IT General

The Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Booster Box is below market value at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 13:53

BELOW MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 14, the Pokémon TCG Phantasmal Flames Booster Box is $281.01 at Amazon, which is below the market value of $300 at TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Phantasmal Flames Booster Box $281.01 at Amazon
$300 Save $18.99   Get Deal

The first expansion for Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, has finally dropped. Thank goodness we're getting good deals off the shelf right now, as it's been a rough year for finding decent prices on sealed Pokémon TCG product. Is Amazon starting to behave itself with its Pokémon TCG pricing?

The Phantasmal Flames Booster Box is currently below market value on Amazon at $281.01, compared to TCGplayer's current market value of $300. Whilst it's still over MSRP, getting products below market value right now is a deal in itself.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

Phantasmal Flames focuses in on Mega Charizard X with a standard ex, Secret Art Rare, and Gold Hyper Rare. Other Mega Pokémon have made the SIR cut such as Mega Lopunny ex and normal Pokémon such as Rotom ex. The set is also oddly missing Mega Gengar ex SIR, which is likely to appear in the next set releasing next year.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

With Phantasmal Flames being out in the wild, single cards are already on sale. If you've already ripped open your preorders and are still looking for the cards below, it's probably going to save you money long term just buying the cards you need. Here's the current market values and where you can buy them right now:

  1. Mega Charizard X ex - 125/094
    Near Mint Holofoil: $795
    Market price: $940.50
    Most recent sale: $750

  2. Mega Charizard X ex - 130/094
    Near Mint Holofoil: $839.99
    Market price: $894.94
    Most recent sale: $889.90

  3. Mega Charizard X ex - 109/094
    Near Mint Holofoil: $62.98
    Market price: $62.75
    Most recent sale: $55

  4. Mega Lopunny ex - 128/094
    Near Mint Holofoil: $55
    Market price: $220.31
    Most recent sale: $205

  5. Mega Sharpedo ex - 127/094
    Near Mint Holofoil: $50
    Market price: $57.82
    Most recent sale: $48.01

Categories: IT General, Technology

NASA sends twin spacecraft to Mars with a push from Blue Origin

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 13:22

NASA has launched its latest mission to study Mars, with a little push from Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin.

Hitching a ride on a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket, NASA's pair of Escapade (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecrafts were launched at at 3:55 p.m. ET Thursday from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

Built by Rocket Lab, the spacecrafts are part of NASA’s first mission led by the University of California, Berkeley. In a frankly adorable post on X, Rocket Lab posted an image of the twins (named Blue and Gold for the school colours of UC Berkeley), confirming ground communications with both spacecrafts — NASA said contact was established by 10:35 p.m. ET.

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

Blue Origin CEO Bezos also posted clips on X showing the spacecrafts in orbit, separating from the New Glenn rocket, with Earth far below.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. SEE ALSO: NASA quietly sends two spacecraft to Mars — and they're going a new way

According to NASA, the spacecraft will be deployed to study how Mars' environment is impacted by the sun and solar winds, and provide crucial data for preparing human exploration of the red planet.

"Congratulations to Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, UC Berkeley, and all our partners on the successful launch of ESCAPADE. This heliophysics mission will help reveal how Mars became a desert planet, and how solar eruptions affect the Martian surface," said acting NASA Administrator Sean Duffy in a statement.

Mashable science reporter Elisha Sauers describes more details of the Escapade mission, what it could achieve, and how much it cost, writing:

Escapade could set a precedent for how NASA and the commercial space industry approach interplanetary missions in the future. From soup to nuts, Escapade had a budget of $80 million, under NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program. Rocket Lab built the twin probes in just 3.5 years for $57 million, a relatively cheap price compared to the billions the agency would normally spend. Those costly missions are a product of legacy aerospace contracts based on the cost-plus-fixed-fee model, which allowed the builders to run over budget without picking up the tab.

If you want to watch the New Glenn rocket take NASA's Escapades into the sky, you can watch Blue Origin's stream below (the launch sits around the one hour, 40-minute mark):

For a much more detailed analysis of the Escapade mission, Mashable's got you covered. And if you're looking for a way to mark the occasion, there's really only one song:

Categories: IT General, Technology

In Your Dreams director Alex Woo teaches us how to draw Baloney Tony

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 13:00

Netflix's In Your Dreams introduces audiences to a brand-new lovable animal sidekick: Baloney Tony (voiced by Craig Robinson).

