IT General

TL;DR: Scan anything, anywhere with a lifetime subscription to the iScanner App, now only $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

Opens in a new window Credit: iScanner iScanner App: Lifetime Subscription $39.99
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We may not always have access to a bulky scanner, but our smartphone or tablet is likely close at hand. iScanner App transforms your iPhone or iPad into a portable scanner that can digitize documents anywhere, and right now you can lock in a lifetime subscription for just $39.99 (reg. $199.90).

It’s surprising how often we need to scan things in 2026. If you’re looking for a more convenient way to scan things for work, school, or personal reasons, the iScanner App is ready to help. It lets you digitize physical documents from anywhere, transforming your iPhone or iPad into a scanning device.

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Need to submit your signature? Looking to save a handwritten note? Do it in seconds with iScanner. Just point your device’s camera at whatever you would like to scan. The app’s AI-powered features handle the rest — it detects and adjusts the document’s borders to give you a top-quality scan without distortions.

After scanning, edit in the app using color-correction and noise-removal tools. You can then save it as a PDF, JPG, DOC, XLS, PPT, or TXT. PDF files can also be edited with the iScanner App, which offers tools to sign, add text, or auto-fill documents. There are also scanning modes for text translation, object counting, measurements, and more.

If letting you scan and edit PDFs wasn’t enough, iScanner App also works as a document manager that organizes your scans into handy folders. Use the convenient drag-and-drop feature to sort them, and lock folders and files with a PIN for privacy.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Give yourself a whole new set of tools with this lifetime license to Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC, now just $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office 2024 Home & Business for Mac or PC Lifetime License $99.97
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If you need to get motivated in 2026, sometimes all it takes is a new set of tools. That’s what the Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business for Mac or PC lifetime license offers, giving your computer five essential apps to help you tackle both personal and professional tasks. Right now, you can get them all for only $99.97 (reg. $249.99).

If you didn’t find a new computer under the tree this Christmas, you can gift yourself the next best thing with this Microsoft Office 2024 Home and Business license. It works on both Mac and PC, so anyone can use it. It outfits your device with a suite of five helpful apps geared toward helping you tackle all the tasks that come your way in 2026 and beyond.

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Curious what’s included with this version? It starts with the classics — Word to help you draft a document, Excel to handle all your spreadsheet needs, and PowerPoint to ensure you make a lasting impression with your presentations. You’ll also have access to Outlook, which keeps your communications organized, and OneNote, which digitizes your note-taking process.

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StackSocial prices subject to change.

With A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, HBO continues to build out its roster of Game of Thrones spin-offs. But as its slate of Westeros-set series grows more crowded, so, too, does the Westerosi timeline.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' trailer promises epic Westerosi jousting action

So, how does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms fit into the history of Westeros? Let's break it down, from the basic timeline to the exact dates for all you history hounds out there.

When does A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms take place?

In the simplest terms, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place in between the events of House of the Dragon and Game of Thrones. As a bridge between the two series, it offers up a new onscreen perspective of Westeros. The other shows see the Seven Kingdoms at war for the Iron Throne. Here, though, the Targaryens rule during a time of relative peace.

It's during this peace that A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, based on the Dunk and Egg novellas by George R.R. Martin, unfolds. Season 1 adapts the novella The Hedge Knight, which tells the tale of Ser Duncan the Tall (Peter Claffey) and his new squire Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell) as they venture to the tourney at Ashford Meadow to earn coin and glory.

SEE ALSO: 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms': 5 things we learned at the New York Comic Con panel Good to know, but what are the exact dates for each Westeros show?

To get more granular with it, HBO's current selection of Game of Thrones spin-offs span a little under two centuries.

House of the Dragon is first up in chronological order. It details the war for succession between Rhaenyra Targaryen (Emma D'Arcy) and her half-brother Aegon II Targaryen (Tom Glynn-Carney), which became known as the Dance of the Dragons. That civil war lasted from 129 to 131 AC (after Aegon I Targaryen's conquest of Westeros).

Next up in the timeline is A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The novella The Hedge Knight takes place in 209 AC, so 78 years after the end of the Dance of the Dragons. A lot has happened in Westeros since then, but the most crucial thing to know is that there are officially no more dragons. The last Targaryen dragon died in 153 AC, and with its loss, the ruling family's revered, almost god-like status as dragon riders has faded.

Last but not least is the show that started it all: Game of Thrones, which begins in 298 AC. That means A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms takes place a little under a century before Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) begins her quest to take back the Iron Throne.

Despite the many decades between A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and Game of Thrones, their stories may share some overlapping characters. Prince Aemon Targaryen (Peter Vaughan), the Wall's Maester in Game of Thrones, is serving at the Citadel in Oldtown during the events of the Dunk and Egg novellas. And Brynden Rivers, also known the Three-Eyed Raven, makes an appearance in the third Dunk and Egg novella, The Mystery Knight.

These overlaps likely won't come up in Season 1 of A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, but they are helpful when putting together the puzzle pieces of the wide world of Westeros.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

TL;DR: A wide range of AI courses are available to take for free on Udemy.

