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Microsoft keeps stuffing new features into the Windows 11 Start menu, and with most of them enabled by default, it has become unnecessarily cluttered. Add web search results that have zero value—when I need to search the web, I'll just open a browser—and you end up with a Start menu that feels bloated rather than helpful. By disabling the following features and options, I turned the Start menu on my Windows 11 PC into a lightweight application launcher and local search interface.

If you read about solid state drives (SSDs), you'll encounter a mountain of advice about how you can optimize your SSD's speed and longevity. However, modern SSDs, advanced controllers, and operating systems have made much of that advice irrelevant. Worse yet, some of it can actually be detrimental to the stability of your PC, especially if you're running a system with limited amounts of RAM.

Over the years, our smartphones have become the one piece of tech that never leaves our side when we travel. Whether it's navigating a new city, contacting the host for the stay, or just keeping yourself entertained while waiting for transport, it's safe to say that traveling would look very different without our beloved devices.

Happy Fourth of July to all those who celebrate! Hopefully, your day is full of food, family, and fun. When you decide to wind down for the night and hit the couch, perhaps stream a movie related to the holiday or summer. Some of these picks are rather obvious, including the 1996 action movie named after July 4.

Repairing things is one of the best reasons to get a 3D printer, and it might just give you the push you need to learn to model items for yourself. If you’re looking for some inspiration, here are some examples of how a 3D printer can come in clutch and save you money.

The ESP32 microcontroller has become hugely popular in the worlds of DIY electronics and smart home automation. You can use the small chips to build an enormous range of different things at relatively low prices. One of the biggest barriers for people dipping their toes into the world of ESP32 is the fear of having to get stuck in with a soldering iron, but there are plenty of genius ESP32 projects that don't require any soldering at all.

Hulu's July lineup might even be more impressive than last month, which included the fifth and final season of The Bear. July's offerings include splashy premieres and anticipated returns. Kicking things off is the sequel to an underrated 2019 horror comedy that I thoroughly enjoyed.

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 4, 2026

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 4, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

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

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 0-3, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically.

Less Than (1): Everything in this space must be less than 1. The answer is 0-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 4 Pips

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

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

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

Greater Than (0): Everything in this space must be greater than 0. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 2-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 2-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (4): Everything in this space must add up to 4. The answer is 4-4, 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 umbrelOS is a server OS for everybody. People who aren't familiar with the command-line interface can just start their homelab using umbrelOS without any technical knowledge. And for people who already have one, umbrelOS can make an excellent addition to an existing setup.

Building a smart home can feel like an expensive process. There are plenty of excellent smart home devices that come with price tags to match. You don't have to spend a lot to build a great smart home; there are some excellent devices that are relatively cheap.

I hate it when the internet goes down, or I can't get cell reception. We tend to take it for granted that we have access to insane amounts of information from our phones, and only appreciate it when it's gone. I wanted to create something that would let me access some of that information even when I was offline, so I decided to turn my old Kindle into a Wikipedia archive.

Google Maps is one of the best ways to get around because of how it adapts. Things like traffic and construction zones are taken into account, but so is fuel efficiency. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all setting, and you probably haven’t touched it.

Smart speakers come in all shapes, sizes, and price points—you can even make your own. But before you put one in your home (or another one), there are a few important questions you should ponder.

Netflix is packed with something for everyone year-round, but its collection of summer shows and movies is incredible. Whether it's a light romance or a seasonal adventure, your summer watch list this year can be filled with the hottest titles.

Once, my homelab was a simple setup. I had an old PC stuffed into a corner of my basement with a few Raspberry Pis haphazardly scattered on the top of the case. However, as my setup has grown in usefulness and complexity, I had to seriously reevaluate how everything was configured so that it was consistently useful.

TL;DR: In the UK, Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free. In the U.S., sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels to watch select F1 races for free.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel Watch the British GP for free with a 7-day trial Shop Now

The Austrian GP offered another thrilling weekend of racing from the best drivers in the world. George Russell came out on top after holding off the advances of Verstappen and Antonelli. Ferrari and McLaren constantly swapped positions just behind in what was one of the most interesting GPs of the season.

Will we get more of the same from the British GP? We certainly hope so.

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If you want to watch F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

When is the British GP?

The British GP is the ninth race of the 2026 F1 season. Here's the full schedule from Silverstone:

• Practice 1 — 7:30-8:30 a.m. ET on July 3

• Sprint Qualifying — 11:30 a.m. to 12:14 p.m. ET on July 3

• Sprint — 7-8 a.m. ET on July 4

• Qualifying — 11 a.m to 12 p.m. ET on July 4

• Race — 10 a.m. ET on July 5

Fans can follow all the action from this race weekend without spending anything.

How to watch the British GP for free

It's important to note that Channel 4 will be providing live coverage of the 2026 British Grand Prix for free in the UK. That's nice and easy for fans in the UK.

If you're based in the U.S., you'll need to take a few additional steps to watch this race weekend for free.

I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I subscribe for the fast shipping, exclusive Prime Day deals, and access to Prime Video. It's the access to Prime Video that becomes all-important for F1 fans.

It is now possible to sign up for a seven-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. F1 is exclusive to Apple TV in the U.S., so by accessing this free trial, you can watch select races for free this season. The subscription costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel this renewal at any time. By cancelling ahead of the renewal, you can watch the British GP this weekend without spending anything.

