IT General

iOS 26 dropped on Monday for iPhone users looking to completely revamp the look of their phone. That means the long-awaited arrival of Liquid Glass is finally here.

If you want to update, it's pretty simple. iOS 26 is available now for all compatible iPhones as a free software update. Apple has a detailed page on its website if you need more information, but the steps are remarkably straightforward.

SEE ALSO: Every iPhone getting iOS 26: See if yours is on the list How to upgrade to iOS 26: iOS 26 and Liquid Glass is finally here. Credit: Screenshot: Timothy Werth

1. First, back up your phone.

2. Plug in your phone and make sure you're connected to WiFi. (The download will require power and a good connection.)

3. Go into your Settings > General, then click on Software Update.

4. From there, choose iOS 26 and download/install the update.

So, why might you want to download iOS 26? It promises significant upgrades and changes to how your iPhone works. Perhaps most notably is the shift to Liquid Glass, a new design style that'll change how your apps and features look on your iPhone. So, if you want a total revamp of how your phone looks, the change shouldn't take more than four steps.

SEE ALSO: Liquid Glass is finally here — 4 settings to change on day one

You can get the NZXT Function 2 MiniTKL keyboard for a major 58% discount. This drops the price to a surprisingly low $55 on Amazon from its usual $130. This is a massive discount on a high-quality gaming keyboard that comes from a big name like NZXT.

Every fall, high school students applying to college face an intimidating task: They must write a stylish, memorable essay that will boost their admissions chances. 

So who can blame them when they look at AI chatbots like ChatGPT that can brainstorm, compose, and edit text, and see what looks like a tempting advantage? 

But college admissions experts warn against falling for the imagined payoff of a crisp, well-researched, confident-sounding essay. Instead, using AI to write an admissions essay could land a student at the bottom of the pile. 

SEE ALSO: We tested the best laptops for college students going back to school

"A college application is a blank canvas," says Dr. Jennifer Kirk, a high school counseling curriculum leader and member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. "Everything that you throw at it should be a bright splash of color…If you throw a completely AI-written essay at that blank canvas, it's just going to wash it out."

Aside from a student sacrificing their authentic voice to AI, there are other important risks, like submitting an essay that contains embarrassing mistakes or inaccuracies, or that reads strangely similar to other applicants.

Why you shouldn't use AI to write college admissions essays

When students set out to write their Common Application admissions essay this year, they can choose from one of seven questions. Their response is limited to 650 words.  

The different essay questions invite applicants to share a meaningful talent, reflect on gratitude, or discuss an engaging concept or idea, for example. Applicants also write an essay of their choice.

The writing doesn't stop there, either. They may additionally submit a separate essay on "challenges and circumstances," which provides an opportunity to address factors that may have affected their record of achievement, like housing instability, homelessness, family caretaking, community disruption, and war or political conflict. 

Each college or university may also require multiple supplemental essays or written responses. The University of California, Berkeley, for instance, has applicants respond to four of eight "personal insight" questions. Harvard's application includes five questions that must each be answered in 150 words or less. 

For a student overwhelmed by the work of writing a memorable essay, plus crafting original responses for every application they submit, an AI chatbot promises a simple shortcut. 

Yet Connie Livingston, assistant director of admissions at Brown University, says that what sets special essays apart from those that don't impress is an "authentic" voice of someone who sees themselves as a learner and scholar. 

"There's no way AI can do that for you," says Livingston, now a college counselor with Empowerly. "It has to be an intrinsic quality that a student possesses that they then translate onto the page for admissions officers to, hopefully, see and appreciate."

While students might think they can prompt an AI chatbot or tool to approximate their own ideas and voice by feeding it personal information, Kirk cautions them against doing so, for privacy reasons. Some models may leak or publish sensitive or personally identifiable information to the internet, she says. 

There's also no surefire way to conceal the use of AI in an essay. 

Kirk says that admissions officers can detect telltale signs, such as constructions, phrases, punctuation, and grammar, that suggest an applicant used AI. 

If the essay itself contains original ideas and an authentic voice, those red flags might be dismissed. But if it reads as bland and uninspired, then the reader may suspect AI. 

