. If you're heading off-grid, boondocking, or overlanding, you understand the headache of keeping essential tech powered up. Thankfully, a portable power station is ready to help out, and it becomes even more useful when paired with a solar panel. If you could use an upgraded power station, check out today's deal at Amazon.

As of April 9, the Bluetti Elite 300 portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $1,098.99, marked down from the list price at Bluetti of $2,299. That's a major 52% discount that takes $1,200.01 off the price.

With a compact size, the Bluetti Elite 300 packs in 3,014Wh of battery capacity. In real-life scenarios, that works out to recharging a laptop over 30 times, powering an induction cooktop for over two hours, or keeping inside RV lights on for over 65 hours.

Bluetti focused on user-friendliness with this model, and you'll get four AC outlets, one 2,400W TT-30 plug, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports. When it's time to recharge the Bluetti Elite 300, standard wall charging for 1.8 hours will get you back to 100 percent power. You can also utilize up to 1,200W of solar, which will take about four hours to recharge the Elite 300.

Keep in mind a 3,014Wh battery is heavy and this model comes in at about 58 pounds. The two side handles make it easier to transport, but this isn't a lightweight model. However, its overall dimensions are impressively small given its power capacity. Plus, there's the option of pass-through charging and a 10 millisecond UPS time.

Before you head out on the next RV adventure, pack along the Bluetti Elite 300 while it's on sale for a major 52% discount. It'll also come in handy at home during the next power outage.

Just a few months ago, Samsung launched a really huge foldable phone. Now, it seems like this Friday might be your last chance to get one.

The Samsung TriFold, which made waves when it launched in Asia late last year before making its western debut at CES 2026. The phone sold out almost instantly upon its U.S. release on Jan. 30 before disappearing from store shelves in March.

Samsung is committing to one more restock on April 10, both online via Samsung's website and at a smattering of retail Samsung stores across the U.S. As before, we fully expect the online restock to sell out very quickly, so your best bet might be to make it to one of the physical locations, if you can.

In a note to press, Samsung mentioned these Samsung stores as places where you can expect TriFold restocks:

• Los Cerritos Center (Cerritos, CA)

• Mall of America (Minneapolis, MN)

• Queens Center (Elmhurst, NY)

• Roosevelt Field (Garden City, NY)

• The Americana at Brand (Glendale, CA)

• The Galleria (Houston, TX)

• Stonebriar Center (Frisco, TX)

Obviously, there are huge chunks of the U.S. that are not especially close to any of those locations, so grabbing the TriFold online will be the only option for many. In person or online, it won't be easy to get your hands on the $2,899 TriFold, as Samsung has only produced the phone in very limited numbers.

Samsung hasn't said one way or another if this will be the final restock, but given that the phone was already discontinued in Korea, customers probably shouldn't bet on any more restocks in the future. Rumor has it the company has been selling the TriFold at a loss.

Given its high price and experimental form factor, this doesn't necessarily mean the phone was a failure. It could just mean that Samsung never intended to make the TriFold widely available for a long time.

In other words, if you want one, you better find a way to make it happen on Friday.

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Credit: Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold

$2,899 at Samsung

 

Learn More

The creator platform OnlyFans has changed the adult industry since its inception a decade ago. What started as a tip jar for bloggers has become an extreme moneymaker for some porn performers, making six figures a year or even in a single month. But do you have to post sexually explicit work on OnlyFans? Are you required to message back and forth with strangers? Can you actually make money on the platform? What is OnlyFans, anyway?

We're here to answer your questions.

What is OnlyFans?

OnlyFans was started in 2016 by British entrepreneur Tim Stokely. Its main goal is to help content creators and artists "monetize their content while developing authentic relationships with their fanbase." This basically means the platform was created to let users post content behind a paywall, which fans have to subscribe to for access. Fans can also pay more to message back and forth with creators and "tip" to get content created on demand that's specifically tailored to their interests and tastes.

If you look back at OnlyFans promotional materials from 2016, you'll notice that it was geared towards "safe for work" creators, like bloggers and YouTubers. This changed in 2018, when the majority of its parent company, Fenix International Limited, was sold to Ukrainian-American entrepreneur Leonid Radvinsky. Radvinsky, who died in March 2026 at the age of 43, previously founded the porn site MyFreeCams. OnlyFans pivoted to porn after 2018 (despite any type of creator still allowed on the platform), and it exploded in usage and name recognition during the COVID lockdowns.

While creators don't have to post explicit content on the platform (and in fact, Mashable interviewed a creator who makes six figures from OnlyFans without nudity), it's what the platform is known for at this point. In 2021, OnlyFans announced it would ban explicit content, only to reverse the decision days later due to backlash.

How much money can creators make on it?

It depends on the kind of content you're producing, how much reach you have, and a whole host of other variables, but creators can make anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to a few thousand. In 2023, the average OnlyFans creator made just $1,300 a year from the platform, but Mashable has interviewed creators who've made millions from it. Last year, current OnlyFans CEO Keily Blair shared that the platform paid out $25 billion to creators since 2016.

But if you think OnlyFans is "easy money," think again. Last year, Mashable interviewed different creators about the work that goes into building a successful OnlyFans, including investing in camera equipment, hiring help, and marketing yourself.

How do you subscribe to creators?

You don't have to be a creator to use the platform — in fact, it's fueled by users who don't post on the platform. In order to subscribe to creators, you simply have to create an OnlyFans account, go to the Home page, and find someone you're interested in following. Check out their subscription tiers, and decide what kind of bundle or offer you're interested in paying for. You can also tip a creator any amount you want, or pay for messages and individualized content with pay-per-view messages that range anywhere from a couple dollars to more than $100, depending on the creator.

And if you have a friend who's started posting on OnlyFans and you want to support them, there are ways to do that, too, from subscribing to their pages to offering emotional support.

This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2026.

