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Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you ever went to school in North Carolina.

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.

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

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

• Green: GOAT pitchers

• Blue: All-Stars

• Purple: Green

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: F1 Teams

• Green: Hall of Fame Pitchers

• Blue: 2026 WNBA All-Stars, Familiarly

• Purple: Green___

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 #670 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• F1 Teams: FERRARI, MCLAREN, MERCEDES, RED BULL

• Hall of Fame Pitchers: FORD, PAIGE, PERRY, SPAHN

• 2026 WNBA All-Stars, Familiarly: A'JA, ANGEL, KIKI, MARINA

• Green___: BAY, FEE, MONSTER, WAVE

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.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 25, 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 25, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for July 25 Pips

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for July 25 Pips

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically

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

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for July 25 Pips

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 4-1, placed vertically.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 1-0, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 1-6, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (7): Everything in this space must add up to 7. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this space must be equal to 4. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed vertically; 4-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 5-3, placed vertically; 3-3, 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 good with money.

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.

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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.

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 July 25, 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: Uno, dos, tres

• Green: To get emotional

• Blue: Foreign money

• Purple: A sliver

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

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Spanish relatives

• Green: Start to cry, with "Up"

• Blue: African currencies

• Purple: Strip ___

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 #1140 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Spanish relatives: ABUELA, HIJO, MADRE, PRIMO

• Start to cry, with "Up": CHOKE, MIST, TEAR, WELL

• African currencies: KWANZA, LEONE, NAIRA, RAND

• Strip ___: CLUB, MALL, POKER, STEAK

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 25, 2026

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 love dresses.

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 July 25, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Frocks and smocks

The words are related to clothing.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe long clothing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is diagonal.

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

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is You Wear it Well.

NYT Strands word list for July 25

• Dirndl

• Pinafore

• Muumuu

• You Wear it Well

• Tunic

• Gown

• Kimono

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're Hawaiian.

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 July 25, 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 July 25, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Hawaiian hello.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter A appears twice.

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

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

ALOHA

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.

Elon Musk's Boring Company has been hard at work on its Vegas Loop transportation system for years, and it's now in operation in 10 stations — including two at the city’s Harry Reid International Airport.

Well, kind of in operation. While the Loop operates a system of tunnels connecting the Las Vegas Convention Center to multiple hotels, its tunnel to the airport is not yet open. So the Loop’s service to Harry Reid is ... a human-driven Tesla, driving on surface streets rather than tunnels.

YouTuber Ray Delahanty, who goes by the moniker CityNerd, recently visited the Loop — and the resulting video highlighted what he called the "farce" of its airport stations, as well as a lack of signage directing riders. 

What is the Loop?

The Loop opened five years ago, whisking people around the convention center in human-driven Teslas traveling in single-lane tunnels dug by the Boring Company (which, like Tesla, is owned by Elon Musk). The initial three-station, $47 million Loop (that's the cost quoted by the Boring Co.; other reports indicate it was closer to $52 million) was paid for by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, which is funded by hotel bed taxes; the LVCVA also covers $5 million in annual maintenance.

The stations are paid for by the casinos (and airport), with future tunnels paid for by the Boring Company. Currently, the system operates five stations at the convention center, two at the airport, and stops at Encore, Westgate, and Fontainebleau resorts, with tickets costing between $6 and $12.

When the Loop is finally complete, the Boring Company envisions 155 mph travel through 68 miles of tunnels and 104 stations — with riders driven by autonomous vehicles carrying 90,000 passengers an hour — a dubious number that would require every Vegas resident and visitor to use it multiple times a day. Currently the system carries around 1 million riders annually, or little more than 114 people an hour.

What’s the issue with the Loop?

At stations like the one at the Fontainebleau resort, Teslas exit Boring tunnels and then enter the Fontainebleau parking garage, just like any other car. The airport stations, which opened in December 2025, travel on surface streets for the entire five-mile route to the convention center.

The Boring Company is currently digging the underground tunnel to the airport and plans to open it before the year is out, according to Delahanty’s Loop driver.

The biggest problem with the stations? Not the inconsistency of the underground routes or the fact that the narrow tunnels only allow travel in one direction. It's how difficult it is for passengers to even find the stations (a problem that has bedeviled the Las Vegas Monorail).