I understand the argument that I'm not really watching for free because I subscribe to Amazon Prime. I get that, but Amazon Prime does offer a 30-day free trial period if you're new to the service. By signing up for this free trial and then gaining access to Apple TV through Prime Video Channels, you can truly watch select races for free this season.

If you've already used this hack to watch a race this season, there are some alternatives.

My recommendation is to go direct to Apple TV. This popular steaming service comes with a seven-day free trial for new subscribers. Alternatively, Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial.

The best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product. If you're planning on buying something from Apple, you could gain access to Apple TV for a pretty large chunk of this season. You will obviously need to buy something, but if you were already in the market for an upgrade, this method makes a lot of sense.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free in 2026 Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

Apple TV has made the entire Austrian Grand Prix race weekend available for free to viewers in the U.S., with live coverage June 26–28.

How to live stream 2026 F1 for free: Best Apple TV Deal Apple TV 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Prime Video Deal Apple TV Prime Video Channel 7-day free trial Shop Now Best Apple One Deal Apple One 30-day free trial Shop Now

This season of F1 is unlike any other. Every season of F1 has a number of fascinating storylines to follow, but due to a major set of regulation changes, there's so much uncertainty right now. And uncertainty can lead to exciting racing.

Lando Norris secured an incredible title victory on the final day of last season. Now the pressure is on McLaren to defend that title against a long list of talented drivers and motivated teams. The likes of George Russell, Kimi Antonelli, and Lewis Hamilton are all challenging for race wins this season. Mercedes look like the team to beat this season, but Ferrari are not far behind.

If you are interested in watching F1 2026 for free from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is F1?

Formula One (F1) is the highest class of international racing for open-wheel single-seater formula racing cars. A season consists of a series of races (Grands Prix) that take place in multiple countries and continents on either purpose-built circuits or closed public roads.

Lando Norris is the defending champion. McLaren won the Constructors Championship in 2025.

When is F1 in 2026?

The 2026 F1 season is the 77th edition of the championship. This year's championship features 24 Grands Prix events held all over the world between March and December:

1. Australian Grand Prix — March 8

2. Chinese Grand Prix — March 15

3. Japanese Grand Prix — March 29

4. Miami Grand Prix — May 3

5. Canadian Grand Prix — May 24

6. Monaco Grand Prix — June 7

7. Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix — June 14

8. Austrian Grand Prix — June 28

9. British Grand Prix — July 5

10. Belgian Grand Prix — July 19

11. Hungarian Grand Prix — July 26

12. Dutch Grand Prix — Aug. 23

13. Italian Grand Prix — Sept. 6

14. Spanish Grand Prix — Sept. 13

15. Azerbaijan Grand Prix — Sept. 26

16. Singapore Grand Prix — Oct. 11

17. United States Grand Prix — Oct. 25

18. Mexico City Grand Prix — Nov. 1

19. São Paulo Grand Prix — Nov. 8

20. Las Vegas Grand Prix — Nov. 21

21. Qatar Grand Prix — Nov. 29

22. Abu Dhabi Grand Prix — Dec. 6

It's important to note that these dates are only for race days. The Chinese, Miami, Canadian, British, Dutch, and Singapore GPs will host a sprint race.

How to watch F1 for free

For the first time, Apple TV has made an entire F1 race weekend available for free to viewers in the U.S., with live coverage of the Austrian Grand Prix from June 26–28. Fans can watch every session live on Apple TV — including practice, qualifying, and Sunday’s Grand Prix — with no subscription required.

In the U.S., F1 is now exclusive to Apple TV. If you want access to the whole season, an Apple TV subscription costs $12.99 per month or $99 per year.

Apple TV Opens in a new window Credit: Apple TV Apple TV (7-day free trial) Apple TV comes with a 7-day free trial for new subscribers. This is a sneaky trick, but you could sign up to watch the next F1 race and then cancel your subscription before you need to spend anything. This obviously isn't a long-term fix, but it does give you the opportunity to live stream select F1 race weekends for free. Shop Now Apple TV Prime Video Channel Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Apple TV Prime Video Channel (7-day free trial) Already an Amazon Prime member? You're in luck. You can sign up for a 7-day free trial of Apple TV+ through Prime Video Channels. This lets you watch select F1 races live with the Prime Video app. The subscription typically costs £9.99 per month after the trial ends, but you can cancel at any time. That means you can watch select races without actually spending anything. Shop Now Apple One Opens in a new window Credit: Apple One Apple One (30-day free trial) Apple One bundles Apple TV with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness Plus, Apple News Plus, and 50GB of iCloud Storage for $19.95 per month after a one-month free trial. Time it right and this trial could provide access to up to four race weekends for free. You do need to be a new or returning subscriber to each of the included services to get the free trial. Shop Now

It's worth noting that the best Apple TV free-trial offer comes with purchases of new Apple devices. New subscribers can get three months of Apple TV for free after purchasing any eligible Apple product, including iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple TVs. This special offer goes live for 90 days after the new device is activated — that's a good chunk of the season.

The midsize pickup manages to be popular and overlooked at the same time. In 2025, Toyota sold nearly 275,000 Tacomas in the U.S., even outselling the Corolla. Yet it is the full-size and heavy-duty trucks that often steal the headlines thanks to their staggering tow ratings and prodigious power outputs.

I've never understood the appeal of wall-mounted tablets for controlling a smart home. To me, dashboards have always felt like expensive replacements for physical switches. However, a recent project finally made me realize that wall-mounted control panels can have their place

Camera accessories are some of my favorite things to 3D print. Photography can be an expensive hobby, and one that rewards experimentation and creativity.