IT General

Windows RAM usage is nowhere near as straightforward as Task Manager would have you believe. The operating system strategically fills unused memory with cache, compressed data, and recently used app data to make your system feel faster. This is useful, but it might have you believe you need more RAM than you really do.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're an instrumentalist.

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 January 3, 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 January 3, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An Indian instrument.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter S.

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...

SITAR

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 3, 2026

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.

Now that the holidays are over and real life has resumed, you’re probably looking for some new projects to tackle in your homelab. Whether you need to monitor service uptime, share files with friends, or make your own short URLs, here are three homelab projects to tackle in the new year.

Spam calls are probably the most annoying daily issue that has arisen with smartphones. Either it's a salesperson cold calling you, a ridiculous spam, or robocall. The good news is you can prevent a good chunk of these calls by just doing one simple thing—and it works for iPhone and Android.

There's a new pair of AI-powered AR glasses on the block — the Pickle 1. According to Pickle Inc., these AR glasses use cameras, microphones, sensors, and artificial intelligence to observe, remember, and even anticipate a user's daily life. It's intended to function as part traditional wearable, part AI companion. After learning about you, the Pickle 1 glasses will then serve up real-time information, reminders, and suggestions, according to Digit.

And here's how Pickle Inc. describes its futuristic AR glasses on its website: "For a life better in every dimension, we need an intelligence that sees with you, remembers your life, and learns to understand you. A new soul."

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Giving birth to a new soul is a big enough claim on its own, but the promo video for the Pickle AR glasses also shows a level of augmented reality that's far ahead of brands like Meta and Xreal, which already make AR glasses.

So, for many social media users, the early videos and concept images of the glasses simply seem too good to be true. The Pickle Glasses are reminiscent of Iron Man's AI-powered visual display, and some experts say that users should be very skeptical while the product is still in development. The Pickle website states that users can put down a $200 deposit to preorder the Pickle 1, with deliveries starting in the second quarter of 2026.

"As someone who worked in AR/VR for over a decade please listen. The @pickle glasses are not real. It’s literally just a mold of glasses made in China," one user wrote on X. "The technology for AR glasses in this form factor isn’t possible yet. Not even Meta or Apple has glasses like this. 100% fake."

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"For context on how insanely fake this is: Xreal is one of the leading AR glasses companies on Earth. Their flagship glasses model (Xreal One) without any cameras, compute, or battery weigh more than Pickle claims their 'full AR' glasses with 4 cameras do," another user posted.

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Whether the glasses are up to the hype or not, it might be best to wait until they come out and reviewers can get their hands on them before putting down the $200 deposit — or at least until we see an actual product demo.

Fitness trackers help a long way towards your wellness goals, and are well worth the investment. Find out which is best for you!

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is scheduled to deliver a keynote address to help kick off CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

The tech world will certainly be watching as Huang delivers his speech, considering Nvidia is the primary hardware company that powers the AI boom. Not for nothing, the other major player in that space, AMD, will present a keynote address of its own.

Nvidia hasn't said what, exactly, will be revealed during Huang's keynote beyond "what’s next in AI." But anything Nvidia does is big news in 2026 — so tuning in is certainly a good idea.

The keynote is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 5. You can watch a livestream on CNET's YouTube page, which we've also embedded below. (Disclosure: CNET is owned by Ziff Davis, the same company that owns Mashable.)

Mashable will be on the ground at CES, covering all the news, gadgets, and interesting tidbits that come out of Las Vegas. Be sure to follow our coverage of one of tech's biggest events.

The best Prime Video add-on deals at a glance: Paramount+ Premium $3.99/month for 2 months (save $10/month) Get Deal Mubi $1.99/month for 2 months (save $13/month) Get Deal Starz $1.99/month for 2 months (save $9/month) Get Deal

The season of streaming deals is coming to an end. If you missed out on securing a streaming service for a discounted rate during Cyber Week or the holiday season, toady is the last day to score a deal.

Prime Video subscribers can still score a handful of different streaming add-on subscriptions for as low as $1.99 per month through the end of the day on Jan. 2. These include heavy hitters like Paramount+ and Mubi, as well as more obscure options like Acorn TV and Wonder Project. While they aren't the most impressive streaming deals of the season (those came on Black Friday), they're still pretty great. And in a time when streaming has become outrageously expensive, we could all use a little savings.

If you're not a Prime member or Prime Video subscriber, you can still sign up and secure these deals if you act fast. Already a subscriber? Just head to the Prime Video add-ons page or scroll down to shop the best streaming deals.

Best Prime Video add-on streaming deal Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ Premium (Prime Video add-on) $3.99/month for 2 months (save $10/month) Get Deal Why we like it

Paramount+ is about to get pricier starting January 15. The Premium subscription (no ads) is going up to $13.99 per month, but this Prime Video add-on deal lets you avoid that price hike for two months and save $10 each month.

