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Yesterday we focused on three ways to build a superteam that keeps getting better. Here are four more ways to accelerate how your team learns and improves on the job.  Roll up your sleeves—even when you don’t have to. Stay involved after setting direction. Work alongside your team to model standards and spot opportunities. Avoid taking over, focusing instead on building […]

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

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

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

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

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

To appreciate.

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

THANK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

An Indian dish.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

CURRY

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To float.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

HOVER

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A vital organ.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

COLON

Final Hurdle hint

To surrender.

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

WAIVE

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

We’re only a few days from the New Moon, so very little of the Moon is visible tonight. This marks the end of the current lunar cycle, which lasts about 29.5 days as the Moon completes its orbit around Earth.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Tuesday, April 14, the Moon phase is Waning Crescent. Tonight, 13% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

There's less to see on the Moon's surface than previous nights, with only the Grimaldi Basin visible, and only with visual aids such as binoculars or a telescope.

When is the next Full Moon?

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

What are Moon phases?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Mini 5 Pro Fly More Combo $1,089 at Amazon
$1,599 Save $510   Get Deal

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

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

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

Mashable Deals Be the first to know! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Get editor selected deals texted right to your phone! Loading... Sign Me Up By signing up, you agree to receive recurring automated SMS marketing messages from Mashable Deals at the number provided. Msg and data rates may apply. Up to 2 messages/day. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Consent is not a condition of purchase. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Thanks for signing up!

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

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

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

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

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Apple iPhone 17 for free   Get Deal

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Fold launch might happen later than we thought (updated)

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

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

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

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

You can get almost anything your heart desires these days with the simple tap and swipe of your smartphone: Movies, songs, fast food, all the treasures of Amazon via next-day delivery. Yes, this is the age of on-demand apps and instant gratification. So why shouldn't you get a hot date in the same way? It's nothing new for the lovelorn. Apps and websites have dominated the dating world for the best part of 20 years. But things are always changing within the ever complex world of online dating.

According to the sex-perts at Lovehoney — everyone’s favourite progressively-minded sex toy brand — we're living in horny-but-wholesome times. Lovehoney has named 2026 "The Year of Pleasure."

That doesn’t mean one-night stands and flippant flings. In fact, research days that one-night stands are on the decline. Would-be daters are now cruising for "purposeful pleasure" and "meaningful connections." That means hookups with actual substance. We're still hooking up, but we're getting more selective about whom we hookup with. That’s why using the right dating app is so important. Every dating app has something slightly different on the table, and you need the right tools to find the right date. To help you get started, we’ve looked at the top apps and taken advice from sex and relationship experts.

What to know before you swipe

Before you start downloading apps, it’s good know just how to approach online dating. Our advice is to be 100 percent honest about who and what you’re looking for. And maybe give a pass to the mainstream dating apps that are more about romance and happily ever afters (that means you, eharmony). The best hookup apps make chatting quick and easy (messaging, video calls, all that good stuff), and even the free ones should have features like profile verification to help keep you safe.

Our main advice though is to stick to apps which are purpose-built for hookups, casual fun, and satisfying your kink (whatever that might be). It can be freeing, not to mention productive, to be open about specific desires. The ways in which we understand sex and relationships are changing all the time — just looking at fast-growing "heteroflexible" sexuality — and hookup apps allow you to explore curiosities with no judgement or social anxiety.

SEE ALSO: The best sexting apps for discreet NSFW chats

It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for, whether it's the chance to explore a new sexual frontier, a friends-with-benefits situation on the reg, or an old school one-night stand (the one-night stand might be going out of fashion, but it’s still hella fun as long as it’s safe and on your terms). Whatever your desire, we’ve got your back. This guide to the best hookups apps is based on Mashable’s own real-world testing, expert input, and general experience. We’ve broken down each of the best hookup apps, with an option for every type of dater and every dating desire.

These are the best hookup apps for 2026.

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 April 14, 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 April 14, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for April 14 Pips

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

Less Than (2): The domino half in this red space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 2-1, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (3): Every domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 3-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to be more than 5. The answer is 3-6, placed vertically.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for April 14 Pips

Equal (1): Every domino half in this purple space must have 1 pip. The answer is 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed horizontally; and 1-2, placed horizontally.

Less Than (2): The domino half in this red space must have less than 2 pips. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): The domino half in this light blue space must have more than 2 pips. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

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

Equal (2): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 2 pips. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically; and 2-0, placed vertically.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for April 14 Pips

Less Than (4): The domino half in this purple space must have less than 4 pips. The answer is 1-6, placed horizontally.