Neither the casinos nor the airport offer signage to the stations. The stations themselves often lack amenities like seating or, as Delahanty discovered, working escalators.

To make matters worse, some of the few riders using the Loop were confused about how to access the vehicles (cars are requested via an app, like Uber or Lyft), leading to awkward encounters.

SEE ALSO: When the urge to gamble strikes, try mindfulness

After some trial and error, Delahanty summoned a car at the airport and got a ride to the convention center for an unbeatable $12 — a fraction of the price of an Uber, Lyft, or taxi. The drivers also seemed friendly and willing to help customers, at least in Delahanty’s video.

While the Boring Company didn’t respond to our questions about Delahanty’s gripes, we did follow-up with the urbanist YouTuber on his Loop experience. Here's our conversation, edited for clarity and brevity.

It seemed like one of the biggest problems with the Loop is the shortage of information on how to ride and locate stations. Did riders appear confused or familiar with the Loop’s protocols?

My experience was that a few of the riders appeared familiar with how the system works — as if they'd used it before — but most seemed confused about how to know when and which arriving vehicle was supposed to pick them up. Some of the riders seemed confused about how to buy a ticket and order a ride, although this seems pretty clear to me once you manage to find the station.

There is no Boring tunnel connecting to the airport yet, so why is the company offering a $12 airport service?

I really don't know why they've elected to start providing this service before the connecting tunnel, which is supposed to be complete by the end of 2026. It really functions like a typical Uber/Lyft ride, just one you have to go to an unmarked location on an airport concourse sublevel to use.

The LVCVA is subsidizing the tunnels and maintenance. What do you think it should have used that money for?

When they initially did a call for proposals, it was for a people mover of some sort to connect the far-flung halls on the Las Vegas Convention Center campus. Think an internal airport tram at a major airport hub like Atlanta, Dallas, or Denver, or even Las Vegas! — that is probably what they should've been building.

Instead, the Boring Company came in with the low bid. I'm not privy to how the project pencils out for the Boring Company. My guess is, on a project level they are way, way, way in the red, but they saw the Vegas Loop project as research and development, so they were willing to take a loss.

You mentioned that no one seems to be loudly criticizing the Loop’s shortcomings. Do you expect its expansion to continue without resistance from officials?

So far, all the funding is coming out of hotel room taxes and private contributions from resorts. If there comes a point where the City or County are spending public funds that could've been spent on public transit or any number of other public goods, then the political calculus changes. [Boring has made a deal with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, for a station on campus, with costs covered by the company.]

What is it like to actually ride in the Loop?

It's like riding an Uber or a Lyft that occasionally uses a narrow, brightly colored tunnel. I'm not a claustrophobic person, but I wouldn't wish the experience on someone who was.

Today is not only the San Diego Comic-Con panel for Spaceballs: The New One, but also the Apple TV premiere of The Dink. Both are helmed by Josh Greenbaum, who spoke with Mashable about the pickleball comedy and the long-awaited sequel to Mel Brooks' Star Wars spoof.

In an interview with Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko, Greenbaum dug into the themes of friendship and identity in The Dink, as well as what it meant to have comedy icon Lynne Marie Stewart join the cast, in what would become her final film role. They also got into Spaceballs: The New One.

Specifically, Puchko asked the question fans of the 1987 comedy had about the title. See, in Spaceballs, the wise Yogurt (played by Brooks) says the star-flung heroes might meet again "in Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money." So, why is this sequel called Spaceballs: The New One?

Greenbaum said, "If you didn't see our announcement video, Mel Brooks himself found the money. It was in his basement, and so he doesn't need any more money at this point."

Greenbaum continued, "We really love the idea of obviously there's the old one, and now this is the new one. We like the joke that this is, you know, 'It's just like the old one, but newer.' So, this is the new one.

"We obviously discussed it with Mel," he added, "but we all felt like, as great as that joke [from the first movie] was, paying that joke off? You'll see when you see the new one why it makes sense for this one to be called that."

Spaceballs: The New One will see Brooks, Bill Pullman, Rick Moranis, Daphne Zuniga, and Michael Winslow reprising their roles from the first film. Joining the cast are Lewis Pullman, Keke Palmer, Anthony Carrigan, and Josh Gad.

Spaceballs: The New One is slated to open in the U.S. on April 23, 2027.