The world of AI is constantly developing. If you're feeling the need to keep pace with this ever-changing landscape, there are a number of online courses you can take. You can learn all about chatbots, AI agents, and machine learning with Udemy. And better yet, a number of the best online courses are totally free.

There's a lot to consider on Udemy. We recommend taking some time to properly check out all the options, but to get you started, we've lined up a selection of standout courses on AI:

• A Gentle Introduction to Generative AI

• AI Art Generation Guide: Create AI Images For Free

• AI for Beginners: Learn The Basics of ChatGPT

• AI for Business and Personal Productivity: A Practical Guide

• AI for Students: Boost Learning & Research with Gen AI

• AI Fundamentals: From Basics to Generative AI

• AI in Agriculture: Practical Introductory Course

• AI Literacy Essentials: Working Responsibly with AI

• Artificial Intelligence for Healthcare

• Become an AI-Powered Engineer: Cursor, the AI-First IDE

• ChatGPT Prompt Engineering

• ChatGPT, Midjourney, Firefly, Bard, DALL-E, AI Crash Course

• How Smart People Use AI to Think, Lead, and Grow

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

• Master Generative AI for Developer Productivity With Pieces

• Prompt Engineering Mastery

• Training AI with Human Data, Explained for Annotators

• Worldbuilding AI Futures

These free online courses don't include certificates of completion or direct instructor messaging, but you still get unrestricted access to all the video content. That means there's nothing stopping you from enrolling righy away.

Find the best free AI courses on Udemy.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is setting course for the Sea of Monsters, and just like in Season 1, there are bound to be a few adaptation changes ahead.

SEE ALSO: 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 2 review: Rough waters ahead for 'Sea of Monsters' adaptation

Whether it's adding new characters or tweaking major book events entirely, some of these changes from Rick Riordan's original books fall flat, while others enrich the world of the show. Here are all the biggest changes between Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 and The Sea of Monsters. We'll be updating every week, so be sure to come back for more adaptation breakdowns.

Episode 1: Grover meets new characters, like Alison Simms. Aryan Simhadri in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Season 2 kicks off with Percy having a nightmare about Grover in danger, just like The Sea of Monsters does. However, there are some key differences: Grover isn't in Florida, meaning we don't get him running into St. Augustine Bridal Boutique. (Don't worry, though, the show doesn't abandon the wedding dress storyline.) Instead, he's in the jungle, where he meets a crew of demigods like Alison Simms (Beatrice Kitsos). They're new characters who have allied themselves with Luke (Charlie Bushnell) and Kronos, meaning Percy and his crew will have even more rogue demigods to contend with.

Episode 1: Basically everything about Tyson is different. Daniel Diemer in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 introduces Tyson (Daniel Diemer), Percy's Cyclops half-brother. In the books, he is unhoused, and while he attends Meriwether College Prep with Percy, no one gives him any extra support outside of school. That changes in the series, as Sally Jackson (Virginia Kull) meets him while volunteering at a shelter, takes him in, and gets him into Meriwether. That means she and Percy already know he's a Cyclops, as opposed to in the book, where the Mist disguises his true nature to Percy.

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SEE ALSO: Watch Phineas and Ferb recap 'Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 1

I'm always happy to see Sally get to showcase her kindness and empathy, and I'm intrigued by whether she's aware of Tyson also being Poseidon's (Toby Stephens) son. Based on her telling Percy that they might have more in common than they think — hence the "two sides of the same coin" talk — it seems like she's got a pretty good idea, giving her more investment in Percy and Tyson's relationship.

Another big change with Tyson is how he speaks. In The Sea of Monsters, he has a more childlike speech pattern, as Cyclops age more slowly than humans. Here, though, he sounds like any of the other characters. Perhaps this was a case of the book dialogue simply not translating well to screen, for fear of infantilizing or stereotyping Tyson. Still, it seems like book Tyson's loyalty and enthusiasm carry over into show Tyson.

Episode 1: The Laistrygonian giant dodgeball scene gets a big change.

The Sea of Monsters opens with a monster attack in the form of a deadly gym class. Laistrygonian giants posing as visitors from Detroit sneak into Meriwether and wreak havoc during a dodgeball game, hurling fireballs at Percy, Tyson, and their classmates. Percy Jackson and the Olympians moves this fight scene from Meriwether to Camp Half-Blood, with the Laistrygonians ambushing Percy, Tyson, and Annabeth on their way to camp. In moving the scene, the attack winds up replacing the book's Colchis Bull fight.

SEE ALSO: 7 magic school series to buy young readers that aren't 'Harry Potter'

While there's still a fiery dodgeball element to the Laistrygonian sequence, it misses a lot of the charm from the book's version. Gone are the Laistrygonians' weak disguises, along with the name tags reading Joe Bob, Skull Eater, and Marrow Sucker. These disguises, along with the high school setting of the scene, are a huge part of the appeal of Riordan's series in the first place: seeing Greek mythology transposed into our day-to-day world. I understand wanting to fold two monster attacks into one due to time and budget constraints, but there's still a lot lost when you rip away one of the defining elements of the book series.

