IT General

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 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 14 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Won't you be my neighbor?

The words are town-related.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words are local occupations.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Community.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for July 14

• Teacher

• Mayor

• Community

• Librarian

• Firefighter

• Janitor

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.

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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's The Mini crossword answers for July 14 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: Colors

• Green: Ways to describe a convertible

• Blue: Copy that

• Purple: Seen in children's films

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: Shades of blue

• Green: Adjectives for a sports car

• Blue: Words before "Roger/s"

• Purple: Disney animated characters plus a letter

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 #764 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Shades of blue: BABY, ICE, POWDER, SKY

• Adjectives for a sports car: COMPACT, FAST, SLEEK, SPORTY

• Words before "Roger/s": GINGER, JOLLY, MISTER, ROY

• Disney animated characters plus a letter: ABUT, BELLE, FLOUNDERS, SCARY

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 14

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.

Connections: Sports Edition is a new 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.

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 Mini crossword answers, hints for July 14, 2025 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: Difficult stretch

• Green: Analog gaming

• Blue: Hoop homes

• Purple: Heavy hitters

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

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

• Yellow: Rough patch

• Green: Played on a table

• Blue: NBA arenas

• Purple: 2025 MLB HR Derby participants, informally

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 #294 is...

What is the answer to Connections Sports Edition today

• Rough patch - DROUGHT, FUNK, RUT, SLUMP

• Played on a table - AIR HOCKEY, PING PONG, POOL, SNOOKER

• NBA Arenas - BALL, ROCKET, SCOTIABANK, STATE FARM

• 2025 MLB HR Derby participants, informally - CAL, JAZZ, JUNIOR, ONEIL

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.

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 today's Connections.

RECORD-LOW PRICE: As of July 14, the 11-inch Apple iPad is on sale for $279.99 in Prime Day. This is $69.01 off and the lowest-ever price on Amazon.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPad (11-inch) $279.99 at Amazon
$349 Save $69.01 Get Deal

Apple deals were so incredibly strong in this year's Prime Day, but the deals aren't stopping yet. You can still find record-low prices on some of Apple's most popular products, and you don't need to be an Amazon Prime member to secure these discounts.

The 11-inch Apple iPad is still on sale for $279.99. The catch is that only the blue model is still available at this record-low price, and we can't see this price sticking around for long. So if you're interesting in upgrading for the best-ever price, act fast.

SEE ALSO: Apple Watch Series 10 just hit a record-low price for Prime Day — get it for $119 off

The new Apple iPad offers a nice performance boost thanks to the A16 chip. And support for WiFi 6 keeps your connection smooth at all times.

This model comes with 128GB of storage so you can load up on apps, photos, and whatever else without stressing. Mashable's Samantha Mangino argues that it's "a great entry-level tablet" for anyone working on a budget.

Score the new 11-inch Apple iPad for its best-ever price after Prime Day.

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)

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

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

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Monday, July 14, 2025:

AcrossAccount used to log into Threads, familiarly

• The answer is Insta.

Upscale gym freebie

• The answer is Towel.

Bad thing to feel toward the end of a marathon

• The answer is Cramp.

Vowelless grunt

• The answer is Hmmph.

Vegetable in fried rice

• The answer is Pea.

DownReason to scratch one's head, perhaps

• The answer is Itch.

Standard

• The answer is Norm.

Shrek's home

• The answer is Swamp.

Arizona city between Phoenix and Mesa

• The answer is Tempe.

Gen ___ (kids born in the 2010s)

• The answer is Alpha.

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

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

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 today's Mini Crossword.

SAVE $20: As of July 14, the Apple AirTag (four-pack) is on sale for $79.98 at Amazon. That's a 19% saving on the list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirTag (4-Pack) $79.98 at Amazon
$99.99 Save $20.01 Get Deal

The Apple AirTag is back on sale at Amazon, so now's your chance to stock up. As of July 14, the four-pack bundle is just $79.98, saving you $20 on list price.

If you're a habitual misplacer of your most important items, you need these. Apple AirTags can be attached to nearly anything: keys, phones, purses, anything you lose regularly. And they couldn't be any easier to use; just attach the AirTag to your item of choice and track it in the Find My app. It even has a small built-in speaker, so you can trigger a sound from the Find My app on your Apple device, making it easier to find the AirTag if it's nearby but out of sight.

