IT General

Relax, I’m not saying The Pitt is unworthy in any way or that you should avoid it completely. I’m saying it makes for a more impactful, obsessive, and heightened watch if you let the season build so you can binge it. You want that full 15-hour effect—trust me.

Donald Trump is launching something called Trump Accounts, which will essentially gift $1,000 to babies born between 2025 and 2028, investing the money in tax free accounts that are only accessible when the children turn 18 — and The Daily Show has thoughts.

"I didn't expect this from Donald Trump," says host Desi Lydic in the clip above. "Mostly the part about where he says you can't touch something until it turns 18."

Lydic goes on to recap the launch event, which featured Nicki Minaj as a celebrity guest, admitting the accounts "aren't the worst idea that either Trump or Nicki has endorsed" before introducing a gameshow-style parody ad that makes "the bigger picture much more clear."

TL;DR: The Magic The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box is down to $129.98 at Amazon. That's over $34 off its usual $164.70 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Magic: The Gathering Magic: The Gathering Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box $128.98 at Amazon
$164.70 Save $35.72 Get Deal

Locking down a strong price on a brand new Magic: The Gathering release doesn't usually come easy, but that’s exactly what’s happening with Lorwyn Eclipsed. As of Jan. 29, Amazon has already dropped the Lorwyn Eclipsed Play Booster Box to $129.98, slashing more than $34 off its $164.70 list price and undercutting the original preorder deal by a wide margin.

Lorwyn Eclipsed revisits the iconic world of Lorwyn and Shadowmoor in a dual-aspect form, blending radiant high-fantasy aesthetics with darker, more chaotic magic. It’s both a nostalgic return for longtime players and a visually striking entry point for newer fans.

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Each Play Booster Box includes 30 Play Boosters, the ideal trading card packs for both Limited formats and casual openings. Every booster contains a guaranteed foil, with a chance at multiple rares per pack and a slim shot at premium borderless foil mythics for collectors chasing standout pulls.

This kind of structure makes these boxes great for Draft nights, Sealed play, or simply cracking packs with friends.

For Magic: The Gathering players curious about the Avatar The Last Airbender expansion, you can buy the Beginner Box for $24.99. If you’re catching up on some of the other expansions that have come out lately, the Final Fantasy crossover booster packs are on sale for $8.99 each.

In my role as a writer and editor, I work with images, screenshots, and screen recordings every single workday. They’re not an occasional task or something I fire up once a month. They’re part of how I research, explain, and communicate ideas. When capture tools slow me down or add friction, it shows up immediately in my workflow.

Wondering how to watch college basketball this season? Here are your best options: Best for regular season FuboTV 7-day trial, then $84.99/month Get Deal Best for affordability Sling TV Orange + Blue $23/month for your first month, then $45.99/month Get Deal Best for top weekend games Paramount+ with Showtime $13.99/month or $139.99/year Get Deal Best for Big Ten games Peacock Premium $10.99/month Get Deal Best for small school fans ESPN+ $29.99/month Get Deal

The 2025-26 men’s college basketball season is now well underway. The season's action began last November and will run until March, after which we get a 68-team single elimination tournament to determine the NCAA Division I national champion. That tournament culminates in the 2026 Final Four, the semi finals and championship games, held at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4 and 6 in Indianapolis.

In other words, that's a whole lotta college basketball. More than 5,000 games are played per season — in fact, it's closer to 6,000 — with each team playing 31 games in the regular season. And that number is set to increase in 2026-27.

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The University of Florida is the defending men’s college basketball national champion. The Florida Gators won the title in last year's San Antonio Final Four, clinching their third title overall and beating off competition from the Houston Cougars. Current favorites to win the 2026 national title include Michigan, Arizona, and UConn.

All of which means there's a near-endless amount of college basketball to watch this season. You just need to know how and where to watch your favorite teams.

Can I watch college basketball games without cable?

Yes, you can watch college basketball games without cable. For many games, if you can’t be there in person, the only way to watch is via online live streaming services. 