Additionally, phrases and wording may seem unique to an individual student, but instead reflect how ChatGPT commonly responds to the same Common Application essay question, with minimal prompting. 

Imagine, for example, thousands of students applying to the same university and using the same AI chatbot to write their supplemental essays; the chatbot may use similar language for each individual response.

"That absolutely can happen," Kirk says. "They're going to sound pretty similar, and look pretty similar."  

When it's OK to use AI for college admissions essays 

Though Kirk says students should never use AI to write their essays, she does think the technology can be otherwise useful in the process. 

First, she advises students to research whether each college or university they're applying to actually permits the use of AI, in general and specifically in admissions applications, and then follow those rules.

Once students have that information, Kirk says they may consider consulting AI for researching, brainstorming, outlining, refining drafts, editing, and proofreading. 

Livingston recommends AI only for researching and brainstorming, and notes that students should also follow their high school's policy on AI use before adopting it during their essay-writing process.

Livingston says that AI can helpfully summarize information about a university's culture or academics, providing details that might have taken longer to track down. A student interested in a particular academic department, for example, could ask an AI tool to list the most accomplished faculty members or notable areas of research. The student can then potentially incorporate that information into an essay or written response. 

When it comes to research and facts, however, applicants should be careful to double-check what an AI search engine or chatbot says is true. 

"AI makes mistakes," Livingston says. 

"Don't rely on AI to choose your topic or develop core ideas without personal reflection." - Jennifer Kirk, school counselor

To use AI effectively for brainstorming, Kirk recommends narrowing down to a few key topics for further exploration, before asking AI for ideas about the subject of an essay. 

"Don't rely on AI to choose your topic or develop core ideas without personal reflection," Kirk says. 

Students may find AI helpful during the revision process, Kirk adds. She recently worked with an applicant who gave an AI tool two versions of the same essay, with a request to synthesize the content in order to write a new draft.

Still, Kirk says students shouldn't let AI overly polish their writing, beyond helping with structure and correcting grammatical errors and punctuation. This can dilute a student's original voice. Letting AI use big or fancy words that a student might not otherwise use has the same effect. Kirk says admissions officers can pick up on those discrepancies by looking at a student's entire application. 

If students don't want to find themselves in a high-pressure situation where deadlines are looming and they still have an essay and multiple responses to write, Livingston recommends starting as early as possible, if the process hasn't already begun. (She recommends the summer before senior year.)

Students can reach out to high school writing centers, college counselors, and English teachers for valuable help and feedback throughout the process, Livingston says.  

Regardless, rushed or desperate students should know that AI won't provide the winning shortcut to the college of their dreams. 

"Yes, AI can write a good essay, but a good essay is not going to get a student accepted into college," Livingston says. "It has to be a great essay."

Penske Media Corporation (PMC) – owners of publications such as Rolling Stone, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, and Billboard – has just filed a lawsuit against Google over one of its most prominent AI features.

According to the complaint filed in federal district court in Washington DC on Sept. 12. PMC is suing Google for using its content without its consent in the search giant's AI Overviews feature.

AI Overviews are the AI-generated summaries that appear at the very top of Google's search engine results pages. These AI summaries pull from websites and other third-party sources and display the summaries right on Google's own search pages. News organizations have reported that these AI Overviews have resulted in a loss of traffic, which in turn has hurt advertising and subscription revenue.

PMC's complaint states that the company has experienced traffic and revenue declines attributed to the roughly 20 percent of Google search results that include an AI Overview and a link to one of the company's publications.

"As a leading global publisher, we have a duty to protect PMC's best-in-class journalists and award-winning journalism as a source of truth," PMC's founder, chairman, and CEO Jay Penske said in a statement provided to multiple outlets. "Furthermore, we have a responsibility to proactively fight for the future of digital media and preserve its integrity – all of which is threatened by Google's current actions."

The lawsuit also accused Google of forcing publishers into AI Overviews without their consent, as these companies depend on Google's web crawlers to index their websites on its search engine in exchange for traffic.