The price hike is due to programming investments in UFC matches, new Paramount+ originals and third-party catalog licensing, as well as a ramp-up of its film slate. So you can expect a ton of new content on Paramount+ in 2026, on top of its existing originals and Showtime hits like Landman, Mayor of Kingstown, Yellowjackets, and The Curse. The Premium tier gets you access to the entire Showtime catalog, as well as live TV and ad-free streaming. Just be sure to sign up by midnight tonight (Jan. 2) to lock in the savings.

More Prime Video add-on streaming deals

• Acorn TV — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $7/month)

• A&E Crime Central and Lifetime Movie Club bundle — $3.75/month $7.99/month (save $4.24)

• All Reality — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• BET+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $5.99/month (save $4/month)

• Discovery+ and Hallmark+ bundle — $3.75/month for 2 months $12.99/month (save $9.24/month)

• Hallmark+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• MGM+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $7.99/month (save $6/month)

• MovieSphere+ — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• Mubi — $1.99/month for 2 months $14.99/month (save $13/month)

• PBS Kids — $1.99/month for 2 months $4.99/month (save $3/month)

• PBS Masterpiece — $1.99/month for 2 months $6.99/month (save $5/month)

• Starz — $1.99/month for 2 months $10.99/month (save $9/month)

• ViX Premium — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $7/month)

• Wonder Project — $1.99/month for 2 months $8.99/month (save $7/month)

SAVE 80% OR MORE: Right now, Le Wand is offering all kinds of crazy deals, including up to 80% off select vibrators, up to 60% off bundles, freebies (with eligible purchases), and deals under $50.

Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand New Year Sale Get up to 80% off select vibrators, plus tons of other deals at Le Wand Shop Now

If there’s one New Year’s resolution I can get behind every year, it’s prioritizing pleasure and self-care — especially when you can do it on a budget.

Right now, Le Wand is offering some insanely good deals on luxe vibrators and bundles, including deals under $50 and freebies with qualifying purchases. Here’s everything you need to know about Le Wand’s New Year’s Sale and how to get the best bang for your buck.

Get up to 80% off select vibrators and dildos

Obviously, the most newsworthy nugget of info here is that you can score up to 80% off select vibrators and dildos, including The Rose Suction Vibrator (this little vibe is a customer fave and way more reliable than the sketch knockoffs on Amazon), the two-piece G-Spot Pleasure Glass Dildo Set (it’s only $21!), the Le Wand Blend (currently $95.99 off) and tons of other products.

Opens in a new window Credit: TRose Toy Officialhe The Rose Suction Vibrator (Mint) $14.99 at Le Wand
$99.99 Save $85   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Blend $79 at Le Wand
$174.99 Save $95.99   Get Deal

Honestly, I'm shocked at how good these deals are. Some dildos are going for as low as $5.60! That’s insane. You don’t even need a promo code; add to cart, and the discount will automatically apply.

Get up to 60% off bundles

If you’re interested in buying in bulk or genuinely want to impress/surprise your partner, Le Wand also has a subsection of deals on curated bundles, including the Dive Into Wand Bundle (currently $124.80 off), the Le Wand Little Pleasures Set (currently $100 off), and the Le Wand $600 Wanderful Bliss Bundle (currently $425 off).

Deals under $50

If you’re on a tight budget, Le Wand has pages and pages of vibrators, butt plugs, dildos, and more, all listed for less than $50. Some standout deals include the Le Wand Point (for those who prefer pinpoint clitoral stimulation over penetration), the Glas Toy 7.5-inch Orange Tickler Glass Dildo (it’s only $9.90!), and the Rabbit Essentials Rabbit Vibrator with Rotating Beads (for those who want to experience a blended orgasm). You’ll want to move fast, though; tons of items are already marked as sold out.

Opens in a new window Credit: Le Wand Le Wand Point $36.99 at Le Wand
$129.99 Save $93   Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Rabbit Essentials Rabbit Essentials Slim Shaft Vibrator with Rotating Beads   Get Deal Get a free storage bag or hands-free wand holder

As an added bonus, if you pick up any of the newest vibes from the Le Wand Classique Wands collection, you’ll get a freebie tossed in. Depending on what you grab, you'll score either a free storage bag or a hands-free wand holder with your purchase.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 2, get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) $229.99 at Amazon
$279.99 Save $50   Get Deal

The winter chill has been taunting many of us for quite a few weeks now, and it's also translated into higher energy bills. If you're tired of spending an arm and a leg to heat your home, it might be time to look into a smart thermostat. Case in point: a Google Next smart thermostat that can not only help making heating your home less of a chore, but save you some serious cash. And it can only make your smart home better.