The best Home Depot cordless tools deals at a glance:

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Best Milwaukee BOGO deal

Milwaukee Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

$399 (free tool with purchase)

Shop Now

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Best DeWalt BOGO deal

DeWalt FLEXVOLT 60V MAX Cordless Brushless Circular Saw

$299 (free tool with purchase)

Shop Now

---

Best Makita BOGO deal

Makita Plunge Circular Saw Kit

$719 (free tool with purchase)

Shop Now

---

Best Ryobi deal

Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit

$369 (save $160)

Shop Now

Black Friday in April? Sure, why not. This year, Home Depot is celebrating the season by offering steep discounts on everything we need for spring yard work, getting those DIY projects underway, and preparing for outdoor summer fun. It's a great time to save on plants, mulch, a new lawn mower, patio furniture, pizza ovens, barbecues, and even major home appliances like refrigerators.

But of course, Home Depot is always a go-to if you're in need of fresh cordless tools. Whether you'll use them for home or on the job site, shopping the Home Depot Spring Sale for deals is a smart move. We're seeing nice BOGO offers from big hitters like DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita that'll offer a free extra bonus with purchase. In addition to the BOGO deals, we have nice offers from Ryobi and Ridgid.

While the spring sale at Home Depot only started on April 9, we're already seeing some BOGO deals that have sold out way ahead of the sale's official end date of April 22. If this trend continues, it might be worth shopping soon to get the best selection. Here are some standout offers.

Best Milwaukee BOGO deal

Opens in a new window

Credit: Milwaukee

Milwaukee Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

$399 at Home Depot

free Milwaukee M18 18-​Volt Lithium-​Ion High Output Battery Pack with purchase

Get Deal

Why we like it

Milwaukee is one of the standout cordless tool brands, and they have deals abound during the Home Depot Spring Black Friday sale. One of the most attractive is snagging the Milwaukee M18 FUEL 18V Lithium-Ion Brushless Cordless Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit for $399 and getting the Milwaukee M18 18-Volt Lithium-Ion High Output Battery Pack 6.0Ah for free. That works out to a saving of $199.

Home Depot mentions the compact hammer drill is the most powerful in its class with the quickest driving speed. Milwaukee also added an auto-stop feature that eliminates over-rotation. Plus, the three LED lights that surround the bit and fastener are ideal for getting a clear view.

Best DeWalt BOGO deal

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Credit: DeWalt

DeWalt FlexVolt 60V MAX Cordless Brushless 7-1/4 inch Circular Saw

$299 at Home Depot

free DeWalt FlexVolt 20V/​60V MAX Lithium-​Ion 6.​0Ah Battery Pack with purchase

Get Deal

Why we like it

This BOGO deal offers a serious value. Snag the DeWalt FlexVolt 60V MAX Cordless Brushless 7-1/4 inch Circular Saw for $299 from Home Depot and get the DeWalt FlexVolt 20V/​60V MAX Lithium-​Ion 6.​0Ah Battery Pack with 6 Amp Output Charger for free, which ordinarily costs $249. That makes this one of the best BOGO values in the Home Depot spring sale.

The DeWalt FlexVolt family features over 180 tools with the Circular Saw offering 2,456 unit watts out. There's an electric brake, integrated LED lights, and even rafter hooks for easy storage.

Best Ryobi deal

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Credit: Ryobi

Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit

$369 at Home Depot
$529 Save $160

 

Get Deal

Why we like it

While this deal isn't part of Home Depot's BOGO offers, it's still an excellent buy. The Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 8-Tool Combo Kit is 30% off and serves as a great DIY combo kit for all sorts of home projects. There's a driver/drill, impact driver, reciprocating saw, circular saw, multi-tool, and more. To keep things neat and organized, the Ryobi kit comes with two tool bags.

Tesla is working on a new car, and it's going to be exactly what many are hoping for: a smaller, cheaper electric SUV.

This is according to Reuters, which spoke with four people familiar with the matter. According to the report, the new car will be an entirely new model, and not a variant of the Model 3 or Model Y (Tesla recently discontinued its larger sedan and SUV, the Model S and the Model X).

The new Tesla SUV would be about 14 feet long, making it considerably shorter than the Model Y, which is 15.7 feet long. It would also be "substantially" cheaper than the Model 3, which is currently the most affordable Tesla you can get, starting at $37,000 in the U.S.

The new SUV, which Tesla plans to manufacture in China, might also be offered with a smaller battery and just a single motor instead of two (both the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y can come with either with one or two motors). This would make the car lighter than other Tesla models, but the smaller battery might also mean it'll have less range than existing models.

There are no details on when Tesla plans to launch the new car, and the report says that the project is still in an "early development stage," meaning it might not happen at all.

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The fact that Tesla is working on something isn't a secret; just a few weeks ago the company CEO Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla is working on something "way cooler than a minivan."

Figuring out exactly what Tesla's exact plans are is another matter. The company is working on an autonomous vehicle called the Cybercab (or the Robovan; the name doesn't seem to be set in stone yet). And Tesla was reportedly working on a cheaper model for years before scrapping it, seemingly in favor of offering cheaper variants of existing models.

Notably, when Reuters reported on Tesla giving up on launching a cheaper model in 2024, Musk tweeted that the news agency was "lying". The fact is, the company never did launch a cheaper model; we'll see if things turn out differently this time.

Tax Day is nearly here, and with it comes tax scams. The U.S. Congressional Joint Economic Committee has issued a scam alert, with less than a week to go until the tax filing deadline. The warning is, unfortunately, needed, given that nearly one in four Americans have reported being victimized by tax season scams, according to March 2026 research by McAfee.

The alert, seen by Mashable, has other alarming findings: During fiscal year 2025, the IRS reported more than 600 social media impersonators of the agency. Spam blocker app Nomorobo found a 400 percent increase in fraudulent calls claiming to be from the IRS between Jan. and Feb. this year. Fake tax websites are also on the rise, with McAfee identifying 43 new ones every day between Sept. 2025 and Feb. 2026.

"Criminal enterprises are exploiting tax season to target Americans, including seniors," said Joint Economic Committee Chairman and Arizona Rep. David Schweikert in a press release shared with Mashable. Adults 70 years old and older lost more money to fraud than younger adults, according to the median of data collected by the Federal Trade Commission in 2024: $1,650 for seniors 80 and older and $1,000 for 70-79 year-olds, compared to $189-691 for younger groups.

Schweikert is issuing the alert, along with Ranking Member New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan, Vice Chairman Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt, and Senior House Democrat Virginia Rep. Don Beyer.

