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Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon NordVPN Plus + $20 Amazon Gift Card Get Deal

Amazon is the place to find deals on AirPods, iPads, MacBooks, fitness trackers, Kindles, and just about everything else. There is always a lot on offer, so every little helps.

NordVPN is here to help you out by paying for your next Amazon order. For a limited time, you can get up to 76% off NordVPN and score a $20 Amazon gift card for free. The catch here is that you won't get your Amazon gift card until after the 30-day money-back guarantee period comes to an end, so you can't spend your gift card during Prime Day. That's a shame, but no reason to not secure this impressive deal on a leading VPN.

SEE ALSO: I've tested a bunch of popular VPNs. This is the only one I recommend for streaming.

Mashable's VPN expert recommends Proton VPN and TunnelBear above everything else, but Haley Henschel does argue that NordVPN has "the same core security features as Proton VPN, including an anti-censorship protocol, multi-hop, Onion Over VPN, and split tunneling on all platforms." NordVPN also supports up to 10 simultaneous connections, so you can equip all your devices with this streaming-friendly service.

Get the best deal on NordVPN and bag yourself a free Amazon gift card. You know it makes sense.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 3 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: A relation

• Green: Found on a boarding pass

• Blue: Sports info

• Purple: Associated with a rancher

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: Correspondence

• Green: Airport board info

• Blue: Pro athlete data

• Purple: Farmers' things

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 #753 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Correspondence: CONTACT, DEALINGS, EXCHANGE, INTERACTION

• Airport board info: ARRIVAL, DESTINATION, FLIGHT, GATE

• Pro athlete data: COLLEGE, NUMBER, POSITION, TEAM

• Farmers' things: ALMANAC, INSURANCE, MARKET, TAN

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 3

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 3 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 3 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Beyond vanilla

The words are dessert-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are flavors for a popular sweet treat.

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 Ice Cream.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 3

• Cherry

• Butterscotch

• Ice Cream

• Coffee

• Pistachio

• Brownie

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 2 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 3, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A blossom.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter P appears three times.

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

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

POPPY.

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 3

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.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang famously said that “you are not going to lose your job to an AI, but you are going to lose your job to someone who uses AI.” Regardless of whether's he right, AI provides plenty of powerful tools to help increase productivity while at work. It turns out that it can also help you find work, and in an increasingly competitive job market, any edge you can get is a good one. 

There are a lot of pieces to finding a job, including creating a resume, finding jobs to apply for, writing cover letters and conducting interviews. There are some things still worth doing on your own. For example, some companies won’t hire you if they think your cover letter was written by AI. However, you can still use things like chatbots to assist in writing early drafts of your cover letter if you’re suffering from a bit of writer’s block. 

Otherwise, you can use AI at just about every other step in the process. Here are some great tools to help get you started. 

AI resume builders

First thing’s first, you have to make a resume. As a freelancer, I have one on hand at all times, and they’re truly irritating to make. Fortunately, AI can help with this. I know that because my resume was crafted by AI, and as you can see from the existence of this story, I’m getting work. Of all the AI tools, letting AI build your resume is probably the one I’d recommend most because it’s easy, unintrusive, and no companies I’m aware of care if your resume was made by AI. 

SEE ALSO: 7 AI tools employers want you to know

AI resume builders work in two ways. First, they let you dump everything into one spot, and the AI does the work constructing the thing, which saves you time. Secondly, you may want to adapt your resume to the job you’re applying for, so you may need to make multiple resumes, which also saves you time. 

There are plenty of tools in this space. However, the two I like most are Canva’s AI resume builder and KickResume. Both of them have free options, both of them can use your LinkedIn profile to generate a resume, and the various templates actually look pretty good. Of the two, I prefer KickResume since it also has extra tools like cover letter writing assistance, but Canva has nicer templates, in my opinion. You can go with either one or both. 

AI job interview prep

Landing a job isn’t just about applying to jobs with a nice resume and cover letter. You have to ace a job interview as well. There are AI tools that exist to help with this, including sites like Interviewsby.ai and Huru. Both of these sites are fairly similar in their approach. You input what kind of job you’re going for, and the sites generate questions, which you answer vocally over a recording. Once done, you submit for AI analysis, which gives you feedback on how to improve the answers next time. 

