IT General

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it'll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today's Hurdle, don't worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hint

To search.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answer

FRISK

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A command.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for December 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

EDICT

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Hold.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for December 6 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 6, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

GRASP

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Fake.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for December 6 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BOGUS

Final Hurdle hint

A breast.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answer

BOSOM

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

Have you noticed the moon looking a little smaller lately? That's because of where we are in the lunar cycle, a series of the moon's different phases. Right now, we're heading towards the New Moon. Keep reading to find out what this means.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Saturday, Dec. 6, the moon phase is Waning Gibbous. This means 96% of the moon is lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

If you're looking up with just your naked eye, there's lots to see, in particular the Oceanus Procellarum and the Kepler Crater. With binoculars you'll also be able to spy the Posidonius and Alphonsus craters, as well at the Grimaldi Basin. And with a telescope, you can catch a glimpse of the Apollo 11 and 12 landing spots and the Linne Crater.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Jan. 3.

What are moon phases?

NASA explains that the lunar cycle (which is about 29.5 days long) is made up of the Moon’s phases, which describe how the Moon looks from Earth as it travels around us. We view the same side of the Moon at all times, but the sunlight hitting its surface shifts as it moves through its orbit. That changing illumination is what makes the Moon appear full, half-lit, or not visible at all. The cycle includes eight distinct phases:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for December 6, 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: Typical

• Green: To appease

• Blue: Famous cartoons

• Purple: Reptiles and amphibians

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Norm

• Green: Mollify

• Blue: Member of a titular group in an animation franchise

• Purple: Starting with herpetofauna

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 #909 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Norm: AVERAGE, MEAN, PAR, STANDARD

• Mollify: COOL, MODERATE, SETTLE, TEMPER

• Member of a titular group in an animation franchise: CAR, INCREDIBLE, MINION, MONSTER

• Starting with herpetofauna: ADDERALL, MONITORSHIP, NEWTON, TOADY

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 December 6, 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.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love fantasy books.

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 December 6, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for December 6, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Tolkien's world

The words are related to fantasy.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe "The Lord of the Rings."

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Middle Earth.

NYT Strands word list for December 6

• Wizard

• Forest

• Hobbit

• Middle Earth

• Quest

• Dwarf

• Ring

• Shire

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.

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 December 6, 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 December 6, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 6 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 6-4, placed horizontally.

Number (6): Everything in this space must add up to 6. The answer is 3-3, placed vertically.

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 6-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 4-4, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 6-5, placed vertically; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 6 Pips

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 5-5, placed vertically.

Number (5): Everything in this space must add up to 5. The answer is 1-0, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically.

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

Less Than (5): Everything in this space must be less than 5. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (4): Everything in this space must be greater than 4. The answer is 4-5, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Dec. 6 Pips

Greater Than (1): Everything in this light blue space must be greater than 1. The answer is 0-6, placed vertically.

Number (1): Everything in this space must add up to 1. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically.

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 1-4, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 1-2, placed horizontally.

Greater Than (1): Everything in this green space must be greater than 1. The answer is 5-3, placed vertically.

Number (2): Everything in this space must add up to 2. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 1-0, placed vertically.

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

Equal (0): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed horizontally; 0-4, placed vertically.

Equal (4): Everything in this yellow space must be equal to 4. The answer is 0-4, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally; 5-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (2): Everything in this space must be less than 2. The answer is 0-0, placed vertically.

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

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easy if you know your Joes.

As we've shared in previous hints stories, this is a version of the popular New York Times word game that seeks to test the knowledge of sports fans.

Like the original Connections, the game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier — so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

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

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

The NYT's latest daily word game has launched in association with The Athletic, the New York Times property that provides the publication's sports coverage. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

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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.

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

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

SEE ALSO: Wordle-obsessed? These are the best word games to play IRL. Here's a hint for today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Sports teams

• Green: Schools

• Blue: Legends

• Purple: Alliterative strategy

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Pro teams whose names start with D

• Green: Division I colleges

• Blue: Basketball hall of famers

• Purple: Five Ds of Dodgeball

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 #439 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Pro teams whose names start with D - DEVILS, DIAMONDBACKS, DOLPHINS, DREAM

• Division I colleges - DARTMOUTH, DAYTON, DEPAUL, DUKE

• Basketball hall of famers - DIVAC, DONOVAN, DREXLER, DUNCAN

• Five Ds of Dodgeball - DIP, DIVE, DODGE, DUCK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be new sports Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're a belly dancer.

