IT General

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

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

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

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

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

Awful.

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

LOUSY

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Overweight.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

OBESE

Hurdle Word 3 hint

To permit.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for August 4 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for August 4, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

ALLOW

Hurdle Word 4 hint

To confess something.

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

ADMIT

Final Hurdle hint

Used to light a candle.

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

MATCH

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

TL;DR: Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows is just $39.97 (reg. $219.99) through Sept. 14. — a lifetime license, one-time payment, all the apps you’ll ever need.

Opens in a new window Credit: Microsoft Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows: Lifetime License $39.97
$219.99 Save $180.02 Get Deal

Free productivity tools sound appealing until you try to share a file and the formatting goes sideways. That’s why Microsoft Office has stayed the go-to standard. It just works the way it’s supposed to.

For a limited time, you can pick up Microsoft Office Professional 2021 for Windows with a lifetime license for only $39.97. No subscription fees every month. No recurring charges. Just the full suite of professional apps, installed directly on your PC.

SEE ALSO: The 6 best laptops under $500: Back-to-school edition

This bundle includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher, and Access, giving you the same set of tools relied on in offices and boardrooms across the globe. From building spreadsheets that handle large data sets to creating presentations that won’t glitch in front of clients, Office 2021 Pro is designed to keep pace with your work.

The redesigned ribbon interface makes navigation faster, while formatting and customization options let you polish documents without fuss. Excel offers enhanced analysis capabilities, PowerPoint has added smarter presentation tools, and Outlook helps make inbox management far less painful.

Think of it as a permanent solution. You pay once, and the license is yours forever. That means no budgeting for yet another subscription service. If you need reliability in your daily tools, this deal delivers it.

It’s the same Microsoft Office you already know — upgraded for modern workflows and packaged in a way that’s affordable and future-proof.

Get a lifetime of MS Office Professional 2021 for just $39.97 (reg. $219.99) when you order through Sept. 14.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

TL;DR: Skip the endless searching — BitMar collects all the free streaming content already out there and puts it in one place for a one-time payment of just $14.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: BitMar BitMar Streaming Content-Finder: Lifetime Subscription $14.99
$150 Save $135.01 Get Deal

Everyone’s got their go-to paid streaming apps, but here’s a not-so-secret truth: there’s a ton of free content floating around online — if you’re willing to dig for it. Movies, music, shows, even live channels are out there for the taking. The problem? Tracking it all down is about as fun as untangling holiday lights. That’s why BitMar was created.

Think of BitMar as your personal streaming librarian. It pulls together millions of free, on-demand movies, shows, channels, videos, and songs from across the web and organizes them into one easy-to-navigate platform. No sketchy links, no bouncing between tabs, no wasted time. Just content, ready when you are.

SEE ALSO: Score a streaming upgrade with the Fire TV Cube — now $40 off at Amazon

The tech it runs on matters, too. BitMar uses AI filtering (built on Bing’s search engine tech, but optimized for streaming) to weed out the noise and surface the good stuff. That means you’re likely to find more free shows than Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ combined, plus more songs than Spotify and Apple Music put together — all without extra subscriptions.

And the best part? This isn’t a monthly charge. Right now, you can get lifetime access for just $14.99 with code BITMAR5. That’s it. Pay once, and you’ll always have a smarter way to discover free streaming content across your devices.

If you’re tired of endless searching but love the idea of free entertainment, this is the kind of hidden gem you’ll be glad you found.

Get lifetime BitMar access for the one-time payment of just $14.99 (reg. $150) with code BITMAR5 .

StackSocial prices subject to change.

PDF is an incredibly popular file format for sharing documents, used by individuals and organizations alike. This means that every so often, we find ourselves in situations where we need access to a PDF converter or editor.

The "bezels" of a monitor or TV are the frame around the part of the screen that shows a visible image. Over the years the desire for thinner and thinner bezels has reached a sometimes unreasonable level, and the push to eliminate them altogether hasn't abated.

If you’re anything like me, then you’ve likely looked at your Mac’s storage reporting tool to see what’s taking up space on your computer, only to be thwarted by the mysterious System Data taking up insane amounts of storage.

You may not have noticed if you're a little younger, but computers these days are just so quiet—not that I really have a complaint about that. Silent computers are better for concentration or to enjoy your media better, but not too long ago a typical home computer sounded like a mainframe from an old movie.

A beloved sports car icon is set to leave showrooms in 2025, marking the end of an era for enthusiasts who cherish its balance of performance and analog driving thrills. Its departure signals a shift as the brand embraces electrification and a new generation of vehicles.

In the late 90s, our household computer mouse broke. Now, that might not sound like a big deal, but there was no such thing as a cheap mouse. No $5 Amazon special to tide us over. So I simply had to learn to use our computer with no mouse at all.

When headphone jacks started to disappear from phones a decade ago, I wasn’t happy about it. But time went on, and now I hardly register that my phone lacks this once essential port. I’m now completely ambivalent whenever I do get my hands on a phone that still has it. What happened?

TL;DR: Live stream the 2025 US Open for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This has been a pretty special season for tennis. Fans have been treated to some absolutely epic Grand Slams, with some of the best players in the world reaching new heights. Anyone worried about the loss of the Big Three should be comforted by the emergence of some genuine stars over the last year or so.