A stuffed giraffe, Baloney Tony is the beloved toy of young chaos agent Elliot (voiced by Elias Janssen). Like most stuffed animals after a few years of cuddles and playtime, he's certainly seen better days. He's missing an eye, his neck is floppy, and Elliot loves nothing more than to stuff his pouch full of baloney.

SEE ALSO: 'In Your Dreams' review: Kids fight to save their parents' marriage in thoughtful animated adventure

Elliot's sister Stevie (voiced by Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) despises Baloney Tony and the rancid meat inside him, so long before In Your Dreams even begins, she hides him under the family fridge. However, when Stevie and Elliot embark on a quest in their dreams, they're reunited with Baloney Tony. In the dream world, he can walk, he can talk, and he can fart lasers. What more could you want from a sidekick?

In a Say More interview with Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards, In Your Dreams director Alex Woo revealed that he drew inspiration for Baloney Tony from his childhood.

"My aunt bought [my brother and I] these two teddy bears that were Santa-related, so they're called Santa Bears. My brother, he had a bloody nose one day, and he got some bloodstains on his Santa Bear near the tail, and so we ended up calling it 'Butthole Bear,'" Woo recalled. "Obviously, it was his stuffed animal, and so he loved it despite how gross it was. That was the inspiration for Baloney Tony, this idea that our stuffed animals, even though they can be gross and disgusting, they're still ours. There's something about our connection to them that, despite them having rancid meat odors, they bring us warmth and familiarity and they make us feel like we're at home."

From there, Woo taught us how to actually draw Baloney Tony, describing his design as being inspired by cheap stuffed animals you can get at state fairs or in arcade claw machines. You can draw along with Woo above to master the art of Baloney Tony.

To hear more about In Your Dreams, check out Woo's full Say More interview on YouTube, where Woo teaches us how to draw even more characters from the film.

In Your Dreams is now streaming on Netflix.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Disney+ is getting the worst feature imaginable

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:58

Disney+ will allow its users to create and consume AI-generated content on the platform. This is according to Disney CEO Bob Iger, speaking on the company's fourth quarter earnings call.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Traveling over the holidays? Save over $100 on this premium Samsonite luggage set at Amazon.

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:33

SAVE OVER $150: As of Nov. 14, the Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage Three-Piece Set is on sale for $239.99 at Amazon. This is $160 off its usual price of $399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Samsonite Samsonite Omni 2 Hardside Expandable Luggage (3-Piece Set) $239.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $160   Get Deal

The holidays are coming up fast, and if you have travel plans in place, a good luggage set can help you make the journey with all of your gifts in tow. If you're looking for some new suitcases for holiday travel, a stunning early Black Friday deal has dropped on a premium three-piece set of Samsonite luggage.

The Samsonite Omni 2 hardside expandable luggage three-piece set has dropped to $239.99 at Amazon. This is 40% off its list price of $399.99, which allows you to keep $160 in your pocket. This set is incredibly close to its lowest-ever price of $229.58, so why wait to grab them? This deal is one worth picking up ahead of Black Friday.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

This Samsonite luggage set comes with three sizes of suitcase — a 20-inch carry on, a medium suitcase, and a large option — so you can have a variety on-hand, whether you're going away for a long trip or just a quick weekend away. And with 360 degree spinner wheels, you can cruise easily to your next destination. They also have a durable build and even come with a 10-year warranty, which is nice peace of mind with an investment like this.

Feel prepared for holiday travels with some solid new suitcases. Save big on the Samsonite Omni 2 hardside expandable luggage three-piece set at Amazon. Curious what else Amazon is offering ahead of Black Friday? Check out our breakdown of early Black Friday deals at Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

How to get online when your ISP is down

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:30

These days, it's hard to imagine a world without internet access. We spend so much of our work and personal lives online that having a constant internet connection has become second nature. When something stops you from accessing the internet, such as your ISP going down, it can feel like a real shock. If this happens to you, there are a few ways to get online until your internet connection comes back.

Categories: IT General, Technology

2025 Black Friday ads: Best deals from Walmart, Amazon, Target, Best Buy, Kohls, Home Depot, and more

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:24

Black Friday is officially a couple of weeks away, but the reality is that it's already here in a big way. You can find discounts on hot products like MacBooks, AirPods, Lego, Pokémon, and so much more. It's the best single time of the year to secure a deal, with heavy discounts on offer from all the leading retailers.