Some of the exclusive streaming services are ACC Network Extra, B1G+, ESPN+, FloHoops, Peacock, and SEC Network+. Even for those games on traditional TV channels, there are plenty of options to watch without cable or satellite TV. 

There are two main alternatives to cable or satellite TV. One option is cable replacement, such as FuboTV or Sling. They offer a variety of channels, but they will cost you. Another option is to get a streaming service connected to a specific TV network. Those are cheaper, but they also have fewer channels.

What channels are college basketball games on?

Knowing what channels broadcast your favorite team will help you decide what streaming services to select. Broadcast contracts are based on the home team, so we've put together a list of the TV networks with contracts connected to each conference. 

Here is a list of each conference and the channels and streaming services that will air games for each conference in 2025-26:

• America East — ESPN+

• American Athletic Conference (AAC) — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Atlantic 10 (A10) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, MASN, USA Network

• Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) — ACC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN+, The CW

• Atlantic Sun — ESPN+

• Big 12 — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Longhorn Network

• Big East — CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Fox, FS1, FS2

• Big Sky — CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPN+, 

• Big Ten — Big Ten Network, B1G+, CBS, Fox, FS1, Peacock

• Big West — ESPN+, Spectrum Sports

• Colonial Athletic (CAA) — CBS Sports Network, FloHoops, MSG, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY

• Conference USA (CUSA) — CBS Sports Network, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Horizon — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Ivy League — ESPN+ 

• Metro Atlantic Athletic (MAAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+ 

• Mid-American Conference (MAC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Mid-Eastern (MEAC) — No intra-conference national TV games

• Missouri Valley — CBS Sports Network, ESPN+

• Mountain West (MW) — CBS, CBS Sports Network, Fox, FS1, NBC Sports Bay Area

• Northeast (NEC) — YES 

• Ohio Valley (OVC) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ 

• Pac-12 Conference — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, Fox, FS1, Pac-12 Network

• Patriot League — CBS Sports Network, ESPN+

• Southeastern Conference (SEC) — CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SEC Network, SECN+

• Southern (SoCon) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+ 

• Southland — ESPN+

• Southwestern Athletic (SWAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+

• Summit League — CBS Sports Network 

• Sun Belt Conference (SBC) — ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• West Coast (WCC) — CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+

• Western Athletic (WAC) — ESPNU, ESPN+

In-season tournaments can make separate deals with TV networks. So for your favorite team, its road games and tournament games may appear on different networks than listed here. 

What are the best streaming services for college basketball?

The channels needed to comprehensively watch college basketball during the 2025-26 season are ACC Network, Big Ten Network, CBS, CBS Sports Network, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, Fox, FS1, FS2, Longhorn Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, SNY, Spectrum, The CW, USA Network, and YES. 

Additionally, you may want to consider streaming-only services like ACC Network Extra, B1G+, ESPN+, FloHoops, Peacock, and SEC Network+. Then for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, you’ll also need TNT, TBS, and TruTV. 

If you have all those options, you can watch nearly every game this season, but there are not enough hours in the day to watch every game of every basketball team this season. Here’s some help to select the best streaming services to see the teams and leagues you’ll watch the most. 

Most complete coverage: FuboTV Opens in a new window Credit: FuboTV FuboTV   Get Deal

FuboTV will be a great option for the college basketball regular season. Its Pro plan at $84.99 per month will give you access to hundreds of college basketball games. There is also a seven-day free trial. 

If you’re a fan of teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference, you’ll want to upgrade to the Elite plan to get the ACC Network. The Elite plan is $104.99 per month. 

The biggest channels missing from the FuboTV lineup are TBS, TNT, and truTV. Those carry a large chunk of games during the NCAA Tournament, and the 2026 Final Four and national championship game are scheduled to be broadcast on TBS. To get those games, you’ll need to go elsewhere such as the B/R Sports add-on with Max. 

FuboTV Pro plan channels: CBS, FOX, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and USA Network. 