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 December 6, 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 December 6, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Midsection.

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 W.

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...

WAIST

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 December 6, 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.

TV streamer Roku recently announced it's ending Photo Streams in early 2026 and replacing it with something called Backdrops, which limits personal photo options but includes a library of artwork to cull from.

The transition from Photo Streams to Backdrops is already underway. "Over the next few months, you’ll start seeing messages about Photo Streams moving to Backdrops," Roku announced on their website. "At the end of January 2026, Photo Streams will stop working and only display a message directing you to open Backdrops."

Photo Streams currently operates as a screensaver for users who set it up, filling in inactive screen time by featuring pictures uploaded by the user. Those uploaded images will still be accessible on Backdrops, but only one gallery is available to view at once — and Backdrops must be specifically turned on for the photos to appear. By Feb. 2026, the screens of all inactive Roku sessions will default to the (in)famous Roku City background, which features advertising.

SEE ALSO: This Cyber Monday Roku Streaming Stick deal is still live — act fast to save over $10

This change is clearly a bummer for those who loved featuring their personal pics on a large screen without having to think much about it. Roku is trying to soften the blow by offering free digital art, totaling about 4,500 images, for users of Backdrops. Works by artists like Johannes Vermeer, Paul Gaugin, Leonardo da Vinci, and Mary Cassatt were available as of early December, along with images of nature and cityscapes. Background users will also be able to adjust the photo display time and launch it directly with the Roku remote’s power button. 

Roku doesn’t say there is an advertising component behind the change, instead stating, "Backdrops brings photos into one app that's easier to use, more customizable, and will allow us to keep adding new photo and ambient experiences over time." 

TL;DR: A compact 8-in-1 keyring GoCable that charges fast, organizes neatly, and solves everyday tech moments — on sale for the holidays for just $19.97 (MSRP $49.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: GoCable GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable $19.97
$49.99 Save $30.02   Get Deal

There are gifts people expect — socks, candles, yet another travel mug — and then there are the ones that quietly earn a permanent spot in someone’s daily routine. The GoCable 8-in-1 EDC 100W Cable falls squarely into the second category. It’s the kind of practical, tech-forward surprise that makes people say, “Wait … this does that too?”

At first glance, GoCable looks like a sleek little keyring accessory. But once you start using it, it quickly proves it’s more than just a charging cable.

Designed as an everyday carry essential, it combines ultra-fast charging with genuinely useful built-in tools, all wrapped in a compact, tangle-free design that clips neatly onto a bag, belt loop, or keychain.

With 100W charging capabilities (when paired with a compatible power source), GoCable can power everything from phones and tablets to laptops, drones, and cameras.

Universal connectors mean you’re covered whether you’re using USB-C or Apple’s Lightning — no more digging through tangled cords or carrying three different cables just in case.

What makes it especially satisfying, though, are the thoughtful extras. An LED power display shows your real-time charging status. The magnetic wrap keeps things neat and frustration-free. There’s even a built-in bottle opener and a safe-proof cutter for impromptu moments like opening a package on the fly or cracking a drink at a picnic.

With on-time holiday shipping available through Dec. 14, the GoCable makes for an unexpected but incredibly useful gift — especially for travelers, creators, commuters, and anyone who lives even slightly tethered to their devices.

Priced at $19.97 (MSRP $49.99) for a limited time, the GoCable is a gift that feels both smart and genuinely helpful — grab it while stock is still available.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

For more than 20 years, the Escalade has been the go-to symbol of American luxury—big, bold, and impossible to ignore. But no one expected Cadillac to turn it into something that launches like a supercar.

Windows comes with a few media player apps built in that are usually "good enough." However, I'm not really a fan of any of them for one reason or another. If you're looking for a media player that is different, more powerful, or just not Microsoft, here are 5 great alternatives for you.

The Raspberry Pi 500+ is most of a Raspberry Pi 5 Model B 16GB that’s been squeezed into a keyboard case, with fancy mechanical key switches and some fetching RGB lighting. It’s fair to ask whether this package is worth the $200 asking price, or whether you’d be better off with a regular Pi instead.

Google Chrome is rolling out updates to its autofill feature, giving the browser much deeper access to the data stored in your Google Account and Google Wallet. This move means consolidating even more of your personal information under Google's umbrella.