I've never heard a movie be described as both "grotesque" and "gorgeous," but that's what Mashable Entertainment Editor Kristy Puchko called Mother Mary. And naturally, that made it a must-watch for me. It stars Anne Hathaway as pop icon Mother Mary and features songs by Jack Antonoff, Charli XCX, and FKA Twigs. We named it one of our favorite movies of the year, and now it's officially heading to streaming.

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In addition to Hathaway, Mother Mary stars Michaela Coel, Hunter Schafer, Atheena Frizzell, Kaia Gerber, Jessica Brown Findlay, Alba Baptista, Isaura Barbé-Brown, and Sian Clifford. It defies genre, as the trailer even highlights that it's neither a love story nor a ghost story. Though, as Puchko points out, it's kind of both. She dubs it a "gothic horror story," while the official synopsis refers to it as a "psychosexual pop thriller." Whatever you deem it, it's quite the journey.

If you have yet to watch Mother Mary, or if you can't wait to see it again, you can stream it at home this summer. Here's a breakdown of everything you need to know to watch.

What is Mother Mary about?

Directed by David Lowery (The Green Knight), Mother Mary follows the eponymous pop star (Hathaway) as she's readying for a comeback. She reaches out to her former friend/costume designer, Sam Anselm (Coel), for help crafting the perfect dress. The reunion dredges up old wounds the women can't escape and spirals into a supernatural reckoning. Things get pretty tense, to say the least.

Check out the official trailer for Mother Mary below.

How to watch Mother Mary at home Credit: A24

Mother Mary launched in theaters in limited release on April 17th and hit digital on-demand retailers on May 19th. Now it's officially headed to streaming, giving you three different options for watching at home. We've broken down the details below.

Buy or rent on digital

Mother Mary made its at-home debut via digital-on-demand retailers on May 19, 2026. You can either buy the film for your digital library for $9.99 or rent it for $5.99. Note: If you choose the rental option, you'll get access for 30 days, but only 48 hours once you start watching.

Quick links to buy/rent Mother Mary on digital:

• Apple TV —  buy for $9.99, rent for $5.99

• Fandango — buy for $9.99, rent for $5.99

• Google Play — buy for $9.99, rent starting at $4.99

• Prime Video —  buy for $9.99, rent for $5.99

• YouTube — buy for $9.99, rent starting at $4.99

Stream it on HBO Max

Since A24 renewed its output deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, new A24 theatrical releases exclusively stream on HBO Max before anywhere else. Mother Mary is set to make its HBO Max streaming debut on Aug. 21, 2026, which follows the same theater-to-streaming schedule as other recently released A24 films (Marty Supreme, The Drama, and Bring Her Back).

HBO Max subscriptions start at $10.99 per month. However, there are some ways you can save money on your plan. Check out the best HBO Max streaming deals below.

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The best way to save money on HBO Max (or most streaming services, for that matter) on any given day is by opting for the annual plan. Yes, it costs more up front, but you'll save about 16% over the course of a year — up to $45.89 in savings.

A monthly plan with ads typically costs $10.99 per month, but a full year costs $109.99, which breaks down the monthly cost to only $9.17. If you want to go ad-free, the annual HBO Max Standard or Premium plans will also save you about 16% over their monthly equivalents.

Standard subscriptions cost either $18.49 per month or $184.99 per year (which breaks down to $15.42 per month). Premium subscriptions cost $22.99 per month or $229.99 per year (about $19.17 per month). Both plans are ad-free, but only the Premium option will unlock 4K Ultra HD video quality, Dolby Atmos, and the ability to download more offline content.

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While it's definitely not the most convenient option, switching your phone plan to Cricket's Supreme Unlimited plan for $60 per month is the only way to get HBO Max with ads for free. Once you're a Cricket customer, you can use your provider credentials to log in via the HBO Max app or website.

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College students get an entire year of HBO Max Basic with ads for 50% off. Use UNiDAYS to prove your student status, then you'll receive a unique discount code that'll drop the cost per month down from $10.99 to $5.49. Once the initial 12-month promotional period is up, the price will jump back to the full cost unless you cancel.