"As Americans file their taxes this month, scammers are deploying an onslaught of attacks — often enhanced by artificial intelligence — designed to steal people's money," Hassan stated in the release. "I encourage all taxpayers to review the tips in this bipartisan scams alert so that they can stay vigilant and protect their identities and accounts."

Here are tips the Joint Economic Committee lays out to avoid common IRS impersonation scams:

• Be wary of phone calls, emails, or social media outreach. The IRS will never message you on social media! The agency will almost always initiate contact by mail, according to the committee.

• Watch out for urgent requests or threats. The IRS will never threaten to call law enforcement or request to see your driver's license. On that note, the agency will never ask for payment via nontraditional methods such as gift cards.

• You can verify any communications with the IRS directly on the official IRS.gov website.

• You can share an IRS-issued identity protection PIN instead of your Social Security Number.

The committee also urges precaution when dealing with third-party tax services. Here are some tips for identifying non-IRS tax scams:

• Research firms by searching them on sites like the Better Business Bureau. If an offer seems too good to be true, it often is.

• Go to IRS.gov and verify the service's Preparer Tax Identification Number (PTIN). If the service doesn't provide this, avoid it.

• Scammers may pretend to be legitimate third-party tax preparation companies or employees. Verify the provider by visiting the official website and calling the listed phone number.

If you believe you're a victim of a tax scam, you can report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Have a story to share about a scam or security breach that impacted you? Tell us about it. Email submissions@mashable.com with the subject line "Safety Net" or use this form. Someone from Mashable will get in touch.

Dyson announced its first portable handheld fan on Wednesday, and it's now available for purchase.

The new HushJet Mini Cool retails for $99, which makes it pricey for a portable fan but more accessible than Dyson's other luxe gadgets. Perhaps most impressively, the HushJet is much cheaper than the Shark ChillPill, a new portable fan released earlier this spring by one of Dyson's biggest rivals.

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Credit: Dyson

Dyson HushJet Mini Cool

$99 at Dyson.com

 

Shop Now

The HushJet Mini Cool weighs only 7.5 ounces, or just under half a pound, and measures 38 millimeters (1.5 inches) in diameter — making it just as big around as Dyson's skinny Supersonic hair dryer and PencilVac stick vacuum. The fan offers five airflow speeds and a "Boost" mode for an extra blast of air. It lasts up to six hours on the lowest speed setting and charges to full battery in about three hours.

The HushJet Mini Cool's brushless DC motor spins at up to 65,000 revolutions per minute (RPM), producing airflow speeds of up to a whopping 80 feet per second or 55 miles per hour. For reference, other portable fans vetted by Mashable staff peak at 3,000 to 7,500 RPM. The HushJet is compact yet super powerful.

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool is compact yet powerful. Credit: Dyson

In its press release about the HushJet Mini Cool, Dyson stated that "Acoustics are as important as power." The company said it designed the fan's nozzle so that it doesn't whine or make a high-pitched whir. Its spec sheet notes that it runs at 52dBA (A-weighted decibels) on the first speed setting, or about as loud as the hum of a fridge. It maxes out at 72.5dBA in Boost mode, or slightly quieter than the 77dBA Supersonic hair dryer.

Chief Engineer Jake Dyson said the company has been "obsessed with airflow" since 2009, the year it launched its first bladeless fan. "The HushJet Mini Cool fan is the culmination of that journey," he explained in a statement: "powerful airflow, engineered for life on the move by bringing elite cooling technology from every home to your hand."

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool comes with a lanyard. Credit: Dyson

The HushJet Mini Cool also tees up a new chapter in the Dyson vs. Shark rivalry. Shark's stick vacuums and hair tools are regarded as some of the best affordable alternatives to Dyson's expensive counterparts.

Shark launched a 3-in-1 bladeless portable fan called the ChillPill in March. It's 64 percent heavier than the HushJet and can only move up to 25 feet of airflow per second, but it has a longer battery life, 10 speed settings, and interchangeable heads with misting and cooling functions. It's priced at $149.99.

The Dyson HushJet Mini Cool will be available in stone/blush (right) at launch. Carnelian/sky (left) and ink/colbalt (middle) finishes are coming soon. Credit: Dyson

For its part, the $99 HushJet Mini Cool will come with a charging stand, a USB-C charging cable, a travel pouch, and a lanyard for wearing around one's neck. Dyson said it will drop additional sold-separately accessories this summer, including a universal mount that attaches the fan to strollers and other items.

The HushJet Mini Cool is available in one mother-of-pearl-inspired stone/blush finish at launch this week. Additional carnelian/sky and ink/cobalt colorways will arrive in May and June, respectively, just in time for the start of wedding and music festival season.

TL;DR: Live stream the NBA for free with a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. Live stream the NBA for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA is a unique sport. There's nothing else in which incredibly tall athletes can be made to look absolutely tiny by aliens who can dunk without leaving the ground. And almost all of these shockingly tall athletes display a skillset that mere mortals can't even fathom.

The NBA could make a legitimate argument that it hosts the very best athletes in the world. Sure, the NFL might disagree. And rugby definitely attracts some special specimens. But the NBA has a bunch of seven footers dunking on each other. That's tough to beat.

If you are interested in watching the NBA for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the NBA?

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America made up of 30 teams (29 from the United States and one from Canada). The defending champions are the Oklahoma City Thunder.

When is the NBA?

The 2025–26 NBA season is the 80th edition of the competition. The regular season runs from Oct. 21 to April 12. The play-in tournament is scheduled to be played on April 14-17, followed by the playoffs on the next day, and concluding with the NBA Finals from June 4 to June 21.

The in-season NBA Cup will take place from Oct. 31 to Dec. 16.

How to watch the NBA for free

Select NBA games are available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

86 regular-season games, the Emirates Cup Championship, the play-in tournament, one third of first and second round games of the Playoffs, a Conference Finals series, and the NBA Finals are available to Prime members in the UK. The full schedule can be found here.

These free live streams are geo-restricted to the 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 UK, meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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Credit: ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan)

$12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee)

Get Deal

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 isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select NBA games before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the U.S. and UK

• 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 10 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 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 $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Watch the NBA for free with ExpressVPN.

