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You can’t just stick a Canon lens on a Sony body, nor can you use a lot of the old glass that predates your modern camera. Doing so requires a lens adapter—one for every lens mount and camera body combination you own—which can get expensive fairly quickly.

Security cameras are great at recording what's happening inside and outside your home, but on the whole, you still need to look at the video yourself to understand what's going on. Some cameras have object recognition that can detect people, animals, cars, or packages, but there's an open-source tool that can do a whole lot more.

When I started reviewing Sony's most expensive consumer headphones yet, I naturally expected them to offer an elevated experience. I didn't expect to hear the best spatial audio I've ever encountered. I say this, too, as someone who has been left completely unimpressed by spatial audio features time and time again.

Be forewarned, though: the Sony 1000X the Collexion headphones clock in at a whopping $649.99 — putting them nearly $200 higher than the WH-1000XM6. The reason for the fanfare? The Collexions are the 10th anniversary celebration of the 1000X line (hence the...creative name).

The brand certainly delivers on some of its best features in the Collexion headphones, but really, the experience for the high price point is only likely to appeal to a select few who prioritize sound and looks above all else.

The Sony 1000X the Collexion at a glance These aren't the 1000X headphones you're used to. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

What I liked: These are the best sounding headphones Sony's made, and the spatial audio with the 360 Upmix tech really highlights that. The lack of hard plastic usually found on Sony's headphones makes the look more sleek and luxe, and the wear feels plush and comfortable. The noise cancellation is still solid, too.

What I didn't like: The fancy metal hinges mean no more folding ear cups, which was one of my favorite features on the XM6 headphones. The looser fit also means less passive noise cancellation, so the older headphones win out there as well. Finally, I expected the $190 price jump between the XM6 and Collexion headphones to mean upgrades across the board in the user experience, but beyond the improved sound and design, other features on the headphones went basically untouched.

Specs

• Drivers: Bespoke 30mm driver

• Spatial audio: Yes

• Noise cancellation: Active noise cancellation powered by V3 and QN3 processors

• Battery life: 24 hours with active noise cancellation

• Microphones: 12

• IP rating: None

• Connection: Bluetooth 5.3

• Codecs: SBC, AAC, LDAC, LC3

• Inputs: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack

• Weight: 320 grams

• Colors: Black and platinum

Pricing and availability

At $649.99, the Collexion headphones are undeniably on the high end of the consumer headphones market. They're not the most expensive we've seen — that honor belongs to the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 headphones — but they're still $100 more than the Apple AirPods Max 2 and $200 more than the Bose QuietComfort Ultra (2nd gen) headphones.

Sony 1000X the Collexion $648 at Amazon
  Shop Now at Amazon Shop Now at Best Buy Shop Now at Sony Sony 1000X the Collexion performanceSound quality

As these are Sony headphones, they sounded excellent, but the real star of the audio show was the spatial audio.

To be clear, I usually feel neutral about spatial audio at best, finding that it often makes music sound hollow and unbalanced in an effort to make it sound live. With the Sony Collexion headphones, I could make some peace with the fact I didn't grab Olivia Rodrigo tickets because her entire album sounded legitimately live and immersive with the 360 Upmix spatial audio tech, whether I was listening to the Cure-inspired (and Robert Smith featuring) "what's wrong with me" or the pared down piano ballad "less."

For the first time, I found myself actually preferring to toggle on the spatial audio. For gamers and movie lovers, there are also modes specific to both formats. The non-spatial audio still stunned, lending music gorgeous balance and clarity, with Sony's classic slate of equalizer settings and custom options to fine-tune the sound just so.

Noise cancellation

In the press briefing for these headphones, Sony's team made it clear that they focused on comfort over noise cancellation with these headphones compared to the XM6s. They do feature the exact same tech as the XM6s, but the slightly looser fit means less passive ANC. In practice, I found that it did mean working in cafes was slightly more distracting, reducing chatter and the radio to a dull hum instead of fully immersing me in my own private listening bubble.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best noise-cancelling headphones we use, love, and recommend

By no means is it subpar ANC — it's still some of the best, but I would have liked Sony to work a little more magic for $650.

