IT General

SAVE $55: As of July 31, Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are on sale for $124.95 at Amazon. That's a 31% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: SHOKZ Shokz OpenRun Pro $124.95 at Amazon
$179.95 Save $55.00 Get Deal

Bone-conducting headphones have taken the fitness industry by storm, and they've become a must have for runners. They're a clever concept, combining the need for both music and spatial awareness, this technology helps keep you safe and aware of your surroundings.

And as of July 31, Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones are on sale at Amazon, reaching their lowest-ever price again. Right now you can save $55 at the new price of $124.95. This deal is available across all colorways: black, beige, blue, and pink.

SEE ALSO: Should you upgrade to the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro? A runner's take.

The Shokz OpenRun Pro, and all bone conduction technology, works by transmitting sound through vibrations directly to the inner ear via the cheekbones, bypassing the eardrum, and increasing your spatial awareness. So you can run, walk, or do any activity with music, but you can still hear what is going on around you in the outside world.

They use 9th-generation bone conduction technology to deliver high-quality audio while keeping your ears open to your surroundings. They also have an IP55 waterproof rating, so they’re sweatproof and work for runs or walks in the rain.

Get this impressive deal from Amazon now.

SAVE $50: As of July 31, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is on sale for $199.99 on Amazon. That's a 20% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 $199.99 at Amazon
$249.99 Save $50 Get Deal

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is back on sale, and we can thank the release of the Galaxy Watch 8 for that. But you don't always have to go for the newest models, and with this new price on the 7, this option is suddenly looking like the smarter buy.

As of July 31, this model is priced at $199.99, a $50 saving on list price. It comes with a whole lot of features, both for fitness and lifestyle, that you'll love.

SEE ALSO: Verizon is giving customers a free Samsung Z Flip 7 — here's how to get yours

It benefits from Galaxy AI, which includes starting your day with a personalized Energy Score, a stat based on what you did the day before, how you slept, and how much activity you've done. It includes all the usual data you'd expect from a smartwatch, such as sleep monitoring, fitness levels, and heart rate tracking, but at a much more advanced level.

With sleep tracking, this watch can signal whether you may be suffering from sleep apnea. While you sleep, the watch tracks your breathing patterns and oxygen levels, using AI to identify issues that may indicate episodes of sleep apnea. Galaxy AI also improves the fitness tracking too, using your previous workout data to give you an idea of how you are progressing. Whether you're running, cycling, swimming, or whatever else, the Galaxy Watch 7 will give you great stats and insights.

Told you it was a smart buy. Get it from Amazon before the deal runs out.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 31 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: The beginning

• Green: Number two

• Blue: Last in a trilogy

• Purple: Not first

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: First ___

• Green: Second ___

• Blue: Third ___

• Purple: Last ___

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 #781 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• First ___: AID, LADY, NATIONS, RESPONDER

• Second ___: COMING, FIDDLE, GUESS, NATURE

• Third ___: EYE, PARTY, RAIL, ROCK

• Last ___: LAUGH, RESORT, STRAW, SUPPER

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 July 31

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 July 31 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 31 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Half-baked

The words are food-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are types of desserts.

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 Piece of Cake.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 31

• Fruit

• Bundt

• Piece of Cake

• Lava

• Sponge

• Pound

• Cheese

• Funnel

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 July 31 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 July 31, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Ruffle.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter L appears twice

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter F.

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...

FRILL.

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 July 31

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.

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 July 30 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 July 30, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

An analysis.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter S appears twice

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter A.

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...

ASSAY.

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 July 30

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.

SAVE $500: As of July 31, the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum is on sale for $1,099.99 at Amazon. That's a 31% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: ECOVACS Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni Robot Vacuum $1,099.99 at Amazon
$1,599.99 Save $500 Get Deal

We love a good deal on a robot vacuum here at Mashable, and the latest offer on the Ecovacs Deebot X9 Pro Omni is seriously next level. As of July 31, this impressive model is $500 off. Not only that, but according to camelcamelcamel, this is the cheapest it has ever been.

This robot vacuum is seriously powerful, boasting a 16,600Pa BLAST airflow suction to pick up all kinds of dirt and dust. The BLAST Airflow system even cleans carpet efficiently, removing even the toughest of pet hair (that's thanks to the anti-tangle brushes).