Well, AI is joining the ranks of many, many people: It doesn't really understand poetry.

Research from Italy’s Icaro Lab found that poetry can be used to jailbreak AI and skirt safety protections.

In the study, researchers wrote 20 prompts that started with short poetic vignettes in Italian and English and ended the prompts with a single explicit instruction to produce harmful content. They tested these prompts on 25 Large Language Models across Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Deepseek, Qwen, Mistral AI, Meta, xAI, and Moonshot AI. The researchers said the poetic prompts often worked.

"Poetic framing achieved an average jailbreak success rate of 62% for hand-crafted poems and approximately 43% for meta-prompt conversions (compared to non-poetic baselines), substantially outperforming non-poetic baselines and revealing a systematic vulnerability across model families and safety training approaches," the study reads. "These findings demonstrate that stylistic variation alone can circumvent contemporary safety mechanisms, suggesting fundamental limitations in current alignment methods and evaluation protocols."

Of course, there were differences in how well the jailbreaking worked across the different LLMs. OpenAI’s GPT-5 nano didn't respond with harmful or unsafe content at all, while Google’s Gemini 2.5 pro responded with harmful or unsafe content every single time, the researchers reported.

The researchers concluded that “these findings expose a significant gap” in benchmark safety tests and regulatory efforts such as the EU AI Act.

"Our results show that a minimal stylistic transformation can reduce refusal rates by an order of magnitude, indicating that benchmark-only evidence may systematically overstate real-world robustness," the paper stated.

Great poetry is not literal — and LLMs are literal to the point of frustration. The study reminds me of how it feels to listen to Leonard Cohen’s song "Alexandra Leaving," which is based on C.P. Cavafy's poem "The God Abandons Antony." We know it's about loss and heartbreak, but it would be a disservice to the song and the poem it's based on to try to "get it" in any literal sense — and that's what LLMs will try to do.

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

Waymo robotaxis have been providing public rides in Austin, Texas since March, and following safety incidents with school buses, Austin school district officials have asked the company to stop offering robotaxi rides during school drop-off times.

Now, regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) are investigating Waymo over complaints that its robotaxis have illegally passed school buses at least 19 times, according to Reuters.

The NHTSA sent a letter to Waymo earlier this week informing the company about the beginning of its inquiry concerning its autonomous vehicles' inability to follow traffic laws concerning school buses. The letter also requested additional information about the company's self-driving system.

An initial investigation was opened into Waymo in October by the NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) after it obtained video of a Waymo robotaxi driving around a school bus in Atlanta as the vehicle was unloading schoolchildren with its stop sign extended and flashing lights on. Now the agency is going even further in its inquiry. 

SEE ALSO: Feds investigating Tesla’s ‘Mad Max’ mode

Waymo said it released a software fix to the issue on November 17. However, in a public letter, the Austin Independent School District says that five of the 19 school bus-related Waymo incidents occurred after that date.

"One of these violations underscores the urgent risk posed by Waymo’s illegal activity: a Waymo automated vehicle was recorded driving past a stopped school bus only moments after a student crossed in front of the vehicle, and while the student was still in the road," the Austin School District wrote in a Nov. 20 letter to Waymo. "The vehicle then proceeds through a cross walk and an intersection, where all other vehicles are stopped."

The Austin School District requests that Waymo stop operating its robotaxis from 5:20 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., the hours when children are typically being picked up and dropped off before and after school.

The ODI sent its own letter to Waymo shortly after, letting the company know it was aware of the issue and inquiring if Waymo was planning to abide by the request to cease operations during those times.

According to a report by TechCrunch, Waymo insists that its update has improved its robotaxis' road safety issues around school buses. However, it does not seem like the company plans to oblige the Austin School District's request.

The debate between BMW’s top compact performance cars has never been more intense, and many buyers automatically assume the pricier, track-focused option is the obvious choice. But in 2025, that assumption doesn’t hold up. The more attainable alternative delivers nearly the same straight-line speed, everyday comfort, and modern tech, making it a far more realistic and well-rounded option for most drivers.

The nominations for the 31st Critics Choice Awards have a clear favorite: Ryan Coogler's Sinners.

