IT General

I used to think bigger was better when it came to computers, but I’ve begun to change my thinking on that. Mini PCs are more powerful now than ever before, and they have actually redefined what a desktop should be in my mind.

If you only use the clipboard feature occasionally, the default Windows clipboard is serviceable enough. However, if your workflow relies heavily on copy-pasting stuff (like mine does), there are better tools available. Ditto is one such tool. It's an open-source clipboard manager meant for power users.

Ever find yourself comfortable in bed, only to realize your PC is still running across the room? Do you want a way to shut down your PC with a single tap on your phone? Well, here’s how I added a one-tap kill switch for my Windows PC on my Android home screen.

One of the biggest buzzwords I remember from the 90s was "convergence", where different types of technology would all come together in a single device. Our smartphones are convergent devices. You can replace your mail, music, movies, books, and more with just this one device that does everything. By and large, I think convergence like this was a good thing.

TikTok competitor UpScrolled has surged up Apple's App Store rankings after users began turning to the new platform en masse. According to social media sentiment, many are on the hunt for alternatives to TikTok after new U.S. owners were officially instated this week, with expected algorithm changes raising questions about what content American TikTok users will be shown.

UpScrolled unexpectedly climbed to the top 10 in Apple's U.S., UK, and Australian App Stores on Sunday, with and is now the second ranked free app in the former two — while TikTok isn't even breaking the top 25.

The App Store charts at the time of writing. Credit: Mashable screenshot / App Store

The app's influx of new users overwhelmed its servers over the weekend. "Crazy load on our servers. So exciting!" UpScrolled founder and CEO Issam Hijazi posted on the platform on Sunday. "Sorry about the errors and glitches, we are increasing our capacity to handle the load. We expect things to become more stable in the next 12-24 hours."

Credit: Mashable screenshot / UpScrolled

Launched in 2025 by Hijazi as an alternative to social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram, UpScrolled allows users to share photos, videos, and text posts, and features a chronological feed for accounts you follow. There is also a discover feed, which UpScrolled says orders content by likes, comments, and reshares, "plus a touch of randomness to ensure every post still has a chance to be seen."

The platform has stated it is developing more feeds which may use AI to recommend content based on your past behaviour. However, UpScrolled claims that such features will be "opt-in, fair, and transparent" in how they operate.

SEE ALSO: TikTok deal adds new U.S. owners. Here's what this means for users.

"We exist to put fairness back at the center of social media. Every voice deserves real reach and equal treatment. No shadowbans, no hidden throttling, no pay-to-play favoritism — ever," UpScrolled's mission statement reads. "We don't push agendas — political, commercial, or otherwise. Our rules are clear and applied evenly. Our ranking is explainable, our decisions accountable, and influence comes with responsibility."

So, why are users flocking to UpScrolled?

The interest in UpScrolled notably follows TikTok's announcement last Friday that its U.S. operations have been taken over by a new, majority American-owned joint venture. TikTok's new U.S. ownership has raised fears regarding censorship on the platform, which was compounded by an outage issue that swiftly followed the change of hands.

Notably, U.S. lawmakers previously accused TikTok of pushing pro-Palestinian content to users, citing this as one of their reasons for supporting the app's ban in the country. TikTok's new owners, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, have stated they will retrain and update its recommendation algorithm, and take control of U.S. content moderation.

SEE ALSO: Meta's censorship of Palestine content is 'systemic,' Human Rights Watch finds

Some TikTok users have also expressed privacy concerns regarding relatively minor changes to TikTok's terms of service, which now state that the app may collect precise location data unless you opt out. Even so, many people moving to UpScrolled, who are posting about it online, have cited other platforms' alleged censorship of pro-Palestinian content as the reason, with some further claiming suppression of anti-ICE sentiments. TikTok itself has said it's investigating claims of the word "Epstein" disappearing in direct messages, but said it wasn't deliberately censoring the name of the convicted child sex offender.

I’m still on here too don’t worry. Just checking out a cool new app that promises not to censor pro Palestinian content. Excited to see how it shakes out!

— Taylor Lorenz (@taylorlorenz.bsky.social) 26 January 2026 at 04:44

UpScrolled founder Hijazi has expressed unequivocal support for Palestine, creating the app in late 2023 as a response to online discourse and "selective censorship" on social media platforms. Headquartered in Australia, the app was officially launched in mid-2025 and lists pro-Palestinian organisations such as Tech for Palestine and Watermelon Pictures among its partners. Hijazi himself is Palestinian-Jordanian-Australian, and has voiced concern about censorship of pro-Palestinian content by big tech companies.

