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The 79th annual Tony Awards nominations have been announced, recognising some of the most outstanding performances of the 2025-2026 Broadway season.

Schmigadoon! and The Lost Boys led the pack, snagging an impressive 12 nominations apiece. Both new musicals were adapted from the screen, based on the Apple TV musical comedy series, and the 1987 comedy vampire film, respectively. 

Musical revivals did well too, with Ragtime racking up 11 nominations, while Cats: The Jellicle Ball and Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show both scored nine. Meanwhile, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman also received nine nominations, making it the most nominated play this year. 

Here is the full list of nominees for the 2026 Tony Awards.

Best Book of a Musical

• The Lost Boys, David Hornsby and Chris Hoch

• Schmigadoon!, Cinco Paul

• Titaníque, Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Jim Barne and Kit Buchan

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman (Music: Caroline Shaw)

• August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone (Music: Steve Bargonetti)

• The Lost Boys (Music & Lyrics: The Rescues)

• Schmigadoon! (Music & Lyrics: Cinco Paul)

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) (Music & Lyrics: Jim Barne and Kit Buchan)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

• Will Harrison, Punch

• Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• John Lithgow, Giant

• Daniel Radcliffe, Every Brilliant Thing

• Mark Strong, Oedipus

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

• Rose Byrne, Fallen Angels

• Carrie Coon, Bug

• Susannah Flood, Liberation

• Lesley Manville, Oedipus

• Kelli O'Hara, Fallen Angels

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Nicholas Christopher, Chess

• Luke Evans, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Joshua Henry, Ragtime

• Sam Tutty, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brandon Uranowitz, Ragtime

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

• Sara Chase, Schmigadoon!

• Stephanie Hsu, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Caissie Levy, Ragtime

• Marla Mindelle, Titaníque

• Christiani Pitts, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

• Christopher Abbott, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Danny Burstein, Marjorie Prime

• Brandon J. Dirden, Waiting for Godot

• Alden Ehrenreich, Becky Shaw

• Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Richard Thomas, The Balusters

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

• Betsy Aidem, Liberation

• Marylouise Burke, The Balusters

• Aya Cash, Giant

• Laurie Metcalf, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• June Squibb, Marjorie Prime

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Ali Louis Bourzgui, The Lost Boys

• André De Shields, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Bryce Pinkham, Chess

• Ben Levi Ross, Ragtime

• Layton Williams, Titaníque

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

• Shoshana Bean, The Lost Boys

• Hannah Cruz, Chess

• Rachel Dratch, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Ana Gasteyer, Schmigadoon!

• Nichelle Lewis, Ragtime

Best Scenic Design of a Play

• Hildegard Bechtler, Oedipus

• Takeshi Kata, Bug

• Chloe Lamford, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• David Korins, Dog Day Afternoon

• David Rockwell, Fallen Angels

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

• dots, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Soutra Gilmour, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Rachel Hauck, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Dane Laffrey, The Lost Boys

• Scott Pask, Schmigadoon!

Best Costume Design of a Play

• Brenda Abbandandolo, Dog Day Afternoon

• Qween Jean, Liberation

• Jeff Mahshie, Fallen Angels

• Emilio Sosa, The Balusters

• Paul Tazewell, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

Best Costume Design of a Musical

• Linda Cho, Ragtime

• Linda Cho, Schmigadoon!

• Qween Jean, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ryan Park, The Lost Boys

• David I. Reynoso, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

Best Lighting Design of a Play

• Isabella Byrd, Dog Day Afternoon

• Natasha Chivers, Oedipus

• Stacey Derosier, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Heather Gilbert, Bug

• Heather Gilbert, The Fear of 13

• Jack Knowles, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

• Kevin Adams, Chess

• Jane Cox, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Donald Holder, Schmigadoon!

• Adam Honoré, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Adam Honoré and Donald Holder (Lighting Design) and 59 Studio (Projection Design), Ragtime

• Jen Schriever and Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

Best Sound Design of a Play

• Justin Ellington, August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone

• Tom Gibbons, Oedipus

• Lee Kinney, The Fear of 13

• Josh Schmidt, Bug

• Mikaal Sulaiman, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

Best Sound Design of a Musical

• Kai Harada, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Kai Harada, Ragtime

• Adam Fisher, The Lost Boys

• Brian Ronan, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Walter Trarbach, Schmigadoon!