FuboTV Elite plan channels: CBS, FOX, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, FS2, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SEC Network, and USA Network. Plus, ACC Network, ESPNU, and ESPNEWS. 

Channels unavailable through FuboTV: Longhorn Network, MASN, SNY, Spectrum, TBS, TNT, truTV, The CW, and YES.

Most affordable cable replacement: Sling TV Orange + Blue Opens in a new window Credit: Sling TV Sling TV Orange + Blue   Get Deal

If you’re a casual college basketball fan, an option like Sling may be a good fit for you. With the Sling Orange plan, you get ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT for $45.99 per month (with an introductory deal of 50% off for the first month). 

You may want to increase your Sling tier if there are specific teams or leagues that you’re passionate about watching. The biggest channel that you can’t get through Sling is CBS, so you may need to look to Paramount+ to supplement this to catch all those games. 

Sling Orange plan channels: ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. 

Sling Orange & Blue plan channels: ESPN, ESPN2, TBS, and TNT. Plus, FS1, truTV, USA Network, and Fox (in select markets). 

FOX is available on Sling TV in select markets. Those include Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Gainesville, Houston, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, New York, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. 

Sling Orange & Blue + Sports Extra plan: Fox (in select markets), ESPN, ESPN2, FS1, TBS, TNT, truTV, and USA Network. Plus, ACC Network, Big Ten Network, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS2, Longhorn Network, Pac-12 Network, and SEC Network. 

There are other options through Sling with different price points for just the Blue plan or the Sports Extra package added to either just the Orange plan or just the Blue plan. 

Channels unavailable through Sling: CBS, CBS Sports Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, SNY, Spectrum, The CW, and YES.

Best for CBS broadcasts: Paramount+ with Showtime Opens in a new window Credit: Paramount+ Paramount+ with Showtime   Get Deal

CBS mainly shows college basketball games on the weekends, so if you’re mainly a weekend viewer until March, this would work for you.

Paramount+ gives you a seven-day free trial. To live stream CBS on Paramount+, you need the Paramount+ with Showtime tier, and that is $12.99 per month. You can also choose the annual plan at $119.99 per year, and you save about $3 per month. 

Paramount+ also gives students a 25% discount. 

CBS Sports Network games are not available to live stream through Paramount+

Best for exclusive Big Ten games: Peacock Premium Opens in a new window Credit: Peacock Peacock Premium   Get Deal

The Big Ten Conference will have games exclusively on Peacock this season, so to catch all those conference contests, you’ll need Peacock.

Members of the Big Ten Conference in 2025-26 include Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, USC, and Wisconsin.

There are 58 Big Ten men’s basketball games scheduled to be broadcast exclusively on Peacock. Peacock Premium costs $10.99 per month or $109.99 per year.

Best for small school fans: ESPN+ Opens in a new window Credit: ESPN+ ESPN+   Get Deal

If your favorite team plays in the America East, Atlantic Sun, Ivy League, or Southland conference, then ESPN+ is the only way to watch those teams without going to the games. For many other leagues that don’t have many games on traditional TV channels, ESPN+ is the primary way to watch games.

The ESPN Select tier (for classic content, studio shows, and replays) is priced at $12.99 per month or $129.99 per year. ESPN Unlimited (all ESPN live channels and ESPN+ content) costs $29.99 per month or $299.99 per year.

Best channel selection: YouTube TV Opens in a new window Credit: YouTube TV YouTube TV   Get Deal

YouTube TV offers a 7-day free trial. It is then $59.99 per month for the first two months. That will get you most of the way through the 2025-26 college basketball season. After the introductory rate, the rate is $82.99 per month starting in the third month. 

YouTubeTV Base Plan channels: CBS, FOX, ACCN, Big Ten Network, CBSSN, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPNEWS, FS1, FS2, SEC Network, TBS, TNT, truTV, The CW, and USA Network.

Channels unavailable through YouTube TV: Longhorn Network, MASN, MSG, NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Pac-12 Network, SNY, Spectrum, and YES.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you love painting your face.