Episode 1: Chiron is fired for different reasons.

Rounding out the biggest changes from episode 1 is Chiron's (Glynn Turman) firing from Camp Half-Blood. In the show, he's fired because he's the son of Kronos, which makes the Greek gods wary about his allegiances. The book takes it a step farther: In The Sea of Monsters, Chiron's connection to Kronos makes him a prime suspect in the poisoning of Thalia's (Tamara Smart) tree. He's already fired by the time Luke poisons the tree in the show, though. Percy sees Luke attack the tree in person, furthering the animosity between the two.

Episode 2: Whoa, there's a lot of drama between Percy and Annabeth. Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Percabeth shippers, buckle up, because this episode delivers so much angst. Chiron reveals the Great Prophecy to Annabeth before telling her that she can't let Percy go on any quests. Cue Annabeth planning to sabotage Percy in the chariot race should it come down to the two of them. Later, she suggests she go on Clarisse's (Dior Goodjohn) quest for the Golden Fleece without Percy. All of this is new, and it's stressful, adding more distrust between the pair.

Despite all the new twists in how the quest comes together, the end result is the same: Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson set out for the Sea of Monsters. However, Percy and Annabeth are more at odds than ever before, setting a more adversarial tone for the quest ahead.

Episode 3: Percy Jackson and the Olympians shows off a different side of Clarisse. Dior Goodjohn in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 3 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 makes a few tweaks to Percy, Annabeth, and Tyson's encounter with Luke aboard the Princess Andromeda, getting new characters like Alison involved, and even having Tyson set off a bomb in totally badass fashion.

The biggest change in the episode, though, is that we get more of Clarisse's perspective as she sets out on her quest. We witness firsthand her trip to the Oracle, along with her father, Ares (Adam Copeland), gifting her a ship and a zombie crew. Unlike in the book, these are losing soldiers from a vast variety of wars, as opposed to simply Confederate soldiers. For a number of reasons... Good call, Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

But Ares' gift is a double-edged sword. He immediately undermines her field experience to the soldiers and threatens Clarisse should she fail. Dad of the Year, he is not. That scene fuels Clarisse's insecurities heading into her mission, which only get worse as the soldiers repeatedly ignore her.

By the episode's end, though, she's won them over by promising them a place in Elysium once they die. Is this a check she can actually cash? I'm not sure yet. However, her rousing speech is proof of her burgeoning leadership skills. Plus, seeing Clarisse actually struggle with the beginning of her quest is something we don't get much of in The Sea of Monsters, beyond a tense conversation Percy overhears between her and Ares. That's one of the benefits of a TV adaptation that isn't a book narrated in first person: We get to take in other perspectives. As a result, Clarisse gets more layers this episode, and Goodjohn gets to truly shine as a more prominent member of Percy Jackson and the Olympians' ensemble.

Episode 4: Percy Jackson and the Olympians gives us flashbacks to Annabeth, Luke, and Thalia's journey to Camp Half-Blood. Tamara Smart in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Following in the footsteps of episode 3's focus on Clarisse, episode 4 continues Percy Jackson and the Olympians' trend of showcasing new, non-Percy perspectives. This time, we get that in the form of flashbacks to Annabeth's time traveling with Luke and Thalia (Tamara Smart), daughter of Zeus (Courtney B. Vance), to Camp Half-Blood. A dangerous encounter between young Annabeth and a band of Cyclopes prompts Thalia's decision to find sanctuary at Camp Half-Blood, as opposed to continuing to live life on the road. In Annabeth's mind, this was the fatal decision that led to Thalia's death on the edges of camp. If she hadn't been captured by the Cyclopes in the first place, then Thalia would still be alive.

The actual Cyclopes encounter plays out differently in the show than in the books, which saw 7-year-old Annabeth saving a trapped Luke, Thalia, and Grover from a Brooklyn-based Cyclops' house of horrors. That fateful meeting led to Annabeth's deep hatred of all Cyclopes. However, in the show, Annabeth's ire is directed less at the Cyclopes, and more at herself for getting captured in the first place and slowing Thalia and Luke down. It's a poignant shift, one that emphasizes her survivor's guilt. It also gives us our first look at Smart in action as Thalia, getting us ready for Percy Jackson and the Olympians' Season 3 adaptation of The Titan's Curse.

Episode 4: The Scylla and Charybdis fight gives Clarisse a moral crisis.

Just like in the books, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, and Clarisse face off with Scylla and Charybdis in order to enter the Sea of Monsters. But the show adds in a trolley problem-esque twist, courtesy of Annabeth's battle strategy. To get past Scylla, all Clarisse needs to do is sacrifice six of her men, one for each tentacle. Should she knowingly send these soldiers to their doom in order for guaranteed success? Or should she try her original plan of getting past Charybdis?

