IT General

Whether you’re facing unseasonably rainy weekend weather or looking for a restful indoor activity that doesn’t require a screen, LEGO is the answer. It’s equal parts challenging and relaxing, and when the job is done, you get a masterpiece to behold and display. 

The latest drop from LEGO puts some fan-favorite real and fantastical worlds right in your living room. Each of these sets is available online and in-store from Aug. 4. Grab them quick before they’re gone. 

Transform bricks into the loyal lieutenant of Megatron Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO Transformers Soundwave $189.99 at LEGO
A complex build involving more than 1,500 pieces Shop Now

This is not your kid’s Transformers LEGO set. It’s a complex build involving 1,505 pieces and a built-in LEGO sound brick, to form a 13-inch-high model of Transformers Soundwave that plays his voice and sound effects at the press of a button. 

The 2-in-1 convertible model will also transform into cassette player mode without having to rebuild. It comes with Soundwave’s trusty companions Ravage and Laserbreak, both of which can be converted into cassette tapes that fit individually into Soundwave’s cassette bay. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also get essentials like cassettes, rocket pod, laser blaster, and dart accessories.

A multi-day architectural project for history buffs Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO Neuschwanstein Castle $279.99 at LEGO
A piece of history encompassing more than 3,500 LEGO bricks Shop Now

Any European history fan or architecture buff will love this impressive LEGO model of Neuschwanstein Castle, a stunning example of historical architecture that's known for being the inspiration behind the castle in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. 

With over 3,500 bricks and measuring over 12 inches high and 18 inches wide, it’s full of realistic and impressive exterior and interior details. It also features a surrounding forest landscape with foliage that can be changed from summer to fall colors. 

Swap binge-watching for binge-building with a One Piece pirate ship  Opens in a new window Credit: LEGO The Going Merry Pirate Ship $139.99 at LEGO
Recreate the ship from the popular Netflix series Shop Now

If you’re into One Piece on Netflix, this play-and-display replica of Straw Hat Pirates’ iconic ship is a must-have. It’s simple enough for kids and adults over 10 years of age, but challenging and detailed enough to keep you entertained for an afternoon or more.

The ship includes the crew’s cabin, kitchen, and workshop, as well as detailed minifigures of Monkey D. Luffy, Zoro, Nami, Usopp, and Sanji, and a set of accessories like food for the kitchen and a selection of wanted posters. 

The Google Pixel 10 series is coming soon, and with all the uncertainty around the upcoming Galaxy S26 ditching the base and Plus models, now might be a great time to switch. I was already debating ditching my Galaxy, and that's because two Google Pixel features have my attention.

Apple might be hiding a potentially very useful new AirPods feature.

9to5Mac spotted some imagery in the latest iOS 26 beta build which strongly suggests that real-time language translation during in-person conversations will be possible with the second-gen AirPods Pro and the fourth-gen AirPods. It appears that you activate translation mode by pinching the stems on both AirPods at the same time. In the imagery 9to5Mac found, four languages can be seen: English, French, German, and Portuguese.

SEE ALSO: Apple may launch App Intents alongside the upgraded Siri next spring

Apple has already explicitly shown translation features for apps like FaceTime, but has been mum on its applications in real-world settings so far. 9to5Mac reasonably speculates that the feature might be exclusive to the iPhone 17 lineup, likely due to the processing power required to do this without serious latency. That would potentially explain why Apple hasn't officially announced this feature yet.

If that's the case, we'll probably hear more in September when the new iPhones are announced.

SPEND $100, GET $30 FREE: Through Aug. 17, Chewy is sending free $30 e-gift cards with purchases of $100 or more (up to three times) with code STOCKUP.

Opens in a new window Credit: Chewy How to get a $30 Chewy gift card for free When you spend $100 and use code STOCKUP Shop Now

Free gift card promos tied to stuff you'd buy eventually anyway are one of our favorite money-saving hacks. Target and Amazon have them for household supplies all the time — but today, it's a pet supplies sale in the spotlight.

If you missed this Chewy deal back in June, here's a second chance: You'll get a free $30 Chewy gift card just for spending $100 on pet supplies. Each customer can use promo code STOCKUP up to three separate times, adding up to $90 in potential savings if you can manage to spend $300. People with multiple pets know that that's not a stretch at all. The deal runs through Aug. 17.