The Sony 1000X the Collexion design and build quality The metal accents gave the headphones an elevated look, but I was looking for more functionality. Credit: Bethany Allard / Mashable

The Collexion headphones look and feel notably elevated, with metal accents and faux leather wrapping the exterior of the headphones (as opposed to the hard plastic shell found on the rest of the 1000X line).

They feel built to last, but again, for their price point, I wasn't too thrilled about the finished result. Yes, the metal buttons were a nice touch, and the wider headband did add more comfort. However, I missed the folding ear cups from the XM6 headphones, which do legitimately help with toting them around town, and I didn't find them more comfortable than the Bose QC Ultra 2s (the single most comfortable headphones I've ever worn).

I can acknowledge that I'm being nitpicky, but I must mention the price again. For $650, I want the headphones to look impressive and also be oozing functionality in every aspect of the design. I found these more of a statement fashion piece than an ultra-functional pair of headphones — and if that's the vibe that Sony's going for, I want them to offer more than two colorways.

Who should get the Sony the Collexion headphones?

The Sony Collexion headphones have a weird name, a pretty design that doesn't always rise to the occasion, and the best sound quality I've encountered on a pair of headphones. Truly, they feel like the very first to have finally unlocked undeniably good spatial audio.

With that said, the price point will make them hard to stomach for most. If you've been dying for spatial audio and love that live sound, shelling out on these will get you the best version of it. That said, these headphones should be the best in category in more areas if they're to be priced the way they are. A $550 or even $600 price point would have been far more stomachable, but maybe this one is ultimately for the super fans who want the anniversary edition headphones more than they want the best headphones available.

If your feeds are blowing up with talk of the upcoming total solar eclipse, this might burst your bubble: The show might not be coming to a sky near you.

On Aug. 12, the moon will sweep its shadow across the top of the world, briefly turning day into twilight along a narrow path through Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, northern Spain, and a sliver of Portugal. That's the path of totality — where the sun is completely blocked — and it's the first time in 27 years that mainland Europe has gotten a full, real-deal solar eclipse.

But people in the United States won't be in that bullseye. Instead, a part of the country will see a partial solar eclipse, where the moon nips the sun but never covers it completely. The sky won't go dark, the stars won't pop out, and you won't get the full moody effect. But with the right eyewear, you could still see the sun turn into a yummy space crescent roll in the middle of a Wednesday.

For a U.S. audience, this eclipse is either a drop-everything-and-fly-to-Iceland kind of deal or a fun coffee break at work. Here's how to plan 15 minutes to step outside and look up safely — or, better yet, ditch the special eyewear and get a front-row seat to the main event with a livestream from where the real action is happening. 

SEE ALSO: Pluto has a heart. Scientists discovered that it's bleeding. Where in the U.S. can you see it?

The farther north you are, the better the show.

As the moon's shadow creeps from Russia to Greenland and Iceland and onward to Europe, the outer part of that shadow — the penumbra — brushes North America. Within that outer shadow, the sun is only partially blocked, but the effect might still be noticeable if you're paying attention.

The United States will not experience a total solar eclipse on Aug. 12, 2026, but many states will get a partial solar eclipse. Credit: NASA infographic

Nationwide, 26 states and Washington, D.C., will get a very slight partial eclipse. The states include Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. 

Many parts of Alaska and the far north will see the larger bites, with the eclipse unfolding earlier in the day. In parts of the south, it may register more as a subtle dimming — not much different from a little cloud cover. Just over the border, Canada gets a better view. Much of the country lies deeper in the partial zone. Northern and western areas catch the show in the morning; eastern provinces get it in the afternoon.

