IT General

I love tracking data on myself. Whether it's how well I slept, what my stress levels are, or even how ready my body is for an activity. Yep, who needs intuition when I’ve got a watch to tell me how I actually feel.

With this level of interest in mundane tracking, you better believe that when it comes to my runs, I want the highest-quality data possible. Enter the Garmin Forerunner 955. It's not just a watch — it's my emotional support run coach.

Why I love the Garmin Forerunner 955

Let's break down the stats of this smartwatch. It includes advanced Garmin features such as training readiness, training load, HRV, and sleep monitoring. The battery options are available as solar or non-solar. I have the non-solar option, and this alone can last up to 15 days in smartwatch mode. I recently ran a marathon with the 955 and lost less than 20% battery, so yeah, it's that good. If you’re used to charging your watch more often than your phone, this feels like a small miracle.

It supports full GPS tracking and has a 5 ATM water resistance. This combined with the battery life makes this smartwatch ideal for triathlons and any kind of endurance sport.

SEE ALSO: The best Garmin in 2025

The touchscreen is incredibly responsive, but the buttons are still a lifesaver mid-run, so the dual controls are truly a huge selling point. Like the purely button-controlled Garmin watches, this model has three on the left and two on the right.

Now, if you really care about an AMOLED display, this might not be right for you. However, in my opinion, the colors and brightness are more than efficient on this device, and the MIP screen appears much more colorful than previous watches (like the vivoactive 4).

My favorite features of the Garmin Forerunner 955

One of my favorite features is the Training Readiness score. It pulls together data from your sleep quality, recovery time, HRV status, and acute training load into an easy-to-understand number that helps you decide whether to go hard or take a rest day. Of course, feel matters too, and you should always listen to your body, but I've genuinely used this to direct my workout intensity and recovery times. Without it, I probably wouldn't rest as much as my body needs.

The Morning Report is another one I didn’t think I’d care about, but now look forward to checking each morning. Each day when I wake up, it gives me a quick snapshot of my sleep score, HRV trends, weather, and suggested training for the day ahead. It’s like having a mini coach check in before I wake up properly.

Navigation-wise, the 955 has full-color maps and turn-by-turn directions, a lifesaver when you’re on a new route or just really bad at directions. I've used it to program in new running routes and followed the map on my wrist as I go, big up that GPS tracking.

Finally, like all Garmin watches, the Forerunner 955 syncs with the Garmin Connect app. When upgrading to this model, I noticed the data presented to me in the app became much more advanced and detailed, so while the Connect app stats aren't exclusive to the Forerunner 955, they are definitely more advanced than some of the earlier released watches.

Where to buy the Garmin Forerunner 955

The Garmin Forerunner 955 is available to buy at Amazon. A renewed model will cost you $399.99 (but as of July 19, it's on sale for $314.99). It's also available at Best Buy for $399.99 and Walmart for $395.99 (right now it's on sale for $359.99).

Sales prices vary during major retail holidays, but in short: if you’re serious about your training, or just love micromanaging your rest days, the Forerunner 955 is worth every cent.

Opens in a new window Credit: Garmin Garmin Forerunner 955 $314.99 at Amazon
$399.99 Save $85 Get Deal

SAVE $80: As of July 19, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's $80 off their usual list price of $249.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods Pro 2 $149 at Amazon
$249 Save $100 Get Deal

Amazon Prime Day is over and out, and most of the best deals are now a thing of the past.

One of our best deals from the sale was on Apple AirPods Pro 2, which were down to their lowest-ever price. That deal is no longer live, but what we've been left with is really not that bad at all. As of July 19, Apple AirPods Pro 2 are on sale for $169 at Amazon. That's $80 off their usual list price of $249, and only $20 off the best-ever price we saw over Prime Day.

SEE ALSO: Ditch your Apple AirPods — score $20 off the Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds with ChatGPT

These AirPods offer stellar sound quality courtesy of the H2 chip. Whether you're looking to block out the sounds around you or stay aware of your surroundings, Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency mode are here to assist. There's also Adaptive Audio, which works as a mix of the two features to adapt to your environment.

Save $80 on the Apple AirPods Pro 2 this weekend.

The best deals this week, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

TL;DR: Unblock Redtube from anywhere in the world with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Online restrictions and blockades can be frustrating. We totally understand that there are valid reasons for content restrictions, but there is also something to be said for retaining your right to online freedom.

Fortunately, it is possible to bypass online restrictions with a quick and easy hack. And this simple method even works for unblocking porn sites.

If you're looking for the best way to unblock porn sites like Redtube for free from anywhere in the world, we have the information you need.