SEE ALSO: As an anxious cat mom, I love my robot vacuum with a livestream camera

The STOCKUP sale applies to a ton of pet food, treats, kitty litter, and flea and tick medication. Once you're all caught up on those restock necessities, you can also use the code to splurge on the creature comforts you would have definitely bought for your pet eventually, anyway — like a new cat tree with an extra tier, an upgraded dog bed, or new toys.

Some brands are excluded from the gift card deal, but once you have the gift card in hand, it can be used on whatever — just like regular money.

SAVE $50: As of Aug. 12, get the Soundcore Boom 2 portable speaker for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $139.99. That's a discount of 36%.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Soundcore Boom 2 $89.99 at Amazon
$139.99 Save $50.00 Get Deal

There's still some summer fun in the sun to be had before the warm weather gives way to the fall chill. If you're planning on enjoying it to the fullest, a portable speaker is just the thing to take along with you wherever you go for an instant party. Grab a speaker and bring your favorite music with you, catch up on podcasts with friends, or just put one in your house to chill with some great tunes. Right now, you can get an excellent one for a significant discount.

As of Aug. 12, get the Soundcore Boom 2 portable speaker for $89.99 at Amazon, down from its usual price of $139.99. That's $50 off and a discount of 36%.

SEE ALSO: The best speakers in 2025

This versatile speaker is built to last, whether you listen outside or somewhere in your home, with a powerful battery and a hardy build. It delivers up to 24 hours of playtime per charge, and it relies on heavy, bass-driven sound to bring the party wherever it goes.

Not only is it waterproof, but it'll float as well, so it can hang out in the pool with you if you decide to bring it in. Set up the LED lighting and cue up a bumping playlist, and it creates an instant party vibe, no matter what you're up to.

You could opt for a speaker from names like Bose or Sony, but this Soundcore pick is everything you need and then some in a sturdy, reliable package. It's especially worthy at this price, too, so snap one up while you still can.

Sling TV is one of the best live TV streaming services for shows, movies, and sports, and now it has all-new options for those who only need TV for a day. If you don't want to pay for a full subscription but want a day or weekend to binge-watch shows and live sports, Sling has you covered.

SAVE $200: As of Aug. 12, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is on sale for only $699.99 instead of $899.99 at Amazon. That's a savings of 22% and its best price on record.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE (128GB) $699.99 at Amazon
$899.99 Save $200 Get Deal

The flip phone is officially back in full force — and it is expensive. The flagship foldables from Samsung, the Z Flip7 and Z Fold7, are both well over $1,000. That's why the brand decided to drop the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE, a cheaper variant for those on a stricter budget. It starts at just $899.99, but it's currently on sale for $200 less, making it a much more palatable flip phone option.

As of Aug. 12, you can pick up the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 FE with the base storage (128GB) for just $699.99 instead of $899.99. That's a savings of 22% and its best price on record since its release last month.

SEE ALSO: Upgrade to the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro 360 while it's down to its best price ever

At first glance, the Z Flip7 FE looks just like the Z Flip7. Look a little closer, and you'll notice that while both phones have a 6.9-inch AMOLED main display, the FE has a slightly smaller 3.4-inch cover display (compared to the Flip7's 4.1-inch display). They both share a duo of 50/12-megapixel cameras on the back and a 10-megapixel selfie camera. Where the biggest differences lie are the RAM, storage, and battery. The FE has a slightly less powerful Exynos 2400 chip inside, 8GB of RAM, and a starting storage of 128GB, while the flagship model has an Exynos 2500 chip, 12GB RAM, and a starting storage of 256GB.

The differences aren't major, but it's all about personal preference. Do you want the more powerful flip phone or do you want to save $200? (Or, as of Aug. 12, spend $400 less than the regular price of the Z Flip7 while the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE is on sale.)

Netflix's K-Pop Demon Hunters has absolutely dominated pop culture this summer, and for a limited time, it's looking to dominate movie theaters, too.