SEE ALSO: 7 popular AI agents widely used by companies right now

ChatGPT has this function as well. This is a nice tool if you already use ChatGPT or if you want to go with a more well-known company. It works mostly the same way. You conduct an interview and receive feedback on how it could’ve been made better in the future. Even if you don’t pay attention to the feedback as much, the AI-generated questions were all good enough in our experience to emulate real interview questions. 

Hiring.cafe

Hiring.cafe is one of several AI-powered job search tools. Of the tools on this list, this one is the most like a traditional job search website, like Indeed, Monster, and similar websites. It’s essentially a massive job board where you can search for jobs based on various criteria. There are a ton of filters to work through, including experience, commitment, salary, certifications, and you can even sort by shift and schedule times. 

The AI here is baked into the platform. Per Hiring.cafe, they use AI algorithms to scrub “millions of (ghost) jobs directly from the company website daily.” They also use ChatGPT’s API to extract information from postings to power its many, many filters. You can apply to jobs, save them for future reference, and mark jobs as “applied” to remove them from future search results and recommendations as well. 

JobCopilot

JobCopilot is an automated job application platform. The premise is pretty easy. You tell JobCopilot what kinds of jobs you’re looking for by uploading your resume and answering some questions. The tool then automatically searches for jobs. You select the ones you want and the site applies automatically on your behalf. JobCopilot sources its information by scrubbing over 300,000 company career pages, which is way more than a human can do on their own. 

The logic here is pretty simple. By mass applying for jobs, you increase your odds of getting a job interview. Per JobCopilot, the average person has to apply to 50-100 jobs to get one interview, a problem for which JobCopilot is a solution. We don’t have any metrics to show how successful the platform is at actually finding jobs, but having something casting a wide net on your behalf certainly can’t hurt. 

Sonara

Sonara is a direct competitor to JobCopilot, and the two websites do mostly the same thing. You upload your resume, answer a few questions, and the site gets an idea of what kind of work you’re looking for. From there, it’ll submit your resume and apply for jobs on your behalf. Like JobCopilot, you choose the jobs you’re interested in, and the site automatically sends your resume or fills out the application for you. 

Sonara is a little more secretive about where it gets its information from, but it likely scrubs a similar set of websites as JobCopilot. We found Sonara to be a little easier to use at first, but ultimately, both websites perform the same function as well as one another. You can choose either one or use both if you prefer. 

Wobo.ai

Wobo.ai is a site we saw recommended frequently on places like Reddit. It starts the same way as Sonara and JobCopilot where you upload a resume and answer a bunch of questions about what you’re looking for to create what Wobo calls a “persona.” It then matches you with jobs based on your answers. Each job is given a “similarity score” based on your persona, giving you an idea of how well you match up with jobs before reading the description. 

From there, Wobo does what the other two websites do. It can apply for your jobs automatically, using its persona profile of you to answer questions and all of that. Wobo not only surfs career pages, but also larger websites like BambooHR, Greenhouse, Lever, and more. We think this is the most thorough of the three when it comes to the job process, but it does take a little more work on the onset. 

Getting a job with AI help

This is a relatively new niche for AI, so there isn’t a lot of data about how successful these tools can be. However, there is anecdotal evidence that AI, including chatbots and the aforementioned tools above, do work for some people if they’re used correctly. The key isn’t to let the AI do all the work, but to let it assist you in doing the work. After all, you know what you’re looking for and companies still want to hire humans and not the AI bots you control. So, the best practice appears to be to use the tools to your advantage, but don’t go overboard.

SAVE OVER $800: As of July 3, Prime members can score the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 power station for just $898.99. This early Prime Day deal saves you over $800 on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Bluetti Bluetti Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station $898.99 at Amazon
$1,699 Save $800.01 Get Deal

Portable power stations always seem to make a big impression during major shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day, and this edition of Prime Day is no different. We're already seeing record-low prices across a number of top brands, including Bluetti.

The Bluetti Solar 200 V2 portable power station just hit its lowest-ever price on Amazon, now $898.99 for Prime members. That's a massive discount of over $800 on list price, and comes recommended by Mashable's expert on outdoor equipment.