SEE ALSO: How to make your robot vacuum work better: 3 setup tips to do right now

It even has real-time self-washing mopping with OZMO ROLLER technology, and AI-powered navigation to map out your home successfully. Cleverly, its Triple Lift System automatically adjusts the mop and brushes based on surface type to avoid cross-contamination and preserve carpet dryness. Its extended OZMO ROLLER and side brush enable complete edge-to-edge cleaning, even in corners.

And you have basically no maintenance. Enjoy up to 150 days of cleaning with auto-refilling, hot washing, drying, and detergent dispensing. All you need to do is refill the clean water tank and empty the dirty one, this robot vacuum handles the rest. Your work is always done.

It can also be voice and app-controlled through the likes of Alexa, Matter, and YIKO-GPT AI Assistant for remote or voice-activated cleaning.

It's a limited-time only deal, so get this deal before it runs out.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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: NYT Mini crossword answers, hints for July 31, 2025 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: Table game

• Green: Regionally specific football

• Blue: Different squads, same player

• Purple: Same first word

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

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

• Yellow: Terms in 8-ball pool

• Green: AFC West teams

• Blue: Associated with Jalen Hurts

• Purple: Tennis ___

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 #311 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Terms in 8-ball pool - CUE, SCRATCH, SOLIDS, STRIPES

• AFC West teams - BRONCOS, CHARGERS, CHIEFS, RAIDERS

• Associated with Jalen Hurts - ALABAMA, EAGLES, OKLAHOMA, SUPER BOWL, MVP

• Tennis ___ - COURT, ELBOW, RACKET, SHOES

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.

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.

Every time a new detail about President Donald Trump's friendship with convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerges, the story gets worse and worse. But when all the recent developments are laid out together, it's on another level.

In the clip above from Late Night, Seth Meyers takes "A Closer Look" at all the recent developments, from Trump being bombarded by questions about Epstein during his trip to Scotland to Trump making things worse with every attempt to defend himself during press conferences.

"The reason why this controversy is hitting so close to home and rattling Trump's MAGA base is that they cast themselves as warriors against the elites," says Meyers, "but it turns out they elected an elite who's covering up for other elites."

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, July 31, 2025:

AcrossQuick punches

• The answer is Jabs.

Animal with unique stripes, similar to human fingerprints

• The answer is Zebra.

The People's ___ (The Rock's signature wrestling move)

• The answer is Elbow.

Pumps the brakes, say

• The answer is Slows.

Many "Bluey" viewers

• The answer is Tots.

DownTreat once advertised as "America’s Most Famous Dessert"

• The answer is Jello.

Head of a monastery

• The answer is Abbot.

Furrowed facial features

• The answer is Brows.

Lumber mill tools

• The answer is Saws.

Grated citrus peel

• The answer is Zest.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

Proton has just announced the release of Proton Authenticator. This free, open-source two-factor authentication (2FA) app should give you more flexibility along with strong encryption, with a similar feature set as Authy.

The Hyper HyperDrive Flex 8-Port USB-C hub is a well-designed hub with fast speeds and textured plastics that is comfortable to hold, an investment you’ll be happy to keep in your desk or everyday carry—but it isn't without its foibles.

SAVE $5.40: The Lego Harry Potter Flying Ford Anglia is now just $9.59 at Walmart, down from its usual $14.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Harry Potter Flying Ford Anglia $9.59 at Walmart
$14.99 Save $5.40 Get Deal

Potterheads, here’s one deal that feels like it was delivered straight by owl post. Walmart has dropped the price of the Lego Harry Potter Flying Ford Anglia to just $9.59 — a steal for fans of the Wizarding World or anyone looking for a charming, budget-friendly gift. At 35% off, this is the lowest price we’ve spotted yet for this whimsical set.

This 165-piece buildable car lets you relive Harry and Ron’s daring, rule-breaking flight to Hogwarts in The Chamber of Secrets, arguably the best in the entire franchise. The detailed model features opening doors, a removable roof, and room in the trunk for the included suitcase, wands, and Ron’s ever-faithful pet rat, Scabbers — or rather, the villainous Peter Pettigrew if you want to get deep. You’ll also get two minifigures: Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, plus a Hedwig owl figure to complete the scene.