SEE ALSO: JetBlue adds Apple AirTag luggage tracking

The battery life is solid, too. According to Apple, all AirTags are designed to have a one-year battery life if used regularly. They use a standard CR2032 coin cell battery, which is user-replaceable. When the battery is running low, you’ll receive a notification on your iPhone, giving you plenty of time to replace it. It even has an IP67 water resistance rating, so it can cope with a maximum depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes.

Get this great deal at Amazon before the price goes back up.

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)

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

SAVE $60: As of July 14, Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) are on sale for $119 at Amazon. That's a saving of 34% on list price.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) $119 at Amazon
$179 Save $60 Get Deal

Prime Day is officially over, and we think it may have been one of the best years yet. If you missed out on all the fun, or you're still kicking yourself over a deal that got away, there’s good news: not all the record-low prices have vanished.

As of July 14, the Apple AirPods 4 (with ANC) are still at their incredible Prime Day price, which also happens to be their lowest price ever (by a long shot). Now just $119, this deal saves you $60 on list price. But if you're not fussed on noise cancellation, you can get the standard AirPods 4 also lingering at their best-ever Prime Day price.

SEE ALSO: Mashable's top 11 best-sellers from Prime Day 2025 — AirPods, LifeStraw, and Crest

But the Active Noise Cancellation is truly a selling point, especially if you want a "block the world out" kind of sound. With this feature, the AirPods will reduce outside noise before it reaches your ears, so you can immerse yourself in what you’re listening to. They are also powered by Apple's H2 chip, so these AirPods create an incredibly immersive listening experience. Personalized Spatial Audio and dynamic head tracking makes it feel like the sound is moving all around you, creating a theater-like listening experience.

The microphone is also really impressive. It uses advanced computational audio to reduce background noise while highlighting the sound of your voice. Making all your phone calls, voice notes, and recordings super high quality.

Get this lingering Prime Day price before it runs out.

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)

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

President Donald Trump has been ratioed on his own social media platform Truth Social after urging supporters to move on from convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Truth Social users are usually overwhelmingly supportive of Trump, making such backlash against the U.S. president unprecedented on the platform.

SEE ALSO: 'The Daily Show' mocks Trump's response to the Epstein 'client list'

Trump and his officials had repeatedly promised to release information regarding Epstein's associates during his presidential campaign, with his Attorney General Pam Bondi even telling Fox News in February that the sex offender's client list was "sitting on [her] desk right now." However, the U.S. Department of Justice and FBI stated last week that no "incriminating 'client list'" of Epstein's associates exists, nor any "credible evidence" that he "blackmailed prominent individuals." 

This claim was met with widespread scepticism and backlash from Trump's supporters, many of whom have long awaited the release of the "Epstein files." Considering the Trump administration's earlier statements, the claim that Epstein's client list never existed has proven difficult for many conservatives to believe. 

Trump thus took to Truth Social on Saturday to defend Bondi, as well as urge his supporters to move on from Epstein.

"We have a PERFECT Administration, THE TALK OF THE WORLD, and 'selfish people' are trying to hurt it, all over a guy who never dies, Jeffrey Epstein," Trump wrote (emphasis original). "For years, it’s Epstein, over and over again… Let's… not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about."

This has not gone down well. In response, Truth Social users have ratioed the U.S. president, with many expressing disappointment and anger. Getting ratioed is when a post gets significantly more replies than shares or likes, which typically indicates that it is unpopular and has been widely criticised. 

As of writing, Trump's post has 44,500 replies, as opposed to 12,800 shares and just over 39,000 likes.

An unusual sight: President Trump is getting ratio’d on Truth Social for asking his followers to move on from the Epstein files. Some say he’s “gaslighting,” others say it will cost him supporters or even “kill MAGA.” A sampling of some replies getting heavy engagement.

[image or embed]

— Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur.bsky.social) July 13, 2025 at 12:05 PM This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"This is going to cost you so many supporters," Truth Social user @trustds1 replied to Trump's post. "I being one of them."

"You are losing too many in your base," wrote @ElMilford. "Pam Bondi has not been telling US the truth. Her story changed each time… We refuse to give this a pass."

"Not buying it Mr. President!" @GrumpyDeplorable posted. "I'll continue to stand by you but my trust level will definitely not be maxed out anymore!"

Trump launched Truth Social in early 2022 after his Twitter account was permanently suspended. (It was subsequently reinstated in 2024 after Trump's now-former ally Elon Musk acquired the platform and renamed it X.) Truth Social has since become a stronghold for Trump's followers, making widespread disagreement with him highly unusual on the platform.