SEE ALSO: The best Prime Day iPad deal is already live — get the new 11-inch iPad for under $300

The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is small but mighty, sporting a 2073.6Wh auto-grade LFP battery with a whopping 2,600W output (boosting to 3,900W in Power Lifting mode). You can recharge a 60Wh laptop 21.8 times, maintain the continued output of a 40W fan for 31.7 hours, or power a 1,000W kettle for 1.6 hours. All in all, you can juice up to nine devices simultaneously thanks to its four AC outlets and a host of USB and DC ports.

This impressive unit’s battery is built to last up to 17 years, making it a smart long-term investment for off-grid living or regular trips into the wild.

If you’re not a Prime member, we recommend signing up for a free 30-day trial. You can sign up, make the most of all the deals dropping over Prime Day, and then dip without actually paying anything. It's sneaky, but it makes a lot of sense.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

Keeley Hawes plays an assassin out of retirement and on the run in Europe in Prime Video's new thriller series, with a trailer out today.

Created by The Tourist's Harry and Jack Williams, The Assassin sees the Miss Austen star as Julie, a woman whose hit days come back to haunt her all the way to a stunning Greek island — along with her estranged son Edward (Freddie Highmore). But they won't stop there, with mother and son fleeing a conspiracy across beautiful European cities and addressing their relationship along the way — and who, exactly, Edward's father is.

Gina Gershon, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Jack Davenport, Alan Dale, Gerald Kyd, Devon Terrell, Richard Dormer, and David Dencik also star. 

The Assassin is streaming on Prime Video on July 25 in the UK and Ireland, U.S. dates TBC.

The Anker Prime TB5 Docking Station is an impressive Thunderbolt 5 dock, with dual display support, a whopping 14 ports, and impressive charging capabilities. It’s a fantastic desktop hub for any high-end laptop, but the bleeding-edge tech comes at a high price.

SAVE $50: As of July 3, the 11-inch Apple iPad is on sale for $299 at Amazon. This is $50 off its list price of $349.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (11-inch) $299 at Amazon
$349 Save $50 Get Deal

Some really impressive early Prime Day deals have been dropping over the last couple of weeks, but we think the latest deal on the 11-inch Apple iPad is going to be tough to beat. We would love to be wrong, but we really can't see anything coming along and making a bigger impression.

All colors of the 11-inch Apple iPad are on sale for $299, saving you $50 on list price. Our Apple expert hand-picked this deal as one of the best to drop ahead of Prime Day. And Mashable's Samantha Mangino argues that it's "a great entry-level tablet" for anyone working on a budget.

SEE ALSO: How to sign up for Amazon Prime ahead of Prime Day

Thanks to the A16 chip, the new Apple iPad offers a nice performance boost, and support for WiFi 6 helps keep your connection smooth and speedy. This model also comes with 128GB of storage so you don't need to worry about loading up on apps, photos, and whatever else. And the 11-inch Liquid Retina display makes whatever you're seeing on the screen really shine.

Pick up the 11-inch Apple iPad for under $300 ahead of Prime Day. Or if you're willing to spend a little extra, the new Apple iPad mini has hit its lowest-ever price ahead of Prime Day.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

Years ago, Samsung put a secret WiFi menu in the settings of its phones, and accessing it can put a wide variety of features right at your fingertips. We'll show you how.

Accessing the feature is pretty simple and should be available on all modern Samsung devices, including Samsung tablets. Here’s the process:

• Open your settings menu and navigate to Connections.

• Tap on the WiFi setting. 

• In the top right corner, hit the 3-dot menu button and select Intelligent WiFi.

• Repeatedly tap on the Intelligently WiFi section toward the bottom until the Connectivity labs option appears. 

That’s all there is to it. The menu will stay there for good until you factory reset the phone, similar to enabling developer options. 

What does Samsung’s secret WiFi menu do?

There are quite a few functions to play around with. When you first open the menu, you’ll be greeted by your connection and usage data, showing you how often you’re connected to your home WiFi and how much data you use. There is also a section showing off your saved networks, where you can see everything from your home WiFi to the airport WiFi you connected to on that trip you took. 