SEE ALSO: How a fictional girl group and a demon boy band made 2025's biggest K-pop hits

In just a few months since its June 20 release, K-Pop Demon Hunters become Netflix's most popular animated film ever, and is currently fourth on the streamer's list of most popular English language movies. The film's soundtrack is also a phenomenon all on its own, with fictional band HUNTR/X's "Golden" hitting #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on Aug. 11.

The song is performed by EJAE (who wrote "Golden" with Mark Sonnenblick), Audrey Nuna, and Rei Ami. The three serve as the singing voices for HUNTR/X members Rumi (voiced by Arden Cho), Mira (May Hong), and Zoey (Ji-Young Yoo).

With "Golden" reaching new heights, and with the film still crushing on Netflix, what better way is there to celebrate the summer of K-Pop Demon Hunters than to sing along to its greatest hits in theaters?

On Aug. 23 and 24, select movie theaters in the U.S. and Canada will be hosting sing-along screenings of K-Pop Demon Hunters. Fans can live out their HUNTR/X and Saja Boys fantasies and belt out "Golden," "Soda Pop," and more. Hey, maybe they'll seal the Honmoon while they're at it!

Tickets for the K-Pop Demon Hunters sing-along go on sale Aug. 13 at 9 a.m. ET. K-Pop Demon Hunters is now streaming on Netflix.

As someone who switched from Windows 10 to Linux a long time ago, I know that it can feel daunting. I was also on the fence. However, one thing that helped me reassure myself that Linux is a great choice is the option to test it before committing.

Who says electric cars have to be boring? One high-performance crossover is flipping the EV script by delivering an exhilarating 641 horsepower, track-ready tuning, and a driving experience that rivals gas-powered performance machines. It's proof that electrification doesn’t have to mean the end of driving excitement.

The Alien films' Xenomorphs are, in my mind, the greatest movie monsters ever created. It's shocking, then, that they're the least interesting part of FX's Alien: Earth.

That isn't to say that the Xenomorphs in Alien: Earth are bores. Far from it! These seminal horror creatures get more than enough moments to shine in the series, slashing victims to shreds, flashing those double mouths, and drooling bucketloads. Classic Xenomorph stuff, and awesome to boot, but not much that we haven't already seen. After four main Alien movies, two prequels, "interquel" Alien: Romulus, and the canonically wonky Alien vs. Predator movies, audiences are as well acquainted with the Xenomorph as can be.

SEE ALSO: Where does 'Alien: Earth' sit on the Alien franchise timeline?

Alien: Earth creator Noah Hawley (Legion, Fargo) recognizes this, deploying the Xenomorph not even halfway through the first episode and pulling few punches when it comes to concealing its appearance. (That appearance, by the way, is magnificent, and created through mostly practical effects and stunt performer Cameron Brown.) Hawley instead reserves Alien: Earth's mystery for new creatures and factions who come in contact with the formidable Xenomorph. It's these parties who end up outshining my beloved monster, but for good reason. With them, Hawley expands on the world of Alien, taking it to fascinating new places and crafting sequences as gripping as a Facehugger. Yet the series never loses the strangeness or existential dread at the center of the franchise.

Alien: Earth pits children against Xenomorphs... kind of. Jonathan Ajayi, Adarsh Gourav, Sydney Chandler, Timothy Olyphant, Kit Young, Erana James, and Lily Newmark in "Alien: Earth." Credit: FX

As its name suggests, Alien: Earth imagines what would happen if the Xenomorph wound up on our planet. Here, it arrives as part of the cargo of the USCSS Maginot, a Weyland-Yutani research vessel that crash lands in New Siam, Prodigy City, named after Weyland-Yutani rival Prodigy Corporation.

Prodigy CEO Boy Kavalier (Samuel Blenkin) decides that he wants whatever deep space goodies are on that ship, so he sends a squad of soldiers to get the job done. However, these aren't just any soldiers. These are hybrids: synthetic bodies that have been implanted with human consciousness. Since Prodigy's hybrid technology is in its early days, the only consciousnesses malleable enough to make the jump from body to body are those of children. That means Boy Kavalier is sending children — granted, in billion dollar robot bodies — into a disaster zone where a Xenomorph lurks.

Featured Video For You 'Alien' was my gateway to horror. Now I'm obsessed with the franchise.