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add up to 4. The answer is 1-2, placed vertically; 2-3, placed vertically.

Number (4): The domino half in this light blue space must have 4 pips. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (6): Every domino half in this dark blue space must have 6 pips. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 5-6, placed vertically; and 6-2, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Every domino half in this green space must have 2 pips. The answer is 2-2, placed vertically; 6-2, placed vertically; and 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (3): The domino half in this red space must have 3 pips. The answer is 3-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Every domino half in this purple space must have 0 pips. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically; 2-0, placed vertically; and 0-3, placed horizontally.

Number (3): The domino half in this light blue space must have 3 pips. The answer is 0-3, 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.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will test your knowledge of multiple sports. Spoiler alert: Soccer isn't one of them.

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.

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

Each puzzle features 16 words, and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake — players get up to four mistakes before the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

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: In the ring

• Green: Pitch perfect

• Blue: Joe and Logan could also go here

• Purple: Mispellings

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Boxing Gear

• Green: Baseball Pitching Arm Slots

• Blue: ____ Ryan

• Purple: NBA Teams, With the Last Letter Changed

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

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #566 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Boxing Gear — GLOVES, MOUTHGUARD, SHORTS, SPEED BAG

• Baseball Pitching Arm Slots — OVERHAND, SIDEARM, SUBMARINE, THREE-QUARTERS

• ____ Ryan — BUDDY, MATT, NOLAN, REX

• NBA Teams, With the Last Letter Mispelled — BUCKY, HEAP, SPURT, SUNG

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you put up a good fight.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

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

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

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

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

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 14, 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: Chrome info

• Green: In the ring

• Blue: Angle

• Purple: Liberated

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Things stored by a browser

• Green: Boxing terms

• Blue: Tilt

• Purple: Free___

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 #1038 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Things stored by a browser: BOOKMARK, CACHE, COOKIE, HISTORY

• Boxing terms: BELL, GLOVES, RING, ROUNG

• Tilt: LEAN, LIST, PITCH, TIP

• Free___: LANCE, MASON, STYLE, WAY

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 14, 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 have blurred vision.

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 April 14, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: It's a little unclear

The words are related to obscurity.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe fuzziness.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Out of Focus.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 14

• Soft

• Bedimmed

• Hazy

• Out of Focus

• Blurry

• Faded

• Muted

• Cloudy

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

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

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

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

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 April 14, 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 April 14, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A pattern.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter C appears twice.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter C.

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...

CYCLE

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.

Uber is expanding its robotaxi empire for the second time in as many weeks. The ridesharing giant has started taxi test rides for employees in the San Francisco Bay Area, using Lucid Gravity SUVs upgraded with Nuro's autonomous car technology.

Meta is reportedly planning to integrate facial recognition tech into its smart glasses, but not everyone is content to idly sit by and let it happen.

Per Wired, a cavalcade of more than 70 organizations such as the ACLU and Fight for the Future have signed a letter urging Meta to "immediately halt and publicly disavow" its plans to bring facial recognition tech to its growing lineup of smart glasses. In March, a separate group of organizations wrote to Congress to express the same concerns.

These groups agree that Meta cannot be trusted to safely incorporate the technology into its glasses at all, and thus they say that the best course of action is for Meta to eliminate its plans altogether.

Don’t miss out on our latest stories: Add Mashable as a trusted news source in Google.

We, the undersigned 75 local, state, and national organizations that advocate for domestic violence survivors, worker rights, bodily autonomy, consumer privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties, write to urge Meta to immediately halt and publicly disavow its plans to deploy facial recognition features on its Ray-Ban and Oakley glasses, including the feature reportedly known internally as 'Name Tag.'

The letter also calls on Meta to "Stop opposing privacy legislation that would require Meta to obtain explicit user consent before collecting or processing biometric data." As Mashable has reported previously, facial recognition features could violate some state privacy laws, which prohibit companies from collecting biometric data without affirmative consent.

Mashable reached out to Meta for comment and will update this story if necessary.

SEE ALSO: Apple is testing four smart glasses designs to compete with Meta, report says

The worry here, of course, is that Meta glasses with face recognition would give predators and other ne'er-do-wells more power to inflict harm. Civil liberties organizations have also warned that widespread facial recognition could lead to a surveillance state.

The letter puts forward a fairly comprehensive case for its argument:

"Facial recognition technology built into inconspicuous consumer eyewear represents a serious threat to privacy and civil liberties for every member of our society, and particularly for historically marginalized and vulnerable groups including domestic violence survivors, targets of stalkers and sexual harassers, religious minorities, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women and children, among others. These concerns cannot be resolved through product design changes, opt-out mechanisms, or incremental safeguards — few of which Meta seems to have meaningfully considered. Our concerns reflect the fundamental danger of the technology itself."