Below that is where things get interesting. There is a section of extra settings that you can tick and untick, along with some other functions to test your home connection. We’ll briefly go through what each one does. 

• Home WiFi Inspection - This is a network test where you walk around your house to find the weak spots in your WiFi signal. It doesn’t give you a ton of data, but it can help you figure out where to put a WiFi extender if you need one. 

• Auto reconnect to carrier WiFi - This setting will allow your phone to connect to public carrier WiFi networks when they’re available. This is common with carriers like Spectrum, where you may connect with access points instead of relying on a cell tower if you’re close enough. 

• LS4 - This option allows your device to connect to Low Latency, Low Loss, and Scalable Throughput-compatible networks, which can optimize some connections. 

• WiFi 7 mode - Enables or disables the ability to connect to WiFi 7 networks. 

• Switching to mobile data faster - Samsung devices auto switch from WiFi to mobile data if it recognizes an excessively weak or unstable connection. This option increases the threshold so that your phone switches sooner. 

• Intelligent WiFi Handover - Enables or disables the Intelligent WiFi setting. You can read more about what Intelligent WiFi is from Samsung’s internal documentation.

• Switching to mobile data with AI - The phone will use AI to determine when to switch to mobile data when it detects an unstable WiFi connection. 

• Connect to 2.4GHz for IOT setup - Documentation for this is a bit sketchy, but it seems this is for WiFi connections that combine the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies, as many modern routers do. This connection forces you onto the 2.4 GHz band so you can set up smart devices on your home network without hiccups. 

• Show network quality info - This will show network quality information in the list of available WiFi networks, helping you choose the strongest possible one. 

There are three additional offerings, including Enhanced WiFi compatibility, Customize WiFi compatibility, and WiFi developer options. Each one has its own branch of settings. These settings are likely best to be left alone since they can mess up how your WiFi works. However, under the WiFi developer options, there are a couple more network diagnosis tests that you can run along with more usage and connectivity data should you want to see it. 

Getting to know your WiFi

Most of the time, you’ll likely never need any of the above settings. However, if you run into a network issue, it may be worth looking through the options and running the diagnostics to help figure out a problem. That, combined with the diagnostic test in the Samsung Members app and the additional data available in Samsung’s Good Guardians app, you have plenty of angles from which to explore a problem should one arise.

It might never have occurred to you to go bladeless when looking for a new fan, but there are plenty of reasons to do so. Not only are they more aesthetically pleasing than traditional fans, but they’re also much safer for kids and pets, easier to clean, and more energy efficient.

Most of the country (most of the world, in fact) has been coping with relentless summer heat this year, with record-breaking temperatures and one heat wave after another. A bladeless fan promises to give you some relief without running up an electric bill like air conditioning does.

And to help Mashable readers find the best bladeless fans and escape the summer heat, we tried the top bladeless fans from popular brands so you can stay cool.

Plus, with Amazon Prime Day running July 8 through 11, it's a great time to buy a bladeless fan. Some of our favorites, like the Dyson TP07 is $200 off already.

SEE ALSO: Personal fans are the product of summer What to consider before buying a bladeless fan

Most bladeless fans are more energy efficient and aesthetically pleasing than their traditional counterparts, but you’ll still want to take the time to read the specs and decide what features you’re willing to splurge on. Do you want a bladeless fan that will also purify your air and act as a cooling system? If so, then it might be worth investing in the famous Dyson bladeless fan, the Pure Cool. If you’re looking for something to simply circulate the air in your living room, the Lasko WindCurve will do.

What features should I consider in a bladeless fan?

When choosing the best fans to beat the summer heat, you should consider both the size of the space you're trying to cool (in square feet) and whether your new fan will live on the floor or a table. You’ll also want to consider oscillation, which is how far the fan swings to the left and right. Greater oscillation will provide you with more coverage. Fan speeds, timers, and energy efficiency are other important factors to consider. If you have allergies you’ll want to opt for Dyson bladeless fans that also include a HEPA filter, as these products can do double duty as air purifiers. Lastly, most bladeless fans include a remote control and automatic shutoff for safety.