The biggest retailers are always looking to get ahead of the competition by launching early-access deals, with savings-packed Black Friday ads that include a snapshot of what shoppers can expect. We recommend that savvy shoppers take some time to check out everything that's showcased in these ads, but if that sounds like far too much work, we can help you out.

SEE ALSO: Gaming deals are going strong ahead of Black Friday 2024

We've checked out all the best deals from the Black Friday ads of leading retailers. We're talking about the likes of Best Buy, Walmart, Home Depot, and Target. Amazon doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad, but we've still gone ahead and pulled the best deals that you can already shop. Aren't we helpful.

These are the best Black Friday deals from Black Friday ads that you can already buy online.

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Categories: IT General, Technology

Amazon Black Friday ad: The best early deals you can buy online

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:17

Don't you just love it at this time of year? You're minding your own business, slowly approaching the end of the year, and then Black Friday hits you like a train, delivering huge discounts of MacBooks, Pokémon, Lego, and everything else on your shopping list. It's not exactly a relaxing period, but boy can you save a lot of cash. So buckle up, shoppers. We've got weeks of deals to check out.

The only way to survive and thrive over Black Friday is to do a little planning. We recommend bookmarking our many Black Friday pages so that our professional deal hunters can showcase all the offers that are genuinely worth your consideration. But besides that, we also suggest making the most out of the Black Friday ads released by leading retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

SEE ALSO: The 40+ best early Black Friday deals: We found record prices on Apple gadgets, headphones, TVs, and robot vacuums

Looking for the Amazon Black Friday ad? Aren't we all. Amazon does things a little differently from other Black Friday retailers because it doesn't release a traditional Black Friday ad. Instead, Amazon announces its plans for Black Friday via a press release and then drops a boatload of deals when the time comes.

Amazon's Black Friday sale officially begins on Nov. 20 and runs through Dec. 1, with plenty of deals on offer throughout this bumper event. According to Amazon's official press release, these are the deals we can look forward from Nov. 20:

  • Up to 55% off select home products from Shark and kitchen appliances from Ninja

  • Up to 50% off Amazon devices like the Echo Dot Max, Fire TV Stick lineup, Fire tablets, and Kindles

  • Up to 50% off electronics from JBL and Canon

  • Up to 45% off Bose audio

  • Up to 40% off kitchen items from Vitamix, Staub, Nespresso, and more

  • Up to 40% on select floorcare from Bissell and iRobot

  • Up to 40% off home entertainment from Hisense, TCL, and LG

  • Up to 40% on toys from Melissa & Doug, Little Tykes, Play-Doh, and Nerf

  • Up to 35% on select Samsung and Google products

That's a strong lineup, but it's really only a small sample of what's to come. In fact, we're already seeing record-low prices on hot items like Apple products, Lego sets, and power stations.

Best early Black Friday Apple dealsBest early Black Friday Lego dealsBest early Black Friday power station dealsBest early Black Friday headphones dealsBest early Black Friday smartwatch deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

How to watch Knicks vs. Heat online for free

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:11

TL;DR: Live stream New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat in the NBA Cup for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The NBA Cup is still in its early stages, but the New York Knicks are already in the position of needing a win. Next they face the Miami Heat, a team that looks renewed and resurgent this season with a new style. Did anyone ever truly doubt Erik Spoelstra?

If you want to watch Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Knicks vs. Heat?

Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup starts at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 14. This game takes place at Madison Square Garden.

How to watch Knicks vs. Heat for free

Knicks vs. Heat in the NBA Cup is available to live stream for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

This free live stream is geo-restricted to the UK and U.S., but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK or U.S., meaning you can access free live streams of the NBA from anywhere in the world.

Stream the NBA for free by following these simple steps:

  1. Sign up for a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime (if you're not already a member)

  2. Subscribe to a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

  4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK or U.S.

  5. Watch the NBA from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer money-back guarantees or free trials. By leveraging these offers, you can watch NBA live streams without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does mean you can watch select games from the NBA Cup before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NBA?

ExpressVPN is the best service for accessing free live streams on platforms like Prime Video, for a number of reasons:

  • Servers in 105 countries

  • 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 NBA Cup for free with ExpressVPN.

