IT General

I’ve become a fan of Galaxy devices, but I know many are put off by what can feel like bloated software. Fortunately, if you find Samsung’s apps and interface to be a bit much, there’s a custom launcher that not only solves this problem, but it's arguably at its best when installed on a Samsung phone!

Spotify has finally joined the ranks of Tidal, Apple Music, and Deezer by offering lossless streaming, as long as you're subscribed to Spotify Premium. The lossless audio streaming feature isn't enabled by default, so here's how to enable it in Spotify's mobile and desktop apps.

The Nissan Kicks has quietly evolved into one of the most compelling budget-friendly crossovers in 2025. Despite its low starting price, the Kicks packs an impressive mix of style, practicality, and technology, qualities that continue to challenge established rivals in the subcompact SUV class.

Do you travel a lot? If so, you know how important packing can be. You must make sure you have everything essential—clothing and toiletries, of course, but also your electronic cables, laptop, and any other necessary items to get through your trip. Even if you're not a big traveler, you know how frustrating it can be to forget something important, especially if you can't buy a replacement at your destination.

HBO Max has just released their November schedule, and it’s packed with new additions and releases. The streamer will see a slew of classic titles included in their library, but the highlights are the new releases in store for you.

The Satechi OntheGo Bluetooth mouse is a minimalist and quiet travel mouse that feels so comfortable, I see no reason to limit its use to travel.

TL;DR: Live stream Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL for free on Channel 5. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL continues with a number of fascinating matchups this weekend, but Eagles vs. Giants might be the best of the bunch. The Eagles will be expected to win this contest, but the Giants did beat the Eagles earlier in October. Could they repeat that stunning performance?

If you want to watch Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Eagles vs. Giants?

Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL starts at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Lincoln Financial Field.

How to watch Eagles vs. Giants for free

Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL is available to live stream for free on Channel 5.

Channel 5 is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock Channel 5 from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: Get Paramount+ for half price just in time for NFL Sundays

Live stream Eagles vs. Giants for free by following these simple steps:

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

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 Channel 5

5. Live stream Eagles vs. Giants for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (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 Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for Channel 5?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Channel 5, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including the UK

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

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Eagles vs. Giants in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free on 5Action. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL action continues this week with Broncos vs. Cowboys. The Dallas Cowboys have been inconsistent so far this season. The Denver Broncos, on the other hand, come into this hotly-anticipated contest with a 5-2 record. Can they continue to build momentum with a victory over the Cowboys?

If you want to watch Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Broncos vs. Cowboys?

Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL starts at 3:25 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Empower Field at Mile High.

How to watch Broncos vs. Cowboys for free

Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 5Action.

5Action is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock 5Action from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: Get Paramount+ for half price just in time for NFL Sundays

Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys for free by following these simple steps:

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

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 5Action

5. Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (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 Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 5Action?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 5Action, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including the UK

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

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Broncos vs. Cowboys in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL for free on TVNZ+. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

There are a number of really interesting NFL matchups taking place this weekend, including Ravens vs. Bears. The Baltimore Ravens are really struggling this campaign, and it's not going to be easy to turn things around against the 4-2 Chicago Bears.

If you want to watch Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ravens vs. Bears?

Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL starts at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the M&T Bank Stadium.

How to watch Ravens vs. Bears for free

Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL is available to live stream for free on TVNZ+.

TVNZ+ is geo-restricted to New Zealand, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in New Zealand, meaning you can unblock TVNZ+ from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Ravens vs. Bears for free by following these simple steps:

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

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 New Zealand

4. Visit TVNZ+

5. Live stream Ravens vs. Bears for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (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 Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for TVNZ+?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on TVNZ+, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including New Zealand

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

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Ravens vs. Bears in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

This NFL campaign has not been going well for the New Orleans Saints. They go into their contest with the Buccaneers sporting a 1-6 record. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on the other hand, are building some credible momentum at 5-2.

If you want to watch Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Saints vs. Buccaneers?

Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL starts at 3:05 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Caesars Superdome.

How to watch Saints vs. Buccaneers for free

Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers for free by following these simple steps:

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

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 7Plus

5. Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (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 Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including Australia

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

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Saints vs. Buccaneers in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

TL;DR: Live stream Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL for free on 7Plus. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with IPVanish.

The NFL has a number of really interesting matchups this week, including Panthers vs. Bills. Both sides come into this matchup with positive records, but all eyes will be on the Buffalo Bills as they look to bounce back after two losses.