"Larry Ellison, the owner of Oracle, is the biggest contributor to the Friends [of the Israeli Defence Force] charity," Hijazi said, speaking at ArabCon 2025 last September. "And that tells you something. If that person, who is friends with [Israeli prime minister] Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel in general is going to own 80 percent of TikTok moving on, and if Netanyahu himself is saying the importance of utilising TikTok and X to spread their narrative, that tells you a lot of things."

Oracle is one of TikTok's new owners in the U.S., holding a 15 percent share in the joint venture, while its executive vice president Kenneth Glueck sits on the board of directors. It is also responsible for storing and securing U.S. TikTok users' data.

As such, many TikTok users who support Palestine now consider UpScrolled to be an attractive alternative.

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Upscrolled is really good if anyone’s wondering. And no fascist weirdo billionaire owner censoring/burying 90% of posts like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Tik Tok.

— Adam McKay (@ghostpanther.bsky.social) January 26, 2026 at 3:07 AM

Upscrolled just hit #2 on the App Store for social apps. Highly recommend grabbing your username at least. It’s made by a Palestinian guy and the reason it’s so popular is because TikTok is censoring Alex Pretti content. Good stuff :)

— mon mothma with rizz (@space-ghost.com) January 27, 2026 at 12:18 AM

Mo Hamz just lost his 39th Instagram account for speaking about Palestine. That's why he joined UpScrolled. That's why we exist. No shadowbans. No suppression. Your followers see what you post. Join Mo on UpScrolled. #UpScrolled #MoHamz

[image or embed]

— UpScrolled (@upscrolled.bsky.social) January 23, 2026 at 8:33 PM

The sudden surge of interest in UpScrolled is reminiscent of the X users' search for alternatives such as BlueSky after Elon Musk took control of the microblogging platform in late 2022. Thousands of users fled X in the following months, tanking the app's revenue as advertisers left as well. More recently, many TikTok users turned to Rednote, aka Xiaohongshu, when it looked as though a U.S. ban would be put in place.

Shrinking is back for Season 3, and the first episode has already made us feel all the feels.

But aside from the episode's poignant ending, there's also a surprise celebrity cameo that has people talking: Back to the Future star Michael J. Fox, who pops up in a memorable scene with Harrison Ford.

So who does Fox play, and why is it significant?

SEE ALSO: 'Shrinking' Season 3 review: My heart can't take it Who does Michael J. Fox play in Shrinking Season 3?

At the start of the episode, Paul (Harrison Ford) visits a neurology clinic to discuss the tremors he's experiencing in his left hand as a result of Parkinson's disease. While waiting for his appointment, he takes a seat in next to a man who asks him what he's in for.

"Parkinson's," responds Paul. "You?"

"Just a haircut," comes his reply.

The man, Gerry (Michael J. Fox), goes on to have a conversation with Paul about Parkinson's disease and the various symptoms that can come as it progresses, including changes to speech, postural instability, muscle stiffness, chronic pain, and hallucinations.

"Enough whining," says Gerry at the end of their chat, shortly before Paul is called in. "I'm still here, so f*** Parkinson's."

Paul repeats it back as he follows the doctor. "F*** Parkinson's."

Featured Video For You Nia DaCosta and Jack O'Connell dive into '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' What's the significance of Fox's cameo?

The cameo is particularly significant because Michael J. Fox himself has Parkinson's disease: He was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson's in 1991 at the age of 29, after noticing a tremor in his finger.

After making his diagnosis public in the late '90s, Fox launched a foundation to spread awareness and raise money for Parkinson's research. In 2025, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his advocacy.

Fox's cameo not only packs an emotional punch in Shrinking, but it also continues to spread awareness about the various symptoms that the disease entails.

Shrinking Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV with new episodes Wednesdays.

Tech updates happen constantly, making it easy to forget the basic foundations that built our current digital society. We're hitting an amazing milestone this year because it's the thirtieth birthday of some truly iconic software. Anyone using tech today should really take a moment to reflect on the anniversary of these revolutionary platforms, which we rely on daily without a second thought.

A brand-new Tacoma starts just over $32K—a number that would have sounded laughable for a Porsche a few years ago. Today, that same cash can get you a used Cayenne E-Hybrid, a luxury plug-in SUV that once topped $80K.

Volkswagen has recalled more than 40,000 of its ID.4 electric SUVs for one of the worst reasons imaginable: risk of battery fire.