As of Jan. 2, get the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th Gen) for $229.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $279.99. That's a discount of 18% and the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: Readers' Choice Awards 2025: Your favorite smart home brands

This newly-released smart thermostat, which debuted in August 2025, lets you set and adjust the temperature of your home manually or via connected app. It works with most systems and doesn't need a C-wire or a complicated install. It comes in a number of colors that can match just about any decor, too.

You can set the thermostat yourself, program times when it's off and on, or let it learn your routines to help you save money. It will eventually set up its own timing to optimize when you'll need cooling or heat so you don't have to do all the guesswork.

With a bright, easily readable display, ways to control it even when you're far away from home, and an affordable price, this is the best way to go about cutting those bills. And you can get the thermostat itself for a great price too.

Kiwix, the desktop application for browsing offline archives of Wikipedia, Stack Overflow, and other resources, just got an update on desktop platforms. It now has more keyboard shortcuts, fixes to menus, better file handling, and much more.

As we start the new year, it’s time to look at some fun Raspberry Pi projects. Whether you want a digital photo frame to upgrade your garage with some smart features, here are three Raspberry Pi projects for you to tackle this weekend.

SAVE $500: The Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station is on sale for $799, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 38% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station $799 at Bluetti
$1,299 Save $500   Get Deal

Winter temps are not for the weak. Spending time outdoors during winter months in some part of the country requires special gear. We layer up with merino wool, down jackets, and windproof hats to help combat the chill, but our tech can also suffer. Your phone's battery is likely to diminish quicker if you're outside in super cold temps while other devices simply aren't meant to be operated in the severe cold. That's true for most portable power stations, but Bluetti has a new model that's cool with a chill, and it's on sale today.

As of Jan. 2, the Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station is on sale for $799, down from the list price of $1,299. That's a 38% discount that shaves $500 off the price.

While most portable power stations are not designed to operate or recharge in super cold temps, the Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) is meant to work in temps as long as -13 degrees and be able to safely recharge in temps as low as 5 degrees. That means this is the perfect model if you'll be heading out for winter camping, ice fishing, or taking a power station along to the jobsite this winter.

Bluetti used sodium-ion battery cells in this model which gives it the ability to be unphased in cold temperatures. For comparison, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 portable power station (one of my absolute favorites) is only safe to operate in temps as low as -4 degrees and can only recharge if the temperature is at least 32 degrees. That means the Bluetti has a huge advantage in both operating and recharging in the cold.

SEE ALSO: Outdoor deals at Amazon include a 45% discount on the Garmin inReach Messenger

Overall, the Bluetti Pioneer Na packs in 1,500Wh of power. With the Bluetti app, you can activate Power Lifting Mode which gives you the ability to get up to 2,250W of power for operating kettles, space heaters, or an electric blanket.

Of course, you can also put the Bluetti Pioneer Na to good use at home during a power outage. You'll be in line for keeping the refrigerator on for almost 20 hours or the WiFi router on for almost 44 hours.

Before your next outdoor job or ice fishing adventure this winter, get equipped with the cold-weather friendly Bluetti Pioneer Na(Sodium) portable power station. You'll be able to save $500 by taking advantage of this early 2026 sale price.

If you're like me, you get excited when it's time to finally replace your old phone with a shiny new one. In the excitement of browsing new phones, you might come across the option to trade in your old phone.

SAVE $50: As of Jan. 2, get Assassin's Creed Shadows (PS5) for $29.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $69.99. That's a discount of 57% and the lowest price we've seen.

Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy Assassin's Creed Shadows $29.99 at Best Buy
$69.99 Save $40   Get Deal

The new year is here, and if you snagged a PlayStation 5 console or have some fresh gift cards to spend after the holidays, now's the time to get some shopping in. You can get some great deals in, especially if you want to pick up a few video games here and there. Case in point: the PS5 edition of Assassin's Creed Shadows, a 2025 release that you might have been thinking about adding to your backlog.

As of Jan. 2, get Assassin's Creed Shadows (PS5) for $29.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $69.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 57%. It's also the lowest price we've seen.

SEE ALSO: The 11 best video games of 2025

Set in feudal Japan, this installment of the long-running Assassin's Creed series focuses on the Assassin Brotherhood and the Templar Order, both organizations at odds with fighting for peace through their own very different means. This entry has dual protagonists once more: kunoichi Fujibayashi Naoe, and samurai Yasuke, both with different types of play styles.

This action RPG is a lot like the rest of the games in the Assassin's Creed series, but the first to fully delve into this time period and location, rewarding players with an open world to explore, tons of different non-linear missions to tackle, and the new ability to crawl and go prone as well as "Observe" mode to glean information about potential targets.

If you're ready to tackle a new gaming challenge, don't sleep on this deal and grab it while it's still available at Best Buy.