Best Direction of a Play

• Nicholas Hytner, Giant

• Robert Icke, Oedipus

• Kenny Leon, The Balusters

• Joe Mantello, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Whitney White, Liberation

Best Direction of a Musical

• Michael Arden, The Lost Boys

• Lear deBessonet, Ragtime

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Tim Jackson, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Choreography

• Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!

• Ellenore Scott, Ragtime

• Ani Taj, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

• Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Lauren Yalango-Grant and Christopher Cree Grant, The Lost Boys

Best Orchestrations

• Doug Besterman and Mike Morris, Schmigadoon!

• Ethan Popp, Kyler England, Adrianne "AG" Gonzalez, and Gabriel Mann, The Lost Boys

• Lux Pyramid, Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

• Brian Usifer, Chess

• Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Wilson, Trevor Holder, and Doug Schadt, Cats: The Jellicle Ball

Best Play

• The Balusters

• Giant

• Liberation

• Little Bear Ridge Road

Best Musical

• The Lost Boys

• Schmigadoon!

• Titaníque

• Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Best Revival of a Play

• Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

• Becky Shaw

• Every Brilliant Thing

• Fallen Angels

• Oedipus

Best Revival of a Musical

• Cats: The Jellicle Ball

• Ragtime

• Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show

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 May 6, 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 May 6, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Number (15): Everything in this space must add up to 15. The answer is 5-2, placed vertically; 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 11-6, placed vertically.

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

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-6, placed horizontally.

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

Less Than (7): Everything in this space must be less than 7. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 6-3, placed horizontally.

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

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

Less Than (6): Everything in this space must be less than 6. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for May 6 Pips

Number (9): Everything in this space must add up to 9. The answer is 3-0, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-1, placed vertically; 4-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will require some knowledge of popular U.S. sports and pop culture.

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: Fight through adversity

• Green: Championship trophies

• Blue: Racecar drivers

• Purple: Get moved

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Survive

• Green: Famous Trophies

• Blue: F1 Drivers

• Purple: Transfer____

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 #590 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Survive: BEAR, ENDURE, WEATHER, WITHSTAND

• Famous Trophies: HEISMAN, LOMBARDI, RYDER, STANLEY

• F1 Drivers: BEARMAN, GASLY, NORRIS, STROLL

• Transfer____: FEE, MARKET, PORTAL, WINDOW

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.

You can’t force accountability—but you can make it easier for people to choose it. When pressure rises, your instinct may be to tighten control. Instead, focus on creating conditions where ownership becomes the natural response. Emphasize authorship. Involve your leaders in defining what accountability actually looks like in their day-to-day work. Ask them to reflect […]

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Whenever The Bear introduces a new female character, I pray she doesn't become a love interest for one of the male leads. Not because I hate romance, but because I specifically hate the way The Bear does romance.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear' just dropped a surprise episode. Here's how to watch it now.

The clearest offender is Carmy's (Jeremy Allen White) relationship with Claire (Molly Gordon). A childhood friend who re-enters Carmy's life, Claire is less a real human character than she is a walking self-help book for Carmy. She spends almost every moment she's on screen talking about him: her memories of him, his mental health struggles, his relationship with his family. In theory, she has a life apart from Carmy — her defining character trait outside of being his girlfriend is vaguely "nurse" — but in watching The Bear, you wouldn't know it.

Usually a great performer (see: Shiva Baby, Oh, Hi!, and more), Gordon is reduced to two modes here: luminous love interest hanging onto Carmy's every word, or calming therapist. She's not the only Bear character to meet this fate. As The Bear builds Ever staffer Jessica (Sarah Ramos) into a possible match for Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), it replaces her level-headed expertise with empty platitudes designed to ground him. (Season 4 line "honesty is sanity" made me want to drive my head through a wall.) Elsewhere, Richie's ex-wife, Tiffany (Gillian Jacobs), acts as a similar pillar of support.

SEE ALSO: 'The Bear's 'Gary' cliffhanger explained: What just happened to Richie?

Their heads constantly askew, their eyes lit up in adoration, their mouths always ready to offer up an eager laugh or some cornball advice, these characters morph into The Bear's single idea of a Woman In Love. Now, The Bear's standalone episode "Gary" offers a new addition to this pantheon: Sherri (Marin Ireland) from Gary, Indiana.