Meta's internal name for facial recognition tech is reportedly Name Tag, and it's rumored to launch as soon as this year.

According to Engadget, it works in one of two ways: Name Tag can either recognize people who are actively connected to a Meta platform in that moment, or it can recognize people who simply have an account on a service like Instagram. In other words, it can't identify you if you don't have a Meta account, at least, not yet.

These potential harms would also coexist with ongoing issues, such as the invasiveness of recordings from smart glasses.

If Meta wants to avoid the fate that befell Google Glass, it's going to need to iron out some of these problems, one way or another.

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

The residents of the small town of Festus, Missouri — the site of a new $6 billion data center project — are taking their outrage over the predatory AI data center boom to the polls.

The town, population just 12,000, ousted four incumbent city council members in a local election last week. Each of the representatives had voted yes to the controversial project, which will raze 360 acres of land for a data center operated by an unnamed company.

SEE ALSO: The NAACP is fighting back against AI data centers

The deal was approved by city council members on March 30 — just one week before the election — but city residents organized quickly, including running a successful grassroots campaign to replace one of the incumbents with a local advocate who had never before run for public office. Festus residents have also filed a recall petition targeting the city's mayor and remaining council members, as well as a lawsuit against both the city and the project's developer for alleged secret dealings.

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Communities around the nation are pushing back against massive data center investment projects, including state and federal data center subsidies, as their environmental and economic toll becomes clearer. Advocates successfully stalled dozens of projects in 2025. Addressing community concern, a coalition of tech giants signed onto a voluntary, non binding White House pledge, called the Ratepayer Protection Pledge, committing to provide or pay for all energy costs associated with future AI projects.

Last week, the residents of Port Washington, Wisconsin approved a first-of-its kind referendum requiring large scale data center projects go to a local vote for approval. The referendum applies to projects with a minimum $10 million cost and which receive tax benefits.

TL;DR: Unlock lifetime access to Babbel’s language courses across 14 languages for $159 with code LEARN.

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Picking up a new language can feel overwhelming, especially if traditional memorization methods haven’t worked for you. Babbel takes a more practical, conversation-first approach, focusing on how people actually speak in real life instead of endless vocab drills. Its lessons are developed by more than 150 linguists and language educators, designed to help you understand not just words, but context, tone, and cultural nuance.

A lifetime Babbel subscription typically costs $599, but for a limited time, it’s available for $159 when you use the code LEARN.

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What you can learn with Babbel:

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We're just about halfway through April, and Paramount+ still has plenty of life left in it when it comes to movies recently added to the service for U.S. subscribers. With so many movies to choose from—not to mention all the new CBS and Paramount+ Originals TV series like Marshals and The Madison—deciding on what to watch can be tough.

With gas prices trending upward this spring, the appeal of going electric for some has never been stronger.

Netflix's subscribers have been treated to a solid couple of months of movies, with some top-shelf titles gracing its Top 10 and beyond, including Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, all the James Bond movies (which are leaving soon), and some fun creature horrors like Anaconda and the newly-released Thrash.

TL;DR: Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free on Virgin Media Player. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League quarter finals were electric last week, but places in the semi-final stage are not yet decided. Atletico Madrid are 2-0 up against Barcelona and will be confident of getting a result in front of their fans at the Metropolitano Stadium, but Barcelona possess the talent to overturn that deficit.

If you want to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona?

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 14. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium.

How to watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona for free

Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona is available to live stream for free on Virgin Media Player.

Virgin Media 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 Virgin Media Player to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona 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 Virgin Media Player

5. Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Virgin Media Player?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Virgin Media 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).

Watch Atletico Madrid vs. Barcelona in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League for free on Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Champions League semi finals are calling. Well, they're calling for PSG after they raced into a 2-0 lead against Liverpool last week. In truth, the scoreline could have been much worse for Liverpool. They'll still believe that they can turn things around at Anfield, but they'll need to produce something truly special to stop PSG from scoring.

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

When is Liverpool vs. PSG?

Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 14. This fixture takes place at Anfield.

How to watch Liverpool vs. PSG for free

Liverpool vs. PSG is available to live stream for free on Prime Video (30-day free trial).

This free stream is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can unblock Prime Video to stream the Champions League for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Liverpool 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 the UK

4. Visit Prime Video

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

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Liverpool vs. PSG without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select Champions League fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Prime Video?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

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

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

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

Watch Liverpool vs. PSG in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.