If you want to watch Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Panthers vs. Bills?

Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL starts at 12 p.m. ET on Oct. 26. This game takes place at the Bank of America Stadium.

How to watch Panthers vs. Bills for free

Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL is available to live stream for free on 7Plus.

7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These handy tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Australia, meaning you can unblock 7Plus from anywhere in the world.

SEE ALSO: How to watch the NFL online for free

Live stream Panthers vs. Bills for free by following these simple steps:

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

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 7Plus

5. Live stream Panthers vs. Bills for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: IPVanish IPVanish (2-Year Plan) $52.56 at IPVanish (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 Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL without committing with your cash. This isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to live stream select fixtures from the NFL before recovering your investment.

If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites to follow the whole season, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for unblocking streaming services is on sale for a limited time.

What is the best VPN for 7Plus?

IPVanish is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on 7Plus, for a number of reasons:

• 3,100 servers in 145+ locations including Australia

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

• AES 256 encryption and operates with a zero-logs privacy policy

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Unlimited simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A two-year subscription to IPVanish is on sale for just $52.56 — 83% off for a limited time. This plan includes advanced privacy features, threat protection, unlimited connections, 24/7 support, and the 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream Panthers vs. Bills in the NFL for free with IPVanish.

Editor's Note: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, Mashable's parent company. Any products featured on Mashable are covered independently by our editorial team.

Shopping for an Internet Service Provider is rough. There are only a handful in any given area, and some folks in rural zones have as few as one. While choice is often limited in this space, there are still options, and it’s always worth knowing how your ISP stacks up against its competition. In particular, we know that most people are concerned about speed, so we set out to find the fastest ISPs of 2025, based on Ookla speed tests.

Ookla measures the speed and quality of internet connections and releases regular reports ranking the top ISPs in the United States. (Disclosure: Ookla and Mashable are owned by the same parent company, Ziff Davis.) Millions of individual speed tests go into these scores, with some ISPs being tested more than 25 million times in the United States alone.

The most recent speed test report — which also included mobile carriers — sized up ISPs on a variety of factors, including speed, consistency, and availability. While T-Mobile took most of the trophies on the mobile carrier side of things, the same happened with ISPs, except this time it was AT&T Fiber that seemed to be stomping the market.

Keep in mind that some regional ISPs, like Wide Open West or Windstream, aren't included in the latest Ookla report, but you can still perform speed tests of your own to see how your provider compares to the top national providers.

This weekend, HBO Max will premiere the first episode of IT: Welcome to Derry. This prequel series from Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti, the brother-sister duo behind IT and IT: Chapter Two will give audiences gnarly new tales involving Pennywise the Dancing Clown and the cursed town of Derry. Now, fans of the hard-R-rated horror movies starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise might think they know what to expect from this new show. Cool, cool, cool. You're wrong. 

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry' review: 'IT' prequel series will scare the living daylights out of you

Mashable's Entertainment team has been thoroughly gagged — in both ways — by IT: Welcome to Derry, which builds upon three interludes from Stephen King's novel IT. And while we won't share spoilers of the horrors about to unfold, we do want to give you a simple warning:

Don't plan to eat while watching the premiere episode of IT: Welcome to Derry.

Look, you might think you're too deep into horror, too big a King fan, too staunch in stomach to get it churned by a TV show. But first off, to quote an old but true motto, "It's not TV. It's HBO."

This is the network that gave us the corpsicle of True Detective: Night Country and the absolutely harrowing second season of The Last of Us. HBO originally stood for Home Box Office, but it could stand for Horror Bloody Outrageous. 

As teased in Belen Edwards' review, IT: Welcome to Derry doesn't pull any punches when it comes to its grisly set pieces. And the first episode offers several absolutely gruesome sequences. So, do yourself a favor: Eat or snack well before you sit down for this deranged debut. 

SEE ALSO: 'IT: Welcome to Derry's shocking episode 1 ending, explained

Beyond the stomach-churningness of it all, there's a lot of setup in this first episode you won't want to miss. And then there are moments so shocking and twisted you won't believe your eyes. So set aside the popcorn. Avoid anything red or bloody. Hey, maybe even avoid Cracker Jacks. Trust us.

There are some TV shows, like True Detective and Alien: Earth, that demand your full attention on a full stomach. Because otherwise, it's gonna be a rough night. 