Sherri is a woman whom Richie and Mikey (Jon Bernthal) meet at a bar while on a work trip to Gary. She immediately strikes up a rapport with Mikey, playing a private game of "Fact or Fiction" with him, listening to his complicated woes while nestled together in a bathroom stall, and stealing his beanie and wearing it like a middle schooler trying to get a rise out of a crush. It's a level of blindly supportive compassion we haven't seen since Claire Bear, and Ireland, typically a huge asset to any project, soon becomes trapped in The Bear's love interest archetype. (Someone please ban affectionate head tilts from the set of The Bear, effective immediately.)

While Sherri feels like she was meant to be a moment of bright connection in Mikey's life, maybe even "the one that got away," she really just comes across as an empty vessel for him to pour his trauma into. "What are you looking for, Michael?" she wonders. Later, when he asks permission to do a bump of cocaine, she simply responds, "I want you to be you." It's a series of faux-deep exchanges that even two great performers can't sell. (It doesn't help that Bernthal and Moss-Bachrach wrote the episode.)

That faux-deepness is what sinks The Bear's other romances, too. The show tries to force these deep, cosmic connections, but it forgets that these relationships should be a two-way street. Perhaps that's why many viewers are drawn to shipping Carmy and Sydney (Ayo Edebiri). While the showrunners have affirmed that their relationship is platonic — and I personally agree with that choice — what sets this hypothetical pairing apart is that they each have such rich lives, both in their work together and their time apart. That's because The Bear is invested in both of them as characters, rather than just using one as a device to unlock the other. You simply can't say the same of The Bear's other romantic pairings, and the release of "Gary" further proves that romance is the recipe The Bear has yet to master.

"Gary" is now streaming on Hulu. The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.

TL;DR: Lifetime access to 2TB of secure Drime cloud storage is on sale for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Drime Drime Secure Cloud Storage: Lifetime Subscription $112.49
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Cloud storage is one of those things that quickly turns into a monthly bill you forget about. That’s what makes a lifetime option like Drime worth a closer look.

You can currently get 2TB of storage for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99), which means no ongoing fees just to keep your files accessible.

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But this isn’t just a place to dump files and forget about them. Drime leans more toward being a full workspace. You can upload, sync, and access files across devices, but also edit documents, leave comments, and collaborate with others without switching tools. It’s useful if you’re juggling projects, clients, or even just shared folders with family.

Security is a big part of the pitch. Files stored in the encrypted Vault are protected by end-to-end encryption, and everything is hosted in Europe in compliance with GDPR standards. This means your data isn’t floating around unsecured, and you have more control over who sees what.

There are also a lot of small quality-of-life features that make a difference over time — like version history for restoring older files, advanced link sharing with passwords and expiration dates, and even built-in e-signature tools.

It’s a simple way to get more control over your files without adding another monthly expense.

Get lifetime access to 2TB of Drime Cloud Storage for a one-time $112.49 (reg. $299.99) through May 10.

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TL;DR: A ChatGPT-powered investing platform that helps you find and manage stocks with clearer signals—lifetime access for a one-time $54.97.

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The AI trade has seemingly had its moment — big runs, big headlines, big expectations. The AI fun is not over by any means. But now that things are settling, the real question is what comes next?

Instead of chasing whatever’s trending, Sterling Stock Picker leans into a more grounded approach: using a ChatGPT-powered assistant (Finley) to help you understand what’s actually happening inside a stock. You can ask questions about companies, sectors, or your own portfolio and get explanations that are tied to real data — not just surface-level summaries.

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It also handles the heavy lifting most people avoid. The platform analyzes financials, growth metrics, and risk, then surfaces signals like whether a stock is worth buying, holding, or avoiding. There’s even a “North Star” system that simplifies that call into something actionable.

If you’re building from scratch, there’s a done-for-you portfolio builder that aligns with your risk tolerance. If you already have positions, it can suggest adjustments based on your portfolio’s performance.

One thing that stands out is how it balances guidance with transparency. You’re not just handed picks — you can see the reasoning behind them, which matters if you’re trying to build a repeatable process.

Have a lifetime way to pressure-test your judgment — especially in a market that’s moving past hype and into something more selective.