For the United States, the event begins at 7:34 a.m. Alaska Standard Time and ends on the East Coast at 2:52 p.m. ET. To zero in on your specific area's times, visit Timeanddate.com and enter your city or ZIP code. 

Watching the solar eclipse online

For U.S. viewers, NASA plans a live broadcast on Aug. 12, with telescope views, commentary from scientists, and footage from research aircraft flying under the moon's shadow. 

In Europe, the European Space Agency and other organizations, such as the Royal Observatory, will host their own streams. The Exploratorium, which has a long track record of eclipse coverage, will again provide a live telescope feed from inside the path of totality in Spain. Here's a go-to list of live broadcasts that you can hop to and from without having to board a jet: 

• NASA: Streaming on NASA+ and YouTube, with views from Spain and high-altitude aircraft, starting at 1:15 p.m. ET.

• ESA: Hosting a live broadcast from the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre in Teruel, Spain, and a separate telescope feed, starting at 19:30 CEST, or 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. ET. 

• The Exploratorium: Broadcasting a live telescope view from Spain at 1:30 p.m. ET.

• Royal Observatory: Hosting a live broadcast from the Royal Observatory Greenwich, where the United Kingdom will see about 90 percent sun coverage during the eclipse, starting at 1:10 p.m. ET.

• TimeandDate.com: Streaming the event with real-time animations, maps, and expert commentary, starting at noon ET. 

Everything to know about eclipse glasses

It's plain and simple: If any part of the sun's face is visible, you must protect your eyes to look up at it. That's true in Alaska, Texas, Iceland, Spain — everywhere.

For Americans in the partial zone, the go‑to tools are protective eyewear or a handheld solar viewer designed for viewing the sun. Eclipse glasses are not just dark sunglasses. Legit eclipse glasses are thousands of times darker and built to block most of the sun's visible and invisible light. 

Reputable ones follow the ISO 12312‑2 safety standard; when you put them on indoors, you shouldn't be able to see anything except maybe the brightest lights.

Keep the glasses or viewer on the whole time you're looking at the sun. Never look through eclipse glasses into a telescope or binoculars unless the optics also have a proper solar filter on the front. Concentrated sunlight can burn through a filter and through the delicate tissue at the back of your eyes, far faster than you'd expect.

A simple pinhole projector — or even a small hole in an index card projecting the sun's image onto the ground or another surface — will show you the sun's change from a circle to a crescent and back again without ever having to look up. During the partial phases, the gaps between tree leaves do the same thing naturally, scattering tiny crescent suns onto sidewalks.

Tree leaves reveal crescent suns like pinhole projectors on the ground as its partially obscured light filters through them. Credit: Michael S. Williamson / The Washington Post via Getty Images If you're not in totality, is it still worthwhile?

That all depends on your appetite and attitude. On the ground in the United States, you'll get a sun that looks wrong in an intriguing way, light that feels a little hushed, and shadows that sharpen. 

At the same time, cameras and telescopes along the path of totality will be streaming the full blackout — the sun's corona glowing behind a black disk like a scalloped crown. You might like to take an imaginary journey in your mind, see what it looks like from Reykjavik or a Spanish hillside.

TL;DR: Trusted by millions of learners, you can pay $159 once (reg. $299) for lifetime access to all 14 Babbel languages through Aug. 16 with the StackSocial code LEARN.

Opens in a new window Credit: Babbel Babbel Language Learning: Lifetime Subscription (All Languages) $159
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Learning a new language isn’t easy, but it also might not be as hard as some apps make it seem. If memorizing vocab lists isn’t working for you, check out Babbel. They take a more practical approach to teaching, and there’s even an AI conversation partner who can help you practice your pronunciation.

Normally, a Babbel lifetime subscription would cost $299, but right now it’s on sale for $159. Check out what that gets you.

Babbel gives you lifetime access to courses in 14 different languages, and the format is designed to fit into real life. Each lesson takes around 10 to 15 minutes, so you can actually stick with it whether you’re commuting, traveling, or just squeezing in some study time between meetings.