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 29, 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: Face paint

• Green: A popular children's story

• Blue: Dishes

• Purple: Savage

Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Makeup

• Green: Featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears

• Blue: Ending with drinking vessels

• Purple: Homophones of words meaning "Brutal"

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 #963 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Makeup: BRONZER, FOUNDATION, LINER, STAIN

• Featured in Goldilocks and the Three Bears: BEAR, BED, GOLDILOCKS, PORRIDGE

• Ending with drinking vessels: FIBERGLASS, SILVERSTEIN, SMUG, STUMBLER

• Homophones of words meaning "Brutal": GOREY, GRIMM, GRIZZLY, SCARRY

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 29, 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 the latest Connections.

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

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 29, 2026 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for January 29, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Talk of the town

The words are related to popularity.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe well-known people.

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 Claim to Fame.

NYT Strands word list for January 29

• Hero

• Personality

• Celebrity

• Claim to Fame

• Superstar

• Icon

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 the latest Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you have dry skin.

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 29, 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 29, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Peeling.

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 F.

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...

FLAKY

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 29, 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 the latest Wordle.

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 29, 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 29, 2026 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 29 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this space must add up to 8. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally; 3-3, placed horizontally; 0-5, placed horizontally.

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

Greater Than (5): Everything in this space must be greater than 5. The answer is 0-6, placed horizontally.

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 29 Pips

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

Number (8): Everything in this red space must add up to 8. The answer is 5-4, placed vertically; 3-6, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this light blue space must add up to 8. The answer is 3-6, placed horizontally; 2-0, placed vertically.

Number (8): Everything in this yellow space must add up to 8. The answer is 6-1, placed vertically; 1-4, placed horizontally.

Number (8): Everything in this dark blue space must add up to 8. The answer is 4-0, placed horizontally; 1-4, placed horizontally.

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

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Jan. 29 Pips

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add up to 3. The answer is 4-3, placed vertically.

Equal (2): Everything in this light blue space must be equal to 2. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 2-2, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add up to 10. The answer is 2-6, placed vertically; 4-1, placed vertically.

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

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

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

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

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

Number (5): Everything in this purple space must add up to 5. The answer is 4-5, 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.

SAVE OVER $500: As of Jan. 29, the Sony Bravia 5 55-Inch TV is down to its lowest-ever price of $898 at Amazon. This is $501.99 off its list price of $1,399.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Sony Sony Bravia 5 55-Inch TV $898 at Amazon
$1,399.99 Save $501.99   Get Deal

The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and if you've been looking for a new TV to catch all of the action on, there are some great deals to check out right now. The Sony Bravia 5 55-Inch TV is one model that's caught our eye, down to its lowest-ever price at Amazon.

It's usually listed for $1,399.99, but Amazon has dropped the price of the Sony Bravia 5 55-Inch TV down to $898, saving you just over $500. That's a solid discount. It's only available for a limited time, so it's a deal you'll want to make a move on quickly.

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If you're not looking for a massive TV screen the 55-inch version of this Sony Bravia 5 is a good fit. With the help of 4K resolution and a Mini LED display, alongside support for image enhancement tech like Dolby Vision, the picture quality will make your favorite shows and movies look great at all times. It even supports Dolby Atmos audio so you can catch every sound on screen with crisp quality.

Plus, it also has exclusive features for those with a PlayStation 5. These include Auto HDR Tone Mapping and Auto Genre Picture Mode, which provide a nice boost to picture quality as you play your favorite games on the console. And on top of all that, it's a Google TV, so streaming from your favorite apps is quick and easy.

This limited-time deal may not be around for long, so act fast to save on the Sony Bravia 5 55-Inch TV at Amazon.

It's easy to get fixated on huge Python frameworks and complex libraries. A lot of developers miss how much better their daily coding could be if they just used smaller, targeted utilities that make the experience simpler.