Categories: IT General, Technology

Walmart Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online now

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:09

Black Friday is very much here. We're already weighed down with deals on everything from MacBooks to Pokémon, with more deals on the way.

Making the most of this hectic shopping season is an art. Everyone has their own gameplan going into November, but nobody comes away without missing out on some incredible limited-time offers. That's the nightmare scenario for any seasoned shopper, but fortunately, there are some things you can do to improve your odds of finding that perfect product at an all-time low price.

For starters, you can keep all of our Black Friday content bookmarked so that our team of dedicated shopping reporters can showcase the deals that are truly worth your time. But to get a headstart on the savings, you can check out the Black Friday ads released by leading retailers like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart.

SEE ALSO: 30+ of the best early Black Friday Pokémon deals: Crazy wild deals appeared

Walmart is always one of the biggest players over Black Friday, and its Black Friday ad indicates that it's going to be a very big year for the retailer.

Walmart's first Black Friday sale runs online and in stores from Nov. 14-16. Walmart+ members get five hours of early access to the deals online from 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 13. Things then cool off before Walmart's second Black Friday sale that runs from Nov. 25-30 (online only from Nov. 25–27). Walmart+ members once again get early access from 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 24. Walmart then wraps things up with an online-only Cyber Monday sale on Dec. 1.

Want to make the most out of Walmart's Black Friday campaign? We've checked out all the best Black Friday deals from the Walmart Black Friday ad that you can already buy online.

Best early Black Friday TV dealsBest early Black Friday Apple dealsBest early Black Friday fitness tracker dealsBest early Black Friday gaming dealsBest early Black Friday laptop dealsBest early Black Friday robot vacuum deals
Categories: IT General, Technology

Stuff Your Earbuds Day is back for 2025 — score free audiobooks on Nov. 14-15

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:05

FREE AUDIOBOOKS: Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2025 is live on Nov. 14-15. Download free audiobooks for 48 hours only, with no limit on the number of downloads.

We're always waxing lyrical about Stuff Your Kindle Day. These special events provide awesome opportunities for bookworms to stock up on new reads without spending anything. You don't get much for free these days, so we feel duty bound to make a lot of noise when these giveaways go live.

And the same goes for Stuff Your Earbuds Day. This event doesn't come around nearly as often as Stuff Your Kindle Day, but that just makes it more special. The audio equivalent to Stuff Your Kindle Day lets participants score free audiobooks over a limited period of time. And better yet, everything that you download is yours to keep forever.

Want to make the most of Stuff Your Earbuds Day? We've lined up all the information you need.

What is Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Stuff Your Earbuds Day is an annual event hosted by Romance Audiobookworms. During this event, audiobook listeners can score literally hundreds of free audiobooks from romance authors across a wide range of genres. The free audiobooks are live for 48 hours, with no limit on the number of downloads.

When is Stuff Your Earbuds Day 2024?

The 2025 Stuff Your Earbuds Day takes place on Nov. 14-15. Need a reminder? You can sign up for the Indie Audiobook Deals newsletter to be notified when new audiobook sales and freebies drop.

Who can take part in Stuff Your Earbuds Day?

Much like Stuff Your Kindle Day, anyone can participate in Stuff Your Earbuds Day. Simply find your favorite audiobook and download it on your preferred platform. It's that simple.

The best Stuff Your Earbuds Day deal Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 $84.99 at Amazon
$129 Save $44.01   Get Deal Why we like it

Apple deals are looking extremely healthy ahead of Black Friday. Apple AirPods 4 are already down to a record-low price at Amazon. These popular earbuds earned a coveted Mashable Choice Award — need we say more?

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Strands hints, answers for November 14, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:01

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're evasive.

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 14, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Low-key elusive

The words are related to visibility.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are ways to describe faintness.

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 Barely There.

NYT Strands word list for November 14

  • Nebulous

  • Faint

  • Barely There

  • Understated

  • Subtle

  • Tenuous

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 14, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:00

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love bold colors.

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 November 14, 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 November 14, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Bright-colored.

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 L.

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...

