IT General

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

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

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

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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 admire.

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

ADORE

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Heavy.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

HEFTY

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Hurdle Word 3 hint

Two-legged.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 29 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 29, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BIPED

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Hefty.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

HEAVY

Final Hurdle hint

Pointy.

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

SHARP

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

It may appear full, but the Moon isn't actually at 100% illumination yet. In fact, we're still a couple of days away. But it's still big and bright enough to do some moon gazing, so keep reading to find out what features you might be able to see tonight.

What is today’s Moon phase?

As of Wednesday, April 29, the Moon phase is Waxing Gibbous. Tonight, 94% of the moon will be lit up, according to NASA's Daily Moon Guide.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mares Vaproum, Tranquillitatis, and Imbrium. With binoculars, you'll see the Mare Frigoris, Clavius Crater, and the Alphonsus Crater. And, finally, with a telescope you'll see all this plus the Apollo 17 landing spot, Rima Ariadaeus, and the Fra Mauro Highlands.

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, the Moon takes roughly 29.5 days to circle Earth once, going through eight distinct phases in the process. Even though we always see the same side of the Moon, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes as it moves in its orbit. The shifting light creates the changing shapes we know as full, half, and crescent Moons. Altogether, there are eight main lunar phases.

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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you love a good storm.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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.

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SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for April 29, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: A stage

• Green: Accompanied by lightning

• Blue: Sesame Street

• Purple: Upright

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Step in a process

• Green: Sound like thunder

• Blue: Kinds of puppets

• Purple: Standing ___

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 #1053 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Step in a process: LEVEL, PHASE, ROUND, STAGE

• Sound like thunder: BOOM, CLAP, ROLL, RUMBLE

• Kinds of puppets: HAND, SHADOW, SOCK, STRING

• Standing ___: JOKE, ORDERS, OVATION, ROOM

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 29, 2026

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

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

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

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love a good catch.

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 29, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fish or cut bait

The words are related to the outdoors.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe going fishing.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Tackle.

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NYT Strands word list for April 29

• Reel

• Hook

• Bobber

• Weight

• Tackle

• Lure

• Swivel

• Cooler

• Pliers

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

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

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

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're not a fan of big cities.

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 29, 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 29, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Countryside.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter R appears twice.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter R.

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...

RURAL

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.

I'm on the record saying the Oscars are my favorite awards show in pop culture. For me, it's like watching a championship game in sports. You better believe I'm filling out a ballot to see if I can predict the night's biggest upsets, though I missed on Michael B. Jordan winning Best Actor at the 2026 Oscars.

TL;DR: Upgrade your kitchen tools with this Seido Japanese Master Chef’s 8-Piece knife set, complete with a gift box, on sale now for just $109.97 (reg. $429) through May 10.

Opens in a new window Credit: Seido Knives Seido™ Japanese Master Chef's 8-Piece Knife Set w Gift Box $109.97
$429 Save $319.03   Get Deal

Want to feel like a real master chef? Then it’s probably time to upgrade your tools. The Seido Japanese Master Chef’s 8-Piece Knife Set gives you a thoughtfully selected lineup that delivers precision and control — fit for top chefs without a top-tier price.

Right now, you can score this set, which includes a gift box, for $109.97 until May 10.

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Barely know how to boil water? Do you consider yourself more of a takeout connoisseur than a cook? You don’t have to cook like a master chef to own these kitchen tools. This Seido Japanese Master Chef’s 8-Piece knife set gives you an expertly curated collection of knives so you can slice, dice, and chop like a top chef.

This set gives you eight high-quality Japanese knives, all for less than what a single knife would cost from a big brand.

Curious what sets these knives apart? Japanese knives are equipped with an acute 15-degree edge angle, creating a noticeably sharper cutting surface than the 25-degree angle of Western-style knives. They also prioritize comfort, with a sloped bolster that gradually extends onto the blade so you get better control, more balance, and an improved grip.

Made of high-carbon stainless steel, these Seido knives have been crafted by expert blacksmiths. This material offers long-lasting durability and razor-sharp edge retention, allowing you to cut through any ingredient.