IT: Welcome to Derry debuts on Sunday, October 26 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO, and will be available to stream on HBO Max. New episodes air weekly.

Featured Video For You Why the scariest part of The Shining isn’t what you think.

We’re five days into the new lunar cycle, and each night the moon grows a little brighter. There are still a few nights to go before it’s full, but there's plenty you can see in the meantime.

What is today’s moon phase?

As of Sunday, Oct. 26, the moon phase is Waxing Crescent. There will be 21% of the moon lit up tonight, according to NASA's Daily Moon Observation.

Without any visual aids, tonight you should be able to see the Mare Crisium and the Mare Fecunditatis. Add in a pair of binoculars or a telescope and you'll also catch a glimpse of the Endymion Crater. Positionally, these will be visible on the right side of the moon now. If you're in the Southern Hemisphere, it'll be the left side.

When is the next full moon?

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5.

The next full moon will be on Nov. 5. What are moon phases?

The Moon follows a continuous cycle that lasts about 29.5 days as it travels around Earth. These shifts occur because the positions of the Sun, Earth, and Moon are always changing relative to one another. From Earth, we might see the Moon as full, partly lit, or completely dark, but the same side always faces us. What varies each night is how much sunlight reaches and reflects off its surface.

The eight main moon phases are:

New Moon - The moon is between Earth and the sun, so the side we see is dark (in other words, it's invisible to the eye).

Waxing Crescent - A small sliver of light appears on the right side (Northern Hemisphere).

First Quarter - Half of the moon is lit on the right side. It looks like a half-moon.

Waxing Gibbous - More than half is lit up, but it’s not quite full yet.

Full Moon - The whole face of the moon is illuminated and fully visible.

Waning Gibbous - The moon starts losing light on the right side. (Northern Hemisphere)

Third Quarter (or Last Quarter) - Another half-moon, but now the left side is lit.

Waning Crescent - A thin sliver of light remains on the left side before going dark again.

You can do better than the camera on your smartphone. Yes it's true that most people have taken on a sort of amateur photographer status, always ready to memorise a moment with their hi-res camera phone. We're in the age of social media and sharing pictures, after all. But real photography demands real equipment. And what better way to get stuck into the world of photography than with a mirrorless camera?

Maybe you’re a camera newbie, or you’re looking to make the jump from a DSLR model? Perhaps you’re already a mirrorless devotee looking for a much-needed upgrade? Either way, mirrorless is the latest word in digital photography technology.

Knowing where to start is particularly hard for photography beginners, with all the jargon, specifications, and brand names to figure. But we can help bring things into focus and, well, put you in the picture. Here's some useful information and a round-up of the best mirrorless cameras available right now.

What is a mirrorless camera?

The clue’s in the title, though we appreciate that doesn’t make it any easier to understand. DSLR cameras reflect images into the camera’s viewfinder via a mirror, which is placed between the lens and the camera sensor. But mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is an LCD monitor on the back on the camera body. Light goes into the lens and is digitally converted and displayed on the monitor.

Is mirrorless better than DSLR?

Mirrorless cameras — which are sometimes called hybrid cameras — have overtaken DSLR cameras as the most popular choice for photographers. The biggest selling point is that mirrorless cameras are lighter and much less clunky. They’re far easier to take on your travels and generally carry around. But that's not all they're good for. Here are some other great mirrorless camera features:

EVP Monitor — The monitor allows you to easily frame your subject in “live view” and access features via touchscreen. These monitors are often “vari-angle”, meaning they articulate outwards and in all directions, which is great for framing selfies.

IBIS — That’s the technical term for in-body image stabilisation. This essentially stabilises the sensor so you can shoot handheld, without needing a tripod or gimbal. Not all mirrorless cameras have IBIS but it’s increasingly common.

Autofocus — This is a standard camera feature but often clunkier in DSLRs. Mirrorless cameras can have very advanced autofocus that tracks faces and eyes or fast-moving objects. You may be able to refocus with a quick tap of the touchscreen.

4K Video — OK, so it’s not only mirrorless that shoots video. Some DSLR shoot video too, but mirrorless are geared towards better video performance and features. Shooting in 4K sometimes crops the image (it depends on how advanced the camera is) though you can also find mirrorless cameras that have 6K-8K quality resolution.

Other features, though not exclusive to mirrorless, include WiFi and Bluetooth, app support, and fast burst speed rates (measured in frames per second — fps).

