IT General

Apple's next iPhone Air might launch in March 2027.

This is according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who claims the iPhone Air 2 (we're not sure about the name) will launch alongside the iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18e.

You read that right: The company's most mainstream device, the iPhone 18, will not launch in the fall either. But it could all be a part of Apple's plan.

A week ago The Information revealed that the iPhone Air's successor might be delayed into 2027 due to poor sales (the report also said the new device will have two rear cameras instead of one, a very welcome upgrade).

But Gurman says it was Apple's plan all along to split its iPhone launch schedule into two major periods: Spring and fall. Gurman says he expects this pattern to continue "for years to come," and that Apple will launch five to six new models every year. It's unclear whether this means Apple will have two major iPhone launch events annually; so far, the company launched its minor iPhones (the SE and e models) early in the year, but without much fanfare.

Gurman also revealed a few details about the upcoming iPhone Air. He says the biggest change will be a move to a 2-nanometer chip, which should bring a much-needed battery life upgrade. Interestingly, he's unsure about the second camera on the iPhone Air 2, calling the idea "strange."

SEE ALSO: Apple's Issey Miyake iPhone Sock launched today, but it's not as random as it sounds

The report also revealed a few details about Apple's much-rumored "anniversary" iPhone, which should launch in the fall of 2027. Gurman says it will likely have a curved, uninterrupted glass screen, with the selfie camera hidden underneath the display.

Visibility is almost completely gone tonight, which can only mean one thing, we're close to the New Moon. Keep reading to see what, if anything, you can spot on the moon's surface tonight.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Monday, Nov. 17, the moon phase is Waning Crescent. This means 7% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Unfortunately, to see anything on the moon tonight you'll need the assistance of a visual aid. With binoculars or a telescope, you should be able to make out the Grimaldi Basin.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Dec. 4.

What are moon phases?

Moon phases are all part of a 29.5-day lunar cycle, according to NASA. These phases describe how the moon appears from Earth as it orbits our planet. While we always see the same side of the moon, the amount of sunlight hitting it changes throughout its orbit. So, sometimes it looks full, sometimes half, and sometimes not there at all (aka, the New Moon). There are eight main moon phases, and they follow a repeating cycle:

The eight main moon phases are:

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.

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the 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 onto 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 for 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 November 8, 2025

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 November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 17 Pips

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

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

Number (4): Everything in this red space must add to 4. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically; 0-1, placed horizontally.

Less Than (4): Everything in this space must be less than 4. The answer is 0-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 17 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in the purple space must be greater than 2. The answer is 2-6, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in the light blue space must be greater than 2. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

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

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

Greater Than (2): Everything in the green space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 1-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 17 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in the purple space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (10): Everything in this red space must add to 10. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally.

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

Number (24): Everything in this space must add to 12. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 4-6, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 2-2, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 4-5, placed horizontally; 1-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 1-1, 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 isn't too bad if you're familiar with Midwest college towns.

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. 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.

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: Playing around the world

• Green: Hockey techniques

• Blue: Midwestern towns

• Purple: Roar

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Places on a Basketball Court

• Green: Types of Hockey Shots

• Blue: Big Ten Cities

• Purple: Teams with Lion Nicknames

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 #420 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Places on a Basketball Court - BASELINE, ELBOW, PAINT, WING

• Types of Hockey Shots - BACKHAND, SLAP, SNAP, WRIST

• Big Ten Cities - ANN ARBOR, BLOOMINGTON, EUGENE, SEATTLE

• Teams with Lion Nicknames - COLUMBIA, DETROIT, ENGLAND, PENN STATE

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 today's Connections.

There are so many Easter eggs and crossovers in IT: Welcome to Derry that it can sometimes be tricky to remember where you remember something from.

The end of episode 4 is a bit like that, giving us a final shot of a house that looks incredibly familiar.

But where do we know it from, and what's the significance? Let's unpack it.

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry' episode 3 features a key piece of Stephen King's 'IT' that was left out of the movies How does episode 4 end?

Episode 4 gives us in insight into Pennywise's origin story, with Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) delving into the mind of local tribe member Taniel (Joshua Odjick) and learning the history of the monster that Native Americans in Derry refer to as "the Galloo."