SEE ALSO: Our 13 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

Once built, the Flying Ford Anglia is perfect for both display and imaginative play. Younger builders can recreate their favourite movie moments, invent their own magical escapades, or mix and match this set with other Lego Harry Potter kits for bigger adventures. And at this price, it’s hard not to grab one (or two) for future birthdays, rainy-day activities, or even holiday stocking stuffers.

Walmart’s discount won’t last forever, and with back-to-school shopping ramping up, this set could disappear as quickly as the Weasleys’ enchanted car into the Forbidden Forest. Whether you’re a collector, a gift-giver, or simply a Lego enthusiast on a budget, this is your chance to add a little Wizarding World magic to your shelf for under ten bucks.

For those who feel like building even more, take a look at our 13 favourite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans. In case you’re a Marvel fan, you can score $17 off the Lego Marvel Infinity Gauntlet set at Amazon, too.

Sony is the current king of headphones and earbuds. Look no further than the new flagship WH-1000XM6 headphones and WF-1000XM5 earbuds. These are two category leaders and global top sellers praised for their marvelous active noise cancellation, sound quality, and special features. However, the legacy audio brand also sells terrific entry-level and mid-range products that deliver near-flagship performance at accessible price points.

Whether you’re looking for an AirPods alternative or a pair of wireless headphones with a wider sound range than Bose headphones, Sony has you covered on all fronts. We’ve spent the past several months testing all of Sony's most popular models to help you find the right pair.

How to choose the best Sony headphones

Sony headphones and earbuds juggle several priorities, including ANC, battery life, hi-res sound, and multipoint pairing. However, you may need to compromise on some of these features if you're not willing to spend $300 or more, the minimum price for flagship headphones in 2025.

If you want audio you can tailor to your liking, look for headphones carrying Sony’s adaptive sound features: 360 Reality Audio, DSEE, and Find My Equalizer. Travelers and road warriors need a model with noise cancellation powerful enough to eliminate sounds across the entire frequency spectrum, not just airplane engines. Those who live active lifestyles or exercise regularly can find buds with a transparency mode that keeps them aware of their surroundings. Lengthy playtimes and wireless perks (e.g., Bluetooth multipoint, mobile app) have their benefits as well. 

It all comes down to preference.

Now, let’s check out the best Sony headphones of 2025, hands-on tested by Mashable staff.

SAVE $100: Grab Samsung’s 55-inch U7900 UHD 4K Smart TV for only $279.99 at Best Buy, down from $379.99 for a limited time.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsung Samsung 55-inch Class U7900 Series UHD 4K Smart TV (2025) $279.99 at Best Buy
$379.99 Save $100 Get Deal

For TV and movie fans looking to upgrade their home entertainment setup without emptying their wallets, Best Buy is offering a can’t-miss deal. 

As of July 31, the Samsung 55-inch U7900 Series UHD 4K Smart TV (2025 model), is marked down to $279.99 from $379.99. That’s a full $100 in savings for a TV that packs a lot of premium features into a slim, stylish design. This 4K powerhouse is equipped with Samsung’s Crystal Processor 4K, which promises rich colours, crisp detail, and enhanced clarity — even when you’re streaming lower-resolution content, like when Netflix’s ad-tier unexpectedly drops in quality due to streaming issues, thanks to this TV’s upscaling technology. 

SEE ALSO: The best 4K TVs in 2025

Pair that with HDR10+ support, and you’re looking at an offering of deeper contrast, lifelike lighting, and a level of realism that makes your favourite movies and sports pop off the screen.

But it’s not just about watching the new season of Gen-V with a better picture either. Samsung has given this TV a modern, MetalStream design that’s as much art as it is tech. With clean lines, a slim bezel, and a minimalist profile inspired by aircraft engineering, it’s designed to look good in any room without pulling focus from what’s on-screen.

Other entertainment options seem endless, too. The U7900, in particular, taps into over 2700 free channels (including 400+ premium Samsung TV Plus picks), plus thousands of on-demand movies and shows from free streaming services like Pluto TV and Freevee — all without added subscriptions. That means you’re getting more than just a display; you’re getting a full-fledged streaming hub.