The Nintendo Switch has dominated the conversation around handheld gaming consoles for several years now thanks to its innovative hybrid design, relatively accessible price point, and monumental, still-growing lineup of games. It's now one of the bestselling consoles of all time, and a new iteration just launched in June 2025 — but it's not the only handheld worth buying these days.

After dozens of hours of hands-on testing, our favorite handheld consoles include the glitzy Nintendo Switch OLED, the AI-enhanced MSI Claw 8 AI+, the slick Valve Steam Deck, and the delightfully nostalgic Analogue Pocket, among a few other options. These are unmistakably different systems in terms of their overall designs, features, and/or use cases, but they all excel at making great games playable on a portable level and offer solid specs for the money.

Here's a more intensive breakdown of each console to help you figure out which one's best for you — whether you're hunting for a portable PC setup, sitting on a pile of old Game Boy cartridges, or just desperate to play the latest and greatest games on the best system available.

And don't worry, we've included the Nintendo Switch 2 as well.

SEE ALSO: Nintendo raises Switch 2 sales forecast to 20 million units

SAVE $400: As of July 3, the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 is on sale for $399.99 at Amazon. That's a 50% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: iRobot iRobot Roomba Plus 405 $399.99 at Amazon
$799.99 Save $400 Get Deal

If a robot vacuum has been on your wishlist for a while, chances are you've come across the name Roomba. And with Prime Day around the corner, we're already seeing discounts on almost every single new Roomba.

As of July 3, the iRobot Roomba Plus 405 is on sale for $399.99. This deal saves you $400 on list price, and is the lowest-ever price according to camelcamelcamel. Our robot vacuum expert has hand-picked this deal as one of the best ahead of Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: I've tested 25+ robot vacuums. These are the only ones I'd tell you to buy in 2025.

And for under $400, you're getting a lot. It has seriously powerful suction, as well as intense cleaning with its dual mop pads and SmartScrub tech. It even has a rubber brush that works across surfaces alongside an edge-sweeping brush to get right into corners. The dual mop pads also spin and create a downward pressure scrub, so even the hardest of messes are no problem.

And it can map out your home quickly and efficiently with ClearView LiDAR, avoiding stairs and navigating around any obstacles.

You can control everything in the Roomba app; just open it up to schedule routines, check filter health, or tell it to focus on certain rooms. You can choose between vacuuming, mopping, combo cleaning, or vacuuming before mopping, and the mop pads lift automatically when your carpet is detected. All from the push of a (smartphone) button.

You can find this incredible deal at Amazon now.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

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.

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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 Mini crossword answers, hints for July 3, 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: Pigskin displays

• Green: Torch destinations

• Blue: Colorful clubs

• Purple: Homophones

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: NFL broadcasters

• Green: U.S. Olympic host cities

• Blue: Teams with the color blue in their nicknames

• Purple: Homphones of baseball hall of famers

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 #283 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• NFL broadcasters - CBS, ESPN, FOX, PRIME

• U.S. Olympic host cities - ATLANTA, LAKE PLACID, LOS ANGELES, ST. LOIS

• Teams with the color blue in their nicknames - CHELSEA, COLUMBUS, CREIGHTON, TORONTO

• Homophones of baseball hall of famers - BOS, MAIZE, MANTEL, RAINS

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.

SAVE $70: As of July 3, Apple AirPods Max are on sale for $479.99 at Amazon. That's a 13% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Max $479.99 at Amazon
$549 Save $69.01 Get Deal

You don't need to wait until Prime Day kicks off to get a great deal on AirPods; check out this Apple AirPods Max deal that's live right now at Amazon.

As of July 3, Apple AirPods Max are discounted by 13% to $479.99. But why Apple AirPods Max over other headphones? Well, designed with Apple-specific drivers and powered by the all-encompassing H1 chip, you can expect a completely unmatched listening experience.

SEE ALSO: The new Apple iPad mini has hit its lowest-ever price ahead of Prime Day

Impressive noise-blocking technology helps you choose your level of immersion. The Active Noise Cancellation mode will block outside noise so you can focus on your music, and Transparency mode lets you stay aware of your surroundings, keeping you safe and alert while out and about. The Personalized Spatial Audio function adapts to your ear shape to help give you a much more immersive and personalized sound, and it includes dynamic head tracking, which uses a built-in sensor to adjust audio based on your head movements, creating a 3D sound experience.

