IT General

Google TV Might Borrow This Divisive Netflix Feature

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 15:44

Do you like to fall asleep with the TV on, but then wake up and realize you missed several episodes of your favorite show? If so, we have some potentially good news. It looks like Google TV is preparing to borrow a Netflix feature that users either love or hate.

Categories: IT General, Technology

25+ Apple products still on sale for record lows after October Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 15:37

Amazon's Apple deals have been especially juicy and ripe this week during Prime Big Deal Days, and thankfully a few are still available after the sale. While the retail giant's fourth annual Prime Big Deal Days sale has already come to an end, there's still some time to grab some record-low prices on Apple Watches, AirPods, iPads, and MacBooks.

The best October Prime Day Apple deals at a glance: Best AirPods deal Apple AirPods 4 $89 (save $40) Get Deal Best Apple Watch deal Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + 46mm case) $359 (save $70) Get Deal Best iPad Deal Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $449 (save $150) Get Deal Best MacBook deal Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) $799 (save $200) Get Deal Best Accessories Deal Apple AirTag $19.99 (save $9.01) Get Deal

This year, the "October Prime Day" sale (Amazon's unofficial Black Friday kickoff event) comes hot on the heels of Apple's "Awe Dropping" launch of new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. Deals on the new iPhone 17 series or iPhone Air are highly unlikely — no luck yet, at least — but the brand-new Apple Watch Series 11 and SE 3 are already seeing their first teensy discounts in honor of the occasion.

If you don't mind some slight spec downgrades, Amazon is doling out even more impressive discounts to those wearables' predecessors: The Apple Watch second-gen SE with cellular connectivity is on sale for $219. This deal blows past its previous all-time low.

SEE ALSO: 200+ October Prime Day deals: Save on Apple, Sony, Samsung, and Lego

Other Apple products that have fallen to record-low prices this Prime Big Deal Days include the AirPods 4 (now starting at just $89), the 11-inch M3 iPad Air (now $449), and the M4 MacBook Air (now $799 in the 13-inch size).

In total, we've spotted over two dozen Apple products that are chilling at record lows on Amazon this week. If they sell out there, Best Buy is matching some but not all of them during its competing Techtober Sale.

We're rounding up our top picks below that are still available after the sale, and will be monitoring them for any further price drops or stock alerts. Don't wait if you see something you want. Record lows are marked with a 🔥.

Be the first to know about the best October Prime Day deals. Follow Mashable's Prime Big Deal Days live blog and keep checking back for the latest discounts, stock alerts, and deal drops.

Best October Prime Day AirPods deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 🔥 $89 at Amazon
$129 Save $40 Get Deal Why we like them

Apple's latest wireless earbuds are one of our favorite pairs for budget shoppers, offering "five hours of battery life and smooth sound quality," per Mashable's Samantha Mangino. (She especially recommends them for iPhone and iPad owners because they connect seamlessly with those devices.) Dirt-cheap AirPods are a Prime Day staple, and Amazon really delivered this Prime Big Deal Days: The standard AirPods are only $89 right now (normally $129), while the ANC version is just $118.98 (usually $179). You'll lock in an all-time low either way.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple AirPods 4 with ANC.

More AirPods dealsBest October Prime Day Apple Watch deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS + 46mm case) $359 at Amazon
$429 Save $70 Get Deal Why we like it

While the Apple Watch Series 10 is virtually identical to its successor in terms of features and design, its battery life is a bit worse. That's not ideal if you plan to regularly use tracking tools like Sleep Score, which get less accurate in Low Power Mode, but it's an easy sacrifice at a price like this. The rose gold Series 10 with GPS and a light blush sport band is now just $359 — a 16% savings.

Read Mashable's full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

More October Prime Day Apple Watch dealsBest iPad deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M3, WiFi, 128GB) 🔥 $449 at Amazon
$599 Save $150 Get Deal Why we like it

The latest 11-inch iPad Air isn't vastly different from its M2 predecessor, but its better battery life (over 14 hours per charge) and faster M3 processor are both appreciated upgrades. That impressive performance, plus the fact that iPadOS 26 now supports a nifty windowing system, makes it a solid MacBook alternative for shoppers on a budget. We think it's the best iPad for most people, especially now that it's down to just $449 at Amazon — that's its best price on record.

Read Mashable's full review of the 13-inch Apple iPad Air (M3).

More iPad dealsBest MacBook deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M4, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD) 🔥 $799 at Amazon
$999 Save $200 Get Deal Why we like it

The M4 MacBook Air is an absolute powerhouse, outperforming 89% of the laptops in our current testing database. Compared to the previous-gen M3 model, it features a better 12MP Center Stage camera and open-lid support for two external displays. The 13-inch model is now on sale for just $799 (typically $999), which is yet another all-time low.