Boy Kavalier's first hybrid test subjects are all terminally ill children given a second chance at life. The first among them, and therefore the de facto leader, is Wendy (Sydney Chandler), named after Wendy Darling from Peter Pan. Her fellow hybrids are also named after the Lost Boys (Nibs, Slightly, Curly, and Tootles, with Smee being the only outlier), and Boy Kavalier fancies himself their version of Peter Pan. He's even named his island research center Neverland, reads J. M. Barrie's tale to the hybrids at bedtime, and plays Disney's 1953 Peter Pan on the roof of his lab.

The Peter Pan allusions unfortunately wear thin pretty fast, serving as a repetitive reminder that the hybrids won't grow up — at least, not physically. Mentally is a different story, and that's where Alien: Earth spends much of its time. How do these new forms of human — if they can even be called that, Wendy wonders — mature? Especially when they're treated as experiments? Not only that, but how will these innocent children react when faced with the deep space horrors on the Maginot?

Alien: Earth's hybrids and aliens are exciting additions to the Alien franchise. Sydney Chandler in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

Alien: Earth's hybrids present several exciting opportunities for the show beyond just the thrill of watching a human hold their own in a hand-to-hand fight against a Xenomorph. (Although that is, in itself, extremely hype-worthy.)

For starters, hybrids act as a counterpoint to the Alien franchise's synthetics, like Ash (Ian Holm) or David (Michael Fassbender). Alien: Earth's resident synthetic is Prodigy employee Kirsh (Timothy Olyphant), an android tasked with supervising (aka babysitting) the Lost Boys on their mission. His monitoring of the Lost Boys doesn't just read as very, very detached parenting, it also reads as him shepherding the next generation of tech that will make him obsolete. Tough gig. In Olyphant's hands, Kirsh is coolly cynical about humanity, a contrast with Chandler's sweetly earnest Wendy, who's still attached to her brother Joe (Alex Lawther), a Prodigy military medic who believes she died.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the entire 'Alien' franchise — from the 1979 classic to the new 'Alien: Earth' series

That earnestness offers up another intriguing layer to the show, as the Lost Boys' adult actors — Chandler, Kit Young, Adarsh Gourav, Erana James, Jonathan Ajayi, and Lily Newmark — must channel children. Their performances create a dissonance between their physical appearances and their thoughts and actions, and the effects can range from disquieting to hilarious in the span of a scene. Special shout out to Ajayi as Smee, who manages to bring ultra-believable childhood petulance and confusion to any sequence, even when he's investigating a lab full of aliens.

Speaking of aliens, the Xenomorph isn't the only extraterrestrial beastie the hybrids have to contend with. In fact, it's one of five alien species in the Maginot cargo. Smartly, Hawley makes all the new aliens smaller than the towering Xenomorph, not attempting to top it physically. However, this fresh lineup of aliens each come with their fair share of stomach-churning, parasitic behavior, proving worthy successors to the head honcho. To delve too much into these creatures would risk spoiling the fun, but I will say that T. Ocellus — an unholy cross between an eyeball and an octopus — damn near steals the show.

Despite all the newness, Alien: Earth still feels like Alien. Babou Ceesay in "Alien: Earth." Credit: Patrick Brown / FX

While Alien: Earth abandons deep space for humans' home turf, it's undoubtedly an Alien project, even beyond the involvement of the Xenomorph and Weyland-Yutani. Setting his story two years before Ridley Scott's original film, Hawley explores similar themes, from the horror of losing bodily autonomy (you know pregnancy shows up) to the Corporations' callous mistreatment of workers. The latter especially shines through in Weyland-Yutani cyborg Morrow's (Babou Ceesay) storyline, where he often thinks about how the company takes everything from its laborers, even as he does their dirty work.

Alien: Earth draws from the Alien films aesthetically too. The Maginot is modeled directly on Alien's Nostromo, crafting an eerily accurate visual bridge between the projects that comes to a head in one of the season's standout episodes, itself a mini Alien movie. (The latter brings a nice shot of adrenaline to the show's occasionally plodding pacing, which can feel like Alien: Earth treading water until it reaches its full potential.)