Nothing hits like a Bridgerton string cover. Shonda Rhimes' Netflix show has become synonymous with lively, romantic string covers of pop songs: Celeste's “Strange" from Season 1, Bollywood hit "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham" from Season 2, Beyoncé's "Halo" from spin-off Queen Charlotte, and Pitbull's "Give Me Everything" in Season 3.

For Bridgerton's fourth season, showrunner Jess Brownell and music supervisor Justin Kamps continue the show's allegiance to matchmaking its Regency characters' capers with its modern pop soundtrack, alongside Kris Bowers' lauded score.

SEE ALSO: 'Bridgerton' Season 4 review: A Cinderella story to die for

Here's every song in Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1, and which episode we heard it in, so you can be that friend at the watch party.

"Life in Technicolor" by Coldplay (Episode 1)

At the season-launching masquerade ball, Bridgerton stalwarts Vitamin String Quartet bring a Coldplay cover that's hard to miss. The track from 2008's Viva La Vida soars into the halls of Bridgerton House, setting the scene for Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha) to sneak into a technicolour world, Cinderella-style.

"DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" by Usher ft. Pitbull (Episode 1)

Bridgerton's not done with Pitbull covers yet. Having heated up carriages last season, Mr Worldwide is back in string form through Usher collab "DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love" by Strings From Paris. It scores Sophie and Benedict's (Luke Thompson) meet-cute at the masquerade ball. Swoon.

"Never Let You Go" by Third Eye Blind (Episode 1)

Millennials, this one's for us. Third Eye Blind's 1999 single "Never Let You Go" is just as iconic as their other banger from album Blue, but less about crystal meth. It means it's more fitting for the Ton, we guess. Notably, Vitamin String Quartet's cover appears during the masquerade ball right after Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) pleads with Queen Charlotte (Golda Rosheuvel) to let her leave her royal court. "I'll never let you go" is right.

Featured Video For You ‘Bridgerton’ Season 3 has the internet upset for all the wrong reasons "Enchanted" by Taylor Swift (Episode 2)

OK, this one got me. My dear friends got married to a string cover of Taylor Swift's "Enchanted" and I can't hear it without bursting into happy tears. This exquisite Bridgerton cover by Joseph William Morgan appears in a heart-wrenching moment in episode 2 when Sophie spies on Benedict paying a visit to someone who isn't her. Friends, Swift's lyrics are basically the storyline of Season 4, I don't know what else to tell you.

"All I Wanted" by Paramore (Episode 3)

Excuse me while I sit down after hearing Hayley Williams' frankly outrageous B5 note in string form. The Vitamin String Quartet cover of Paramore's 2009 hit from Brand New Eyes comes in a moment of deep yearning and I frankly can't handle it.

"Bad Idea Right?" by Olivia Rodrigo (Episode 4)

This fire hazard of a Caleb Chan cover of "Bad Idea Right?" asks the perfect question for the scene it scores. Olivia Rodrigo's 2023 Guts banger is an anthem of impulsivity, zero self control, and pure disregard for consequences. Yuuuup.

How to watch: Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix. Part 2 premieres Feb. 26.

Bridgerton Season 4, Part 1 soundtrack is out now via Capitol Records.

"There's so much going on right now — there's too much, really — and then in other areas there's not enough going on. You remember those Epstein files?"

That's how Jimmy Kimmel opens the monologue above, responding to the news that the remaining files concerning convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will apparently be released "in the near term," despite there still being no specific date.

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"You remember those? Those files Congress voted to legally required the Justice Department to release by December 19th of last year? And then December 19th came and went, and now it's the end of January and we still don't have them?" asks Kimmel.

"These Epstein files are like Melania's movie — no one's ever gonna see them."

Today's Connections: Sports Edition will be easier if you know soccer players.