Get lifetime access to the ChatGPT-driven Sterling Stock Picker while it’s on sale for a one-time $54.97 payment (reg. $486) through May 10.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

Saddle up, boys and girls, because the Yellowstone universe is expanding once more with a new spin-off that also acts as a direct sequel to the mothership series. It will follow Dutton matriarch Beth (Kelly Reilly) and her husband Rip (Cole Hauser) as they embark on a new path together on their new ranch outside of Montana.

Months after Amazon made Alexa+ available through its own devices, it's now coming to third-party hardware.

TL;DR: Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free on RTÉ Player. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Bayern Munich vs. PSG would have made an amazing Champions League final, but we should be happy that we're getting two matchups between these electric teams. The first leg finished 5-4 to PSG. We're not expecting the same again, because that was probably one of the best games of all time. If we get half that level of entertainment in the second leg, we'll be delighted.

Expect more of the same from the likes of Michael Olise and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as these teams battle it out for a spot in the showpiece event.

If you want to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Bayern Munich vs. PSG?

Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on May 6. This fixture takes place at the Allianz Arena.

How to watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free

Bayern Munich vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on RTÉ Player.

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

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free by following these simple steps:

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

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

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

4. Visit RTÉ Player

5. Watch Bayern Munich vs. PSG for free from anywhere in the world

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

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

What is the best VPN for RTÉ Player?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Ireland

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Bayern Munich vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

Gone are the days when people balk at you if you say you met your partner online. Dating apps have irrevocably changed the way we date — much as social media platforms have changed how we interact with each other. With so many apps, from Bumble to eharmony, it can be challenging to determine which ones to invest in, especially if you're looking for that special someone.

According to 2023 findings from the Pew Research Center, one in ten partnered adults (married, living with a partner, or in a committed relationship) met their partner on a dating app or site. If you're a younger adult and/or LGBTQ, you're more likely to have met your significant other online: one in five adults under 30 and nearly one in four for LGBTQ adults.

SEE ALSO: My favorite dating app just got even cooler with a new feed redesign

The same study found that almost half (44 percent) of dating app users said a major reason for using them was to meet a long-term partner. So, if that's you, you're certainly not alone, despite what you might see people lament on TikTok. 

The discourse on dating app culture can be unrelenting. Last year, singles told Mashable they'd rather meet a potential partner in person, but they're begrudgingly on the apps. Some, like Tinder, have seen their revenue decrease in recent years, while Hinge is growing. Even then, though, daters bemoan even the most popular of apps. A Kinsey scientist recently told Mashable where daters are going wrong: use dating apps as a tool, not to let them run the show — and stop self-optimizing, already.

Despite the frustration over The Apps™, it's undeniable that if you want to date from the comfort and safety of your home, they're the way to do it. If you're, say, introverted or have difficulty approaching someone in person, an app can still be useful.

What is the #1 best dating app?

Considering the variation in experiences on all the dating apps, it's difficult to quantify which ones are the "best." Some people find their spouses on Tinder, while others are disappointed that their matches are only looking for hookups. 

That being said, if you're looking for something serious, your best bet is likely an app with a large user base, options for you to indicate what you're looking for in your bio, and filters to weed out who you really want to partner with. There are also apps whose branding is geared towards finding one's ultimate match — like eharmony and Match, both decades-old sites with reputations for helping users find their spouse. Hinge, Bumble, and Coffee Meets Bagel also have a reputation for more "serious" connections.

Depending on the type of relationship you're seeking, you may also benefit from a more niche app. Take one app on our list, SilverSingles, for people over 50. Sure, there are older adults on apps like Tinder and Bumble as well, but you may have more luck finding someone age-appropriate if you're in a space meant just for you.

Which dating site is best for serious relationships?

Mashable has researched to pick out a few from the plethora of dating sites (and apps) out there. These options are available for both Android and Apple users, so the type of phone you have won't determine your options. In terms of monetary investment, you can use some of these for free (like Tinder and Bumble), while others are more pay-to-play. We've also included some "niche" options, like the aforementioned SilverSingles and Elite Singles, so you have more than the standard buffet of dating apps.

Here are the best dating apps for serious relationships:

Pennsylvania has taken the unusual step of suing an AI company for practicing medicine without a license.

In a lawsuit filed May 1, the state is targeting Character.AI after an investigator found a chatbot on the platform posing as a licensed psychiatrist and providing what the state characterizes as medical advice.