Along with these familiar nods, there's also an undeniable thrill in seeing Alien: Earth take the franchise somewhere new. Crashing a spaceship into a skyscraper? Introducing synthetic-hybrid-cyborg rivalries? Dropping a Xenomorph in a rainforest? Those all get enthusiastic "hell yeahs" from me, and you can believe there are many more where those came from.

Unsettling, bizarro, and contemplative in equal measures — just how I like my Alien! — Alien: Earth proves an exciting new entry in the franchise. Come for the Xenomorph, but stay for all the exquisite nightmares Hawley is cooking up.

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX.

Alien: Earth is the first TV series of the Alien franchise, sitting in the earlier batch of films. But where exactly does it sit chronologically in the canon timeline?

Set in 2120, Alien: Earth takes place just two years before Ridley Scott's original 1979 film, Alien. In the film, which takes place in 2122, almost the entire crew on the Earth-bound Nostromo space vessel is turned into Xenomorph fodder after they decide to investigate a mysterious distress signal.

SEE ALSO: 'Alien: Earth' trailer: What happens when Xenomorphs crash land on our planet?

Alien: Earth is also set 16 years after the events of 2017's Alien: Covenant, which takes place in 2104, when the crew of the titular colonist vessel investigates yet another mysterious signal on the inhabited planet of Origae-6. (It never pays to investigate in Alien films.) Covenant is the sequel to Prometheus, which takes place between 2089 and 2093.

Here's the timeline in which Alien: Earth sits, so you can get a handle on the chronology (and though Alien vs. Predator films are set in 2004, we're not including them here).

Featured Video For You 'Alien' was my gateway to horror. Now I'm obsessed with the franchise. The Alien films (and the TV series) in chronological order:

1. Prometheus: 2089-2093

2. Alien: Covenant: 2104

3. Alien: Earth: 2120

4. Alien: 2122

5. Alien: Romulus: 2142

6. Aliens and Alien 3: 2179

7. Alien: Resurrection: 2381

Now, here's how to watch every Alien movie online, so you're all over the timeline.

Alien: Earth premieres Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, then weekly on Tuesdays.

Loot drops, level requirements, skill trees, equipment stats: these are all defining parts of the RPG genre, but they're making their way into many modern action games. As a fan of action RPGs like Kingdom Hearts and Diablo, that sounds like a dream come true, but recent action games often forget that there's more to RPGs than slapping numbers on everything.

TL;DR: The DJI Mini 4K drone is available to purchase for $299 on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon DJI Mini 4K Drone $299 at Amazon
Shop Now

DJI is one of the biggest names in drones, with a strong reputation for creating incredible aerial shots. The DJI product range is the top choice of TikTokers, YouTubers, and filmmakers. That being said, we were surprised to see the DJI Mini 4K drone as one of the best-sellers in recent months. We knew these drones were popular, but surely not as popular as AirPods?

Then the real reason hit us like a drone to the head.

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at helping the U.S. drone industry and shoring up protections against malicious drone activity. The measures don't actually order a full ban on Chinese-made drones (yet), but talk of a ban on DJI drones has been doing the rounds for a while now. That uncertainty is clearly causing an uptick in sales.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Power 2000 portable power station means business, and it’s great for DJI drone owners

The good news for anyone hoping to get ahead of a potential ban is that you can still find the DJI Mini 4K drone on Amazon, listed for $299 right now. This popular drone is being sold by Fly Image Tech at the time of writing. We generally don't recommend third-party sellers, but they have decent reviews and times are tough right now. We'll take what we can get at this point.

The DJI Mini 4K is full of helpful features for beginners and advanced users alike. It has a one-tap takeoff function and a helpful return to home feature. But perhaps most importantly for content creators is the three-axis gimbal and 4K quality, as well as advanced wind resistance and extended battery life. It's a step up from the DJI Neo Mini 4K that we think creators will appreciate.

Get the DJI Mini 4K drone for under $300 at Amazon.

Most people these days get "4K" content for their 4K TVs from one source—streaming video. Streaming services like to put the 4K label prominently in their marketing, and if you want 4K you'll have to pay a premium for it to separate yourself from the HD commoners.

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.