The smash hit vampire film earned 17 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Michael B. Jordan), and Best Supporting Actress (Wunmi Mosaku). Trailing just behind it is Paul Thomas Anderson's One Battle After Another, which picked up 14 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), Best Actress (Chase Infiniti), Best Supporting Actor (Benicio del Toro and Sean Penn), and Best Supporting Actress (Teyana Taylor).

Other big contenders in the film nominations include Chloé Zhao's Hamnet and Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein (both with 11 nominations).

On the TV side, Adolescence received the most nominations with six, including Best Limited Series, Best Actor in a Limited Series (Stephen Graham), Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series (Owen Cooper and Ashley Walters), and Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series (Erin Doherty and Christine Tremarco). Strong contenders on the drama side include Emmy winners The Pitt (4 nominations) and Severance (4 nominations), while the comedy side has Season 2 of Nobody Wants This (5 nominations) topping Emmy winners Hacks (4 nominations) and The Studio (3 nominations).

Check out the full list of nominations below. The Critics Choice Awards will air live on E! and the USA Network on Sunday, Jan. 4 at 7 p.m. ET.

Film nominationsBEST PICTURE

Bugonia

Frankenstein

Hamnet

Jay Kelly

Marty Supreme

One Battle After Another

Sentimental Value

Sinners

Train Dreams

Wicked: For Good

BEST ACTOR

Timothée Chalamet – Marty Supreme

Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another

Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams

Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon

Michael B. Jordan – Sinners

Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent

BEST ACTRESS  

Jessie Buckley – Hamnet

Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You

Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another

Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value

Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee

Emma Stone – Bugonia

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Benicio del Toro – One Battle After Another

Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein

Paul Mescal – Hamnet

Sean Penn – One Battle After Another

Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly

Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value

Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good

Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value

Amy Madigan – Weapons

Wunmi Mosaku – Sinners

Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another

BEST YOUNG ACTOR / ACTRESS

Everett Blunck – The Plague

Miles Caton – Sinners

Cary Christopher - Weapons

Shannon Mahina Gorman – Rental Family

Jacobi Jupe – Hamnet

Nina Ye – Left-Handed Girl

BEST DIRECTOR

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another

Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein

Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value

Chloé Zhao – Hamnet

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY  

Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer – Jay Kelly

Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Ryan Coogler – Sinners

Zach Cregger – Weapons

Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby

Eskil Vogt, Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY  

Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another

Clint Bentley, Greg Kwedar – Train Dreams

Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi, Don Mckellar, Jahye Lee – No Other Choice

Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein

Will Tracy – Bugonia

Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet

BEST CASTING AND ENSEMBLE

Nina Gold – Hamnet

Douglas Aibel, Nina Gold – Jay Kelly

Jennifer Venditti – Marty Supreme

Cassandra Kulukundis – One Battle After Another

Francine Maisler – Sinners

Tiffany Little Canfield, Bernard Telsey – Wicked: For Good

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Claudio Miranda – F1

Dan Laustsen – Frankenstein

Łukasz Żal – Hamnet

Michael Bauman – One Battle After Another

Autumn Durald Arkapaw – Sinners

Adolpho Veloso – Train Dreams

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

Kasra Farahani, Jille Azis – The Fantastic Four: First Steps

Tamara Deverell, Shane Vieau – Frankenstein

Fiona Crombie, Alice Felton – Hamnet

Jack Fisk, Adam Willis – Marty Supreme

Hannah Beachler, Monique Champagne – Sinners

Nathan Crowley, Lee Sandales – Wicked: For Good

BEST EDITING

Kirk Baxter – A House of Dynamite

Stephen Mirrione – F1

Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme

Andy Jurgensen – One Battle After Another

Viridiana Lieberman – The Perfect Neighbor

Michael P. Shawver – Sinners

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Kate Hawley – Frankenstein (Netflix)

Malgosia Turzanska – Hamnet (Focus Features)

Lindsay Pugh – Hedda (Amazon MGM Studios)

Colleen Atwood, Christine Cantella – Kiss of the Spider Woman (Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions)

Ruth E. Carter – Sinners (Warner Bros.)