How to unblock Redtube for free

VPNs can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location. This simple process bypasses geo-restrictions to secure access to porn sites like Redtube from anywhere in the world. This might sound complicated, but you can unblock your favorite porn sites in just a few simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Redtube

4. Visit Redtube

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

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free trials or money-back guarantees. By taking advantage of these offers, you can unblock porn sites and then recover your investment at a later date. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it works well if you're traveling or temporarily away from home.

What is the best VPN for porn?

ExpressVPN is the top choice when it comes to unblocking porn sites like Redtube, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Unblock Redtube for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream USA vs. England for free on RugbyPass TV. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The attention of the rugby world is firmly focused on the British and Irish Lions right now, but if you glance elsewhere, you'll notice that there are some really interesting international fixtures taking place this weekend. All the big boys are competing, including England.

Fresh from a huge victory over Argentina last weekend, England face off against USA. If you want to watch USA vs. England for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is USA vs. England?

USA vs. England starts at 5:05 p.m. ET on July 19. This fixture takes place at the Audi Field.

How to watch USA vs. England for free

USA vs. England is available to live stream for free on RugbyPass TV.

This free live stream is not available in the U.S. (CBS Sports holds the rights), but anyone from this location can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your digital location and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can bypass geo-restrictions to live stream USA vs. England from anywhere in the world.

Live stream USA vs. England from the U.S. by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit RugbyPass TV

5. Stream USA vs. England for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch USA vs. England without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream this warm-up game before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites 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 RugbyPass TV?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for streaming live sport on free services like RugbyPass TV, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream USA vs. England for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 London Diamond League for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The Diamond League delivers a regular dose of top-quality track and field for all the fans out there, and the next event on the calendar is set to be pretty special.

The World Athletics Championships is taking place later this year, so the best in the business will be looking to the 2025 London Diamond League as the perfect opportunity to prepare for the main event. And there's no better preparation than facing off against athletes who can push you to new heights.

Huge names like Noah Lyles, Femke Bol, and Josh Kerr are down to compete in this year's London Diamond League. If you want to watch the 2025 London Diamond League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is London Diamond League?

The 2025 London Diamond League takes place on July 19. This event takes place at the London Stadium.

How to watch the 2025 London Diamond League for free

The 2025 London Diamond League is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer 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. This process makes it look like you're connecting from the UK, so you can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world.

Access BBC iPlayer by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Live stream the 2025 London Diamond League for free from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to BBC iPlayer without actually spending anything. This is not a long-term solution, but it gives you time to stream the 2025 London Diamond League before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best service for streaming live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 London Diamond League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Watch France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 for free on ITVX. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The last quarter final to take place in the Women's Euro 2025 is France vs. Germany. This looks set to be the game of the round, with both teams holding aspirations of going all the way.

If you want to watch France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is France vs. Germany?

France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on July 19. This fixture takes place at St. Jakob-Park.

How to watch France vs. Germany for free

France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX 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 another country, meaning you can unblock free live streams on sites like ITVX from anywhere in the world.

Live stream France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Stream France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 from anywhere in the world

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

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams without committing with your cash. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you time to watch France vs. Germany (plus the rest of the tournament) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.95 (including money-back guarantee).

Watch France vs. Germany in Women's Euro 2025 for free with ExpressVPN.

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

Bravery.

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

VALOR

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A pack.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

DROVE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Salty water.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 19, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

BRINE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To bombard.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 19 Hurdle Word 4 answer

BLITZ

Final Hurdle hint

Fabric.

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

CLOTH

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 $150: As of July 19, the 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 chip is on sale for $849 at Amazon. That's $150 off the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple 2025 Apple MacBook Air M4 $849 at Amazon
$999 Save $150 Get Deal

We were treated to some really special deals over Prime Day, with Apple deals making a real impression. There were so many live deals that it was difficult to find the real value, so it's always best to rely on an expert

Mashable's resident laptop expert hand-picked the $849 MacBook Air deal as the best of the bunch over Prime Day. "The Starlight colorway briefly fell to $829 on June 20, but I feel totally comfortable endorsing its slightly higher Prime Day price. Realistically, this laptop is a steal even at its full $999 MSRP. Amazon's decision to slash that by an extra $150 mere months after its release is kind of mind-boggling to me," said Haley Henschel.

The best thing about this deal is that it's still live way after Prime Day. As of July 19, the 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch with M4 chip is on sale for $849 at Amazon. The catch is that this deal is no longer available on all colorways, so we can't say for sure how long this price will stick around for.