In the end, Clarisse follows Annabeth's plan. Yet the guilt of sacrificing her crew members overwhelms her, and she joins them on deck. Once again, the added depth to Clarisse works wonders here. It's great to see that as she's stepped up in terms of importance, the show has stepped up just as much in terms of letting audience members into her inner world.

Episode 5: Percy Jackson and the Olympians mashes up Circe and the Sirens. Walker Scobell and Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 5 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians mashes up two key encounters from The Sea of Monsters, those with sorceress Circe (Rosemarie DeWitt) and the Sirens. Here, instead of immediately turning Percy into a guinea pig the way she does in the books, Circe tries to keep Percy and Annabeth at her island resort with the promise that she can train them — and the other many demigods staying on her island — to get past the Sirens. Of course, she's lying and merely trying to keep people around to avoid the loneliness she's experienced for centuries.

The end result of the Circe encounter is the same: She turns Percy into a guinea pig, Annabeth saves him, and the two leave the island. But along the way, we get a new perspective on a legendary antagonist of Greek mythology, as well as some fascinating discussion of Percy and Annabeth's fatal flaws. As far as adaptation changes go, I'm not mad at it — especially since we still get to see Percy in guinea pig form.

Episode 5: That encounter with the Sirens looks way different.

Percy and Annabeth's meeting with the Sirens looks nowhere near how it looks in The Sea of Monsters. In the book, Percy plugs his ears with wax and ties Annabeth to the mast, as she wants to hear what the Sirens have to sing. In the show, after some drama about ear wax, Percy winds up on the mast, but Annabeth still falls under the Sirens' spell. 

Annabeth's vision differs between page and screen. In the book, she sees herself having a picnic with her father and Luke in a New York that she's designed. The show features a vision of Grover needing her to solve conflict between Luke and Percy, which then gives way to another vision of Annabeth slaying the Sirens and impressing her mother, Athena (Andra Day). 

As for Percy's vision? All he says he saw was Annabeth, which grounded him and led him to save her. But if his ears weren't blocked, and the Sirens' songs show you your greatest desire, and all he saw was Annabeth… Then that means for Percabeth fans, this sequence was a treat.

Episode 5: Clarisse and Grover team up against Polyphemus.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians introduces the unlikely team-up of Clarisse and Grover, who try to work together to escape Polyphemus' (Aleks Paunovic) cave. While their partnership isn't something we get to see in the books due to Percy's first-person narration, it's fun to witness in the show. The real switch-up here, though, is the reveal that thanks to his sense of smell, Polyphemus has known who Grover is the whole time. Plus, he's been using him as bait to lure Percy Jackson to his island. That's new territory for the show to tread, so what's Polyphemus' endgame?

Episode 6: Luke crashes the Golden Fleece party.

Several elements of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2, episode 6 differ from The Sea of Monsters, from Polyphemus planting a decoy Golden Fleece to Hippocampus Rainbow's late introduction. But the biggest difference is undoubtedly Luke's arrival on Polyphemus' island. While he never shows up there in the book, his appearance there in episode 6 creates one of the show's most fascinating moral dilemmas.

In their skirmish with Polyphemus, Annabeth and Percy get separated. He winds up trapped in Polyphemus' cave with Clarisse and Grover, while Annabeth gets injured just outside it. Luke discovers her there and realizes she's dying. The only thing that can save her is the Golden Fleece inside the cave. Percy realizes that if he gives it to Luke, he'll save Annabeth but doom the quest to save Camp Half-Blood. Even knowing that, he does it anyway.

The whole sequence is a show-only creation, but it's a strong payoff to the discussion of Percy's fatal flaw from episode 5: He cares so deeply for his friends that he will always put them first, no matter the cost. What consequences will Percy's choice have as the show heads into episode 7?

Episode 7: The entire Annabeth rescue mission is new. Leah Sava Jeffries in "Percy Jackson and the Olympians." Credit: Disney / David Bukach

Episode 7 follows a similar shape to the climax of The Sea of Monsters: Percy fights Luke onboard the Princess Andromeda, and Clarisse, true to the prophecy, flies back to Camp Half-Blood alone with the Golden Fleece. However, the actual events leading up to these broader arcs are wildly different. For one, there's the added element of Percy needing to rescue Annabeth. Plus, Clarisse is actually around for the fight, whereas in the book, Percy sends her to the airport with the Fleece before crossing paths with Luke again.

All these shifts allow for a greater emphasis on ties that bind our group of demigods together, especially the newfound respect and friendship between Percy and Clarisse. As sweet as these changes wind up being, part of me does miss the chaos of Chiron and his Party Pony relatives crashing the boat and saving the day, even if creating a centaur stampede would have been in no way practical from a VFX and budget standpoint. You know what makes up for that, though? Seeing Sally Jackson come back to give Percy, Annabeth, Grover, and Tyson a ride back to Camp Half-Blood. Any time she brings out her exasperated demigod mom energy is a good time.

Episode 7: Annabeth realizes the Golden Fleece can save Thalia.

The Sea of Monsters ends with the twist that the Golden Fleece didn't just restore the protective barrier around Camp Half-Blood — it also brought Thalia back to life. However, in Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Annabeth gets a vision that the Fleece could accomplish this, adding even greater personal stakes to getting the Fleece back to Thalia's tree as soon as possible.