This collection includes an 8-inch Chef’s Knife, an 8-inch Slicing Knife, an 8-inch Bread Knife, a 7-inch Cleaver, a 7-inch Santoku Knife, a 5-inch Santoku Knife, a 6-inch Boning Knife, and a 3.5-inch Paring Knife. A gift box is also included, which serves as a great storage option.

Lock in savings on the Seido Japanese Master Chef’s 8-Piece knife set and get it for just $109.97 today.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The sportswagon or shooting brake is (normally) the calling card of European premium and luxury brands. Historically, this style of vehicle was designed to carry a gentleman’s party and their gear, essentially merging the sleek styling of a sports car with the extended cargo space of a wagon. In modern terms, it describes a vehicle that prioritizes an athletic silhouette and interior comfort while still offering the utility of a traditional SUV or crossover.

Last year, DJI's Mic Mini was one of our favorite microphones for content creators. It just got a sequel — though you may have to wait to see it.

The miniature microphone array is back in the form of DJI Mic Mini 2, first spotted by The Verge. It's available now in most markets around the world, with pricing starting at €59 for a bundle that has a charging case, a wireless receiver, and a mic transmitter.

You can also get some more expensive bundles, such as a €99 version with a bigger receiver, a couple of transmitters, and a larger charging case.

Look at what you can't have, America. Credit: DJI UK

You may have noticed the lack of a U.S. dollar sign there. That's because this product, like some other DJI products, is not available in the U.S. right now, and we don't know if it will be any time soon.

All DJI products are facing long delays when it comes to launching in the U.S. — here's why.

SEE ALSO: DJI reveals Osmo Pocket 4, upgrading its popular gimbal camera. But there's a big catch.

U.S. users can take heart with the fact that none of the improvements in the Mic Mini 2 seem that big of a deal. The major upgrade is a series of magnetic, swappable mic covers that come in different colors, which could be useful for making the mics either blend in with something or stand out, depending on what you want.

There are also new voice presets, which could be handy for some content creators.

It's a good thing those sweaters exactly match the colors of the mic covers. Credit: DJI

Last year, Mashable found that the original Mic Mini made for a great option for anyone who wanted to record audio in a portable fashion and without breaking the bank. The audio quality was solid and they interface with a mobile app for easy settings adjustment.

Unfortunately, U.S. customers will have to get more than a little creative if they want to get their hands on the new version.

The Netflix machine never stops. The streaming giant continues to release hit movies that capture a massive audience. The latest example is Apex, a riveting thriller that premiered on April 24. Apex is our top movie of the week to watch on Netflix in the U.S. because of its gripping premise and massive star power.

South Africa's ambitions to become a continental leader in artificial intelligence have run into a deeply awkward obstacle: the country's draft national AI policy had to be withdrawn after it was found to contain fictitious, apparently AI-generated citations.

Reuters reported that the document was nearing finalization in parliament when fabricated references were discovered in its source list. Solly Malatsi, South Africa's Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, announced the withdrawal in a statement posted to X on April 26, calling the lapse a direct compromise of the policy's integrity.

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"This failure is not a mere technical issue but has compromised the integrity and credibility of the draft policy," Malatsi wrote. "The most plausible explanation is that AI-generated citations were included without proper verification. This should not have happened. In fact, this unacceptable lapse proves why vigilant human oversight over the use of artificial intelligence is critical."

AI hallucinations remain a stubborn and largely intractable problem with language models, as Mashable has reported repeatedly.

Phony citations have been a particular problem in legal documents, and a growing number of U.S. lawyers have been busted and reprimanded for submitting AI-generated legal briefs riddled with hallucinations. An online legal hallucination database maintained by lawyer and data scientist Damien Charlotin has found more than 900 such cases in the United States alone (and four in South Africa, not including the latest debacle).

The withdrawn policy had outlined the establishment of a national AI commission, an ethics board, and a regulatory body, alongside tax incentives, grants, and subsidies to stimulate private-sector investment. South Africa's stated goal, per Reuters, was to position itself as Africa's leading hub for AI innovation.

Malatsi's statement did not indicate a timeline for when a revised draft will be produced.