"They found the cave and broke off shards of the ancient star the Galloo had arrived in," says Taniel. "A plan was formed — not to kill it, but to cage it. They would used the shards of its old bindings, the only thing the Galloo feared, to keep our people safe again. The children circled the western wood, which had been the monster's hunting ground for so long, and they buried 13 sacred shards deep into the earth. Over each stone they lit a fire to mark its place, a line the Galloo could not cross. Our people made a sacred promise to guard the pillars and keep their places secret so that the monster that's trapped inside could never break free."

At this point, Hallorann appears in young Taniel's memories to speak to him directly, asking him where the pillars — which the military believes they can use against the monster — can be found.

"Follow the tunnels under the old well, and you'll find the pillars," Taniel says. But it's not a well we see next; it's a house.

Featured Video For You Cooper Hoffman and 'The Long Walk' cast compete for ultimate Stephen King film knowledge Why does that house look familiar?

The ramshackle house at the end of the episode looks familiar, and not just because an image of it shows up in IT: Welcome to Derry's opening credits. This is the well house, also known as the House on Neibolt Street, that appears in both the novel and Andy Muschietti's movies. It's a key location in the story, concealing a well that leads directly down into the sewers where the creature awaits.

Looks like we may be due a trip down memory lane in episode 5.

New episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry premiere Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

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.

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 tease.

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

TAUNT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A large boar.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

YACHT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To swell.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for November 17 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 17, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BLOAT

Hurdle Word 4 hint

An Italian game.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 17 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BOCCE

Final Hurdle hint

To speak.

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

ORATE

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

Many of us have a large collection of physical media sitting around, be that CDs, vinyl records, or cassettes. Unfortunately, there isn't nearly as much to do with them as there used to be—you'd be hard-pressed to find a modern vehicle that runs CDs, much less cassettes.

Are you looking for really good open source software for your Linux computer? There are some applications that I use so much, I'd be first in line to pay if there was suddenly a price tag on it.

If you know what you're doing, you can mess around with the BIOS on your computer to personalize your experience to the letter. However, if you're new to tweaking BIOS, you should leave some settings alone, lest you cause some serious problems.

A sports car usually isn’t the place you look for long-term value, yet one Japanese performance model is defying that rule entirely. While the average enthusiast coupe tends to lose value quickly, this one is holding onto its price so well that it actually depreciates less than a Toyota Corolla, a benchmark economy car famous for rock-solid resale. For buyers who want thrills without financial fallout, it’s a rare combination.

Some people will claim Linux gaming is awesome, while others will complain that it’s broken and doesn’t work! This vast difference in experience largely boils down to the choice of distribution. As such, I only recommend three Linux distros, because they’re the best when it comes to gaming on Linux.

In the tech world, it’s easy to get lost in specs, but a bigger number isn’t always better. When it comes to a smartwatch, this is especially true. I recently upgraded from a bigger watch to a smaller one, and it has been a vast improvement.

At $1800, Galaxy XR is half the price of the Apple Vision Pro, but it’s still far from an impulse buy. Yet I’ve decided to buy one and am about to take the plunge into VR for the first time. Here's why this headset appeals to me when others have not.

Dreams really can come true. In some cases, that looks like landing the job you've always wanted, or finding the love of your life. In my case, that looks like reading an excerpt of a made-up romantasy novel from a TV show.

That show is Vince Gilligan and Apple TV's sci-fi series, Pluribus, and that novel is none other than Bloodsong of Wycaro by Carol Sturka (played by Rhea Seehorn).

SEE ALSO: 'Pluribus' review: I can't tell you much about Vince Gilligan's sci-fi series, but what I can say is glowing

As viewers learn in the Pluribus premiere, Bloodsong of Wycaro is "the fourth book in [Carol's] Winds of Wycaro trilogy." The series as a whole is a bestselling phenomenon, with diehard fans eager to see how the high-stakes romance between Captain Lucasia and corsair Raban unfolds. Carol hates the fans and her work, but that didn't stop me from hoping the Wycaro books could somehow become a reality.