And who could forget the comfort? The knit-mesh canopy and memory foam ear cushions provide a snug fit that seals in sound and keeps your ears happy and comfortable for hours of listening.

This model also boasts up to 20 hours of battery life and comes with a slim Smart Case for storage.

Grab this great deal at Amazon ahead of Prime Day.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

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 3, 2025:

AcrossGlaswegian or Edinburgher

• The answer is Scot.

2025 Pixar film about a boy who gets abducted by aliens

• The answer is Elio.

Strong string

• The answer is Twine.

Religious devotee with a shaved head, maybe

• The answer is Monk.

Calligrapher's assortment

• The answer is Inks.

DownAttach, as a button

• The answer is Sew On.

Sound of two glasses being "cheers-ed"

• The answer is Clink.

Noises from a pig

• The answer is Oinks.

"Little piggy"

• The answer is Toe.

"Did I overshare?"

• The answer is TMI.

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 today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $60: As of July 3, Prime members can get the Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller bundle for $59.98 at Amazon — 50% off its usual $119.98 price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller $59.98 at Amazon
$119.98 Save $60.00 Get Deal

For those hoping to upgrade their streaming setup with the option to dip their toes into gaming, Amazon’s rolling out the red carpet for Prime members with a killer early Prime Day deal: the Fire TV Stick 4K and Luna Controller bundle is down to just $59.98. That’s 50% off its regular price of $119.98.

This two-in-one bundle gives you everything you need to get started with Amazon Luna, the company’s game streaming service, which also comes with Amazon Prime. Letting you dive into a rotating library of titles — like Fortnite, Fallout New Vegas, Death Stranding Director’s Cut, or Resident Evil 2 — there's no need for a console if it isn’t in your budget or you aren’t prioritising the latest and greatest gaming tech. 

Just plug in the Fire TV Stick 4K, launch the Luna app, and start gaming right from the cloud.

SEE ALSO: These Prime Day deals landed early — save on Apple, Ninja, and Samsung gadgets

The included Luna Controller offers low-latency gameplay thanks to Cloud Direct technology, which connects the controller directly to Amazon’s servers via WiFi. If you prefer to go old-school, it also works via Bluetooth, making it a solid option for other devices like PCs, tablets, and smartphones.

Of course, you’re not just getting a gamepad — the Fire TV Stick 4K brings a world of entertainment to your screen, with support for 4K streaming, Dolby Vision, and hands-free Alexa voice control. It’s one of the easiest ways to turn any standard into a smart TV with top-tier streaming chops.

At half off, this is one of the best Prime-member exclusives we’ve seen ahead of the sale. Whether you're in it for the binge-watching or the button-mashing, this bundle delivers serious bang for your buck.

If you’re hoping to upgrade your TV while you’re at it, Amazon has dropped a massive range of solid early Prime Day TV deals. To ditch the chores to you can fully enjoying your gaming, check out the selection of budget-friendly robot vacuum deals ahead of Prime Day.

The best early Prime Day deals, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $24.99 (List Price $49.99)

• Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 1070Wh Portable Power Station — $448.98 (List Price $799.00)

• Ring Indoor Cam 2nd Gen 1080p Camera With Cover (White, 2-Pack) — $59.98 (List Price $99.99)

• Blink Outdoor 4 XR 2 Camera Kit With Mini 2 Camera — $129.98 (List Price $219.98)

• Sony WH-1000XM4 Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $269.00 (List Price $348.00)

• Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum With XL Self-Empty Base — $297.99 (List Price $599.00)

• Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black) — $69.99 (List Price $139.99)

• Amazon Fire Max 11 64GB Wi-Fi Tablet (2023 Model) — $139.99 (List Price $229.99)

• Fire TV Stick 4K Max Streaming Player With Remote (2023 Model) — $34.99 (List Price $59.99)

• Ring Battery Doorbell Pro With Ring Battery Outdoor Cam Plus — $329.98

• 55" Amazon Fire TV Omni Mini-LED Series 4K QLED Smart TV (2024 Model) — $699.99 (List Price $819.99)

Remember the "Storm Area 51" event in 2019 that started off as an internet meme, then took on a life of its own?