Apple's first "e" model iPhone, the iPhone 16e, wasn't just a review unit for me; I actually lived with it as my main phone for over six months. And while I still stand by what I wrote in my review last year — it was surprisingly powerful for a "cheap" phone, with excellent battery life — the one thing I couldn't stand was its camera.

On paper, the camera was the same as the main camera on the iPhone 16. In reality, it was similar, but it produced way worse photos in low light. Photos of my kids dancing in the living room in the evening, or friends chatting over dinner, or a band playing in a small club? Most of those turned out pretty bad.

With the iPhone 17e, which came out in March, Apple fixed most of the other annoyances that plagued the original model. The camera is a little better, but is it enough?

Same look, but now with MagSafe

Focusing on said previous grievances, the iPhone 17e supports MagSafe, Apple's magnetic, wireless charging tech that makes it easy to slap various accessories onto the phone.

MagSafe support means MagSafe cases are available for the iPhone 17e, too. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Apple sent me an iPhone 17e unit for review, and I was happily able to use my Apple Wallet and magnetic chargers with it. Apple also sent me a Clear Case with MagSafe, and while it may not be my favorite case in terms of design, it was a relief to be able to charge the phone magnetically without removing the case.

The ability to use MagSafe chargers and accessories is just about the only physical difference between the iPhone 17e and 16e, though. The iPhone 17e looks exactly the same as its predecessor, with the only difference being the new color, Soft Pink. The unit Apple sent me was in this color, and I can tell you that it is a very nice, but indeed a very soft pink.

On the front, there's still no Dynamic Island; the Face ID sensors and the selfie camera are still hidden inside a notch on the top of the display. The dimensions have remained exactly the same (your old iPhone 16e case will work), and the weight is virtually the same (169 grams for the new model, 167 grams for the old one).

The display, unfortunately, still only goes up to 60Hz. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The display is still a 6.1-inch OLED that maxes out at 60Hz, and that's very apparent if you switch from a 120Hz phone; the transitions and animations aren't nearly as smooth on the iPhone 17e.

New chip, more storage

The biggest improvements on the iPhone 17e are inside the phone. It has a new chip, Apple's powerful A19, which can power the latest AI shenanigans. Apple's C1X modem has replaced the old C1 modem, though it's hard to tell what sort of improvements this has brought.

Perhaps most importantly, the iPhone 17e starts at 256GB, compared to the iPhone 16e's 128GB starting storage. Given that the iPhone 17e's starting price remains unchanged at $599, this is a pretty big deal. You can also configure the iPhone 17e with 512GB of storage, but that takes the price to $799.

The Soft Pink color is the softest pink imaginable. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The combination of having Apple's latest chip and a decent amount of storage means this phone will be relevant for at least four to five years. In fact, this makes it extremely similar to the $799 iPhone 17, though the A19 chip on the iPhone 17e has one less GPU core, meaning it'll be slightly worse for gaming. If you don't care about having the flashiest phone, and just need something that gets the work done, the iPhone 17e is a compelling choice.

When I reviewed the iPhone 16e, I was pleased with battery life and how powerful it was. But having used the phone over several months, I came away disappointed with the camera. The phone has a singular, 48-megapixel rear camera with similar specs to the iPhone 16's. But it just wasn't the same; it was alright in daytime, but night shots, or even shots taken in the relative dimness of my living room, just weren't good enough.

About that camera

The bad news is that the iPhone 17e has the same camera specs as the iPhone 16e. And yes, that means no dedicated telephoto or ultra-wide camera; just a single, 48-megapixel main camera on the back. Apple says that the new A19 chips will unlock better shots, and some new camera features are indeed here, including next-gen portraits with Focus and Depth Control. But is it better where it truly matters, which is low light shots?

Here's why insist on low light camera performance. New iPhones, especially those from the Pro line, as well as top Android phones, have spoiled the heck out of me (and probably most of you, dear readers).

One of the new camera features on the iPhone 17e is support for Apple's next-gen portraits. I managed to capture some beautiful shots, but the iPhone 17e's camera still seemed to struggle with focus and depth. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

It's easy to forget just how hard it was to get a decent low light shot on a smartphone just a few years ago. These days, however, I'm used to being able of taking a photo in a dim pub, or during an evening stroll, and have the phone automagically increase brightness and exposure while accommodating for the movements of my shaky hand. It's hard to go back to a phone that doesn't do that well.

So yeah, the iPhone 17e takes decent photos in broad daylight. All modern phones do. Selfies are alright, too, though nothing to write home about.

The selfie camera is still the old, 12-megapixel one. The other series 17 iPhones all have a better, 18-megapixel camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

If you want to zoom in with the iPhone 17e, you can do that, but it's purely digital: You'll simply get a smaller cutout of what the camera sensor has captured, and while the shot quality will remain the same, the resolution will be lower.

Left: The zoomed imag is just a digital cutout, but it can yield decent results. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Indoors, and in the evening, is where the camera's weaknesses show. Sometimes, Apple's Night Mode will kick in and save the day, producing a decent shot (while still not as good as the main camera on my iPhone 17 Pro Max). But sometimes you'll just get a smudgy, blurry shot, or the tones will be overly yellow.

The photo on the left was taken with the iPhone 17e, the one on the right with the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Left: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

Right: Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable

The good news is that it does seem that the iPhone 17e's camera is a little better than the one on the iPhone 16e when it comes to low-light shots.

The biggest issue, perhaps, lies in expectations. Check Apple's official tech specs for the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, and iPhone 17e, and they're all listed as having a "48MP Fusion Main" camera, which might lead you to believe they cameras are the same. They're not, so just have that in mind when you're shopping for a new iPhone.

A pretty good entry-level iPhone

It's improved, it's affordable, but the iPhone 17 may be a better option if you need a good camera. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

All things considered, the iPhone 17e is a decent upgrade over its predecessor, and a good choice if you want the cheapest new iPhone you can get. It's got MagSafe, more storage, and Apple's powerful A19 cheap. But if you need a better, more versatile camera, the iPhone 17 is a better choice.

This text is an expanded version of the hands-on iPhone 17e article which you can read on Mashable.

TL;DR: TCGplayer has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Display listed from $109.49 with shipping included. That puts it $1.63 below TCGplayer’s current $111.12 market price, while also undercutting Amazon’s $119.95 listing.