SEE ALSO: Surprise! Apple AirPods 4 are back within 99 cents of their Prime Day price.

The 2025 MacBook Air blends power and portability with Apple’s signature finesse. The M4 chip boosts performance across the board — whether you’re toggling between apps, editing content, or diving into graphics-heavy work. It's also built to take full advantage of Apple Intelligence, the new system designed to streamline writing, productivity, and multitasking with an assist from on-device AI.

With up to 18 hours of battery life, a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, and 16GB of unified memory, it’s more than equipped for everything you throw at it.

Score $150 off the 2025 MacBook Air M4 for a limited time.

The best tech deals right now, hand-picked by Mashable's team of experts

• Apple AirTag (4-Pack) — $79.98 (List Price $99.00)

• Apple 2025 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop — $849.00 (List Price $999.00)

• Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $169.00 (List Price $249.00)

• Dreame X40 Ultra Robot Vacuum With Removable and Liftable Mop — $699.99 (List Price $1399.98)

TL;DR: Unblock Pornhub from Oklahoma with a VPN. The best service for unblocking porn sites is ExpressVPN.

Earlier this year, a number of states introduced laws that required visitors to upload ID before accessing sites. In response, Pornhub banned visitors from these states from accessing their website. These restrictions are still in place, so a lot of potential users will be looking for a way to access their favorite site. Fortunately, the workaround is straightforward.

If you want to unblock porn sites like Pornhub for free from Oklahoma, we have all the information you need.

How to unblock Pornhub for free in Oklahoma

VPNs are useful tools that can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in other locations. This straightforward process bypasses geo-restrictions so you can access sites like Pornhub from anywhere in the world.

Unblock Pornhub by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a VPN (like ExpressVPN)

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

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in a location that supports access to Pornhub

4. Visit Pornhub

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (2-Year Subscription + 4 Months Free) $139 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for unblocking porn sites are not free, but most do offer free-trial peiods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can unblock porn sites like Pornhub without actually spending anything. This is obviously not a long-term solution, but it does give you the opportunity to temporarily retain access to Pornhub before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to sites like Pornhub, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for bypassing content restrictions is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Pornhub?

ExpressVPN is the top choice for unblocking porn sites like Pornhub, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast streaming speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $139 and includes an extra four months for free — 61% off for a limited time. This plan also includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Unblock Pornhub for free in Oklahoma with ExpressVPN.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands 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 preferrined pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 19 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 19 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hot enough for ya?

The words are heat-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe high temperatures.

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 Summer Weather.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 19

• Balmy

• Scorching

• Muggy

• Summer Weather

• Sticky

• Sweltering

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

SEE ALSO: NYT's The Mini crossword answers for July 19 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: H2O

• Green: What an NFL player might do

• Blue: Ways to secure

• Purple: Popular animated amphibians

Featured Video For You Connections: How to play and how to win Here are today's Connections categories

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

• Yellow: Sources of drinking water

• Green: Things you can do with a football

• Blue: Sharp fasteners

• Purple: Starts of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

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 #769 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Sources of drinking water: RAIN, SPRING, TAP, WELL

• Things you can do with a football: PASS, PUNT, SNAP, SPIKE

• Sharp fasteners: BRAD, NAIL, PIN, TACK

• Starts of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: DON, LEO, MIC, RAP

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 July 19

Are you also playing NYT Strands?

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

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

Oh hey there! If you're here, it must be time for Wordle. As always, we're serving up our daily hints and tips to help you figure out today's answer.

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 today: Hints and answers for July 19 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's The Mini crossword answers for July 19, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

A blade.

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 S.

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...

SWORD.

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 July 19

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

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

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

My gaming PC is loud. Within minutes of booting up a game, it's a pixel-pushing jet engine—not the sort of thing I want sitting in my living room drowning out my TV while I play games on the big screen. Here's how I solve it by streaming from my PC to a smaller, less obtrusive Raspberry Pi.

Picture this: you've created an all-singing-all-dancing Microsoft Excel workbook, but when you share it with others, they have no idea where to start. That's why you need a homepage worksheet that provides all the important information and links as soon as people open the file.

Updated at 4:20 ET on Friday, July 18 — As of this writing, the Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundles are still in stock at Target, miraculously. So, if you haven't snagged the popular new Nintendo console yet, we highly recommend you hustle.

NINTENDO SWITCH 2 RESTOCK: As of July 18, Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundles are restocked for shipping on Target's website. This restock is probably limited, so act fast if you want one.