Here are a few of the included languages:

• Spanish

• French

• German

• Italian

• Portuguese

• Swedish

And that’s just the beginning.

There’s a reason Babbel has become one of the biggest names in language learning. It’s trusted by more than 15 million users worldwide, holds 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Play and 4.6 out of 5 stars on the App Store.

Babbel centers its content around practical conversation topics. You’ll get lessons on travel, shopping, business, culture, and more, all developed by expert linguists and backed by academic research.

Speech recognition helps fine-tune your pronunciation, while the AI-powered conversation partner lets you practice speaking in real time.

Lessons sync across devices, so you can start on your computer and finish on your phone. There’s also an offline mode if you want to download lessons in advance. You can move at your own pace, revisit review sessions, and switch between beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels based on your comfort level.

Use the exclusive StackSocial code LEARN by Aug. 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT to get a Babbel lifetime subscription for only $159.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get the 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan for $69.97 (reg. $540) through Aug. 9 only and access ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, image generation, video tools, PDF chat, and more with one lifetime purchase.

Opens in a new window Credit: 1minAI 1min.AI Advanced Business Plan Lifetime Subscription $69.97
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AI subscriptions aren’t cheap, but it’s manageable if you only use one model like ChatGPT. However, if you need tools for generating images, writing copy, analyzing documents, or translating between languages, a platform like 1min.AI is a more viable option. 

1min.AI gives you lifetime access to some of the most popular AI tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Mistral, and many others. It’s also only $69.97 for a lifetime subscription (reg. $540).

1min.AI runs in your browser and pulls a ton of everyday work into one place. You can research keywords, draft blog posts, rewrite and shorten text, generate social posts, and keep a consistent brand voice across projects.

There are tools to summarize or translate documents, chat with multiple PDFs at once, and spin up slide presentations. For visuals, you can generate images from prompts, upscale low-resolution pictures, remove backgrounds, extend edges, or turn rough sketches into cleaner artwork.

Here’s a small sample of the AI models you’ll get access to:

• GPT

• Claude 3 Opus and Claude 3 Sonnet

• Gemini Pro 1.5

• Llama 3

• Mistral models

The Advanced Business Plan includes 4,000,000 credits each month, plus the chance to earn up to 450,000 more through daily logins and other tasks. Credits are shared across writing, images, audio, and video, so you can lean harder on whichever tools you need that month.

The plan supports up to 20 members, with shared workspaces, an unlimited prompt library, unlimited storage, and unlimited brand voices. If you don’t use all your credits, they just roll over, so you aren’t missing out if you have a lighter month.

It’s only one $69.97 payment to get a 1min.AI lifetime subscription through 11:59 p.m. PT on Aug. 9.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Get a lifetime Windows 11 Pro license for $11.23 (reg. $199) through today only with code AUG25 — that’s nearly $188 in savings and no ongoing fees.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Windows 11 Pro $11.23
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If your PC has been running a little sluggish or you’ve been meaning to bring your system up to speed, Windows 11 Pro is just $11.23 (MSRP $199) through 11:59 p.m. PT tonight — a rare, time-sensitive offer that rewards quick, savvy decisions.

This isn’t about chasing trends; it’s more about giving your computer the modern foundation it deserves. Windows 11 Pro brings a sleeker UI, better multitasking, and enhanced security — all in a one-time lifetime license.

Think of it as the difference between driving a reliable car and suddenly upgrading to one with a smarter dashboard, smoother handling, and built-in security features.

For professionals, creators, and anyone who relies on their PC for serious work, this upgrade also unlocks features like Hyper-V, Windows Sandbox, BitLocker encryption, and seamless Azure AD integration — tools that make a real difference when you’re working across projects or managing sensitive data.

And yes, Windows 11 comes with Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered assistant that can summarize pages, change settings, or even help you generate code on the fly. It’s like having a co-pilot (literally) inside your OS.