So, even when you’re done being wowed by the future home releases of Superman (2025) and Fantastic Four: First Steps, you’ll have more than enough other films and shows to relax to as well.

Security hasn’t been forgotten, either. Samsung Knox Security works in the background to keep your connected devices and personal info safe from unauthorised apps or phishing threats, giving you peace of mind while you binge.

Gamers and sports fans will also appreciate Motion Xcelerator tech, which smooths fast-paced action and reduces blur for a more immersive experience when playing hit titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Fortnite. And when paired with a compatible Samsung soundbar, Q-Symphony puts forth the chance to take audio up a notch, combining TV and soundbar speakers for bigger, more dynamic sound.

If you’re still unsure which sort of television is right for you, take a look at our roundup of the best TV brands. In the event you’re willing to spend a little more, find out about the best 4K TVs in 2025, so you can grab the very best.

SAVE $207.50: The ASUS TUF Gaming F16 Laptop is down to $892.49 on Amazon — its lowest-ever price.

Opens in a new window Credit: ASUS ASUS TUF Gaming F16 Gaming Laptop $892.49 at Amazon
$1,099.99 Save $207.50 Get Deal

The ASUS TUF F16 gaming laptop might have just become the smartest buy on Amazon, and this could be the perfect moment to level up your gaming setup without splurging. 

As of July 31, the powerful 16-inch gaming laptop has dropped to $892.49, a full $207 off its usual $1,099.99 list price. According to price trackers like camelcamelcamel, this is the cheapest this machine has ever been on Amazon, making it a tempting pick for gamers on a budget.

This deal is specifically for the Mecha Grey 16-inch F16 model (FX607VU-SS53), which packs an Intel Core 5 210H processor paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RT 4050 GPU. Backed by 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a fast 512GB PCIe Gen4 SSD, this laptop is designed to handle modern AAA titles, esports, and heavy multitasking with ease, all while staying portable enough for school or travel.

SEE ALSO: The best gaming laptops of 2025: Check out our top picks

While it's not the most powerful set of specs on the planet, you’ll still have a rig capable of playing huge modern titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Indiana Jones and The Great Circle on medium settings — great for a machine of this price, and it should still play like a dream.

Performance isn’t the only thing this machine has going for it. The F16 sports a Full HD+ 144Hz IPS-level display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and 100% sRGB colour coverage, meaning promised smoother gameplay, richer visuals, and less screen tearing thanks to Adaptive-Sync technology. 

It also carries ASUS’s signature military-grade durability, tested to MIL-STD-810H standards, so you won’t need to baby it during long commutes or gaming nights away from home.

ASUS has also packed in advanced cooling tech with Arc Flow Fans, multiple exhaust vents, and an anti-dust filter, letting you push your laptop harder without excessive fan noise or throttling. 

Throw in WiFi 6 support, a backlit keyboard, Windows 11 Home pre-installed, and a sturdy design with subtle TUF branding, and you’ve got a well-rounded gaming machine that punches above its price point.

For more gaming machine options, check out our roundup of the best gaming laptops you can get in 2025 so far. If you’re an NVIDIA-exclusive kind of gamer, be sure to also take a look at the three best gaming laptops with NVIDIA GPUs — including Razer, HP, and Acer.

The Elemind headband didn't exactly look like the cure to my insomnia the first time I strapped it on.

In fact, this just-launched $350 device — "the first neurotech headband clinically shown to help people fall asleep," according to its ad copy — reminded me of two similar EEG headbands from years past. Both promised better sleep but failed to deliver.

A chronic night owl with a chattering mind that keeps me up into the wee hours, I've been reviewing sleep gadgets that could potentially save me since the Zeo headband launched in 2010. The Zeo used electrodes to track your sleep stages, but I soon found the benefits of that knowledge were outweighed by... well, by how uncomfortable it was to go to bed with it strapped tightly to your head.

Same goes for the Muse S headband, which launched 10 years later and promised helpful sleep tracking. The much-loved Muse 1 and 2 were brain-sensing meditation aids with firm electrodes that tucked in behind the ear; the headband, aiming for comfort over electrode connectivity, was far worse at detecting a signal.

That's the kind of frustration I expected during my first test of the Elemind, especially since it took take place in an unfamiliar bed where I was being watched by the company's founder.