There are actually several separate recalls going on here, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but they're all very similar. First, 43,881 Volkswagen ID.4 vehicles, produced from Sept. 2, 2022 to Apr. 10, 2025, have been recalled. "In rare circumstances," the NHTSA says, "the high-voltage battery modules may experience a thermal propagation, possibly resulting in a vehicle fire."

SEE ALSO: Ex-Volkswagen execs convicted of fraud over Dieselgate scandal

The issue stems from shifted electrodes in the cars' batteries, which can cause a short circuit, resulting in a fire. To make matters worse, there are several similar but separate issues that could cause battery fire here, with some ID.4 cars being more at risk than others.

For owners with affected vehicles, Volkswagen will "conduct a battery health check inspection and install updated SDD software on vehicles within this campaign, and will replace potentially affected HV battery cell modules," for free.

An additional 670 VW ID.4 vehicles, model years 2023 and 2024, were recalled in January due to misaligned electrodes in the batteries, which can again cause vehicle fire. Plus, 311 vehicles were recalled in December last year over a similar issue.

This isn't just a theoretical problem; several vehicles actually caught fire because of it. For 1,299 Volkswagen ID.4 EVs manufactured between Nov. 3, 2022, and Sept. 22, 2024, Volkswagen recommends that owners park the cars outside instead of in a garage, and charge them only on AC slow chargers.

European owners of ID.4 vehicles will be happy to know that this issue only affects American-made ID.4s, whose batteries were produced by SK Battery America, in its U.S. plant in Georgia. The Volkswagen ID.4 cars that were manufactured in Europe do not exhibit the same issue.

TL;DR: The Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box has dropped to just $24.99 at Amazon. That's 29% off its usual $34.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box $24.99 at Amazon
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If you’re a Magic: The Gathering player who’s been curious about the Avatar The Last Airbender expansion, it’s never been cheaper to dive in. As of Jan. 28, the Magic: The Gathering Avatar The Last Airbender Beginner Box has fallen to a new all-time low price of $24.99, undercutting the previous record we reported on by $2. This is confirmed by price tracker camelcamelcamel.

This Beginner Box is designed specifically for new players, but it doesn’t skimp on content. Inside, you’ll find 100 Avatar-themed cards, including two guided 20-card tutorial decks that walk players through their very first match as Aang versus Zuko. Once you’ve got the basics down, the box also includes eight themed 20-card half-decks, which can be mixed and matched to create full 40-card decks focused on different bending styles and strategies.

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You’re also getting all the extras needed to actually play: two playboards, two Spindown life counters, learn-to-play guides, double-sided tokens, and a rules reference booklet. It’s essentially a board-game-style MTG experience that removes the usual learning curve.

With a strong 4.4-star rating on Amazon across thousands of recent purchases, this has already earned a reputation as a beginner favorite. Altogether, this is a great jumping-in point for those new to Magic: The Gathering, or veterans ready to see what the Avatar The Last Airbender expansion is all about. 

For more Magic: The Gathering cards at a good price, you can also grab booster packs from the MTG Final Fantasy expansion for $8.99 each. What’s more, you can still score over $50 off the Magic: The Gathering Bloomburrow Play Booster Box at Amazon. 

SAVE OVER $30: As of Jan. 28, the Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet and Bouquet of Roses is on sale for $83.99 at Amazon. This is $35.99 off its bundle list price of $119.98.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet and Bouquet of Roses $83.99 at Amazon
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There have been some great deals popping up on various Lego Botanicals sets lately. Whether you're looking for something colorful for your home ahead of spring or shopping for Valentine's Day gifts, it's a good time to shop. As of Jan. 28, Amazon is offering an excellent Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet and Bouquet of Roses deal for those looking to double up.

The Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet and Bouquet of Roses sets you up with both sets for $83.99. This saves you $35.99 compared to buying each set at full price. Keep in mind it's listed as a limited-time deal. If it's jumped to the top of your Valentine's Day gift list, now is the time to grab it.

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Both are recommended for adults due to the complexity of their construction and come with plenty of pieces to keep you busy: 822 for the roses and 756 for the flower bouquet. The roses set features a dozen red roses in different stages of bloom, with four sprigs of baby’s breath mixed in. The flower bouquet offers a nice variety of roses, snapdragons, poppies, asters, daisies, and grasses.

This bundle is a nice way to grab two lovely Lego sets for cheaper than buying individually. Don't miss out on your chance to score the Lego Botanicals Flower Bouquet and Bouquet of Roses bundle for $83.99 at Amazon.