Read Mashable's full review of the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air (M4).

More MacBook deals

MacBook Airs

MacBook Pros

Macs

Apple accessory deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to Watch Your Favorite Comfort Show Without an Overpriced Subscription

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 15:31

We all have songs that are our guilty pleasures, and the same is true for TV shows. For me, it's the show Friday Night Lights. The five seasons about the trials and tribulations of a Texas high school football team are cheesy and predictable, but just really comforting to watch. If you're tired of paying a premium to watch your favorite comfort show on a streaming service, then the good news is that there are alternatives.

Categories: IT General, Technology

There are still a ton of stellar TV deals still live from October Prime Day, like a 75-inch QLED TV for $399.99

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 15:29

The second major Prime event of the year is officially over, and while some categories have shot back up to normal price, TV deals are still aplenty. Amazon is still outdoing itself compared to its own Prime Day TV deals from July — in terms of both various HD and 4K options.

The funny thing is, the best TV deals at Amazon aren't the retailer's own models; those are still overpriced. Instead, it's top budget brands like TCL, Hisense, and Insignia that are seeing the best price slashes, plus record lows on most sizes of Samsung's The Frame.

The best October Prime Day TV deals at a glance Toshiba 32-inch Class V35 Series LED HD Smart Fire TV $79.99 ($50) Get Deal Insignia 40-inch Class F40 Series LED Full HD Smart Fire TV $99.99 ($50) Get Deal Best 55-inch TV deal Samsung 55-inch The Frame QLED 4K TV (2024 model) $797.96 (Save $700.03) Get Deal Best 65-inch TV Deal LG 65-inch C5 OLED 4K TV $1,372.99 (Save $1,324) Get Deal Best 75-inch TV Deal Insignia 75-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $399.99 (Save $250) Get Deal

Between super-affordable HD & QLED options in every size and massive discounts, making the premium flagship OLEDs look less intimidating, there's not much of a reason to wait for Black Friday to buy a TV.

Treat yourself now and enjoy the rest of October with your new screen, whether that's scary movies, football, or both. We're tracking the best post-Prime Big Deal Days TV deals that are still live below, categorized by size and sorted by price both in ascending order.

SEE ALSO: 25 Apple products are on sale for record lows this October Prime Day — including the new Apple Watches

Note: Deals with a 🔥 have dropped to an all-time low price.

Best Prime Big Deal Days TV deal overall Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 75-inch QF Series QLED 4K Fire TV $399.99
$649.99 Save $250 Get Deal Why we like it

The best QLED TV deal that is still live after Prime Big Deal Days is a 75-inch Fire TV by Insignia (a Best Buy brand, oddly enough) for $399.99. This is one of the few times per year when you'll be able to score a giant TV for so cheap — in fact, waiting for October Prime Day has made this model $50 less than the $449.99 sale price we saw during Prime Day in July.

If you've never had a QLED TV before, this XL Insignia model is a great low-stakes opportunity to upgrade. As a budget QLED, you can't expect this model to stun in HDR like a premium Samsung QLED would. But compared to your old LED TV, you'll quickly see the difference those quantum dots are making — they'll especially pop when watching football in the daytime.

Note: This Insignia model is appearing as out of stock for some of our shopping reporters, which is usually a location-based blip. If you're not seeing "add to cart" at Amazon, it's also available at Best Buy for the same price.

32-inch to 40-inch TV deals42-inch to 50-inch TV deals55-inch TV deals65-inch and 70-inch TV deals75-inch and 77-inch TV deals85-inch and up TV deals

Need to get rid of an old TV to make room for your new one? You can recycle your TV at most Best Buy stores for free.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Another new AI browser, Dia, launches for free to Mac users

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 15:12

Mac users who want as much AI in their lives as possible got an intriguing new browser option this week.

Dia, an AI-powered web browser with some interesting capabilities, is now available as a free download for Apple's laptop and desktop computer operating system. Per MacRumors, this is the first time the browser has been widely available to the public, following a beta launch over the summer. Mac users on devices with M1 chips or later can download it for free from Dia's website.

SEE ALSO: Perplexity launches Comet AI browser for everyone: How to try it

The gist of Dia is that it's a regular tabbed web browser with a built-in chatbot that you can use for all sorts of things. Need help drafting an email? Dia's got you covered. Want to compare two Airbnbs in an upcoming travel destination? As long as you have them open in different tabs, Dia can look at both of them and write you a succinct comparison. Dia is also selling this as something that students can use for, well, student stuff.

Amusingly, the website also has examples that include looking at a $400 sweater on a store's website and asking the chatbot to "convince me not to buy this." Time will tell how well that works.