What I certainly didn't expect was the sound of dolphins with gentle jackhammers breaking up my waking mind.

What is the Elemind headband? Credit: Elemind

In functionality, the Elemind is nothing like those prior headbands. It's not simply reading your electrical brain wave activity; it's actively working to sabotage it.

If that sounds alarming, consider which of the five types of brain waves is in Elemind's sights: Alpha waves. This frequency of brain activity, between 8 and 12 Hz, is the last thing you want at night; it's your mind being just active enough to keep you tossing and turning.

If your brain was broadcasting Beta or Gamma waves, you wouldn't even be in bed; you'd be bounding around the house, alert, making decisions. If your brain found it easy to slip into Delta or Theta frequencies... well, you'd be having deep or light sleep, respectively, and you wouldn't need to read this.

But Alpha? For insomniacs, Alpha is the endless gossip who lives in your head. It's the chatty self-help guru who won't stop saying what you should do. And the fearful newscaster and financial analyst you didn't ask for. And the inner toddler who screams "don't wanna" any time you ask your brain, in the immortal words of a Samuel L Jackson-narrated audiobook, to go the fuck to sleep.

How the Elemind works: Elemind over matter

The Elemind uses insights from the science of oscilliotherapeutics (and if that word alone doesn't put you to sleep, you must really be in Alpha).

Basically, our neurons don't just fire together, they oscillate together — and that lets you target them with sound at very specific frequencies. (If white noise machines sometimes work for you, this is why.)

The Elemind uses its EEG readings to map your Alpha waves in real time, then the accompanying app crunches the numbers on what "pink noise" it needs to broadcast, via built-in bone conduction headphones, to reduce that alpha oscillation down to something in the sleepy zone.

Basically, this sleep tech headband is trying to get your neurons to slow their roll. But how effective is it? This is a good place to note Elemind's major caveat: it's not for everyone.

In its ongoing clinical trial, the company says 76 percent of participants saw reduction in the amount of time it took them to fall sleep. Elemind offers multiple possible reasons it didn't work for the 24 percent. One is that Alpha activity is found throughout the brain, and can be beyond the reach of oscillation broadcasts to the scalp. Your insomnia may literally be too deep to break up.

But not mine; I was relieved to discover I was firmly in the 76 percent. The company wisely offers a 30-day return window, so it's worth a shot to see if this expensive device might be worth every penny to you.

Hands-on with the Elemind The bare-bones Elemind app. Credit: Elemind

What does it sound like, this pink noise? Here's what came to mind after I strapped on the Elemind for the first time: Dolphins are chittering quietly to themselves. Hang on, are they chittering or are they using, like, very quiet machine guns? Or tiny dolphin jackhammers to break up my thoughts?

In a minute or two, I began seeing eyelid movies (you have to keep your eyes closed for an Elemind session to work). Dolphin construction crews wore adorable reflective jackets and winked wickedly.

I realized I was pleasantly woozy — a state I recognize from my dream hacking reportage as hypnogogia, a liminal dream state where you're still slightly awake. But the dolphin machine gun had soon annihilated all my thoughts.

Yet instead of protesting this attack on its thinking rights, as I'd expect, my brain was almost suspiciously happy, as if I'd drugged it.

I did note that I was only clinging to consciousness by the slender thread of a musical earworm that wouldn't go away. (Perhaps earworms appear in the part of the brain Elemind can't reach?)

SEE ALSO: Dream hacking: How to use your brain's wildest, weirdest state

It was a bad earworm, too: "Don't Mug Yourself" by The Streets. Bouncy, dancey, and very anti-sleep. By randomly selecting it on public transit on the way to this sleep test, I had effectively mugged myself.

But that I'd come that close to napping was extraordinary. This was a hands-on Elemind naptime in a Four Seasons hotel suite bathed in direct California sunlight that even the blackout blinds couldn't contain. Elemind CEO Meredith Perry was next door tracking my progress on the app.

And here's the kicker — I hadn't had a successful nap in years.

SEE ALSO: Why the best sleep tracker is one you already own

None of this was conducive to sleep success. And yet over 30 minutes, I came within a worm's width of knocking myself out. Perry's app said I'd actually had 8 minutes of light sleep. I disagreed — the fuzzy math of sleep trackers at play, something I also notice with the wild differences between the readouts on my Oura ring and my Apple Watch — but I also couldn't deny I felt refreshed.