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The Disney+ bundle deal, which includes HBO Max and Hulu, is one of the best deals in streaming. For just $19.99 per month, you'll get all three streaming libraries with ads, which is about $15 cheaper than paying for each one separately. If you want to go ad-free, it'll run you $32.99 per month as opposed to $56.47 for all three. That's up to 42% in savings.

Best for Verizon customers: Get Netflix and HBO Max for $13/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / HBO Max HBO Max and Netflix (with ads) $13 per month for Verizon customers with Simplicity Plan (save $6.98 per month) Get Deal

If you're a Verizon customer on the Unlimited Welcome, Unlimited Plus, or Unlimited Ultimate plan, you can add the Netflix and HBO Max bundle (with ads) to your plan for only $13 per month. A $19.98 per month value, that's about $7 in savings each month. Once you enroll in the promo, you'll have to complete the account setup separately for each service. Check out Verizon's support page for all the eligibility details, terms, and FAQs.

Best for Xfinity customers: Bundle HBO Max, Peacock, and Netflix and save $10/month Opens in a new window Credit: Netflix / Peacock / HBO Max Netflix Standard with ads, Peacock Premium, and HBO Max $22/month with Xfinity StreamSaver (save $8.97/month) Get Deal

Xfinity Internet and TV customers can also get in on the bundle action with Xfinity StreamSaver packages. The package that includes Netflix Standard with ads ($8.99 per month), Peacock Premium ($10.99 per month), and HBO Max Basic with Ads ($10.99 per month) can be added to your existing Xfinity service for only $22 per month. It typically costs $30.97 for all three, so that's about $9 in savings monthly.

A few minutes spent trying the right Excel tools this weekend could save you hours in the weeks ahead. These five built-in features tackle common frustrations like scrolling through huge workbooks, cleaning up pasted data, and finding problem cells, so you can put them straight to use on Monday morning.

TL;DR: Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $29.97 through July 26 and build faster with AI-powered coding tools, Live Share collaboration, and cross-platform development support.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 $29.97
$499.99 Save $470.02   Get Deal

Modern software development isn’t getting any simpler, but the tools behind it keep getting better, too. That’s exactly what Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 aims to deliver: a faster, more capable development environment that helps you spend less time managing code and more time building great software.

For just two more days, you can get a lifetime license to Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $29.97 (reg. $499.99). Whether you’re building desktop applications, web apps, cloud services, or mobile experiences, it’s a practical upgrade for developers who want the latest tools without paying ongoing subscription costs.

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The newest version introduces deeper AI integration throughout the IDE. Intellicode provides context-aware code suggestions, predicts your next edits, and helps reduce repetitive coding, while built-in AI-assisted refactoring can streamline common development tasks and help catch issues earlier.

Visual Studio Professional 2026 also supports modern, cross-platform workflows. Build applications with .NET MAUI, create web interfaces with Blazor, develop and debug .NET and C++ applications for Windows, Linux, and containers, and integrate directly with Azure and GitHub.

For team projects, Live Share makes collaboration easier by allowing developers to work together in real time without cloning repositories or recreating identical development environments. CodeLens adds another productivity boost by surfacing commit history, test status, references, and code authors directly inside the editor.

If you’re already working in the Microsoft development ecosystem — or planning to — this is an easy way to upgrade your toolkit with the latest version of one of the industry’s most widely used IDEs.

Get Microsoft Visual Studio Professional 2026 for $29.97 through July 26 (reg. $499.99) while supplies last.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TV is about to get a whole lot greener, thanks to Lanterns.

HBO released the official trailer for the Green Lantern-focused series at San Diego Comic-Con, giving viewers a deep dive into the dynamic between Green Lanterns Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) and John Stewart (Aaron Pierre). They're intergalactic cops tasked with protecting Earth. Hal is a Lantern legend, while John is a new recruit who's still learning the ropes of how to use his magical ring.

SEE ALSO: 'The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power' teaser shows Sauron in full control of Middle-earth

Based on the trailer, Hal and John's mentor-mentee relationship is pretty strained. No wonder, given that Hal dumps water on a sleeping John, or that everyone refers to John as Hal's backup.

However, the two will have to learn to work together as they try to solve a new mystery right in America's heartland, one that has ties to the fearsome shape-shifting Manhunters.

Co-created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King, Lanterns has a neo-Western flair. But that doesn't mean it's without Green Lantern magic. The trailer sees Hal using his ring to fly, and John... Well, John can create a very cute hummingbird with his ring, but it seems he still has a lot to learn.