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: Not checkers

• Green: Moves

• Blue: MVP soccer players

• Purple: Same first word

Here are today's Connections: Sports Edition categories

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

• Yellow: Chess pieces

• Green: Gymnastics terms

• Blue: Premier League Golden Boot winners

• Purple: Water ____

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 #493 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Chess pieces - BISHOP, PAWN, QUEEN, ROOK

• Gymnastics terms - HANDSPRING, ROUND-0FF, SALTO, TWIST

• Premier League Golden Boot winners - HAALAND, KANE, SALAH, SON

• Water ____ - BOTTLE, BOY, HAZARD, POLO

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 the latest Connections.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: How to play Pips, the newest NYT game

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026:

AcrossEmployees, collectively

• The answer is Staff.

The "L" of TTYL

• The answer is Later.

Slowly lessen, as political support

• The answer is Erode.

Dunkin' offering

• The answer is Donut.

Tricky things to navigate with a stroller

• The answer is Steps.

DownToys that go on the decline in winter?

• The answer is Sleds.

Set of fortunetelling cards

• The answer is Tarot.

Make amends

• The answer is Atone.

Out of patience

• The answer is Fed up.

Guitar bars

• The answer is Frets.

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

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to the latest Mini Crossword.

TL;DR: The Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Booster Bundle has dropped to just $52.88 on Amazon. That's down from its usual $59.99 list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: The Pokémon Company Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Booster Bundle $52.88 at Amazon
$59.99 Save $7.11   Get Deal

Six packs of Mega Evolution joy just got a little cheaper, and that’s a big deal if you’re a Pokémon fan who’s been waiting for the right moment to jump into the expansion. As of Jan. 29, the Pokémon TCG: Mega Evolution Booster Bundle has dropped to $52.88 from $59.99, undercutting what was already considered a fair market rate. 

It's worth nothing that these Mega Evolution booster bundles are sold by third-party retailers on Amazon, but price tracker camelcamelcamel has confirmed that this is the best price they’ve had through these sellers.

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For anyone unfamiliar, this booster bundle includes six sealed Mega Evolution booster packs, making it one of the simplest ways to experience the set without committing to a full booster box. And you’ll still get a chance of pulling the expansion’s most valuable chase cards like Mega Gardevoir ex and Mega Lucario ex. 

To save even more on in-demand Pokémon cards, you can still get Prismatic Evolutions booster packs on sale at Amazon. If you’re excited for the upcoming Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes expansion, you can still pre-order both the Charmander and Ghastly Tech Sticker Collections for their lowest-ever price at Amazon.

SAVE $100: As of Jan. 29, the Garmin Venu 3S has dropped to $349.99 at Amazon. This is $100 off its list price of $449.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Venu 3S $349.99 at Amazon
$449.99 Save $100   Get Deal

Whether you want to keep a better eye on your heart rate or see how you're progressing towards your fitness goals, a smartwatch can help you out. At the moment, there are some great discounts available for those looking to get on a healthier path. Over at Amazon, the Garmin Venu 3S is marked down to $349.99.

This deal price is $100 off its overall list price of $449.99, marking a return to the Garmin Venu 3S's lowest-ever price at Amazon (according to price tracker camelcamelcamel). It applies to several different colors as well, so you can have your pick of the watch that best suits your style, whether that be french gray, dust rose, ivory, pebble gray, or sage gray.

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Alongside a stylish design, the Garmin Venu 3S includes plenty of features to keep you informed throughout the day. For those looking to keep an eye on their health, it includes a sleep score so you can see how well you're resting, wrist-based heart rate, fitness age, stress tracking, and much more. There are plenty of great fitness features as well, including workout benefit (which shows you how a workout affects your body) and recovery time.

Furthermore, its battery life lasts up to 10 days when in smartwatch mode, so you can stay focused on your goals rather than constantly putting it on charge. If it's been on your radar, now is a great time to grab the Garmin Venu 3S and save $100 at Amazon.

If you're wondering what other smartwatches are worth checking out this year, have a look at our roundups of the best smartwatches and the best fitness trackers to see some of our top recommendations.

SAVE $55: As of Jan. 29, the Fire HD 8 Plus is on sale for $64.99 at Amazon. That's a 46% discount on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Amazon Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus $64.99 at Amazon
  Get Deal

In need of a new tablet but don't feel like dropping hundreds of dollars? What if we told you you could get an Amazon Fire tablet for under $65?