Google has already pushed back on the lawsuit, arguing that AI Overviews actually helps publishers.

“With AI Overviews, people find Search more helpful and use it more, creating new opportunities for content to be discovered," Google Spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement. "We will defend against these meritless claims.” 

A recent Pew Research Center study aligns with some of PMC's claims regarding Google's AI Overviews' impact to publishers. The study found that Google Search users were half as likely to click on a link if the search results page included an AI Overviews summary. In addition, the study found that only 1 percent of users that were served with AI Overviews clicked on a link to the source material that the summary was derived from. In response to this study, Google told the Register in July that they believe Pew used a "flawed methodology" and disagreed with its findings.

Google as well as other AI companies are facing multiple lawsuits over content issues.

Edutech company Chegg filed a lawsuit against Google earlier this year over its AI summaries. Last October, News Corp's Dow Jones and New York Post sued Perplexity over its AI "copying" their work. A group of news organizations, including The New York Times, have also taken OpenAI to court over copyright issues.

Disclosure: Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.

SAVE 44%: As of Sept. 15, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 portable power station is on sale for $448.98 at Amazon, down from its list price of $799. That's a discount of 44%, or a savings of over $350.

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 portable power station $448.98 at Amazon
$799 Save $350.02 Get Deal

When you're looking for a portable power station, you're usually forced to choose between a high-capacity model that's a pain to carry and a lightweight one that can't power much. Jackery has built its reputation on finding the sweet spot between those two extremes, and its popular Explorer 1000 v2 is a perfect example.

As of Sept. 15, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is just $448.98 at Amazon in a "lightning deal." (So, that means it won't last long!) That's a 44% discount and a $350 savings off its $799 list price.

SEE ALSO: How to protect your keepsakes in case an emergency hits

The Explorer 1000 v2 is powerful enough for most adventures, with a 1070Wh capacity and a 1500W AC output (with a 3000W surge peak) that can run everything from refrigerators to electric pots. But unlike most generators with similar power, it's lightweight (23.8 pounds) and has a convenient foldable handle, making it a great grab-and-go option for camping or emergencies.

It's also packed with modern tech. You can use the Jackery app to enable an emergency charging mode that takes the battery from zero to 100 percent in just one hour. The app also lets you switch to a quiet charging mode for overnight use.

SAVE 15%: As of Sept. 15, the LG 45GX950A-B 45-inch Ultragear 5K2K OLED Gaming Monitor is on sale for $1,699.99 at Amazon, down from its list price of $1,999.99. That's a 15% discount and $300 in savings.

LG 45GX950A-B 45-inch Ultragear 5K2K OLED Gaming Monitor $1,699.99 at Amazon
$1,999.99 Save $300 Get Deal

Every so often, a piece of gaming hardware comes along that feels truly next-generation. LG's 45-inch Ultragear OLED monitor is one of those pieces. It's the self-proclaimed "world's first 5K2K OLED gaming monitor," and it's packed with an absurd amount of high-end tech. If you've been waiting for a deal to justify a serious battlestation upgrade, this is one to watch.

As of Sept. 15, you can get the LG 45GX950A-B 45-inch Ultragear 5K2K OLED Gaming Monitor on sale for $1,699.99 at Amazon, down from its list price of $1,999.99. That's a 15% discount and $300 in savings.

SEE ALSO: Say hello to the Legion Go 2, Lenovo’s new flagship gaming handheld with an OLED display

The massive 45-inch curved OLED screen features an ultra-wide panel with an 800R curve that's designed to fill your field of view. Thanks to the OLED technology, you'll be able to see deep blacks and vibrant colors, with a peak brightness of up to 1300 nits and DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification.

What really sets this monitor apart, though, is its unique "Dual Mode." Just press a hotkey, and you can switch between two different settings. For graphically rich, story-driven games, you can run it in its full 5K2K resolution at 165Hz. For competitive, fast-paced games like FPS or racing titles where every frame counts, you can switch to Wide Full HD resolution at an "electrifying" 330Hz. It's like having two specialized monitors in one.