Dia is just one of a handful of rising AI web browsers. Perplexity launched its Comet browser earlier this month, while Opera's Neon browser is another alternative worth considering. Or, you can continue doing things the old way. Up to you.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How the Ford Bronco Beats the Jeep Wrangler at Its Own Game

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 15:00

Few rivalries in the automotive world are as fierce as Ford versus Jeep, and nowhere is that battle more heated than in the off-road segment. For years, the Wrangler has been the benchmark for trail-ready SUVs, but Ford’s modern off-roader is proving it can play by the same rules and still come out ahead.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This Is What I Fill My Phone's Storage With (It's Not Just Photos)

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:30

I like buying phones with at least 512GB of storage, because I know I will fill up most of that space—and no, it isn't entirely with photos and videos. Here's why having 256GB or less is a non-starter for me.

Categories: IT General, Technology

These 10 Fox Kids Shows Revived My TV Childhood

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:00

Between the game-changing block of Disney Afternoon and the mid-'90s renaissance of Kids WB, there was the must-watch block of Fox Kids. The Fox network was already making a name for itself with subversive sitcoms like Married with Children and The Simpsons. While it took them some time to find their footing with their foray into Saturday morning programming, they managed to land on some winning shows in the early to mid-1990s.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Mini-LED vs. OLED—More Than Just the Battle of Brights and Darks

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:00

When it comes to buying a new TV, eventually, the conversation over OLED and Mini-LED, two of the leading panel technologies today, is going to come up. While both offer a top-tier visual experience, how they actually create the picture and how they handle light and dark are night-and-day different. This gives each its own unique edge when it comes to contrast and brightness.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Jim Jarmuschs Father Mother Sister Brother trailer is a family of stars

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 14:00

Family dynamics can be awkward, melancholy, strange, hilarious, or all of the above at once. It's the core theme explored in Jim Jarmusch's anticipated new film Father Mother Sister Brother, and you'll get a glimpse at the incredibly stacked cast in the trailer out today.

Written and directed by Jarmusch, the Golden Lion-winning movie sees the likes of Tom Waits, Adam Driver, Mayim Bialik, Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, Vicky Krieps, Indya Moore, and Luka Sabbat building three portraits of family connection (or really, disconnection).

Over three acts set in New Jersey, Dublin, and Paris, Father Mother Sister Brother feels extremely close to home, again and again, in myriad minuscule ways. And you'll leave extremely aware of which beverages you can and cannot cheers with.

Father Mother Sister Brother hits cinemas Dec. 24. It's also showing at the BFI London Film Festival and New York Film Festival.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Who needs October Prime Day? The Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV is still at its best price at Amazon.

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 13:16

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 9, the Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV is on sale at Amazon to $189. This is $160.99, or 46%, off its list price of $349.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Toshiba Toshiba 50-inch Class C350 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $189 at Amazon
$349.99 Save $160.99 Get Deal

Even though Amazon's Prime Big Deal Days sale event is officially over, there are still some deals floating around on the retailer's website for shoppers to scoop up. This includes some exciting leftover TV deals, which is good news for those who have been hoping to pick up a new model this year. The Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV is one deal that's still available and definitely worth checking out before it's all gone.

Usually the Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV comes with a price tag of $349.99, but for a limited time it's still available to grab for 46% off that price, down to $189. This is its lowest-ever price, so now's a great time to pick it up as it likely won't stick around much longer past the October Prime Day sale.

SEE ALSO: 55 deals from Best Buy's Techtober Sale still live that match or beat Amazon's Prime Day prices

No matter if you're looking to get a TV for movie nights, gaming, or to binge-watch your favorite shows, this Toshiba TV can provide you with vibrant picture and sound. It boasts 4K resolution and a bright LED display, which is further boosted by Dolby Vision so you can have crisp, colorful images on screen. It even comes with Dolby Atmos sound so you can experience great audio quality as well.

And since it's a Fire TV, you can have all of your favorite streaming apps available to choose from, right on this TV's home screen. That way, you don't have to wait to watch the shows or films that catch your eye.

If the Toshiba 50-inch C350 Series LED 4K TV has caught your attention, now is a great time to jump on this deal while it's still available. If you're curious what else Amazon still has after October Prime Day, check out our breakdown of 200+ October Prime Day deals still live to see even more offers available.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV is down to its lowest price for Prime members after October Prime Day

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 13:15

SAVE OVER $100: As of Oct. 9, the Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV is on sale for $169.99 at Amazon exclusively for Prime members. This is 43% off its list price of $299.99, saving you $130.

Opens in a new window Credit: Insignia Insignia 50-inch Class F50 Series LED 4K UHD Smart Fire TV $169.99 at Amazon
$299.99 Save $130 Get Deal

Prime Big Deal Days may be behind us, but that doesn't mean that every deal has disappeared from Amazon's website. There are still quite a few discounts tucked away that are worth taking advantage of, including a few exciting TV deals. In particular, Prime members looking to upgrade their setup can still save big on an Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV at the retailer right now.

The Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV is on sale for $169.99 right now exclusively for Prime members. This is 43% off its list price of $299.99, allowing you to keep $130 in your pocket. It's also a return to its lowest price, so don't wait any longer to pick it up if it's caught your eye. This deal may not last much longer beyond October Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: 55 deals from Best Buy's Techtober Sale still live that match or beat Amazon's Prime Day prices

This Insignia Fire TV is a great pick-up for those who love to keep up with the latest shows and movies on streaming services. Its Amazon Fire-powered operating system keeps all of your favorite streaming apps together so you can quickly find your favorites when you're looking to binge-watch something new or kick back for a movie night. What you're watching will look really high-quality as well, thanks to 4K Ultra HD resolution and a vibrant LED display.

On top of that, this TV boasts great sound quality as well with the help of DTS Studio Sound, so you can feel completely immersed in what you're watching.

We're only a day past Prime Big Deal Days, so this deal may not stick around much longer. Prime members, act fast to score the Insignia 50-inch F50 Series LED 4K TV on sale for $169.99. And if you're looking for even more deals that are still live, check out our breakdown of 200+ October Prime Day deals still live.

Categories: IT General, Technology

5 Terrible Uses for Micro SD Cards

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 13:00

SD and Micro SD cards are wonderful little storage devices, and sometimes I can't believe that I'm holding hundreds of gigabytes in the palm of my hand in something the size of my pinkie nail.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Frame Generation Is Becoming Mandatory in Some PC Games, and I Don’t Like It

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 13:00

You may have noticed that some PC games now list frame generation as part of their system requirements. The issue here is that system requirements for PC games usually target 60 FPS performance, and playing games at 60 FPS with frame generation feels anything but good.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Microsoft's Local Accounts Crackdown Is Yet Another Reason to Install Linux

How-To Geek - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:30

If you're like me, you've been relying on technical workarounds to set up Windows 11 with a local account instead of the required Microsoft account. Unfortunately, Microsoft is shutting down more of those workarounds, which is just affirming my decision to replace Windows with Linux as my daily driver desktop.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:01

The NYT Connections puzzle today shouldn't be hard to solve if you're a gamer.

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 Pips hints, answers for October 9, 2025 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: Make-believe

  • Green: Parts of the Earth

  • Blue: Features of a story

  • Purple: Played on XBOX, PlayStation, etc.

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: Fantasy

  • Green: Kinds of rocks

  • Blue: News article features

  • Purple: Title figures in classic video games

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 #852 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Fantasy: FANCY, FICTION, FIGMENT, INVENTION

  • Kinds of rocks: FLINT, LIMESTONE, MARBLE, SLATE

  • News article features: CAPTION, DATELINE, LEDE, PHOTO

  • Title figures in classic video games: GORILLA, HEDGEHOG, PLUMBER, PRINCESS

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 September 29, 2025

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for October 9, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:01

Today's NYT Strands hints are important to think about when tracking.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

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

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 9, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 9, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Just in case

The words are related to traveling.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe things brought on vacation.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Pack It Up.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 9

  • Clothes

  • Laptop

  • Charger

  • Pack It Up

  • Toiletries

  • Headphones

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for October 9, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:01

Today's Wordle answer might be easy if you read detective books back in the day.

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.

Today's NYT Wordle puzzle shouldn't be difficult to solve if you're a tough cookie.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 29, 2025 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 29, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Rugged.

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 H.

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...

HARDY

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 September 2, 2025

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.

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for October 9, 2025

Mashable - Thu, 10/09/2025 - 12:00

Today's Connections: Sports Edition features two categories with a regionally specific team focus.

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: Soft tissues of the human body

  • Green: Teams located on this West Coast city

  • Blue: Career journey of this 2,000-yard rusher

  • Purple: Managers for the "showtime" team

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: Muscles, Informally

  • Green: L.A. Football Teams

  • Blue: Associated with Saquon Barkley

  • Purple: Lakers Head Coaches

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Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

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The solution to today's Connections: Sports Edition #381 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

  • Muscles, Informally - ABS, PECS, QUADS, TRAPS

  • L.A. Football Teams - CHARGERS, RAMS, UCLA, USC

  • Associated with Saquon Barkley - EAGLES, GIANTS, MADDEN COVER, PENN STATE

  • Lakers Head Coaches - HAM, REDICK, RILEY, WEST

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.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Why I Still Use a 5-Year-Old Mac Mini in 2025

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I have no plans to replace the five-year-old Mac mini that’s gracefully aging beneath my TV. I’ll happily buy another when the time comes, but that day still feels like a long way off.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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