And it just keeps getting better for dedicated fans of the sport, because it's possible to follow the Grand Slams without spending anything. If you want to watch the 2025 US Open for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

What is the US Open?

The US Open Tennis Championships (or US Open) is a hardcourt tennis tournament held annually in Queens, New York. The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam tournament of the year, after the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon.

The defending singles champions are Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka.

When is the 2025 US Open?

The 2025 US Open is the 145th edition of the tournament. This year's event takes place from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

How to watch the 2025 US Open for free

The 2025 US Open is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 US Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 US Open 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 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 the 2025 US Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the US Open?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream the 2025 US Open for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 US Open final for free on 9Now. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The last match of the 2025 US Open looks set to be an absolute classic. Alcaraz and Sinner are going to do battle for the Grand Slam crown in front of a raucous support at Flushing Meadows. It's a repeat of the French Open and Wimbledon finals, with fans excited to see how the latest edition of this incredible rivalry plays out.

If you want to watch Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 US Open final for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

How to watch Alcaraz vs. Sinner for free

Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 US Open final is available to live stream for free on 9Now.

9Now is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone from around the world can access this site with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to secure servers in Australia, meaning you can unblock 9Now from anywhere in the world.

Access free live streams of the 2025 US Open 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 Australia

4. Visit 9Now

5. Watch the 2025 US Open 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 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 the 2025 US Open before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for 9Now?

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

• Servers in 105 countries including Australia

• 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 $12.95 (with money-back guarantee).

Live stream Alcaraz vs. Sinner in the 2025 US Open final for free with ExpressVPN.

For Android enthusiasts, rooting and custom ROMs were once the ultimate draw. They made Android exciting and turned every phone into a project worth tinkering with. But the modding scene's golden age has long passed, and that's probably a good thing.

I often hear people say that they like the idea of a book-style foldable, but they can't imagine what they would actually do with one. I use one every day, and here are tasks I do on my foldable that feel far more practical, or simply just better, than on my previous phones.

Warner Bros. Discovery is suing Midjourney for copyright infringement, joining Disney and Universal in the battle over AI's impact on film and TV.

"Midjourney thinks it is above the law. It sells a commercial subscription service, powered by artificial intelligence technology, that was developed using illegal copies of Warner Bros. Discovery’s copyrighted works," the complaint reads.

The suit claims that Midjourney is built on theft by "brazenly" dispensing Warner Bros. Discovery’s intellectual property. One example? Bugs Bunny, according to the complaint filed on Thursday in California federal court, and The Hollywood Reporter. Other examples include Superman, Batman, the Flash, Wonder Woman, Scooby-Doo, and the Powerpuff Girls, according to the Associated Press.

"The heart of what we do is develop stories and characters to entertain our audiences, bringing to life the vision and passion of our creative partners,” a Warner Bros. Discovery spokesperson said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. "Midjourney is blatantly and purposefully infringing copyrighted works, and we filed this suit to protect our content, our partners, and our investments."

According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit argues that Midjourney creates "consumer confusion regarding what is lawful and what is not lawful by misleading its subscribers to believe that Midjourney’s massive copying and the countless infringing images and videos generated by its Service are somehow authorized by Warner Bros. Discovery."

Warner Bros. Discovery is seeking $150,000 per infringed work.

This is just one of many lawsuits against artificial intelligence — Anthropic settled a copyright lawsuit for $15 billion earlier this month, and Disney and Comcast’s Universal's June complaint alleges that Midjourney is a "bottomless pit of plagiarism."

If you're anything like me, your streaming watchlist is filled with old shows you've been putting off, new movies you know nothing about, and a bunch of other series you don't remember adding. With all these programs to fill your watchlist, it's probably looking very cluttered by now.

If you're an active Threads user, you've probably seen a ton of new changes over the past few days: a newly increased 10,000-character limit, a text attachment feature, and now, as Threads said in a post on its site, the company is "making it easier to thread on Threads."

Basically, it wasn't always easy to post a multi-post Thread on the app — or to tell when someone else was doing that. Threads like these are a really helpful tool for people live-posting through an event, doing a live-watching of a show, or posting a multi-part story. Now, Threads is testing a change that "makes it easier to see a series of connected posts by adding a label that shows a post’s position in the thread." For instance, a post might say "1/4" if it is the first of four posts in a Thread.

SEE ALSO: Who is actually using Threads? View on Threads

Threads is also showing threads in your profile a bit differently by allowing users to see the "first and second posts in a thread, followed by an indicator of the number of additional posts you’ve added." And when someone clicks into your thread, they'll see all of your responses in one place, with the intention of making it easier to keep track of the conversation.

"To share a multi-part thread, start by writing your first post in the composer. Then, tap “Add to thread” to keep building. Repeat as many times as you need to tell your story in a series of connected posts," Threads explained.

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, a movie surprises you with something unexpected. Sometimes it’s the defying of a trope or a shocking death that turns the narrative on its head. Sometimes, however, the film shifts entirely into a different sub-genre, like a monster movie.

Nintendo's consoles have faced off against many rivals over the years, and in each encounter, they have almost always come out on top. Atari spiraled downwards after crashing the video game industry, Sega failed to follow up on the success of the Genesis, and even Microsoft isn't the system-seller it used to be.

Plenty of us have downloaded apps with all the best intentions, only to end up using just one small feature. Sometimes their real value isn't inside the app itself, but in the small, dynamic windows they put right on your home screen. Enter the humble widget.