Fascinatingly, it turns out that Kronos has kept the possibility of Thalia's revival from Luke. But The Sea of Monsters implies that Luke knew the Fleece could bring Thalia back. After all, Kronos wanted her alive again so he could have another child of the Big Three gods with a chance of fulfilling the Great Prophecy. The show's version of Kronos not telling Luke this crucial fact suggests that he doesn't fully trust him, sowing some seeds of discord between Luke and the Titan he's pledged himself to.

Episode 7: Kronos orders a battle at Camp Half-Blood.

Speaking of Kronos, he plays a bigger role in episode 7 because the Golden Fleece speeds up his return from Tartarus (at least, before a very sassy Percy snatches it off his casket). That role includes pushing Luke to fully attack Camp Half-Blood as a new test of loyalty, hinting at a finale battle that isn't in The Sea of Monsters at all. How will this new climax play out in episode 8?

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 2 is now streaming on Disney+, with a new episode every week.

TL;DR: Watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free on Channel 4. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

There is quite simply no tournament like the Africa Cup of Nations. It's an electric combination of heated rivalries, colorful fans, and flair that is sometimes lacking from elite competitions. We know that the eyes of the footballing world are already fixed on the 2026 World Cup, but this incredible tournament should whet the appetite of fans before the main event next summer.

The likes of Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, Sadio Mane, Bryan Mbuemo, and Victor Osimhen have been battling it out in Morocco. Now we're approaching the dramatic conclusion of this tournament.

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If you're interested in watching the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Africa Cup of Nations?

The Africa Cup of Nations (or AFCON) is the main biennial international men's association football competition in Africa. 24 teams are drawn into six groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group and the four best third-placed teams advance to the knockout rounds.

The defending champion is Ivory Coast. Egypt is the most successful nation in the tournament's history, winning seven times and securing three consecutive titles in 2006, 2008, and 2010.

When is the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations?

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is the 35th edition of the competition. This year's event takes place from Dec. 21 to Jan. 18 in Morocco.

How to watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations is available to live stream for free on Channel 4.

Channel 4 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free by following these simple steps:

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

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5. Watch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free from anywhere in the world

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The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer pretty generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch AFCON without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations before recovering your investment.

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

What is the best VPN for Channel 4?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free platforms like Channel 4, for a number of reasons:

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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 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations for free with ExpressVPN.

SAVE OVER $300: As of Jan. 14, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is on sale for $1,087.86 at Amazon. That's a 23% discount on the list price.

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$1,419.99 Save $332.13   Get Deal

Looking for a new smartphone? How about one that made our list of the best smartphones in 2025? The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is a great option for most people, described by our reviewer as having an "excellent all-around performance." And even better yet, as of Jan. 14, it's on sale for its best-ever price.

With a discount of over $300 ($332.13 to be specific), the price is now down to $1,087.86. This deal is specific to the titanium gray model, but for a little more you can also get the titanium whitesilver, titanium silverblue, and titanium black models.

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And this phone really is stacked with helpful features, including Now Brief that gives you the information you need before you even know you need it. The camera is also impressive, benefiting from AI features like the Audio Eraser which minimizes unwanted background noise in videos. It also has advanced portrait features that preserve natural skin tones and textures for professional-looking photos.

It also comes with Samsung's most powerful processor yet, the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, so you'll be getting a super smooth and fast performing phone. And the Smart Switch feature makes setting up your new phone nice and easy. With minimal effort from you it will transfer all your photos, apps, contacts, messages, and more.

Pick up deal on the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra now.

Stranger Things fans are accusing the Duffer Brothers of using generative AI to write the show's fifth and final season. The speculation arose after viewers believed they spotted AI chatbot ChatGPT open on the creators' laptops in behind-the-scenes documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.

SEE ALSO: 'Stranger Things' fans are furious about the finale. Here's why.

The Stranger Things finale brought the series to an end late last month, wrapping up the popular retro sci-fi show after almost a decade. Unfortunately, the show's conclusion left many viewers dissatisfied, taking to social media to complain that the grand finale felt anticlimactic and unrewarding.

Some fans thought they'd found an explanation for their disappointment when One Last Adventure premiered Monday on Netflix. Covering the production and filming of Stranger Things' final season, the documentary featured footage of the Duffer Brothers working on its scripts. This included shots of their laptop screens as they worked on scripts, which displayed multiple tabs open in their internet browsers (apparently Stranger Things was written in Google Docs).

While most websites displayed seemed relatively innocuous, one particular shot showed several blurry tabs potentially featuring round monochrome icons. Said tabs are too out of focus to be positively identified, and could easily belong to any number of different websites. Even so, Stranger Things fans quickly began speculating that they may have been ChatGPT icons. 

The theory was further fuelled by the documentary's revelation that Stranger Things' fifth season hadn't been completely written when production began. While far from a smoking gun, fans considered this a potential indication that generative AI was used to hasten scriptwriting along.