And now they have! Kind of.

Apple Books has released a free chapter from Bloodsong of Wycaro, one that reunites Lucasia with Raban in an island cave. The entire excerpt is a spot-on pastiche of historical fantasy, complete with otherworldly jargon and overly descriptive passages. You can imagine Carol rolling her eyes at herself as she writes about sandy cyclocanes and painful moonsburn. Still, though, it's tough not to get sucked into Lucasia and Raban's story, even without the context of three other books to guide us.

SEE ALSO: Carol's books in 'Pluribus' aren't real, but I need them to be

However, the most fascinating part of the Bloodsong of Wycaro excerpt is the letter from Carol at the beginning. In the letter, Carol reveals that she's releasing this excerpt to appease the hordes of "Rabasia" shippers who are angry that Raban (presumed dead after walking the plank) is not on the cover.

"You know I am on record for despising 'spoilers' in any form, that my preference would be to let events unfold in their own time through Lucasia’s anguished eyes. But I also understand that’s not everyone’s preference," Carol writes in the letter. "Different strokes for different folks. How hellish would the world be if we all thought exactly the same?!"

Of course, the entire world thinking the same is precisely the hell that awaits Carol in Pluribus, where she is one of the sole humans unaffected by the happiness hive mind. That line is a darkly tongue-in-cheek reminder of what's to come for her. The same goes for the beginning of the letter, which reveals that Carol is finishing up the final leg of the Bloodsong of Wycaro tour. In Pluribus, the worldwide joining of the hive mind happens right after finishing the tour, which means that as of writing this letter and publishing the excerpt, Carol only has a short amount of time left before the world as she knows it vanishes.

For more foreshadowing and excellent fantasy parody, check out the full excerpt from Bloodsong of Wycaro.

Bloodsong of Wycaro is free to download on Apple Books. Pluribus is now streaming on Apple TV, with a new episode every Friday.

Road construction is a necessary evil when we talk about infrastructure, but it always brings along a frustrating mix of traffic jams, surprise detours, and trips that take way longer than they should. For most drivers, seeing those orange cones and flashing lights means their day is about to get worse, turning a normal drive into a real test of patience.

The entire point of mobile payments is to be more convenient than a physical card. Any little bit of friction ends up feeling more cumbersome than just pulling out your wallet. While Google Wallet is genuinely great, there are a few often-hidden tweaks that can make the tap-to-pay process even better.

3D printing is a hobby that quickly turns casual observers into enthusiasts. That means it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and overlook the rougher edges, even if you’re completely taken in by it.

We've all purchased a tool, gadget, or tech item that we eventually regret or don't use enough. However, if there's one thing you'll end up using frequently, or be glad you have a few extras in your garage, it's power tool battery packs.

Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update pulled no punches on President Donald Trump this week, with anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che skewering him over his connections to the Epstein emails released this week.

SEE ALSO: Donald Trump crashes Epstein email press briefing in 'SNL' cold open

"House Democrats released an email written by Jeffrey Epstein in which he claims that Donald Trump 'knew about the girls,'" Jost says. "It's bombshell news that legal experts are calling, 'duh.'"

Che also zeroed in on an email from Epstein's brother Mark. "In one of the emails, Epstein's brother asked if Vladimir Putin has a picture of Donald Trump giving oral sex to someone named Bubba, which was an old nickname for Bill Clinton," Che says. "So I guess that's one job Trump has created."

Weekend Update didn't stop at the Epstein emails, though. Jost and Che also targeted Trump's request for the new Washington Commanders stadium to be named after him, his denial that his golden White House decorations come from Home Depot, and his $5 billion threatened lawsuit against the BBC.

"This might be my favorite episode," Che says.

The rest of this week's SNL episode further lampooned Trump's connections to the Epstein emails, addressing them in the cold open and in a series of shorts that brought back Will Forte's MacGruber.

A smart home needs solid foundations, and that means reliable wireless pathways that ensure your lights, sensors, and remotes can communicate effectively. If you’re suffering from dropouts and spotty performance, there’s a cheap trick you can use to get a bit more range out of your Thread, Zigbee, or Z-Wave networks.