Lego has plenty more floral sets to check out right now. Have a look at our breakdown of the best new floral Lego sets to see what the company has recently released. And if you're curious to see more sets worth giving for Valentine's Day this year, our roundup of the best Lego sets for Valentine’s Day can help you out.

BBC's Lord of the Flies adaptation has a new trailer and it's clear that this all ends in friendship, right?

Following two lauded film versions, William Golding's iconic 1954 novel has been adapted for TV by Jack Thorne (Adolescence) and Marc Munden (The Mark of Cain), following a group of students stranded on an island in the Pacific after a plane crash. And there's no grown-ups.

The White Lotus composer Cristobal Tapia de Veer has scored the series while none other than Hans Zimmer wrote the series' main theme and additional music with Kara Talve.

SEE ALSO: The 15 best British TV shows of 2025 and where to stream them

The four-episode miniseries stars an ensemble of over 30 boys, many of whom are making their screen debuts — and this is a famously violent story. Each episode is named after their characters; Winston Sawyers plays leader Ralph, Lox Pratt plays rival Jack, with David McKenna as Piggy and Ike Talbut as Simon.

If you loved Yellowjackets, get acquainted with the disturbing classic that inspired it.

All episodes of Lord of the Flies will be on BBC iPlayer Feb. 8. U.S. dates TBC.

Google Search is not what it was. With the AI overviews, random panels, ads, SEO sludge, and more making the actual search results harder to find than ever, I was ready for a change. Looking for something modern, but more like a classic search engine, I gave Startpage a try. Here's how it went.

SAVE OVER $35: As of Jan. 28, Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds are on sale for $44.98 at Amazon. This is $35.01 off their list price of $79.99.

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Buying a new pair of earbuds doesn't have to make a massive dent in your wallet. If you're on the hunt for a budget-friendly pair, it's worth having a look at the Soundcore by Anker Space A40. This is especially true right now, as select colors are on sale for $44.98 at Amazon.

Both the black and blue Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds are marked down to this price at Amazon, but you can also score the white pair on sale for just one cent more at $44.99. All of these models are just a couple of dollars away from their lowest-ever price of $42.74, so now is a great time to grab them for a low price.

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No matter what you're listening to, these Soundcore earbuds sound great thanks to double-layer diaphragm drivers. They have a noise cancelling system that can reduce up to 98% of sounds around you, so you won't feel constantly interrupted by what's going on around you. On top of that, they offer up to 50 hours of battery life when you use the charging case.

Don't miss out on this great deal on the Soundcore by Anker Space A40 earbuds at Amazon.

These aren't the only earbuds worth checking out. Our roundup of the best budget earbuds highlights even more picks we think are worth your time and money.

There's something relentless about Shrinking to me. It's just so genuine. Without being contrived, with timely jokes, with a knowing Jason Segel smile and... for f***'s sake! Why am I cry-laughing?! Again!?

Over multiple seasons, Shrinking has served up simply superb comedy that punches you in the heart and makes you deeply re-appreciate the people around you, flaws and all. Created by Segel, Bill Lawrence, and Brett Goldstein, Shrinking expertly reflects on the absurdity of grief, makes one hell of an argument for forgiveness, and celebrates the complexity of relationships. It's almost outrageous to see human connection rendered so magnificent, with facetious lines like "f*** you for being emotionally healthy right now" and "playing the Dead Mom Card" delivered with a whole heart. Every episode makes me want to scream and hug someone, which I would do, if I wasn't still sitting on this station bench dumbfounded by the Season 2 finale.

SEE ALSO: 'Shrinking' Season 3, episode 1 has the perfect celebrity cameo

Season 3 picks up exactly where we left these now lived-in characters and ponders the courage it takes to move forward — after loss, in a relationship, through illness. And once again, Apple TV's series hits home, and I don't actually think I can handle it.

Shrinking Season 3 is all about the fear of moving forward Jessica Williams and Christa Miller in "Shrinking." Credit: Apple TV

The first season of Shrinking focused on the immediate aftermath of Tia's death and how her nearest each coped with it — especially her husband Jimmy (Segel), daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell), and best friend Gaby (Jessica Williams). Season 2 moved their raw grief into both anger and forgiveness, bringing Goldstein out of the writers room to play the man whose drunk driving accident killed Tia. Now, Season 3 focuses on a theme of moving forward and the courage it takes to do so, as well as the power of asking for help (in therapy or otherwise) — Shrinking's constant underlying theme.