Meet the Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus, a great tablet for reading, streaming, or even video chatting. But the best part? As of Jan. 29, this model is on sale for $64.99. That's a saving of $55, and it's the first time it has been on sale since July 2025. This price is for the 32GB option, however the 64GB tablet is also on sale (down from $149.99 to $94.99).

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The Fire HD 8 Plus is like the standard Fire HD 8 tablet, but better. Upgrades to this model include wireless charging, a 9W power adapter, 3GB of RAM, and better quality front and rear cameras. It’s thinner and lighter than the previous generation too, and is built with a strengthened aluminosilicate glass screen that Amazon claims is twice as durable as the iPad mini (2021). So, if you're clumsy, this model should survive your drops.

It performs fast too, thanks to the enhanced hexa-core processor that’s up to 30% faster than the last Fire HD 8 Plus. And the battery life is impressive, lasting up to 13 hours for reading, streaming, or listening to music. You'll also have access to lots of apps and streaming services via Amazon’s App store.

This deal has a "limited-time" stamp, so don't miss out.

Valentine's Day shopping for your wife should be easy in theory. You've known her forever. You hear her talk about her interests and annoyances on a daily basis. But year after year, finding something to showcase how much she means to you is more of an enigma than it is on paper.

You may be stumped on what to get your wife for Valentine's Day this year, but we're not. We've curated a list of 25+ unique Valentine's Day gift ideas for wives of any sort, from the ones who dig romantic gifts (as long as they're not corny) to the ones who get heart eyes over practical gifts that prove you've been listening. For even more ideas, check out our guide to the best Valentine's Day gifts for her.

Grow a Garden. 99 Nights in the Forest. Steal a Brainrot. If you're a parent, you've likely heard your kids talk about one of these games at some point.

They're playing Roblox. Their friends are playing Roblox. Half of all kids under the age of 16 in the U.S. are playing Roblox. But with so many kids on Roblox, predators are taking advantage of the online gaming platform.

As a result, Roblox has been hit with a slew of lawsuits over its alleged failure to keep children safe on the platform.

So, is Roblox safe for your kids? And if your kid is already on Roblox, what should you do?

As a father of three young kids, two of whom play Roblox regularly and one who will likely start playing as soon as she learns to hold a tablet, I've written this guide to help other parents navigate Roblox and ensure their kids' safety while playing the game.

What is Roblox, and should my kids play it?

Roblox is an online game where your character can explore a virtual universe and interact with other Roblox characters. The Roblox world is cartoony, with the characters resembling LEGO people.

Roblox is more like a gaming platform than a standalone game. Users create their own games in the virtual world, which other gamers can play. Roblox even has its own economy, with some developers making hundreds of thousands of dollars or more if their game gets popular. There's an in-game virtual currency called Robux, which can be used to access premium features and items.

You may already have seen Roblox received an official ESRB rating of T for Teen. However, that's just because some of the games warrant that level of rating.

If your child tells you they're playing Roblox, that really doesn't give you much information. It's the equivalent of them telling you they're playing video games. You need to know specifically what games they are playing on Roblox to get an idea of what is or isn't appropriate.

Whether your kids play it or not is up to you. I believe it's fine for my kids in the same way I let them watch their favorite shows on Netflix. There are many movies for adults available on that platform too — but with the right parental controls and monitoring, you can ensure age-appropriate content for your children.

Getting started on Roblox

So, you've decided your child can play on Roblox. Now, this is where you'll discover that Roblox actually has several parental controls in place to keep kids safe on the platform. However, parents need to actually take the time to set these things up.

First things first: Creating your Roblox accounts. 

That's right, I said "accounts" as in more than one. Your child will have an account, and you will too. Create your accounts, and then from your child's account, navigate to Settings> Parental Controls> Add a parent. Input the email for your account, and then accept the link account request in your inbox. You'll need to verify your age and identification to show you are a parent. 