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Responding to fans' speculation, One Last Adventure's director Martina Radwan cast doubt on whether the blurry tabs were actually ChatGPT, and stated that she hadn't seen Stranger Things' writers use generative AI in ways she'd consider unethical. However, she also expressed the belief that it shouldn't matter if the Duffer Brothers did use ChatGPT, as it's fine for creatives to utilise generative AI as a tool.

"Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, 'We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.' But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have [ChatGPT] open, to just do quick research?" Radwan said in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter. 

"[N]obody has actually proved that it was open. That's like having your iPhone next to your computer while you’re writing a story. We just use these tools… while multitasking. So there's a lot going on all the time, every time."

Despite Radwan's assertions, not everyone agrees. Fans have acknowledged that there is no clear evidence that ChatGPT was used to write Stranger Things' scripts, and that the Duffer Brothers could easily have been using the AI chatbot for other matters (if they were even using it at all). Even so, many also object to the use of generative AI to research, outline, brainstorm, or plan scripts. As such, potentially having ChatGPT open in the same browser being used to write Stranger Things has left viewers suspicious.

"Wasn't Season 5 filming delayed because of the WGA strike? That would be pretty ironic, considering that regulating AI is just one of the things the WGA is fighting for," wrote reddit user u/Swordman86.

"I cannot for the life of me understand this sudden and enthusiastic desire by people to insert AI into nearly every part of their work and life," u/ Kreol1q1q posted. "Jesus if you are a writer, don’t you take pride in the work you do? Why would you let a moronic glorified chatbot into the thing you are skilled at, and valued for."

"Even if there were no AI tabs open, the writing for S5 was so bad that in my head-canon they almost exclusively used AI off-screen anyways," said u/pat_the_catdad.

Mashable has reached out to Netflix for comment.

Geely Holding Group isn't exactly a household name in the American automotive market. You're forgiven if you've never heard of it before reading this, as you're far from alone. However, Geely is the Chinese automotive giant behind some brands you probably have heard of, such as Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus.

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

A long knife.

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

SWORD

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A coincidence.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for January 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

FLUKE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Took a gulp.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for January 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 14, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answer

DRANK

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Slimy.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

GRIMY

Final Hurdle hint

A klepto.

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

THIEF

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

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 January 14, 2026

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 January 13, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 14 Pips

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 4-4, placed horizontally; 6-0, placed horizontally.

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

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

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 13 Pips

Number (13): Everything in this space must add up to 13. The answer is 6-6, placed vertically; 1-3, placed vertically; 3-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Greater Than (9): Everything in this space must be greater than 9. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 13 Pips

Number (12): Everything in this space must add up to 12. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 4-4, placed horizontally.

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

Equal (1): Everything in this space must be equal to 1. The answer is 4-1, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 1-2, placed horizontally; 0-0, placed horizontally.

Number (12): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 12. The answer is 6-0, placed vertically; 1-6, placed vertically.

Greater Than (2): Everything in this space must be greater than 2. The answer is 3-5, placed vertically.

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

Number (0): Everything in this space must add up to 0. The answer is 0-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (15): Everything in this purple space must add up to 15. The answer is 2-5, placed horizontally; 3-5, placed vertically; 5-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Equal (3): Everything in this purple space must be equal to 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically; 3-1, placed vertically.

Greater Than (3): Everything in this space must be greater than 3. The answer is 3-4, placed vertically.

Less Than (3): Everything in this space must be less than 3. The answer is 3-1, 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 easier if you know west coast schools.

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.

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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: 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: Indiana sports

• Green: Shoot around

• Blue: Canadian football

• Purple: Sounds like an MVP

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Indianapolis Teams

• Green: Basketball Games

• Blue: CFL Teams

• Purple: Homophones of Super Bowl MVPs

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 #478 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Indianapolis Teams - BUTLER, COLTS, FEVER, PACERS

• Basketball Games - 21, AROUND THE WORLD, HORSE, KNOCKOUT

• CFL Teams - ALOUETTES, ELKS, ROUGHRIDERS, STAMPEDERS

• Homophones of Super Bowl MVPs - BREEZE, CUP, FOALS, SWAN

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 yesterday's Connections.

By now, everyone knows Netflix has a hit on its hands with KPop Demon Hunters. The animated Netflix film has broken streaming records and won awards for both the movie itself and its chart-topping soundtrack.

KPop Demon Hunters are everywhere right now. Well, almost everywhere. If one were looking for KPop Demon Hunters on the internet, many might be inclined to check out the URL KPopDemonHunters.com. Huntrix fans going to that web address, though, will not find anything there.

That's because up until now, Netflix didn't even own the domain name KPopDemonHunters.com. In fact, it was originally registered three whole days after the film was released on June 20, 2025 by an individual in Germany. Did Netflix really not have any idea how big this movie was going to be?