Musk also weighed in on Trump's post on X, calling for the president to "just release the files as promised." In June, Musk accused the president of being "in the Epstein files" himself, though he later deleted his posts and expressed regret for having published them. 

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SAVE $150: As of July 14, the 2025 Apple MacBook Air M4 is on sale for $849 at Amazon. That's a 15% saving on the list price.

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

Prime Day is over, but that doesn't mean the deals are gone. The official sale ended on July 11 but some great discounts are still available, like this MacBook Air deal that saves you $150 on list price.

As of July 14, the latest in the MacBook Air range is still at its Prime Day price of $849. The discount applies to all colors, so you can choose from starlight, midnight, silver, and sky blue.

SEE ALSO: If you've been waiting for the M5 MacBooks, we have bad news

For a laptop deal, this is one of the best we've seen. This MacBook is powered by Apple's new M4 chip, meaning it's both fast and efficient. It can handle video editing, jumping between apps, and working through heavy multiple-tab workloads. It’s also created with Apple Intelligence, Apple's personal AI system that helps you get more work done in less time.

This model boasts a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display that supports 1 billion colors, so enjoy seriously high-quality pictures. Other standout features include a 12MP Center Stage camera, a three-mic setup, and a four-speaker system with Spatial Audio, so work calls will always help you look your best. And you get 18 hours of battery life, so you can work on the go without a worry.

Prime Day is over, so this price might not stick around for long — don't miss out.

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)

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

TL;DR: Create anything, even NSFW art, with a lifetime subscription to Imagiyo for only $39.97.

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Imagiyo uses Stable Diffusion AI alongside FLUX AI to turn text prompts into high-quality images ready for commercial use, and there aren’t many limits to what you can create. Here’s what that means.

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What do you want to make first? It only takes a brief description to put Imagiyo’s advanced algorithms to work, and unlike other image generators, Imagiyo actually lets you really follow your creativity. Craft stunning landscapes, visualize characters from books, or go for something a little more daring. Imagiyo supports NSFW content creation. Just set your prompts to private and let your mind run wild.

Imagiyo’s commercial-use license means you can take some of the images you generate and incorporate them into client projects, social media campaigns, or personal portfolios without fear of copyright issues.

Each month, you receive 500 image-generation credits and can submit up to two prompts at once. Unused credits roll over, so you never lose access to your creative potential. Best of all, Imagiyo delivers your purchased engine updates and feature improvements automatically, ensuring you always work with the latest AI models.

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StackSocial prices subject to change

Opens in a new window Credit: Imagiyo Imagiyo AI Image Generator: Lifetime Subscription (Standard Plan) $39.97
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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

To yell.

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

SHOUT

Hurdle Word 2 hint

Readjust.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for July 14, 2025 Hurdle Word 2 Answer

RESET

Hurdle Word 3 hint

A desert animal.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for July 14 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for July 14, 2025 Hurdle Word 3 answer

CAMEL

Hurdle Word 4 hint

Disciplinary.

SEE ALSO: NYT Strands hints, answers for July 14 Hurdle Word 4 answer

PENAL

Final Hurdle hint

To suffer.

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

INCUR

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

Credit: Philipp Klinger

Last week I noted that most companies are either already hacked or could easily be hacked -- and, when they have anything worth stealing, are probably already owned by multiple APT (advanced persistent threat) groups.

The pros and cons of Linux Mint 17, from 5-year support to the fact that it won't run on ARM-based tablets Dek:  The pros and cons of Linux Mint 17, from 5-year support to the fact that it won't run on ARM-based tablets External Source:  networkworld.com Redirect Unpublished Slideshow to:  http://www.networkworld.com/slideshow/163305

Brian Stevens, the former CTO for Red Hat, is now managing Google Cloud. This move will provide more cloud leadership at Google, but it also leaves questions about what's happening at Red Hat.

The collection and analysis of big data holds great promise, but may also lead some companies to create profiles of consumers leading to discrimination, the chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Monday.

Fast development or fast execution, take your pick. Python programmers elect to go with the former, but have always sought ways to make their choice of language run a little faster.

Apple's new programming language Swift has been public for a few short months, but the Apple faithful are already bowle

The idea of distributed, componentized applications goes back a long way. Most notoriously, it emerged in the form of the SOA (service-oriented architecture) trend that peaked eight yeas ago. Now, it's back -- as microservices architecture.