I also couldn't wait to try it out at home, during a full-on sleep session, but I had to. The first review unit Elemind sent was a dud on the bone conduction speaker front. Its app feels very barebones. And I lost count of the number of times it asked me to charge it up or download new firmware — right when I was ready to crash. This seems like easily avoidable bad timing on the app's part.

The Elemind aims to be a sleep tracker as well as an alpha-wave blaster. To that end, the startup is selling $12.99 a month memberships (the first month's free), which simply gets you a lot of data — incomplete data, if you're anything like me and are likely to wriggle out of the headband in your sleep. (I lasted an average of 45 minutes before tearing it off.)

The Elemind's alpha-wave blocking bone conduction noises last for 30 minutes, with a slow fadeout for the last 10. Seems I was too zonked out to twang it a way, for an average 15 minutes per sleep.

In other words, it worked every damn time.

Elemind in the air

Armed with that information, I wanted to see if the Elemind could send me to sleep in the most difficult circumstances. Could I have at least a light, brief, refreshing nap while buzzing on coffee? I certainly could. After an aggravating phone call? You betcha.

The boss level, I knew, was the long-haul flight. As the luck of travel plans would have it, I had a vacation to Japan via Hawaii coming up that involved four flights of roughly 5 hours each, across several days.

Normally, to sleep on a plane, I'd take melatonin, put on noise-canceling headphones, listen to a sleep playlist or the Sleep With Me podcast, and hope for the best. The Elemind changed that.

No matter where I was on the plane, from Extra Comfort space to squeezed into a window seat next to a manspreader, it knocked me out in under half an hour.

Better yet, it worked alongside my regular noise-cancelling headphones (the AirPods Max); if anything, there was a compounding effect with my sleep playlist: together, they gave me a record 2.5 hours of super-Pacific sleeptime.

Is the Elemind sleep headband worth it?

Again, your mileage with this pink noise machine may vary. My advice: it's worth it for folks with an insomnia problem so bad they'd pay $350 to solve it. Given the roughly 1 in 4 chance that your alpha waves are too deep to be broken up, this is one piece of sleep tech that demands more than one former insomniac's opinion.

So, in short, you'll have to think about the possibility of better sleep, and weigh it against the potential mild inconvenience of returning a $350 device within 30 days.

Then sleep on it.

Opens in a new window Credit: Elemind Elemind sleep headband $349 at Elemind
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A dying star molting its final layers in space seems to be in the midst of a sad, solitary experience — at least from a storytelling perspective. 

But a new image from the James Webb Space Telescope, a collaboration of NASA and its European and Canadian counterparts, shows this drama isn't a one-star act. More than one stellar object, at least for this scene, is on the playbill.

In a new look at the planetary nebula NGC 6072, located about 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, astronomers found evidence that this cosmic cloud's chaotic, lopsided shape is likely the handiwork of more than one star. The tangle of glowing gas may actually reveal a star in its final stages — with a companion sticking by its side until the proverbial curtain falls.

The results of the observation help astronomers understand how some stars die, especially in multiple-star systems, which are thought to be more prevalent in the Milky Way than solo star solar systems. 

SEE ALSO: A star may have survived partial black hole spaghettification The James Webb Space Telescope took a new look at at the planetary nebula NGC 6072. Credit: NASA GSFC / CIL / Adriana Manrique Gutierrez illustration

Unlike giant stars that explode into a supernova and collapse into a black hole, a medium star like the sun is expected to just keep on burning until its nuclear fuel peters out, suffering a more prolonged death. 

This event forms a so-called "planetary nebula," a confusing misnomer for the phenomenon because it has more to do with an aging star than planets. As a sun-like star nears the end, it puffs out into a red giant — about 100 to 1,000 times its original size — eventually engulfing the space around it, including any nearby worlds. 

As the star eventually releases its outer layers, it shrivels down to its core in what's known as a white dwarf star. At that point, it'll be about the size of Earth.