Paul Tazewell – Wicked: For Good (Universal Pictures)

BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP

Flora Moody, John Nolan – 28 Years Later

Mike Hill, Jordan Samuel, Cliona Furey – Frankenstein

Siân Richards, Ken Diaz, Mike Fontaine, Shunika Terry – Sinners

Kazu Hiro, Felix Fox, Mia Neal – The Smashing Machine

Leo Satkovich, Melizah Wheat, Jason Collins – Weapons

Frances Hannon, Mark Coulier, Laura Blount – Wicked: For Good

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Joe Letteri, Richard Baneham, Eric Saindon, Daniel Barrett – Avatar: Fire and Ash

Ryan Tudhope, Nikeah Forde, Robert Harrington, Nicolas Chevallier, Eric Leven, Edward Price, Keith Dawson – F1

Dennis Berardi, Ayo Burgess, Ivan Busquets, José Granell – Frankenstein

Alex Wuttke, Ian Lowe, Jeff Sutherland, Kirstin Hall – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Michael Ralla, Espen Nordahl, Guido Wolter, Donnie Dean – Sinners

Stephane Ceretti, Enrico Damm, Stéphane Nazé, Guy Williams – Superman

BEST STUNT DESIGN  

Stephen Dunlevy, Kyle Gardiner, Jackson Spidell, Jeremy Marinas, Jan Petřina, Domonkos Párdányi, Kinga Kósa-Gavalda – Ballerina

Gary Powell, Luciano Bacheta, Craig Dolby – F1

Wade Eastwood – Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning

Brian Machleit – One Battle After Another

Andy Gill – Sinners

Giedrius Nagys – Warfare

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE  

Arco

Elio

In Your Dreams

KPop Demon Hunters

Little Amélie or the Character of Rain

Zootopia 2

BEST COMEDY  

The Ballad of Wallis Island

Eternity

Friendship

The Naked Gun

The Phoenician Scheme

Splitsville

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

It Was Just an Accident

Left-Handed Girl

No Other Choice

The Secret Agent

Sirāt

Belén

BEST SONG  

“Drive” – Ed Sheeran, John Mayer, Blake Slatkin – F1

“Golden” – Ejae, Mark Sonnenblick, Ido, 24, Teddy – KPop Demon Hunters

“I Lied to You” – Raphael Saadiq, Ludwig Göransson – Sinners

“Clothed by the Sun” – Daniel Blumberg – The Testament of Ann Lee

“Train Dreams” – Nick Cave, Bryce Dessner – Train Dreams

“The Girl in the Bubble” – Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: For Good

BEST SCORE  

Hans Zimmer – F1

Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein

Max Richter – Hamnet

Daniel Lopatin – Marty Supreme

Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another

Ludwig Göransson – Sinners

BEST SOUND  

Al Nelson, Gwendolyn Yates Whittle, Gary A. Rizzo, Juan Peralta, Gareth John – F1

Nathan Robitaille, Nelson Ferreira, Christian Cooke, Brad Zoern, Greg Chapman – Frankenstein

Jose Antonio Garcia, Christopher Scarabosio, Tony Villaflor – One Battle After Another

Chris Welcker, Benny Burtt, Brandon Proctor, Steve Boeddeker, Felipe Pacheco, David V. Butler – Sinners

Laia Casanovas – Sirāt

Mitch Low, Glenn Freemantle, Ben Barker, Howard Bargroff, Richard Spooner – Warfare

TV nominationsBEST DRAMA SERIES

Alien: Earth

Andor

The Diplomat

Paradise

The Pitt

Pluribus

Severance

Task

BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Sterling K. Brown – Paradise