Amazon’s Echo Show smart display recently encountered a nasty bug that consumed massive amounts of bandwidth. The bug has since been patched.

The issue was first flagged by former Microsoft engineer Dave W. Plummer, who noted on X that his two Echo Show units had burned through a staggering 4GB of data in under 24 hours. Reactions online quickly veered into conspiracy theory territory, but Plummer offered more grounded explanations: a software bug, a hefty update, or cached video.

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At the time, plenty of explanations were on the table. Some users speculated the always-listening feature was to blame, with the device constantly uploading audio snippets for processing. Others pointed to Amazon Sidewalk, the company’s mesh network that lets smart devices connect across a neighborhood. But that theory didn’t hold much weight either — Sidewalk is designed as a low-bandwidth service with a strict 500MB monthly cap.

SEE ALSO: Amazon is reportedly making AR smart glasses for drivers and customers

Amazon has since confirmed to Tom’s Hardware that it was indeed a caching bug. What was happening, it appears, was that the devices were downloading unnecessarily huge photos. Normally, Echo Show pulls down images for backgrounds and screensavers that are between 1MB and 4MB in size, which is sufficiently large enough for the device's display. In this case, it was fetching ultra–high–resolution shots far larger than the display’s 1080p panel could handle.

Thankfully, the mystery (and the bug) is solved now.

Save 25%: The 11-inch Apple iPad Air (M3, WiFi, 128GB) is on sale for $449, saving you $150 off the $599 list price. You can grab this deal at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy.

11-inch Apple iPad Air (M3, WiFi, 128GB) $449 at Best Buy
$599 Save $150 Get Deal

If you missed grabbing the iPad Air deal that had it at its lowest price ever a few weeks ago, I have great news: the deal is back.

As of Sept. 15, you can grab the 11-inch Apple iPad Air with an M3 chip and 128GB of storage for just $449 at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy. At full price, the tablet goes for $599, making this a whopping $150 discount.

This kind of price cut feels like it should come on an older model, but the M3 iPad Air was released just this past March, and has stood out as Mashable's favorite iPad for most people. The M3 chip gives it the power to be used as laptop, which thanks to the latest iOS 26 update, is more feasible than ever for Apple's tablets.

In addition to its power, it has 14 hours of battery life, a landscape camera, compatibility with the Apple Pencil Pro, and a lightweight design that makes it great to take on the go. Altogether, these features give the tablet a strong degree of versatility, making it as excellent for streaming your favorite shows as it is for reading a book or getting some creative work done (especially if you'd rather not pay iPad Pro prices).

The 2025 Emmys may be over, but you can continue to celebrate your favorite TV shows' wins thanks to Google's post-Emmys Easter egg.

If you type in the name of one of last night's winning shows into Google search, like Outstanding Comedy Series winner The Studio or Outstanding Drama Series winner The Pitt, you'll see a trophy icon float up on screen. Clicking on the widget will let you know how many awards the show won at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.

SEE ALSO: All the winners from the 2025 Emmys

Replacing the trophy, the icon will then resemble a flower. Clicking it throws a virtual bouquet across the screen to celebrate that show's awards, giving the series and everyone who worked on it their flowers. Google has previously featured this celebratory mechanic for other high-profile events like the Olympics, where users could throw bouquets at countries and athletes.

Get to celebrating! Credit: Screenshot: Belen Edwards

The flower icon also reveals how many total bouquets have been thrown for each show. At the time of writing, The Pitt has received approximately 336,700 bouquets, and The Studio has received approximately 405,600. The big bouquet winner so far, though, is Adolescence, which took home six Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series and acting awards for Stephen Graham, Owen Cooper, and Erin Doherty. At the time of writing, Adolescence has received approximately 741,600 virtual bouquets.

The bouquets aren't just for entire shows, though. You can also send virtual kudos to individual actors, writers, and directors who won Emmy awards, from Severance's Tramell Tillman to Hacks' Hannah Einbinder.

SAVE 17%: As of Sept. 15, the Mova P10 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $499 at Amazon, down from its typical price of $599. That's a 17% discount, and it's the best price we've tracked for this model.