Every so often, a background or supporting character does such a good job at stealing scenes from the stars of a show or movie that Hollywood has no choice but to take notice. And sometimes, they're given the chance to shine in their own spinoff. We know the success stories (Frasier Crane and Saul Goodman come to mind) and the flops (Joey, we had such high hopes), but bit players have been proving their worth at the top of the marquee for decades, often shining brighter than their original incarnations.

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

The Champions League final is calling to Atlético Madrid and Arsenal, but only one team can book a spot in that showpiece event. The first leg takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium — Diego Simeone will be expecting his side to secure an advantage to take back to London. It's going to be a tense battle between two highly-organized sides.

If you want to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal in the Champions League from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal?

Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal in the Champions League kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on April 29. This fixture takes place at the Metropolitano Stadium.

How to watch Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal for free

Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal 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 Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal 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 Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal 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 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 Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal (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 Atlético Madrid vs. Arsenal in the Champions League for free with ExpressVPN.

We’re calling on you — the Mashable audience — to help shape our yearly list of the digital creators shaping the internet today.

Launched in 2025 and back again in its second year, The Mashable 101 is our essential guide to the creators who are making the internet interesting.

New for 2026 is the launch of The Mashable 101 Fan Fave — a chance for our readers to determine who they think should be on the list.

We posted the callout and the nominees poured in, ranging from YouTube personalities and Substack writers, to TikTok creators, Twitch streamers, and much more. 

Learn about all the nominees and then cast your vote. 

Fans and followers (creators, too!), share this widely, and rally around your favorite digital personalities while you can. Voting is open now. 

Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, X, Facebook, or your social platform of choice, and check back at Mashable.com for the announcement of our winner later this year.

From YouTubers and TikTok stars to streamers and podcasters, Mashable talks to creators about how they built their platforms, the gear they swear by, and the trends they see coming next. Read more of our creator coverage, meet last year's Mashable 101 to discover 2025’s most exciting voices, and tell us about your favorite creators today.

Physically carrying media between computers, known as "sneakernet," is one of the oldest "networking" protocols in that it lets me share files between machines. Despite the availability of cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox, I still use sneakernet in some situations.

Microsoft’s free productivity suite for Windows power users has never sat still for long. After introducing a dockable command palette last month, the company is back with PowerToys 0.99, and this time, it might be the most feature-packed release in recent months. This version brings two brand-new utilities along with refinements to the existing features. From better monitor management to smarter window controls, this version update is worth looking at.

Android Auto is the same Android that's running on your phone, but with a very limited interface. That's the point, of course, but you'd be surprised by how many Android apps are actually supported by Android Auto. Here are four apps you might typically think of as phone apps, but work as full-fledged Android Auto apps as well.

Reliability has always been a big deal in the U.S. car market because for most people, a car isn’t a luxury—it’s how daily life actually happens. With long distances and limited public transport in many areas, drivers need something they can trust without constantly worrying about breakdowns or expensive surprises.

UPDATE: Apr. 28, 2026, 4:40 p.m. EDT As of mid-afternoon on Tuesday, the Weather app outage has been resolved, according to Apple's status website.

In the U.S., at least, iPhone users are experiencing problems accessing the Apple iOS Weather app Tuesday.

Checking the standard Apple Weather app may be part of the daily routine of millions of users, but the app is not loading for all of them. On X and Reddit, confused and frustrated iPhone owners are reporting issues with Weather. Some say they can't recall the app ever going down previously.

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Multiple Mashable employees in the U.S. were unable to access the app. One of our editors was able to access it, though it took about 10 seconds to load in that case. As of this writing, the Apple online support page shows an active outage with the Weather app.

Mashable reached out to Apple for comment, and we'll update this story if we receive a response.

DownDetector, the platform where users can report errors with popular websites and apps, does not have a page for the Weather app. However, DownDetector does show sudden spikes in both The Weather Channel app and Apple Support.

Internet outages have become a common occurrence over the past year, but major outages within the Apple ecosystem remain rare.

(Disclosure: DownDetector and Mashable are both owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.)

I recently attended the unveiling of Hyundai’s latest flagship three-row electric SUV trim level at a media event near the Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Ellabell, Georgia. The newly revealed vehicle is the 2027 Hyundai IONIQ 9 AWD Performance Calligraphy Black Ink, and it made a striking first impression.