How are the drawbacks of mirrorless cameras?

There are always pros and cons. Due to the reduced size, mirrorless battery power isn’t always as good as DSLR cameras, and mirrorless cameras do tend to be more expensive. Another common complaint is that because the technology is newer, there are fewer lens and accessory options. But that’s a temporary issue.

How much does a mirrorless camera cost?

We won’t lie to you. They’re not exactly cheap. The lowest priced camera on this list is around £500 and they can easily cost thousands of pounds. Even beginners can expect to spend somewhere around the £500 mark. The photography game is pricey.

What is the best mirrorless camera?

That’s a question only you can answer, because every photographer is different. Whether you’re a beginner, enthusiast, or professional, there’s a camera that’s just right for you — but it might not suit the photographer next to you. Because just like the actual photos, no two photographers are the same. But we can help you find the best mirrorless camera for you by pointing you toward some impressive models and putting them in (auto)focus. The choice is yours. We're just trying to give you a clear picture.

These are the best mirrorless cameras in 2025.

Today's Connections: Sports Edition is simple if you understand basketball.

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: Roster of players

• Green: East coast college teams

• Blue: Power swing

• Purple: Teams that spelled like other teams

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: Club

• Green: ACC Teams

• Blue: Hit Hard, Like a Baseball

• Purple: Pro Team Names That End In Another Pro Team Name

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 #398 is...

What is the answer to Connections: Sports Edition today?

• Club - GROUP, SIDE, SQUAD, TEAM

• ACC Teams - DEMON DEACONS, EAGLES, HURRICANES, WOLFPACK

• Hit Hard, Like a Baseball - BELT, CLUB, MASH, WALLOP

• Pro Team Names That End In Another Pro Team Name - HORNETS, RED WINGS, SEAHAWKS, VIKINGS

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 today's Connections.

Happy Friday and 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 October 18, 2025

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 October 18, 2025 Easy difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 26 Pips

Greater Than (7): Everything in this space must be greater than 7. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically.

Number (17): Everything in this space must add to 17. The answer is 2-5, placed vertically; 6-6, placed vertically; 6-1, placed vertically.

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

Medium difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 26 Pips

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 4-5, placed vertically; 2-1, placed vertically.

Number (0): Everything in this space must add to 0. The answer is 4-0, placed vertically; 0-2, placed vertically.

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

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 3-1, placed horizontally.

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

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

Number (10): Everything in this space must add to 10. The answer is 0-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally.

Number (22): Everything in this space must add to 22. The answer is 5-5, placed horizontally; 5-6, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Not Equal: Everything in this space must be different. The answer is 2-4, placed horizontally; 6-4, placed horizontally.

Hard difficulty hints, answers for Oct. 26 Pips

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

Number (5): Everything in this red space must add to 5. The answer is 4-2, placed vertically; 1-5, placed vertically; 1-1, placed horizontally; 1-3, placed vertically.

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

Number (3): Everything in this space must add to 3. The answer is 0-2, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Equal (5): Everything in this space must be equal to 5. The answer is 1-5, placed vertically; 5-3, placed horizontally.

Number (5): Everything in this green space must add to 5. The answer is 5-3, placed horizontally; 0-2, 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.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult to solve if you're a boxing fan.

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 October 24, 2025 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: Musical tools

• Green: Said by a famous boxer

• Blue: Competitions

• Purple: Small endings

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: Kinds of instruments

• Green: Words in a famous Muhammad Ali Quote

• Blue: Kinds of contests

• Purple: Words with diminutive suffixes

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 #868 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Kinds of instruments: BRASS, PERCUSSION, STRING, WIND

• Words in a famous Muhammad Ali Quote: BEE, BUTTERFLY, FLOAT, STING

• Kinds of contests: BEAUTY, POPULARITY, STARING, TALENT

• Words with diminutive suffixes: DOGGY, DROPLET, KITCHENETTE, STARLING

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 October 24, 2025

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 today's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you love the current season.

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 October 17, 2025 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for October 24, 2025 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Fall-ing

The words are related to a season.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe the harvest season.

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 Autumn.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for October 26

• Orchards

• Pumpkins

• Corn

• Autumn

• Football

• Harvest

• Foliage

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.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a lip enhancement.

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 October 24, 2025 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 October 17, 2025 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Chubby.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter P appears twice.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter P.

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...

PLUMP

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 October 24, 2025

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.