Mova P10 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100 Get Deal

Robot vacuums are super helpful for automating day-to-day vacuuming, but most still struggle with two key areas: cleaning their own mop pads and getting into corners. The Mova P10 Pro Ultra tackles both of those problems with some clever tech, and right now, it’s back down to its lowest price.

SEE ALSO: Will the laser-equipped Dyson Spot+Scrub Ai solve Dyson's robot vacuum problem?

As of Sept. 15, the Mova P10 Pro Ultra robot vacuum and mop is on sale for $499 at Amazon, down from its typical price of $599. That's a 17% discount, and it's the best price we've tracked for this model.

The most impressive cleaning feature is its all-in-one docking station. It doesn't just empty the dustbin (which it does, holding up to 75 days' worth of debris); it also washes the dual spinning mop pads with uber hot water (149℉) to break down grease and grime, then dries them with hot air to prevent odors. Talk about self-sufficiency! (The most impressive feature, in my opinion, is the pet-friendly interactive video and voice call functionality.)

The robot itself is a powerful cleaner, with a 13,000Pa of suction to handle dust, crumbs, and pet hair. But what sets it apart from other premium models is its extendable side brush and mop, which reach out to clean deep into corners and along baseboards (areas most robovacs miss). It's also smart about carpets and lifts its mops by 10.5 mm to vacuum without getting them wet.

SAVE $23: The DJI Osmo Mobile 7P gimbal is on sale at Amazon for $126, down from the usual price of $149. That's a 15% discount that comes within $1 of the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

Opens in a new window Credit: DJI DJI Osmo Mobile 7P $126 at Amazon
$149 Save $23 Get Deal

We're pretty lucky to be living in a time when content creation can happen in a flash. YouTube channels and TikTok creators putting out new content can sometimes be more exciting than a new show on a major streaming platform. If you've always wanted to give content creation a go, Amazon is offering an irresistible deal that'll help get you started.

As of Sept. 15, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P gimbal is on sale for $126 at Amazon, marked down from the standard price of $149. That's a 15% discount that shaves $23 off the price. It also comes within $1 of the lowest price Amazon has ever offered.

DJI makes some of the most creator-friendly gadgets, and the Osmo Mobile 7P earns a top spot on that list. In a snap, it turns your iPhone or Android phone into a camera with the benefits of gimbal stabilization, native tracking, and built-in charging. Pair the Osmo Mobile 7P with a DJI Mic and you'd have a pro setup in no time at all.

SEE ALSO: The DJI Mic Mini is at its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save $60 on this creator favorite

DJI really shows its creator expertise with the design of the Osmo Mobile 7P. It unfolds quickly, uses three-axis stabilization, and even comes with a fill light. Mashable sister site PC Mag, also owned by publisher Ziff Davis, awarded the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P an Editors' Choice award in the recent review. Overall, the review said, "The DJI Osmo Mobile 7P quickly and consistently tracks subjects while providing stabilized footage from your phone. Its embedded extension rod, tripod, and multifunction module make it a versatile gimbal for creators on the go."

Regardless of if you're a well-established content creator or just starting out, the DJI Osmo Mobile 7P is a super versatile device that'll make filming just that much easier. Since it's on sale at Amazon for $126, which is just $1 more than the lowest we've ever seen, snag it now and you'll be filming glorious fall leaves by next week.

SAVE $240: For today only, the EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station is on sale at Amazon for $359, down from the list price of $599 at EcoFlow. That's a 40% discount.

Opens in a new window Credit: EcoFlow EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station $359 at Amazon
$599 Save $240 Get Deal

The temperatures are slowly dropping and soon we'll be basking in fall colors and crisp autumn weather. While some people love pumpkin spice season, others dread the upcoming storms that have a tendency to knock out power. If you'd rather not head into the fall season nervous about dealing with no power, Amazon has a great deal on offer today.

As of Sept 15, Amazon has the EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station is on sale for $359, down from the list price of $599 at EcoFlow. That's a 40% discount that shaves $240 off the normal price. Amazon lists this as a lightning deal which means it could sell out quickly. Be sure to act fast if you want to snag this model on sale.