SAVE $178.95: As of Jan. 2, the Bose QuietComfort headphones are down to just $170.05 in the sandstone shade at Amazon. That's 51% in savings and their lowest price ever.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bose Bose QuietComfort headphones $170.05 at Amazon
$349 Save $178.95   Get Deal

If you want above-average noise-cancelling headphones that you can wear all day and that won't cost you a few hundred bucks, the Bose QuietComfort headphones check all the right boxes. And as of Jan. 2, they're down to their best price ever.

You can pick up the Bose QuietComfort headphones for only $170.05 in the sandstone shade at Amazon. That's over half off and their lowest price on record in this color. We saw this same deal pop up in mid-December, then immediately disappear. So we recommend adding it to your cart ASAP if you want to secure the savings.

While the QuietComfort Ultras are the best noise-cancelling headphones we've ever tested, their more basic sibling — the QuietComforts — are still pretty awesome. They're currently also $229 cheaper in the same shade, for what it's worth. You'll still get impressive noise cancellation, a comfortable fit, rich audio, and up to 24 hours of battery life. The only drawbacks are that the app doesn't include those next-level AI features and they don't offer spatial audio.

"For the person looking for great sound, these fit the bill. While the audiophile might miss not having spatial audio, the average person will be more than satisfied with the headphone's full, rounded sound," Mashable's reviewer Sam Mangino writes. If you want to save a bit of money, they certainly won't disappoint.

If you have a large media collection in your Plex server and you're running out of space, figuring out what to delete can be an annoying process. Now, a developer has come up with a potential solution inspired by Tinder.

SAVE $20: The Kindle (16GB) is on sale for $89.99 at Amazon, down from the list price of $109.99. That's an 18% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Kindle (16GB) $89.99 at Amazon
$109.99 Save $20   Get Deal

A new year means a fresh start to work on health habits. If you're looking to cut down on time spent scrolling, you've got tons of options. Many of us turn to activities like puzzles, working out, cooking, or reading to help put the phone down. You can even enlisting the help of The Brick. But if your number one goal is 2026 is to read more, check out this deal.

As of Jan. 2, the Kindle (16GB) is on sale at Amazon for only $89.99, marked down from the standard price of $109.99. That's an 18% discount that takes $20 off the usual price.

In Mashable's review of the best Kindles, the original Kindle earns the spot as the best budget model. Mashable Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino likes this version because of its compact size, affordable price, and ample storage space of 16GB. It gets bonus points as being the lightest Kindle.

SEE ALSO: All 6 of the books that inspired "Heated Rivalry" are over half off at Amazon

In Mangino's full review of the basic Kindle, she wrote, "If you're shopping for an e-reader on a budget, the Amazon Kindle is the answer. It has 16GB of storage and a great display." The six-inch display screen is perfect for packing along on you next trip or for people with smaller hands.

Keep in mind the basic Kindle does lack a few elements that we love on most other Kindle models. Notably, it's not waterproof which means this isn't the right model if you like to read in the bathtub or plan to take it poolside. The battery life is also less impressive compared to other models. However, Mangino notes the six-week battery life is still solid.

If you're looking for the most affordable e-reader, you can't go wrong with the Amazon Kindle. Now that it's on sale for $89.99, go all-in on your 2026 reading goals. Remember to snag free e-books via the Libby app and take advantage of Stuff Your Kindle sales.

When buying parts for a new PC, most people have a tendency to go overboard and overspec their computer so it's "future-proof." This can manifest in many different ways, but often you'll see insane amounts of RAM, an overkill CPU, or an overpowered graphics card.

SAVE 22%: As of Jan. 2, you can get the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Cooking System (FN101GD) for just $139.98, down from $179.99. That's a 22% discount or $40.01 savings.

Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Cooking System (FN101GD) $139.98 at Amazon
$179.99 Save $40.01   Get Deal at Amazon

If your 2026 goal is to eat more home-cooked meals and use fewer takeout containers, this deal is for you.

As of Jan. 2, the Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer is on sale for $139.98, down from $179.99, at Amazon. That's a 22% discount and the lowest price we've tracked on this model. While it hit this record low on Dec. 2, 2025, it beats out the $159.95 price we saw during the peak of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: We tested the most popular Ninja appliances in our own kitchens. Here's what we found.

The Crispi is essentially a portable air-fryer lid that turns the included glass storage containers into a full cooking system. You can air-fry, bake, or reheat directly in the four-quart or six-cup glass containers. Once you're done, you just pop on the leak-proof storage lid and put it in the fridge. It’s the ideal kitchen gadget for meal preppers because it eliminates the "I don't want to wash another pan" excuse that usually leads to ordering a pizza.

The PowerPod delivers the heat of a full-sized air fryer in a unit that fits in the palm of your hand. Borosilicate glassware is thermal shock-resistant, meaning it can go from the freezer to being crispy in minutes. Plus, the containers, adapters, and lids are all dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.