Well, Netflix has a documentary about it coming out. The footage above teases interviews with Matty Roberts, who created the meme that sparked the IRL event, as well as other attendees and people involved in a joke that quickly spiralled into something more.

Trainwreck: Storm Area 51 is streaming on Netflix from July 29.

LLMs — the data models powering your favorite AI chatbots — don't just have social and racial biases, a new report finds, but inherent biases against democratic institutions.

A recent study, published by researchers at the MIT Sloan School of Management, analyzed how six popular LLMs (including ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek) portray the state of press freedom — and, indirectly, trust in the media — in responses to user prompts. The results showed that LLMs consistently suggested that countries have less press freedom than official reports, like the non-governmental ranking like the World Press Freedom Index (WPFI), published by Reporters Without Borders. ChatGPT, for example, ranked 97 percent of the 180 countries used in the test negatively.

SEE ALSO: X is about to let AI fact-check your posts

Chatbots have become an essential piece of infrastructure in the information environment — reaching levels of influence on par with that of social media — and they may also carry the weight of influencing how their users understand freedom worldwide. The MIT study found the LLMs distorting and under-counting the press freedom in nations that actually place relatively few restrictions on journalists.

"LLMs have millions of users around the world," Isabella Loaiza, postdoctoral researcher at MIT Sloan and one of the report's authors, told Mashable. "So their misrepresentations of the press, its integrity, and independence can distort the public's perception of civic rights and the freedoms enjoyed by reporters within and across countries."

LLMs may skew perceptions of their home country

In addition to generally skewed rankings of press freedom globally, the study found that LLMs have a natural "in-group bias" that swayed which countries received a more critical evaluation, with all six chat agents ranking countries with historically high ratings of press freedom, or "freer" countries, disproportionately lower than other countries. At the same time, the LLMs displayed natural in-group biases that resulted in more positive assessment of their home, or developer, countries.

Overall, the tests showed systematic, not random, biases in how LLMs assess press freedom. The reasons for this lie, as with all model bias, in their training data. "We refer to what some authors have called the democratic dilemma, whereby in societies with greater press freedom, journalists, and citizens can freely critique government policies and document press freedom violations, generating substantial negative coverage that becomes overrepresented in the training data," the report explains. As more "negative" news is disseminated in "freer" countries, countries with authoritarian or restricted media systems suppress critical reporting, misaligning data and the chatbot's response.

"While we find that the LLMs misrepresent press freedom similarly in two ways — both by underrating press freedom and by being more critical of freer nations — our third finding show that different models are misaligned in different directions," Loaiza explained. "This result is interesting because having these differences in the way that LLMs are misaligned makes it more difficult to spot these biases, and we also haven't seen other research that shows such diverging patterns. Additionally, this finding (the home bias) suggests that a particularly popular or widely used model could influence global narratives about its home country or countries similar to it, by being less critical about the state of its press freedom."

Studies have shown that users who interact with daily news mainly through social media have less confidence in the press, the report explains, but LLMs pose an additional set of problems. They are, on one hand, more similar to traditional print and broadcast news sources with centralized information streams. But AI chatbots are also influenced by algorithmic content mediation, just like social media feeds, creating similar echo chambers in addition to problems unique to chatbots, such as sycophantic behavior.

According to researchers, these biases pose the risk of downplaying press restrictions in more authoritarian countries in responses, while providing wealthier nations and developers with a means to "project soft power" in the global "AI race."

Chatbots could be problematic tools for human rights

Even chatbot enthusiasts have noted the unreliability of the most popular models and the ease with which they can fall into nationalist responses. Early DeepSeek users, for example, found that the chat agent censored prompts about Chinese politics and history, a limitation built into the model at the behest of Chinese state officials, which deter generative AI that violates the country’s "core socialist values" or “incites to subvert state power and overthrow the socialist system.”