EcoFlow makes some of the best portable power stations and power banks, and the River 2 Pro could be perfect for keeping around the house in case of a power outage. It comes with a solid 768Wh of battery capacity from long-lasting LiFePO4 technology. In real-life terms, EcoFlow says the River 2 Pro can recharge a phone about 57 times, a laptop 10 times, or keep an electric blanket on for 12 hours. The ports on the EcoFlow River 2 Pro include four standard AC plugs, three USB-A, and one USB-C.

SEE ALSO: EcoFlow is giving away free gear with select power station purchases — here's how to claim it

The River series from EcoFlow focuses on portability and the River 2 Pro weighs just 18.2 pounds. Plus, the built-in handle makes this model great for carrying from room to room during a power outage or around the campground come spring.

When it comes time to recharge the EcoFlow River 2 Pro itself, you have four options: standard AC wall power, solar, car charging, or USB-C charging. When using standard AC charging, expect to go from 0 to 100 percent in just 70 minutes. This model also connects to the EcoFlow app, so you'll be able to monitoring recharging status from your phone.

Before the fall storms hit, get equipped with the EcoFlow River 2 Pro portable power station. It'll give reassurance phones can stay charged up, the router will still work, and you can turn a power outage into a cozy movie night instead of sitting in the dark. It's on sale at Amazon for just $359 but keep in mind lightning deals can sell out quickly, so hop to it.

Apple's new iPhones are selling well in pre-orders, though data is less clear for one particular model.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared his thoughts on the demand for Apple's new iPhone lineup on X on Monday. According to Kuo, the pre-order demand for the iPhone 17 series during the first weekend of pre-orders was "better than that of the iPhone 16 last year."

The most expensive model — the powerful iPhone 17 Pro Max — is reportedly in the highest demand, but the other iPhone 17 variants appear to be doing well, too.

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As for Apple's new iPhone Air, it doesn't seem to be doing too well, per Kuo, though even the analyst himself acknowledges that it's too early to tell. He says that the demand for the iPhone Air "appears to be lower than that of the iPhone 16 Plus in the same period last year," judging by Apple shipping times. But the production volume of the iPhone Air was reportedly about three times that of the iPhone 16 Plus in comparable periods of the year, which means that the iPhone Air might actually be selling really well, it's just that Apple is making more of them.

"Therefore, it is more objective to observe demand after a period of sales," concludes Kuo.

SEE ALSO: The best iPhone 17 Pro cases to protect (or hide) your new phone

Apple's new iPhones were launched last Tuesday at the company's annual September launch event, and became available for pre-order on Friday. They will be available in stores on Friday, Sept. 19.

Severance star Britt Lower took home the award for best lead actress in a drama series at the 2025 Emmys on Sunday, and she didn't miss the perfect opportunity to give fans a little Easter egg.

Lower's speech in the video above is normal enough, thanking various people before finally thanking her Severance character, Helly R, "for choosing me." But eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the words "LET ME OUT" are written in all caps on the back of the notepaper she's reading from, in a brilliant nod to her "innie" character's attempts to alert the wider world to Lumon Industries' dodgy dealings in the show.

Innie Helly R. would surely be proud.

SEE ALSO: Tramell Tillman makes history with Emmys win for 'Severance'

Here's the full list of Emmys 2025 winners, including Severance star Tramell Tillman.

Comedian Nate Bargatz' opening monologue as host of the 2025 Emmys featured a genius scheme at its heart: a way to minimise the nemesis of any awards show, which is of course speeches running too long.

"To start the show, I am going to donate $100,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America," says Bargatz in the clip above, after making it clear to all Emmy winners that they have 45 seconds for each of their acceptance speeches. "If you stay at 45 seconds, it stays at $100,000. Every second you go over 45 seconds, we will deduct $1000 away from the Boys and Girls Club. I know, I know, it's tough [...] It's brutal. What are you going to do, though? I can't change it, this is a game I made up."

Bargatz goes on to explain that for every second speeches go over 45 seconds, they'll deduct $1000 from the total, but for every second under they'll add $1000 back on.