Link a Parent Account Credit: Roblox

Once your account is linked, parents will need to set up a Parental PIN number to access those parental controls and prevent their kids from changing them. After that, you'll then have full access to control your child's account settings and view any pending requests your child receives.

Age Verification: How it works

Starting in 2026, Roblox rolled out an extra layer of child safety measures targeted directly at the platform's most problematic feature: Chat.

All users who want to utilize the chat features must now first have their age estimated by Roblox in order for the platform to assign the account to an age category.

Roblox age verification Credit: Roblox

The mandatory age check can be performed by pressing the Unlock Chat button on the user's account page. Following that, Roblox will access the user's camera on their device in order to scan their facial features. Using that, Roblox then places a user to one of six age categories: Under 9, 9–12, 13–15, 16–17, 18–20, and 21+.

Users cannot interact in chats with other Roblox gamers who are outside of their age cohort.

The age verification is performed by a third-party company called Persona. Roblox says the images used for age verification are deleted after the process, but you may still have privacy concerns. Users have reported being able to trick Roblox's age verification system into thinking a user is older or younger than they actually are.

The addition of the age verification system has basically turned the chat feature off for users who don't partake in the process. In short, there is now yet another barrier of protection for kids on Roblox.

Parental Controls and Content

Once your accounts are created, you'll find that Roblox offers several options to ensure your child's safety on the platform. However, you have to proactively set these things up.

In your account's Parental Controls settings, under Content Maturity, parents can set content restrictions based on the maturity level of the content itself, with levels ranging from Minimal, which means occasional mild violence, all the way to Restricted, which allows unfettered access to the most violence, scary, and crude content on Roblox. You probably don't want that last one. There are two in-between labels for older kids, Mild and Moderate, and these settings can be changed by a parent at any time.

Content Maturity settings Credit: Roblox

Blocked Experiences allows parents to block specific game titles within Roblox, even if they are technically within the Content Maturity options you set in the previously mentioned menu. As games are added to Roblox, parents may find a specific game that adheres to Roblox's content labels but still contains an attribute that makes the content inappropriate for their child. Parents can use the search bar to find these experiences and block them.

Similarly, there is a Sensitive Issues toggle to block games from your child that may be themed around social, political, or religious issues. Parents can choose to block games labeled as Sensitive Issues here, even if these titles fall within the previously set Content Maturity settings.

Sensitive Issues settings Credit: Roblox Child safety controls

Now come the privacy controls that directly address the child safety issues for which Roblox is under scrutiny.

In the Communications section of the parental controls, parents can set who their kids can communicate with in Roblox experiences. For young children, the option is simple: turn those chats off completely by selecting 'No One'.

Experience Chat settings Credit: Roblox

However, as your kids get a bit older and want to interact with their real-life friends from school, there are additional options you'll want to set. Roblox allows users to "friend" one another through Connections. Additionally, they can create a Party or a group of friends that can join experiences together.

Parents can view and manage all of their child's connections to ensure they are only connected with individuals they know and trust in real life. Furthermore, parents can adjust their child's profile visibility so that only Connections can view when their child is on Roblox and which game they are currently playing.

Visibility settings Credit: Roblox

Furthermore, parents can control the Party settings so that their child can only create a Party with users who are their Connections. Parents can also toggle Party options off entirely for small children who won't be interacting with anyone on Roblox. 

Party settings Credit: Roblox

Private Servers are another setting that will likely be vastly different for you based on your child's age. Private Servers essentially allow users to participate in Roblox experiences with a select group of people. For small children, you'll want to likely turn this off entirely. For older kids, setting Private Servers to Connections will allow them to play with their friends.

Private Servers settings Credit: Roblox

While Roblox can always do more to protect its youngest users, the platform does have pretty robust options for child safety. The problem is that parents need to be aware of them and learn how to use them. Hopefully, this guide helps. 

UPDATE: Jan. 26, 2026, 4:37 p.m. EST Added a section on Roblox's new age verification process to access chats on the platform.