Where to buy the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box

---

Best TCGplayer deal

Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box

$109.49 at TCGplayer

Shop Now

---

Best Amazon deal

Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box

$119.95 at Amazon

Shop Now

Booster box prices for newer Magic: The Gathering sets can slide around after launch, and Lorwyn Eclipsed has now dipped to one of its most tempting prices since release.

As of April 9, TCGplayer has the Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Display listed from $109.49 shipped. TCGplayer’s own current market price sits at $111.12, while its listed median is still far higher at $144.99. Amazon, meanwhile, has the same box priced at $119.95, so TCGplayer is currently the better buy by a pretty comfortable margin. 

This display box includes 30 Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Boosters, with each pack containing 14 Magic trading cards. Every booster includes one traditional foil card, plus 1 to 4 cards of rare or higher rarity, alongside uncommons, commons, and a land. That makes this box a strong fit whether you’re buying for Limited nights, cracking packs for collection value, or just trying to get into the set without paying inflated early pricing.

Lorwyn Eclipsed is also a fairly easy sell for longtime fans. The set heads back to the split worlds of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor, bringing back creature types like Kithkin, boggarts, merrow, and Elves while leaning into the contrast between eternal day and perpetual night.

Among the other newer MTG expansions, the Magic: The Gathering Edge of Eternities Play Booster Box is also still available for around $140. Meanwhile, you can grab the MTG Avatar The Last Airbender Play Booster Box for under $125.

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.

Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 9 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 2-3 placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 5--5, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 9 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, placed vertically; 1-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this red space must be less than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 3-2, placed horizontally; 2-6, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this purple space must add up to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 0-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this purple space must add up to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 9 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this red space must be greater than 3. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-0, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this purple space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this red space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-0, placed vertically; 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 5-1, placed horizontally; 3-1, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this dark blue space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this green space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this purple space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 3. The answer is 2-3, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Between "friction-maxxing" and the discussions regarding "social media addiction," it's safe to say that we're ambivalent about our lives online. We'd love to "touch grass," yet the bright colors of Instagram Reels lure us into remaining on our phones.

Some people, though, are making concerted efforts to decrease their screentime. But musician Leith Ross is taking it a step further: They're not looking at screens for a full year.

Not literally — they will go see a movie in the theater or borrow their partner's laptop for a Zoom interview, which is how Mashable spoke to Ross. But they no longer use a smartphone or a laptop themselves. They use an alarm clock, write by hand, and only play physical games.

The Canadian singer-songwriter still films videos for YouTube — but they record on a camcorder, and someone else uploads them to their channel with over 46,000 subscribers. 

Mashable interviewed Ross about their "year without screens," why they're doing it, and how it's changing their life.

Why go screen-free?

"It was a long time coming," Ross said. They explained that they believe they're addicted to screens and that their compulsive behavior around screens of all kinds was impacting them negatively.

Whether one can truly be addicted to screens or social media is, as of now, contested, much like sex addiction. But the World Health Organization has noted an increase in problematic social media use, such as a lack of control and experiencing negative consequences. "But it felt like everyone was dealing with the same thing," Ross said. They didn't have the motivation to try to do anything about it.

One day, though, their phone was dead. Their TV wasn't working, either, or something like that kept them off screens.

Then, they wrote a song they really liked, and they had an epiphany: There are probably hundreds of songs they could've written that never came to be because they were never bored.

"I felt a lot of grief in that moment, because writing music is what I love to do, and…and it feels like something I was supposed to do with my life," they said. "And I had just not been doing it as much as I could have."

That thought spiraled into thinking about how many books they wanted to read, too, which led them to wanting to do this project. Cutting things one bit at a time wasn't going to work, as it hadn't worked for them before. So they made a plan.  It took several months to implement, but since Jan. 6, 2026, Ross has been living (by and large) screen-free.

"My year of no screens"

In a seven-page document, Ross outlines the rules for their year with no screens as well as a mission statement. No smartphones, no TV, no laptop or desktop computer, and no gaming systems, with limited exceptions. For instance, they can use a library computer for essentials, such as booking flights. Their family also requests FaceTimes, which are done on a friend's or their partner's phone and supervised. 

Ross has uploaded two YouTube updates since starting their year with no screens, one at the end of Jan. (that has over 100,000 views) and another in Feb. Since then, they (or rather, their team) have also posted a song demo and vlogs from the European leg of their I Can See The Future Tour, a string of shows to support the release of their second album of the same name.

Compulsive screen use and information overload

What problematic screen use looked like in Ross's life was a constant need to be online or looking at a screen, an extreme anxiety or bad feeling in their body when they didn't have access, and a muscle memory of always reaching for a device.

Many people believe they're addicted to social media these days, and their screentime is in the double-digit daily hours. But Ross admitted that they may be a more extreme case, saying they couldn't physically stop themself from being online or scrolling or even watching TV.

"If I was having an anxious night, I would just be on TikTok until four in the morning or later, because as soon as I put it down, I felt that like horrible, overwhelming anxiety," they said. "It was just like my constant, constant, constant coping mechanism for everything."

But they hesitate to support social media bans for children, such as the mandate enacted in Australia last Dec.

"Our aim should be less on making policy that affects the population and more on making policy that affects the tech companies that are f*cking us over," they said, "for lack of a better term." They brought up social media algorithms that amplify hate speech and disturbing content, and that there should be a moral standard for what is shared and pushed by algorithms. 

Social media gives us the illusion of being connected, they said, but we're bombarded with information in an unhelpful way that shuts us down. We don't see uplifting content like liberation work — at least, that's not what Ross was seeing during their last couple of months online.

When they used social media, they also hyperfixated on how others perceived them — a common complaint. For example, last time they toured, they'd immediately go online after a show to see what they and their bandmates looked like, what they sounded like, and what people thought. But during their most recent tour, which ended weeks ago, they "couldn't lean on anybody else's experience at all." 

"I just had to take it at face value for what happened to me," they said, "and it sounds so funny, because isn't that just the human experience?" 

Not seeing the concert through other people's eyes was strange, but it made Ross happier. They weren't overanalyzing themself, how they looked on stage, or their behavior. "There was nothing that I could cling to and be hard on myself about in that way," they said.

"I was really forced into the moment, the present, which is a great feeling," Ross said.