"Don't go crazy though, 'cuz like, I am paying for this," says Bargatz. "Some of you go over a little, some go under. Do the right thing."

Here's the full list of Emmys 2025 winners.

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 Pips hints, answers for September 2, 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: Ground materials

• Green: Found by the ocean

• Blue: Intimacy

• Purple: Famous musicians

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: Flooring options

• Green: Beachy area

• Blue: Romantic vibe

• Purple: Member of a classic backing band

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 #827 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Flooring options: CARPET, LAMINATE, TILE, WOOD

• Beachy area: BANK, COAST, SHORE, STRAND

• Romantic vibe: CHEMISTRY, CONNECTION, FIREWORKS, SPARK

• Member of a classic backing band: BANSHEE, HEARTBREAKER, PIP, WAILER

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 2, 2025

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 September 2, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: For a fortune

The words are things that can be found in someone's future.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are associated with psychics.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is veritcal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Tarot Cards.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 15

• Fool

• Devil

• Star

• Lovers

• Tarot Cards

• Moon

• Empress

• Magician

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 hints today: Clues, answers for September 2, 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 2, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

On the side of.

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 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...

ALONG

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.

TL;DR: The 2025 World Athletics Championships are available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer or SBS on Demand. Access these free streaming services from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The best athletes from every corner of the globe are descending upon Tokyo to compete in the World Athletics Championships. It's not the Olympics, but it's the next best thing.

Over 2,000 athletes from around 200 countries are expected to compete in these championships, with all eyes on huge stars like Faith Kipyegon, Noah Lyles, Femke Bol, and Mondo Duplantis. It's going to be a fascinating week of top-level competition, and you can follow everything without spending anything.

If you want to watch the 2025 World Athletics Championships for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the World Athletics Championships?

The World Athletics Championships (or the IAAF World Championships) are a biennial athletics competition organized by World Athletics. The event ranks alongside the Olympic Games as the top level of outdoor competition for track, field, marathon, and race walk athletes.

When is the 2025 World Athletics Championships?

The 2025 World Athletics Championships is the 20th edition of the event. This year's championships are scheduled to take place from Sept. 13-21 in Tokyo, Japan.

How to watch the 2025 World Athletics Championships for free

The 2025 World Athletics Championships are available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer or SBS on Demand.

BBC iPlayer and SBS on Demand are geo-restricted to the UK and Australia respectively, but anyone can access these free streaming platforms with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or Australia, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer or SBS on Demand from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream the 2025 World Athletics Championships for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or Australia

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or SBS on Demand

5. Live stream the 2025 World Athletics Championships for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can watch the 2025 World Athletics Championships without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you plenty of time to watch every event for free.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming services from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for live streaming is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for live sport?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for live streaming sport for free, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK and Australia

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 World Athletics Championships for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE OVER $20: As of Sept. 15, the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House is on sale for $38.49 at Amazon. This is 36% off its list price of $59.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House $38.49 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $21.50 Get Deal

Now is a great time to be a Lego fan, what with all the exciting new sets dropping soon and some awesome deals popping up on a regular basis. If you've been keeping your eyes peeled for the latter, we've found an excellent discount on the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House that's worth a look.

Amazon has the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House marked down to $38.49 right now. This saves you over $20 off its list price of $59.99. If you're a fan of the film, this is a great set to pick up, whether you're an adult or a kid.

SEE ALSO: Our 15 favorite Lego sets, sourced from actual Lego fans

While it's recommended for ages nine and up, the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House looks like quite a sweet display for Disney fans of any age to enjoy. It comes with 598 pieces that come together to create a partial build of Carl's house with balloons, different rooms to explore, and plenty of accessories. It also comes with Carl and Russell minifigures alongside a Dug the dog figure to complete the set.

Who knows how much longer this deal will last for, so if the Lego Disney and Pixar ‘Up’ House has been on your radar to buy, now is a great time to do it.

It's not the only Lego deal worth a look right now, either. If you look forward to buying Lego's advent calendars each year, the latest releases are also discounted at Amazon right now.