According to the complaint, filed by the Pennsylvania Department of State and State Board of Medicine, a Professional Conduct Investigator for the state created a free account on Character.AI and searched for psychiatric characters. He selected one called "Emilie," described on the platform as a "Doctor of psychiatry."

The investigator told Emilie he had been feeling sad, empty, tired, and unmotivated. The chatbot mentioned depression and offered to conduct an assessment to determine whether medication might help.

SEE ALSO: An Illinois bill banning AI therapy has been signed into law

When pressed on whether she was licensed in Pennsylvania, Emilie said she was and even provided a specific license number. The state checked and found that the number doesn't exist.

The complaint also states Emilie claimed she attended medical school at Imperial College London, has practiced for seven years, and holds a full specialty registration in psychiatry with the General Medical Council in the UK.

In a similar case, 404 Media reported last year that Instagram AI chatbots were pretending to be licensed therapists, even inventing license numbers when prompted for credentials by the user.

Pennsylvania is seeking an injunction ordering Character.AI to stop allowing its platform to engage in the unlawful practice of medicine. The company has more than 20 million monthly active users worldwide and hosts more than 18 million user-created chatbot characters, according to the complaint.

In an email to Mashable, a Character.AI spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit. Further, they added that "our highest priority is the safety and well-being of our users. The user-created Characters on our site are fictional and intended for entertainment and roleplaying."

The spokesperson added that the company "prioritizes responsible product development and has robust internal reviews and red-teaming processes in place to assess relevant features."

SEE ALSO: John Oliver takes a disturbing deep dive into AI chatbots A much bigger legal battle looms over AI health

The Pennsylvania lawsuit lands in the middle of an already messy legal debate over what AI is actually allowed to tell you — and whether any of it is even admissible in court.

As Mashable's Chase DiBenedetto reported, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly advocated for "AI privilege," arguing that chatbot conversations should be afforded the same legal protections as conversations with a therapist or an attorney. Courts have so far been split, with two federal judges reaching opposite conclusions on the question within weeks of each other earlier this year.

The stakes are high on both sides. Legal experts warn that sweeping AI privilege protections could effectively shield companies from accountability, making it harder to subpoena chat logs and internal records when something goes wrong. Meanwhile, health AI is booming — $1.4 billion flowed into healthcare-specific generative AI in 2025 alone, according to Menlo Ventures — and much of it operates outside of HIPAA protections.

Pennsylvania is one of several states to have introduced an AI Health bill this year, following a trend of states that aren't waiting for Washington to act.

There's only one thing more shocking than The Bear dropping surprise episode "Gary," and that's the ending of the episode itself.

Written by The Bear stars Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Jon Bernthal, "Gary" flashes back to a work trip Richie (Moss-Bachrach) and Mikey (Bernthal) once took to Gary, Indiana. Their worst impulses soon derail their mission, culminating in Mikey drunkenly (and publicly) dressing down Richie's penchant for fucking up, and Richie missing the birth of his daughter.

SEE ALSO: 2026 Summer TV preview: Every TV show you need to know about now

The entire episode takes place long before The Bear Season 1, except for one somber coda that could have massive repercussions for The Bear Season 5. "Gary"s final scene cuts from Richie and Mikey sitting in Mikey's car to Richie sitting alone in his car in the present day. He stares at his empty passenger seat, reminiscing about Mikey. Then, as he pulls forward into an intersection, another car careens straight into him. Cue the credits, along with my incredulous yell, "Did Richie just die?"

So, did Richie really just die in The Bear? Ebon Moss-Bachrach in "The Bear." Credit: FX

Here's the thing: The Bear probably isn't going to kill off Richie, one of its most beloved leads, during a surprise episode that dropped between seasons. Especially not when the show is gearing up for its fifth and final installment. However, Richie's car crash could be the major event that sets Season 5 in motion.

At the end of Season 4, Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) quit The Bear, choosing to step away from the kitchen in the hopes of healing himself. He turned full control of the restaurant over to Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), along with Richie and Natalie (Abby Elliott). What does Carmy's upcoming journey of self-discovery look like? Even he's not sure. He just knows it should take place far, far away from the stressful environment of any restaurant kitchen. That includes his family, both work and blood-related.