SEE ALSO: 'KPop Demon Hunters' wins best song at Golden Globes, Ejae gives moving speech How Netflix got the KPop Demon Hunters domain

Netflix recently won the KPopDemonHunters.com domain name from that individual in Germany named Sanchit Sood after filing a trademark dispute, as first reported by the domain news outlet Domain Name Wire.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, better known as ICANN, is the organization that maintains the global domain name space. Under ICANN's rules, individuals and companies can file disputes over domain names under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP). 

When a UDRP case is filed, the complainant must prove the domain name is confusingly similar to their trademark, there is no legitimate interest from the registrant, and the registration was made in bad faith. The registrant can then present their case before an arbitration panel, which makes the final decision.

Trademark owners don't always win these cases. There are legitimate reasons why a registrant can own a domain name, like if the trademark is generic enough. Even in this case where KPop Demon Hunters is extremely specific, a registrant could have bought the domain name for other fair use cases like a fan site or to criticize the film (panels can still decide in favor of the trademark holder even in these cases too).

However, in this specific case, the registrant did not even reply to the UDRP dispute, leaving the sole panelist on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) panel for this case with just Netflix's argument. With all these considerations taken into account, including the fact that the domain name did not even redirect to a website, this appeared like a clear-cut case of cybersquatting a trademark domain name. The panelist ruled in Netflix's favor, and the registrar where KPopDemonHunters.com was registered has or will transfer the domain to Netflix.

And with that, the trademark dispute over KPopDemonHunters.com is done, done, done.

Google announced Monday that the company is reversing its longstanding practice of allowing minors supervised by their parents via Family Link to unilaterally opt-out of those settings upon turning 13.

Soon, if a teen wants to manage their own account, it require parental approval. A spokesperson for Google told Mashable that the policy goes into effect globally this week.

"These changes better ensure protections stay in place until both the parent and teen feel ready for the next step," Kate Charlet, Google's head of global privacy, safety, and security, wrote in a LinkedIn post about the change.

SEE ALSO: Character.AI settles lawsuits related to teen deaths

The Google spokesperson said the new policy had been planned for some time. Still, it was announced soon after an online child safety advocate drew viral attention to the company's previous policy in a viral Linkedin post. As of this story's publication, the post had elicited more than 600 comments and received 375,000 impressions.

Melissa McKay, president of the advocacy organization Digital Childhood Institute, wrote the post after receiving an email notification that her 12-year-old son would soon be able to adjust the parental controls she'd set for him through Google's Family Link product. Mashable reviewed the email, which McKay described as short and vague.

In her opinion, it failed to explain the changes being made to her son's account or include appropriately clarifying links.

McKay, who researched and authored a 2025 complaint to the Federal Trade Commission against Google regarding its youth safety practices, added that she would've skipped over the email had she not already been looking into the company's policies.

The email noted that her son would receive a similar notification. McKay asked her son to read that message and discovered that it linked to information about how he could remove parental supervision once he turned 13, without his parent's consent. McKay said she did not receive the same information; the link in her email explained age requirements for Google accounts.

In the email sent to her son, which Mashable reviewed and Google did not dispute, the company acknowledges that he will turn 13 soon and can update his account to access more Google products and services. As of this story's publication, the resource explains that "[c]hildren decide when to update their Google Account."

This explanation from Google frames the decision to end parental supervision as a child's choice. Credit: Google

"In nearly ten years as an online safety advocate, this is among the most predatory corporate practices I have seen," McKay wrote in her LinkedIn post.

According to Google's own Family Link resource, when a child transitions into managing their own account, parents will no longer be able to set up downtime, allow or block apps, or find their child's transactions in Family Link. Teens with control over their own Google account will also have wide-ranging use of Google Wallet and Pay, including when using a card added to their profile prior to their 13th birthday.

McKay welcomed the company's new policy but believes far more reform is needed to protect children online from what she described as corporate exploitation.

TL;DR: Make working with AI even easier with this lifetime subscription to ChatPlayground AI’s Unlimited Plan, on sale now for $79 (reg. $619).

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Whether you’re totally new to the world of investing or a seasoned stock market pro, everyone can take advantage of Sterling Stock Picker’s insights. This award-winning app is powered by OpenAI, the company that powers ChatGPT, and it’s designed to support confident investing.

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Long before it was even remotely possible, people have dreamed of a world where your house just takes care of you. Once it became clear that computers would be more than just a fad, the home automation fantasies really started to take hold. So I wondered how close some of the classic depictions came to our present day, or perhaps our very immediate future.

The Mazda Miata is a beloved driver’s car for a reason: lightweight balance, engaging handling, and pure fun behind the wheel. But as great as it is, its small cabin and limited cargo space can eventually feel too tight for drivers who want more comfort, power, or everyday usability. If you’ve reached the point where the Miata feels a bit too compact for daily life, long trips, or just added practicality, it might be time to consider an upgrade.

The last thing you'd ever expect a Game of Thrones show to be is comforting.

After all, comforts are few and far between in Game of Thrones and its prequel, House of the Dragon. In those series, you'd be lucky to get through an episode without witnessing some combination of graphic violence, rape, or torture.