How relationships change post-social media

Besides their relationship with themself, their relationships with other people have changed since they began their year of no screens — for good and bad.

For the friends they see often, their relationship has improved. Since they can't keep up with friends on social media, when they see or talk with them, they're excited to hear about what's been going on. 

"It's not like I wasn't excited to hear about my friends before, but I felt like I already knew," they said.

On the flip side, they said, "I now am not really allowed any illusion of being close to a person that I'm not actually close to." There are people Ross considered close friends before the project started, and while they still do, they don't really connect as much. Before, they felt an intimacy with people just replying to their Instagram stories.

"And I'm not saying that that's unimportant," they said. "But I am realizing that…I don't actually see them very much or at all, and…that we didn't have an ability to connect often and well outside of being online."

"It feels a bit lonely at times," they said, "but it's also inspiring me to strengthen those relationships in real, tangible ways that I can control."

They've also set up a P.O. Box and receive letters from fans and viewers. "Getting a handwritten letter is like a joy that I haven't experienced since I was very young, and it's so fun," they said. They used to be affirmed by kind DMs, now — similar to catching up with friends — receiving these positive messages now "feels like that much more rare and special and unique," especially because of the effort required to write and send a physical letter.

Should I do a year with no screens?

Ross recommends that anyone do this to the amount that they feel capable of — and not for the reasons you might think.

Beyond getting your attention span back, wanting to read more books, and be more creative, Ross believes there's a larger existential threat that makes them want to encourage others to lessen their screentime. 

They believe that an emotional distance has been created between people and their community due to capitalism, individualism, and social media. We're not tangible to each other, and we have less desire to sacrifice for others and do the hard things that make the world better, they said. Living a less digital life and being a part of a physical community may help with that.

"I feel like we need to find a very concrete way back to each other, so that when push comes to shove, we will have real, physical communities in our lives that can take care of us and who we can take care of," they said. 

They won't stop at a year, but when the year is up, they'll likely be less strict, they said. One of the main things they don't anticipate, though, is ever getting a smartphone again. The number one thing that has brought them back to their body and self is not having a computer on them at all times, they said.

For now, they seem to be frictionmaxxing to the extreme — not that they've seen the meme online before Mashable told them about it. 

"It's nice to hear from the other side of the veil [that] I'm relating to an online trend," they joked.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know basketball player nicknames.

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.

What is Connections: Sports Edition?

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.

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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.

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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.

Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: High performers

• Green: Combat lingo

• Blue: Also known as

• Purple: Same first word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: A team's best player

• Green: MMA terms

• Blue: Nicknames of former NBA players, with "the"

• Purple: Mr. ____

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

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 #563 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• A team's best player - CENTERPIECE, HEADLINER, LEAD, STAR

• MMA terms - ARMBAR, CHOKE, CLINCH, SUBMISSION

• Nicknames of former NBA players, with "the" - ANSWER, BIG DIPPER, MATRIX, TRUTH

• Mr. ___ - 3000, HOCKEY, MET, OCTOBER

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.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Connections.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, April 9, 2026:

Across

Slip-on shoe ... or something you don't want in your bathtub

• The answer is Clog.

Ancient artifact

• The answer is Relic.

In a most unusual way

• The answer is Oddly.

Springs in a mattress

• The answer is Coils.

Raven's haven

• The answer is Nest.

Down

Slip-on shoe .. or something you really don't want in your bathtub

• The answer is Croc.

Strung along

• The answer is Led on.

Boomer's bop, nowadays

• The answer is Oldie.

Breathing organs for fish

• The answer is Gills.

Fluid-filled lump

• The answer is Cyst.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Orion is in space, the Artemis II crew is returning from the moon, and you can follow their journey without leaving Earth.

NASA's Artemis Real-time Orbit Website, or AROW, allows the public to track the moonship. During the roughly 10-day test flight, anyone with a phone or computer can see how far the crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen — are from Earth.

The tracker turns a complex deep space mission into something easier to understand at a glance. With data from sensors on the spacecraft, AROW takes information already flowing to mission control in Houston and interprets it into simple visuals for the layperson. Instead of trying to picture where the crew might be, you can actually see their path, distances, and major milestones as they happen.

People can download the NASA app or go to the website to give the tracker a spin. 

AROW began updating about a minute after liftoff on Wednesday, April 1, and will keep feeding live information until Orion dives back into Earth's atmosphere for a splashdown at the end of the mission. Online, users can see where the spacecraft sits in space and trace its figure-eight route.

NASA's Artemis Real-time Orbit Website provides the public with information about the Artemis II moon mission as it happens. Credit: NASA / AROW screenshot

NASA designed the website to show more than a dot on a map. It highlights key moments in the mission and points out features on the moon, including landing sites from the Apollo program. That lets viewers connect what they’re seeing today through Artemis — named after Apollo's twin sister in Greek mythology — with the first era of human exploration on the lunar surface.

The NASA app includes similar features, plus an augmented reality tracker. After calibration, the app uses phone sensors to tell you how to move your device so on‑screen markers line up with where Orion is relative to your position on Earth. 

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For people who love to pore through the numbers, AROW also shares precise data describing Orion's location and motion.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

Since launch, the crew has been in a high-Earth orbit, allowing them time to check out the systems aboard the spacecraft before pushing into a moon-bound trajectory.

Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission in the Artemis campaign and a major step toward landing on the moon and learning how to live there. By sending astronauts around the moon and bringing them home safely, NASA is attempting to prove the systems needed for future lunar landings — and, perhaps down the road, the first human mission to Mars.

SAVE OVER $200: As of April 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $279.99 at Amazon. That's $220 off its list price of $499.99.

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Credit: Roborock

Roborock Q10 S5+ Robot Vacuum and Mop

$279.99 at Amazon
$499.99 Save $220

 

Get Deal

For those days when you just don't want to vacuum, a robot vacuum is nice to have on hand. If you've been thinking about investing, there are thankfully some great deals still available post-Spring sales. Among them is the Roborock Q10 S5+ robot vacuum and mop, which is discounted right now at Amazon.

As of April 9, the Roborock Q10 S5+ is marked down to $279.99. Normally it's listed for $499.99, so this is a great opportunity to save $220. It's a model that earned a spot on our list of the best robot vacuums as the quietest pick.