Probably one of the hardest relationships for audiences to understand will be the family's acceptance of Louis (Goldstein), a connection established in Season 2 in which Alice, Jimmy, and his best friend Brian (Michael Urie) forgave the man who caused their pain. Honestly, such a bond feels like it should be unbelievable, yet the show has spent the time with these characters, developing in them forgiveness through shared trauma. Thanks to Shrinking's impeccable writing and performances from Segel, Maxwell, Urie, and Goldstein, I actually buy it. And without spoiling anything, Season 3 does acknowledge the tension here.

Brett Goldstein and Jason Segel both created and star in "Shrinking." Credit: Apple TV

It's not the only forward motion in the third season; Jimmy considers finding love again, Alice debates college in Connecticut (as "passionate girl dad" Jimmy pretends he's not dying inside about it), Sean (Luke Tennie) enjoys a casual dating life and semi-resolved father issues, Brian and Charlie (Devin Kawaoka) prepare for parenthood with help from the proudly domineering Liz (Christa Miller) and delightful Derek (Ted McGinley).

Featured Video For You Jason Segel and the 'Shirinking' cast reveal their tricks to de-stress

As Shrinking's powerhouse of a cast member, Williams chews up scenes as Gaby yet again, as she leans into an actually healthy relationship with other Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.) and yearns for patients with higher stakes problems. When Williams enters a scene, her scene partners struggle for my attention, with her flawless delivery and comedic timing one of the show's best elements. Nobody delivers a compliment or a takedown like Jessica Williams.

And then there's Harrison Ford.

Shrinking Season 3 sees Harrison Ford at his best Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in "Shrinking." Credit: Apple TV

Without a doubt, Season 3 sees Ford at his absolute best yet as curmudgeonly genius Paul, as he navigates his increasingly visible tremors and cognitive changes from Parkinson's disease. The show quite literally has Paul saying "F*** Parkinson's" multiple times, and you can feel it. In episode 1, the show includes a moving cameo by screen legend Michael J. Fox, who uses humour to unpack some of the symptoms of Parkinson's, ones he personally faces in real life.

Last season, an ever-stoic Paul eased into being vulnerable with his friends, family, and partner Julie (Wendie Malick) about his neurological condition, and this season, Ford keeps Paul in the same furious state of disdain toward talking about it. However, he finally (and reluctantly) requests help from Jimmy, asking, "If you see me sinking, pull me up," a request that echoes the show's theme song lyrics

This fear of leaning on others for help remains one of Shrinking's core explorations; Paul is insistent on "not being a self pitying sh*thead." Alice fears leaving her "frighteningly loyal support group" for college on the other side of the country. And Louis finds baffling support in people whose lives he impacted so deeply.

It's this humans-will-surprise-you magic that makes Shrinking so wonderful, a laugh-out-loud comedy that reminds you that asking for support and supporting others in turn is an everyday superpower. An adamant champion of human complexity for three seasons, this show is so good it boggles my brain.

Shrinking Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV with new episodes Wednesdays.

Whereas SATA SSDs are pretty tame regarding thermals, the latest and greatest SSDs can get scorching hot under strenuous loads, and next-gen SSDs will get even hotter. No worries, though, because your motherboard's built-in SSD heatsink can solve the overheating issue, in most cases.

Stephen Colbert only has four months left of The Late Show, and everyone is wondering what he plans to do next.

In the Late Night video above he speaks to Seth Meyers about the end of his show (the final episode will be aired on May 21), and any bucket list guests he wants to speak to before it finishes (the new Pope), before the conversation turns to rumors of future plans.

Colbert refuses to confirm or deny the various rumors ("I've got to keep my options open," he says), but he does rule out a $13.5 million deal with Netflix.

The reason? "Not enough money."

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

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 January 28, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: A copy

• Green: Scrubbers

• Blue: Vinyl parts

• Purple: Extra

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Imitation

• Green: Cleaning supplies

• Blue: Components of a record player

• Purple: Spare ___

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 #962 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Imitation: DUMMY, MOCK, PRETEND, SHAM

• Cleaning supplies: BUCKET, GLOVES, RAG, SOAP

• Components of a record player: MOTOR, NEEDLE, PLATTER, TONEARM

• Spare ___: ME, RIB, TIME, TIRE

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 January 28, 2026

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're always aware.

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 January 28, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 28, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Zen state

The words are related to calmness.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe calming down.

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 Mindfulness.

NYT Strands word list for January 28

• Focus

• Meditation

• Notice

• Mindfulness

• Relax

• Listen

• Breathe

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're unkind.

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 January 28, 2026 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 January 28, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Evil.

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 C.

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...

CRUEL

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 January 28, 2026

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.