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for August 4 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: They share the same number

• Green: They all have separate pathways

• Blue: Found in The Big Apple

• Purple: They have openings

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Groups of ten

• Green: Places with lanes

• Blue: Landmarks in Downtown NYC

• Purple: Things with holes

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 #794 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Groups of ten: BOWLING PINS, COMMANDMENTS, DECADE, FINGERS

• Places with lanes: BOWLING ALLEY, HIGHWAY, SUPERMARKET, SWIMMING POOL

• Landmarks in Downtown NYC: BOWLING GREEN, BROOKLYN BRIDGE, CITY HALL, WALL STREET

• Things with holes: BOWLING BALL, COLANDER, GOLF COURSE, SPONGE

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 August 4

Are you also playing NYT 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.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Spitting image

The words are twin-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe clones.

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 Copy That.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for August 12

• Lookalike

• Duplicate

• Copy That

• Replica

• Facsimile

• Double

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 today's Strands.

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for August 4 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's The Mini crossword answers for August 4, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A migrant.

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 N.

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...

NOMAD.

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 August 4

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 today's Wordle.

After giving a nonsensical press conference about crime levels in Washington D.C., Donald Trump has deployed the National Guard in the U.S. Capitol and placed it under federal control.

During her first episode guest hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, comedian and actor Nicole Byer responded directly to Trump's widely criticised actions by highlighting an important episode of recent history.

"I mean the man's got a point, D.C. can be a very, very dangerous place," Byer says in the clip above. "I remember on January 6, 2021, when someone told an angry mob to get their steps in by storming the Capitol, and that someone was the president."

Taylor Swift announced her upcoming 12th studio album on Tuesday and the vigilante sh*t has already begun among sleuthing fans.

The pop icon appeared in a clip from her partner Travis Kelce's New Heights podcast, revealing her latest era, The Life of a Showgirl, by pulling a blurred-out vinyl from a personalised suitcase. The post was scheduled for 12:12 a.m. on Aug. 12 for Swift's 12th album, to follow The Tortured Poets Department released in April 2024.

"So, I wanted to show you something," she says in the clip to Kelce and his co-host brother Jason Kelce. "This is my brand new album, The Life of a Showgirl."

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On Monday, Swift had posted an album tease on Instagram with a carousel of images from the artist's history-making Eras Tour with the caption, "Thinking about when she said 'See you next era…' ❤️‍🔥" In each image, Swift is wearing an orange-hued costume, now the brand palette for The Life of a Showgirl.

Essentially, you're about to see a lot of orange in your feed. The Empire State Building, Swift's social media pages, and Swift's website have pivoted to the album's branding of sparkling orange and greenish cyan, and fans can now preorder the vinyl, cassette, or CD versions.

Preorders ship before Oct. 13, but the website states this is not the release date for The Life of a Showgirl, which is yet to be announced.

Taylor Swift's website is all cyan and orange. Credit: Taylor Swift Taylor Swift's X page... Credit: X / Taylor Swift ...and Instagram... Credit: Instagram / Taylor Swift And TikTok. Credit: TikTok / Taylor Swift

Spotted by Billboard, Swift also launched a Spotify playlist named And, baby, that’s show business for you to accompany Tuesday's announcement. There's 22 songs on the playlist from Swift's previous albums like Red, 1989, and reputation, and the publisher notes they're all tracks produced by Max Martin and Shellback, possibly hinting at their involvement in The Life of a Showgirl.

As is the custom for Swifties with a new album release, the fans are in full sleuth mode. Some are drawing lines between what Swift said during the Eras Tour to invite Sabrina Carpenter onstage, and what Carpenter has posted on Instagram, to suggest she may feature on the album.

Taylor Swift and Sabrina Carpenter performed during night two of The Eras Tour on Oct. 26, 2024 in New Orleans. Credit: TAS2024 / Getty Images for TAS

It's time to red yarn wall it, people. No one Poirots like a Taylor Swift fan. A good starting point will likely be the full New Heights episode, which lands on Wednesday at 7pm ET.

UPDATE: Aug. 12, 2025, 12:48 p.m. UTC Added Billboard's keen-eyed spot of Taylor Swift's new Spotify playlist.