The Roborock Q10 S5+ can tackle a variety of messes, as it boasts features for both vacuuming and mopping. It has 10,000 Pa suction for clearing up carpets. It even comes with a JawScrapers Comb main brush and an anti-tangle side brush that help keep hair from getting caught up inside the rollers. And as for mopping, it scrubs up to 3,000 times per minute to get out annoying stains on harder surfaces.

It also works quietly, which is what landed it on our list of the best robot vacuums. Mashable's Leah Stodart said it, "has reliably completed all missions in my apartment for weeks, and isn't nearly as obnoxious when self-emptying as most other robot vacuums I've tested — it barely reaches 70 decibels, which isn't much louder than competitors while they're just cleaning."

On top of that, its base comes with a 2.7 liter dust bag that can hold up to 70 days worth of dirt, dust, hair, and more. If it sounds like the kind of robot vacuum you've been looking for, don't miss out on this chance to save on the Roborock Q10 S5+ at Amazon.

Following days of threats, including a Truth Social post declaring that "a whole civilization will die tonight," Donald Trump has announced a "double-sided ceasefire" with Iran, a two-week period in which the contested Strait of Hormuz will allow shipping traffic.

On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert questioned the president's Wednesday social media post and his use of the term "double-sided."

"But aren't all peace deals double-sided? I believe there's a word for a single-sided ceasefire, and it's murder," the host said.

Trump also said on Truth Social that he agreed to the ceasefire because "we have already met and exceeded all military objectives" in the U.S/Israel war with Iran.

"It's true, this war reached all of its objectives," reacted Colbert. "It's been weeks since anyone mentioned the Epstein files."

Want more of the best of late night? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter.

The Moon is nearing a new lunar phase, the Third Quarter. This occurs half of the Moon’s surface appears illuminated, with the visible portion continuing to shrink each night as we move towards the New Moon.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Thursday, April 9, the Moon phase is Waning Gibbous. Tonight, 59% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

There's plenty for you to see on the surface of the Moon tonight, even if you don't have any visual aids. Just looking up with your eyes, you should be able to see the Mare Imbrium, Tycho Crater, and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars, you'll also be able to see the Gassendi Crater, Alps Mountains, and the Apennine Mountains. Finally, if you have a telescope, expect to see features like the Apollo 12 landing spot, the Schiller Crater, and the Rima Ariadaeus.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon is predicted to take place on May 1, the first of two in May.

What are Moon phases?

According to NASA, it takes the Moon roughly 29.5 days to orbit Earth, passing through eight distinct stages during that time. While the same side of the Moon always faces us, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves, which is why it can look full, partly lit, or just a slim crescent. These shifting appearances are known as the lunar phases, and there are eight in total:

New Moon - The Moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the Moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-Moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the Moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The Moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-Moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

SAVE $600: As of April 9, the Mova Z60 robot vacuum is on sale for $899 at Amazon. That's a 40% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Mova

Mova Z60 Robot Vacuum

$899 at Amazon
$1,499 Save $600

 

Get Deal

Robot vacuums are arguably one of the best smart home devices money can buy. They keep your floors clean, perhaps one of life's most arduous tasks, so you don't have to. Amazon regularly has great deals on top models, but as of April 9, this new deal on the Mova Z60 robot vacuum caught our eye. Not only is it reduced by $600, but it's dropped down to its lowest-ever price of $899 (from $1,499).

This vacuum is designed for powerful yet low-maintenance cleaning. It combines 28,000Pa suction with a HydroForce mopping system that sprays clean water while removing dirty water at the same time, so your floors are dust free and sparkly clean at all times.

It has a TroboWave DuoBrush that helps prevent hair tangles, and AutoShield technology that detects carpets and lifts the mop to prevent it from getting damp. The all-in-one docking station also takes care of tasks like dust emptying, hot water mop washing, refilling, and hot air drying, so there's next to no manual upkeep.

There's even specific pet hair-focused features such as targeted cleaning around high-traffic areas and dual solution tanks for both cleaning and odor control.

You can find this robot vacuum deal at Amazon now.

SAVE $620: As of April 9, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is on sale for $679 at Amazon. That's a 48% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Ecovacs

Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni

$679 at Amazon
$1,299.99 Save $620.99

 

Get Deal

If you've been waiting for the right time to purchase a new robot vacuum, now might be that time. As of April 9, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni has dropped down to its lowest-ever price. With over $600 off the list price, you can take it home now for $679.

This vacuum is built for a serious clean. It combines BLAST technology with a 16,600Pa suction and enhanced airflow to pick up fine dust and pet hair. Its Triple Lift System automatically raises the mop, side brush, and main brush when moving between different surfaces, helping you keep carpets dry while still keeping your hard floors sparkly clean.

This unit is almost completely self maintained, too. The OZMO Roller continuously self-washes during use to keep the mop fresh, and the ZeroTangle 2.0 helps to prevent hair from wrapping around the brush. The OMNI Station handles the rest of the maintenance by washing and drying the mop with hot water, refilling water, and emptying dust. It can even store dirt for up to 150 days before you need to empty manually.

And you don't even need to direct it around your home. This vacuum uses AIVI 3D 3.0 with LiDAR to recognise objects and map out your rooms, so it can navigate on its own.

This robot vacuum deal is available at Amazon now.

SAVE OVER $400: As of April 9, the Sony Bravia 5 65-inch TV is on sale for $1,098 at Amazon. That's a 27% discount on the list price.

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Credit: Sony

Sony Bravia 5 65-inch TV

$1,098 at Amazon
$1,499.99 Save $401.99

 

Get Deal

The Sony Bravia 5 65-inch TV is back on sale at Amazon, and if you've been looking for a new TV for movie night, this is a deal you won't want to skip. As of April 9, the price has dropped from $1,499.99 to $1,098. That's a discount of over $400 ($401.99, to be exact).

There's so much going for this TV. It's powered by the XR Processor with AI, so it can enhance scenes in real time by improving things like the clarity, contrast, and colour. It also upscales lower-resolution content to give you a sharper picture.