The trailer also features appearances from Superman's Guy Gardner (Nathan Fillion), as well as classic Green Lantern villain Sinestro (Ulrich Thomsen). Check out the full video above to see them, Hal, and John in action.

Lanterns also stars Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones.

Lanterns premieres Aug. 16 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

It's official. Out of San Diego Comic-Con, AMC Global Media has announced that Interview with the Vampire will return for Season 4. And as fans have predicted, showrunner Rolin Jones will change the title from The Vampire Lestat to Queen of the Damned, reflecting the shift from the second book in Anne Rice's beloved Vampire Chronicles to the third.

The teaser above focuses on Sheila Atim, who played Queen of the Damned Akasha in The Vampire Lestat. There, we saw her awake in flashbacks, as she suspended the Brat Prince in midair for three days as she ranted and declared herself "the answer."

If that's how she responded to Sam Reid saying "spoon," how might she respond to him performing a concert, by vampires for vampires? Well, there's been hints of that since the auction at the start of The Vampire Lestat. But in the teaser, she offers a pretty direct call to action:

You have called to me, not knowing my name.

You, with your dresses stained, your faces down in the mud.

I have heard you.

And I say this to you now: Do not let them shape you into the size of their cage.

Women, get up out of the ditches where they have thrown you, and come with me now to where the men are gathered, and do what you have long longed to do.

Kill them all.

We predict Gabriella (Jennifer Ehle) will like her.

What do we know about Queen of the Damned?

Atim will be back for Season 4, as — we expect — will Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, Assad Zaman, and Eric Bogosian, who all joined her at the Comic-Con panel.

AMC's press release included assurance that executive producer/writer Hannah Moscovitch will have an important role in Queen of the Damn, specifically writing for Akasha and Gabriella as she did in The Vampire Lestat.

In a press release, AMC shared this statement from Dan McDermott, Chief Content Officer of AMC Global Media and President of AMC Studios about the new season, "In The Vampire Lestat, Mark, Rolin, Hannah and this extraordinary cast delivered an unforgettable season filled with propulsive storytelling that captivated the passionate and engaged fans of this franchise. We can't wait to continue the journey with Queen of the Damned, one of the most iconic stories in Anne Rice's mythology, and watch our established and beloved characters confront Akasha with their world, and ours, very much hanging in the balance."

When will Queen of the Damned be released?

AMC has not yet revealed when Queen of the Damned will come to TV and streaming.

Mashable will update as news develops.

Google isn't slated to unveil the Pixel 11 series until August 12, but it's already bracing would-be customers for a price increase. The company has confirmed that all devices will see higher prices than before, including the unreleased Pixel 11 line.

There's not much in the way of slick and splashy new documentaries premiering on HBO Max as we head down the home stretch of July, and you know what? That's fine. Few streaming services have a better track record when it comes to documentaries, and a bit of a lull in new releases is sometimes just the excuse you need to dive into the archives.

Luxury sedans have long been defined by German brands like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Audi. They offer refinement, performance, and prestige, but they also come with ownership costs that can quickly add up once they're out of warranty.

July is almost out the door, folks, but Netflix isn't taking its foot off the gas just yet, adding a handful of new TV shows to binge, if you've already ripped through I Will Find You, The Hawk, and maybe even Little House on the Prairie. There's still plenty worth watching for U.S. subscribers, including a series so new it just landed yesterday.

Korean electronics giant LG is taking heat over intrusive settings on its TVs and computer monitors — and the backlash may just be getting started.

It all began on July 17, when an LG gaming monitor customer noticed a pop-up ad for McAfee antivirus software on their screen. The user took to X to vent their frustration.

"PSA: Do NOT buy an LG monitor, it automatically downloaded an app that gives me pop ups for their own apps and McAfee," wrote the customer identified as wexos.

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The YouTube channel Gamers Nexus looked into the report, finding that LG UltraGear monitors were installing a program called LG Monitor App Install after users connected them to Windows PCs.

As our colleagues at PCMag reported, "The program advises customers to install other apps, and shows a pop-up ad for McAfee’s Scam Detector software." (Disclosure: PCMag and Mashable are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

The situation escalated quickly from there. Microsoft EVP for Windows and Devices, Pavan Davuluri, replied to wexos' complaint directly. Later he announced Microsoft had intervened, and that LG had agreed to disable the pop-up ads.