LURID

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 November 14, 2025

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for November 14, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:00

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love stunts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 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: To assess

  • Green: AM or FM

  • Blue: Film types

  • Purple: Classic films

Here are today's Connections categories

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

  • Yellow: Evaluate

  • Green: Radio tuning options

  • Blue: Action film subgenres

  • Purple: Classic '90s action films

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 #888 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

  • Evaluate: GRADE, JUDGE, RATE, REVIEW

  • Radio tuning options: BAND, CHANNEL, FREQUENCY, STATION

  • Action film subgenres: BUDDY, DISASTER, MARTIAL ARTS, SUPERHERO

  • Classic '90s action films: ARMAGEDDON, HARD BOILED, HEAT, SPEED

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 November 14, 2025

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

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

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

NYT Pips hints, answers for November 14, 2025

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:00

Welcome to your guide to Pips, the latest game in the New York Times catalogue.

Released in August 2025, the Pips puts a unique spin on dominoes, creating a fun single-player experience that could become your next daily gaming habit.

Currently, if you're stuck, the game only offers to reveal the entire puzzle, forcing you to move onto the next difficulty level and start over. However, we have you covered! Below are piecemeal answers that will serve as hints so that you can find your way through each difficulty level.

How to play Pips

If you've ever played dominoes, you'll have a passing familiarity for how Pips is played. As we've shared in our previous hints stories for Pips, the tiles, like dominoes, are placed vertically or horizontally and connect with each other. The main difference between a traditional game of dominoes and Pips is the color-coded conditions you have to address. The touching tiles don't necessarily have to match.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for November 8, 2025

The conditions you have to meet are specific to the color-coded spaces. For example, if it provides a single number, every side of a tile in that space must add up to the number provided. It is possible – and common – for only half a tile to be within a color-coded space.

Here are common examples you'll run into across the difficulty levels:

  • Number: All the pips in this space must add up to the number.

  • Equal: Every domino half in this space must be the same number of pips.

  • Not Equal: Every domino half in this space must have a completely different number of pips.

  • Less than: Every domino half in this space must add up to less than the number.

  • Greater than: Every domino half in this space must add up to more than the number.

If an area does not have any color coding, it means there are no conditions on the portions of dominoes within those spaces.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for November 8, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically.

Equal (6): Everything in this space must be equal to 6. The answer is 5-6, placed vertically; 6-6, placed horizontally; 6-3, placed vertically.

Equal (3): Everything in this space must be equal to 3. The answer is 6-3, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add to 1. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally.

Equal (2): Everything in this space must be equal to 2. The answer is 6-2, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally; 2-4, placed horizontally.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 1-0, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed horizontally.

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 1-1, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically.

Number (9): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 9. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (9): Everything in this space must add to 9. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-5, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Nov. 14 Pips

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 3-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this dark blue space must add to 5. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

Equal (0): Everything in this space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this light blue space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this orange space must add to 5. The answer is 5-4, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this green space must add to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed horizontally; 4-2, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add to 5. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

Categories: IT General, Technology

SwitchBot Hub 3 review: A sequel that's too ambitious

How-To Geek - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 12:00

The SwitchBot Hub 3 is the newest and most versatile hub from SwitchBot, one that also cosplays as a humidity sensor, thermometer, and universal remote. It's great at some of these things, but there's plenty of functionality I would have preferred to see left off entirely.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is down to market value at Amazon

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:23

MARKET VALUE: As of Nov. 14, the Pokémon TCG Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box is $79.95 at Amazon, which is market value compared to TCGplayer.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box $79.95 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.04   Get Deal

Looking for your Mega Evolution fix? Phantasmal Flames drops today, but I'm still chasing that Mega Lucario SIR goodness, and Amazon has just made it that little bit easier to do so. Right now, Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Boxes are at market value compared to TCGplayer.

In the X and Y era of Pokémon TCG, Mega Evolution mechanics were ridiculous. Every EX card from the time was a basic Pokémon, so no need for evolution, just Mega Evolution and Spirit Link cards to help you play them sooner. It kind of broke the TCG for many, with strategy and deckbuilding coming down to who could afford the best Mega Evolution beatdown cards.

SEE ALSO: Where to buy Pokémon cards in 2025 — avoid overpaying or missing out on new sets

With the exception of Pokémon like Absol who would have a basic ex card anyway, Mega Evolution this time around requires the comon and uncommon evolution lines to play Mega Evolved Pokémon, skipping the standard ex stage and straight into Mega Evolution. It flows very well, bringing in hard hitting moves without turning gameplay into a one-sided argument.