Opens in a new window Credit: Nintendo Nintendo Switch 2 + 'Mario Kart World' $499 at Target
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We're going to keep this one brief, because there's probably not a lot of time: Target has just restocked their Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundles for shipping on their website, just in time for the release of Donkey Kong Bananza. Best Buy also restocked Switch 2 consoles for the game's release, but they were gone in a flash.

Target's inventory may be specific to your location, but it's worth entering your ZIP code to check and see if you can still get one for yourself. We assume this restock is limited, so if you want one, you'll want to act fast.

SEE ALSO: My 4 favorite Nintendo Switch games that got upgrades for the Switch 2

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been hard to get ever since its announcement this past April. Pre-orders were a mess, and following the coveted handheld's official release in June, stock has been very limited across retailers. Some storefronts, like Amazon, are even opting to use their "invite-only" system to cut down on bots snagging the consoles before real folks can get them. It's been a slog, to say the least, but now is your chance to finally get one.

Head over to Target and grab a Nintendo Switch 2 Mario Kart World bundle while you still can. Good luck!

At a Coldplay concert in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Wednesday, an unlikely cheating scandal broke out. The CEO of a unicorn tech company was caught on the concert's jumbotron, where a live video showed him in a passionate embrace with his company's HR chief. The two were captured awkwardly dodging the camera, as Coldplay's lead singer Chris Martin laughed, "Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy."

Turns out, the former explanation may be true. Internet sleuths put two and two together. A video of the HR fiasco went viral on TikTok, with over 58 million views and counting. By now, it feels like the entire internet has seen the video (and has something to say about it). The general consensus, of course, is that infidelity is wrong and the accused adulterers deserved to be caught.

One user posted on X, "Genuinely enjoying every single thing about the cheating ceo and chief people officer at the coldplay concert I loveeeee when terrible people get exposed for their tomfoolery in grand ways." Another wrote, "Good that CEO got caught cheating at the Coldplay concert and it’s being posted on social media. If you doing some disrespectful shit you deserve getting exposed."

While the morality of their actions isn't up for debate, the gleeful reaction to the viral video can be. As 404Media wrote, the sweeping reaction across social media platforms is "emblematic of our current private surveillance and social media hellscape." The internet's obsession with cheating, surveillance, and doxxing is once again at play. People online are increasingly excited by exposing these scandals, passing judgment — sometimes unfairly — and making memes out of misery. Every time this has happened, so has undue speculation and self-righteousness, without a second thought about how private lives are being unduly exposed and put through the wringer.

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We've seen it before. First, with the infamous couch guy. Then, last year, a TikTok taken on a United Airlines flight went viral, with a user alleging that one of her fellow passengers was cheating on his wife. The couple was outright doxxed, with thousands of TikTokkers engaging with the post. As Mashable wrote then, the trend of TikTok sleuthing, especially when it comes to cheating, "spells out one of the graver consequences of digital culture today: a lack of empathy and nuance beyond the confines of a phone screen."

SEE ALSO: Cheating has become the ultimate crime online

The "married man on the plane scandal" actually had people questioning our attention to such moments of virality. No one is denying the hurt of infidelity and the rippling consequences it can have. But the internet presents a deeper problem with its fascination with exposing the act: that this is a form of entertainment and surveillance, without much regard for the consequences that the people actually involved will face.

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As Business Insider's Katie Notopoulos writes, "The thing is, I don't know these people. (Neither, probably, do you.) I don't know their lives. I have no idea what was really going on. I can say that the online attention they've received is certainly distressing to them — on top of a situation that may also already be very distressing in other ways."

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The situation illustrates something larger: another voyeuristic fascination, new levels of surveillance emerging every day (some far more dangerous than others), and our collective lack of privacy. We don't need to know everything about each other, but we increasingly do. And when it comes to developing empathy in the age of TikTok, this is a step in the wrong direction.

Siri comes with its fair share of ups and downs, and has a lot of catching up to do when it comes to understanding and executing commands properly. But there are still plenty of actions that Siri can help with to save time and effort.

Google’s next Pixel launch event, called Made By Google, will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 20. During the event, we expect to see the debut of the Google Pixel Watch 4 alongside the new Pixel 10 series of smartphones. Pre-orders are said to begin on the day of the launch, with wider availability starting Aug. 28.

As per usual, we've been busy collecting all the latest Pixel 10 leaks and rumors, but the Pixel Watch 4 has also been leaking lately. So, here’s everything we know so far (based on rumors, speculation, and alleged leaks) about Google's upcoming smartwatch and fitness tracker.