Diego Luna – Andor

Mark Ruffalo – Task

Adam Scott – Severance

Billy Bob Thornton – Landman

Noah Wyle – The Pitt

BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Kathy Bates – Matlock

Carrie Coon – The Gilded Age

Britt Lower – Severance

Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us

Keri Russell – The Diplomat

Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES

Patrick Ball – The Pitt

Billy Crudup – The Morning Show

Ato Essandoh – The Diplomat

Wood Harris – Forever

Tom Pelphrey – Task

Tramell Tillman – Severance

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES

Nicole Beharie – The Morning Show

Denée Benton – The Gilded Age

Allison Janney – The Diplomat

Katherine LaNasa – The Pitt

Greta Lee – The Morning Show

Skye P. Marshall – Matlock

BEST COMEDY SERIES

Abbott Elementary

Elsbeth

Ghosts

Hacks

Nobody Wants This

Only Murders in the Building

The Righteous Gemstones

The Studio 

BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This

Ted Danson – A Man on the Inside

David Alan Grier – St. Denis Medical

Danny McBride – The Righteous Gemstones

Seth Rogen – The Studio

Alexander Skarsgård – Murderbot

BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This

Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face

Rose McIver – Ghosts

Edi Patterson – The Righteous Gemstones

Carrie Preston – Elsbeth

Jean Smart – Hacks 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES

Ike Barinholtz – The Studio

Paul W. Downs – Hacks

Asher Grodman – Ghosts

Oscar Nuñez – The Paper

Chris Perfetti – Abbott Elementary

Timothy Simons – Nobody Wants This

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES

Danielle Brooks – Peacemaker

Hannah Einbinder – Hacks

Janelle James – Abbott Elementary

Justine Lupe – Nobody Wants This

Ego Nwodim – Saturday Night Live

Rebecca Wisocky – Ghosts

BEST LIMITED SERIES

Adolescence

All Her Fault

Chief of War

Death by Lightning

Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy

Dope Thief

Dying for Sex

The Girlfriend 

BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy

Deep Cover

The Gorge

Mountainhead

Nonnas

Summer of '69

BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Michael Chernus – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy

Stephen Graham – Adolescence

Brian Tyree Henry – Dope Thief

Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story

Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me

Michael Shannon – Death by Lightning

BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Jessica Biel – The Better Sister

Meghann Fahy – Sirens

Sarah Snook – All Her Fault

Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex

Robin Wright – The Girlfriend

Renée Zellweger – Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Owen Cooper – Adolescence

Wagner Moura – Dope Thief

Nick Offerman – Death by Lightning

Michael Peña – All Her Fault

Ashley Walters – Adolescence

Ramy Youssef – Mountainhead

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION

Erin Doherty – Adolescence

Betty Gilpin – Death by Lightning

Marin Ireland – Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy

Sophia Lillis – All Her Fault

Julianne Moore – Sirens

Christine Tremarco – Adolescence 

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES

Acapulco

Last Samurai Standing

Mussolini: Son of the Century

Red Alert

Squid Game

When No One Sees Us

BEST ANIMATED SERIES

Bob’s Burgers

Harley Quinn

Long Story Short

Marvel Zombies

South Park

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man

BEST TALK SHOW

The Daily Show

Hot Ones

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Late Night with Seth Meyers

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

BEST VARIETY SERIES

Conan O’Brien Must Go

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Saturday Night Live

BEST COMEDY SPECIAL

Brett Goldstein: The Second Best Night of Your Life

Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian

Leanne Morgan: Unspeakable Things

Marc Maron: Panicked

Sarah Silverman: PostMortem

SNL50: The Anniversary Special

*Disclosure: Belen Edwards is a member of the Critics Choice Association, which holds the Critics Choice Awards.

GET UP TO $250 OFF: The Garmin Holiday Sale is live, with huge discounts up to $250 off watches, including the Forerunner 55 and the fēnix 8. Prices start at just $149.99 at Amazon, with Garmin and other retailers matching prices.

If you’re shopping for the runner in your life (or just for yourself), you need to check out Garmin’s holiday sale, available at both Amazon and the Garmin online store. The company's slashing prices by up to $250 on tons of models, from top-tier athlete's watches to basic beginner watches, and prices start at just $149.99.

SEE ALSO: Oura Ring vs. Whoop: A fight of the best fitness trackers

Our team recently put the best running watches on the market through 500+ miles of training for the New York City Marathon, and Garmin models consistently came out on top for dedicated runners. Most Garmin running watches use built-in GPS to track how far, how fast, and where you've run, while also monitoring your heart rate right from your wrist. You also get training tools like race time predictions, PacePro for strategy, and the ability to track other activities like cycling, depending on the model you buy. Plus, all models have a pretty impressive battery life — even the beginner Forerunner 55 lasts up to two weeks in smartwatch mode.

Check out the best deals we found on Garmin running watches and fitness trackers right now, with prices starting at $150 and discounts up to 29%.

Garmin Forerunner 55 $149.99 at Best Buy
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I love PC building. Really, I do, and I have for 20 years. But why do we, PC owners, just have to go from one market disaster to the next?

Moving files from one device to another should be a super-easy task. But unless all of your devices come from a single company like Apple or Samsung, it can actually be very difficult to send files between a phone, computer, laptop, or tablet. So, imagine my surprise when I discovered that FTP, a 53-year-old protocol, is still one of the fastst and easiest solutions for this problem.