Promo Illustration Rare Alakazam features in the Gardevoir variant, with the Mega Lucario ETB featuring a Promo Illustration Rare Riolu alongside themed card sleeves, dice, card dividers, eight booster packs, and a tidy box to store your bulk cards in.

Most valuable Mega Evolution Pokémon cards Credit: Mashable Photo Composite / The Pokémon Company

We're seeing Mega Evolution finding a new floor value-wise when it comes to single cards, which is in part thanks to the availability of the set. If you're chasing the heavy hitters of the new era of Pokémon TCG, you'll likely save money just buying the card you want over opening infinite booster packs. Here's the top five Mega Evolution case cards including where to buy and up-to-date market values:

  1. Mega Lucario ex - 188/132
    Near Mint Holofoil: $488
    Market price: $496.44
    Most recent sale: $495

  2. Mega Gardevoir ex - 187/132
    Near Mint Holofoil: $365
    Market price: $408.31
    Most recent sale: $350

  3. Mega Lucario ex - 179/132
    Near Mint Holofoil: $224.85
    Market price: $222.45
    Most recent sale: $222.95

  4. Mega Gardevoir ex - 178/132
    Near Mint Holofoil: $245
    Market price: $220.31
    Most recent sale: $205

  5. Mega Venusaur ex - 177/132
    Near Mint Holofoil: $185.15
    Market price: $166.71
    Most recent sale: $135

Categories: IT General, Technology

Hurry! The 2024 Mac mini is back under $500 ahead of Black Friday.

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:19

SAVE $100: As of Nov. 14, the 2024 Mac mini is on sale for $499 at Amazon. This is $100 off its list price of $599.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple 2024 Mac mini M4 $499 at Amazon
$599 Save $100   Get Deal

Early Black Friday deals have arrived — if you've been looking to invest in new tech, now is a great time to do it. So many popular items have already gone on sale ahead of the event's official start date at the end of the month, including plenty of Apple products.

The 2024 Mac mini M4 is currently marked down to below $500 at Amazon. The 2024 Mac mini is listed for $499 at Amazon, to be exact. This is $100 off its usual price of $599, which is an excellent deal to consider ahead of Black Friday. Packed with an M4 chip, this tiny but mighty device is more than worth the investment for Apple users.

SEE ALSO: Target Black Friday ad: The best deals you can buy online early

The M4 chip in the 2024 Mac mini provides speedy performance so you can zip through work and personal projects. This model also comes with 16GB of Unified Memory and a 256GB SSD. On top of that, it features a variety of connections — including Thunderbolt, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB-C ports, and a headphone jack — all in a wonderfully compact footprint that can fit neatly beside a monitor. At only five by five inches, its sleek design can be tucked away so it doesn't stand out too much on your desk.

No need to wait for Black Friday. Score $100 off the 2024 Mac mini at Amazon today.

There are plenty of Apple deals to explore right now ahead of Black Friday. Scroll through our roundup of the 30+ best early Black Friday Apple deals to see what else is available. We even have a breakdown of the best early Black Friday deals from Amazon.

Categories: IT General, Technology

The best open earbuds that stay put, sound great, and keep you aware of the world around you

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:10

Though open earbuds share the common feature of sitting on the exterior of the ear, they come in many shapes and sizes, from clip models to ear hook models. Some are more geared toward working out, while others are better for everyday use. The Bose Ultra Open earbuds are an especially popular pick thanks to their sound quality and many colorways, but they're far from your only option (or the most affordable, at $299).

SEE ALSO: We've found the 9 best headphones of 2025 after extensive testing

Below, we've compiled some of the best open earbud models available in 2025. For each of our picks below, one of the best times of year to grab a good deal is during Black Friday. As sales start to ramp up, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds are $100 off, and the Anker Soundcore Aerofit 2 earbuds are down to $77.99 for Amazon Prime members.

Note: This guide is a work in progress, so we'll possibly be shifting (or expanding) our recommendations as we continue to test pairs.

What are open earbuds?

Open earbuds allow you to get as close as you possibly can to the feeling of not wearing earbuds at all. Unlike in-ear earbuds which sit in your ear canal (as the name states), open earbuds sit just outside your ears. Some models hold the speaker component in place with an ear hook while others opt for an ear cuff.