Webb’s powerful infrared instruments took this new high-resolution image of NGC 6072, which doesn't have a fun nickname like some other planetary nebulas. The picture shows multiple lobes of material bursting outward at odd angles like fireworks. It's a far cry from the smooth, evenly distributed rings once expected of such end-of-life events from stars similar in mass to the sun.

Astronomers say telltale signs point to this being a binary system: two stars; one dying, the other disrupting the event with its gravity. 

Webb's Near-Infrared Camera view shows at least two or three distinct outflows of gas — jets stretching in different directions — plus a disk of compressed material forming along the middle, likely caused by winds blasting through older shells of expelled gas. 

But it’s the companion star that can't be directly seen that's grabbing astronomers' attention. The view taken by Webb's Mid-Infrared Instrument, aka MIRI, shows expanding concentric rings around the dying central star, which astronomers suspect is a pinkish-white dot in the middle of the image. The rings could have been carved out as the hidden secondary star repeatedly circled its partner, plowing through the fading outer layers.

One of Webb's first images was of the Southern Ring Nebula, about 2,500 light-years away. Astronomers had suspected for more than 50 years that there were actually two stars at its core, but they hadn't actually seen the dimmer star — the true source of the nebula — until they pointed the telescope's camera at it, said Karl Gordon, an astronomer at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore. In that case, it was the opposite: They could see the companion but not the dying star.

"We knew this was a binary star (beforehand), but we effectively didn't really see much of the actual star that produced the nebula," Gordon said during a 2022 news conference. "But now in MIRI, this star glows red because it has dust around it." 

A pinkish-white dot at the center of this mid-infrared image is thought to be the dying star creating this planetary nebula. Credit: NASA / ESA / CSA / STScI

With prior Hubble Space Telescope observations, astronomers found many irregularly shaped planetary nebulas influenced by a second star — so many, in fact, they began to wonder if the extra star was actually a crucial component for their creation, said Rodolfo Montez, who studies dying sun-like stars at the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.

"It's called a binary hypothesis, which would suggest that [only] stars in binary systems make planetary nebulae," Montez previously told Mashable. "But then we're not clear what single stars like our sun would do in that framework."

Each lobe, arc, and filament deepens the mystery of how stars like — or perhaps not quite like — the sun die. 

But one thing scientists do know: When the glowing cloud of NGC 6072 finally dissipates, it'll leave behind a scattering of heavy elements, perhaps seeding a new generation of mind-boggling stars and planets.

TL;DR: Grab Microsoft Office 2021 Professional for Windows for just $49.97 — a one-time payment gets you Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, Publisher, Access & more for life.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $49.97
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If you’re still paying monthly for Microsoft Office, we have just one question: why? For less than the price of a single dinner out, you can get Microsoft Office 2021 Professional for Windows as a lifetime license — no ongoing subscription drama, no recurring fees, just good old-fashioned ownership.

Get lifetime access to Microsoft Office 2021 Professional for Windows while it’s on sale for $49.97 (MSRP: $219.99) for a limited time.

This is a comprehensive Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, Access, OneNote, and even Teams (free version). Whether you’re writing a report, building a budget, designing a flyer, managing customer data, or just desperately trying to stay on top of your inbox — this one-time deal has you covered.

Office 2021 introduces a sleek ribbon interface, enhanced performance, and a smoother workflow experience that seamlessly integrates into your work, whether you’re working remotely, launching a side hustle, or simply organizing your life. And yes, you can still work offline (cloud fatigue is a real thing).

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TL;DR: Clean up your TV setup with the Dreamscreens TV Skirt Flex, now just $23.99 (reg. $29.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Dreamscreens Dreamscreens TV Skirt Flex - Cord & Mount Concealer for Wall Mounted TVs $23.99
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Didn’t get around to spring cleaning? Since you’ll likely be spending a lot of time indoors during the dog days of summer, there’s no better time to make some changes to your living space.

The Dreamscreens TV Skirt Flex is an easy way to make a big difference when it comes to your TV setup, and right now it’s affordable, too — just $23.99 (reg. $29.99).

Declutter your screen space with the first-ever retractable TV skirt

Keep the mess of cords behind your TV out of sight and out of mind with some help from the Dreamscreens TV Skirt Flex. This handy invention is the first-ever retractable side cover system ready to hide cables, mounts, and hardware behind your TV, giving your space a cleaner, more streamlined look.

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