But you don’t need convincing — you already know a smart upgrade when you see one. Get Windows 11 Pro for just $11.23 (reg. $199) through today, Aug. 9, at 11:59 p.m. PT using code AUG25.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

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.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

___cliff bar.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

HEATH

Hurdle Word 2 hint

From the Netherlands.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DUTCH

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To cleanse the body.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 9 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 9, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BATHE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To grant.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

ENDOW

Final Hurdle hint

To compare.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

LIKEN

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 New Moon is only a few nights away, so there's less and less of the Moon to see each evening. Here's what it'll look like tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Sunday, Aug. 9, NASA's Daily Moon Guide tracker tells us the Moon phase is in Waning Crescent phase, with 16% of its surface visible.

Without visual aids, you'll only be able to see the Aristarchus Plateau. However, if you have binoculars or a telescope, you'll also see the Grimaldi Basin.

When is the next Full Moon?

The next Full Moon will take place on August 28.

What are Moon phases?

The Moon's appearance changes throughout the month as it orbits Earth, completing one full lunar cycle approximately every 29.5 days, according to NASA. During that journey, the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are constantly shifting, altering how much of the Moon's illuminated surface is visible from our perspective. That's why we see the familiar sequence of phases, from a slim crescent to a half Moon, then a Full Moon, before the pattern begins again.

The eight phases are:

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 7, 2026 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An onomatopoeia similar to thump.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. 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...

CLUNK

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.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you like to splurge a litte bit.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 7, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Isn't that a bit much?

The words are related to spending.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe aspects of being financially kind to yourself.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is I'm Worth It.

NYT Strands word list for August 8

• Luxury

• Treat

• Extravagance

• Frills

• Indulgence

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you have a good sense of smell.

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.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable 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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for August 7, 2026 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: A different way

• Green: Childhood classics

• Blue: Genres

• Purple: Get out

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Take a Different Approach

• Green: Classic Children's Books

• Blue: Movie Subgenres

• Purple: Things People Try to Get Out Of

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 #1155 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Take a Different Approach: CHANGE TACK, COURSE-CORRECT, RECALIBRATE, SHIFT GEARS

• Classic Children's Books: CAPS FOR SALE, CORDUROY, GOODNIGHT MOON, MADELINE

• Movie Subgenres: BUDDY COP, NEO-NOIR, SPACE OPERA, SPAGHETTI WESTERN

• Things People Try to Get Out Of: BAD DREAM, ESCAPE ROOM, JURY DUTY, LABYRINTH

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 7, 2026

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

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

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.

TL;DR: Write a 300K-word manuscript for just $37 with this YouBooks AI lifetime subscription.

Opens in a new window Credit: Youbooks Youbooks AI Non-Fiction Book Generator: Lifetime Subscription $36.75
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Writing is just one step in creating a book. Before that comes research, outlining, drafting, and editing. But for only $36.75 (reg. $540), you’ll be able to craft publish-ready 300,000-word manuscripts for life through Aug. 9 with code AUG25. Even the busiest educators, content creators, entrepreneurs, and coaches can get their words out as intended.

The platform is powered by various leading AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Llama, to help you generate cohesive, expertly crafted, and engaging content. With it, you can use the monthly 250K credits your lifetime subscription provides for source uploads or writing.

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One credit accounts for one word or one uploaded source word; you also have the option to store up to 100 writing style samples and 100 source documents for easy access. What’s more, YouBooks pulls full real-time web searches during the writing composition, so you can rest assured that any facts, stats, and news you use are current, up-to-date, and accurate.

The source uploads don’t have to be from the web either. You can guide the AI or even upload your own memos, transcripts, and documents to foreground your work. Plus, you can also define and curate your own writing style to ensure consistency and a cohesive end project.

As you can see, each book goes through a series of steps to move from ideation to completion. Better yet, you get to retain full ownership of your content—meaning you can look forward to publishing, distributing, or even selling it without restriction.