It may have a dual-chip setup and a much brighter screen

While the main processor is expected to be the same, the whole setup is getting an upgrade. The watch will reportedly pair the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chip with a new M55 co-processor. The watch may also feature a much brighter AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 3,000 nits.

You'll still have two sizes to choose from

The Pixel Watch 4 is expected to come in two sizes that mirror the Pixel Watch 3 lineup, though leaks suggest the new models will have a thicker watch module and slightly slimmer bezels. The options will reportedly be a 41mm model (codenamed "Meridian") and a 45mm model (codenamed "Canari"). Both sizes are expected to be available in LTE and Wi-Fi-only configurations.

Expect a full rainbow of color and band options

A new leak (courtesy of Arsène Lupin) has revealed the full lineup of rumored colors for the watch itself, which are said to be available for both Wi-Fi and LTE models:

• Black/Obsidian

• Gold/Lemon

• Moonstone

• Silver/Iris

• Silver/Porcelain

A wide range of band materials and colors are also said to be coming, including a two-tone leather band in jade, a metal mesh band in matte black and polished silver, and many others in active, woven, and new gradient stretch styles.

If you're curious what the new Pixel 4 might look like, 91Mobiles shared alleged leaked renders back in April. The watch has the signature circular design, which will be perfectly suited to the new aesthetic of Android 16. Earlier this year, Google showed off new animations and features available with Watch OS 6, so we have some idea what the Pixel Watch 4 experience will be like.

Credit: Google The battery is getting a (small) boost

Android Authority suggests both models will get a battery boost. The 41mm model will reportedly feature a 327 mAh battery (a 7 percent increase over its predecessor's 300 mAh battery), while the 45mm model may see a 9 percent boost to 459 mAh. Faster charging is also expected, potentially through a new wireless charging mechanism that works without magnetic pogo pins, also per Android Authority.

It's also rumored to get new health and safety features

Some reports suggest Google will expand health-tracking capabilities to include a revamped blood oxygen (SpO2) tracking feature that’ll run “continuously,” unlike the current overnight-only version. This would allow the watch to provide alerts when oxygen levels are too low.

The alleged “Notification Cooldown” feature may also make its way to the Watch 4, which limits the number of alerts you receive in a given time period. However, this feature won’t be exclusive to the Watch 4, as it’ll reportedly be available on the Wear OS 6 software.

There’s also a rumored “Emergency Satellite Communications” functionality, but details are scarce.

The iPhone isn’t a cheap bit of kit, but there’s no reason you can’t save a bit of money on the accessories. Sometimes spending just a little bit of money can seriously improve your day-to-day usage.

The White House is close to announcing its next highly-anticipated AI executive order, reportedly targeting "woke" AI models.

A report from the Wall Street Journal says President Donald Trump's administration is expected to announce a series of executive orders next week. One of them will include mandates about government agencies using AI models that are politically neutral, unnamed sources told the Journal.

SEE ALSO: The biggest AI announcements (and high drama) of 2025 so far

Bias within AI models, especially related to politics and social issues, has become a critical point of contention for conservatives that deem certain models to be too left-leaning. This is an extension of Trump's overall stance on media bias and "wokeism," a term meant to describe awareness of social injustice that has been appropriated by the right as a pejorative term against liberals. The Trump Administration has made ending DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives a major part of its agenda, revoking federal DEI programs and calling these policies "wasteful" and "discriminatory."

The efforts to favor "anti-woke" AI models in the executive order is reportedly led by AI Czar David Sacks and Sriram Krishnan, senior White House policy adviser for AI. Sacks has previously criticized companies like OpenAI for making ChatGPT liberally biased. "One of the concerns about ChatGPT early on was that it was programmed to be woke, and that it wasn’t giving people truthful answers about a lot of things," said Sacks in a 2023 episode of the All In podcast. "The censorship was being built into the answers."

Sacks and Elon Musk are longtime friends and former colleagues from their PayPal days. Musk's xAI company makes the Grok chatbot, which is touted as an "anti-woke" alternative to other chatbots. As AI companies like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI vie for Trump's favor and valuable government contracts, xAI might have an advantage with its political alignment. Although, Musk and Trump are fighting right now, which complicates things.

Of course, how political parties define bias is subjective. Grok recently went way right, far right, by praising Hitler and making anti-semitic claims. Meanwhile, research shows that LLMs — even the ones deemed too liberal by conservatives — are capable of implicit gender and racial bias, and skewed perceptions of press freedoms.

The Journal also reported that the Trump Administration is planning to issue an executive order promoting the export of AI chips made in the U.S., part of the government's effort to secure AI dominance over China.

All eyes are on the White House for announcements expected next week.

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