But you know what could bring Carmy back into the fold in Season 5? A need to be there for an injured Richie, and to support the rest of the reeling restaurant staff. Basically, the end of "Gary" appears to be a bridge to the start of Season 5, and the catalyst that will reunite Carmy with the people he walked away from in Season 4.

It's a bit of a bizarre move on The Bear's end, in no small part because a car-crash cliffhanger sends the show skidding into soap territory. But it's also a strange choice heading into Season 5. Why relegate such a key incident to a standalone episode, instead of keep it as part of the season itself? Plus, in tacking such a shocking moment onto the end of "Gary," the episode loses some of its power. Instead of leaving viewers contemplating Mikey and Richie's dynamic, they're left with the WTF factor of the car crash and questions about what's next. There's no meditation on The Bear's past, just a collision with its future.

"Gary" is now streaming on Hulu. The Bear Season 5 premieres this June on Hulu.

Looking for a good show on HBO Max this week, to put on after a long day of work? The legacy prestige service is definitely known for its iconic series of the past, but it still has mojo for new shows—like Hacks, The Pitt, and Rooster, and more coming this month, too.

I recently swapped out my beloved Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 for a de-Googled Android phone, but I was devastated to learn that my group chats would no longer be accessible. I’ve since switched back to regular Android, but I’ve learned a much simpler way to de-Google in the process—one that comes with fewer compromises.

Last week, OpenAI managed to stop ChatGPT from talking about goblins all the time. This week, there's a whole new model for users to play with.

The company announced in a blog post on Tuesday that ChatGPT 5.5 Instant has begun rolling out to all users as the new default model for the popular AI chatbot. The new model is a follow-up to GPT 5.5, which was released in April.

GPT-5.5 Instant replaces 5.3 Instant, which will remain available for the next three months for paid users but will otherwise be sunsetted.

Unlike Claude Opus 4.7 from Anthropic and GPT-5.5, which are only available to paid customers, GPT-5.5 Instant is "available to everyone." OpenAI says it should produce fewer hallucinations and better overall results for everyday ChatGPT usage.

"This update makes everyday interactions more useful and more enjoyable: stronger and tighter answers across subject areas, a more natural conversational tone, and better use of the context you’ve already shared when personalization can help," OpenAI's blog post said.

SEE ALSO: OpenAI explains why ChatGPT suddenly loved goblins

According to OpenAI, GPT-5.5 Instant produced 52.5 percent fewer hallucinated claims in internal testing than GPT-5.3 in "high stakes" topics like law, finance, and medicine. In addition, the new model "reduced inaccurate claims by 37.3% on especially challenging conversations users had flagged for factual errors."

The company also says the new model is better at deciding when to use web search for a prompt and analyzing image uploads than before. The new model is also allegedly more concise in its answers, while also maintaining something of a personality in how it talks to the user. GPT-5.5 Instant should also be better at understanding and referencing context from a connected Gmail account and other integrations to provide quality answers.

And, again, most importantly, it should avoid mentioning goblins unless absolutely necessary.

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

I'm someone who regularly sleeps with earbuds in my ear, but the thought of buying earbuds specifically for sleep has long seemed hard to justify. After all, my current buds were functional, so they were good enough, right? No. I was not right. Sleep earbuds have become my favorite, most important pair of buds.

We know Pride is all year round, but there is something special about the month of June. We're not there quite yet, but if you want a main squeeze for all the parades and parties, you gotta start looking now. How about on a dating app?

As a lesbian, you probably know all about them. Lesbian Americans (along with bisexual and gay Americans) are far more likely to have ever used dating apps than straight Americans: 51 percent to 28 percent, according to the Pew Research Center.

There are a few reasons why LGBTQ people might turn to online dating more quickly than straight folks. For one, you might live in an area without a thriving LGBTQ community, and in-person dating may be hard. If you don't know other lesbians to begin with, how can you meet more IRL to date? (Sometimes, lesbian spaces can also be co-opted by The Straights.) Unfortunately, in-person dating may also be less safe, depending on where you live. 

Thankfully, we live in a time where we can find people like us with a few swipes. Lesbians are welcome on major dating apps, and there are also niche ones specifically for lesbians and other queer women and people. But which one to choose?