The report's authors connect these findings to the increasing use of AI in official evaluations, including its integration within high-level international bodies like the United Nations, calling into question their reliability as tools for global human and civic rights assessments.

"As these systems become key cultural and geopolitical tools, they must ensure accurate representations of democratic institutions, like the press and human and civic rights," the report authors write. "Their alignment with democratic principles becomes not just a technical challenge but a fundamental requirement for preserving democratic societies in the digital age."

"Access to reliable information on the state and health of the institutions that uphold democracy is critical for civic participation," said report co-author Roberto Rigobon.

Whenever you think of gay dating apps, Grindr, Scruff, and Sniffies likely come to mind. These platforms thrive off of thirsty dudes looking to get laid. But a new report (aptly titled "The Naked Truth") from Archer, a relatively new dating app (owned by the Match Group, which also owns Tinder, Hinge, and other apps), suggests a shift in how gay men are using apps, and ultimately, how they're viewing dating itself. It turns out gay men on Archer are actually nearly six times more likely to be looking for a husband than a hookup!

SEE ALSO: From Grindr to Scruff: The best dating apps for gay, bi, and queer men

Launched in June 2023, Archer is what the company describes as a "social-first" alternative to some of those more hookup-focused, location-based apps out there, like Grindr and Sniffies. The app's main push is really about offering gay, bisexual, and queer men a more intentional dating experience, with a solid focus on building community and helping everyone stay safe with its in-app Health Hub.

Since its App Store debut, Archer has managed to get quite a bit of attention as a new player in the gay dating app scene. (Which it totally should — I've attended some great events that Archer has sponsored in NYC, and the team seems genuinely interested in helping people find their forever person!) With over 685,000 downloads by May 2024 (a feat considering the financial news in the dating app world has been generally bleak as of late), Archer is definitely backing up its claims with solid data.

What gay men really want, according to Archer’s survey of 550 of its users

Archer's first annual trends report, "The Naked Truth," shows that users aren't just looking for an afternoon delight. Here's what they found:

• Five and a half times more users are interested in finding a husband than a hookup.

• Users are three times more likely to say they're looking for a "love story" than "random sex."

• Fifty-seven percent of gay singles say that they're open to trying new things sexually, whereas 20 percent say that they've got their kinks and are happy sticking to them.

• Green flags like good communication and emotional intelligence are way more important than a steamy romp.

• Salt Lake City, Tampa, and Denver topped the list for the highest percentage of tops. Cincinnati, Columbus, and Minneapolis were the most bottom-heavy.

"Dating within the gay community is all about choice, fluidity, and the freedom to define what connection means in the moment," Michael Kaye, head of brand at Archer, said in a press release. "'The Naked Truth' shows us that our users value authenticity and intention. They're not just seeking endless matches — they're choosing their own journey on their own terms."

How Archer is meeting users where they are

Since its launch, Archer has been committed to creating a safer space for gay men to connect. Its newest feature, "Looking For Modes," is just one example of how it's doing that.

With "Looking For Modes," users can make their intentions known right away. As soon as daters open the app, they'll be able to choose between "Hookup," "Date," and "Friends Mode." They'll also be able to add temporary status updates, like "Looking for now," "Open to chat," or "Down to meet," in real-time.

With "Looking For Modes," users can make their intentions known right away. Credit: Archer

Archer has also taken a page out of Hinge's playbook with what it's calling "Ice Breakers." These are prompts that you can add to your profile for others to respond to. This way, you don't have to send an awkward "hey" just to be left on read. (Another cool thing about Archer's "Ice Breakers" is that any user who has them on their profile will get a visibility boost on the app.)

Some of the most popular "Ice Breaker" prompts include:

• Describe your favorite sex position using only emojis.

• If you had to lip-sync for your life, which song would you choose?

• Be famous for being messy on reality TV or famous for a one-hit wonder pop song?

• If we had to coordinate Halloween costumes, what duo are we going as?

• What's the most unhinged reason you've ever stopped talking to someone?

And, while Archer was free at launch, it unveiled a premium subscription service, Archer Gold, in May. It costs $29.99 for one month or $59.99 for three months. With Archer Gold, users can go incognito, change their location, access advanced filters, see who's viewed their profile, and receive read receipts.