For streaming, it runs on Google TV, so you'll have access to streaming apps in one place, along with voice control via Google Assistant and support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Cast. And to make movie nights even more impressive, it supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, IMAX Enhanced, and DTS:X, with studio-calibrated modes designed for services like Netflix and Prime Video.

It's also a great choice for gamers. Certain features are tailored for the PS5, such as Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode. It also has motion handling designed to keep fast-moving scenes smooth and clear.

This Sony TV deal is available at Amazon now (but only for a limited time).

SAVE $800: As of April 9, score the Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100 at T-Mobile without a trade-in by adding a new line on the Experience More plan.

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Credit: Samsung

T-Mobile: Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100

 

Get Deal

If you're in the market for a new smartphone, check out this latest deal at T-Mobile: You could get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy S26 for under $100.

As of April 9, you can qualify for this low price without a trade-in by adding a new line on the Experience More plan (or three lines on the Better Value plan). The discount of up to $800 is applied as monthly bill credits over 24 months. The 256GB phone is usually priced at $899.99, so this $800 discount would bring the price down to just $99.99.

You’ll still need to pay taxes and a $35 connection fee, but that's always the case with these mobile carrier offers.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 range is still fresh, so this T-Mobile deal is a steal. The Samsung Galaxy S26 a great choice for Android fans, with its Armor Aluminium and Gorilla Glass Victus 2 casing boosting durability. It's also packed with Samsung’s Galaxy AI tools, including Photo Assist.

It runs fast and smooth thanks to its customized processor. This is also supported by an upgraded cooling system that helps keep the temperature down during demanding usage.

Head to T-Mobile to grab this latest Samsung deal while it's still live.

After a grueling descent through Earth's atmosphere, NASA will strap the Artemis II astronauts into bulky spacesuits for an obstacle course.

Within mere hours of the Orion spacecraft's splashdown on Friday, April 10, the crew — Commander Reid Wiseman, Christina Koch, Victor Glover, and Jeremy Hansen — won't be afforded much time to rest and relax. Instead, the four will be bounced around from one research group to the next before they've fully acclimated to Earth gravity. 

One of those studies will include putting their "right stuff" to the test. The gauntlet, far less flashy than an episode of American Gladiators, will unfold back at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. There, a giant robotic crane and a heavy test suit will help a small team answer a crucial question: After 10 days of weightlessness in space, how soon can humans safely get back to work in another world?

The experiment grows out of a longer‑running study with astronauts returning from six‑month missions on the International Space Station. Those crews spend about as long in orbit as a trip to Mars might take — and they come home pallid and wobbly. 

Scientists worry that in a weakened state, astronauts might not be ready for moonwalks or Marswalks, which require strength and agility.

"We don't want to put the astronauts in a position where they’re going to be stranded in a spacesuit, asking them to do tasks that are probably above what their physiologic capabilities are going to be in," said Jason Norcross, a senior scientist leading the effort. "This helps us really with planning, more than anything else."

Without gravity, muscles atrophy and aerobic fitness fades. The brain and inner ear systems that tell us which way is up and help us stay balanced also need time to readjust. 

To investigate that, Norcross' team has used the Active Response Gravity Offload System, or ARGOS, at Johnson. Picture a crane that holds part of a person's weight. By lifting just the right amount, ARGOS lets a suited astronaut feel as if he or she is in a different gravity environment.

For space station astronauts, ARGOS is tuned to Martian gravity, and the obstacle course is framed with that in mind: Can someone who has spent six months in orbit step into a 400‑pound suit and, within about a day of landing, safely make their way through a mock Mars spacewalk? 

Faking lunar gravity

For Artemis II, the team will reuse the same basic setup but dial ARGOS to lunar gravity instead — one‑sixth Earth's pull — and tweak the tasks to echo the type of work astronauts will need to do on the moon.

Within one to four hours of landing, the Artemis II astronauts will first tackle a capsule escape drill using a mock spacecraft. Lying on their backs, they'll have to sit up, deploy a ladder, climb up and over it, shoulder a pack, and walk a set distance. This exercise seeks to understand whether a crew can open a hatch if a landing goes awry. 

That's a question shared by many space physiologists, said Marie Mortreux, an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island. She studies how muscles and bones cope with different levels of gravity.

"When they come back home from space, you're familiar with those images," said Mortreux, who isn't involved in the Artemis II EVA simulations. "They can't walk … and I'm like, 'What's going to happen if they can't make it out?'"

NASA astronaut Kayla Barron gets assistance out of the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule after splashing down in the Gulf of Mexico on May 6, 2022. Credit: NASA / Aubrey Gemignani

Mortreux's research in rodents suggests that lower-body, weight‑bearing muscles take the biggest hit in space. Arm muscles — the ones people need for latches and handles — hold up better because astronauts use them constantly to pull themselves around in weightlessness. That's reassuring, she told Mashable, but it's not a reason to be complacent, underscoring the need for more research like this. 

Despite being tired and uncomfortable, all space station astronauts who have been subjected to the experiments so far have managed to complete them. 

Inside the spacesuit challenge

The test will continue with a simulated lunar EVA in moonlike gravity the next day. Each of the four crewmates will change into liquid cooling garments, close‑fitting layers threaded with thin water tubes to keep them from overheating. Then, they'll climb into heavy-duty EVA spacesuits that require entering through a back hatch. Just getting into them is physically taxing. 

Once the astronauts stand up, the team will connect their suits to ARGOS. From that point forward, the test compresses the most challenging parts of a moonwalk into a 30 to 40‑minute obstacle course: down a ladder on a mock lander platform, across unstable ground, through geology drills, and onto a steep treadmill hike. The ladder is deceptively difficult: Any task that forces crew to turn their heads, look down, or rely on their inner sense of orientation, could trigger vertigo.

"You'll often see [returning astronauts] keep their head in line with their body," Norcross said, "which is why, when we've designed a lot of our tasks, we've designed them with a lot of turning, a lot of head movement up and down."

Artemis II astronaut Victor Glover dodges rocks and carries a loaded bag during a moonwalk simulation while attached to the ARGOS system to get baseline data ahead of his post-landing obstacle course. Credit: NASA / Robert Markowitz

Next, the astronauts will have to bend and squat through tasks meant to rehearse making electrical and fluid connections. In a real mission, that kind of work might power up a lander or connect life‑support lines — unglamorous but essential chores.