SEE ALSO: We tested the top fitness trackers of 2025: See our favorite wearables and smart rings

People generally opt for open earbuds for three main reasons:

  1. They provide a private listening experience while leaving you almost completely aware of the world around you. It's like the best transparency mode you've ever used.

  2. For some people, not having an earbud physically in their ear is generally more comfortable.

  3. The hooks and cuffs (along with the general awareness of your surroundings) make them a great option for keeping them in place, and keeping you alert, while you're working out.

What are the drawbacks of open earbuds?

As you may have gathered from the section above, open earbuds don't generally come with active noise cancellation. That's mostly thanks to how much sound they let in (by design) and the difficulty of cancelling out sound without having the device covering your actual ear canal.

Also thanks to the whole open ear-canal situation, these aren't going to be the earbuds for audiophiles. That's not to say open earbuds sound bad — if you've never tried them, we promise they sound much better than you're imagining — but you will lose out on some of the nuance of a song without having the earbud actually in your ear.

SEE ALSO: I tested sleep earbuds for over a month: Here are the 3 I'd buy

That said, many pairs still have equalizers on their companion apps to help you make them sound their best. Our upgrade pick, the Bose Ultra Open earbuds, even have a spatial audio feature that worked surprisingly well.

Most open earbuds will also boast some form of special technology that keeps them from leaking too much sound. While these pairs do pretty well in keeping the sound just to you, most pairs (including our picks) while be prone to some leakage, especially at higher volumes.

Finally, some open earbuds — mainly those with ear hooks — tend to have slightly bulkier cases. If you like to travel light, it's something to be aware of.

What about bone conduction headphones?

Bone conduction earbuds work exactly like the name implies they do — they use your skull to conduct sound waves, instead of projecting the sound into your ear, like most of the picks are on list. Typically, a band runs from either side of the users head to help hold the headphones in place.

Shokz, the brand behind our top pick, is a popular maker of these kinds of headphones. While we do consider them open earbuds, we have yet to test any bone conduction earbuds — look out in the future for that update. On that note:

What's next in our testing pipeline

The open earbuds market is rapidly expanding, so we'll be testing more as we can get our hands on them. Up next, we'll be trying out budget pairs of open earbuds under $100, as well as more pairs from Shokz.

In addition to the earbuds that made our final guide in May 2025, we tested out the Nothing Ear (Open) earbuds ($149), the Sony Linkbuds Open ($199.99), the Anker Soundcore AeroClip earbuds ($169.99), and the Shokz OpenFit Air ($119.95). While none of the above were bad earbuds by any means, we found our picks to outshine them in their comfort and sound quality, especially when considering their respective prices.

Categories: IT General, Technology

This massive Hisense Canvas TV is down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon — save over $100 ahead of Black Friday

Mashable - Fri, 11/14/2025 - 11:07

SAVE OVER $100: As of Nov. 14, the 85-inch Hisense Canvas TV is on sale for $1,947.99 at Amazon. That's over $100 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Hisense Hisense 85-Inch Canvas TV $1,947.99 at Amazon
$2,049.99 Save $102.00   Get Deal

Black Friday deals are growing in number, and the latest discount on the Hisense 85-inch Canvas TV is something that deserves your attention. As of Nov. 14, you can save $102 on this impressive TV, a deal that brings it down to its lowest-ever price.

There's lots going for this TV, but its real selling point is its ability to turn your screen into famous works of art. When not in use, transform your screen into something that enhances your surroundings. The hi-matte display makes each picture look like the real thing. You can even change the color of the frame thanks to its magnetic connection. Choose from teak, white, or walnut. Whatever suits your aesthetic or your mood.

SEE ALSO: The 100-inch Hisense Class QD6 QLED 4K TV is sitting at a new record-low price before Black Friday

The TV offers 4K QLED with Quantum Dot technology, so everything you watch is sharp and clear. And if you're a gamer, this TV’s 144Hz Game Mode Pro is built to keep things smooth and responsive. It supports a variable refresh rate from 48Hz to 144Hz, along with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, Auto Low Latency Mode, and low-latency motion processing to cut down on screen tearing and input lag. It also benefits from a new Game Bar to change your settings right from the TV remote.

Get this TV deal at Amazon ahead of Black Friday.

Categories: IT General, Technology
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