SEE ALSO: 'Knight of the Seven Kingdoms': 5 things we learned at the New York Comic Con panel

Yet "comforting" is exactly the word that comes to mind when I think of HBO's latest Game of Thrones spin-off, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. A lighter, smaller-scale series based on George R.R. Martin's Tales of Dunk and Egg novellas, it's the best antidote for any fatigue you may feel at the thought of spending more time in the grimdark reaches of Westeros.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms isn't like any other Game of Thrones show. Peter Claffey in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Credit: Steffan Hill / HBO

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms sets itself apart from its predecessors right away, literally taking a dump on the swelling notes of Ramin Djawadi's beloved Game of Thrones theme.

Don't view the poop gag as a slight on Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon, though. It's more a way of recalibrating expectations. Few of the hallmarks you associate with other Westeros-set shows are on display in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. There's no backstabbing politicking in the Red Keep's side rooms, no vast roster of fantasy locations to rotate between, and certainly no dragons.

But you know what A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms has that Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon don't? A very tall, very sweet man. And that turns out to be exactly what Westeros as a franchise needs.

SEE ALSO: Is 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' kid-friendly? Ser Duncan the Tall is Westeros' next great hero. Peter Claffey in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Credit: Steffan Hill / HBO

That tall, sweet man is none other than Ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall (Peter Claffey). He used to squire for the wandering hedge knight Ser Arlan of Pennytree (Danny Webb), but upon his master's death in the show's opening moments, Dunk takes up the mantle of knight and heads to a tournament at Ashford Meadow. There, he hopes to forge his own path as a knight and gain a little coin in the process.

Dunk isn't the kind of hero we've come to expect from the Game of Thrones universe. He doesn't come from a noble house, he's not the most formidable fighter, and he's not even particularly bright. ("Dunk the Lunk, thick as a castle wall" is a common refrain in Martin's novellas.) Yet what Dunk lacks in those departments, he more than makes up for in a key way: He's damn kind.

SEE ALSO: 'A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' trailer promises epic Westerosi jousting action

See, for Dunk, knighthood isn't about glory or battles. It's about protecting the defenseless and doing what's right — and after two seasons spent with House of the Dragon's Criston Cole, that integrity feels like a gale force blast of fresh air straight up the nostrils. Yet Dunk's sense of honor doesn't manifest in a stuffy do-gooder attitude. Rather, it radiates from his (very) tall frame in waves of warmth that Dunk doesn't quite know what to do with. Raised in the eat-or-be-eaten slums of Flea Bottom, and often belittled or even beaten by Ser Arlan, he can't fathom that he's actually good. Claffey plays this self-doubt with endearing bashfulness, often shrinking his considerable height as if he's ashamed to take up space in the world. Yet many of the people Dunk meets as Ashford Meadow recognize he's special, from the carousing Lyonel Baratheon (Daniel Ings) to a mysterious bald boy simply known as Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell).

Egg takes it upon himself to become Dunk's squire, much to Dunk's initial chagrin. He's just become a knight himself, and now he has to babysit an insolent child? Soon, though, the pair develops a lovely odd-couple partnership: Dunk, tall as can be, with barely a wise bone in his body, and Egg, scrawny and small, yet surprisingly worldly (and with a sharp tongue, to boot). Claffey and Ansell are a gift together, whether they're trading barbs in the middle of a rowdy tournament or enjoying a quiet moment under the stars. Not since Sandor Clegane and Arya Stark has Westeros seen such a memorable lone wolf and cub duo — although here, the pairing is immediately off to a sweeter start, as the cub doesn't want to murder the lone wolf. (He might sass him, though.)

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms finds greatness in the small things. Dexter Sol Ansell in "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms." Credit: Steffan Hill / HBO

The sweetness of Dunk and Egg's burgeoning friendship really shines thanks to A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' smaller scale. We rarely leave the tourney grounds at Ashford Meadow, which A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' production team renders in lived-in glory, all muddy tents and worn armor. These well-used elements create a grounded atmosphere where hard-working smallfolk find joy, either from watching the jousts on the sidelines or enjoying beautifully crafted puppet shows. Given that prior onscreen portrayals of Westeros have mostly focused on times of war, it's soothing to witness these smaller moments of everyday life and leisure.

This isn't to say A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is free of conflict and action. The show boasts some captivating jousting sequences, as well as some hand-to-hand combat that's among the most visceral in all of the franchise. Elsewhere, the Targaryens show up and cause drama, as they are wont to do.

But even then, the focus is primarily on Dunk and Egg's relationship, and the solidarity they find with the people they've crossed paths with. That's A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms in a nutshell: good people trying to help each other out the best they can. It's a welcome switch-up in HBO's Game of Thrones lineup, and proof that the world of Westeros can be more than just a brutal cage match between warring families. More than that, though, it's a balm for the soul.

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms premieres Jan. 18 at 10 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max.

Home Assistant just announced a significant shift in its partnership program, formally removing smart home brand HELTUN from the "Works with Home Assistant" certification. The popular open-source home automation platform published a full explanation of the decision.