How to find the best dating apps for lesbians Niche lesbian dating apps aren't your only option for finding love. Credit: Stacey Zhu / Mashable

In Mashable's recommendations below, you'll find both general dating apps and apps specifically for queer people. As the former appeals to the general population, you'll find more users in these spaces. The caveat, however, is that when you swipe on other women, you might find those coupled with men who are looking for another woman to have a threesome with (aka unicorn hunters). No judgment here, but that's probably not what you're looking for. Then again, people of all types are on dating apps like Tinder and Hinge. You never know who you may come across.

Then there are apps specifically for the community, like HER and Lex. If you yearn for a smaller dating scene, head for these apps. While there's no "Grindr for lesbians" — we go into why in the FAQ section — these apps are more so like stepping into your neighborhood lesbian bar than an app like Bumble. 

You can also try multiple dating apps, as each one below has a free version. You can filter by the gender you identify with and are looking for, and sometimes, as with OkCupid, there are many options to choose from.

Diving into the dating pool isn't easy, but the water's fine. Check out our guide below for the full rundown of our recommendations and dating app reviews.

Apple's latest mobile operating system, iOS 26.5 has just been released for developers. Typically, this means the latest public version of iOS is just around the corner.

So, what new features should iPhone users expect in iOS 26.5? Let's take a look at what's new.

SEE ALSO: Apple WWDC 2026 is official, with iOS 27 and 'AI advancements' on the menu

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Apple Maps: Ads and Suggested Places

Two new features are coming to Apple Maps with the release of iOS 26.5 — that is, if you consider the introduction of ads on the platform as a new feature, as Apple does.

Apple is bringing ads into its proprietary Apple Maps app with the latest iOS. We first reported on this in March, and Apple is now actively seeking advertisers.

Ads will be clearly labeled, according to Apple. Businesses will be able to run paid advertising on Apple Maps in a similar way to how app developers can run ads in Apple's App Store. Local ads will show up in Apple Maps based on a user's location. Ads will show in Apple Maps search results and in Suggested Places.

Speaking of Suggested Places, this is another new feature coming to Apple Maps with iOS 26.5. While ads will also show up in this section, it's not purely an advertising space. Suggested Places will provide users with recommendations based on the user's most recent searches, as well as what other nearby Apple Maps users are searching for.

RCS end-to-end encryption

RCS, or Rich Communication Services, is basically the messaging protocol that enables iPhone and Android users to message each other with high-quality media, read receipts, and typing indicators. Basically, it provides iPhone users with the familiar Messenger experience when texting with Android users.

With iOS 26.5, Apple is introducing a layer of protection by enabling end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for those RCS messages. 

E2EE will be turned on by default with iOS 26.5. However, iPhone users will be able to turn the feature on or off by going to their Settings app and toggling the End-to-End Encryption option in the Messages section. 

With E2EE for ‌RCS‌, messages sent between iPhone and Android users will be encrypted, meaning they cannot be read by third parties.

Other new features

While those are the major new features coming to iOS 26.5, there are other new additions on the way as well.

For example, when a user connects Apple accessories like the Magic Keyboard to an iPhone via USB-C, the device will automatically connect via Bluetooth as well with iOS 26.5.

Transferring from an iPhone to an Android device with iOS 26.5 provides a new option setting to select which message attachments to include in the transfer. Users can pick all, 1 year, or 30 days as options.

Apple Books also has a new Trophies and Medals feature that rewards users based on their audiobooks and reading habits.

Finally, Apple will also release a new iPhone wallpaper celebrating Pride with iOS 26.5. The Pride wallpaper will match the previously announced Apple Watch Pride band and watch face. 

iOS 26.5 may also potentially bring a new feature for users in the EU. Under the EU's Digital Markets Act, Apple must allow iPhone features like notification, Live Activities, and AirPods pairing to work with third-party headphones and smartwatches. While this has been included in previous iOS beta releases, including the beta for iOS 26.5, it has yet to be included in any public release. We'll see if Apple includes it this time with the iOS 26.5.

Finally, iOS 27 is also coming later this year, and we may learn more about it during WWDC 2026 in June.

SEE ALSO: Apple WWDC 2026: Everything we know so far

I'm sure I'm not the only person who sometimes gets frustrated with the number of different cables and connectors involved in owning a PC. It's 2026, why can't everything just use USB already? Better yet, USB-C, the most versatile connector of them all?