Whether you’re writing a memoir, educational guide, teaching resource, or simply consolidating your work, YouBooks can assist you at every stage. So, why not try it out?

Get your YouBooks AI Lifetime Subscription for just $36.75 (reg. $540) with code AUG25, only through August 9. 

StackSocial prices subject to change.

I spent much of the past couple years quite enamored with both the hardware and software of Samsung's book-style foldable phones. That changed with the release of the Galaxy Z Fold 7, and I've since switched to the Motorola Razr Fold. I'd be lying if I said every aspect of this phone is better, but I'm quite surprised by the extent to which most of it, frankly, actually is.

Flock Safety, the company behind a nationwide network of automatic license plate readers, pitched a plan to convert hundreds of thousands of Uber, Lyft, and delivery drivers into a mobile extension of its surveillance system, according to a company presentation obtained by 404 Media.

404's Joseph Cox wrote that the document describes equipping driver vehicles with dashcams capable of scanning license plates along their routes, effectively expanding Flock's network beyond its usual fixed cameras mounted on poles.

SEE ALSO: Someone stole every Flock camera in this Minnesota city

The presentation centers on a proposed partnership with Nexar, a dashcam maker whose devices are already marketed to rideshare drivers and commuters. Cox reported that 404 Media had previously uncovered the planned partnership last year through separate sourcing, and that this newly obtained document shows Flock was actively marketing the arrangement to prospective customers around that same period.

The material was shared with 404 Media by a Georgia resident who obtained it through a public records request, after Flock presented it to that state's attorney general's office.

Flock told 404 Media the Nexar deal was never actually put into place. Still, according to Cox's reporting, the presentation demonstrates the scale of the company's ambitions, citing plans to draw on roughly 350,000 Uber, Lyft, and other delivery devices for the network, in addition to existing coverage from businesses and homeowners' associations across Georgia. It remains unclear, Cox noted, whether Uber, Lyft, or their drivers would have known their vehicles were collecting this data.

The report situates the proposal within Flock's broader push into new data sources. Earlier, 404 Media reported on a security breach that exposed a large trove of Nexar customer footage, including footage near sensitive military sites, as well as a separate effort — later abandoned — to build a tool to link license plates to specific individuals using leaked information. Cox also cited the outlet's coverage of a similar arrangement involving BusPatrol, a company that outfits school buses with cameras and shares resulting data with police.

Uber, Lyft, and Nexar did not respond to 404 Media's requests for comment, according to Cox's reporting.

Family SUVs have become the default choice for buyers who want practicality, comfort, and efficiency, but that convenience often comes at a steep price. With many new compact crossovers now pushing well past $35,000, a growing number of lightly used alternatives deliver the same everyday usability, better fuel economy, and a more refined driving experience while costing thousands less.

Backing up your files to the cloud is super convenient since you can access them anywhere and on any device. However, there is a chance that your cloud storage could become compromised. If that ever happens, you'll be glad not to have the things on this list stored in it.

Some movies are not comfort food. Some are the ones you brace for—punishingly realistic war epics that flatten you, thrillers that put your nerves through the shredder, true-crime documentaries that make you check your locks at night. You watch them once, feel all the feels, and then file the experience away for good.

If you own a Google Pixel or Samsung Galaxy phone, you can enable a selection of audio features that will instantly improve the sound quality of your phone's speakers, the earbuds you're using, and more. The only catch is that most of them are hidden away, especially on Samsung phones. Even if you don't own a Pixel or a Galaxy, Android's Developer options menu hides a few handy Bluetooth audio settings every Android phone owner should tinker with.

I had used NVIDIA GPUs for about a decade until I replaced my trusty RTX 3070 with an RX 9070 XT in early 2025. The AMD graphics card was, and still is, impressive when it comes to gaming performance, but after making the switch, what surprised me most was the software, not the hardware.