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LG offered this statement to Windows Latest: "LG Electronics reiterates that McAfee is not installed automatically and is never installed without the user’s explicit consent."

But that was not, as it turned out, the only case of intrusive ads on LG screens. Tom Warren at The Verge also took to X to criticize LG for serving ads on his TV homescreen. He didn't mince words.

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There may be many such complaints to come. In March at the advertiser event IAB NewFronts, LG's Ad Solutions division boasted that its home screen was the ideal place to serve video ads from the moment users turn on their TVs.

As Adweek reported at the time, "LG revealed a new, seamless home screen experience, which integrates immersive, full-frame video directly into the LG TV interface, putting brands at the first moment of viewer interaction."

SEE ALSO: What to look for when buying a TV

LG is hardly the only brand to serve ads in internet-connected products. Amazon Echo Show devices are notorious for showing ads that can't be deactivated, and Samsung faced backlash recently for serving ads for the Apple TV Show Pluribus on the doors of smart refrigerators, of all places.

But pop-up ads, universally loathed on the internet, seem to stir a special kind of outrage. The speed of the LG backlash and response is notable. Whether it's enough to stop brands like LG from serving intrusive ads "at the first moment of viewer interaction" remains to be seen.

Mashable contacted LG with questions about its advertising strategy, and we'll update this story if we receive more information.

Windows notepad has been a staple of the Windows operating system literally for decades. It is lightweight, simple, easy to use, and it won't mess with your files, which makes it a great option if you need to quickly edit a configuration file. However, recent additions to the program are a pretty significant departure from what originally made notepad appealing to me.

Luxury SUVs are often associated with high purchase prices and equally expensive running costs. While premium interiors and advanced technology are easy to find, impressive fuel economy usually isn't, especially once you move beyond mainstream options and start exploring the luxury segment.

Anthropic has unveiled a new AI model it says comes close to Claude Fable 5 in its levels of intelligence — at half the price.

Claude Opus 5 was just released by Anthropic on Friday. The AI company is already pushing the model out as the default model on Claude Max, Anthropic's highest subscription plan which starts at $100 a month. It's also the strongest available model on Claude Pro, the company's $20-per-month subscription tier.

Claude Opus 5 tops Anthropic's other models in key areas

Opus 5 is "designed to be used every day," Anthropic says, adding that it's more efficient than the company's previous models.

Most notably, the company calls Opus 5 its "most aligned model to date." This means Opus 5 abides by "human values" and safety guidelines.

When compared to prior models like Opus 4.8, Sonnet 5, or Fable 5, Opus 5 has the lowest rates of deceptiveness and is the least likely to be tricked into misuse, Anthropic says of its "safest model yet."

One intriguing test highlighted by Anthropic: how fast Opus 5 solves a problem that the model has never seen before. The company says it's three times as fast as the next-best model, and scored nearly four times higher than OpenAI's GPT-5.6 Sol.

Claude Opus 5 benchmarks Credit: Anthropic

Compared to Fable 5, Opus 5 performs better or the same in the vast majority of Anthropic benchmark tests. (Notable exceptions: health and legal benchmarks). It beats OpenAI's GPT 5.6 Sol in every benchmark except for Agentic coding.

Anthropic is especially proud of Opus 5's science benchmarks, calling the model the "most capable generally available model for scientific research." Still, Mythos 5 beats Opus 5 in areas such as biology research.

Cybersecurity is another area where Opus 5 falls behind, and that's by design. Anthropic says it purposefully left such tasks out of Opus 5's training. The model can still find vulnerabilities as it expands its dataset, but is much worse at exploiting them than Mythos and previous models.

The choice is a notable one in the wake of an OpenAI agent recently going rogue and hacking a client's server. Opus 5 was clearly trained by Anthropic with safeguards in mind.

How to try Claude Opus 5

Claude Opus 5 is available as of Friday July 24, across Anthropic's platforms.

Opus 5 is now the default AI model on Claude Max and the strongest available model on Claude Pro. The model costs $5 per million input tokens and $25 per million output tokens, which is equivalent to Opus 4.8's pricing.